The Legoland Discovery Center is a mini-theme park inside the Tokyo Decks shopping complex, offering fun activities and charming attractions for visitors of all ages. There are a couple of entertaining rides, a 3D adventure movie, and hands-on building activities. The most impressive feature, though, is probably the one-of-a-kind Lego Miniland, a miniature version of Tokyo made from 1.5 million Lego bricks, with moving trains, boats, and trucks.

Most of Tokyo's major landmarks are represented here, including a few architectural classics like the Nakagin Capsule Tower and Yoyogi Olympic Stadium. There's a sumo stadium where you can stage your own match between button-activated wrestlers, and a button-activated Godzilla-like monster that menaces the Q-Front Building in the mini-Shibuya district. The whole mini-city goes through a gradual day-and-night cycle, with illuminated buildings and fireworks displays after it gets dark.

In addition to Miniland, other attractions include a short amusement park-style ride where you shoot at trolls with a laser gun, and an engrossing 15-minute 3D movie set in animated Lego world, with special "4D" effects (wind, mist) to enhance the experience. (Dialog is in Japanese, but it's very easy to follow nonetheless.) The Legoland Discovery Center is a mini-theme park inside the Tokyo Decks shopping complex, offering fun activities and charming attractions for visitors of all ages. There are a couple of entertaining rides, a 3D adventure movie, and hands-on building activities. The most impressive feature, though, is probably the one-of-a-kind Lego Miniland, a miniature version of Tokyo made from 1.5 million Lego bricks, with moving trains, boats, and trucks.

Most of Tokyo's major landmarks are represented here, including a few architectural classics like the Nakagin Capsule Tower and Yoyogi Olympic Stadium. There's a sumo stadium where you can stage your own match between button-activated wrestlers, and a button-activated Godzilla-like monster that menaces the Q-Front Building in the mini-Shibuya district. The whole mini-city goes through a gradual day-and-night cycle, with illuminated buildings and fireworks displays after it gets dark.

In addition to Miniland, other attractions include a short amusement park-style ride where you shoot at trolls with a laser gun, and an engrossing 15-minute 3D movie set in animated Lego world, with special "4D" effects (wind, mist) to enhance the experience. (Dialog is in Japanese, but it's very easy to follow nonetheless.)

Of course there are numerous opportunities to build things and play with Legos. Most popular with adults was the Racer Build and Test area, where you can build your own miniature vehicle from thousands of available parts, then test it on inclined tracks. Visitors under 140cm in height can climb around inside the maze-like Fire Academy and Construction Site, while very young kids can explore Duplo Village, which is equipped with larger-sized soft bricks. Model Builder Workshops can help novice builders get started on their own projects.

The onsite cafe offers snacks and drinks and a place to take a break from all the fun; and there's a well-stocked Lego shop at the exit. The Discovery Center website suggests setting aside 2-3 hours for a visit, but some enthusiastic visitors recommend a full day. The website offers some discounts for online booking. [Venue data] [Show more] [Show less]

Rising from a relatively narrow (326-square-meter) plot, the seven-story structure is fashioned as a series of irregular horizontal planes stacked precariously on top of each other, with several of the levels bounded by distinctive-looking walls of vertical wooden slats. Rising from a relatively narrow (326-square-meter) plot, the seven-story structure is fashioned as a series of irregular horizontal planes stacked precariously on top of each other, with several of the levels bounded by distinctive-looking walls of vertical wooden slats.

The building houses a tourist information center, exhibition spaces and conference rooms, with a reasonably priced cafe and free viewing deck up on the top floor. It was designed by well-known architect Kengo Kuma, and completed in May 2012. [Venue data] [Show more] [Show less]

Highlights at this charming local museum include life-size reconstructions of an Edo-era storehouse, residential interiors, and half a streetcar. There's also a large scale-model diorama representing the early post town of "Naito Shinjuku" - rows of shops and houses surrounded by farms, occupying the area between modern-day Shinjuku station and Isetan Department Store.

Seemingly random memorabilia from 1900-1960 focus on Shinjuku's history as an entertainment district, filled with bars and restaurants, cinemas and live theaters. One unexpected display illustrates the history of Japanese curry rice, using old newspaper articles, menus and plastic food models. Other exhibit areas show off archeological finds from the Jomon and Yayoi periods and a number of Edo-era paintings and drawings. Highlights at this charming local museum include life-size reconstructions of an Edo-era storehouse, residential interiors, and half a streetcar. There's also a large scale-model diorama representing the early post town of "Naito Shinjuku" - rows of shops and houses surrounded by farms, occupying the area between modern-day Shinjuku station and Isetan Department Store.

Seemingly random memorabilia from 1900-1960 focus on Shinjuku's history as an entertainment district, filled with bars and restaurants, cinemas and live theaters. One unexpected display illustrates the history of Japanese curry rice, using old newspaper articles, menus and plastic food models. Other exhibit areas show off archeological finds from the Jomon and Yayoi periods and a number of Edo-era paintings and drawings.

Off to one side is a temporary exhibition room, which was hosting a collection of 1950s-era photos of Shinjuku station and vicinity when we visited. The small museum shop at the entrance offers postcards from the permanent collection.

Although it's not nearly as expansive in scope as the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku, it does provide some interesting glimpses of local life in Shinjuku through the ages, and is worth stopping by if you're in the area. [Venue data] [Show more] [Show less]

The Marunouchi district is teeming with smart new shopping-dining-office complexes, but Kitte ("postage stamp"), brought to you by the Japanese Postal Service, is the only one with its own natural-history museum. Or is it a contemporary art gallery? Whichever, this slickly produced two-story facility is worth checking out, and admission is free of charge.

Interdisciplinary experimentation is the goal here, and the museum's impressive collection of hundreds of taxidermied birds and animal skeletons is recontextualized as a "revival of historical heritage within the contemporary urban cityscape." In other words, it's like visiting a really old museum, except it's new and in a shopping mall.

Specimens are neatly arrayed in century-old wooden cabinets, and shelves are crowded with glass-topped display cases, apothecary jars and leather-bound books. Off in one corner is a life-size recreation of a late 19th-century university lecture room. Some natural-history highlights include skeletons of a minke whale and an enormous Elephant Bird, a now-extinct species that was once the heaviest bird in existence. The Marunouchi district is teeming with smart new shopping-dining-office complexes, but Kitte ("postage stamp"), brought to you by the Japanese Postal Service, is the only one with its own natural-history museum. Or is it a contemporary art gallery? Whichever, this slickly produced two-story facility is worth checking out, and admission is free of charge.

Interdisciplinary experimentation is the goal here, and the museum's impressive collection of hundreds of taxidermied birds and animal skeletons is recontextualized as a "revival of historical heritage within the contemporary urban cityscape." In other words, it's like visiting a really old museum, except it's new and in a shopping mall.

Specimens are neatly arrayed in century-old wooden cabinets, and shelves are crowded with glass-topped display cases, apothecary jars and leather-bound books. Off in one corner is a life-size recreation of a late 19th-century university lecture room. Some natural-history highlights include skeletons of a minke whale and an enormous Elephant Bird, a now-extinct species that was once the heaviest bird in existence.

You'll also find stuffed rabbits and foxes, turtles large and small, beetles and butterflies, miniature models of cows, boxes of seashells, rocks and fossils, and jars of medicinal plants. Other galleries contain Egyptian mummies, Japanese archeological finds, and old coins.

There's science-inspired art as well - the "Age of Discovery of the Solar System" features greyish-brown paintings depicting imagined planetary surfaces, and there are some nice Audobon bird prints. Large-format photographs in one room document the design, construction and eventual demolition of the historic Tokyo Central Post Office, which occupied this site until very recently.

Future special exhibitions will be devoted to contemporary scientific research and artistic expression. Original goods, such as framed, old-fashioned prints of insect specimens (Y60,000) and stylish graphic arts magazines, can be purchased in the museum's boutique. [Venue data] [Show more] [Show less]

The garden area here is laid out around a large pond inhabited by turtles, carp and ducks and other birds. Kiyoumi Gardens is best known for its collection of exotic landscape stones gathered from around Japan, many of which are used to create stepping-stone pathways through shallower areas of the pond. An attractive teahouse sits at one end.

The azaleas, irises and hydrangeas are generally at their best in May and June. The garden was first laid out in 1878 by the founder of Mitsubishi Corporation as a place to entertain business guests; it was given over to the city of Tokyo in 1932. The garden area here is laid out around a large pond inhabited by turtles, carp and ducks and other birds. Kiyoumi Gardens is best known for its collection of exotic landscape stones gathered from around Japan, many of which are used to create stepping-stone pathways through shallower areas of the pond. An attractive teahouse sits at one end.

The azaleas, irises and hydrangeas are generally at their best in May and June. The garden was first laid out in 1878 by the founder of Mitsubishi Corporation as a place to entertain business guests; it was given over to the city of Tokyo in 1932.

See bonus photos on our Facebook page. [Venue data] [Show more] [Show less]

Cat cafes are so 2011 - bird cafes are the next big thing. Enjoy the company of owls and parrots while sipping your herb tea and snacking on owl-shaped cookies and coffee jellies. They also offer a selection of beers and wines that feature birds of prey on their labels, including three varieties of the excellent Hitachino Nest Beer (weitzen, white ale, sweet stout) as well as Steenuilke ("Little Owl"), a blond beer from Belgium (all Y1000/bottle). Cat cafes are so 2011 - bird cafes are the next big thing. Enjoy the company of owls and parrots while sipping your herb tea and snacking on owl-shaped cookies and coffee jellies. They also offer a selection of beers and wines that feature birds of prey on their labels, including three varieties of the excellent Hitachino Nest Beer (weitzen, white ale, sweet stout) as well as Steenuilke ("Little Owl"), a blond beer from Belgium (all Y1000/bottle).

Assorted owls and a small eagle hang out in the two glassed-in areas at the front of the cafe, while parrots and a cockatoo squawk and cavort in cages along one wall. A big artificial tree adds to the tropical atmosphere, and tables and shelves are crowded with bird-themed knickknacks.

After you're finished your coffee you can pet a couple of the tamer owls (after disinfecting your hands) - they don't seem to mind, but they aren't all that enthusiastic either. The cafe's facilities also include a bird hotel, for your feathered friends who might need temporary lodging; rates start at Y1000/night for small birds.

See bonus photos on our Facebook page. [Venue data] [Show more] [Show less]

Life in Japan during and after World War II - the period from 1935 to 1955 to be exact - is the focus at this small historical museum. Completely renovated in January 2013, the museum offers a unique glimpse into everyday life during this turbulent period, with themed exhibits incorporating old photographs, household objects and clothing from the era. The substantial collection of posters, advertisements, books and magazines also serves as a showcase of mid-century Japanese graphic arts and design. Life in Japan during and after World War II - the period from 1935 to 1955 to be exact - is the focus at this small historical museum. Completely renovated in January 2013, the museum offers a unique glimpse into everyday life during this turbulent period, with themed exhibits incorporating old photographs, household objects and clothing from the era. The substantial collection of posters, advertisements, books and magazines also serves as a showcase of mid-century Japanese graphic arts and design.

The first section of the museum - one entire floor - is devoted to life during wartime, with sections covering conscription, life under government control, food rationing, changes in the education system, and preparations for urban air raids.

A second floor covers the post-war period, with a theme of economic hardship followed by gradual recovery facilitated by the revival of industry. Antique rice cookers, washing machines, radios and black-and-white TV sets hint at Japan's future as a manufacturing power later in the century.

There's also a large audio-visual library where you can access thousands of photographs and newspapers via computer terminals. In total, the museum displays some 700 selections from the museum's collection of over 18,000 items. While there isn't much in the way of English-language labeling, the free audio tour is well put together and adds quite a bit to the experience. The museum's official name is the National Showa Memorial Museum, and it is managed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. [Venue data] [Show more] [Show less]

Run by a 300-year-old trading and canned-foods company, this free mini-museum and showroom focuses on Japanese food-packaging design over the past 100 years, showing off iconic designs like Akebono-brand salmon's red-and-white striped can (1910), Morinaga milk caramels (1914), and S&B Curry (1954). Run by a 300-year-old trading and canned-foods company, this free mini-museum and showroom focuses on Japanese food-packaging design over the past 100 years, showing off iconic designs like Akebono-brand salmon's red-and-white striped can (1910), Morinaga milk caramels (1914), and S&B Curry (1954).

The "warehouse" section exhibits traditional food products from all over Japan - miso paste, soy sauce, sake, tsuyu and dashi sauces. There's also an exhibit of noteworthy eki-ben - bento boxes from train stations around the country. And the attached cafe serves up original-recipe gourmet dishes made from canned foods.

See the bonus photo album on our Facebook page. [Venue data] [Show more] [Show less]

Showcasing traditional and modern crafts local to the Sumida-ku area (where Tokyo Skytree is located), this attractive shop sells glassware, traditional food items, chopsticks and bowls, knives and scissors, and goods made from wood, leather and paper. Showcasing traditional and modern crafts local to the Sumida-ku area (where Tokyo Skytree is located), this attractive shop sells glassware, traditional food items, chopsticks and bowls, knives and scissors, and goods made from wood, leather and paper.

The small gallery area at the front of the facility hosts regular art exhibits, and there's a corner devoted to visiting artisans where you can watch them demonstrate their craft. Traditional sweets and tea are served in the comfortable cafe area. [Venue data] [Show more] [Show less]

Open to the public since 1989, the Wild Bird Park (Tokyoko Yacho Koen in Japanese) is a 24-hectare nature preserve built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay. Within the park are several diverse habitats fashioned to attract a variety of wildlife, with wooded areas, mudflats, marshes and lakes. Commonly seen year-round residents in the wet areas include cormorants, egrets, herons, grebes, black-winged stilts and various ducks, while other birds drop by on their annual migration routes. Open to the public since 1989, the Wild Bird Park (Tokyoko Yacho Koen in Japanese) is a 24-hectare nature preserve built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay. Within the park are several diverse habitats fashioned to attract a variety of wildlife, with wooded areas, mudflats, marshes and lakes. Commonly seen year-round residents in the wet areas include cormorants, egrets, herons, grebes, black-winged stilts and various ducks, while other birds drop by on their annual migration routes.

The most comfortable place for all-weather birdwatching is the four-story Nature Center, on the eastern side of the park around 450 meters from the entrance. There you can sit and look out onto a large freshwater pond through good-quality telescopes, browse through bird books, and consult with staff members (mostly in Japanese). In addition to the Nature Center there are several observation blinds, where free telescopes are also provided.

The park is most popular with visitors during spring and fall, but the birdwatching is said to be best in winter. On Sundays and holidays at 11am the staff conduct nature walks geared towards beginner birdwatchers. There's no onsite cafe (just a drinks machine), however there is a picnic area near the entrance if you want to bring your own lunch. Located on the Tokyo Monorail line to Haneda Airport, the park is easy to reach from central Tokyo. [Venue data] [Show more] [Show less]

Located at the entrance to the Kappabashi shopping district on the corner of Asakusa-dori and Kappabashi-dori, this two-story shop offers an impressive selection of tableware in all price ranges. Upstairs you'll find artisanal pottery from all over Japan as well as beautiful lacquerware and wooden and metal utensils. The ground floor stocks more dishes and bowls for everyday use, all at very reasonable prices. There's a shipping service if you don't feel like lugging around your purchases. [Venue data]