6 WONDERFULLY WEIRD THINGS TO DO IN TOKYO
It's no secret that Tokyo has it quirks. From its theatrical food fetishes to its animal entertainment, there is no shortage of weird things to do. Here's a roundup of the city's quirkiest attractions.
1. Attend a Tuna Auction. If you're interested in watching Japanese men hover over the finest frozen tuna, this is for you. At Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, the largest fish market in the world, you can not only see (and smell) fish, you can also witness it being sold for ungodly prices. On certain days of the week, 120 privileged spectators are permitted to enter the live tuna auction. If you want to take part in what could be the smelliest experience you willingly put yourself through, it's going to cost you some precious sleep. You'll need to get to the fish market by 5 AM at the latest, 4:30 AM to be safe. If you're anything like me, you'll spend your pre-auction evening (and the wee hours of the morning) with a group of ex-pats at a local Izakaya introducing yourself to the many variations of Sake. Something about attending a tuna auction while delirious and drunk on Japanese libations makes the experience a whole lot more exhilarating.
Side Note: No visit to Tsukiji market is complete without "sushi breakfast," especially if you're looking to feed your drunken munchies. Sushi Dai and Daiwa Sushi are both incredible but often have long queues.
2. Visit a Maid Cafe. This is for all the gentlemen (and ladies) out there who enjoy a different kind of burlesque experience. The concept of a maid cafe is yet another disconcerting and inexplicable staple of Tokyo's Akihabara anime district. The typical cafe requires a cover or minimum charge, rightfully so...since you'll be entertained by several female Japanese servants in pigtails and maid outfits. What sort of entertainment do you ask? Typical maid behaviors include greeting customers as "master," reciting ritual maid prayers over food, and spoon feeding customers.
3. Watch a Robot show. If you're interested in knowing what acid feels like without actually taking it, book yourself an afternoon ticket to the Robot Show in the red-light district of Kabukicho. The entire show is a bit of a blur to me...I recall scantily dressed women, giant pandas, and of course robots.
4. Visit a Cat or Owl Cafe. For those that know me well, I have a disdain and fear for only two animals on this planet: cats and birds. Thankfully, Tokyo has an obsession with quarantining both in small spaces reserved for daytime beverages. Patrons pay a cover fee to play with cats (often presented in the form of a cat menu) or sit in a room full of owls of varying sizes and breeds.
5. Observe a used panty vending machine or store. I use the word "observe," as this is what I chose to do, but this by no means is a recommendation or requirement for anyone choosing to partake. As they say, when in Tokyo...
6. Stay in a capsule hotel. Why stay in a fancy chain hotel when you can stay in a plastic container the size of your office desk? Japan is a country obsessed with space and efficiency, especially when it comes to bedroom space for drunken businessmen who missed the last train home. As appealing as this sounds, I couldn't take part in this experience. I had a hard time finding a capsule hotel that catered to women, but if you're male and somewhat comfortable with sleeping in an adult-sized cabinet, your sweetest dreams have come true.
