- 10 Oct, 2024
Our world is blessed with a myriad of riveting places, and Tokyo is one of the "Most Highly Visited Cities in the World." It is a perfect blend of ultramodern and traditional ambiance. It is renowned for its culture, tradition, and architecture and offers innumerable destinations to travelers that exhibit mesmerizing beauty. Due to such a wide variety of tourist spots, visitors often get confused about choosing the places they should include in their plans. If you are also perplexed about the best places to visit in Tokyo, this article will resolve your issue. Below are some suggestions discussing the most charming places to visit in Tokyo that you must include in your trip to make the most out of it.
List of Top 15 Best Places to Visit in Tokyo
1. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is undoubtedly one of the most captivating places you will ever visit, and your trip will be incomplete if you do not include it in your plan. It is an extensive public garden spread over 140 acres in Shinjuku and Shibuya. It is declared as the "National Garden," under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment. If you want to witness its peak beauty, you must visit this location during the cherry blossom season. This garden offers multiple tourist spots with enchanting greenery and scenery, such as Wooden Footbridge, Shinjuku Gyo-en in fall, Cherry Blossom viewing spot, and many others. It allows visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week, except Monday. The visiting fee is free for children and 400-500 yen for adults.
2. Senso-ji Temple
You must include temples in your trip to ensure your tour becomes spiritual and complete in every sense. Senso-ji Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple in Tokyo, which is one of the most significant religious sites. You will be shocked to know that this temple is the world's most visited religious site, attracting more than 30 million visitors annually. Moreover, you will travel back to the Edo period, seeing its five-story pagoda, trails of incense, and vast eaves. This temple was opened in 645 AD, making it the oldest-established temple in Tokyo. This temple opens for visitors from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. from Monday to Sunday. They do not charge any entrance fee from the devotees. Furthermore, the street by the side of Senso-ji Temple, renowned as the "Nakamise-dori," offers multiple shops and exciting things to do.
3. Meiji Jingu Shrine
Meiji Jingu Shrine is one of Tokyo's most highly visited and significant tourist attractions. It is a Shinto Shrine situated in Shibuya. This shrine was built in 1920 in honor of the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. In addition to its astounding architecture and scenic grounds, the shrine ceremonies are another primary reason that captivates millions of tourists from all across the globe. Numerous festivals are organized at this shrine on an annual basis. Some of the most popular occasions are the Autumn Grand Festival, Yokozuna, Shoken-Kotaigo-Sai, and many others. It also offers a myriad of exhibitions, including ice carving, shodoten (Calligraphy winners' works), Suiseki Masterpieces, and much more. Meiji Jingu Shrine charges no admission fee and allows visitors every day from sunrise to sunset.
4. teamLab Planets TOKYO
"Museums are boring," is most people's conception regarding the museums. But if you visit teamLab Planets TOKYO, your perspective regarding the museum will completely change. The teamLab Planets Tokyo is an art facility established by the teamLab and DMM.com. It is an art facility that utilizes digital technology and artwork to offer a sensory, immersive, and unique experience. You have to walk barefoot in this museum through the four large-scale artwork spaces and two gardens created by the art collective teamLab. The visitors get to experience various artworks, such as Waterfall of Light Particles at the Top of an Incline, The Infinite Crystal Universe, Ephemeral Solidified Light, Floating in the Falling Universe of Flowers, and much more. This museum opens from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Sunday. Visiting this museum will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable experiences.
5. Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
The Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center is one of the captivating architectural brilliance that contains tourist facilities located directly across the street from the Kaminarimon. It operates from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The center's motto is "Finding, Showing, and Supporting." Due to its brilliant structure, it also won the award of "Good Design Award" in 2012. Moreover, around this center, you will find various goods-selling shops and clothing stores from old Japan. Also, Asakusa is an amazing place to visit in itself due to its traditional ambiance and numerous shopping streets.
6. Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower is one of the most underrated tourist spots in Tokyo, but it is guaranteed that you will be extremely amazed if you include this destination in your tour. Tokyo Tower, standing 333 meters high, is the world's tallest and self-supported steel tower. It is a communications and observation tower situated in the district of Shiba-koen in Minato. The most fascinating feature of this architecture is its modernist charm, which is appreciated from the outside as it lights up at night. Moreover, when you climb to the top, you will get to view dynamic and mesmerizing views of the city. Furthermore, under this tower, there is a building renowned as the "FootTown." This building is a four-story building that houses various museums, restaurants, and shops at different levels. Its different floors comprise the Guinness World Records Museum, Aquarium Gallery, and much more. It operates from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., seven days a week.
7. Ueno Park
Ueno Park, established in 1873, is a spacious public park that is one of the country's first public parks. An interesting fact that most people are unaware of is that this park is the most popular city park and one of the oldest public parks in Japan, attracting over ten million visitors annually. You can forget to include other destinations in your tour, but this place must be included in your plan if you want to make your trip notable. This park comprises everything that a traveler aspires to. It is home to innumerable museums, such as the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, etc. In addition to the museums, you will find various other tourist attractions, such as the Ueno Zoo, the Equestrian statue of Prince Komatsu Akihito, and many others. This park allows visitors from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., from Monday to Sunday. Its entrance fee is from 500-1,000 Yen.
8. Tokyo Skytree
Do you love to enjoy spectacular views and capture them as photographs? If so, then you must include this place in your Tokyo trip. The Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting and observation tower in Sumida. In past times, it has been renowned as the tallest tower in Japan. As a matter of fact, it is the tallest freestanding tower in the OECD, the G20, and G7 countries. There are two highlights of this tower that make it one of the significant tourist spots of Tokyo. First, it has two observation decks that offer magnificent views of the entire city and the skyline. Second, the exterior lattice of this structure offers two illumination patterns (Sky blue and purple) that alternate daily, providing fascinating views of the building. The view from its observation deck will unquestionably be one of the most mesmerizing views you will ever witness. You can visit this tower from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on any day of the week except Sunday when it allows tourists from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
9. Akihabara
Akihabara is a perfect place for the Gen-Z generation because it is especially renowned for the "Okatu Culture." This culture displays anime and manga icons on the streets of Akihabara. Furthermore, the sidewalks, especially the mid-cafes, advertise this culture extensively. Also, the architecture, release events, special festivals, and conventions are common ways to reflect the desire of Akihabara anime and manga. Most people do not know this fact about Akihabara, which was renowned earlier as the place to shop for electronic items at a discount. The nickname of this place is "Denki-gai," which means "Electronic Town." Visitors will also find innumerable venues specializing in manga, video games, and anime, such as Tokyo Anime Center and Radio Kaikan.
10. Ginza
Some travelers also prefer to explore the city during the night time; therefore, it is essential to include places that provide exceptional experiences during the night. And when it comes to such destinations, no place can beat the GInza, the district of Chuo. Even though it is one of the underrated destinations in Tokyo. However, you will be astonished to know that Ginza is one of the most expensive, elegant, and lavishing city districts in the world. This place is a popular upscale shopping area in Tokyo, making it a perfect place for shopping enthusiasts. You can find numerous international brand outlets, renowned department stores, coffeehouses, boutiques, and restaurants in this district. In addition to its brand outlets and lavishing life, another major reason for visiting this place is its exuberant nightlife. Once you visit the place, you will wonder why this district is such an underrated tourist spot in Tokyo.
11. Shibuya Crossing
Shibuya Scramble Crossing, also renowned as Shibuya Crossing, is a famous pedestrian scramble crossing in Shibuya. The most crowded area at this crossing is the statue of Hachiko, the common meeting place between the station and the intersection. This crossing is often compared to Times Square in New York City due to its heavy traffic and the extensive advertising on the giant video screens mounted on the buildings, such as the landmark QFRONT. It is one of the busiest crossings in Tokyo and the world's busiest pedestrian crossing. Moreover, it is often featured in films and television shows, such as Lost in Translation, The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, Resident Evil: Afterlife, and many others. Furthermore, you can find innumerable general stores and shopping malls at this crossing that provide an appropriate reason to visit this place and spend your leisure time.
12. Tokyo National Museum
Knowing a country's or city's history you are visiting is as important as knowing about its culture and tradition. The best way to know about the history of a place is to visit its museums. Tokyo National Museum is an art museum situated in the Ueno Park. It is hailed as Japan's oldest and largest museum that collects, preserves, and displays a comprehensive collection of artwork and archaeological artifacts. These cultural objects are primarily from Japan and other parts of Asia. Moreover, this is also an extensive collection of Gerco-Buddhist art. According to recent data, this museum possesses approximately 120,000 cultural properties, including 319 Horyuji Treasures, 649 Important Cultural Properties, and 89 National Treasures. This museum stays closed on Monday and the rest of the days; it opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. or 8 p.m., depending on the day.
13. Takeshita Street
Generally, females love shopping, especially when visiting new places. If you are also one of them, then you must visit Takeshita Street in Tokyo, situated in Shibuya City. This shopping street covers 350 meters, separating Harajuku Station and Meiji Street in Harajuku. This street is especially renowned for its distinctive fashion. It offers numerous stores and shops that provide a wide variety of garments characterized by bright colors, unique accessories, bold patterns, and extensive style. Regardless of the age group of the visitors, you can find appropriate fashion, including punk-inspired fashion and Lolita dresses. This marketplace operates from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. In addition to the attractive fashion, this shopping street offers various dessert shops and fun trendy stores. This is one of the most renowned and affordable marketplaces that must be included in your tour.
14. Ameyoko Shopping Street
Don't you think the tour is incomplete without shopping, especially if you love to shop? Ameya-Yokocho, renowned as the Ameyoko, is an open-air market and shopping street in the Taito Word next to the Ueno Station. You must visit this place on your Tokyo tour. You will be surprised to see the variety and number of products this shopping street offers, and there will be nothing that you would want to buy and could not find here. Travelers come from all across the globe to visit this market. It offers various products, such as traditional Japanese patterned clothes, cosmetics, seafood stands, jewelry, and more. This market operates from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, and usually stays busy around 6 p.m. A fun fact about this market is that the etymology of the market name symbolizes the stores that used to supply American army goods during World War II.
15. Yoyogi Park
Tokyo is filled with numerous parks and museums, and one of the most underrated yet most interesting parks they offer is the "Yoyogi Park." This park is the best tourist spot for art enthusiasts and culture admirers. Why? Yoyogi Park, primarily on Sundays, is used as a gathering place. You will find multiple Japanese rock music fans, comedians, martial arts clubs, jugglers, and other hobby groups. In addition to its entertaining ambiance, its landscape park provides the perfect area for picnics and bicycling and offers multiple public sports courts and cycle rentals. A fun fact about this park is that it operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week you can visit it anytime. A lot of people also do not know a fact about this park, which is that this area was the site of the Olympic Village during the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. This park is well renowned for its staging events and festivals.
Conclusion
Whether you are a first-time visitor or frequently visit Tokyo, planning a trip is always confusing and hectic due to the numerous tourist spots this city offers. If you are tired of searching for destinations, please refer to the suggestions above. These are the "Top 15 places to visit in Tokyo" that are extraordinarily enchanting and attract millions of visitors from all across the globe. Once you include these locations in your trip, your travel experience and journey will become one of the most remarkable and memorable experiences. Please go through the provided places one by one and opt for the ones that suit your preferences the most.
For even more insights on navigating this vibrant city, consider checking out our Tokyo Travel Guide. It provides valuable tips and recommendations to help you make the most of your time in Tokyo.
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