Standout attractions and lesser-known gems in and around Japan’s major metropolis
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TSUKIJI MARKET Yes, this crazy wet market tops every tourist list, but that’s for a reason: it’s a unique experience and shouldn’t be missed. Forget the pre-dawn tuna auction and arrive around 8am – you’ll still be surrounded by a mind-boggling array...
UENO PARK One of Tokyo’s earliest public spaces was created in 1873 and is one of the best places to see rows of cherry trees in full blossom during the month of April. This expansive park is a popular place for family picnics, and is home to a range...
IMPERIAL PALACE AND EAST GARDEN The Imperial Palace in downtown Tokyo offers some beautiful views of the palace across a lovely moat and stonewall. A 5.3km pathway around the expansive grounds is a popular jogging route, while the East Garden is open...
ASAKUSA TEMPLE Also known as Senso-ji Temple, this fascinating complex is authentic yet inclusive, always bustling with locals and out-of-towners. Dedicated to the goddess of mercy, Kanon, it is fronted by the Thunder Gate (Kaminarimon), sporting two...
SUMIDA RIVER CRUISE This is an excellent way to view the city skyline on a relaxing trip that’s vastly different to the usual Tokyo journey crush. You can cruise upstream or down along the Sumida River as you wish. Starting points are at Hinode pier...
TOKYO SKYLINE VIEWS This metropolis’s massive size is best appreciated from up high – and Tokyo is blessed with a range of towering viewing points in various locations. Tokyo City Hall has a free observation deck; Tokyo Skytree (tokyo-skytree.jp/en) is...
SHIBUYA Probably Tokyo’s most bedazzling shopping district, with shops of every kind – and people to match! The streets of Harajuku, Omotesando and TakeshitaDori, as well as Yoyogi Park, offer up a distilled Tokyo experience that’s hard to beat. Just...
NIKKO SHRINE Two hours north from downtown Tokyo, the amazing shrines at Nikko were built to commemorate the samurai shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, and have been described as “pure 17th-century Disneyland”. A world away from Zen minimalism, the main shrine is...
TOKYO BAY DAY TRIP Just south of the city are gorgeous landscapes and serene religious monuments that allow an insight into the bucolic side of Japanese life. Guided tours can be customised to suit your personal interests, but be sure to visit the...
MEIJI JINGU SHRINE The city’s largest and most famous Shinto shrine is located within a lush forest park in the Shibuya district. Pass under the enormous Torii Gate and up a long, tree-lined avenue, pausing for pictures next to panels of giant sake...