Top 8 attractions in Tokyo, Japan

With so much to see and do in Tokyo, the list of must-sees is potentially endless. Narrow your search with these top 8 Tokyo attractions.

Tokyo National Museum

The Tokyo National Museum is enormous, spread across multiple galleries and structures in Ueno Park. If you’re tight on time, make your way to the Main Gallery (Honkan) for a chronological exploration of Japanese history and art.

Takeshita-dori

Colorful and lively Takeshita Street is located in Harajuku and is one of the district’s most iconic attractions. The shopping area is packed with small shops and vendors selling offbeat fashions, quirky souvenirs, and everything kawaii.

Senso-ji

Senso-ji is one of Tokyo’s most visited temples. Not only because of its sheer size and cultural significance but because it claims to be the oldest of the city’s temples. The surrounding historic district and shopping street, Nakamise-dori, also contribute to Senso-ji’s popularity.

Hamarikyu Onshi Teien

This traditional Japanese strolling garden was once the property of the Tokugawa Clan, the former shoguns of Edo. Don’t forget to visit the antique teahouse located within its walls, Nakajima no Ochaya, for the full experience.

Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya Crossing is known as the busiest pedestrian scramble in the world in terms of foot traffic. It’s the perfect starting point to any exploration further into the district.

Tokyo Dome

The Yomiuri Giants, Japan’s oldest professional baseball team, call the Tokyo Dome home. But the multipurpose structure also hosts concerts and other sporting events as well. Catch a game rain or shine, or spend an hour browsing the nearby Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

Golden Gai

Golden Gai is a collection of narrow alleys and two-story bars, a rare sight in the metropolis of Shinjuku. Most are so small they can only accommodate a handful of customers, which is the reasoning behind the hefty seating charges. It has mostly been taken over by visitors in recent years, but you’ll still encounter the odd locals-only signage or chilly reception now and then.

Read more: Things to do in Asakusa, Tokyo

Tokyo Skytree

Located in Sumida Ward, Tokyo Skytree is the tallest structure in the entire prefecture and a popular attraction among locals and visitors alike. Shop and dine at the Skytree Village, or make your way to the observatories for a new perspective on Tokyo.

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Harajuku, the pop culture and fashion district in Tokyo

Harajuku attracts many visitors with its Japanese pop culture and beautiful nature spots. It is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights.

Takeshita Dori

The symbol of Harajuku and birthplace of many of Japan's fashion trends, Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) is a narrow, roughly 400-meter long street lined by shops, boutiques, cafes and fast food outlets targeting Tokyo's teenagers. Because of the street's popularity, it becomes extremely busy and crowded on the weekends. Interesting shops and restaurants can also be found along some of the side streets.

Meiji Shrine

Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Emperor Meiji was a popular emperor who reigned from 1867 to 1912. The majority of the shrine grounds are composed of a beautiful, dense forest that can be explored on walking paths.

Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi Koen (Yoyogi Park) is one of Tokyo's largest and most pleasant city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds and forested areas. It is a great place for jogging, picnicking and other outdoor activities. It is located next to Meiji Shrine. With an area of 54.1 hectares, you can enjoy the natural beauty of all four seasons on the vast park grounds. Visitors can spend their time watching the flowers, having picnics, playing music and enjoying sports in the park. 

Omotesando Hills

Omotesando Hills, five minutes walk from Meiji Jingumae Station, is a shopping mall with a collection of Japanese brand boutiques. Within the facility, there are more than one hundred shops that handle unique and high-quality merchandise. The main building, with three sublevels and three floors above ground, has a central open air space with a unique design. It is surrounded by a spiraling slope. Feel free to come to Omotesando Hills to discover the newest urban Japanese fashion.

Ota Memorial Museum of Art

This art museum is specifically focused on ukiyo-e. Each month the museum selects artwork based on a theme and displays around 14,000 pieces. This includes work by representative ukiyo-e artists such as Utamaro Kitagawa, Hokusai Katsushika, and Hiroshige Utagawa. At the museum's souvenir shop you can buy tenugui hand towels printed with ukiyo-e art, as well as postcards. Both make great souvenirs. You can see various new pieces each time you visit so every visit will be a delight.

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Nezu Museum

At the Nezu Museum, you are able to appreciate Japanese and Western artwork. Buddhist carvings that have become Important Cultural Properties, Japanese paintings designated as national treasures and various other highly acclaimed art pieces are on display here. The collection belongs to industrialist and tea ceremony master Kaichiro Nezu. Nezu Museum’s other appealing point is its Japanese garden. Within the vast garden, there is a teahouse comprised of four buildings. After enjoying at the artwork, we recommend taking a stroll through the garden.

Oriental Bazaar

This is one of Tokyo's largest souvenir shops, very popular among foreign travelers in search of typical Japanese souvenirs, such as kimono, tableware, lamps, dolls, furniture and samurai related goods. The shop spans three floors and has a red and green facade that mimics traditional Japanese architecture. Travelers who pass by the storefront are sure to notice the building. Moreover, a thing that you need to notice that it is closed on Thursdays.

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