TOKYO

Deciding what to do and see in Tokyo depends on how much time you have—and for your sake, we hope you have a month. The city’s streets can feel like a game of soccer played at hyper-speed, while calmer attractions range from temples, museums, gardens, origami classes, and bohemian sojourns. Tokyo has more than enough going on to put you in a tizzy, so a few words of advice: Arrive with a game plan and prepare to get a bit lost along the way, in a good way. Here, the very best things to do in Tokyo. (Editors note: Given the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hours and accessibility of many places are fluid and subject to change. Make sure to contact them before visiting.)

Yayoi Kusama Museum

In a suburban part of Shinjuku, a smooth white building rises five stories high—a museum completely devoted to the works of Yayoi Kusama. The building looks slim, but it houses a bulk of the larger-than-life and avant-garde artist's pieces, including a new installation of her “infinity room” series (an Instagram sensation which, in the past, drew hundreds of thousands of visitors in stateside exhibitions) to polka-dotted paintings and sculptures. Currently, to reduce the spread of coronavirus, entry is limited to 40 people per 90-minute admission slot.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Fancy a stroll in a Japanese garden? Get that and more at Shinjuku Gyoen. In addition to native, traditional gardens, the 144-acre park pockets French Formal and English Landscape gardens, all of which are worth the modest entrance fee. Landmarks are stunning and impossible to forget, like a Taiwan Pavilion perched along a serene pond. Formerly an imperial garden, it became a national garden after World War II—so you can trust that this precious plot is always beautifully maintained. Don't miss cherry blossom season.