Tour de Tokyo: 7 Must-see Spots in Tokyo, Japan!

Tokyo, Japan, home to the long awaited 2020 Olympic Games, is a bustling city rich with history and full of sites to explore. With a population of almost 14 million, every street of this busy capital is packed with things to do. From museums and art galleries to historical temples and shrines, Tokyo brilliantly fuses the ultramodern and futuristic with the traditional to create an incredible and unique atmosphere for residents and visitors alike. With endless possibilities for fun and unforgettable memories, here are just some of our must see spots in Tokyo, Japan!

Tokyo Tower

Image by redlegsfan21 via Wikimedia Commons

Starting off with one of the most defining structures of the city, the stunning Tokyo Tower is a focal point of the Tokyo skyline. With an Eiffel Tower inspired lattice, the tower, because it is so tall, is actually painted a vibrant white and international orange color in order to comply with air safety regulations. The tower, which is officially called Nippon denpatō, “Japan Radio Tower,” serves as a communications and observation tower. It is fixed with 180 lights that make it glow beautifully in the nighttime, and every hour on the hour, the nicknamed “Diamond Tiara” and “Diamond Choker” of the top and main deck light up in a dazzling bright white. Make sure you go up to the tower’s observation decks for gorgeous panoramic views of Tokyo.

Sensoji Temple

Tokyo’s oldest temple, Sensoji Temple is the most visited spiritual site in the world. Seeing over 30 million visitors annually, the Buddhist Temple is dedicated to Kannon Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of compassion. The tiled roof of the stunning structure is made of titanium. The titanium reinforces the grand temple while maintaining its historic image, exemplifying the way in which Tokyo so gracefully blends the modern and the traditional.

The temple grounds are also full of things to do and discover. The grounds feature a dazzling five-story pagoda, which stands just adjacent to Sensoji Temple; the grand Kaminarimon, or “Thunder Gate,” which sits at the entrance to Sensoji Temple; and Nakamise-dōri, the charming street lined with shops that approaches the temple. Reset and relax during your visit to Sensoji Temple.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

A stark contrast to the bright lights and crowded streets of Tokyo, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden provides visitors with a welcoming change of pace from the rest of the city. With spacious green lawns, plush trees and shrubbery, and plenty of walking paths, the park feels worlds away from the urban jungle surrounding it.

Originally a residence of the Naitō family, who had been given the land by the shogun during the Edo period, the garden later came under the care of the Imperial Household Agency of Japan before finally becoming a national park under the Ministry of Environment. The park combines three distinct styles: French Formal, English Landscape, and Japanese traditional. Visitors can see the distinct pockets that each style carves into the park, as well as how the styles blend together in certain areas. With over 20,000 trees, and approximately 1,500 of them being cherry trees, Shinjuku Gyoen National Park is a feast for the eyes no matter the season.

Tokyo Skytree

Standing at an impressive 634 meters (approximated 2,080 feet), the Tokyo Skytree is the tallest tower in the world. Another distinctive structure on the Tokyo skyline, it was built to be 634 meters tall as an homage to Musashi, the region where the Tokyo Skytree stands. The digits of its height – 6 (Mu), 3 (sa), and 4 (shi) – come together in Japanese to spell out the old name. The Tower itself is painted “Skytree White,” an original color derived from the traditional bluish-white Japanese color aijiro. At night, the tower alternates between being illuminated Iki sky blue and Miyabi purple, which represent chicness and style and elegance and refinement, respectively. Visitors can enjoy spectacular views of Tokyo and even Mount Fuji from the observation deck on clear days.

Hie Jinja

Resting atop a hill, Hie Jinja is one of Tokyo’s major shrines. Home to precious relics, including two swords that once belonged to Emperor Meiji, and the location of the sensational Sanno Matsuri festival, Hie Jinja is a special place in Tokyo. The Sanno Matsuri festival, which takes place each year in mid-June and lasts well over a week, is one of Tokyo’s three most popular and important festivals. The festival is a celebration of Tokyo, with one of the highlights being a nine-hour long parade that weaves through the city, beginning and ending at Hie Jinja, where the deity of Tokyo is believed to be enshrined. Take a visit to this guardian shrine of the Imperial Palace.

kabuki-za Theater

Opened in 1889 by Meiji era journalist and Kabuki author Fukuchi Gen’ichirō, Kabuki-za Theater is one of the most famous Kabuki theaters in Tokyo and Japan. Kabuki-za has been run by the Shochiku Corporation, a Japanese film and kabuki production and distribution company and the oldest of Japan’s “Big Four” film studios, since 1914. Kabuki is a traditional form of drama, dance, and singing and the performances are known for their captivating makeup looks and intricate costumes. With performances nearly everyday, visitors can buy tickets to watch the whole show, or stop by just for certain acts.

Meiji Shrine

Last but certainly not least, dedicated to Emperor Meiji, the first emperor of modern Japan, and his wife, Empress Shoken, Meiji Shrine sits surrounded by around 100,000 trees. These trees, which constitute the Meiji Shrine Forest, were donated from regions all across the country and planted at the time of the shrine’s construction. The 200 acres of temple ground, which are incredibly popular amongst visitors for their tranquility and serenity, feature the Torii Gate and Inner Garden, the latter of which houses a well that the emperor and empress visited when they were alive and which has since become a frequented spiritual “power spot.” The shrine itself is also very spiritual, with Meiji Shrine welcoming the most New Year’s day visitors of any shrine or temple in Japan, as they complete the year’s first prayers (hatsumode). Refresh and calm your mind at the magnificent Meiji Shrine.

With Mount Fuji as a backdrop and the flowing Sumida River cutting through it, Tokyo is a sight to behold. Rich with history, tradition, and innovation, it’s no wonder the beautiful city is a favorite destination for many. So, while COVID-19 and continued travel restrictions may be putting a hold on your travel plans, you can still learn and explore the amazing city of Tokyo through Exploring Paths! Take advantage of the online options that all of these destinations, and many more, offer on the Exploring Paths app and website.

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