11 best new attractions and facilities opening in and near Tokyo in 2026

Tokyo is paradise for Pokémon enthusiasts, offering everything from immersive Pokémon Centers to themed cafés serving up Pokémon-inspired food and drinks. And the excitement doesn’t stop there – the capital is set to welcome the world’s first-ever permanent outdoor Pokémon theme park this year.

PokéPark Kanto will take over an expansive 26,000sqm space at Yomiuriland in the western suburbs and will feature a Pokémon Center, Trainers' Market, Gym, Pokémon Mart, Sedge Town area, and a ‘Pokémon Forest’ home to over 600 pocket monsters.

That last one looks set to be one of the park’s highlights, encompassing a mix of terrains from hilly paths and tall grassy areas to tunnels and rocky trails, where you’ll be able to observe a wide variety of Pokémon in the wild.

Sedge Town, meanwhile, is where you’ll get to shop for exclusive merchandise. You’ll also be able to catch a Pokémon parade and enjoy other attractions in the area.

When is it opening? February 5

The storied Kawaii Monster Café, which sadly closed in 2021 during the pandemic, is making its big return to Harajuku by the end of the year – and it promises to be even wilder than before.

This time it’s not just a café, but a full-blown indoor amusement park on Takeshita-dori, bursting with neo-chromatic colour, candy-shaped rides, over-the-top food and live performances by ‘Monster Girls’.

Kawaii Monster Land is a collaboration between Genda GiGO Entertainment, the company behind Tokyo’s ubiquitous GiGO arcades, and Sebastian Masuda, the creative mastermind of the original café. The result looks to be a sensory explosion of photo-ready corners and candy-coloured spectacle.

When is it opening? February 16

Set to open in March in front of JR Kannai Station and beside the DeNA BayStars’ baseball stadium, Basegate Yokohama Kannai is poised to become a new gateway to the neighbourhood. The multi-use development brings together a hotel, live entertainment venues, immersive attractions and dining, all within easy walking distance of Yokohama Stadium and the waterfront. At its heart is Omo7 Yokohama, a hotel by Hoshino Resorts, housed in the preserved former Yokohama City Hall building designed by modernist master Togo Murano.

Elsewhere in the complex, The Live – supported by Daiwa Land Group and operated by the Yokohama baseball team – will be one of Japan’s largest permanent live-viewing arenas, complete with a giant screen for sports and event screenings, while Wonderia Yokohama promises to deliver immersive, nature-themed digital experiences. 

Book lovers can drop by a new cultural hub run by the Yokohama-born bookstore Yurindo, featuring a lounge-style communal workspace, gallery and restaurant, while food hopping is encouraged at Stadium-Side Bar Street, a maze-like dining area packed with more than 30 casual eateries. With its mix of culture, entertainment and accessibility, Basegate Yokohama Kannai is shaping up to be a key destination for casual visitors and Baystar fans alike.

When is it opening? March 19

Slated to open in bayside Ariake, this entertainment complex operated by TV Asahi will span nine floors above ground and one below, bringing together facilities including the multipurpose SGC Hall Ariake, EX Theater Ariake, a spacious event zone and the rooftop Dream Terrace plaza, as well as restaurants and other essential amenities.

EX Theater Ariake is a 1,500-seat venue designed for stage productions such as plays and musicals. It’ll be capable of accommodating a diverse range of performances, and boasts acoustics that ensure ‘clear audibility of dialogue and lyrics’ throughout the space.

The opening production will be AmberS, a show written, scripted and produced by Shigeaki Kato, with performances beginning in April. Kazuya Ohashi of Naniwa Danshi and Takuto Teranishi of Timelesz will co-star.

At EX Studio 7, the adjacent 870-sqm space, the first event will be ‘100% Doraemon & Friends in Tokyo’ – advertised as the largest Doraemon event ever held. You can look forward to displays of more than 100 Doraemon figures, including a giant 12-metre-long Doraemon balloon, and plenty of never-before-seen, unique visuals.

When is it opening? March 27

The crown jewel of the humongous redevelopment project transforming the Oimachi Station area, this multi-use mega-complex is set to comprise a state-of-the-art Toho Cinemas multiplex including Tokyo’s first Dolby Cinema theatre, a fancy sauna facility, a Tsutaya-run book lounge and a plethora of eateries and bars, in addition to office and residential space.

You’ll get to sweat your worries away at Sauna Metsä Oimachi Tracks, a steamy wellness spa run by the award-winning Spa Metsä Otaka in Chiba, and follow up with some bookish relaxation at Share Lounge, a sleek bookstore-meets-café and co-working space. On the dining front, expect contributions from grill-it-yourself meat eatery Oimachi Zeniba, stand bar Tachinomi 8 and many other local lights.

Floors 5 to 13 will be occupied by the JR-run Hotel Metropolitan, which is also set to entice discerning imbibers with a 26th-floor rooftop bar boasting views over the adjacent train depot towards the skyscrapers of Shinagawa.

When is it opening? March 28

One of the most eagerly awaited parts of the still-expanding Takanawa Gateway City development is this cultural complex dreamed up by renowned architect Kengo Kuma.

Subtitled ‘The Museum of Narratives’, MoN Takanawa catches the eye with its distinctive spiral design and lush greenery. Inside, the expansive Box 1500 museum – its name a reference to its floor space in square metres – is set to host two immersive thematic exhibitions annually, while the 2,000-capacity Box 1000 theatre will serve as a venue for a variety of gigs and performances.

For a breather in between shows, head up to the Tatami & Tsukimi Terrace to lounge on traditional Japanese rush mats and admire the cityscape beyond a water feature themed on the Takanawa coastline as it might have looked like in the olden days.

When is it opening? March 28

Closed for renovations since 2022, the city’s premier history museum is making its comeback at the end of March, promising updated exhibits and more interactive content to help you experience Tokyo’s past and present on an even deeper level.

Some highlights of the reborn museum will include a full-scale reproduction of the Hattori Watch Shop, an iconic symbol of Meiji-era (1868–1912) Ginza, as well as a redesigned third-floor plaza overseen by world-renowned architect Shohei Shigematsu.

The ‘approach area’ at the foot of the momentous structure has also been reimagined, drawing visitors in with projections and footage evoking the streets and cityscape of old Edo.

When is it reopening? March 31

Craft beer lovers will be pleased to hear that Tokyo is welcoming a new brewery operated by one of Japan’s most reliable purveyors of artisanal suds. Yona Yona Tokyo Brewery will be located in the Shinagawa Intercity high-rise complex, which is set to reopen in March 2026 following a major renovation.

Run by Yo-Ho Brewing, the force behind staple beers like Yona Yona Ale and Suiyobi no Neko, the brewery-restaurant will be one of the largest establishments of its kind in Japan.

Besides a plentiful line-up of craft beers – many brewed on site, others brought in from elsewhere, for a total of 36 taps – you can look forward to a strong selection of elevated pub grub, including seasonal and limited-time food offerings.

When is it opening? March

Inviting you to immerse yourself in the world of the iconic superhero franchise set to celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2027, the Shining Theater at Club Ex inside Shinagawa’s Prince Hotel is looking like a must-visit for Sailor Moon aficionados.

In addition to a permanent stage show, the theatre will feature special cast greetings, exclusive themed drinks and an array of immersive elements helping to bring the world of the Sailor Guardians to life.

They’ve enlisted an all-star crew to do just that, with direction by Go Ueki, noted for his work on the Attack on Titan musical, while the script is by Shinjiro Kameda, a pioneer in the field of immersive theatre. Spatial design by Wataru Linda Igarashi will work to recreate iconic scenes from the anime, including the transformation sequences that continue to captivate fans the world over.

When is it opening? April

Udagawacho is getting a new home for gigs, plays and performances with the summer opening of Shibuya Lovez, a versatile venue being built by Bandai Namco Holdings.

Set to extend across four above-ground storeys and one underground floor, the building will have a capacity of around 2,000. Given the state-of-the-art facilities and enviable location – smack in the middle of Shibuya – we can’t wait to see the first line-up drop.

When is it opening? Sometime in summer

As part of the ongoing redevelopment of the Yurakucho Station area, the one-hectare site that formerly housed the Yurakucho and Shin-Yurakucho buildings will be reborn as an urban oasis in 2026 – and will eventually host a cultural hub with some serious star power behind it.

Set to open as part of Yurakucho Park in 2027 is Japa Valley Tokyo, a venture that brings together all-around cultural icon Pharrell Williams, streetwear legend Nigo and design-driven hospitality brand Not A Hotel. Inspired by California's Napa Valley, the Japa Valley project will reimagine the famous wine region through sake breweries in place of vineyards. The site will also feature artwork by American artist and designer Kaws, along with pop-up installations from a changing line-up of artists, chefs and designers, plus an event space for future projects.

When is it opening? Sometime in 2026, while Japa Valley won’t be ready until 2027.