The best of Tokyo 2025

In a triumphant first for Japan, Jimbocho was ranked No. 1 on Time Out’s World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods list back in September. While the pick stirred up plenty of debate, it’s hard to deny that the district’s magnetic mix of old and new, community-first approach to urban renewal and dedication to analogue media make it a pretty special place – one that feels like the ideal remedy to the anxieties and relentless pace of digital life.

And the best part is that Jimbocho’s future looks bright: as we’ve seen over the three months since the Coolest Neighbourhoods announcement, this is a spot that excels in adding fresh layers without losing its soul.

Bet you didn’t see this train coming. In September and October, the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation’s ‘Oh! Ed! project’ celebrated the release of Ed Sheeran’s latest album Play by bringing a dose of pop – and pop culture – to one of the city’s deepest and noisiest subway lines.

Unsuspecting commuters and committed fans alike were treated to far more than posters on platforms: an entire eight-car Oedo line train was turned into a rolling exhibition dedicated to Sheeran’s life and career, with each carriage offering a different theme – from a retrospective of the British crooner’s discography and Japan tours to an Ed(o)-centred personality quiz (!).

From January to March, the late Ryuichi Sakamoto’s oeuvre took on a monumental dimension by way of this mesmerising experience at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. The immersive ‘seeing sound, hearing time’ offered, according to our critic Sébastien Raineri, ‘an unparalleled opportunity to discover [Sakamoto’s] sound installations and trace his experimental and pioneering journey’ – and filled our social media feeds with otherworldly shots of the concluding ‘Life-Well Tokyo, Fog Sculpture #47662’ installation.

It’s official – chef Ryota Hirako is Japan’s undisputed dessert king. First the Fukuoka visionary orchestrated the country’s mystifying maritozzo craze a couple of years ago, then he struck doughnut gold with I’m Donut?, the rhetorical-question-turned-sweets-empire famed for its pillowy-soft nama (fresh) treats.

2025 was a banner year for the franchise: I’m Donut? opened a New York City branch in April and a gluten-free shop in Shibuya in August, and expanded into fancy burgers in October. And you still have to queue up to get into any of their five regular locations across Tokyo.

When a two-Michelin-starred restaurant launches a cocktail bar, chances are it’s going to be good. That’s exactly what happened when Hiroyasu Kawate, the chef behind Florilège, unveiled his new drinking den. When he’s not experimenting with vegetable-forward cocktails, bartender Shinnosuke Takada mixes up signature creations that shine with house-made ingredients from fresh herbs to fruit-infused spirits.

One of the highlights is the Mizu Yokan, a delectable drink that tastes exactly like the traditional wagashi sweet. And as you’d expect with the Florilège connection, the selection of elevated bar bites alone is reason to visit.

The first of its kind, this convenience store offshoot in the gleaming Blue Front Shibaura complex carries FamilyMart’s popular in-house apparel line developed in collaboration with streetwear designer Hiromichi Ochiai, the founder of Facetasm. The shop offers around 150 items, including pre-sale pieces not yet available at regular FamilyMart stores. How will the competition stand up to FamiMa’s foray into fashion? Are we getting 7-Eleven sneakers next? Lawson jewellery? Ministop miniskirts?

This year marks three decades since Neon Genesis Evangelion first appeared on television, and fans have been treated to an appropriately thorough recap of Eva history with this extra-extensive showcase. ‘All of Evangelion’ offers a comprehensive look at how the world of the franchise has been constructed, reconsidered and expanded over time.

The focus is squarely on the production process itself – the drawings, the tools, the designs, the experiments – offering visitors a deep dive into the craftsmanship and innovation that have sustained Evangelion’s enduring presence. You can still catch the show: it’s on daily at Tokyo City View until January 12 2026.

Launched in February, online music broadcaster Login.jp’s YouTube session series The Shoten sparked buzz on social media by inviting up-and-coming local DJs to play sets in traditional shops and eateries across Tokyo and beyond. Channelling the power of tight tunes to champion at-risk sites of urban culture, The Shoten has already produced more memorable sets than we can detail here – from Michika’s viral stationery shop mix to Miles Medina’s groovy blast at a traditional lantern shop and on to Takuya Nakamura serving jungle breaks in a rice field.

Got money to burn at the end of the year? Set course for Takanawa Gateway and the largest Lumine mall in Japan, which is more than just a retail cluster – it’s a full-blown destination. Think a lush botanical garden 150 metres above ground, expansive flagship stores, and cool concept shops from CFCL, Beams and many other leading retailers.

What’s more, just walking around feels like being in a sci-fi film. Robots and small self-driving vehicles that look a bit like moving benches mill about amidst lush greenery, fountains and colourful works of public art.