Tokyo, Japan is a fascinating city that fuses centuries of Japanese cultural traditions with modern western values. Like most metropolitan capital cities, Tokyo offers plenty of opportunities for tourists to explore the country’s history, visit important city landmarks, and to appreciate local traditions. The following list highlights the 10 best things to do in Tokyo, Japan. Immerse yourself in this urban wonderland of east-meets-west culture replete with ancient temples, neon lights, and modern architecture.
1. Tsukiji Market
The Tsukiji Market, located in the center of Tokyo, still holds its place globally as the longest-standing and largest outdoor fish market. In fact, the market itself handles 1800 tons of seafood per day. Fish auctions, although closed to the public, can be viewed during the early morning hours. In addition to fish, the market also sells produce, meats, and other premade foods like curry. The peripheral area of the market also has street vendors, restaurants, and other dining options ready to sell freshly made foods. The market is always densely populated at all hours of the day. However, it offers a curious insight into traditional open-market culture as well as the fundamentals and staple ingredients of Japanese cuisine.
2. Edo-Tokyo Museum
The Edo-Tokyo Museum is a great place to visit to better understand Japanese history and culture. The museum guides visitors through a veritable timeline of Japan’s development and social evolution. The museum places particular emphasis on the Edo Period and the Meiji Restoration, which marks Japan’s transition to modernity. In addition, it educates patrons about westernization, the industrial period, and the influences of world wars and globalization on modern Japanese society. The museum also contains galleries of artefacts accumulated from more traditional time periods. These galleries provide glimpses at kimono clothing, traditional objects, and woodblock art that have served as cultural icons for centuries.
3. Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace, though a popular destination to view from afar, rarely seems to attract large crowds. This makes the palace ideal for a casual visit. Currently, the palace is where the Japanese royal family and Emperor live. The site is a historic landmark, standing since Emperor Meiji’s reign during the Edo Period. Tourists eager to add this palace to their travel itinerary must complete an application in order to enter the palace grounds. The application process must be completed weeks ahead of time. Despite the application process, many tourists choose to view and photograph the palace outside of the grounds. The palace also features lush, verdant gardens that offer spectacular scenery during the spring cherry blossom season. Although the palace itself is not accessible for all tourists, the East Gardens permit visitors and offer guided tours throughout the day.
4. Ginza
Equivalent to the high-end shopping districts of New York, London, and Paris, Ginza offers a medley of international retailers in addition to local specialty shops. This is the place to visit for access to elevated fashion, beauty products and cosmetics, and high-quality Japanese cultural items and souvenirs. This district can also be a wonderland for children, featuring the sprawling Hakuhinkan Toy Park in addition to the original Sanrio store, which sells popular Hello Kitty toys and accessories. Apart from shopping, the district also hosts more than 200 art galleries as well as small theaters and fine-dining options. This area of Tokyo is easily accessible by subway. For its location, Ginza makes a great day trip destination when paired with a visit to the Imperial Palace.
5. Mt. Fuji
If interested in a side excursion outside of the city, Mt. Fuji makes for a great destination. Inclusive tours are available from Tokyo to the mountain, Lake Ashi, and surrounding vantage points. Bus tours take visitors for an immersive experience to view the highest peak in all of Japan. During the morning portion of the tour, busses will depart from Tokyo and commute 2.5 hours to arrive to the first portion of the excursion. Tourists will have access to spectacular views in addition to close-up visitations of local shops, shrines, and torii gates. During the second half of the day, tourists will ride a ferry across the lake for closer views of Mt. Fuji and Mt. Komagatake. Perhaps most intriguing about the trip is during the second half of the trip. Tourists are granted the ability to ride an aerial tramcar from Lake Ashi’s shoreline to the summit of Mt. Komagatake. This vantage point offers breathtaking views in addition to hiking options through the surrounding nature paths.
6. Odaiba
Located on the Tokyo Bay, Odaiba is an island neighborhood and a unique epicenter for entertainment, dining, and feats in contemporary architecture. The Fuji Television Building is just one example of the futuristic engineering and design principles integrated into this area’s modern city structures. Odaiba’s Seaside Park offers beach access in addition to monuments and attractions to keep both children and adults entertained. Odaiba features its own Statue of Liberty and multiple theme parks. At night, Odaiba offers spectacular views of the city’s skyline and glowing neon lights. The Rainbow Bridge is another site to see in this area that illuminates at night and adds a beautiful ambiance to this modern coastal wonderland.
7. National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
This museum, located in Odaiba, celebrates accomplishments in science and technology. The museum is commonly referred to as the Miraikan, translating to “future museum.” The museum features three permanent exhibits, emphasizing space exploration, the planet Earth, and the world of tomorrow. The museum is highly interactive and child-friendly, offering touch-displays, workshops, and play areas in each exhibit. The museum can be admired by adults for its engaging and immersive exhibits. However, children in particular are the target audience here as they continue to grow and embrace the wonders of science technology.
8. Tokyo Sea Life Park
As Tokyo is a coastal city, it is fitting to be home to a phenomenal aquarium. Tokyo Sea Life Park attempts to imitate natural aquatic environments and biomes from worldwide major masses of water. Aquatic exhibits are available for famous sites like the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and local Tokyo Bay. Each themed tank displays native marine life, including fish, mammals, reptiles, and native plants that fully simulate its designated habitat. The aquarium also features exhibits of sea birds, including penguins and puffins, and a petting area featuring both bamboo sharks and stingrays. In addition to the aquarium providing an afternoon of aquatic education, the area surrounding the Tokyo Sea Life Park offers impressive views of Tokyo Bay and the vibrant city.
9. Tokyo Tower
The Tokyo Tower is a Japanese replica of the Eiffel Tower that serves as a broadcasting structure for both radio and television signals. The tower provides access to an observation deck with spectacular city views. At the top of the tower, visitors receive access to a map that points out important city buildings and monuments as well as glimpses of Mt. Fuji from a distance on clear days. Though popular for daytime visits, this attraction receives frequent tourism after sunset when the tower illuminates the city skyline.
10. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
This 144-acre sprawling park contains unique gardens, inspired by Japanese, French, and English landscaping traditions. The park is also home to an outdoor gallery of cherry blossom trees, which provide colorful pops of pink petals during the spring. The park is a popular destination for leisurely walks and picnicking. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate this space as a peaceful oasis and escape from the urban hustle and bustle. The park also provides small eating venues and tea shops for a quick beverage or bite to eat. Note that this is not a public park, and visitors must pay a small entrance fee to enjoy its scenery.
1. Tsukiji Market
The Tsukiji Market, located in the center of Tokyo, still holds its place globally as the longest-standing and largest outdoor fish market. In fact, the market itself handles 1800 tons of seafood per day. Fish auctions, although closed to the public, can be viewed during the early morning hours. In addition to fish, the market also sells produce, meats, and other premade foods like curry. The peripheral area of the market also has street vendors, restaurants, and other dining options ready to sell freshly made foods. The market is always densely populated at all hours of the day. However, it offers a curious insight into traditional open-market culture as well as the fundamentals and staple ingredients of Japanese cuisine.
2. Edo-Tokyo Museum
The Edo-Tokyo Museum is a great place to visit to better understand Japanese history and culture. The museum guides visitors through a veritable timeline of Japan’s development and social evolution. The museum places particular emphasis on the Edo Period and the Meiji Restoration, which marks Japan’s transition to modernity. In addition, it educates patrons about westernization, the industrial period, and the influences of world wars and globalization on modern Japanese society. The museum also contains galleries of artefacts accumulated from more traditional time periods. These galleries provide glimpses at kimono clothing, traditional objects, and woodblock art that have served as cultural icons for centuries.
3. Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace, though a popular destination to view from afar, rarely seems to attract large crowds. This makes the palace ideal for a casual visit. Currently, the palace is where the Japanese royal family and Emperor live. The site is a historic landmark, standing since Emperor Meiji’s reign during the Edo Period. Tourists eager to add this palace to their travel itinerary must complete an application in order to enter the palace grounds. The application process must be completed weeks ahead of time. Despite the application process, many tourists choose to view and photograph the palace outside of the grounds. The palace also features lush, verdant gardens that offer spectacular scenery during the spring cherry blossom season. Although the palace itself is not accessible for all tourists, the East Gardens permit visitors and offer guided tours throughout the day.
4. Ginza
Equivalent to the high-end shopping districts of New York, London, and Paris, Ginza offers a medley of international retailers in addition to local specialty shops. This is the place to visit for access to elevated fashion, beauty products and cosmetics, and high-quality Japanese cultural items and souvenirs. This district can also be a wonderland for children, featuring the sprawling Hakuhinkan Toy Park in addition to the original Sanrio store, which sells popular Hello Kitty toys and accessories. Apart from shopping, the district also hosts more than 200 art galleries as well as small theaters and fine-dining options. This area of Tokyo is easily accessible by subway. For its location, Ginza makes a great day trip destination when paired with a visit to the Imperial Palace.
5. Mt. Fuji
If interested in a side excursion outside of the city, Mt. Fuji makes for a great destination. Inclusive tours are available from Tokyo to the mountain, Lake Ashi, and surrounding vantage points. Bus tours take visitors for an immersive experience to view the highest peak in all of Japan. During the morning portion of the tour, busses will depart from Tokyo and commute 2.5 hours to arrive to the first portion of the excursion. Tourists will have access to spectacular views in addition to close-up visitations of local shops, shrines, and torii gates. During the second half of the day, tourists will ride a ferry across the lake for closer views of Mt. Fuji and Mt. Komagatake. Perhaps most intriguing about the trip is during the second half of the trip. Tourists are granted the ability to ride an aerial tramcar from Lake Ashi’s shoreline to the summit of Mt. Komagatake. This vantage point offers breathtaking views in addition to hiking options through the surrounding nature paths.
6. Odaiba
Located on the Tokyo Bay, Odaiba is an island neighborhood and a unique epicenter for entertainment, dining, and feats in contemporary architecture. The Fuji Television Building is just one example of the futuristic engineering and design principles integrated into this area’s modern city structures. Odaiba’s Seaside Park offers beach access in addition to monuments and attractions to keep both children and adults entertained. Odaiba features its own Statue of Liberty and multiple theme parks. At night, Odaiba offers spectacular views of the city’s skyline and glowing neon lights. The Rainbow Bridge is another site to see in this area that illuminates at night and adds a beautiful ambiance to this modern coastal wonderland.
7. National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
This museum, located in Odaiba, celebrates accomplishments in science and technology. The museum is commonly referred to as the Miraikan, translating to “future museum.” The museum features three permanent exhibits, emphasizing space exploration, the planet Earth, and the world of tomorrow. The museum is highly interactive and child-friendly, offering touch-displays, workshops, and play areas in each exhibit. The museum can be admired by adults for its engaging and immersive exhibits. However, children in particular are the target audience here as they continue to grow and embrace the wonders of science technology.
8. Tokyo Sea Life Park
As Tokyo is a coastal city, it is fitting to be home to a phenomenal aquarium. Tokyo Sea Life Park attempts to imitate natural aquatic environments and biomes from worldwide major masses of water. Aquatic exhibits are available for famous sites like the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and local Tokyo Bay. Each themed tank displays native marine life, including fish, mammals, reptiles, and native plants that fully simulate its designated habitat. The aquarium also features exhibits of sea birds, including penguins and puffins, and a petting area featuring both bamboo sharks and stingrays. In addition to the aquarium providing an afternoon of aquatic education, the area surrounding the Tokyo Sea Life Park offers impressive views of Tokyo Bay and the vibrant city.
9. Tokyo Tower
The Tokyo Tower is a Japanese replica of the Eiffel Tower that serves as a broadcasting structure for both radio and television signals. The tower provides access to an observation deck with spectacular city views. At the top of the tower, visitors receive access to a map that points out important city buildings and monuments as well as glimpses of Mt. Fuji from a distance on clear days. Though popular for daytime visits, this attraction receives frequent tourism after sunset when the tower illuminates the city skyline.
10. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
This 144-acre sprawling park contains unique gardens, inspired by Japanese, French, and English landscaping traditions. The park is also home to an outdoor gallery of cherry blossom trees, which provide colorful pops of pink petals during the spring. The park is a popular destination for leisurely walks and picnicking. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate this space as a peaceful oasis and escape from the urban hustle and bustle. The park also provides small eating venues and tea shops for a quick beverage or bite to eat. Note that this is not a public park, and visitors must pay a small entrance fee to enjoy its scenery.
