Are you looking for a place for a family trip? Nothing beats the beauty of Japan. Although the country is full of culture and recreation, I decided to visit the metro city Tokyo. I wish I would have allotted more days to this trip. As there are countless places to visit in Tokyo, it will take you more than the planned time. However, if you are there for sightseeing, set out five days minimum. 

So, allow me to share my experience in the ultramodern yet traditional city of Japan.

Where in Tokyo should you go?

That was the question nagging at the back of my mind as I made up my mind to spend my last vacation in Tokyo. Like, where wouldn’t I want to go? Adding to the fact that Tokyo (which was initially known as Edo, meaning ‘bay – entrance’) is Japan’s most populous prefecture. With approximately more than thirty million residents, it is also the capital and the political and economic center of the country.

There’s a wide variety of attractions in Tokyo. So it is somehow difficult to decide where to go and how much time you want to spend at a particular place. Trust me; you might lavish all your vacation in one place, not noticing the time speeding away. Here are the most amazing places you don’t want to miss in Tokyo.

Must Visit Places in Tokyo

Let’s dive into a brief overview of the places that are the heart and soul of Tokyo!!

1.   Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Tokyo

Built twice, first in 1915 and 2nd in 1958 after WW2, the Meiji Shrine is one of Tokyo’s top landmarks. It is about 175 acres of land surrounded by green patches and 120,000 beautiful trees. This beautiful and calm religious place is Nirvana’s source for the visitors. 

The critical aspect that I liked about this place was Inner Precinct, also known as ‘Naien’. It has a museum of royal treasures. The Outer Precinct of the shrine has the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, a collection of ancient murals.

There is no ticket fee for entering the shrine, but you have to pay 500 yen for visiting the Meiji Jingu Gardens and Treasure Hall.

Another allure of Shibuya is it’s contribution to Tokyo’s nightlife. The night is always young. You’d see young people crowding the streets at night, heading to clubs, bars, and restaurants, with some (like a first-time traveler) just content with loitering around the city.

A significant place you’d afford to miss is the Shibuya crossing. The intersection is the busiest in the world and is one area that contributes majorly to the Tokyo nightlife. Take a stroll through at night, when its busyness is at its peak, and join thousands of people crossing. Beautiful!

2. Tokyo Disneyland

My next fantastic stop was Tokyo Disneyland, and it was priceless. The place was full of parades and shows followed by attractions like Jungle cruise, railroad, Disney character greetings, and whatnot; it is heaven for kids. It’s situated at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu. It is arguably one of Japan’s landmarks, as it is the first Disney Park to be built outside the U.S. It is made up of seven themed lands and also features decorations and parades based on seasons.

The place offered brilliant guest services and themed shops for shopping. If you plan to come here, you don’t need to worry about accommodation as long as you can pay 8,800 yen for your child and 14,800 for yourself. Check detailed prices here! The nearest station to Tokyo Disneyland is Maihama Station.

The ticket booth is always open, so you are free to buy your ticket on the visitation day. The payment time frame is very extensive; you can still make your payment one hour before the commencement. However, all costs end one hour after the closure. You can decide to pay beforehand by making advanced payment at specially selected booths within the resort. You can make payments at Disney Stores and online. As for online payment, you can pay via their website using your credit card.

3. Ueno Park

Many places witness Cherry Blossom in Tokyo, and Ueno Park is one of them. As it happens for a short time during the year, we were lucky enough to witness it. Ueno Park is the perfect spot for the people of Tokyo to enjoy Hanami.

It is a massive public park situated at a two-minute walk away from Ueno station in central Tokyo.

With over 1000 trees, the Ueno Park offers beautiful cherry blossom sights that happen three days before any other park. It also clubs the wildlife sights of Ueno Park Zoo.

The park entry is free, although the zoo and museum are not. Plan your trip between March and early April when the weather is friendly for the mesmerizing view of cherry blossoms. It is just beside the JR Ueno Station.

4. Meguro River

Stretched around 8 kilometers, Meguro River is also one of the welcoming tourist destinations. The river has some pretty awesome spots and green walkways on its bank. The Nakameguro neighborhood has bars and restaurants. Moreover, the Meguro Museum of Art has created some modern Japanese artists that are worth checking out.

Apart from that, you can also find cafes and dining spots to please your appetite. It is also counted as an excellent spot for Tokyo nightlife. There is no charge for enjoying the priceless beauty of the Meguro River. Like the Ueno Park, the Meguro River is also home to many Cherry blossom trees and famous for its premier cherry blossom viewing spots. Boasting over a kilometer of cherry trees lining the paths on each side of the river, bursting into bloom at each end of March and beginning of April. It is giving you the gallery of an atlas of flower clouds above the river.

Just in case you’d be heading to the Meguro River, here’s a tip for you (free of charge). Wear fancy, simple evening attire with the mind of joining revelers for evening parties beneath illuminated Cherry blossoms and bask in the glow of Tokyo’s nightlife.

5. Tokyo Imperial Palace

To get to the Imperial Palace, we took a 10-minute walk from Tokyo Station. And what we witnessed was incredible. The Nijubashi Bridge connects the outer and inner gardens. The front bridge is known as Meganebashi as it is gorgeous. Moreover, the second one is what provides the name Nijubashi to the overall structure.

Guided tours are offered here to the visitors in both English and Japanese. 

 It took us 75 minutes for the whole time. You have a choice of selecting from many available terms during the day between 10:00 to 13:30 hours. There are no charges; however, you need to get registered before coming. It is only 10 minutes away from Tokyo Station. 

You will enjoy a trip to the imperial palace if you go by train. The train lines offer you a clear view of the imperial palace’s natural ambiance while approaching from a distance.

6. Tokyo Skytree

If you haven’t toured the tallest building in the city, then you have not visited Tokyo. To get a panoramic view of the town, my family and 1 went to see this architectural marvel. The Tokyo Skytree rises from the ground just like a massive space shuttle. It was built back in 2012 and has become one of the best places to visit in Tokyo.

The restaurants and observational decks in the tower provide a 360-degree view of the city. The regular ticket for Tokyo Skytree cost around 2500 yen. You can go to Tokyo Skytree quickly from Asakusa Station and Ueno Station.

7. National Art Center

Built back in 2007, the National Art Center of Tokyo has earned a well-deserved reputation among other landmarks. The museum features over 600 paintings, all from the 20th century. This comprehensive set of artwork features all the latest work by some renowned artists of the world.

It is housed in a brilliant curved glass building in the Roppongi district. You can also visit the adjoining Mori Art Museum in the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower and the National Art Center.

The ticket fee, along with other add-on charges, varies based on the exhibition. Check here for details! The nearest station is Nogizaka or Roppongi subway stations.

8. Mount Fuji

It’s the country’s tallest peak, going on an estimation of 3,776 meters.

I ached to check this place out, so we went for a one day trip there. The journey to Mount Fuji is composed of various segments like:

A short cruise on Lake Ashi, it was full of beautiful sceneries and landscapes.

We indulged in a tram ride to Mount Komagatake that gave us goosebumps.

Lastly, the super-fast bullet train ride back to Tokyo was like time traveling.

For some pleasant natural environment experience, we headed to Fuji Five Lake and then to Hakone. We were lucky enough to enjoy the view of Fuji as it is better in the colder months.

Mount Fuji from Tokyo charges: Shinjuku’s train charges vary from 900-1600 Yen. Other than that, you may also incur costs for resorts and other activities over there.

The epic view of the mountain so much entranced me at night. I even heard it has the best idea on summer nights. It’s an easy day trip from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji. You can also cover the Hakone five lake areas around it, as I did. You can make the trip via Gotemba. Go to Kozu from Tokyo Station and then take the JR Gotemba line and get down at the Gotemba station.

9. National Museum of Nature and Science

Counted among the country’s busiest museums, the National Museum of Nature and Science boasts around 250,000 materials. These all are related to ancient history and science.

The museum offers visitors to have a unique view of the latest tech via its interactive displays. It features technologies like space development, transportation, etc. We also got to see the Japan gallery featuring exhibits of prehistoric creatures and the people of Japan. A much creative segment was Global Gallery that houses vintage vehicles, robotics, and scientific displays.

The general admission fee for the National Museum of Nature and Science is 620 Yen for university students. You will pay more if you are a working class. However, students below the college level can enter free. The nearest station is JR Ueno Station (5 minutes).

10. Shinjuku Golden Gai

This perfectly lit place is best as it is the prime spot for enjoying Tokyo nightlife. There are over 200 bars and restaurants perfectly fitted into the narrow streets. Tiny shops, dim neon lights, and a small shopping center make this area the best. This became one of the places to visit in Tokyo for me.

It is easily accessible from the east exit of Shinjuku Station located between Hanazono Shrine and the Shinjuku City Office.

All these landmarks in Tokyo are the best places to visit in Tokyo. It is necessary to consider the time of the year, though, while planning your trip to Tokyo.

For experiencing cherry blossoms in Tokyo, go within the last week of March and the beginning of April. Mount Fuji may not be that clear during the year as from November to February.

There you go, folks! There are more places to visit in Tokyo, but these are the places you’d don’t want to miss. I can’t wait till my next vacation to continue my exploration from where I stopped. Maybe I’d even come back and add more places because I’m sure there are more places in that beautiful busy city that I need to experience.

Drop a comment in the section below and tell us about how your stay in Tokyo took a turn. And which of our selected places was your best place to visit in Tokyo.