Sightseeing in Tokyo
If you’re in Tokyo and not sure where to visit, we’ve included a sample of the best sightseeing itineraries that the capital of Japan offers! Feel free to mix and match these sights as you see fit for your ideal tour, as these routes are just our suggestions:
The Best of Tokyo
AM: Asakusa → Tsukiji → Lunch
PM: Shibuya → Harajuku → Ginza or Roppongi
Traditional Route
AM: Harajuku to visit Meiji Shrine → Tsukiji → Lunch
PM: Asakusa and/or Yanesen
J-pop and Anime Route
AM: Harajuku → Shibuya → Lunch
PM: Akihabara → Tokyo Sky Tree
Modern Art Route
AM: Roppongi to visit The National Art Center and Ota Fine Art → Lunch
PM: Museum of Contemporary Art or Yanesen to visit SCAI the Bathhouse and Asakura Museum of Sculpture (20th-century art)
Kid-friendly Route
AM: Asakusa → Tokyo Sky Tree → Lunch
PM: Harajuku → Shibuya
If you want to learn more about each destination in detail, check out Tokyo divided into regions:
West
Shibuya
One of Tokyo’s most colorful and busy districts, packed with an abundance of shopping and dining options. The Shibuya Scramble Crossing is always bustling with pedestrians and the statue of Hachiko, the loyal dog in a famous Japanese story, stands nearby as an iconic meeting spot for Japanese people.
Roppongi
Known for its art and nightlife, offering a large number of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.
Shimokitazawa
The center of vintage fashion and dubbed as the “curry town” where you can immerse yourself in Japanese curry culture.
Stephen Kelly from San Francisco, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Harajuku
The epicenter of Kawaii (J-pop) culture, Harajuku is home to the latest Japanese youth fashion, trendy cafes, and food joints. Contrasting this modern culture is the neighboring Meiji Shrine, a Japanese indigenous religious site.
Shinjuku
The large entertainment, business, and shopping area around Shinjuku Station. Omoide Yokocho, a lively and nostalgic alley in Shinjuku, is a Tokyo landmark that offers a glimpse into Showa-era Japan and its rustic, cramped restaurants and food stalls. The nightlife at Kabukicho in Shinjuku is Japan’s largest and wildest red-light district.
Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Northeast
Asakusa
Tokyo’s oldest district, home to Sensoji, a popular Buddhist temple dating back to the 7th century. A long shopping street offers a myriad of traditional Japanese souvenirs, from Samue clothing to Kaminari Okoshi rice crackers and Ukiyo-e woodblock prints.
Next to Sensoji is Asakusa Shrine, offering insights into the unification of Shintoism and Buddhism. Additionally, the tallest tower in Japan, Tokyo Sky Tree, is nearby.
Yanesen
Yanesen is an acronym for three towns in the same area: Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi. With narrow, winding streets and closely-packed buildings, residents typically walk or bike between destinations. Yanesen presents an opportunity to experience Japanese local life, where traditional and modern coexist in harmony. There are small local businesses like green grocers, fishmongers, butchers, eateries and izakayas, traditional sweets shops, and sento public baths.
Doricono, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Akihabara
The center of Japan’s otaku culture, dubbed the Electric Town. Many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are dispersed among the electronic stores in the district. Maid cafes, where waitresses dress up and act like maids or anime characters, have become popular in this area.
Central and Southeast
Ginza
Tokyo’s premier upscale shopping district featuring high-end restaurants, including those awarded Michelin stars. Just a short walk away lies the Imperial Palace, the official residence of the Emperor.
The Tsukiji Outer Market
The old fish market where you can taste fresh seafood and produce.
Odaiba
A popular shopping and entertainment district on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. Some shopping malls have different features such as a ramen food theme park or a life-sized Gundam robot.
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