Tokyo is a deep and diverse city, and there are still plenty of spots to enjoy. I want to know about not only the regular spots, but also the hidden spots! We have carefully selected some of the best spots in Tokyo that we recommend you to visit at least once.
Whether you are familiar with Tokyo or not, whether you are looking for a different kind of fun or date, reading this will give you a chance to discover a new Tokyo.
So, if there’s a spot you’re interested in, get ready now and head out!
Ueno and Yanesen area
Yanaka Ginza
The retro shopping streets of downtown are photogenic and interesting places to discover something new. The staircase known as ‘YUYAKE DANDAN’ leads down to a peaceful, atmospheric space that can truly be described as downtown.
The National Museum of Western Art
The museum is a World Heritage Site with a collection of around 6,000 works of art. The works in the forecourt can be viewed free of charge. The museum attracts large crowds when it holds special exhibitions.
National Museum and Science
It houses giant dinosaurs, many stuffed animals and many other exhibits, amounting to more than four million items. It is a large museum with two booths, the ‘Japan Gallery'(The Environment on the Japanese Islands) and the ‘Global Gallery'(The History of Life on Earth).
Ueno Park
During the cherry blossom season, the park is crowded for cherry blossom viewing, but after the cherry blossom season it becomes a secret spot. The large fountain in the park is recommended for a relaxing time. The Ueno Zoo, famous for its pandas, is also nearby and can be enjoyed to the full.
Shinobazu Pond
Here, you can enjoy an elegant boat ride. A plunge around the pond is also recommended. There are food stalls near the boat ramp almost every day, so it is a pleasant, busy spot that is not too quiet.
Popular pubs in the Ameyoko shopping street
One of the deepest ways to enjoy Ueno is to go to a pub from noon. There are rows of cheap and tasty popular izakayas open from lunchtime. In a lively space where someone is always laughing and the lively voices of the waiters are always flying about, sharing a small table with everyone and drinking together will bring you closer together and make you have a good time.
Ueno Frontier Tower
The complex reopened in 2017. The facilities include PARCO_ya, a slightly more mature and elegant storefront, a cinema and restaurants.
Iidabashi and Kagurazaka area
Kagurazaka
The main street representing the Kagurazaka area. With an increasing number of stylish Italian, French and other restaurants and hideaways, it is a perfect spot for adult dates.
Tokyo Daijingu
There is a shrine dedicated to the god of love, which is said to offer very strong benefits. It is a very popular spot for those who want to achieve love. Various festive events are held every month.
Akagi Shrine
Located on a street in Kagurazaka, this shrine is said to be beneficial for matchmaking and the arts. It has a nice, stylish atmosphere in keeping with Kagurazaka, and there is also a café inside.
la kagu
This is a commercial facility with a collection of fashionable select shops. The warehouse-like space offers a range of goods and clothes that are fun to browse through.
Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens
This garden has a deep history dating back to the Edo period and is a quiet, peaceful and relaxing place to spend time. Here you can also enjoy seasonal flowers and autumn leaves.
Kiyosumi-Shirakawa and Monzennakacho area
BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE
This is a typical coffee stand in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, a town of cafes, with a pleasant atmosphere where one can drop in. There are many coffee stands and cafés in the Kiyosumi-Shirakawa area, so you can use this as a starting point to enjoy visiting a variety of cafes.
Kiyosumi Teien Garden
This is a Japanese-style garden, known as a ‘kaiyushiki rinsen-teien’, in which visitors can walk around the garden in a circle to appreciate it. Visitors can feel the history that has been handed down since the Meiji era. It is a place where you can experience the depth of Fukagawa’s culture.
Ninjo Fukagawa Goriyaku Dori
This shopping arcade on the approach to Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine is a great place to enjoy the atmosphere of the Edo period. Fairs are held regularly and you can feel the bustle of the Edo period. Go and feel the atmosphere of Edo.
Fukagawa Fudodo
Fukagawa Fudodo, which runs through the Ninjo Fukagawa Goriyaku Dori. Inside, there is a crystal circuit containing some 10,000 statues of Fudo. The powerful Gomadaki, where offerings are burnt and delivered to the Buddha, is held daily.
Tomioka Hachimangu
It is considered the largest Hachimangu shrine in Tokyo and is also where the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival, one of the three largest festivals in Edo, is held. Located just a short walk from Fukagawa Fudo, flea markets are held twice a month.
Areas along the Chuo Line (Nakano to Kichijoji)
Inokashira Park
In Inokashira Park, also known as the Lover’s Mecca, offers a zoo, boat rides and a fun, relaxed atmosphere. The park is also ideal for picnics and can be easily visited by parents and children, lovers and friends.
Inokashira Benzaiten
This water deity is located in Inokashira Park, and it is said that washing your money there will bring you good luck. It is worth a visit if you come to the park.
Harmonica Alley
This is a secret spot in Kichijoji, where standing bars are plentiful. You can even have a drink with the person sitting next to you! Try drinking in a deep place once in a while.
Nakano Broadway
You can enjoy a different kind of Japanese culture at Nakano Broadway, with its subcultural and pop atmosphere. You’ll come to love this side of Tokyo.
Koenji Street
The izakayas that line the elevated streets of Koenji are cosy and comfortable, and it is easy to become friends with the people sitting next to you in this drinking area. It is said to be a space where once you get hooked, you become addicted.
Asagaya Pearl Center
This is the shopping street in Asagaya that you see as soon as you get off the train in Asagaya. It is always crowded with people and a fun place to eat and drink. It has a friendly atmosphere with many families and makes me want to live here one day!
Ebisu and Daikanyama area
YEBISU BEER MUSEUM
The Ebisu Beer factory and memorial museum, with a history of over 100 years, is located in Ebisu. Free and paid factory tours are available, so you can choose the factory tour that best suits your tastes. The beer factory here is a stylish place for a grown-up factory tour. You can also enjoy beer tasting, which makes your visit a pleasure.
*Closed from 31 October 2022; scheduled to open as YEBISU BREWERY TOKYO in April 2024. It will be reborn as an “overwhelmingly real experience” facility where you can discover new ways to enjoy beer while experiencing the unique story of Yebisu’s roots, present and future.
Saigoyama Park
The park is a veritable secret where you can relax, with good views and not many people. On a fine day, you may be able to see a spectacular view of Mt Fuji in the distance. This is a spot you should visit at least once.
Korinin-temple
On weekday mornings, you can experience zazen without the need to make a reservation at the temple, which is registered as a cultural heritage site. It’s a great way to refresh yourself in the morning, and it’s a rare opportunity to experience zazen in the middle of Tokyo.
Ebisu Yokocho
In stark contrast to Ebisu’s fashionable image, here you can experience the atmosphere of a traditional downtown area, with its unique restaurants and eateries. Experience something different in the fashionable town of Ebisu.
LOG ROAD DAIKANYAMA
A cottage commercial centre with a stylish and relaxed atmosphere. It is conveniently located near the train station for a quick stopover. Inside, there is a shop with a brewery attached, where you can drink delicious craft beer, and a stylish café. The spot is also particular about seasonal plants.
Sunflower Garden Daikanyama Slope
You can see well-bloomed sunflowers in the city. The area used to be overgrown with weeds, but thanks to the work of local residents, sunflowers have started to grow. It’s the perfect spot for the summer season and will help you feel refreshed when it’s hot and you’re feeling a bit battered.
Futakotamagawa and Jiyugaoka area
La Vita
La Vita in Jiyugaoka is a spot that recreates the streets of the water city of Venice. With its impressive bridges over small rivers, this commercial complex makes you feel as if you are really in Italy. It is also famous for its Instagrammable photos.
Kuhonbutsu River Greenway
This is a typical shopping street in Jiyugaoka. With its greenery, benches and cobblestone streets, it is the perfect place for a date with your girlfriend. The fashionable shops are lined up so you can window-shop or take a break on a bench if you get tired.
TODAY’S SPECIAL Jiyugaoka
This very popular shop offers a wide range of fashionable household goods and sundries. The assortment is so cute and of such high quality that it is easy to lose track of time. Another great point is the selection of petit-price products.
Kumano Shrine
The Kumano Shrine is a power spot in Jiyugaoka. Located near La Vita, stop by for a quick break while shopping.
Trainchi Jiyugaoka
This is another place you can’t miss when you visit Jiyugaoka. The shop is a two-storey building packed with cafés and cute shops. On weekends, a marché takes place, where you can enjoy a leisurely shopping experience.
Todoroki Valley
An oasis in Tokyo stretching over 30,000 square metres. The sound of flowing water, chirping birds and greenery swaying in the wind take you to a healing space. Inside, there are not only promenades, but also ruins, a Japanese garden and a lawn. It is also easily accessible, taking about 20 minutes by train from Shibuya.
Futako Tamagawa TSUTAYA ELECTRICS
The shop offers a wide range of the latest technology and unique home appliances that may be useful in your daily life. It is also a spot where, unlike the usual ivy shop assortment, you will find a range of particular and unique books.
Futakotamagawa Rise Shopping Center
This is a large-scale commercial complex that combines nature and shopping, making the most of the spaciousness of Futakotamagawa. It contains popular cafes and restaurants.
Futakotamagawa Park
This spacious park is full of open space and is always busy with parents and children in a friendly atmosphere. It is located at the end of Futakotamagawa Rise Shopping Centre, so stop by while you are shopping.
