Things to Do in Tokyo

Part of the Imperial Palace grounds, these formal Japanese gardens are free and well-maintained. You see the remains of the old Edo Castle and get peace from the city noise. No booking needed.

🕐 09:00-16:00 (closed Mon and Fri, and year-end holidays)

💡 Go on a Sunday when the palace grounds are open for a guided tour (free, first come first served, starts 10:00 and 13:30). Otherwise the gardens are quiet on weekday mornings.

Large public park with several free museums (Tokyo National Museum costs ¥1000 but has free days), a zoo (¥600), and a lovely pond. Cherry blossoms in spring are legendary, but the park is also good for a stroll any time.

🕐 Park open 05:00-23:00; individual facilities vary

💡 Bring a picnic and sit by Shinobazu Pond. The lotus flowers in July-August are stunning. Free entry to the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum on the first Monday of the month.

A huge, beautiful garden with three distinct styles: Japanese, French formal, and English landscape. Entry is ¥500, but it is worth every yen. Great for a quiet afternoon away from Shinjuku's chaos.

🕐 09:00-17:30 (closed Mon unless a public holiday; last entry 16:30)

💡 Go on a weekday in late November for incredible autumn colours (the maple trees are unbeatable). The greenhouse is free and often overlooked.

Ginza is Tokyo's most prestigious upmarket shopping and entertainment district, famous for its luxury boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and the iconic Wako department store clock tower. The tree-lined Chuo-dori boulevard is closed to traffic on w

🕐 Open 24 hours (shops typically 11am–8pm)

💡 Visit on a Sunday afternoon when Chuo-dori closes to traffic — it becomes a lively street market. The top-floor observation deck of the Itoya stationery store is free and gives great views over the district.

Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, with a huge red lantern at the Kaminarimon gate. The temple itself is free, and the surrounding Nakamise Street stalls sell street food and souvenirs.

🕐 Temple grounds open 24 hours; main hall 06:00-17:00 (varies slightly by season)

💡 Skip the main gate queues. Enter through the side streets off Nakamise-dori for a more local feel. The temple is at its calmest just after sunrise.

Large, peaceful Shinto shrine set in a sprawling forested park. Dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. The main buildings are free, though you pay for the inner garden (¥500) when the irises are in bloom.

🕐 Sunrise to sunset (grounds always open; inner garden 09:00-16:30)

💡 Go just before sunset on a weekday. Fewer crowds and the torii gates look fantastic as the light fades. Watch for wedding processions on weekend mornings.

Tokyo 634-metre broadcasting tower and tallest structure in Japan. Observation decks at 350m and 450m with panoramic views and Mount Fuji on clear days.

🕐 10:00-21:00