134 Best Sights in Tokyo, Japan

This is a curiosity in a neighborhood of curiosities: a temple on the second floor of a supermarket. Two deities are worshipped here. One is the bodhisattva (a being that has deferred its own ascendance into Buddhahood to guide the souls of others to salvation) Jizo, and the act of washing this statue is believed to safeguard your health. The other is the Indian goddess Marici, a daughter of Brahma who is believed to help worshippers overcome difficulties and succeed in business.

Part of a private research facility specializing in the study of parasites, this small but free museum is decidedly not for the squeamish. Some of the specimens preserved in glass jars look like something out of an H.R. Geiger sketchbook. However, if you’ve ever dreamed of owning a T-shirt with the image of a giant tapeworm on the front, the museum shop has you covered.

Encircled by highways, this unabashedly urban park offers a pleasant stroll and superb Tokyo views. In addition to bamboo groves and Japanese maples, depending on the time of year you might see plum and peach blossoms, Chinese redbuds, banana shrubs, or Taiwanese camellias. Meguro Sky Garden is strictly no-smoking.

The newest feature in the Meiji Shrine complex is this museum designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma. The museum's location inside the shrine's forest is part of the attraction, but those interested in the lives of the emperor and empress will really enjoy the artifacts on display. 

Small communities or streets filled with restaurants and inns serving the needs of pilgrims developed near many of Japan's important temples. At Jindai-ji Temple, a short, pleasant, rustic street lined with small soba restaurants and places selling souvenirs, steamed buns gives you a sense of just such a traditional monzen-machi (temple- or gate-front town).

When it opened in 2003, the Roppongi Hills complex was the epitome of Tokyo opulence, with the shimmering, 54-story Mori Tower as its main showpiece. Though no longer a unique skyscraper, the tower still outclasses most with the Tokyo City View observation deck on the 52nd floor, where the panorama extends all the way to Mt. Fuji on a clear day.

Just a short bus ride from either Narita Airport (both terminals) or Narita City lies this little gem. Outside is a collection of light aircraft and helicopters from Japan, the Soviet Union, and the United States. Inside, five floors of exhibit space contain everything from Boeing 747 fuselages to DC-8 flight experiences. There's also a wall detailing international aviation history. Both the fifth-floor observation deck and the fourth-floor restaurant, whose menu is inspired by in-flight meals, have excellent views of Narita Airport runways.

On the far-eastern end of Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, occupying the northernmost part of the sprawling Kiba Park, this modern museum has spaces for contemporary art from its own collection and special exhibitions. In recent years, the latter have have included shows devoted to artist David Hockney, architect Jean Prouve, composer Sakamoto Ryuichi, and even one focused on the art of language. If you need a break while here, is a café as well as a restaurant on-site. Note that the museum sometimes closes during installations of new exhibitions.

This once-lost mural by avant-garde artist Taro Okamoto has been restored and mounted inside Shibuya Station. With 14 colorful panels depicting the moment of an atomic bomb detonation, the painting is often compared to Picasso's Guernica. It was discovered in 2003 in Mexico City, where, in the late 1960s, it was to be displayed in a hotel but was misplaced following the bankruptcy of the developer. Walk up to the Inokashira Line entrance; the mural is mounted along the hallway that overlooks the Hachiko statue and that famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing.

If the frenetic energy of Shinjuku, or the otaku epicenter of Nakano Broadway have left you feeling defeated, stop by Kotobuki-yu (just to the north of J Nakano station) for a refreshing soak. Tokyo’s neighborhood baths have been in steady decline in recent decades as only the oldest of homes lack a bath or shower. Kotobuki-yu, albeit modest, maintains the tradition of being a casual place to socialize and unwind. Just note that it opens late: from 4 pm until 1:30 am, so it's definitely something to do once you've gotten your shopping out of the way.

Once you’ve located Kotobuki Yu’s orange building and have found your way to the gender-separated baths, the key thing, as at any public bath, is to follow the basic etiquette. First, you need to be completely naked in the baths, and make sure your wash towel doesn’t go in the communal bathtub. You also need to wash and rinse well in the seated shower area, before getting into the baths. After that, just enjoy a piping-hot soak, then try the on-site sauna.

Built in the mid-1600s to house and honor a Shinto spirit that calmed the waters of Tokyo Bay, this little shrine is worth a stop on your way to Tsukiji Outer Market. The name literally means "protection from waves," and it is an unofficial guardian shrine for the marketplace and its workers.

One of the Kanto region's oldest temples was founded in the AD 900s to hold a statue of the Buddhist deity Fudo Myoo that was, according to legend, carved by Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism. That statue alone—still visible in the vast main hall—marks Naritasan out as special to many Japanese, but it also has two impressive pagodas and a spacious wooded park to explore. The oldest extant building was constructed in 1655; other structures have been rebuilt numerous times since then. From JR Narita or Keisei Narita train station, you can reach the temple via Naritasan Omotesando, an 800-meter-long (½-mile) avenue lined with souvenir stores and an eclectic mix of restaurants, some of which serve unagi (freshwater eel), a local specialty.

Tokyo's largest rotating exhibition space, which hosts major international modern and contemporary exhibits as well as smaller shows, is worth visiting for the architecture alone. Architect Kisho Kurokawa, a cofounder of the influential metabolist movement in 1960, created a stunning facade that shimmers in undulating waves of glass, and entering the bright exposition space, with its soaring ceilings, feels a bit like stepping inside the set of a utopian sci-fi movie. The building houses seven gallery areas; a library; a museum shop; a trio of cafés; and a restaurant, Brasserie Paul Bocuse Le Musée, offering fine French dishes.

The building of the Japanese parliament exemplifies post–World War II Japanese architecture; on a gloomy day it seems as if it might have sprung from the screen of a German Expressionist movie. Started in 1920, construction took 17 years to complete. One-hour-long guided tours are available most weekdays between 9 am and 5 pm, but it's best to call ahead to confirm times, as access varies when parliament is sitting. The prime minister's residence, Kantei, is across the street; it's hidden by walls and trees, so you'll only get a glimpse of it.

Be sure to visit the third floor of the museum known as Miraikan (Future Hall), where you will get to meet and control a humanoid robot. This hands-on facility has areas focusing on humans' relationship to the planet, the frontiers of outer space and the deep sea, and our life in the near future. There's also a special theater with planetarium and 3-D shows (reservations required).

Founded in 1952 and moved to its present site in 1969, this was Japan's first national art museum. Often referred to by its acronym, MOMAT, it features a range of 20th- and 21st-century Japanese and Western artworks. The permanent collection, which includes paintings, prints, and sculptures by Rousseau, Picasso, Tsuguharu Foujita, Ryuzaburo Umehara, and Taikan Yokoyama, occupies the second to fourth floors.

This museum houses everything from fossils to moon rocks. The 30-meter (98-foot) model of a blue whale perched at the entrance is a huge hit with children, but, like any self-respecting science museum, this one also has a few kid-pleasing dinosaurs. Although the museum occasionally outdoes itself with special exhibits, it's pretty conventional, with few hands-on learning experiences, so, if time is short, there's no need to linger here for long. To enter, you'll need to make advance reservations online.

Along with castings from the original molds of Rodin's Gate of Hell, The Burghers of Calais, and The Thinker, the wealthy businessman Matsukata Kojiro (1865–1950) acquired some 850 paintings, sketches, and prints by such masters as Renoir, Monet, Gauguin, van Gogh, Delacroix, and Cézanne. Matsukata kept the collection in Europe, but he left it to Japan in his will. The French government sent the artwork to Japan after World War II, and the collection opened to the public in 1959 in a building designed by Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier. Since then, the museum has diversified a bit; more recent acquisitions include works by Reubens, Tintoretto, El Greco, Max Ernst, and Jackson Pollock. The Seiyo is one of the best-organized, most pleasant museums to visit in Tokyo.

Originally built in 1603, this was the starting point of Edo Japan's five major highways and the point from which all highway distances were measured. Even today, you'll see signs noting the distance to Nihonbashi. Rebuilt in stone in 1911, the structure's graceful double arch, ornate lamps, and bronze Chinese lions and unicorns are unfortunately marred by an expressway running directly overhead. In the rush to relieve traffic congestion in preparation for the 1964 Olympics, city planners ignored the protestations of residents and preservation groups and pushed ahead with construction. Still, the sight of a modern highway running over the old stone bridge makes for interesting photos.

This graceful arch across the moat is the most photogenic spot on the grounds of the former Edo Castle. Mere mortals may cross only on February 23 (the emperor's birthday) and January 2 to pay their respects to the imperial family. The guards in front of the small, octagonal, copper-roof sentry boxes change every hour on the hour—alas, with nothing like the pomp and ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

You might be surprised to see a Russian Orthodox cathedral neighboring Tokyo's Electric Town, but this church was established before electronics were even invented. The Holy Resurrection Cathedral was founded by St. Nikolai Kassatkin (1836–1912), a Russian missionary who came to Japan in 1861 and spent the rest of his life here. The building, planned by a Russian engineer and executed by a British architect, was completed in 1891. Heavily damaged in the earthquake of 1923, it was restored with a dome that's much more modest than the original. Even so, the cathedral endows this otherwise featureless part of the city with unexpected charm.

On one corner of the Ginza Crossing, across from Mitsukoshi and Wako, this incredibly slick two-floor showroom highlights Nissan’s latest concept vehicles and technological innovations. Cars on display change every few months or so, with recent examples having included a futuristic-looking Disaster Support Mobile Hub and an X-Trail G E-4ORCE four-wheel drive. On the second floor, you can shop for Nissan goods and model cars in a boutique or linger with a latte in a café.

This artificial beach and its boardwalk are home to a small replica of the Statue of Liberty and, for many strolling couples, a wonderful evening view of the Rainbow Bridge.

The gift of former Toho Mutual Life Insurance chairman Seizo Ota, this is probably the city's best private collection of ukiyo-e, traditional Edo-period woodblock prints. Ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world) flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. The works on display are selected and changed periodically from the 12,000 prints in the collection, which includes some extremely rare work by artists such as Hiroshige, Hokusai, Sharaku, and Utamaro.

Most of what was once the principal gate of Ieyasu Tokugawa's castle was destroyed in 1945 but was rebuilt in 1967 based on the original plans. The outer part of the gate survived and offers an impressive main entrance into the palace's East Gardens.

The mill that once stood here was Japan's first to produce Western-style paper, starting in 1875. The museum now occupying the location celebrates paper-making and paper of all kinds, including domestic washi, in permanent and special exhibits covering 2,000 years of history. Some exhibits also illustrate the astonishing variety of products that can be made from paper.

As a theme park dedicated to the world's most famous white feline—Hello Kitty, of course—Sanrio Puroland is effectively a shrine to the concept of cuteness. An all-day passport allows for unlimited access to multiple attractions, including three theaters, a boat ride, and the Lady Kitty House—one of many park features seemingly designed for taking selfies. Pens, packaged snacks, and plush toys are readily available so you don't have to leave empty-handed.

SCAI exemplifies Yanaka's blend of old and new. The exterior of the building, established in 1787 as a bathhouse, has been well preserved, while the inside is a light and airy space featuring rotating exhibits of contemporary art. Although the gallery is small, the exhibitions are impressive, and it's worth stopping here if only to see the building itself. The surrounding area is also interesting, so even if you arrive before the noon opening time, there's stuff to do.

Established in 645, the bright red Main Hall has long been the center of Asakusa, though what you see today is a faithful replica of the original that burned in the fire raids of 1945. It took 13 years to raise money for the restoration of the beloved Senso-ji, which is much more than a tourist attraction. Kabuki actors still come here before a new season of performances, and sumo wrestlers visit before a tournament to pay their respects. The large lanterns were donated by the geisha associations of Asakusa and nearby Yanagi-bashi. Most Japanese stop at the huge bronze incense burner, in front of the Main Hall, to bathe their hands and faces in the smoke—it's a charm to ward off illnesses—before climbing the stairs to offer their prayers.

Unlike in many other temples, however, part of the inside has a concrete floor, so you can come and go without removing your shoes. In this area hang Senso-ji's chief claims to artistic importance: a collection of 18th- and 19th-century votive paintings on wood. Plaques of this kind, called ema, are still offered to the gods at shrines and temples, but they are commonly simpler and smaller. The worshipper buys a little tablet of wood with the picture already painted on one side and inscribes a prayer on the other. The temple owns more than 50 of these works, which were removed to safety in 1945 to escape the air raids. Only eight of them, depicting scenes from Japanese history and mythology, are on display. A catalog of the collection is on sale in the hall, but the text is in Japanese only.

Lighting is poor in the Main Hall, and the actual works are difficult to see. One thing that visitors cannot see at all is the holy image of Kannon itself, which supposedly lies buried somewhere deep under the temple. Not even the priests of Senso-ji have ever seen it, and there is in fact no conclusive evidence that it actually exists.

Hozo-mon, the gate to the temple courtyard, is also a repository for sutras (Buddhist texts) and other treasures of Senso-ji. This gate, too, has its guardian gods; should either god decide to leave his post for a stroll, he can use the enormous pair of sandals hanging on the back wall—the gift of a Yamagata Prefecture village famous for its straw weaving.

Located atop a giant shopping and entertainment complex is Shibuya's, and, perhaps, Tokyo's, most celebrated viewpoint—one you'll want to make reservations to visit. There's also the option of mixing the whole experience with a glass of Champagne.