Tokyo - rainy weather / after public holiday

Hi,
Currently trying to decide my Tokyo itinerary for next week and it currently looks like Tuesday will be rainy weather. Not the end of the world - but since Monday is the public holiday museums will be closed on Tuesday

Any idea what to do (repeat visitor to Tokyo, but havenft been since 2018) during rainy weather? I do have Teamlab borderless arranged for that evening - and have a few neighborhood on my agenda like Yanaka

I do have a full week in Tokyo - plan is to use any nice weather day for day trips to Enoshima, Mt Takao (possible on the 24th - with a very early start) or Mitake . Plus depending on any Mt Fuji spotting (and if there is a white cap) possible the first train to Fujikawaguchiko.

And would also love to include some fall color spots like Showa kinen park plus of course at night the light up Xmas streets (have a few bookmarked, any personal highlights?)

I also have a culinary backstreet tour in Kichijōj arranged for my last full day before taking an evening train for my airport hotel - any food spots in narita airport to buy for example a bento or so? Donft want to carry it all the way from Tokyo

Thanks again - loved the ideas so far I got

You seem like a neighborhood kind of guy, and walking neighborhoods in the rain isn't actually a bad idea at all. It's the crowd that is stressful in rain, and as opposed to that, it's not so stressful when you have the freedom to choose backstreets and the freedom to not carry things you bought or things you need for work.

But one idea is to choose a huge mall in the suburbs and spend a whole day there. Because huge suburban malls have lots to see, eat and shop but less crowd. In my neighborhood, it would be this one which is connected to the train station:
https://www.mec-markis.jp/mm/

A lot of malls even have a book store and a cinema, which both are interesting to see in a foreign country.

I hope it helps.

Similar to what Uco says above, Aeon Lake Town is in Saitama about 90 minutes from Tokyo Station by train and has 3 malls in 1 including an outlet mall and movie theaters and is all enclosed.

https://en.aeonmall.global/mall/laketown-kaze/

This is my go-to from my apartment when there is rain / heavy rain forecast on a given day and I want to walk and get exercise and perhaps shop too.

The other that is centrally located though very crowded all year around is the underground shopping areas beneath Tokyo Station which are easily accessible.

Thanks.

I love the LakeTown Mall, too! I seem to be recommending large western-style shopping malls a lot lately, somewhat apologetically at times because they donft match some peoplefs notions of gthe real Japan.h So I am glad to see a couple of other people who unabashedly suggest them. LakeTown is my favorite in the entire country, although I havenft been there in a few years. It does take some time to get there from central Tokyo, but once I get out there, I can stay for hours. And it is definitely a place where you can get some exercise if you want.

The place Uco recommended is also good. Once you get out to Minato Mirai there are a number of sites that are connected and you can wander around without getting wet. The Yokohama Museum of Art is close, too. I like its architecture. If you want more of a gneighborhoodh feel (but not protected from rain) you might enjoy poking around the Noge district on the other side of Sakuragicho Station. It is quite different from Minato Mirai.

It looks like the Yokohama Museum of Art will actually be open on Tuesday. Its normal closing day is Thursday. When I went there I was more taken with the architecture, but it has some nice art, too. I havenft been there for quite a while, though. The last couple of times I was in Yokohama it was closed for major renovations. Itfs open again now, and I want to go back and see what theyfve done with it!

Sadly not a mall person- not even a Japanese one.

The yokahama art museum looks like a great choice - but itfs only yet partially open.

Might just sleep in for the first time on this trip and see how the weather is.

Two other questions:
- if itfs looking nice on Monday would Fuji or Takao be crazy to do? Fuji would be the first normal train out
- any full size supermarket close to Shiodome Station or easy to reach via the metro? I do have OK Ginza down - there are a few food related items I want to stock up and take full advantage of my two check in luggage pieces

Also add a good non touristy kitchenware store - looking for pan, shokopan, and a cabbage cutter

Sorry, I didn't realize the museum wasn't fully open yet!

OK Ginza is not bad. It's kind of cramped, but with two stories it has a lot of selection. It is the best I have found in that central area, but I haven't shopped for groceries in Tokyo for a while.

Not sure what you mean by "pan" and "shokopan". Are you looking for a lidded pan to make shokupan, by any chance? There are some excellent places to buy them at Kappabashi dori. (I bought many of them there back in my baking days.) Kappabashi dori is a good place to buy anything for the kitchen, actually. And it's a fun place to wander around. I'm sure you would have no trouble finding a no-nonsense cabbage cutter there. A lot of tourists do go there, but the stores are serious restaurant and kitchen supply stores. You wouldn't believe the range of shokupan pans...

Yes thatfs what I meant - plus a possible pan for Tamagoyaki (might be harder as it need to be for induction)

My goal is to shop all my must haves including Uniqlo in kochi this weekend, so I know how heavy my bag is also

And then head to OK Ginza for the rest like cold brew tea and any thing else I can get back home but is a lot more expensive - already bought some Miso, Soya in small brewery shops and might stock up more in Kochi

I think Kappabashidori is probably the best place in the entire country for bread pans (lidded and unlidded). There were two or three stores where I bought them over the years. Fabulous pans... You need to allow time to find the stores with the best selection of baking tools (one of the better stores has their baking section on Floor 2, as I recall), and compare the offerings. But all the stores are pretty close to each other.

I expect you will likely find a lot of tamagoyaki pans there as well, and probably the best selection of metal types that would be compatible with induction heat that you will find anywhere.

Pans are heavy and bulky and will take up space in your luggage, so be sure to save some room if you plan to buy them.

For example,
https://www.kappabashi.or.jp/en/shops/94/

I bought quite a few pans of the type in the picture, in various sizes, and also some full-size pans in other metal types (not shown in the photo). The best ones are kind of expensive but are treasures that will last forever if you take good care of them.

I got my tamagoyaki pan for induction cooker use from Nitori in my home country. So that's another place to look for it in Tokyo.

g- if itfs looking nice on Monday would Fuji or Takao be crazy to do? Fuji would be the first normal train outh

Judging from the masses I encountered today at Takao station going to Takao Sanguchi station, yes Mt Takao will be quite busy. Ifd expect waiting lines for the ropeway and a full mountain. Also the busses from Takao tgat wefre going to other hiking destinations such as Mt Jimba wefre quite busy. But in all fairness the weather is spectacular, clear skies woth a very good view of Mt Fuji and koyo seems to be at its peak.

Pardon me, are we talking about the Yokohama Art Museum located at the very cozy part of the MM21 district? What makes you think it's not fully open yet?
https://yokohama.art.museum/

Because it says that itfs only partially open

So Monday Mt Fuji would be a better idea? Iem staying close to Kanda station and would just take the first possible train out, which know is like a 4 am wake up time

and then depending on the weather do takao possible on Wednesday or Friday?

Yokohama Art Museum fully re-opened on 8th February 2025 after the renovation.

Because it says that itfs only partially open

I was wondering who or where exactly it says that. I cannot find that information on the museum's official website that I posted earlier, and as yoko wrote, I understand that they have fully reopened months ago. I saw it with my own eyes recently.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy your weekend. And according to the lates forecast, there shouldn't be any or much rain on Tuesday in Greater Tokyo.

g So Monday Mt Fuji would be a better idea? Iem staying close to Kanda station and would just take the first possible train out, which know is like a 4 am wake up time h

I didnft say that. I only was in Takao and on Mt Jimba today. Mt Takao was probably very crowded. Mt Jimba which is harder to reach was okay. But still a lot of people. Mt Fuji area is much wider than Takao-san. So itfs kind of easier to escape the masses. In Mt Fuji area I would think that koyo is over.

Essentially most places on Monday will be quite full because it is a local holiday. So if crowds is something to avoid choose a more wide area. Such as Mt Fuji. (Assuming Kawaguchiko)

As always if you get a little bit further than the tourist masses things quickly will calm down.

I looked at the museumfs English web site and I do think itfs confusing. There is a prominent button (with a yellow caution sign) on the home page that says gPart Openh, and for current exhibitions all that is listed is an online one. There are Upcoming exhibitions that start December 6, and the free gjiyuh area also has an opening date of December 6. If you ask me, the museum should fix that.

The photos remind me of how stunning the place is. I look forward to my next visit therec

There are excursions from Tokyo that offer decent views of Mt. Fuji without the crowds, but they can be time-consuming and the transit isnft cheap.

Kim - that was also confusing for me, and the partly open bit on the top aswell

Probably heading towards the lake on Monday - should be ok on a bike to escape the crowds & taking the 4.45 am train from central Tokyo

Has anyone any recommendations for a bike rental? Helmet is a must have for me

And yes forecast looks a lot better now, plus I manage to change my food tour to Thursday aswell (gives me also a change for shopping) so I have the three more sunny looking days aswell at the moment