The pandemic in the last couple of years put many travel plans on hold – at least for me. Many countries were locked down, and Japan opened its border to visa-free international tourists at the end of 2022; and truly consider a full reopening this year in 2023.

It’s been 3 years since my last visit to Tokyo in 2019, yet the city hasn’t stopped transforming and expanding (Tokyo hosts the Olympic Games during Covid, the world event!). If you are about to sign up for a private guided tour in Tokyo. There are so many new spots waiting for visitors to discover, consider putting them in your Japan visit next year!

Here is a list of new, hip, and trendy attractions and restaurants in Tokyo –

of which most of them opened during the pandemic in 2020 or after – check our ultimate guide map at the end for so many more ideas. the map will be updated live.

Visit Harry Potter and Elsa’s new attractions

For family travelers, your travel itinerary is probably already full with the latest additions in Warner Brothers Studio and Disneyland.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter opened in July 2023, and the 33,000-square-meter theme park recreated several classic scenes in Harry Potter’s movie. Instead of thrill rides, this attraction focuses on immersive experiences like trying on costumes and playing with magic.

Tokyo DisneySea Expansion Fantasy Springs announced the park will open to the public in June 2024 with Frozen (Frozen Kingdom), Tangled (Rapunzel Forest), Peter Pan attractions, and a new Fantasy Springs Hotel!

There are new facilities and features in Disneyland since 2019 for family visitors, including the new Beauty and Beast Castle, Baymax fun ride, Toy Story Hotel, and more!

Azabudai Hills: Manga Art, Light Technology, Luxurious Hotel.

The development of Azabudai Hills took almost 30 years – the good news is, that it finally opened in 2024 with an unobstructed view of the iconic Tokyo Tower. The commercial complex features shopping, entertainment, and dining. Azabudai Hills is a “modern urban village”, and here are some of the highlights you may not want to miss in your travel plan!

Janu Tokyo: Looking at the Tokyo Tower, Janu Tokyo is the latest addition to the luxurious Aman Hotel group! The new hotel opened in March 2024, inside the “tallest building in Tokyo” of Azabudai Hills. The room rate of Janu Tokyo is US$1,000 per night, yet if you are not planning to stay in one of its 122 guest rooms, their Janu Wellness Centre (featuring Turkish bathroom “Hammam” and Russian Sauna (Banya)), and their signature eateries are also worth a visit.

Shueisha Manga Art Heritage: The exhibit showcases classic manga works including previous exhibitions: One Piece by Eiichiro Oda, Bleach by Tite Kubo, and more. Reservation is required before your visit. Visit there official website for exhibition schedule.

teamLab Borderless: The Guinness World Record-breaking digital art museum teamLab has expanded rapidly in the last few years. I still remember teamLab Borderless in Odaiba caused quite a sensation a couple of years ago. This exhibition, however, is migrated to a new spot, teamLab Borderless is opening in Azabudai Hills in January 2024. The exhibition will feature some familiar and some brand-new interactive works that have never been seen in Japan.

Taking things a bit further, visit teamLab Musashino Woods Park in Saitama and experience resonating life in the Acorn Forest.

The New Toyosu: Senkyakubanrai in 2024! 

Meanwhile, teamLab Planets in Toyosu also extending their period until 2027, with its original end date set by the end of 2023.

There are so many new attractions popping up in Toyosu and Odaiba after the Olympic Games, check out the guide map below to learn more. Very close to teamLab Planets, the Toyosu Market is the largest fish market in Tokyo, and it will open a new complex – Senkyabanrai – a facility for additional shopping and dining, as well as for a public bath and hotel (Tokyo Toyosu Manyo Club) is scheduled to be added to the complex on February 1, 2024!

Check out their official site for more information.

Move your body at the Tokyo Olympic Museum

Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics took place in 2021 and it is for sure a special event due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The museum is located next to the Japan National Stadium, or the “New National Stadium”; The exhibition loop showcases the history, fun facts, and information about the Olympic Games throughout history, with a focus on Tokyo’s event, not only in 2021, but also in 1964.

The format of the exhibition is similar to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, while we get a closer look at the medals, torches, emblems, mascots, promotion banners, posters, uniforms, and all that related to this event. The Olympic Theater is an immersive sound and video experience highlighting the dynamism of Olympians and the wonder of the opening ceremony.

At the end of the exhibition area are interactive physical challenges for visitors to have first-hand experience and understand more about how the contestants move during their respective sports, and of course, at the end, there is a preview of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, which I will be visiting myself.

Go crazy with shopping, relaxation, and fun in new outlets!

Shopping in Japan is such a fun and pleasant experience that it must be included in your Japan travel itinerary. There are many popular outlets around Tokyo: Premium Outlet in Shisui is close to the Narita Airport; Mitsui Outlet Park in Iruma has a shuttle train car for family shoppers; Mitsui Outlet Park in Kisarazu has an impressive number of stores; and the Outlet Mall in Karuizawa is close to the beloved vacation and get-away destination, Karuizama, from Tokyo.

Grandberry Park opened in winter 2019 and is merely 30 minutes away from Tokyo city center, featuring the Snoopy Museum; Mitsui Outlet Park opened in spring 2020 and is close to a marina by the Bay with incredible views and entertainment; Premium Outlets Fukayahanazono opened in October 2022, featuring an exciting number of mid-tier fashion brands.

Now, Premium Outlets Gotemba is the largest outlet after its expansion and reopened in June 2020. With the addition of Hillside Annex, there are a lot of international and local brands of fashion and apparel set up stores there. Hotel Clad is in the outlet, with an onsen, spa center, and an incredible view of Mount Fuji! For a day trip from Tokyo to Mount Fuji, stay overnight in Gotemba and get fully recharged before heading back to the city.

Enjoy fine dining in Ginza and buy souvenirs in Tokyo Station

The historic Tokyo Train Station has finally completed its renovation project, Gransta Tokyo, which opened in August 2020, is literally the new underground shopping maze, connecting to a number of shopping areas under the hustle and bustle of Tokyo’s main avenues in Ginza. Gransta is literally “the” place for getting snacks and souvenirs back home, from the popular SWEETS COLLECTION by Tokyo Banana, Cocoris Cookies, Maison Cacao, the chocolate expert from Kamakura, to Sanzen, from Sendai.

Connecting with the station, Tokyo Midtown Yaesu opened at the beginning of 2023, featuring the CFCL Concept Store, and an “ALL Stands” Food Court on the second floor. In the same building, BULGARI Hotel Tokyo is the new luxury brand hotel with the BULGARI spa covering an area of 1,500 square meters.

Moving on to Ginza, there is no way you do not see something new and exciting each time you visit – because Ginza is the epicenter of the latest and newest spots not only in Japan but around the world. Tokyo’s Pedestrian Paradise in Ginza has many trendy international fashion brands, department stores, and century-old businesses. Uniqlo Tokyo is the largest flagship store opened in June 2020. Daiso Marronnier Gate Ginza is also the largest flagship store opened in April 2022.

Itoya is an expansive retailer offering a wide selection of stationary, writing instruments, and desktop objects; Yamano Music is a music store that I love. Yamano Music is next to Seiko House, a landmark in Ginza, and the clock face is changed to a Mickey Mouse in October and November 2023, celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company!

Some brands also opened their stores in Ginza, which are the first in Asia. Fueguia 1833 is a luxury Buenos Aires fragrance house that opened its first boutique in Ginza 6. It has an overwhelming collection of fragrances, and all of them are hand-formulated in the house’s laboratory in Buenos Aires using quality natural essences sourced in South America.

Several new fine-dining restaurants opened during the pandemic. Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura opened in October 2021 with an exquisitely designed interior, featuring main chef Antonio Iacoviello (who worked in Noma – the world’s best restaurant in Denmark), and Gucci Décor tableware. The menu has a strong tie with the chef’s Italian origin, at a reasonable price tag compared with many other high-class restaurants.

Louise Vuitton opened their world’s second café, Le Café V,  in spring 2021, serving monogram printed chocolates, V Café Latte, and their signature Mille Feuille.

Explore the Cool and Hip Complexes in Shimokitazawa

Shimokitazawa has been known for its vintage clothing stores, and its hippy bohemian vibe, only about 30 minutes away by train from Shinjuku or Shibuya. This cool and hip neighborhood has added different flavors, with some new complexes that put this area on the latest Tokyo travel map.

Reload opened in 2021 and it is the highlight of Shimokitazawa. Surrounded by local residences, reload is a modern and sleek white complex with over 20 unique restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops.

There are so many new places to complete your food adventure in Tokyo. If you are a fan of Matcha, then you must stop by Shimokita Chaen. There are only 15 level ten matcha experts in Japan, and two of them are here, refining their expertise in creating matcha shaved ice, beverages, and more. The foamy matcha is their signature and we could already see a queue in front of the store before it opens.

Stabler is an Instagram diner, featuring their Shimokitazawa Meat Sandwich with 300 grams of juicy beef, egg, or other ingredients stuffed between two pieces of buttery toast. Around the corner, Universal Bakes Nicome is a 100% vegan baker. You may be surprised by what they can do though because they have cakes, breads, and even donuts on their shelves.

Sip a cup of artisan coffee at Ogawa Coffee with beans from different origins or blends. The flavours cover a wide spectrum from light to heavy. APFR Tokyo is a fragrance expert, offering 40 different scents in candles, incense, essential oil, and hand wash. Their products and hand-made in their workshop in Chiba.

Bonus Track opened in 2020 and the few tin houses are, in fact, interesting shops like vinyl stores, bookshops, eateries, and cafes! It is a mini-market that welcomes a lot of people on the weekends. While strolling, have another cup of coffee by Sidewalk Coffee Roasters (opened in 2021); More, try an ohagi3 warabi, chill at the (tefu) lounge, or shop and dine in Mikanshimokita (all opened in 2022).

Get Lucky at the Capsule Toy Megastore

Capsule Toys isn’t exactly something new – but with the new store in Sunshine City, Ikebukuro, it takes the experience to a new level. The Gashapon Department Store was opened in February 2021 and I heard some many friends visiting there because it has over 3,300 Capsule Toy machines. Truth be told some of them are the same kind, but the featured comics and anime characters are all there – the demon slayer, ONE PIECE, Miffy to the classic Sanrio characters. The “premium gashapon” section more rare items that collectors may have to exercise better self-control with these machines!

In Ikebukuro, also check out the Crayon Shinchan Cinema Parade – the movie’s official store if you are a fan of Crayon Shinchan (opened in 2021); and the Pikachu Sweets by Pokemon Café, featuring the lovely character in Pokémon. Pikachu Sweets opened in December 2019 and it was the first genre of its kind. Animate fans will know their way to the headquarters of the Animate Store, which was renovated and expanded to become the world’s largest Animate-themed toy store in Spring 2023.

The revitalization of Shibuya complete

Let’s talk about transformation. The transformation in Shibuya and Daikanyama is tremendous. After a couple of years, the new projects surrounding JR Shibuya station are finally complete and it looks brand new. Four new complexes are now here, combining shopping, dining, entertainment, and sightseeing.

Shibuya Scramble is the classic image of Tokyo. The multi-directional crossing with the signboard is probably how tourists remember Tokyo – and now the latest Shibuya Scramble Square is a 47-story high building with one of the most popular new attractions in the city, SHIBUYA SKY.

SHIBUYA SKY has blown up Instagram for a while now. Since its opening in November 2019, it has been on everybody’s bucket list in Tokyo. While an observation deck is not something new, the double deck is the highest outdoor platform that offers an unobstructed panoramic view of almost the entire Tokyo City, visitors can even see Mount Fuji on a clear day!

The busiest spot at SHIBUYA SKY is the two corners where you can take pictures with nothing but the metropolitan cityscape. What makes SHIBUYA SKY the new hit among tourists is probably the spaciousness of the viewing deck, where you can enjoy the view in the sitting area without feeling too crowded. However, there is a line taking pictures at the corner and it’s suggested to visit there at around 2 to 3 pm so you have ample time to catch the magic moment during sunset. Souvenir shops and the Sky Gallery are on the 46/F.

Miyashita Park opened in August 2020 and it’s a brilliant revitalization of an old park. Keeping the same name, it’s now a 4-story high complex with 90 fashion brands setting up stores.

The roof of Miyashita Park is a public space with a skateboard ground, a rock climbing area, and a sandy beach area. Behind it the 100-meter-long “yokocho” is a food alley offering all sorts of delicious from around Japan.

Parco Shibuya was also renovated in 2019 with new labels and new attractions. Ogawa Grand Lodge and Nordisk Camp Supply Store are now here, with Parco Museum Tokyo on the fourth floor, featuring franchises of Jump Shop, Pokemon, and Nintendo Tokyo. Shibuya Fukuras is opposite Shibuya Scramble Square, and it looks a little bit more high-end with Beams Japan, Akomeya, and the GMO digital museum inside. There is a Shibuniwa sky garden on the 17^th and 18^th Floor with clubhouses, bars, and cafes.