What to Do on a Rainy Day in Tokyo

Visiting Tokyo during the rainy season? Armed with a warm coat and a trusty umbrella, you’ll find that there are plenty of things for you to do on rainy days in Tokyo.

How often does it rain in Tokyo?

On average, Tokyo gets over a hundred days of rain (approximately 1,600 millimeters or 63 inches a year). The rainiest months are September and October—due to the monsoon rains and typhoons—while the driest months are during winter.

8 indoor activities for a rainy day in Tokyo

If you’re traveling to Tokyo during the rainy season, there’s a lot you can do to enjoy yourself. Make sure you are dressed warmly and have a jacket and umbrella, so you have no problem hopping from one destination to another.

Here’s a list of fun indoor activities in Tokyo, Japan:

Visit a Museum

One of the best things to do when the weather isn’t so fine is to explore Japanese museums. Tokyo has countless museums you can visit, each featuring various exhibits and catering to different interests. You will find art museums, museums displaying artifacts and information relevant to Japanese history, science museums, and more.

Appreciate diverse kinds of art at the National Art Center Tokyo

For those who love walking through halls filled with various kinds of art, The National Art Center Tokyo might be your ideal hang-out place during a rainy day. It features ten different galleries and an outdoor exhibition space from diverse areas and regions, along with contemporary art and new expressions. There are also special exhibitions hosted from time to time.

How to get to National Art Center Tokyo: From Narita International Airport, take the Skyliner to Nippori Station. Transfer to the Yamanote Line and ride until Nishi-Nippori Station. Take the Chiyoda Line to Nogizaka Station. Walk to the National Art Center Tokyo (approximately one minute).

• Address: 7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8558

• Opening hours: 10 AM to 6 PM (Sundays to Thursdays; closed on Tuesdays), 10 AM to 8 PM (Fridays and Saturdays)

Explore the world through water and artwork spaces at teamLab Planets

teamLab Planets is a museum that provides a unique way to explore nature and the world. It features four massive exhibition spaces and two gardens. Instead of walking from hall to hall to gaze at the exhibits, this museum invites you to walk through water as you appreciate the flowers and other artwork spaces. The museum is only up until the end of 2027, so seeing it is a must.

How to get to teamLab Planets: From Narita International Airport, take the Skyliner to Keisei Ueno Station. Walk for about five minutes to get to Ueno Station. Take the Ginza Line to Ginza Station. Walk to Ginza Yonchōme bus stop and take the Tokyo Big Sight to Shin-Toyosu Station. teamLab Planets Tokyo is a two-minute walk from there.

• Address: 6-1-16 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0061
Opening hours: 9 AM to 9 PM (time may vary depending on months and special days)

Go back in time at the Tokyo National Museum

As Japan’s oldest museum, Tokyo National Museum is a must-see for history lovers. Located in one of Tokyo’s oldest public parks, Ueno, you can enjoy the shrines, temples, ponds, and cherry blossom trees. Inside, there are over 100,000 artifacts displayed throughout five exhibition buildings. You’ll get to see items like samurai swords, beautiful kimonos, ancient sculptures of Buddha, and more. The museum also features special exhibitions that last for a couple of months.

How to get to Tokyo National Museum: From Narita International Airport, take the Skyliner to Keisei Ueno Station. Walk for about 11 minutes to reach Tokyo National Museum.

• Address: 13-9 Uenokōen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8712
• Opening hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM

See a show

Aside from museums, you can also check out Tokyo’s entertainment scene. From Kabuki theaters to gazing out into the starry night, you’ll find something to grab your interest. 

See the famous Kabuki theater

With roots tracing back to Japan’s Edo Period, the Kabuki theater is one of the most-loved forms of entertainment. It features entertainers in elaborate costumes and striking makeup telling historical tales, exciting adventures, and other fun stories. One of the best places to watch it is at the Kabukiza Theatre—the most accessible Kabuki theater for foreign tourists in Tokyo. They feature plays almost every day and have English subtitles and explanations for those who aren’t very familiar with the story.

How to get to Kabukiza Theatre: Take the Skyliner from Narita International Airport to Keisei Ueno Station. Walk to Ueno Station and ride the Hibiya Line to Higashi-ginza Station. Kabukiza Theatre is a few minutes' walk from there.

• Address: 4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061

Take a visit to outer space in Konica Minolta Planetaria

Konica Minolta Planetaria is a new planetarium theater complex with two dome theaters. One of the most popular attractions is the Galaxy seats which allow visitors to lie on their backs and look up at an LED screen generating a photorealistic view of the universe and the stars on a full-dome screen.

How to get to Konica Minolta Planetaria: From Narita International Airport, take the Skyliner to Nippori Station. Transfer to the Yamanote Line and ride to Yūrakuchō Station. Walk to Yurakucho Mullion (about three minutes) and take the elevator to the 9th floor.

• Address: Yurakucho Mullion 9th floor, 2-5-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006

• Opening hours: 10:30 AM to 10 PM

Watch Japanese movies at the Tokyo International Film Festival

If you are visiting Japan at the end of October, you may be able to catch the Tokyo International Film Festival. It’s the largest film festival in the country and showcases different types of movies—from anime to low-budget indies, documentaries, to big-budget movies. Several screenings allow for a Q&A with the actors (sometimes an English translator is on-hand), allowing you to appreciate the film on a deeper level.

Take the kids to see indoor theme parks

Theme parks are a great favorite among adults and kids alike. Experiencing some rainy weather during your trip to Tokyo? Check out the following indoor theme parks your kids will enjoy:

Find excitement at Joypolis, an indoor amusement park

Joypolis is a fun indoor SEGA-themed amusement park the whole family can enjoy safely and away from the rains. It has a lot of exciting video games in its arcade section and thrilling roller coaster rides. It also has three floors of 3D and virtual reality attractions for people of all ages to enjoy.

How to get to Joypolis: Take the Skyliner to Aoto Station from Narita International Airport. Transfer to the Oshiage Line and ride to Shimbashi Station. Transfer to the Yurikamome Line and ride to Odaiba-kaihinkōen Station. Walk for about six minutes to get to Joypolis.

• Address: 1-6-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-0091

• Opening hours: 10 AM to 8 PM

Build blocks at the Legoland Discovery Center

You can’t go wrong with Lego when traveling with kids. Since the Legoland Discovery Center is an indoor attraction, it’s one of the best places to go on rainy days in Tokyo. Adults and kids can participate in the Lego-building workshops, shooting games, and even watch fun films in the center’s 4D theater.

How to get to Legoland Discovery Center: From Narita International Airport, take the Skyliner to Aoto Station. Transfer to the Oshiage Line and ride to Shimbashi Station. Transfer to the Yurikamome Line and ride to Odaiba-kaihinkōen Station. From there, walk for about six minutes to reach Decks Tokyo Beach Island Mall. Legoland Discovery Center is on the third floor.

• Address: Decks Tokyo Beach Island Mall 3rd floor, 1-6-1 Odaiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-0091

• Opening hours: 10 AM to 6 PM

Experience the grown-up world at KidZania

KidZania gives kids a glimpse of the grown-up world by allowing them to take on various “jobs”—from police officer to baker to model and more. The kids get paid in KidZania currency, which they can use to buy items from the area. It’s a fun and enjoyable experience for kids and may even help them decide what career they want.

How to get to KidZania: Take the Skyliner to Nippori Station from Narita International Airport. At Nippori, transfer to the Yamanote Line and ride to Yūrakuchō Station. Take the Yurakucho Line to Toyosu Station. KidZania Tokyo is a 10-minute walk from there.

• Address: Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu North Port 3rd floor, 2-4-9 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8614

• Opening hours: 9 AM to 9 PM

Browse the malls

If you enjoy shopping, you may want to spend your rainy days in some of Japan’s malls, known for their restaurants, boutiques, and other attractions. You’ll find anything and everything you may possibly need and want, including outfits reflecting the latest fashion, cosmetics, items for home decor, kids’ toys, and more.

Go on a food trip at a depachika

Craving sushi? A delicious bowl of hot ramen? With its assortment of cuisine, you won’t run out of treats to eat on a rainy day in Japan. A depachika is a basement-level food hall you can find in many department stores, with many of them attached to train stations.

Step into a foodie’s paradise at Shibuya Tokyu Food Show

One of the best places to go is the Shibuya Tokyu Food Show located in the basement of Tokyu Department Store. You’ll find the answer to all your cravings in its stalls—many of which are associated with well-known restaurants. You can choose between Vietnamese pho, Indian curries, and even French pastries. Of course, there are also several dishes, including tonkatsu, sushi, bento boxes, and more.

How to get to Shibuya Tokyu Food Show: From Narita International Airport, take the Skyliner to Nippori Station. From there, take the Yamanote Line to Shibuya Station. Shibuya Tokyu Food Show is a five-minute walk from there.

• Address: 2-24-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0043

• Opening hours: 10 AM to 9 PM

Enjoy a wide range of delicacies at Ginza Mitsukoshi

As the oldest department store in Japan, Ginza Mitsukoshi is sometimes referred to as “The Harrods of Japan” and is regarded as one of its finest. Its depachika is unlike any other—offering an assortment of items, from carefully-crafted sushi to decadent chocolates to bento boxes and more. One of the highlights of Ginza Mitsukoshi is the famous Hakone Akatsuki-an soba shop. You may watch as they make soba noodles at certain times during the day.

How to get to Ginza Mitsukoshi: From Narita International Airport, take the Keisei Narita Skyaccess to Oshiage Station. Get on the Asakusa Line to Higashi-ginza Station. Walk for about four minutes to reach Ginza Mitsukoshi.

• Address: 4-6-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8212

• Opening hours: 10 AM to 8 PM

Bathe in an onsen or sento

Just because the weather is storming inside doesn’t mean you have to be cold inside. Rainy weather is a good time to escape into the warmer rooms of onsen or sento and enjoy a good soak. You’ll be able to find one that suits your needs as there are plenty of them around Tokyo. Wherever you go, remember to observe the basic onsen etiquette so that you can have the best experience.

Take a class or do a workshop

For those who want to dive deeper into the culture of Japan, there are some classes you can sign up for that will teach you what you want to know. You can learn the art of folding origami or basic Japanese calligraphy. You can see how sumo wrestlers train, how ninjas fight, and learn how to wield a real samurai sword.

Some classes teach you Chado, a tea ceremony, or Ikebana, Japanese traditional floral art. You may also be interested in kintsugi—patching up broken pieces of pottery with gold—or learning how to play traditional Japanese instruments.

Visit a unique cafe

Among the many fascinating things you can see in Tokyo, a cafe is one of the most popular places tourists visit—especially those with unique themes. From maid cafes to Pokémon-themed ones, there are a lot of cafes you can explore. You can cuddle with furry animals while you sip your beverage or sample unique food served while trying to avoid ghosts who come chasing after you. You can also visit other coffee shops with unique interiors and artisan coffee.

Enjoy Tokyo’s rainy days

Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy what Japan has to offer. From museums to indoor theme parks to delicious food halls and more, you can still enjoy yourself during a rainy day in Tokyo.

Have fun with indoor activities in Tokyo.