25 Things To Do in Tokyo, Japan (Watch This Before You Go)

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A giant open-air market next to Ueno station and park, offering almost everything imaginable from cosmetics, shoes, jackets, and clothes to golf stores and army fatigue stores. It's also very famous for buying snacks, with giant snack stores where you can pick up green tea Kit Kats. You can easily spend a few hours wandering and exploring here.

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One of Tokyo's most famous and important religious Shinto monuments, located in the center of Tokyo yet surrounded by a quiet forested area. I got lucky and saw a wedding ceremony taking place when I visited.

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One of Tokyo's famous gardens in central Tokyo. There's a 200 yen entrance fee, but after walking around and seeing the amazing gardens, I thought it was well worth it. It features an impressive greenhouse, Japanese gardens, formal French gardens, and a traditional tea house.

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One of Tokyo’s most prestigious upscale districts, with plenty of malls, food courts, high-end restaurants, and boutiques.

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Offers a free observatory on the 45th floor with an unbelievable 360-degree panoramic view of Tokyo. There are also a couple of gift shops.

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The busiest intersection in the world, a sea of humanity crossing the street at one time. Shibuya is also one of Tokyo's most well-known areas for shopping, fashion, department stores, and good food.

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A good place to come for exercise or a relaxing stroll. You can also take the Tokyo Cruise, which is a bit pricey but offers a nice leisure experience to see lots of sights along the river.

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The residence of the emperor of Japan. You can't walk into the palace grounds by yourself, but you can apply for a free tour on the official website to have the opportunity to take a tour inside the gates. I especially wanted to see the stone bridge.

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A huge public park in Tokyo, surrounded by temples, shrines, cafes, restaurants, the Tokyo Zoo, and noteworthy museums. Throughout the day, you'll find people walking, jogging, performing dances, playing music, and enjoying the outdoors.

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Located at the far north side of Ueno Park, it's one of Tokyo’s most renowned museums, preserving art and artifacts from Japan and throughout Asia.

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A modern, 634-meter-high communications tower with viewing decks and galleries, claiming views of up to 70 kilometers. At its base is a huge mall.

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A walking street especially famous for people dressed up in animation characters, cartoons, and all sorts of costumes. It's a very interesting place, popular with teens and young people, and a spot to see and be seen.

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One of the main and most important religious sites to see in Tokyo, frequented by both religious pilgrims and countless tourists. Dating back to 628, it's the oldest temple in the city and a historical treasure. Surrounding the temple, you'll find little shops and places to sample snacks.

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A unique structure, made to look like a warehouse on stilts, though I think it looks like a UFO. It's dedicated to preserving the history of Tokyo, with Edo being the city's former name. Entry is 600 yen, but with a Tokyo handy guide, you get a 120 yen discount, making it 480 yen. As soon as you enter, you cross a wooden replica of the famous Nihonbashi bridge and can explore exhibitions on how Tokyo became the city it is today.

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Known as the electronics town, gamers town, and geek town. If you love electronics or are a crazy gamer, this is the spot to visit. It's home to electronic stores, game stores, arcades, the animation center, and infamous maid cafes. It even has its own temple where businessmen seek luck for modern ventures.

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A famous area in Tokyo where you can visit the Mori Art Museum, a modern art museum, and the Sky View Observatory at the top of one of Tokyo's tallest buildings for spectacular city views. Roppongi is also famous for its nightlife, with lots of bars and clubs, especially on weekend nights.

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An entertainment island in Tokyo, accessible by a cool monorail with awesome views. Here you'll find attractions like Legoland, various restaurants and cafes (including Hawaiian ones), and beautiful views of Tokyo Bay and the Tokyo skyline. It's also home to the famous Fuji TV headquarters building and the mega Ferris wheel at Palette Town.

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One of the main central big parks in Tokyo, a favorite spot for people doing dances, exercising, walking dogs, and people-watching, especially on weekends when you'll see many dressed up in costumes. I visited on a Tuesday, so it was quieter.

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A really peaceful place in the old, historical Nezu area of Tokyo, feeling far removed from the city.

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A neighborhood next to Nezu that has retained a lot of its traditional charm and Japanese culture. It's a great area to walk around and explore, with little stores and restaurants selling meals and Japanese street food snacks. Don't forget to walk down 'snake road,' a small neighborhood alley that weaves back and forth.

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Located about 50 kilometers from central Tokyo, this mountain is an extremely popular destination for hiking and exercising. It also doubles as a sacred religious mountain with a number of shrines and temples. I went on a weekday morning when it wasn't too bad, enjoying fresh air and good views of the mountains on one side and Tokyo on the other. There are different trails, including one that takes you by the Biwa waterfall.