Top 10 List
Top 10 Things to Do in Tokyo
From ancient temples and peaceful shrines to neon neighborhoods, food markets, observation towers and immersive digital art, these are ten standout experiences for a first Tokyo trip.
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No. 1
Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya
- Best for
- First-time visitors, nightlife, shopping & modern Tokyo energy
- What makes it special
- Shibuya Crossing is one of Tokyo's most recognizable sights, with pedestrians moving across the intersection from multiple directions at once. The surrounding neighborhood adds major shopping, restaurants, entertainment and nightlife, making this much more than a quick photo stop.
- TopTenTravelDestinations tip
- Visit once during daylight and again after dark when the signs and surrounding buildings are illuminated.
- Don't Miss
- Hachiko Statue, Shibuya Center-gai and a high viewpoint overlooking the crossing.
- Our Take
- For many first-time travelers, this is the moment Tokyo feels exactly like the city they imagined.
No. 2
Sensoji Temple & Asakusa
- Best for
- History, traditional Tokyo, temples & first-time visitors
- What makes it special
- Sensoji is one of Tokyo's best-known historic attractions. Visitors pass through the famous Kaminarimon Gate and continue along Nakamise shopping street toward the temple complex, surrounded by a neighborhood that retains a more traditional atmosphere than many parts of central Tokyo.
- TopTenTravelDestinations tip
- Go early in the morning if you want a quieter experience before the busiest sightseeing hours.
- Don't Miss
- Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise shopping street and the temple grounds.
- Our Take
- Asakusa gives first-time visitors one of the clearest contrasts between historic and modern Tokyo.
No. 3
Meiji Shrine & Harajuku
- Best for
- Culture, peaceful walks, first-time visitors & neighborhood exploring
- What makes it special
- Meiji Jingu sits within a large forested setting only minutes from Harajuku Station. The shrine provides a calm cultural experience that can easily be combined with the fashion, shops and street energy of Harajuku and nearby Omotesando.
- TopTenTravelDestinations tip
- Visit the shrine first, then continue into Harajuku and Omotesando so the contrast between quiet tradition and modern Tokyo feels even stronger.
- Don't Miss
- The forest approach, main shrine area and nearby Harajuku streets.
- Our Take
- This is one of the easiest ways to experience two very different sides of Tokyo in a single outing.
No. 4
Tokyo Skytree
- Best for
- Views, photography, couples & first-time visitors
- What makes it special
- Tokyo Skytree rises 634 meters above the city and is Japan's tallest structure. Its observation areas provide panoramic views across Tokyo, and on clear days Mt. Fuji may be visible in the distance.
- TopTenTravelDestinations tip
- Late afternoon can let you see Tokyo in daylight and then watch the city lights come on after sunset.
- Don't Miss
- The observation decks and views across the city.
- Our Take
- If you want to understand just how enormous Tokyo really is, seeing it from above is unforgettable.
No. 5
Shinjuku
- Best for
- Nightlife, shopping, city energy & first-time visitors
- What makes it special
- Shinjuku combines skyscrapers, department stores, restaurants, nightlife and one of the busiest transportation hubs in the world. It also includes quieter areas such as Shinjuku Gyoen, creating a striking contrast within the same neighborhood.
- TopTenTravelDestinations tip
- Explore during the afternoon, then stay into the evening when the neighborhood's signs and entertainment streets come alive.
- Don't Miss
- The neon streets, department stores, observation views and Shinjuku Gyoen if time allows.
- Our Take
- Shinjuku is one of the best places to feel Tokyo's scale and intensity.
No. 6
Tsukiji Outer Market
- Best for
- Food lovers, seafood, casual eating & morning exploring
- What makes it special
- Although the wholesale market and tuna auctions moved to Toyosu in 2018, Tsukiji Outer Market remains active with seafood sellers, produce, kitchenware shops and restaurants.
- TopTenTravelDestinations tip
- Go in the morning with an appetite and sample several smaller items rather than sitting down for one large meal.
- Don't Miss
- Fresh seafood, sushi, Japanese kitchen tools and the market's narrow food-filled lanes.
- Our Take
- For travelers who experience a destination through food, Tsukiji can be one of the most enjoyable stops in Tokyo.
No. 7
teamLab Borderless
- Best for
- Art, photography, couples, families & something completely different
- What makes it special
- teamLab Borderless is an immersive digital-art museum at Azabudai Hills where artworks move between spaces and interact with one another rather than remaining in traditional galleries. It reopened at this location in 2024 and continues as a permanent attraction.
- TopTenTravelDestinations tip
- Reserve ahead when possible because date-specific tickets can sell out.
- Don't Miss
- The large-scale light installations and rooms designed to flow into one another.
- Our Take
- This is one of Tokyo's most distinctive modern experiences and a strong contrast to temples and traditional sightseeing.
No. 8
Imperial Palace & East Gardens
- Best for
- History, gardens, walking & quieter sightseeing
- What makes it special
- The Imperial Palace occupies the former site of Edo Castle. The East Gardens include historic walls, gates, moats, seasonal plantings and remnants of the old castle complex, offering a peaceful contrast to the surrounding business district.
- TopTenTravelDestinations tip
- Combine the East Gardens with nearby Tokyo Station and Marunouchi.
- Don't Miss
- The stone walls, moats, seasonal gardens and historic castle remains.
- Our Take
- This is a good choice when you want history and open space without leaving central Tokyo.
No. 9
Ginza
- Best for
- Luxury shopping, architecture, dining & evening strolling
- What makes it special
- Ginza is Tokyo's polished luxury-shopping district, filled with major international brands, department stores, showrooms, restaurants and distinctive architecture.
- TopTenTravelDestinations tip
- Walk the main avenues, but also explore the smaller side streets where you'll find boutiques, galleries and quieter restaurants.
- Don't Miss
- Ginza Crossing, department stores, flagship shops and evening dining.
- Our Take
- Even travelers who are not serious shoppers may enjoy Ginza simply for the atmosphere and urban design.
No. 10
Ueno Park & Museums
- Best for
- Museums, culture, families, parks & cherry blossom season
- What makes it special
- Ueno Park contains a dense concentration of museums, cultural attractions, a zoo, shrines and seasonal scenery. The surrounding Ueno area is also known for Ameyoko market street.
- TopTenTravelDestinations tip
- Choose one or two museums rather than trying to see everything in a single visit.
- Don't Miss
- Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Western Art, Shinobazu Pond and the park itself.
- Our Take
- Ueno works especially well for travelers who want culture and green space together.
Which Tokyo Experiences Fit Your Trip?
- First-time Tokyo
- Shibuya, Sensoji, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Skytree & Shinjuku
- Food lovers
- Tsukiji Outer Market
- Culture & history
- Sensoji, Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace & Ueno
- Modern Tokyo
- Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo Skytree & teamLab Borderless
- Couples
- Tokyo Skytree, Ginza & teamLab Borderless
- Families
- Ueno Park, Tokyo Skytree & teamLab Borderless
TopTenTravelDestinations Tip
Tokyo is enormous. Rather than crossing the city repeatedly, group attractions by neighborhood. Shibuya and Harajuku pair well together, while Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree can easily be visited on the same day.
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