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Energetic and ever-changing, Tokyo dazzles travelers with its enthralling interplay of ancient traditions and avant-garde contemporary culture. The glittering Japanese capital is a city with many faces: enduring heritage businesses are juxtaposed with thriving nightlife venues, while historic Shinto shrines and natural landscapes provide an oasis of calm amid the frenetic urban environment. In all, it’s a captivating kaleidoscope that fires the imagination. Here are five must-see spots to put on your list the next time you visit.
<figure id="attachment_140259" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140259" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-140259" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Hama-rikyu-Gardens-Overview.jpg" alt="The tidal pond and teahouses at Hama-rikyu Gardens." width="1200" height="900" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140259" class="wp-caption-text">The tidal pond and teahouses at Hama-rikyu Gardens. ©Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_140249" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140249" style="width: 1380px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-140249 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Hama-Rikyu-Gardens-in-Autumn.jpg" alt="A view of the gardens in the autumn." width="1380" height="749" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Hama-Rikyu-Gardens-in-Autumn.jpg 1380w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Hama-Rikyu-Gardens-in-Autumn-300x163.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Hama-Rikyu-Gardens-in-Autumn-1024x556.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Hama-Rikyu-Gardens-in-Autumn-768x417.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1380px) 100vw, 1380px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140249" class="wp-caption-text">A view of the gardens in the autumn. ©Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association</figcaption></figure>
<h2><a href="https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/teien/en/hama-rikyu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hama-rikyu Gardens</a></h2>
Old and new Tokyo come together at this more than 300–year-old garden backdropped by glassy skyscrapers. Situated beside Tokyo Bay, Hama-rikyu Gardens was founded in the Edo period as a private villa and duck-hunting ground for the Tokugawa shoguns. The landscaped green space is separated from the busy Shiodome area by a moat, and its appearance changes with the seasons. Plum and cherry blossoms add a blanket of whites and pinks come springtime, when the flower fields also dazzle with peonies and canola blooms. During the autumn, Japanese maple and gingko trees elicit oohs and aahs for their vibrant shades of red and yellow, as do orange cosmos flowers. The garden’s central pond, Shioiri-no-ike, is fed with seawater, so its surface rises and falls with the tidal fluctuations of Tokyo Bay. Make sure to spend some time inside the “floating” teahouse to enjoy matcha served with a wagashi (traditional sweet) as you contemplate the calm surroundings. Hama-rikyu is less than 10 minutes away on foot from Shiodome subway station on the Oedo Line and Yurikamome Line, or a 12-minute stroll from Shimbashi Station.
<a href="https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/teien/en/hama-rikyu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tokyo-park.or.jp/teien/en/hama-rikyu/</a>
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<figure id="attachment_140246" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140246" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-140246 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Skytree-Featured-Image.jpg" alt="TOKYO SKYTREE ranks as the tallest man-made structure in Japan." width="1200" height="800" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140246" class="wp-caption-text">TOKYO SKYTREE ranks as the tallest man-made structure in Japan. ©TOKYO-SKYTREE</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_140260" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140260" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-140260 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Solamachi-Body.jpg" alt="Visitors to TOKYO Solamachi will be spoiled for choice when it comes to food and shopping." width="1200" height="800" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140260" class="wp-caption-text">Visitors to TOKYO Solamachi will be spoiled for choice when it comes to food and shopping. ©TOKYO-SKYTREETOWN</figcaption></figure>
<h3><a href="https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TOKYO SKYTREE® and TOKYO Solamachi®</a></h3>
Standing as a 21st-century icon of the Japanese capital, TOKYO SKYTREE serves not only as a television broadcasting tower but also as a top-tier tourist attraction. At 634 meters, it is the tallest man-made structure in Japan and the third tallest in the world. Located in the Sumida district, and adjacent to both Oshiage and TOKYO SKYTREE stations, this soaring tower forms part of the TOKYO SKYTREETOWN development. The highlight for visitors is its observation decks, situated 350 and 450 meters above the ground. Here, awe-inspiring panoramic views over Greater Tokyo await, with Mount Fuji visible during clear days. The tower also features thrilling glass floors, offering an exhilarating perspective on the bustling city below. At its base, the <a href="https://www.tokyo-solamachi.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TOKYO Solamachi</a> shopping complex features over 300 stores, plenty of dining options, and family-friendly attractions, including Sumida Aquarium, Konica Minolta Planetarium Tenku, and Postal Museum Japan.
<a href="https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tokyo-skytree.jp</a>
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<figure id="attachment_140261" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140261" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-140261 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-TeamLab-Universe-of-Water-Particles-on-a-Rock-where-People-Gather.jpg" alt="teamLab, Universe of Water Particles on a Rock where People Gather, Flowers and People, Cannot be Controlled but Live Together – A Whole Year per Hour, Crows are Chased and the Chasing Crows are Destined to be Chased as well: Flying Beyond Borders © teamLab" width="1200" height="695" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-TeamLab-Universe-of-Water-Particles-on-a-Rock-where-People-Gather.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-TeamLab-Universe-of-Water-Particles-on-a-Rock-where-People-Gather-300x174.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-TeamLab-Universe-of-Water-Particles-on-a-Rock-where-People-Gather-1024x593.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-TeamLab-Universe-of-Water-Particles-on-a-Rock-where-People-Gather-768x445.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140261" class="wp-caption-text">teamLab, Universe of Water Particles on a Rock where People Gather, Flowers and People, Cannot be Controlled but Live Together – A Whole Year per Hour, Crows are Chased and the Chasing Crows are Destined to be Chased as well: Flying Beyond Borders © teamLab</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_140262" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140262" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-140262 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Azabudai-Hills-exterior.jpg" alt="The low-rise buildings in Azabudai Hills were the work of London-based Heatherwick Studio." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Azabudai-Hills-exterior.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Azabudai-Hills-exterior-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Azabudai-Hills-exterior-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Azabudai-Hills-exterior-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140262" class="wp-caption-text">The low-rise buildings in Azabudai Hills were the work of London-based Heatherwick Studio.</figcaption></figure>
<h4><a href="https://www.azabudai-hills.com/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Azabudai Hills</a></h4>
This gleaming mixed-use development by Mori Building Company is bringing a new wave of energy into the Toranomon and Azabudai business district. Styled as a “modern urban village,” the precinct is home to the tallest building in the country, as well as low-rise retail blocks and community facilities designed by the London-based Heatherwick Studio. The eye-catching architecture includes public spaces where the greenery isn’t just at street level — it’s also draped onto the curving, interconnected roofs. A trove of upscale restaurants and boutiques can be found at Azabudai Hills, alongside the ultra-luxury hotel Janu Tokyo. But the biggest attraction of all is the new 7,000-square-meter home of <a href="https://www.teamlab.art/e/tokyo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">teamLab Borderless</a>, which moved here after closing its original Odaiba location in 2022. More than 70 art installations that utilize digital technology provide a boundary-pushing immersive experience: artworks respond not only to the viewer’s movements but also move out of rooms and merge with other installations. With kinetic light sculptures, a mirror-lined space, and much more, teamLab Borderless is the perfect spot to capture unforgettable Instagram content.
<a href="https://www.azabudai-hills.com/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">azabudai-hills.com</a>
<a href="https://www.teamlab.art/e/tokyo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">teamlab.art/e/tokyo/</a>
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<figure id="attachment_140256" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140256" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-140256 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Meiji-Jingu.jpg" alt="An aerial view of Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine. ©Meiji Jingu" width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Meiji-Jingu.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Meiji-Jingu-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Meiji-Jingu-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Meiji-Jingu-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140256" class="wp-caption-text">An aerial view of Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine. ©Meiji Jingu</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_140263" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140263" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-140263" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Tokyo-Meiji-Jingu-Torii-Gate.jpg" alt="One of the large torii gates on the grounds. ©Meiji Jingu" width="1200" height="800" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140263" class="wp-caption-text">One of the large torii gates on the grounds. ©Meiji Jingu</figcaption></figure>
<h5><a href="https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine</a></h5>
Amid the never-ceasing hustle and bustle of Shibuya lies a serene oasis: Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine. Established in 1920 to commemorate Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken — the ruling monarchs who led the rapid modernization of Japan and presided over its emergence as a world power — the landmark shrine is set in a peaceful 70-hectare forest. Giant torii gates lead to impressive copper-roofed shrine buildings constructed in Japanese cypress, where you can witness Shinto spirituality firsthand through the nikku-sai offerings performed twice a day (in the early morning and afternoon). The serene inner gardens of the shrine bloom with azaleas in the spring and irises during the summer; it’s ideal for viewing fall foliage thanks to the presence of Japanese maples. Also worth a stop is the adjacent Meiji Jingu Museum designed by starchitect Kengo Kuma. Access to the shrine is easy, with Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line and Meiji-jingumae Station on the Chiyoda and Fukutoshin subway lines mere steps from the precinct.
<a href="https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">meijijingu.or.jp/en/</a>
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<figure id="attachment_140430" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140430" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-140430 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/TCVB-Akihabara-Tokyo-Street-Scene.jpg" alt="The streets of Akihabara Electric Town, known for its stores selling electronics and manga- and anime-themed memorabilia." width="1200" height="800" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140430" class="wp-caption-text">The streets of Akihabara Electric Town, known for its stores selling electronics and manga- and anime-themed memorabilia.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_140461" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-140461" style="width: 800px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-140461 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/TCVB-Kanda-Myojin-Shrine.jpg" alt="Overlooking the Kanda Myojin Shrine, where the annual Kanda Festival is held every two years." width="800" height="534" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/TCVB-Kanda-Myojin-Shrine.jpg 800w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/TCVB-Kanda-Myojin-Shrine-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/TCVB-Kanda-Myojin-Shrine-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-140461" class="wp-caption-text">Overlooking the Kanda Myojin Shrine, where the annual Kanda Festival is held every two years.</figcaption></figure>
<h6><a href="https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/55/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Akihabara Electric Town</a></h6>
Tech enthusiasts, anime lovers, and gamers will feel right at home in Akihabara. This vibrant shopping hub draws people from far and wide for its incredible range of electronics and Japanese pop culture merchandise. Relive the nostalgia of your childhood through retro arcade games at the well-known retailer Super Potato and browse the collectibles at Radio Kaikan, a 10-story building filled with electronic wares and anime-related goods. Sunday afternoons see Akihabara’s main strip, Chuo Dori, turned into a fully pedestrianized zone. Beyond the bustling streets, the nearby Kanda Myojin Shrine adds a cultural layer to any visit; the venerated sanctuary has stood on the same site since the Edo period. Its vermilion-painted structures — like the beautiful Zuishin-mon gate, reconstructed using traditional methods in 1976 — are decorated with gold leaf and lacquered woodcarvings. At Kanda Myojin Shrine, visitors can buy a talisman to prevent information leakage from their electronic devices. Akihabara is easily accessible via Akihabara Station, which is served by the JR Yamanote Line, the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, and the Tsukuba Express Line, among other transit options.
<a href="https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/55/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gotokyo.org</a>
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Tokyo Tokyo Official Website 
<a href="https://tokyotokyo.jp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tokyotokyo.jp</a>
Official Tokyo Travel Guide GO TOKYO 
<a href="https://www.gotokyo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gotokyo.org</a>
This article was brought to you by Tokyo Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau.

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