Tokyo Attractions: 20 Must-See Places
Tokyo is difficult to explore around a single centre. This twenty-place selection brings together temples, lively neighbourhoods, art stops and green escapes. Pick what interests you, then group nearby areas to leave more time for exploring and less for crossing the city.
Jump to the 20 places ↓Where should you start in Tokyo?
Divide a first visit into areas: Asakusa and Skytree work in the east, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya in the west. Choose a main visit and a neighbourhood walk each day. Rather than compressing Tokyo into one day or all twenty stops into three, choose among museums, views and outdoor time.
How many days do you need in Tokyo?
Three days can introduce a few areas; consider four or five for a more balanced first trip. Outlying stops such as Mount Takao need separate time including transport. This page is a selection guide, not a requirement to follow every stop.
Street walks and ticketed visits
Balance walks in areas such as Shibuya and Yanaka with paid museums or viewpoints. Seeing a complex from outside is different from entering an exhibition or terrace. Before booking multiple skyline tickets, consider the weather and the perspective you want.
Tokyo addresses that are easy to confuse
teamLab Borderless is at Azabudai Hills; teamLab Planets is in Toyosu. Tsukiji Outer Market and Toyosu wholesale market are also separate visits. Open map links by place name and area, then check entrance signs after leaving the station. Hours and fees can change; check official links before visiting.
Tokyo Attractions: 20 Must-See Places
Senso-ji Temple
Begin at Kaminarimon and follow Nakamise towards the temple; give Asakusa more than a single photograph.
Meiji Jingu
Step from busy Harajuku into wooded paths for a quieter side of Tokyo.
Shibuya Crossing
Watch Tokyo in motion at street level; treat a viewing terrace as a separate experience.
Tokyo Skytree
For a sense of the city’s scale, clear weather matters as much as your ticket.
Tokyo Tower
See the red-and-white tower up close and make room for its park surroundings.
teamLab Borderless
Head to Azabudai Hills for this digital-art museum, not its former Odaiba location.
Tsukiji Outer Market
Set aside a morning for food stalls and kitchen shops; this is not Toyosu.
Toyosu Market
Choose the visitor areas and check auction-viewing conditions before heading to the wholesale market.
Shinjuku Gyoen
Break up a Shinjuku visit with broad lawns and contrasting garden styles.
Tokyo National Museum
Give one Ueno museum proper time for an introduction to Japanese art and history.
Imperial Palace East Gardens
Follow traces of Edo Castle through stone walls and gardens.
Akihabara
Choose shops around your interests in anime, games or electronics rather than staying in one mall.
Harajuku & Omotesando
Explore two contrasting atmospheres, from street fashion to broad-boulevard architecture.
Odaiba
Leave a generous window for a waterfront walk and Rainbow Bridge views.
Yanaka Ginza
Slow down for a Tokyo walk among small shops and side streets.
Nezu Shrine
Add red torii gates and a shrine courtyard to a Yanaka walk.
Roppongi Hills
Combine contemporary art and city views in one area according to your interests.
Kichijoji & Inokashira Park
Combine a lakeside walk with Kichijoji’s smaller shopping streets.
Gotokuji Temple
Visit the temple known for maneki-neko figures for a quiet outing beyond the photograph.
Mount Takao
Reserve a separate half or full day for nature; this is not a quick central-city stop.