Tokyo

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Many people paddle in boats near cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi Green Way in Tokyo.

©Richie Chan/Shutterstock

Overview

Yoking past and future, Tokyo dazzles with its traditional culture and passion for everything new, from contrasting architecture to a dynamic arts scene to phenomenal dining throughout.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Tokyo Imperial Palace, tokyo, japan 138905807 ancient, architecture, asia, asian, attraction, bridge, building, castle, city, edo, emperor, fort, fortress, historic, historical, history, imperial, japan, japanese, king, landmark, moat, monarchy, nijubashi, old, oriental, otemachi, palace, royal, royalty, stone, tokyo, tower, travel, urban, wall

    Imperial Palace

    Tokyo

    The Imperial Palace occupies the site of the original Edo-jō, the Tokugawa shogunate's castle. In its heyday this was the largest fortress in the world,…

  • April 29, 2018: The Robot statue in an open garden space at the Ghibli museum.

    Ghibli Museum

    Tokyo

    This museum is the heart of the Studio Ghibli world, a beloved (even 'adored') film studio responsible for classic, critically-acclaimed animated titles…

  • Shinjuku, Tokyo, Kanto region, Japan. Tiny alleys crowded with night bars and clubs at Golden Gai district.

    Golden Gai

    Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

    Golden Gai – a Shinjuku institution for over half a century – is a collection of tiny bars, often literally no bigger than a closet and seating maybe a…

  • Tokyo, Ueno, Taito-ku: Tokyo National Museum, Honkan

    Tokyo National Museum

    Ueno & Yanesen

    If you visit only one museum in Tokyo, make it the Tokyo National Museum. Here you'll find the world's largest collection of Japanese art, including…

  • Tokyo, Japan view of Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest crosswalks in the world. aerial, architecture, asia, asian, billboards, buildings, business, city, cityscape, commercial, cross, crosswalk, crowd, district, downtown, dusk, evening, famous, futuristic, japan, japanese, landmark, lights, location, metropolis, metropolitan, modern, morning, night, office, pedestrian, people, place, plaza, road, scene, scenery, scenic, shibuya, shopping, signs, skyline, skyscrapers, square, street, tokyo, twilight, urban, view, walk

    Shibuya Crossing

    Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

    Rumoured to be the busiest intersection in the world (and definitely in Japan), Shibuya Crossing is like a giant beating heart, sending people in all…

  • teamLab Borderless

    teamLab Borderless

    Tokyo

    Digital-art collective teamLab has created 60 artworks for this museum, open in 2018, that tests the border between art and the viewer: many are…

  • Exterior of the Sensouji Temple. 1075025648 architecture, asakusa, asia, background, blue, buddhism, buddhist, building, capital, city, copy, cultural, day, destination, famous, god, japan, japanese, landmark, landscape, morning, old, people, pray, red, religion, senso-ji, sensoji, sensouji, shinto, shrine, sky, space, temple, tokyo, tourism, tourists, travel, worship

    Sensō-ji

    Asakusa & Sumida River

    Tokyo’s most visited temple enshrines a golden image of Kannon (the Buddhist goddess of mercy), which, according to legend, was miraculously pulled out of…

  • TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 23: Meiji-jingu in Tokyo, Japan on November 23, 2013. The shrine officially designated one of Kanpei-taisha, the 1st rank of government supported shrines. 191077460 architecture, city, gate, harajuku, interest, japan, japanese, jingu, meiji, meiji-jingo, meiji-jingu, of, people, place, roof, shinto, shrine, sightseeing, temple, tile, tokyo, torii, tourism, tourist, urban, visit

    Meiji-jingū

    Harajuku & Aoyama

    Tokyo’s grandest Shintō shrine is dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken, whose reign (1868–1912) coincided with Japan's transformation from…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

From touring the Ghibli Museum to dining on top Japanese cuisine, here's our pick of the best experiences in Tokyo.

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Best Time to Visit

Cherry blossom in spring; festivals in summer; foliage in fall; and fewer crowds in winter. Here's when to visit Tokyo.

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Things to Know

Heading to Tokyo? Avoid common pitfalls, respect local customs and make the most of your trip to the Japanese capital with these insider tips.

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Transportation

Tokyo has one of the best public transport systems in the world and we've got all the insider info you need to use it. Here's how to get around Tokyo.

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Free Things to Do

Want to see the best of Tokyo without blowing the budget? Here's our list of the best things to do in the Japanese capital without spending a single yen.

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Best Neighborhoods

The scale of Tokyo can feel overwhelming to visitors. Plan your time with this neighborhood guide.

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Day Trips

After enjoying Tokyo's charms, we recommend a day trip to see temples, hike mountains and bathe in hot springs. Here are the top day trips from Tokyo.

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Money and Costs

Tokyo is expensive but you don't need to max out your credit card to enjoy. Our insider tips and tricks will stretch your yen and save your bank account.

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Traveling with Kids

Crowded, colorful and charismatic; Tokyo is great fun for families. Here are the best things to do with kids.

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Plan with a local

Articles

Latest stories from Tokyo

TOKYO,JAPAN - JUNE 01,2018 :Tourists and visitors to Meji-jingu temple, Meji-jingu is a shrine in Shinto, built in 1920. License Type: media Download Time: 2021-07-01T09:23:45.000Z User: aniabartoszek Is Editorial: Yes purchase_order:

Destination Practicalities

8 things you need to know before traveling to Tokyo

Mar 31, 2025 • 5 min read

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