Secret sakura spots, outdoor art strolls, ‘park in the city’: Why Tokyo constantly surprises

To say that Tokyo constantly reinvents itself is an understatement. This is a city where tradition and innovation never merely coexist: They constantly collide, collaborate, and create something new. Even seasoned travellers have to admit that the Japanese metropolis still finds its way to surprise. 

With bold redevelopments like Takanawa Gateway City, revived icons such as the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, serene escapes and cultural gems, Tokyo offers fresh perspectives at every turn. Here’s why it deserves not just another visit, but a rediscovery.

Experience the future: Takanawa Gateway City

A short ride from Haneda Airport, Takanawa Gateway City,Tokyo’s large-scale development area has opened in phases since 2025.  

Anchored by the glass-clad Takanawa Gateway Station, which the Yamanote Line brings you to, this new urban hub brings together homes, offices, hotels and public spaces with a clear focus on design, technology and sustainability.

At its core lies The Linkpillar 1 North/South, a lifestyle and shopping complex that blends contemporary style with a local touch. Beyond the sleek storefronts and curated interiors, the city’s next chapter plays out in quiet but striking ways: security, cleaning and delivery robots glide through hallways while landscaped plazas give space to pause in the middle of Tokyo’s rush.

Designed for both function and beauty, Takanawa Gateway City hints at how Tokyo might look — and feel — in the decades to come as it welcomes you into the city in style.

Travel back in time: Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo & Café 1894

From the futuristic lines of Tokyo’s new developments, take a short step into history.  In Marunouchi, the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo offers a window into Tokyo’s Meiji-era modernisation. Originally built in 1894 by British architect Josiah Conder, the red-brick Western-style building was reconstructed according to the original blueprints and reopened as a museum in 2010. 

After a year-long closure, it reopened in November 2024, restored and refreshed for a new generation of visitors.

The collection primarily features Western art from the late 19th century, from the same period as the building itself, including works by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Odilon Redon and Félix Vallotton. Three special exhibitions are held annually, each focusing on modern art from the late 19th to early 20th century.

Afterwards, stop by Café 1894, housed in the former banking hall, where high ceilings and seasonal menus nod to the building’s past.

Do it for the ’gram: Marunouchi Street Gallery

Just beyond the museum walls, public art takes over the street. The Marunouchi Street Gallery — a collaboration with the Hakone Open-Air Museum — has been turning Naka-dori avenue into a sculpture-lined promenade since 1972. Creations by both emerging and established artists line the sidewalks, transforming an ordinary stroll into a cultural encounter.

One of the recent showstoppers is Michiko Nakatani’s bronze sculpture “A Girl Who Carries a Small Fish Carefully and a Blue Bird Flying in Your Golden Sky” (2022), which plays with perception as her downcast gaze shifts with your movement. It is the kind of surreal, camera-ready art moment that encapsulates Tokyo: rooted in heritage, but always reinterpreted for the now.

Take a breather in Ginza: Ginza Sony Park

Even amid the glamour of Ginza, there is room for pause. Rising from the site of the former Sony Building, Ginza Sony Park opened in January 2025 as a multi-level space for culture, events and relaxation. 

Unlike conventional retail complexes, this “park in the city” operates with no fixed tenants. Every level, from the rooftop terrace to the three subterranean floors, hosts rotating events, exhibitions and pop-ups that make every visit different.

The rooftop, also called the “sky garden”, sits 20 metres above ground, intentionally lower than surrounding towers, creating a surprising sense of openness. 

It is the perfect spot to grab a quiet lunch, soak in the views of the Sukiyabashi intersection or simply let Tokyo’s fast pace slow for a moment.

Escape the city like a local: Nogawa Park

Cherry blossoms are synonymous with Tokyo, but avoiding the crowds at hotspots like Ueno Park can feel impossible. Enter Nogawa Park, a lush riverside escape beloved by locals. With approximately 8,000 trees, including plenty of sakura — the park becomes a pastel wonderland in spring, yet retains a quiet, lived-in charm year-round.

Families and friends spread picnic blankets under the blossoms, cyclists coast along shaded paths, and children explore playgrounds and nature centres. Athletic fields and barbecue pits invite longer stays, making it a full-day retreat within easy reach of the city. Best of all, it is just a short train ride from central Tokyo: Alight at Tama Station (on the Chuo and Tamagawa lines) and within 10 minutes on foot, you are in a completely different world.

Recreate iconic cinema: Stay at the Park Hyatt Tokyo

For luxury travellers, few names evoke sophistication quite like Park Hyatt Tokyo. Immortalised in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation (2003), the hotel has long stood as a symbol of understated elegance. Following a comprehensive refinement, it will reopen on Dec 9, 2025 — more graceful and refined than ever.

Perched atop the Shinjuku Park Tower — a modernist landmark by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Kenzo Tange — the hotel now features 171 rooms and suites, each redesigned to feel more open and elegant, rooted in ease and personalised comfort.

The bathrooms take inspiration from traditional wet rooms, pairing marble with warm wood tones. Frette linens and Dyson and Aesop amenities create an atmosphere of calm indulgence, while suites elevate the experience with Bose smart sound systems and views stretching across Shinjuku, Meiji Shrine and even Mount Fuji on clear days.

Dining remains exceptional. Girandole by Alain Ducasse, the iconic New York Grill & Bar, and the tranquil Kozue restaurant return alongside the glass-ceilinged Peak Lounge & Bar. Whether seeking cinematic romance or refined urban sanctuary, Park Hyatt Tokyo continues to embody the art of discreet luxury.

Educational fun before departure: JAL Sky Museum

Even your final hours in Tokyo can be an adventure. Located at Haneda Airport, the JAL Sky Museum is a free, family-friendly attraction that welcomes over 100,000 visitors a year. Aviation enthusiasts and curious travellers alike will find plenty to explore: historic uniforms, vintage posters, model aircraft and memorabilia from the Imperial family’s flights. Soon-to-be-released exhibits will showcase fifth generation cabin attendant items, including handbags, hats, shoes and vintage gifts.

Interactive zones let you try piloting in a flight simulator or directing planes on the tarmac, while the “FutureZone” explores sustainability in aviation and will soon feature a new video on a “flying car”. Guided tours through the airline’s hangar offer a behind-the-scenes peek at aircraft maintenance.

With demand high, two new time slots have been added at 13:30 and 16:30 — the latter being the coveted “Twilight” slot, offering views of the sunset over the hangar during summer months. Reservations are recommended and fill quickly. If you secure one, it’s a memorable finale to your Tokyo trip.

A Tokyo that’s always new

Tokyo is a city of contrasts: Futuristic yet historical, serene yet electric, indulgent yet accessible. For repeat visitors, its charm lies not in familiarity, but in reinvention. Every visit reveals another layer – a city that never stops surprising.

Plan your next visit to Tokyo with these tips.