You can do almost anything on a rainy day in Tokyo, no matter where you go — as long as you have an umbrella.
But if you still wish for the rain to go away, then here are our recommendations for things to do inside when it’s raining in Tokyo.
Fun fact: Japanese people often make a rain-repelling doll called a teru teru bōzu to hope for sun.
1. Seek thrills at indoor theme parks
When the smell of rain hits your nose, why not head indoors and jump on a thrilling ride? We rate Joypolis in Odaiba, which features a bunch of fun rollercoasters (discount tickets here), but you can also check out Namja Town and Sanrio Puroland — worth the trip for Hello Kitty lovers and the world’s lesser-thrillseekers.
Pro tip: If you don’t mind a little drop of rain, then Disneyland and DisneySea are quieter on rainy days.
2. Pop into museums
You don’t come to Tokyo without expecting to find a bit of culture, right? So when the rain is a-fallin’, optimize your day by checking out some of the coolest museums on the planet. A great way of saving money is to grab the discount Grutto Pass, which includes entry to some of the major museums in Tokyo. Note that some pop culture museums — like the Ghibli Museum — require buying tickets way in advance and are not suitable for a rainy day.
Top museums to visit:
- History buffs should try the classic Tokyo National Museum.
- Fans of science and nature will love Miraikan and the National Museum of Nature and Science.
- Head to the Snoopy Museum if you have a penchant for cute characters.
Lucky for you, we’ve also compiled a must-see museum mega guide.
3. Shrink down at Small Worlds Tokyo
For this bite-size entry, we suggest Small Worlds Tokyo. This “theme park” is filled with miniature sets displaying fantasy worlds and iconic moments in time, as well as a look at an ant-sized Tokyo. You can even shrink yourself down and add yourself to the collection — for a price.
Tickets can be bought online or at the door on the day.
4. Get your wand out at the Harry Potter Studio Tour
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Tokyo is for the muggles, witches, and wizards who want to step inside the magical world of Harry Potter. Get extra insights into the movies and walk through mock movie sets (including one that you can only find at this location). Most of the sections are inside except for Hagrid’s Hut and outside Number 4 Privet Drive.
You’ll need to purchase tickets in advance for a specific time slot, but usually, you can do this even on the day.
For more information, including a first-hand experience of what to expect, see our complete guide to the Harry Potter Tour.
5. Explore the malls: food, fashion, and beyond
There are plenty of malls that include the whole package — from shopping to food courts and entertainment areas. Here are a few popular picks depending on your interests.
- Families will love Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu for Kidzania, where children can experience adult careers on a small scale.
- Anime and manga fans can let loose in Nakano Broadway, a four-floor shopping complex teeming with bargain finds.
- Diver City in Odaiba is an all-rounder, housing big brand names and amusements including bowling, indoor roller-skating, and a batting cage — in fact, Odaiba’s many malls make it a great place when it’s raining buckets.
Pro tip: If you want to take this rainy day opportunity for bargain-hunting, try some of the other outlet malls in the Tokyo area.
6. Learn and discover on factory tours
Ever wondered what makes Kewpie Mayo so delicious? Or how cup noodles were invented? Then go on a tour! While some may require booking in advance, it’s only ever a couple of days out. The Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama is one you can just turn up to and you can even take home your very own cup noodle flavor.
We also recommended Kewpie Mayo Terrace, Kirin Brewery, and the Kikkoman Soy Sauce Factory.
7. Walk through art at teamLab Borderless and Planets
Both of these immersive art experiences — teamLab Borderless and teamLab Planets — are safely placed inside four walls, and while you get your feet wet at teamLab Planets, that’s as much water as you can expect. These spots are magnets for photographers and Instagrammers due to their dynamic and interactive art installations.
While you generally can’t book on the day, if you’ve spotted the weather forecast looking dismal, then you can get either Borderless tickets or Planets tickets one or two days in advance.
8. Hit up an arcade
Roll into an arcade to play drums, race your mates, hit the DDR deck, or experience the wonder that is “Billy Bowl” (it’s the best of billiards and bowls). Akihabara is a haven for gamers — head to the mega GiGO Akihabara Building 3 or HEY (Hirose Entertainment Yard) and Super Potato for retro games. You can also find more machines from the past at Mikado Vintage Arcade.
If in doubt, pop into the chain Round 1 in Tokyo’s popular hubs or Red° Tokyo Tower for VR experiences.
9. Relax in an onsen
What’s better on a wet day than a hot soak? There are plenty of hot springs (onsen) and public baths (sento) where you can soak without breaking the bank. Here are our highlights:
- The Toyosu Manyo Club inside the Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai complex is amongst the biggest onsen facilities in Tokyo. Try several inside and outdoor baths, as well as saunas and relaxation spots. Prices start at ¥2,200 and package options can be found on Klook.
- Saya no Yu Dokoro (Maenohara Onsen) is a popular onsen located eight minutes from Shimura-Sakaue Station in the quiet(ish) suburb of Itabashi. It’s ¥990 on weekdays and ¥1,200 on weekends.
- Yukemuri no Sato Susukino in Yokohama charges ¥780–¥920 for access to 11 indoor and four outdoor baths.
- There are heaps of other baths all around Tokyo, including Take no Yu, Pokapoka Land Takaban no Yu, and Shimizu Yu.
We have a whole list of onsen and sento you can visit in Tokyo, as well as an article on ones that are tattoo friendly.
Pro tip: Read our onsen guide to get better acquainted with the dos and don’ts of hot spring etiquette.
10. Go bowling
Ah, bowling — the great American classic. While not too different from its Western counterpart, bowling alleys in Tokyo really emphasize the neon they are most known for. Most are also open late, so you can head there whenever you like.
Here are our favorites:
- Head to EST Shibuya for a black-lit floor and LEDs.
- Tokyo Port Bowl in Minato boats 34 lanes of family-friendly fun.
- Hyperlane in Ikebukuro is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Check out ourbig guide to bowling alleys around Tokyo where you can roll up your sleeves, slap on some pre-funked pre-used shoes and knock ’em dead.
11. Check out the art
If outside is looking grim, find your light inside a Tokyo art museum or gallery. These spots also hold interesting and unique exhibitions throughout the year, so keep an eye out on our event listings.
- Tradition and modern art mix at a sento-turned-gallery called Scai the Bathhouse.
- Be dazzled by the architecture inside the The National Art Center before seeing the latest exhibition.
- See Japanese art Ukiyo-e at Sumida Hokusai Museum or Ōta Memorial Museum of Art
- Love pumpkins and polkadots? Check out the Yayoi Kusama Museum.
See our full list of the best art museums in Tokyo, as well as the top free galleries.
12. Climb the walls
Bouldering culture is strong in Tokyo, with climbing gyms popping up all over the place. Get to grips with your lack of upper body strength at one of these indoor climbing spots.
They cater to all levels, so whether you’re a pure beginner or a seasoned pro, you’ll find something to hook you in. Bonus points for every pun you can think of while clinging to the walls.
13. Sample some sushi
Someone once said that the best way to pass time on a rainy day is to go out for sushi. That was us, but you’re looking at some sage advice right there. In keeping with the Cheapo golden rule of a posh lunch and cheap dinner, we recommend chowing down at one of these classy sushi spots around noon, then checking off a few of the other ideas on this list. You can also book last minute Michelin-starred spots like Sushi Seizan Minami-Aoyama.
Not a fan of fish? Here are some other good-value Michelin-star joints.
14. Catch a film
The age-old antidote to bad weather — go watch a movie. There are plenty of cinemas around Tokyo, including 3D and Imax options. Toho Shinjuku is a go-to for film lovers due to its many theaters and the much loved Godzilla sticking out the top.
Japanese people take film-going pretty seriously, and the facilities are state-of-the-art (even if some of the titles are a little slow to arrive). One word of caution is that movie tickets are expensive (¥1,800 and up), so read up on how to get discounted tickets before picking a theater.
15. Try an unusual café or restaurant
Why not sit down for tea at the Aoyama Flower Market? While it may be drab outside, it sure is pretty inside this floral teahouse. If you’re looking to café hop for an afternoon, we have all the best spots in Harajuku and Asakusa too.
Also try themed cafes and restaurants, but be warned that some of these require advanced reservations. Those that don’t include the Pikachu Sweets Cafe, Peanuts Cafe Snoopy Museum Tokyo, Pom Pom Purin, and Sanrio Cafe.
Want something very unique? Head to the Child’s Perspective Cafe.
16. Try and exit an escape room
For something totally different, head to Asakusa and have a go at their escape room games. You’ll find yourself trapped inside a room — and you’ll have to solve a range of different puzzles to make your way out before the time is up!
It relies on a bit of analytical skill and a whole lot of cooperation. It’s heaps of fun, and you don’t need to speak any Japanese. The games are offered in English and Chinese.
17. Shop and eat at underground station cities
You don’t even have to leave the station. Many transport hotspots have their own ecosystem below the surface packed with department stores, ekiben (train lunch boxes) shops, souvenir stands, food streets, and more.
- Character Street and Ramen Street can be found outside the ticket barriers of Tokyo Station, but you can grab an ekiben inside without stepping on a train for only ¥150.
- Shibuya’s undeground complex features Shibuchika, great for snacks and picking up bits and bobs, as well as Tokyu Food Show, famous for deli meats, sake tasting, and other delicious treats. You’re also connected to the mammoth shopping malls around the station.
- Likewise, Shinjuku is also filled with below-ground-level mazes, walkways, stores, and restaurants that reach all the way to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
18. Eat, drink, and eat some more at an izakaya
Spend time undercover getting acquainted with Tokyo’s vibrant food scene. Izakaya are Japanese bars that keep on giving. Stack up plate after plate and while away the hours chatting as it showers outside.
The best place to izakaya hop is at a yokocho (a Japanese drinking alley) and plenty of these are under the shelter of train tracks — see Yurakucho — or alternatively, try ones with DJs and (some say touristy) entertainment in Asakusa, Shibuya, and Shinjuku.
For something a little different, you can go back to the Showa era and jump from ramen to ramen shop at the Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum.
19. Experience Immersive Fort Tokyo
What used to be an expansive shopping mall has now been reinvented into an immersive theme park. Behind different doors in Immersive Fort Tokyo, you can find a murder mystery, heist, fairytale story, or even Jack the Ripper. While not all experiences are English-friendly, many amusements will get your heart pumping all the same.
20. Sing your heart out at karaoke
If the day looks gray, head to kara-o-ke. Singing till your throat hurts is a great bonding pastime amongst friends and happens day or night in Japan. There are plenty of karaoke stores in the central areas — have a look at our comprehensive how-to guide if you are intimidated.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions about rain in Tokyo answered.
How often does it rain in Tokyo?
Tokyo counts around 109 rainy days on average a year.
When is Japan’s rainy season? How long does it last?
Japan’s rainy season depends on where you are in the country. Tokyo’s rainy season usually lasts from early June to late July. In Okinawa, this is earlier (mid-May to late June), and in Tohoku, it’s around a week later than Tokyo. Hokkaido does not have a rainy season.
What is the wettest month in Tokyo?
Despite June to July being the rainy season, the amount of rainfall is actually highest in September and October, likely due to typhoon season.
For other rainy day in Tokyo ideas, check out our pick of top Tokyo indoor activities.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post originally written by Saya Hutton in 2015. Last updated in June 2024.
