• 1. Visit a museum (or three)
• 2. Take a stroll through a sprawling imperial garden
• 3. Enjoy a good burger
• 4. Explore a national treasure
• 5. Enjoy a night on the town
• Shinjuku is just the beginning

1. Visit a museum (or three)

Your trip to Tokyo may be all about the Olympics, but why not take some time to soak in a little history during your downtime? Whether you’re into art, local history, or firefighting (yes, firefighting), you won’t have to stray far from the New National Stadium to find something fascinating. See for yourself in the following articles:

• 3 Shinjuku Museums to Visit on a Rainy Day
•  The Shinjuku Historical Museum
•  The Tokyo Fire Museum

Stretch goal: ambitious urban explorers should consider the long-but-doable trek to Kabukicho to visit the superb Samurai Museum.

2. Take a stroll through a sprawling imperial garden

If the crowds of the stadium get you down, fear not. You’re bound to find some open space to call your own within the sprawling green acres (144 to be exact) of Shinjuku Gyoen. A mere 10-minute walk from the New National Stadium, Shinjuku Gyoen is filled with beautiful vistas and amusing diversions such as tea houses and a strikingly designed greenhouse. Check out the following articles for details:

• Shinjuku Gyoen through the Seasons
• Experience the Teahouses of Shinjuku Gyoen
• Through the Ages: The Greenhouse of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

3. Enjoy a good burger

Japanese food is amazing, but there are times when you might want a familiar taste from home or a local twist on a favorite dish—something universal that you can order without worrying about kanji characters and translation. In other words, sometimes a good old fashioned burger hits the spot. If this sounds like you, then you’re in luck. There are at least three burger places worthy of your attention near the New National Stadium. Learn more about them below:

• Burg Holic: Take a Burger Break in Arakicho
• Cruz Burgers
• Island Burgers in Shinjuku: It all Started with a Palm-Tree Pick

4. Explore a national treasure

When most people imagine Japan, traditional wooden temples and shrines come to mind. However, once you arrive here, you’ll quickly realize that Japan is home to all kinds of architecture, including some amazing western designs in the most unlikely of places.

Case in point: the Akasaka Palace, a French neoclassical architectural wonder modeled after Buckingham Palace. Tucked away among the sleek skyscrapers of Tokyo’s Akasaka district, all it takes is a 25-minute walk to reach the main entrance to the palace grounds where you can gaze upon this gorgeous national treasure. Learn more in this article:

The Akasaka Palace: Tokyo’s Hidden National Treasure 

5. Enjoy a night on the town

Just because the Olympic events for the day are over doesn’t mean the fun and excitement have to end. Arakicho—Shinjuku’s traditional, historic entertainment district just north of the New National Stadium—awaits. With over 300 bars and restaurants to choose from, you’re bound to find the perfect place to celebrate your country’s Olympic victories or drown away the sorrow of a crushing defeat. Here’s two of my favorite places to get you started:

• Bar C-Shell: Fostering Communication through Pop Culture and Fine Spirits
• Vowz Bar: Spirits for the Spirit

Shinjuku is just the beginning

Hopefully, this handy quick-reference guide to the area surrounding the New National Stadium will be more than enough to keep you occupied during the downtime between Olympic matches. However, if you’re looking for more to do farther afield, be sure to visit our homepage for more unique adventures all throughout Japan.