The Best Tokyo Attractions & Travel Tips

Tokyo’s Most Important Neighborhoods & Sights — Mapped Out

When we traveled to Tokyo for the first time, we felt a little overwhelmed — the city is just so huge. That’s why we’ve grouped the Tokyo sights by neighborhood and marked the key areas on the map below. The main highlights are spread across 6 districts.

Our tokyo map gives you a quick overview and helps you figure out which sights are best visited on the same day.

Sights in Taitō

Ueno Park

Ueno Park is a large, lovely park with two beautiful shrines. Honestly, though, it’s not an absolute must-see in Tokyo for us — there are simply bigger highlights elsewhere in the city.

That said, if you visit during Japan’s cherry blossom season, Ueno Park is non-negotiable. It becomes one of the most beautiful places in the world — no exaggeration. It’s the city’s most popular cherry blossom spot, and we especially loved the cherry trees along Shinobazu Pond.

Our tip: If you want great photos of the cherry blossoms, get up really early. By midday it’s absolutely packed. If you’d rather celebrate hanami with the locals, head over later in the day — just brace yourself for the crowds.

Sensō-ji

Sensō-ji, dating back to 628, is the oldest and most important Buddhist temple in Tokyo. Right next door you’ll find Asakusa Shrine, about 1,000 years younger but just as popular.

If you’re expecting peaceful tranquility, you’re in for a surprise. Unless you arrive very early, you’ll be shuffling through the grounds alongside huge crowds of tourists — which takes a lot of the magic away, unfortunately.

Sights in Sumida

Tokyo Skytree

The Skytree is a TV tower standing 634 meters tall — the third-tallest building in the world, after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the PNB 118 in Kuala Lumpur.

There are two observation decks — one at 350 meters and one at 450 meters. Admission to the lower deck costs 2,100 yen. The upper level costs an extra 1,000 yen, which is really only worth it for photography, since it’s less crowded up there. The view itself is the same.

Only go on a truly clear day. When the weather cooperates, the panorama is seriously spectacular. On hazy or foggy days, it can be pretty disappointing.

Our photo tip: We found two great spots for shooting the Skytree. From the Jukken Bridge you can frame it beautifully, and the small street heading south directly in front of the tower — or right underneath it — is perfect for selfies.

Book your ticket online to avoid waiting up to two hours in line. If online tickets are sold out, the fast-lane option for foreign tourists at the tower is worth the extra 1,000 yen — just bring your passport.

Get tickets for the Tokyo Skytree

Sumida Park

Sumida Park is a small park not far from the Skytree. During cherry blossom season, it’s one of the most beautiful spots in the city.

At lunchtime, locals spread out under the cherry trees everywhere, sharing packed sushi on picnic blankets. It’s a really lovely scene.

Asahi Beer Tower

Asahi is one of Japan’s most popular beer brands — and its headquarters in Sumida is delightfully eccentric. The office building is designed to look like a giant beer glass.

Right next to it stands the Asahi Flame, affectionately nicknamed “the golden poop” — and honestly, you’ll see why immediately.

The best view of both is from the opposite bank of the river or from the bridge.

Sights in Minato

Tokyo Tower

The Tokyo Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks in the Japanese capital. It looks like the Eiffel Tower in Paris — because it really is a copy of the famous original. In true Japanese fashion, though, it’s been made bigger: the Tokyo Tower stands 8 meters taller than its Parisian inspiration.

There are two observation decks — one at 150 meters and one at 250 meters. During our visit, the upper deck was under renovation, so we only made it to the lower one.

The view from the Tokyo Tower is fantastic, and in some spots you can look straight down through a glass floor.

Get tickets for the observation deck at 150 meters

Mori Tower

The Mori Tower has a very special observation deck — it’s the only one in Tokyo without glass panels. You can photograph the skyline with absolutely nothing in the way.

On top of the tower there’s a helicopter landing pad with a visitor walkway around it. The Sky Deck is only open in good weather and closes during rain or strong winds.

One floor below, there’s also an enclosed observation deck with a great view — just behind glass. On the plus side, you can visit that one even in bad weather.

Note: The Sky Deck is currently closed, unfortunately. There’s no information yet on when it will reopen. Until then, only the lower observation deck is available.

Get tickets for the lower observation deck

Toyosu Fish Market

The Toyosu Fish Market is the largest in the world, spread across three main buildings — one of which hosts the world-famous tuna auction.

In the past, you had to queue up extremely early to get in. These days, you enter an online ticket lottery — only 27 people per day are allowed to watch the auction.

The activity here is genuinely fascinating, and watching the huge tuna being expertly broken down is seriously impressive. That said, this is a working market. As a visitor, you can’t access all the buildings — you’re mostly looking in through windows or from raised platforms.

Beyond fish, you’ll also find teas, knives, pickled goods, and over 40 restaurants. Many close as early as 2 PM, so getting there early is a good idea here too.

Tokyo Bay and Rainbow Bridge

For an evening stroll, Tokyo Bay is a wonderful stop. That’s when the Rainbow Bridge lights up in different colors — perfect for photos.

While you’re in the area, don’t miss the Hamarikyu Gardens, one of the most beautiful parks in Tokyo, right on the bay.

Sights in Shinjuku

Piss Alley

The colorfully named Piss Alley — officially called Omoide Yokocho — sits right next to Shinjuku Station. The alley is barely a meter wide and feels wonderfully out of place in polished, modern Tokyo.

On both sides, tiny restaurants serve up delicious soups, grilled fish, and meat. Most can only seat five or six people at their small counters.

Kabukichō: The Red-Light and Nightlife District

Kabukichō is a massive entertainment district that starts right in front of Shinjuku Station. You’ll find red-light establishments, restaurants, clubs, bars, and gaming parlors all packed together.

During the day it’s relatively calm, though a photo walk is worth doing even then. In the evening, the neon signs blaze to life.

Kabukichō is one of the few places in Tokyo where you really should keep your guard up. Some shops are known to take advantage of tourists.

Golden Gai

Golden Gai is a small pocket of Kabukichō packed with tiny bars. The narrow alleys are great for photography — but for that, come during the day. The bars are still closed and you can shoot in peace. In the evenings, tourists with cameras aren’t exactly welcome.

Most bars are barely bigger than a living room, fitting at most six to eight people. You’ll often pay a cover charge of 500 to 1,000 yen on top of your drinks.

Metropolitan Government Building

Tokyo has plenty of great viewpoints — but they add up fast. A really good free alternative is Tokyo’s City Hall.

The building has two towers, each with its own observation deck. It’s worth going up both, since you get slightly different perspectives from each.

Allow a little time for the elevators — during our visit, the wait was about 15 minutes.

Harajuku

Harajuku is an entire neighborhood built around youth culture. On Sundays, the cosplay scene gathers on the bridge between the train station and Yoyogi Park — young people dressed up elaborately as manga and anime characters.

But Harajuku is worth a visit even beyond the cosplay. The area is full of cool clothing stores, bars, and cafés with serious hipster vibes. We really loved it there — wandering through the streets is just a lot of fun.

Sights in Shibuya

Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya Crossing is probably one of the most famous intersections in the world. When all the pedestrian signals turn green at once, hundreds — sometimes thousands — of people criss-cross in every direction simultaneously.

It’s an absolute highlight and so utterly typical of this wild, crowded, exhilarating city. Simply wonderful.

Hachikō

In front of Shibuya Station stands a statue of a dog. The story of Hachikō is genuinely heartwarming. Every day, the loyal dog would meet his owner after work at Shibuya Station — until his owner suddenly passed away.

Hachikō still came to the station every single day to wait, and kept doing so for 10 years.

This made him famous throughout Japan and turned him into a national symbol of loyalty. Fittingly, the statue has become one of the country’s most beloved meeting spots for dates.

Watch the Hachikō film

The Best Day Trips from Tokyo

Even though Tokyo itself is absolutely incredible, it’s worth taking a day trip or two out of the city.

One of our favorites is Kamakura, where you’ll find numerous temples and a massive Buddha statue. On the way back, stop in Yokohama — it makes for a perfect combo.

We also really recommend a day trip to Nikko. It’s home to some of the most significant and beautiful shrines in all of Japan, plus the famous three monkeys: hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.

You can also visit Mount Fuji as a day trip from Tokyo — just leave very early. If you want to explore the area around Fuji more thoroughly, we’d suggest spending a night there too.

For something a little off the beaten path without too many tourists, head to Mito. It’s home to Kairakuen, one of Japan’s three famous gardens, plus an old manor house and a former samurai school.

How Much Time Do You Need for Tokyo?

Seeing all of Tokyo in just a few days is absolutely impossible. You’ll never have enough time here — unless maybe you come for six months.

On our road trip through Japan, we spent five days visiting all the sights above, plus two more days for day trips. One week is enough to cover the most important highlights and squeeze in a day trip or two.

If you’re doing hard-core sightseeing, you can probably hit the must-sees in three days. But your feet will be seriously aching by the end of each one.

Getting Around Tokyo: Public Transportation

Public transportation in Tokyo is excellent. You can reach almost any part of the city by subway and bus. In total, Tokyo has 13 subway lines carrying more than 3 billion passengers per year — more than anywhere else in the world.

Also important is the Yamanote Line, covered by the Japan Rail Pass. It runs as a loop line around the center of Tokyo, stopping at many of the city’s key sights.

Tickets for the subway in Tokyo

The ticket machines look intimidating at first — but there’s a button to switch to English, and after that they’re pretty straightforward.

Riding the subway is relatively affordable. A single ride usually costs between 150 and 200 yen. Day passes are available too, but only make sense if you’re taking a lot of trips. The metro lines are run by different companies, and a pass covering the full network (excluding JR lines and buses) costs 1,000 yen.

The easiest option by far is the Suica Card. Load money onto it and simply tap in and out at the card reader. The fare is automatically deducted — no fussing with tickets.

You can pick up the Suica Card at any ticket machine. There’s a 500-yen deposit that you get back when you return the card in Tokyo. The card also works in other cities like Osaka and Kyoto, and at many shops and vending machines.

Subway hours in Tokyo

During rush hour, many lines run every two or three minutes. Even so, the subways can get absolutely packed — especially in the morning and after work. You’ve probably seen those photos of stuffed subway cars with faces pressed against the windows. It’s real.

The last trains run between midnight and 1 AM, with service resuming around 5 AM. If you’re heading out in the evening, check your last train time before you go — there’s always a posted schedule at the station.

Taxis in Tokyo are pricey, but they’re your only option after the trains stop.

Getting from the Airport to the City

Tokyo has two international airports: Haneda Airport to the south of the city, and the more distant Narita Airport to the west. Both are very well connected by public transportation.

Getting from Narita Airport to the city center

Most international flights arrive at Narita Airport.

The fastest and most comfortable option is the Narita Express. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can use it on the Narita Express — very convenient. Otherwise, a ticket costs 3,070 yen.

A cheaper option is the JR Sobu Line, which takes about 90 minutes to Tokyo Station for 1,320 yen. It can get crowded and is less comfortable than the Narita Express.

Another solid budget option is the Keisei Limited Express, which gets you to Nippori Station in about 75 minutes for 1,090 yen. From there, transfer to the Yamanote Line. The same route is also served by the faster Keisei Skyliner for about 2,400 yen, with transfers at Nippori and Ueno stations.

Taxis are available too, but very, very expensive — a ride starts at around 20,000 yen, which is roughly $150.

Getting from Haneda Airport to the city center

Some international flights land at Haneda Airport, which is considerably cheaper to get into the city from.

The monorail takes you to Hamamatsuchō Station, where you can transfer to the Yamanote Line for Shinjuku, Shibuya, and beyond. The whole journey costs between 600 and 700 yen.

A taxi from Haneda costs between 5,000 and 10,000 yen depending on traffic and time of day.

Our Hotel Recommendations for Tokyo

Staying in Tokyo is expensive — very expensive. Space is scarce, and hotel rooms are correspondingly small. Finding anything decent in a central location for under $100 per night is a real challenge. Alternatives include the famous capsule hotels or hostel dorm rooms.

We stayed at the Super Hotel Lohas Akasaka, which offers solid value for money by Tokyo standards. The location is great, and the rooms are clean and modern. That said, at just 10 square meters you’ll need to stay organized, and the beds could have been more comfortable.

We also spent two nights at the InterContinental Hotel Tokyo Bay. The rooms are naturally larger and more elegant, the beds are much more comfortable, and the view is absolutely one of a kind.

General tips for booking hotels in Tokyo:

Book your hotel as far in advance as possible — this goes for all of Japan, not just Tokyo. Good-value places fill up fast.

Always book a non-smoking room. Japan is still a relatively smoking-friendly country, even though that’s slowly changing.

Hotels outside the city center are cheaper, but you’ll be commuting in alongside the working population every morning and evening. Riding the subway in packed trains during rush hour is no fun at all.

If you’re on a tight budget, Airbnb can be a good option — but the same rule applies: book early!

City Tours & Guided Tours of Tokyo

If you don’t want to explore Tokyo entirely on your own, booking a local guide is a great idea. You’ll get around the city stress-free and pick up plenty of local tips you’d never find in a tokyo travel guide.

Here are the Tokyo tours we recommend:

Historic city walk including matcha preparation: Learn fascinating facts about Asakusa from a local, and get a hands-on look at how matcha and monja-yaki (a traditional Japanese pan-fried dish) are made.

Bike tour through Tokyo: Exploring Tokyo by bike is a completely different experience — and actually a really smart way to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

Fish market tour including tasting: Explore the Tsukiji Fish Market and sample a wide variety of local delicacies.