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Asakusa Kannon Sentō
Near Sensō-ji, the water at this traditional bathhouse is a steamy 40ºC. Asakusa's historic ambience makes this a great place for a soul-soothing soak.
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Finlando Sauna
This is a huge 24-hour complex of baths and steam rooms right in the middle of Kabukichō sleaze. This is a good place - for men only - to escape the madness of the streets outside, or to spend the night if you've missed your train.
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Hanayashiki Amusement Park
Tokyo's oldest amusement park dates back to 1853, and is an absolute delight for the young ones. If you're having trouble finding the entrance, just listen for the delighted shrieking of young children, as well as the rollercoaster creaking and whooshing along its aging wooden tracks.
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Jakotsu-Yu
This Edo-era bath is one of our favourite sentō in Tokyo (and the preferred place of repose for neighbourhood yakuza , Japanese mafia, as well). First, be warned: the bathers here adore this place and initially will watch you carefully to make sure no dirty or soapy bodies make their way into the sacred tub. Once you've convinced them you're up to scrubbing every inch, head into the incredibly hot indoor soaking area where you'll be massaged by tea-coloured water that is propelled by vigorous jets.
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Jingū Stadium
The grounds of Jingū-gaien, the Meiji-jingū Outer Gardens, house both the Jingū Baseball Stadium and the National Stadium. In autumn, the gingko trees lining the main promenade Icho-Namiki-dōri turn bright yellow.
Jingū Baseball Stadium was originally built to host the 1964 Olympics and is where the Yakult Swallows are based. Baseball season runs from April through to the end of October; check the Japan Times to see who's playing.
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Kabuki-Za (Kabuki Theatre)
Located along the eastern end of Harumi-dōri is this famed kabuki theatre - even if you don't plan on attending a performance, it's worth stopping by for a quick look. Reconstructed in the 1950s, the building remains true to its 1920s fusion of Western and Japanese architecture. If you do plan on sitting in on a few acts, keep in mind that it's OK to bring your lunch and something to sip on.
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Kodomo-no-Shiro
Has playrooms, puppet theatres, a swimming pool and a music lobby where kids can make all the noise they like. The Children's Castle Hotel next door was built especially for those with young children and can be a convenient refuge for travelling families. It's located off Aoyama-dōri.
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Komparu-Yu Onsen
The fact that this straightforward, Meiji-era bath manages to keep its wits about it even as real estate prices continue to climb in the ritzy Ginza that surrounds it, must be one of Tokyo's best jokes. The bath mistress is a daunting battle-axe - no kidding, this gal chews tacks. With this in mind, make sure you scrub extra hard behind your ears, and don't even think about wearing the plastic slippers intended for the toilet out into the general locker room. With that said, Komparu-yu is a refreshing slice of Shitamachi (Low Town) in the midst of the city's most fashionable and well-to-do precincts.
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Kōrakuen Amusement Park
Adrenaline junkies of all ages will enjoy the exciting old-school rollercoasters at this amusement park as well as the newer, high-tech Geopolis side of the park that includes the Geopanic indoor rollercoaster. Once your equilibrium has been well and truly scrambled, head next door to the contemplative spaces of the Koishikawa Kōrakuen park for a dose of serenity.
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Namco Namjatown
Namjatown is owned by the arcade-game company Namco, which should tell you all you need to know about one half of the activities here (it can be pretty cacophonous!). The other half consists of three food theme parks. In the Ikebukuro Gyoza Stadium, 23 vendors from all over Japan compete for your business with their version of pan-fried dumplings.
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National Stadium
J-League soccer is booming in Japan, though naysayers had predicted its rapid decline with the departure of the 2002 World Cup (awarded to Japan, jointly with Korea). The increased interest in the game has remained, and the Japanese have embraced it almost as enthusiastically as baseball.
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Nekobukuro
For Tokyoites who may not have the time nor space to keep their own pets, Nekobukuro provides a venue for short-term cuddling with surrogate cats. Creep up to the 8th floor of the Ikebukuro branch of Tōkyū Hands to get in on the kitten action.
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Nihon Budōkan
Westerners know the 14,000-plus-seat Budōkan as Tokyo's legendary concert hall for big acts from the Beatles to Beck, but it was originally built as the site of martial arts championships (judō, karate, kendō, aikidō) for the 1964 Olympics ( budō means 'martial arts'). These arts are still practised and exhibited here today.
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Ō-Edo Onsen Monogatari
Ō-edo Onsen Monogatari does bill itself as an old Edo 'theme park', so come here for kitsch rather than authenticity. It's a good place to socialise in mixed groups, as there's an outdoor footbath area for relaxing in your yukata (light cotton robe). You wouldn't come here for a simple scrub, but if you'd like to make a day of it in Odaiba with some chums, this is a good place for an evening soak.
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Ō-Edo Onsen Monogatari (Ō-Edo Onsen Story)
Public bathing in onsen (hot springs) is a Japanese obsession, and believe it or not they've managed to find an actual hot spring 1400m below Tokyo Bay. Of course, Ō-edo Onsen is so much more than just a mere hot springs complex. Something of Disneyland meets health spa, this bathing theme park re-creates an old Japanese downtown indoors, selling old-timey foods, toys and souvenirs. Wander around in your colourful yukata and you'll fit right in. Sure it's kitschy, but what the hey…
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Ōi Keibajō
Each year from April to October, Ōi Keibajō offers night-time 'Twinkle Races'. The races are lit by mercury lamps, whose diffused light draws young couples out on hot dates. Though the popularity of horse racing has declined over the past decade, some lucky record-breaker won over around ¥13 million from a mere around ¥100 bet here in May 2005.
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Rokuryu Kōsen
It may feel like a good neighbourhood sentō, but it's actually an onsen where the water is pleasantly hot, as opposed to scalding hot as it is at some other city hot springs. The bubbling amber water contains minerals that the many old timers who come here in the afternoon claim can cure a number of ailments.
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Ryōgoku Kokugikan
Just north of Ryōgoku Station is this sumō stadium with its adjoining Sumō Museum (03 3622 0366). Fifteen-day tournaments ( basho ) take place here three times a year (January, May and September) while three other tournaments are held in other cities in March, July and November. Together, these basho decide who will be the yokozuna or grand champion.
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Tokyo Anime Center
The recently opened Tokyo Anime Center is less a museum than a place for promoting the latest and greatest in the world of anime(animation) and its merchandising. Facilities include exhibit halls, a shop and a theatre for cinematic screenings of anime as well as appearances by voice actors and anime creators (some 200 events annually). Although it is still something of a work in progress, displays are planned to be in four languages, including English.
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Tokyo Disney Resort
The world's most successful theme park is home to kid-friendly Tokyo Disneyland as well as the more adult-oriented Tokyo DisneySea.
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Tokyo Joypolis
Joypolis is Sega's high-tech playland for overstimulating your kids, or yourself. Your visit here will be full of nonstop action, with crazy indoor roller coasters, video games and virtual-reality rides.
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Tokyo Keibajō
More popularly known as Fuchū Racecourse, Tokyo Keibajō's 500m-long home straight is the longest in the country and can make for exciting, win-by-a-nose finishes. This track is where most major and international races take place. Admission varies depending on the popularity of the event.
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Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Hall
This place has six floors of fun activities for children, and best of all, it's free! On weekends, the rooftop playground is open for romping around. But every day, there are age-appropriate art projects, story-telling and music-making, and lots of creative indoor play areas.
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Tokyo Opera City
Since opening in 1997, Tokyo Opera City has been recognised as one of the world's most acoustically perfect concert halls, and this in a city that embraces classical music with fervour. It's also one of the most architecturally daring, like a giant indoor A-frame. Even if you can't make a concert, Opera City is home to two of Tokyo's best art spaces.
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Tokyo-to Jido Kaikan
Boasts six kid-friendly storeys and a number of ingenious play areas - check out the human body maze or get messy in the hands-on art studio, where children can make pottery and origami. It's 300m northeast of Shibuya Station, next to Mitake-kōen.
