Tokyo
Near the north exit of the Imperial Palace East Garden, all that remains of the main keep (donjon) of Edo-jō is its sloping stone base, which you can…
Must-see attractions in Tokyo
Asakusa & Sumida River
This late-17th-century stroll garden offers beautiful views across its central tidal pond and is well worth a visit if you're in the area. It used to take…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
Meaning ‘culture village’, Bunkamura has a theatre, concert hall, cinema and museum. Offerings swing between commercial and artsy; the Tokyo Philharmonic…
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
The most famous piece of public art scattered around Roppongi Hills is this 30ft-tall bronze spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois. It's one of six…
Harajuku & Aoyama
Pritzker Prize–winner Itō Toyō designed the Tod's boutique (2004). The criss-crossing strips of concrete take their inspiration from the zelkova trees…
Tokyo
Nakano's vintage 1950s covered shopping arcade has a glass ceiling, which allows natural light to filter in; over 100 shops, ranging from family-run deli…
Harajuku & Aoyama
On the top floor of Aoki Jun's Louis Vuitton boutique, this light-filled gallery hosts contemporary exhibitions backed by the luxury brand's well-endowed…
Tokyo
Ōte-mon, meaning 'great hand gate', was the main entrance to Edo-jō and would have had a guard of 120 men. It is now the main gate to the Imperial Palace…
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
Run by four veteran artists (including pioneering street photographer Daido Moriyama), this gallery serves as a hub for the city's photography scene…
Ueno & Yanesen
One of Yanaka's many ambient temples, this is home to an ancient chinquapin tree that's been designated a national monument. Ask someone from the temple…
Ueno & Yanesen
This Nichiren-sect temple, on the edge of Yanaka-reien, is noteworthy for its minimalist, modern gate and its centuries-old big bronze Buddha statue.
Odaiba & Tokyo Bay
Best visited around sunset, the 99m-high viewing deck in this landmark arch-shaped building allows views of both the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower…
Ueno & Yanesen
Within the grounds of the Tokyo National Museum, this grand 1909 Western-style hall is only used for special exhibitions and events.
Asakusa & Sumida River
This large temple offers peace and quiet inside the main hall. The temple was founded in the 17th century; the current building is a reconstruction from…
Museum of Imperial Collections
Tokyo
This small museum inside the Imperial Palace East Garden hosts changing exhibitions drawn from the 9500-plus artworks owned by the imperial family.
Ginza & Tsukiji
This tiny, picturesque bridge with attractive red rails spans a tidal inlet and is a popular filming location for TV shows and movies.
Ueno & Yanesen
The deity at this temple is Nichika-sama, also known as the 'god of strong legs'; for this reason the temple is popular with runners.
Ueno & Yanesen
This small, peaceful temple, one of many scattered around Yanaka, houses one of the seven gods of good fortune, Juro-jin.
Ginza & Tsukiji
Built in 1940, this is the only drawbridge over the Sumida-gawa, but it hasn't been raised since 1970.
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
Dōgenzaka, named for a 13th-century highway robber, is a maze of narrow streets. Home to one of Tokyo's largest clusters of love hotels (hotels for…
Ebisu, Meguro & Around
Tokyo's most over-the-top wedding venue is resplendent with indoor waterfalls and gilded friezes (which speaks to the fashion in Tokyo during the height…
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
This Nishi-Shinjuku landmark building (completed in 2008) is a 50-storey webbed tower designed by Tange Associates. Easily identifiable among the blockier…
Ginza & Tsukiji
Get an insight into how newspapers are produced on a free tour of the Tokyo headquarters of this national newspaper. Reserve two days in advance; English…
Tokyo
Built in 1636 (and partially restored after the Great Kantō Earthquake in 1923), this is one of the Imperial Palace gates that was part of the original…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
This is a branch of one of Tokyo's more influential contemporary-art galleries, which shows both Japanese and international artists.
Ginza & Tsukiji
Linking Tsukiji to the island of Tsukishima, this was the first bridge to be built over the Sumida-gawa after WWII.
