Top 10 Places to Visit in Tokyo

One of Tokyo’s largest parks, Ueno Park is home to some of Tokyo’s most important cultural facilities, including the Zoo, Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Western Art, and National Museum of Nature and Science. Ueno Park has been open to the public since 1873 and was officially named “Ueno Onshi Kōen”, literally meaning “Ueno Imperial Gift Park”. It is famous for its majestic galleries and museums, the pandas in the Ueno Zoo, Shinobazu Pond, and the historic Tōshō-gū shrine. However, it is still best known for its cherry blossoms. For many Japanese, a spring trip to Ueno Park is a must.

With more than 1,000 cherry blossom trees and the largest cherry blossom festival in Japan, many tourists come to the Park every spring. Most visitors gather on the park’s main road near the entrance to the Ueno Zoo, as cherry blossoms there alone account for half of the total number of cherry blossoms in the park. Each spring, cherry blossoms are blooming and attract more than 2 million visitors, making it hard to squeeze your feet between picnic crowds. As the sun goes down, lanterns along the way light up the blooming cherry blossoms, making it one of the most popular cherry blossom destinations in Tokyo.

Located in the heart of Tokyo, Japan, Ginza is one of the most bustling shopping districts, known for its upscale department stores, international flagship stores, boutiques, centuries-old shops, restaurants, and cafes, etc. It is one of Tokyo’s iconic areas. Ginza is divided by the streets, from Ginza 1 Chome to Ginza 8 Chome, with all of the streets being centrally connected through the “Chuodori”, meaning the “central road”. The main road of Ginza, which is closed to cars on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to evening, is known as the “Pedestrians’ Paradise”. At this time, visitors can walk on the road and enjoy the sights. The gorgeous architecture is mixed with the glamour of the old eras. It reminds people of the old days and is eye-opening.

The Shopping Street of Chuodori is the most crowded place by visitors. You must visit Ginza’s landmark “Clock Tower of Wako”, the Itoya main store, the MUJI World Flagship Store, and TOKYU PLAZA GINZA. You may enjoy shopping, dining, and experience the unique charm of Ginza. In addition, the upscale Michelin-starred restaurant and century-old food, “Rengaya” and “Kimuraya” (where red bean bread originated from) are also worth a visit. The traditional Kabuki Theater sits between modern architecture and offers a glimpse into the juxtaposition of ancient and modern elements.

Disney fans will know that Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are the pinnacles of Disneyland worldwide. Even if you are not a Disney die-hard fan, you may enjoy a happy and memorable time here. Although named as “Tokyo” Disney Resort, both parks are in fact located in Urayasu of Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo Bay. One of Asia’s most popular theme parks, Tokyo Disneyland has seven areas, with exciting rides and magnificent performance shows. At night, parades, dancers, and familiar Disney cartoon characters marvel under the park’s nightlight while iridescent lighting and music illuminate the night at Tokyo Disneyland for an unforgettable experience.

Opened in 2001 as Tokyo’s exclusive park, Tokyo DisneySea is more magical, creative, and dreamy in design, and even more suitable for adults and couples alike. If you want to go to both parks, you may purchase a packaged ticket with free entries to both parks within two days.

Surrounding Akihabara Station, Akihabara is known for its enormous collection of electrical appliances and 3C malls. It was once a central place to sell all kinds of gadgets and the latest electronic products. However, with the popularity of anime, Akihabara has become a hub for anime enthusiasts, also known as “Otaku”. Japan’s unique Otaku culture flourishes in Akihabara, attracting visitors from all over the world to access a wide collection of anime products, maid’s cafes, impressive toys, and stores that promote the Otaku culture.

It is also the birthplace of Japan’s popular girls’ band AKB48. “AKB” stands for “Akiba“ or “Akihabara” and the number of women in the group is 48. It is easy to understand why many idols, including AKB48, choose to meet fans in Akihabara, as their fan bases may mainly be Otakus.

Imperial Palace was the residence of the Emperor and the royal family. It is closed to the public on weekdays and only open on certain days of the year. On regular days, one may visit the Exterior Garden of the Imperial Palace and the Eastern Royal Garden to take photos of the Two-tiered Bridge (Ni-ju Bashi). Not only is the Imperial Palace Exterior Garden a great place to take a leisurely stroll, but it’s also the best way to get close to the Grand Imperial Palace.

There are several gates dating back to the Edo era throughout the Imperial Palace Outback, but the most notable of these is the Sakurada Gate, which is the largest of the existing Edo City ruins. The 2,000 pine trees surrounding the Imperial Palace Exterior Garden are perfectly landscaped. They resemble tall buildings from a distance, and exhibit a unique vibe just as an architectural complex.

With the exception of Sundays, Mondays, and holidays, there are two tours daily. They can be booked through the website of the Imperial Household Agency, which oversees the affairs of the Imperial Palace. Tours are generally conducted in Japanese, and English language manuals are available.

Tokyo Skytree is a new Tokyo landmark, with an observation deck on the tower 634 meters high, and a 360-degree view of Tokyo. You may go up the elevator to access the observation deck. On sunny days, you may catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji. Tokyo Skytree has two observation decks that are open to the public. They are known as the Skytree Deck and Sky Trek, which feature different views of Tokyo during the day and night. The Tokyo Skytree Tower was built to reduce transmission impediments caused by the skyscrapers in Tokyo City, and to replace the Tokyo Tower as a digital TV broadcast signal launch station after the termination of Japan’s analog television services at the end of July 2011.

With more than 300 shops, TOKYO Solamachi Mall and Aquarium under Tokyo Skytree are great places to shop for  souvenirs.

Shinjuku Gyo-en is a 58.3-hectare courtyard in Tokyo, Japan that spans across Shinjuku and Shibuya. Built in the Edo era of 1590, the century-old Shinjuku Gyo-en was once a part of Naitō the feudal lord’s private residence. Thereafter, it became a courtyard under the management of the Inner Palace and is now a national park under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment.

This garden of Japanese-French style is located in the heart of Tokyo. With lush green trees and a beautiful landscape, it is another popular destination for viewing cherry blossoms. With 65 species of cherry blossom summing up to 1,500 trees in total, the flowering seasons could last for months. Therefore, visitors would not miss the cherry blossoms’ flowering period. Admission fees apply. Therefore, there may be less of a crowd in the garden. Do check the opening hours of the garden on the official website before visits.

Although the 83-year-old Tsukiji Fish Market has moved to Toyosu, In fact, only the “interior” area of the market was moved. The approximately 500 stores located in the “external” area selling fish, prime meat, seaweed, dried goods, and kitchen utensils selling knives are still in operation on site. As Tokyo’s most famous fish market, Tsukiji Fish Market’s energetic heritage of offering fresh seafood and a variety of culinary options will continue to pass on to the future.

For diners looking for something to eat on the lane, there is still plenty to do with the many long-standing restaurants selling tamagoyaki, seafood grills, sushi, sashimi rice, and sashimi. Come and enjoy the fun of eating the freshness.