134 Best Sights in Tokyo, Japan

For some traditional Japanese relaxation, head to this smart hot-spring facility a couple of minutes south of Sanrio Puroland. It has nine indoor and outdoor, gender-separated baths, a sauna, and a salon that offers massages and facials. There’s also an on-site restaurant that serves soba noodles, simple set menus, and sweet treats.

A tiny sanctuary of Japanese tradition and nature that's surrounded by towering glass buildings is a great place to relax or walk off a filling sushi meal. The land here was originally owned by the Owari branch of the Tokugawa family from Nagoya, and, when a family member became shogun in 1709, his residence was turned into a palace—with pavilions, ornamental gardens, pine and cherry groves, and duck ponds. The garden became a public park in 1945, although a good portion of it is fenced off as a nature preserve.

None of the original buildings have survived, but on the island in the large pond is a reproduction of the pavilion where the former U.S. president Ulysses S. Grant and Mrs. Grant had an audience with Emperior Meiji in 1879. The Hobai-tei meeting house can now be rented for parties, and the stone linings of the saltwater canal work and some of the bridges have been restored. The path to the left as you enter the garden leads to the "water bus" ferry landing, from which you can cruise up the Sumidagawa to Asakusa. Note that you must pay the admission to the garden even if you're just using the ferry.

Established in 1853, Tokyo's oldest amusement park has modernized to a degree but still leans heavily in to its retro atmosphere. Think Coney Island: a haunted house, Ferris wheel, and merry-go-round await the kids who will likely be a little tired of Asakusa's historic areas.

Prayers offered at this shrine, originally constructed in the early Edo period, are believed to bring prosperity in business. Although it isn't among Tokyo's most beautiful shrines, it does host festivals, and it has a long history and an interesting location. It's a five-minute walk north on Meiji-dori from the Shinjuku-sanchome subway station, and the back of it is adjacent to the so-called Golden-Gai, a district of tiny, fascinating nomiya (bars) that, in the '60s and '70s, commanded the fierce loyalty of fiction writers, artists, freelance journalists, and expat Japanophiles—all the city's hard-core outsiders.

The house of Hattori Hanzo (1541–96) once sat at the foot of this small wooden gate. Hanzo was a legendary leader of Ieyasu Tokugawa's private corps of spies and infiltrators—and assassins, if need be. They were the menacing, black-clad ninja—perennial material for historical adventure films and television dramas. The gate is a minute's walk from the subway.

This cramped warren of alleys on the north side of Kichijoji Station started life as a flea market in the 1940s. In the 1990s, the down-on-its-luck maze was given a new lease on life when bars and restaurants began opening. Fairly compact, and with a down-to-earth, old Tokyo vibe, it's a less-touristy alternative for bar-hopping than Shinjuku's more famous Golden Gai district or the hectic area with izakaya just west of Shimbashi Station. Some places open as early as 11 am, and most don't close until midnight.

Japan's first Western-style city park opened in 1901. Today, its nearly 40 acres of land contains beautiful seasonal flowers, a 500-year-old ginkgo tree, two ponds, and two open-air concert halls. It's the place to go for live music, festivals, and a leisurely stroll—or, do like many nearby office workers do, and enjoy a packed lunch here.

Northeast of Kawagoe’s central sightseeing area, this shrine, purportedly founded more than 1,500 years ago, is where people come to pray for love and marital success. If you would like to do so, write a wish on an ema (small wooden votive plaque), and hang it in the outdoor tunnel nearly completely covered in ema. There are also two 600-year-old zelkova trees on the grounds, wedded together by an ornately wound rope. It’s said that walking around these giant trees in a figure-eight pattern grants good fortune.

Designed by famed architect Fumihiko Maki, the Hillside Terrace helped shape Daikanyama as a fashionable neighborhood after it was opened in 1967; since then, it had been expanded through the 1990s. Spread over multiple low-rise buildings, it mixes cafés and restaurants with offices, design (both international and Japanese) and fashion stores, and small galleries. The contemporary art at Art Front Gallery, coffee at Hillside Cafe, and all its other outlets help add to its appeal.

The approach to this gate crosses a wooden bridge over the Imperial Palace moat. The gate and bridge are reconstructions, but Hirakawa-mon is beautiful, looking much as it must have when the shogun's wives and concubines used it on their rare excursions.

Set amid the chaos of Kabuki-cho, this multilevel entertainment complex is a place where you can shoot a few games of pool, recline in a sauna, indulge in karaoke, or sharpen your skills at any number of video games.

The most famous of Kawagoe’s old streetscapes, Ichibangai (First Street) is lined with historic, black-and-white-plastered warehouses and dark wooden merchant residences with all sorts of places to shop or stop for a snack. Souvenir options include incense, jewelry, glass beads, and fashion accessories, and street snack choices range from sweet potato brûlée and honey-infused drinks to wagashi (traditional sweets meant to be enjoyed with green tea). The street can be crowded, and the shops don't stay open late, but the atmosphere is convivial.

When the office buildings of the Meiji government were moved from this area in 1899, the expanse along the palace's east side was turned into a public promenade and planted with 2,800 pine trees. The Outer Garden affords the best view of the castle walls and their Tokugawa-period fortifications—the Nijubashi and Seimon bridges, 17th-century Fujimi Yagura watchtower, and Sakurada-mon gate. The 5-km (3.1-mile) loop around the moats, starting and finishing at Sakurada-mon, is popular with runners.

It's said that in the late 16th century, before Japan closed its doors to the West, the Spanish tried to establish a trade here in weapons made from famous Toledo steel. The Japanese were politely uninterested; they had been making blades of incomparably better quality for more than 600 years. At one time there were some 200 schools of sword making in Japan; swords were prized not only for their effectiveness in battle but for the beauty of the blades and fittings and as symbols of the higher spirituality of the warrior caste. There are few inheritors of this art today and the Sword Museum's mission is to maintain the knowledge and appreciation of sword making. Although the collection has swords made by famous craftsmen such as Nobufusa (a Living National Treasure) and Sanekage (a famous 14th-century sword maker), the focus here is on the swords as objects of beauty. The swords are individually displayed as works of art, giving visitors a chance to appreciate the detail, creativity, and skill involved in crafting each one. In 2018 the museum moved to a larger location in Ryogoku near the Edo-Tokyo Museum.

At one time, Japan had some 200 schools that taught the art of making swords, which were prized not only for their effectiveness in battle but also for the beauty of their blades and fittings. They were also symbols of the higher spirituality of the warrior caste. The Sword Museum's mission is to maintain the knowledge and appreciation of sword making, a craft that's practiced by very few today.

Housed in a sleek, three-story structure designed by Pritzker Prize–winner Fumihiko Maki, the museum has thematic displays ranging from newly made swords to historical katana (single-edge samurai swords), including examples by famous craftsmen such as Sanekage (a 14th-century sword maker). The main third-floor exhibition space treats the swords as objects of beauty, displaying them individually as works of art, enabling visitors to appreciate the detail, creativity, and skill involved in crafting each one. The free rooftop garden, with views over a traditional garden, Kyu-Yasuda Teien, is worth a visit in its own right.

These large gardens, just a few minutes’ walk from Jindai-ji Temple, make a visit to Chofu well worth your time. The grounds, which have roughly 100,000 plants, are divided into sections featuring azaleas, plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, begonias, wisterias, and more. From spring to autumn, there's always something beautiful in bloom. Other highlights include Tokyo's largest rose garden, a greenhouse with tropical and aquatic plants, and the engaging exhibits on flora in the Center for Plant Diversity.

Frank Lloyd Wright was popular in Japan. Indeed, Japanese architects both influenced and were influenced by his designs. Fans will enjoy the unmistakable example of his distinctive Prairie style at this off-the-beaten-path school building. When Wright was in Tokyo designing the Imperial Hotel in the 1920s, he was commissioned to build this schoolhouse, which is now open to the public. Its use of local stone keeps it in harmony with its location. It is, however, a bit difficult to find, so your journey to the building will take you through a small neighborhood. The brick street the building occupies is a helpful marker. Call ahead to be sure the site isn't closed to the general public for a private event.

After the Meiji Restoration, Kabuki reestablished itself in this part of the city. The first Kabuki-za was built in 1889, with a European facade. In 1912, it was taken over by the Shochiku theatrical management company, which replaced the old building in 1925; it was damaged during World War II but restored soon thereafter. The most recent iteration retains a classic architecture—until you notice the office tower looming above it. Regardless, this is the place to see a Kabuki show. For a short 15- to 30-minute sampling, get a single-act ticket; the final act usually provides the best spectacle. Tickets are best bought in advance online. English Earphone Guides are available for a small fee and provide explanations and commentary.

Kabukicho Tower is just next to the Humax Pavillion and has some of the same offerings, albeit on a much larger scale and at slightly higher prices. Need a snack? Want to play some video games? See a movie or a band? With a food floor and game floors, you could probably spend all day here—and maybe all night, too. The basement level is home to Zepp Shinjuku, the area's largest live-music venue, and the building is also home to two hotels.

The main entryway to Senso-ji's grounds towers above the ever-present throng of tourists and passing rickshaw drivers. With its huge red-paper lantern hanging in the center, this Asakusa landmark is picture perfect. The original gate was destroyed by fire in 1865; the replica you see today was built after World War II. Traditionally, two fearsome guardian gods are installed in the alcoves of Buddhist temple gates to ward off evil spirits. Here, the Thunder God (Kaminari-no-Kami) is on the left with the Wind God (Kaze-no-Kami) on the right. For souvenirs, stop at Tokiwa-do, the shop on the west side of the gate for kaminari okoshi (thunder crackers), made of rice, millet, sugar, and beans.

Kaminari-mon marks the southern extent of the shop-lined Nakamise-dori. The area from Kaminari-mon to the inner gate of the temple was once composed of stalls leased to the townspeople who cleaned and swept the temple grounds. This is now kitsch-souvenir central, with key chains, dolls, and (the street's saving grace) snacks.

This shrine—said to have been founded in AD 730 in a village called Shibasaki, where the Otemachi financial district now stands—was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and the present buildings reproduce, in concrete, the style of 1616. Next door is the Edo Culture Complex, where you check in for your visit and can take in cultural displays on the era when samurai flourished. The shrines in Akihabara are of minor interest unless you are around for the Kanda Festival—one of Tokyo's three great blowouts—in mid-May. (The other two are the Sanno Festival of Hie Jinja in Nagata-cho and the Sanja Festival of Asakusa Shrine.) Some of the smaller buildings you see as you come up the steps and walk around the Main Hall, contain the mikoshi—portable shrines that are featured during the festival.

Around 1625, the second Tokugawa Shogun, Hidetada, commissioned the priest, Tenkai, to build a temple on the Ueno hill known as Shinobuga-oka to defend his city from evil spirits. The original complex encompassed much of what is Ueno Park and while the remaining grounds are beautiful, the most remarkable structure here is the ornately carved vermilion gate to what was the mausoleum of Tsunayoshi, the fifth shogun. Tsunayoshi is famous for his disastrous fiscal mismanagement and his Shorui Awaremi no Rei (Edicts on Compassion for Living Things), which, among other things, made it a capital offense for a human being to kill a dog.

Lined with more than 200 shops selling kitchenware and supplies—from knives to industrial restaurant supplies to the strikingly realistic plastic food models displayed in restaurant windows—this street is shopping heaven for home chefs.

In the 19th century, according to local legend, a river ran through the present-day Kappabashi district. The surrounding area was poorly drained and was often flooded. A local shopkeeper began a project to improve the drainage, investing all his own money, but met with little success until a troupe of kappa—mischievous green water sprites—emerged from the river to help him. A more prosaic explanation for the name of the district points out that the lower-ranking retainers of the local lord used to earn extra money by making straw raincoats, also called kappa, that they spread to dry on the bridge.

The star attraction here is the Diamonds and Flowers Ferris wheel, the second-tallest in Japan. The ride takes you on a 17-minute trip to the apex, 384 feet above the ground, for a spectacular view of the Tokyo bay area. On a clear day you can see all the way to Mt. Fuji; at night, if you're lucky, you reach the top just in time for a bird's-eye view of the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom, across the Kyuedo River. As a bonus, all Ferris wheel gondolas are private. The park also has an observatory looking out over Tokyo Bay, in addition to the Tokyo Sea Life Park aquarium, a bird-watching center, and some so-so beaches.

Another of Kawagoe’s historic enclaves, this cobblestone side street, which translates as “candy store alley,” had upwards of 70 different confectioners during the Showa era (1912–26). Although the number of shops has dwindled to about 20, it's still a great place to find colorful hard candies and honeycomb toffee, as well as dango (rice dumplings), karintou (fried, sugar-covered cookies), senbei (savory rice crackers), and other traditional treats.

Established around AD 830, Kita-in has long been an important temple in what was once known as the Kawagoe Domain. Not only is its graveyard the resting place of feudal lords, but it has also accumulated a number of notable features. Several buildings were moved here from Edo Castle in the 1600s, as were 500 rakan (a Buddhist term referring to one who has attained enlightenment) statues, which were carved between the 1780s and 1820s and which display a range of emotions—from suffering to sheer delight. There's also a 17th-century shrine, as well as several gardens planted with azaleas, hydrangeas, and plum, cherry, and maple trees that all contribute to the seasonal beauty of the grounds.

Kite flying is an old tradition in Japan. The collection here includes examples of every shape and variety from all over the country, hand-painted in brilliant colors with figures of birds, geometric patterns, and motifs from Chinese and Japanese mythology.

This National Treasure was a part of Abbot Tenkai's attempt to build a copy of Kyoto's magnificent Kiyomizu-dera in Ueno. His effort was honorable, but it is still not as impressive as the original. The principal Buddhist image of worship here is the Senju Kannon (Thousand-Armed Goddess of Mercy). Another figure, however, receives greater homage, namely the Kosodate Kannon, who is believed to answer the prayers of women having difficulty conceiving children. If their prayers are answered, they return to Kiyomizu and leave a doll, as both an offering of thanks and a prayer for the child's health. In a ceremony held every September 25, the dolls that have accumulated during the year are burned in a bonfire.

Defined by its island-accented pond, around which pathways take lead to a succession of carefully landscaped viewpoints with features like manicured trees and ornamental rocks, this traditional garden is one of eastern Tokyo’s underappreciated gems. A highlight is the isowatari, the stepping stones that meander through the pond, allowing you to appreciate the park's reflections in the lake, as well as the carp and turtles. Part of a feudal lord’s residence in the early 1700s, the garden was later owned by the founder of Mitsubishi, who used it to entertain important guests and give staff a place to unwind. Thereafter, it was donated to the city of Tokyo, and opened its doors to everyone in 1932.

Built in the 1600s as part of a feudal lord’s residence, one of Tokyo’s oldest gardens incorporates carefully tended trees, manmade hills, rocks, and water features to create miniature versions of famous Japanese and Chinese landscapes. It also changes with the seasons, featuring pink cherry blossoms in spring and the reds, oranges, and yellows of maple and gingko trees in fall.