Explore Tokyo

208 places beyond the tourist trail, hand picked and mapped.

208 places

Meiji Shrine Harajuku Tokyo's most serene major shrine, set within 170 acres of forested grounds. The wide gravel path lined with towering camphor trees creates a world apart from the city outside.

Senso-ji Temple Asakusa Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in 645 AD. Walk through the Kaminarimon gate, along the Nakamise shopping lane, and up to the main hall. Stunning at dusk when the crowds thin and lanterns glow.

Nezu Shrine Yanaka Often called Tokyo's answer to Fushimi Inari, this quiet shrine has a long tunnel of red torii gates leading up a wooded hillside. Far fewer crowds than Kyoto's famous version and arguably more atmospheric.

Hanazono Shrine Shinjuku Dedicated to the god of business and prosperity, tucked directly behind Shinjuku's neon chaos. The contrast between the lantern-lit shrine and surrounding hostess bars and pachinko parlours is uniquely Tokyo.

Zojo-ji Temple Shiba The historic main temple of the Jodo sect of Buddhism, with Tokyo Tower looming directly behind it. The combination makes for one of the best and most recognisable photo spots in the city.

Hie Shrine Akasaka A hilltop shrine in the middle of Tokyo's political and business district, famous for its twin tunnels of torii gates. The escalator approach from the south side makes it accessible even in heels.

Yushima Tenman-gu Ueno A shrine over 1,600 years old dedicated to the god of learning. The courtyard is covered in ema wooden plaques from students praying for exam success. Plum blossoms in February are spectacular.

Toshogu Shrine Ueno A gilded Edo-period shrine within Ueno Park, far less visited than the Nikko version but equally ornate. Surrounded by 200 stone lanterns and ancient camphor trees, it feels genuinely ancient.

Shinjuku Gyoen Shinjuku Tokyo's finest park: 58 hectares combining a French formal garden, English landscape garden, and Japanese strolling garden. Over 1,000 cherry trees make this the best hanami spot in the city.

Yoyogi Park Harajuku A vast open park where Tokyo comes to play. Weekend musicians, unicyclists, dog walkers, and picnickers fill the lawns. The adjacent Meiji Shrine forest makes this a green anchor for the west side.

Ueno Park Ueno Tokyo's oldest public park, home to five major museums, a zoo, a lake with rowboats, and the city's most famous cherry blossom avenue. Crowded and chaotic in spring, which is half the fun.

Hamarikyu Gardens Shiodome A former shogun duck-hunting ground now open to the public. A traditional teahouse sits on a tidal pond surrounded by skyscrapers. The combination of ancient garden and glass towers is quintessentially Tokyo.

Inokashira Park Kichijoji A beloved local park built around a large lake, with rowboat rentals, a small zoo, and weekend street musicians. Kichijoji is consistently voted the neighbourhood Tokyoites most want to live in, and this park is the reason.

Koishikawa Korakuen Bunkyo One of Tokyo's oldest and most exquisite Japanese gardens, built by the Mito Tokugawa clan in 1629. Every classical garden element is here: hills, streams, a lake, a moon bridge, rice paddies.

Yanaka Cemetery Yanaka More park than cemetery. Wide tree-lined avenues, cats everywhere, old Tokyo quiet. One of the best cherry blossom walks in the city, with almost no tourist crowds along the main avenue.

Tokyo Skytree Asakusa At 634m, the world's tallest broadcast tower. On clear winter days you can see Mt Fuji to the southwest. The Tembo Deck at 350m and Tembo Galleria at 450m offer very different scales of view.

Tokyo Tower Shiba Still the most iconic Tokyo landmark. Outclassed in height by the Skytree but not in charm or centrality. The orange and white lattice structure looks best at night, lit against the dark sky.

Shibuya Sky Shibuya An open-air observation deck on top of Scramble Square with 360-degree views. Directly below you can watch the famous Shibuya scramble crossing like an ant colony. One of the more dramatic Tokyo viewpoints.

Roppongi Hills Mori Tower Roppongi The Mori Art Museum on the 52nd floor shares its admission with Tokyo City View, giving you world-class contemporary art alongside a wraparound view of the city.

Bunkyo Civic Center Bunkyo Tokyo's best-kept viewpoint secret: a completely free observation deck on the 25th floor of a civic building. Clear views of Shinjuku, the Skytree, and on cold winter days, Mt Fuji in the distance.

Sunshine 60 Ikebukuro The old Ikebukuro landmark built on the site of Sugamo Prison. The Sky Circus on the 60th floor has interactive exhibits alongside the view. The north and west views are the best in this part of the city.

Tsukiji Outer Market Tsukiji The market that outlived the fish auction. Dozens of vendors sell sushi, tamagoyaki, wagyu skewers, and fresh scallops grilled to order. Eating breakfast here is one of the great Tokyo rituals.

Tonkatsu Maisen Omotesando The gold standard of tonkatsu in Tokyo, set in a converted 1940s public bathhouse. The kurobuta (Berkshire pork) set is as good as this dish gets anywhere in Japan.

Omoide Yokocho Shinjuku Memory Lane: a narrow alley behind Shinjuku Station packed with tiny yakitori stalls, each seating fewer than ten people. Smoke, charcoal, skewers, and cold beer here since the 1940s.

Nakameguro riverside dining Nakameguro The Meguro River canal path is lined with some of Tokyo's most photogenic restaurants. Every cuisine is available but the grilled meat spots with canal-side tables on warm evenings are the sweet spot.

Shimokitazawa curry row Shimokitazawa Shimokitazawa has quietly become Tokyo's curry neighbourhood. Dozens of independent curry shops serving Japanese, keema, and Sri Lankan styles within a few blocks. The density is remarkable.

Depachika at Isetan Shinjuku The basement food hall of Isetan department store is one of the great food experiences in Tokyo. An underground world of prepared foods, French pastries, wagashi, sake, and impeccably presented bento.

Yanaka Ginza Yanaka A narrow old-school shopping street that survived the war and redevelopment. Dozens of small shops sell menchi-katsu, croquettes, tofu, pickles, and fresh crackers hot from the oven.

Ameyoko Market stalls Ueno Open-air market running under the JR tracks from Ueno. Food vendors sell dried fish, seafood, takoyaki, and cheap sushi alongside permanent shops. One of the loudest and most chaotic streets in the city.

Fuglen Tokyo Tomigaya A transplant from Oslo that set the template for Tokyo's third-wave coffee scene in 2012. Vintage furniture, serious espresso by day, natural wine and cocktails by night. The Tomigaya neighbourhood is worth exploring.

Onibus Coffee Nakameguro Nakameguro A roastery cafe in a converted house in Nakameguro. One of the best single-origin coffees in the city, sourced directly from farms the owner visits in person. Simple, honest, and beautifully done.

Bear Pond Espresso Shimokitazawa Cult espresso bar in Shimokitazawa run by an obsessive owner. The Angel Stain espresso is reportedly the smoothest, most precisely pulled shot in Tokyo. Worth the walk.

Saturdays NYC Daikanyama Daikanyama The New York surf brand opened this relaxed Tokyo outpost in Daikanyama's most stylish block. Good coffee, surf boards on the walls, and excellent people-watching from the terrace.

Dandelion Chocolate Kuramae Kuramae San Francisco's bean-to-bar chocolate maker set up in a renovated Kuramae warehouse. Hot chocolate flights, single-origin bars, and a beautiful industrial interior that anchors the neighbourhood's maker culture.

Yanaka Coffee Yanaka A roastery in old Tokyo, roasting in small batches and selling beans in handmade paper bags. The drip coffee and the unhurried pace of the neighbourhood make this one of the most pleasant cafe experiences in the city.

Golden Gai Shinjuku Six alleys, 200 bars, each seating fewer than ten people. Every bar has a theme: jazz, cinema, punk, sumo, horror. The regulars are industry workers, artists, and curious visitors who found their way in.

Omoide Yokocho at night Shinjuku Memory Lane transforms after dark into a smoky, lantern-lit alley. Tiny yakitori stalls overflow with salarymen sharing skewers and beer. The smell of charcoal and the glow of paper lanterns make it genuinely atmospheric.

Nakameguro canal bars Nakameguro The canal-side path becomes a social street at night, with bars and small restaurants opening their windows to the water. Low-lit, relaxed, the opposite of Shinjuku in every way. Especially good on warm nights.

Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho Shibuya Drunkard's Alley in Shibuya's backstreets, a cluster of standing bars and small izakayas that feels more neighbourhood than tourist attraction. Less famous than Golden Gai but similarly intimate.

Shimokitazawa live venues Shimokitazawa Tokyo's live music capital. Dozens of small venues host original bands every night across rock, jazz, folk, and experimental. The neighbourhood has a counter-culture energy that has survived decades of development pressure.

Tokyo National Museum Ueno Japan's oldest and largest museum, with the world's most extensive collection of Japanese art. The Honkan main building houses samurai armour, ukiyo-e prints, lacquerware, and Buddhist sculpture across 24 rooms.

teamLab Planets Toyosu An immersive digital art installation where you walk barefoot through rooms of water, flowers, mirrored light, and floating spheres. Designed to dissolve the boundary between viewer and artwork.

Mori Art Museum Roppongi A major contemporary art institution on the 53rd floor of Roppongi Hills, with rotating international exhibitions of the highest calibre. One ticket covers both the exhibition and the Tokyo City View observation deck.

21_21 Design Sight Roppongi Tadao Ando-designed gallery in Midtown Tokyo, half-buried in a park, dedicated to design in the broadest sense. The building itself is a masterwork. Exhibitions connect everyday objects to bigger ideas.

Edo-Tokyo Museum Ryogoku A giant museum dedicated to the city's history from the Edo period through the 20th century. Life-size reconstructions of Edo streetscapes and market stalls let you walk through 400 years of Tokyo history.

Ghibli Museum Mitaka Hayao Miyazaki's personal vision of what a museum should be: imaginative, hand-crafted, and anti-corporate. A short film plays here exclusively. The Cat Bus room for children is one of the most joyful spaces in any museum.

Takeshita Street Harajuku The pedestrian street where Tokyo youth fashion has originated for 50 years. Outrageous, maximalist, and entirely unique. Crepe shops, vintage stores, and street fashion at peak intensity.

Shimokitazawa vintage Shimokitazawa The best neighbourhood in Tokyo for vintage and second-hand clothing. Over 20 shops within walking distance, stocking American workwear, Japanese vintage, and European deadstock at reasonable prices.

Akihabara Electric Town Akihabara The world's most intense concentration of electronics, anime, and manga. Eight-storey shops stuffed with gadgets, figures, retro games, and obscure components. Overwhelming in the best way.

Omotesando Hills Omotesando Tadao Ando's spiralling concrete shopping centre, as architecturally impressive as anything it sells. High-end Japanese and international brands across six floors built into a hillside. The atrium is the thing to see.

Koenji record shops Koenji Koenji is Shimokitazawa's scrappier, more committed sibling. Cheaper rents support a more genuine subcultural scene. Outstanding for vinyl records, vintage military surplus, and punk fashion.

Ginza Six Ginza The anchor of new Ginza: 241 tenants across 13 floors including the roof garden with a great view. Traditional Japanese crafts sit alongside international luxury in a building designed by Gwathmey Siegel.

Ameya-yokocho Ueno A chaotic open-air market running under the elevated JR tracks from Ueno to Okachimachi. Dried goods, seafood, nuts, spices, clothes, bags, and street food. One of the last genuinely old-Tokyo market experiences.

Togoshi Ginza Shinagawa Japan's longest shopping street at 1.3km: a neighbourhood market lined with local shops and food stalls. Zero tourists, 100% local life. The croquettes and yakitori here are some of the cheapest in the city.

Nishi-Ogikubo antiques Nishi-Ogikubo A quiet residential neighbourhood west of Shinjuku with the best concentration of antique shops in Tokyo. Old ceramics, Meiji-era furniture, vintage kimono, tansu chests, and curiosities.

Gotokuji Temple Setagaya The birthplace of the maneki-neko, the beckoning cat. Thousands of white lucky cat figurines of every size fill the grounds, left by visitors whose wishes came true. Quiet, residential, and utterly charming.

Sengakuji Temple Takanawa The burial place of the 47 ronin, whose story of loyalty and revenge is Japan's most famous samurai tale. Incense smoke drifts permanently over their graves, kept burning by visitors for 300 years.

Todoroki Valley Setagaya Tokyo's only natural ravine: a kilometre of dense green canopy, a stream, and a walking path that feels like rural Japan, twenty minutes from Shibuya. The temperature drops noticeably as you descend the steps.

Imperial Palace East Gardens Marunouchi The former grounds of Edo Castle, free to enter and remarkably uncrowded. Massive stone walls, the foundation of the lost castle tower, and immaculate gardens in the geographic heart of the city.

Rikugien Gardens Komagome An Edo-period strolling garden considered Tokyo's most beautiful, built around a central pond with 88 scenes from classical poetry. The autumn illumination of the maple trees is one of the city's great seasonal events.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Shinjuku Twin observation decks at 202m, completely free, in Kenzo Tange's cathedral-like government towers. On clear days Mt Fuji rises behind the endless sprawl of western Tokyo. The best free view in the city.

Shibuya Crossing Shibuya Up to 3,000 people cross at once at the world's busiest intersection. Touristy, yes, but standing in the middle of the scramble as the lights change is still a genuine Tokyo moment.

Tokyo Ramen Street Tokyo Station Eight of Japan's most celebrated ramen shops in one underground corridor beneath Tokyo Station. Rokurinsha's tsukemen, with its thick dipping broth, draws the longest queue from opening to close.

Harmonica Yokocho Kichijoji A warren of tiny bars and food stalls in former black market alleys by Kichijoji Station, named because the cramped stalls resemble harmonica reeds. Daytime fish shops give way to izakayas and natural wine bars at night.

Tsukishima Monja Street Tsukishima Eighty restaurants on one street dedicated to monjayaki, Tokyo's own runny cousin of okonomiyaki, cooked on a hot plate at your table. Deeply local, slightly chaotic, and very fun with a group.

Chatei Hatou Shibuya The definitive Tokyo kissaten: dark wood, antique porcelain, and hand-poured siphon coffee made with ceremonial precision. A pocket of 1989 stillness three minutes from Shibuya Crossing.

Sabouru Jimbocho A 1955 mountain-hut of a coffee shop in the book district, covered in vines outside and carved wood inside. The blue walls, red lamps, and unchanged menu make it the most atmospheric old cafe in Tokyo.

Ebisu Yokocho Ebisu A covered alley of twenty small izakayas under one roof, loud and friendly and packed with locals by 8pm. The format makes bar-hopping effortless: oden at one counter, grilled offal at the next, sake at a third.

Hoppy Street Asakusa Open-air izakayas spill onto the pavement west of Senso-ji, serving beef tendon stew and hoppy, the retro beer substitute from Tokyo's post-war years. Drinking here starts at noon and nobody judges.

Nezu Museum Aoyama Kengo Kuma's serene bamboo-lined museum of pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art, hiding one of the city's most beautiful private gardens behind it. The approach corridor alone justifies the ticket.

Sumida Hokusai Museum Ryogoku A mirrored aluminium museum by Kazuyo Sejima dedicated to Hokusai, who was born and spent nearly all his life in this neighbourhood. The permanent collection traces how The Great Wave came to exist.

Kappabashi Kitchen Town Asakusa The street that supplies Tokyo's restaurants: 170 shops selling hand-forged knives, ceramic ware, lanterns, and the plastic food models displayed in every restaurant window. A cook's paradise.

Jimbocho Book Town Jimbocho The largest second-hand book district in the world: 130 bookshops on a few blocks, from rare ukiyo-e prints and Edo maps to 100 yen paperback carts on the pavement. Bibliophile heaven.

Daikanyama T-Site Daikanyama Possibly the world's most beautiful bookstore: three pavilions linked by a magazine street, wrapped in a white lattice facade. The art and design book selection is unmatched in Japan.

Nakano Broadway Nakano A 1966 shopping arcade reborn as the deep end of otaku culture. Four floors of vintage manga, anime cels, retro toys, and watches, anchored by the legendary Mandarake used manga empire.

Toyosu Market Toyosu The world's largest fish market, successor to Tsukiji's inner market. Watch the tuna auction from the observation deck at dawn, then eat the freshest sushi breakfast of your life at the market restaurants.

Jindaiji Temple Chofu Tokyo's second oldest temple, founded in 733 AD, sitting in a leafy pocket of Chofu that feels like a country village. The approach is lined with water wheels, old thatched shops, and soba restaurants fed by natural spring water.

Kanda Myojin Shrine Kanda A 1,300 year old shrine guarding Tokyo's old merchant district, now adopted by the Akihabara tech crowd who come to have their gadgets and startups blessed. The vermilion halls glow against the surrounding office towers.

Yoyogi Hachimangu Shrine Yoyogi A small wooded shrine on a hill between Yoyogi-Hachiman Station and the Tomigaya backstreets. Locals stop in on their way to work and visitors almost never find it. This was Daniel's local shrine for a year, and you will rarely see another foreigner.

Showa Kinen Park Tachikawa A vast 165 hectare national park in western Tokyo with rental bikes, lakes, seasonal flower fields, and the most famous ginkgo avenue in Japan. In November the tunnels of gold trees are worth the trip alone.

Wadabori Park Suginami A long green corridor along the Zenpukuji River in Suginami where local life happens: baseball practice, barbecue parties, dog walks, morning runs. Zero tourists, which is exactly the point.

Sumida Park Asakusa The riverside park stretching along both banks of the Sumida River between Asakusa and the Skytree. A classic cherry blossom spot since the shogun era, with the tower rising behind the petals.

Kiba Park Koto A huge open park in eastern Tokyo built over former lumber yards, with wide lawns, barbecue pits, and the Museum of Contemporary Art on its northern edge. Deep local territory.

Kiyosumi Gardens Kiyosumi A Meiji-era strolling garden built by the founder of Mitsubishi, famous for its collection of rare stones gathered from across Japan and the stepping stone paths that cross the central pond.

Shinjuku Chuo Park Shinjuku The green space directly behind the Tokyo Metropolitan Government towers, where office workers eat lunch and the city quietly gets on with life. A useful pocket of calm on the skyscraper side of Shinjuku.

Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park Hiroo A hilly, wooded park in the embassy district with a pond, stone bridges, and paths that drop steeply through the trees. The international crowd from the surrounding embassies gives it a calm, cosmopolitan feel.

Jindai Botanical Gardens Chofu Tokyo's largest botanical garden, spread across the hill above Jindaiji Temple with 100,000 plants, a celebrated rose garden, and a grand greenhouse. Spacious, unhurried, and far from the tourist circuit.

Yebisu Garden Place Tower Ebisu The 38th and 39th floors of this Ebisu tower are a free observation space ringed with restaurants, looking south over Meguro and, on clear days, all the way to Mt Fuji. One of the city's least known free views.

Sushi Sumibi Sasazuka A lively taishu sakaba near Sasazuka station serving market-fresh nigiri from around 109 yen a piece alongside binchotan charcoal-grilled skewers. Part of a small Tokyo chain, with counter seats, tables, and a pet-friendly terrace.

Mil Tacos Sasazuka A small, brightly decorated Mexican cantina at the end of the shopping street north of Sasazuka station, run by Mexican owner-chef Roy, who imports ingredients directly from Mexico. It was also the spot Daniel and his wife chose for their wedding dinner.

Koya Hatagaya Hatagaya A bustling Shanghai-style Chinese izakaya midway between Hatagaya and Sasazuka, loved locally for thick handmade gyoza, a long dim sum list, and big shareable plates, open until 4am most nights.

Naochan Ramen Shimokitazawa A no-frills local ramen counter in the Shimokitazawa backstreets, the kind of place you walk past twice before noticing. Rich broth, handmade noodles, zero tourists.

Wine Laundry Shimokitazawa Yakitori grilled over charcoal and natural wine in a tiny Shimokitazawa space, a pairing that should not work and absolutely does.

Little Nap Coffee Stand Yoyogi A tiny coffee stand on the quiet west edge of Yoyogi Park that locals treat as a destination. A handful of stools, serious espresso, and park greenery across the street.

Sidewalk Coffee Roasters Shimokitazawa A minimalist Shimokitazawa roastery pulling clean espresso and careful pour-overs, an essential pit stop between the vintage shops.

Aux Merveilleux de Fred Kagurazaka The Tokyo outpost of the French meringue specialist, perfectly at home on Kagurazaka's Frenchified slope. Chandeliers, theatrical cream work, and the best merveilleux this side of Lille.

Coaster Craft Beer & Kitchen Shimokitazawa A relaxed Shimokitazawa craft beer bar with rotating Japanese taps and proper food, the kind of place an evening quietly disappears into.

Good Heavens Pub Shimokitazawa A British pub squeezed into Shimokitazawa, with imported ales, fish and chips, and football on the screen. Run with genuine pub warmth, it is the expat living room of the neighbourhood.

Hyogo Yokocho Alley Kagurazaka The most atmospheric lane in Kagurazaka: black wooden fences, stone paving, lantern light, and discreet ryotei restaurants where geisha culture quietly survives.

Kabukicho Shinjuku Japan's most infamous entertainment district: a neon maze of izakayas, karaoke towers, host clubs, and cinemas. Loud, gaudy, and safe enough to wander wide-eyed.

The National Art Center Roppongi Japan's largest exhibition space behind a billowing glass facade by Kisho Kurokawa. No permanent collection, just a rolling program of major exhibitions and one of the most photographed museum interiors in the country.

Design Festa Gallery Harajuku An ever-mutating warren of small galleries in the Harajuku backstreets where any artist can rent a wall. Graffiti-covered, free to enter, and a genuine window into Tokyo's grassroots art scene.

Miyashita Park Shibuya A rooftop park laid over a three-storey shopping complex on the edge of Shibuya, with a lawn, skate park, and bouldering wall above the shops. The food alley underneath channels old Tokyo drinking culture in a new shell.

Yodobashi Camera Akihabara Akihabara Nine floors of every electronic object Japan makes, from camera lenses to rice cookers to gaming chairs. Less a shop than a museum of Japanese consumer technology where everything happens to be for sale.

MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya Shibuya The biggest branch of Japan's most chaotic discount store: seven floors of snacks, cosmetics, costumes, electronics, and things you did not know existed, open 24 hours. Overwhelming by design.

Hiroo Walking Street Hiroo The village-like shopping street of Tokyo's embassy district, with international grocers, bakeries, and cafes serving the diplomatic community. Feels more like a wealthy European quarter than central Tokyo.

Tokyo Station Marunouchi The 1914 red brick station that anchors Marunouchi, beautifully restored and far more than a transit hub. Beneath it spreads an underground city of ramen streets, character shops, and food halls.

Godzilla Head Shinjuku A life-size Godzilla head looming over the Toho cinema building in Kabukicho, roaring and breathing mist on schedule. Gloriously silly and completely Tokyo.

Sasazuka Station Sasazuka The Keio Line station at the heart of Sasazuka, the unglamorous west-side neighbourhood Daniel called home for a year. Use it as your gateway to everyday Tokyo: shotengai shopping streets, standing bars, and local life.

Kagurazaka Kagurazaka Tokyo's old geisha quarter on a sloping street of cobbled alleys, now layered with French bistros and patisseries thanks to the nearby lycée. The blend of ryotei Japan and petit Paris exists nowhere else in the city.

Yanaka Yanaka The Tokyo that survived: low wooden houses, temple after temple, cats on walls, and craftsmen still at work. Yanaka escaped both the 1923 earthquake fires and the war, and walking it is the closest thing to time travel the city offers.

Kichijoji Kichijoji Consistently voted the neighbourhood Tokyoites most want to live in: Inokashira Park at its heart, the Harmonica Yokocho alleys by the station, and streets of independent shops radiating in every direction.

Shinjuku Shinjuku A city in itself: the world's busiest station surrounded by skyscrapers, department stores, the neon of Kabukicho, and the calm of Gyoen. Whatever you think Tokyo is, Shinjuku has a district proving it.

Daikanyama Daikanyama Tokyo's most effortlessly stylish pocket, all low-rise boutiques, terrace cafes, and leafy backstreets. Anchored by the T-Site bookstore complex, it rewards slow mornings more than checklists.

Nakameguro Nakameguro The canal-side neighbourhood that defines fashionable low-key Tokyo. Cherry trees arch over the Meguro River between boutiques, bars, and some of the city's best coffee.

Ebisu Ebisu A grown-up neighbourhood with some of the best eating and drinking in Tokyo, from the izakaya alley of Ebisu Yokocho to serious restaurants on every backstreet. Built on the grounds of the old Yebisu beer brewery.

Ichigaya Ichigaya A quiet stretch along the old Edo castle moat where fishermen cast lines in the middle of the city. The cherry-lined walk along the water up to Kagurazaka is one of central Tokyo's nicest urban strolls.

Mt Takao Hachioji Tokyo's sacred mountain, one hour from Shinjuku on the Keio Line. Eight hiking trails, a mountaintop temple where yamabushi monks still practise, wild monkeys, and on clear days a straight view to Mt Fuji.

Hakone Hakone The classic Tokyo escape: a volcanic valley of hot springs, ryokan, mountain railways, and a lake with Mt Fuji rising behind the torii gate of Hakone Shrine. Doable in a day, better overnight.

Where Daniel Proposed Chofu A quiet corner of the Jindaiji temple grounds, surrounded by old trees and the sound of spring water. This is where Daniel proposed to his wife. Every map needs one pin that matters more than all the others.

Fuunji Shinjuku The tsukemen that ruins all other tsukemen. A tiny counter south of Shinjuku station where thick noodles get dipped into an intensely rich chicken and fish broth. The queue moves fast because everyone inside is eating, not talking.

Afuri Ebisu Ebisu The original branch of the yuzu shio ramen that became a Tokyo signature. The citrus-laced clear broth is light enough that you leave wanting another bowl, which is not how ramen usually works.

Ichiran Shibuya Shibuya The famous solo-booth tonkotsu ramen chain. Touristy, yes, but the booths exist because the ramen deserves your full attention, and at 3am after a Shibuya night out there is nothing better.

Blue Bottle Coffee Kiyosumi Kiyosumi The roastery that kicked off the third-wave coffee boom in Japan, in a converted warehouse in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa. The whole neighbourhood has since become Tokyo coffee town, and this is still the anchor.

Sangenjaya Sangenjaya Locals call it Sanja, and it is the more workaday cousin of Shimokitazawa: less curated, more lived-in, with one of the best izakaya alleys in the city. Two stops from Shibuya and a different planet.

Sangenjaya Sankaku Chitai Sangenjaya The "triangle zone" wedged between the train lines, a knot of lantern-lit alleys packed with tiny izakayas and bars that mostly seat under ten people. This is where young Tokyo actually drinks.

Kawagoe Kawagoe Little Edo, 30 minutes from Ikebukuro. A whole main street of preserved clay-walled warehouse buildings, a candy alley unchanged for a century, and the photogenic Toki no Kane bell tower. The easiest old-Japan hit from Tokyo.

Kamakura Kamakura The seaside former capital an hour south: the Great Buddha, hillside temples connected by hiking trails, and a beach town pace that resets your Tokyo brain. The default recommendation for a first day trip.

Nikko Nikko Two hours north and a world away: the riotously decorated Toshogu shrine complex in a cedar forest, waterfalls, and a sacred bridge over a blue-green river. In autumn the foliage is the best in the region.

Yurakucho Gado-shita Yurakucho Izakayas and yakitori grills crammed under the brick arches of the elevated train tracks, smoke drifting across salarymen on beer crates. As atmospheric as Tokyo drinking gets, minutes from Ginza polish.

Chidorigafuchi Chiyoda The Imperial Palace moat, lined with hundreds of cherry trees that lean out over the water. During sakura season you can row a boat beneath them, which is as romantic as Tokyo is willing to get in public.

Zoshigaya Kishimojin Ikebukuro A 16th-century temple in a quiet pocket ten minutes from Ikebukuro chaos, reached by a lane of ancient zelkova trees. There is a tiny sweets shop in the grounds that has been trading since 1781.

Shibamata Taishakuten Shibamata Old shitamachi Tokyo at the city's eastern edge: a temple covered in astonishing wood carvings at the end of a retro shopping street selling rice crackers and dango. Famous as the home of the Tora-san films, and gloriously untouristed.

2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan Akihabara A craft and design arcade built into the whitewashed arches under the Yamanote tracks between Akihabara and Okachimachi. Leatherworkers, woodturners, and hat makers, each in their own little vault.

Kyu Shiba Rikyu Gardens Shiba The smaller, quieter sibling of Hamarikyu next to Hamamatsucho station. A perfect Edo-period stroll garden ringed by glass towers, and somehow almost always empty.

Akagi Shrine Kagurazaka A 700-year-old shrine rebuilt by architect Kengo Kuma in glass and timber, with a cafe in the grounds. The marriage of ancient site and modern architecture is the most Kagurazaka thing imaginable.

Camelback Sandwich & Espresso Tomigaya A former sushi chef making the best egg sandwich in Tokyo, a sweet omelette folded into a crisp roll. Standing room only, which is correct, because you should take it to Yoyogi Park anyway.

Odaiba Seaside Park Odaiba An artificial beach with the single best view of Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo skyline across the water, plus a scale Statue of Liberty for maximum strangeness. Sunset here is criminally underrated.

Tokyo Character Street Tokyo Station An underground arcade of 30 official character shops inside Tokyo Station: Ghibli, Pokémon, Sanrio, NHK mascots, all of it. With kids it is a destination, without kids it is dangerously good gift shopping.

Shimokitazawa Reload Shimokitazawa The new low-rise development along the rail line that somehow got it right: indie roasters, a sake bar, design shops, and Ogawa Coffee Laboratory, all in white boxes that do not fight the neighbourhood.

Tower Records Shibuya Shibuya Nine floors of physical music in defiance of the entire 21st century. The J-pop and city pop floors are a culture lesson, the listening stations still work, and yes, it is the biggest record shop on earth.

Shin-Okubo Koreatown Shin-Okubo One Yamanote stop from Shinjuku, an entire district of Korean barbecue, street snacks, K-pop shops, and cosmetics stores. The cheese hotteok queue tells you which stall to join.

Ryogoku Kokugikan Ryogoku The national sumo stadium. If a tournament is on, drop everything: 15 days each January, May, and September of the best live sport spectacle in Japan. Off-season, the neighbourhood still runs on sumo.

Ueno Zoo Ueno Japan's oldest zoo, in the corner of Ueno Park, home of the giant pandas. It is compact, cheap, and exactly the right size for small legs, with a five-storey pagoda rising over the enclosures.

KITTE Marunouchi Marunouchi The old central post office turned shopping hall, with a free rooftop garden looking straight down on Tokyo Station's restored red-brick facade and the shinkansen sliding in and out. Best free view in central Tokyo.

Asakusa Shrine Asakusa Shinto shrine right beside Senso-ji's main hall, dedicated to the three men who founded the temple. Its 1649 buildings survived both the 1923 earthquake and the WWII air raids, making it one of Asakusa's few original Edo-period structures.

Tomioka Hachiman Shrine Fukagawa Founded in 1627, this is Tokyo's largest Hachiman shrine and the birthplace of officially sanctioned sumo, which held shogunate-approved tournaments here from 1684. The grounds hold sumo monuments and Japan's biggest portable shrine, a 4-ton gold-covered mikoshi.

Atago Shrine Toranomon Hilltop shrine from 1603 sitting on the highest natural hill in central Tokyo, reached by a famously steep flight of 86 stone steps known as the Stairs of Success, after a samurai who rode his horse up them to deliver plum blossoms to the shogun.

Akasaka Hikawa Shrine Akasaka Quiet wooded shrine whose main sanctuary was built in 1730 by the eighth shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune and has survived the Great Kanto Earthquake and the 1945 air raids intact. A roughly 450-year-old giant ginkgo stands on the grounds, still leafing despite being hollowed out by wartime fires.

Imado Shrine Asakusa Small shrine north of Senso-ji that claims to be the birthplace of the maneki-neko beckoning cat and enshrines Japan's first divine couple, making it a popular matchmaking spot. Cat figures here come in pairs and the ema prayer plaques are round.

Suga Shrine Yotsuya Modest neighbourhood shrine in Yotsuya whose adjacent crossed staircase became world famous as the final scene of the anime film Your Name, drawing a steady stream of fans recreating the shot. The shrine itself dates to the Edo period and guards the area's eighteen former towns.

Gokokuji Temple Bunkyo Shingon Buddhist temple founded in 1681 by the fifth shogun for his mother, and almost unique in Tokyo for surviving the Boshin War, the 1923 earthquake and the WWII bombing unscathed. Its 1697 main hall is one of the oldest wooden buildings in the city.

Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden Mukojima The only surviving Edo-period flower garden in Tokyo, created around 1804 by an antiques dealer and his literati friends who planted 360 plum trees, with poem stones scattered through the grounds. Famous for plum blossom, autumn grasses and a 30-meter tunnel of hagi bush clover.

Kyu-Furukawa Gardens Komagome Unusual hybrid estate pairing a 1917 stone Western mansion and terraced rose garden by British architect Josiah Conder with a traditional Japanese pond garden below by famed Kyoto gardener Ogawa Jihei. The roses bloom against the brick facade in spring and autumn.

Tonogayato Garden Kokubunji Nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty two minutes from Kokubunji Station, built as a villa garden and later owned by Mitsubishi's founding family. The garden drops down a natural valley spring through bamboo to a pond, with a teahouse perched on the slope.

Happo-en Shirokanedai Free-to-enter Japanese strolling garden attached to a famous wedding venue, with roots going back 400 years. The pond garden holds a row of bonsai up to 500 years old, a teahouse, koi and seasonal cherry and maple colour.

Komazawa Olympic Park Komazawa Big Setagaya sports park built for the 1964 Olympics, with brutalist stadiums, a landmark control tower, and dedicated jogging and cycling loops shaded by zelkova and cherry trees. A favourite weekend spot for local families.

Koishikawa Botanical Garden Hakusan Japan's oldest botanical garden, run by the University of Tokyo and descended from the shogunate's 1684 medicinal herb garden. Its 16 hectares mix research plantings with an old landscape garden, ginkgo avenues and one of Bunkyo's best low-key hanami lawns.

Institute for Nature Study Meguro A 20-hectare protected fragment of wild Musashino forest near Meguro Station, run by the National Museum of Nature and Science as a living record of what Tokyo looked like before the city. Over 200 native plant species, dragonfly ponds, birds and even tanuki.

Sumo Museum Ryogoku One-room museum inside Ryogoku Kokugikan stadium tracing sumo history through rotating exhibits of woodblock prints, ceremonial kesho-mawashi aprons and portraits of every yokozuna. Free to enter outside tournament periods.

Japanese Sword Museum Ryogoku Museum of the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, displaying rotating exhibitions of national-treasure-grade blades, fittings and metalwork in a sleek Fumihiko Maki building beside the Edo-period Kyu-Yasuda Garden.

Artizon Museum Kyobashi Reborn Bridgestone Museum of Art, reopened in 2020 in a new Kyobashi tower, holding the Ishibashi collection of around 3,000 works spanning Impressionism, Japanese Western-style painting and postwar abstraction across three spacious floors.

Intermediatheque Marunouchi Free cabinet-of-curiosities museum run by the University of Tokyo inside the old Tokyo Central Post Office, mixing skeletons, taxidermy, scientific instruments and specimens collected since 1877, displayed like a beautifully art-directed Victorian study.

Japan Folk Crafts Museum Komaba The Mingeikan, founded in 1936 by philosopher Yanagi Soetsu as the home of the mingei folk craft movement, showing anonymous everyday ceramics, textiles, woodwork and Korean and Okinawan craft in a beautiful stone-and-wood building he designed himself.

National Museum of Nature and Science Ueno Japan's flagship science museum in Ueno Park, with a life-size blue whale outside, dinosaur skeletons, a 360-degree dome theater and the Japan Gallery covering the islands' nature and people. Entry is only around 630 yen.

National Museum of Western Art Ueno Japan's main collection of Western art, built around the Matsukata collection of Impressionists and Rodins, housed in a 1959 Le Corbusier building that became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, his only work in East Asia.

Ota Memorial Museum of Art Harajuku Intimate ukiyo-e museum hidden behind Laforet in Harajuku, drawing monthly rotating exhibitions from a 14,000-print collection that includes Hokusai, Hiroshige and Utamaro. One of the best places in Tokyo to see woodblock prints up close.

teamLab Borderless Azabudai The relocated digital art museum that reopened in 2024 at Azabudai Hills, a maze of borderless projection works that drift between rooms, including the mirrored Infinite Crystal World and a tea house where flowers bloom in your cup.

Carrot Tower Observation Deck Sangenjaya Free 26th-floor observation lounge atop the orange-tinted Carrot Tower above Sangenjaya Station, looking back over Shibuya and Tokyo Tower one way and out toward Mount Fuji the other. Locals come up just to read or nap in the window seats.

Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center Asakusa Kengo Kuma's stacked-house tourist center directly across from Kaminarimon, with a free 8th-floor terrace that lines up the gate, Nakamise and Senso-ji on one side and Tokyo Skytree with the Asahi flame on the other.

Oedo Antique Market Yurakucho Japan's largest outdoor antique market, filling the plaza of the Tokyo International Forum roughly the first and third Sunday of each month with up to 250 dealers selling old kimono, ceramics, tea utensils, woodblock prints and Showa-era oddities.

Nakamise Shopping Street Asakusa One of Japan's oldest shopping streets, a 250-meter approach of around 90 stalls running from Kaminarimon to Senso-ji's Hozomon gate, selling ningyo-yaki cakes, senbei, folding fans and souvenirs as it has since the Edo period.

Tokyo Solamachi Oshiage The 300-plus-shop complex at the base of Tokyo Skytree, mixing character stores and a big food hall with the Sumida Aquarium and a planetarium, plus restaurants on the 30th and 31st floors with free tower views.

Hachiko Statue Shibuya Bronze statue outside Shibuya Station honouring Hachiko, the Akita who kept returning to meet his dead owner's train for nearly ten years in the 1920s and 30s. First erected in 1934 with Hachiko himself present, and now Tokyo's default meeting spot.

Nihonbashi Bridge Nihonbashi The 1911 double-arched stone bridge that marks kilometre zero of Japan's national highway network, successor to the wooden Edo-period bridge from which all roads were measured since 1603. Bronze kirin and lion statues guard it beneath the elevated expressway, which is slowly being moved underground.

Kabukiza Theatre Ginza The principal home of kabuki since 1889, rebuilt in 2013 by Kengo Kuma with its grand Momoyama-style facade restored beneath a modern tower. Performances run most of the year, and cheap single-act tickets let you sample the spectacle without committing to a four-hour program.

Azabudai Hills Azabudai Mori's 2023 mega-development wrapped around the 330-meter Mori JP Tower, Japan's tallest skyscraper, with Heatherwick Studio's rippling low-rise architecture, gardens, galleries, a food market and teamLab Borderless at its base.

Kyu Iwasaki-tei Gardens Yushima Opulent 1896 residence of the Mitsubishi-founding Iwasaki family, centred on a Jacobean-style Western mansion by Josiah Conder with a Swiss-chalet billiard house and an attached traditional Japanese wing, all open to walk through for 400 yen.

Nakiryu Otsuka Tiny counter shop in a backstreet of Minami-Otsuka and the second ramen shop in the world to earn a Michelin star, in 2017. Its signature tantanmen layers sesame and chilli over a refined shoyu base.

Sobahouse Konjiki Hototogisu Shinjuku Michelin-starred ramen shop opposite Shinjuku Gyoen, famous for shio and shoyu soba built on hamaguri clam dashi with porcini oil and truffle accents. It moved here from its original Hatagaya hideaway in 2018.

Menya Itto Shin-Koiwa Widely ranked the best tsukemen in Tokyo, an 11-seat counter in residential Shin-Koiwa serving rich seafood-and-chicken dipping broth with house-made noodles.

Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo Kanda Demon-themed Kanda shop famous for karashibi ramen, a thick miso broth that combines kara chilli heat with shibi mouth-numbing sansho pepper, topped with big chunks of chashu. The name means an ogre's spiked club.

Harukiya Ogikubo Operating since 1949 and credited as the originator of Ogikubo-style Tokyo shoyu ramen, with a niboshi broth and noodles hand-made daily to match the weather. A genuine institution with only a handful of seats.

Higashi-Ikebukuro Taishoken Ikebukuro The birthplace of tsukemen. Kazuo Yamagishi, the God of Ramen, invented the dipping-noodle style here in 1961, and the shop relocated a short walk from the original site in 2007 after redevelopment.

Tonki Meguro One of Tokyo's most celebrated tonkatsu restaurants, frying pork cutlets since 1939 behind a U-shaped counter where the all-white-clad team works in full view. The open-kitchen choreography is half the experience.

Tempura Kondo Ginza Two-Michelin-star tempura counter on the 9th floor of a Ginza building, where chef Fumio Kondo is famed for elevating vegetable tempura, including his signature inch-thick sweet potato. Counter seating only since 1991.

Obana Minami-Senju Meiji-era unagi restaurant in Minami-Senju often called the eastern yokozuna of Tokyo eel, with a Michelin star. Each order is killed, grilled, and steamed after you sit down, the old Edo way.

Kanda Yabu Soba Kanda Head shop of the Yabu soba lineage and one of Japan's three great yabusoba houses, serving hand-cut seiro soba since 1880. The wooden building burned in 2013 and was rebuilt in matching style in 2014.

Tamahide Ningyocho Founded in 1760 as a shamo chicken specialist, Tamahide is credited with inventing oyakodon in the Meiji era. It reopened in late 2025 in a newly rebuilt home steps from Ningyocho Station.

Tensuke Koenji A 12-seat Koenji counter with Michelin Bib Gourmand status, famous for chef Kurihara's theatrical egg tempura, batter drizzled over a cracking egg in hot oil and finished with a kabuki-style pose. Cheap, brilliant lunch tempura since 1987.

Curry Bondy Jimbocho The shop that pioneered Tokyo's European-style curry in 1973, hidden on the second floor above a secondhand bookstore in Jimbocho's book district. Its deep brown roux blends French sauce technique with fruit and dairy.

Seirinkan Nakameguro Susumu Kakinuma's steampunk-decorated Nakameguro pizzeria, credited with pioneering Naples-style pizza in Japan. The menu offers exactly two pizzas, margherita and marinara, fired in a custom wood oven.

Sushi Dai Toyosu The most famous sushi breakfast in Tokyo, relocated from Tsukiji to the 3rd floor of Toyosu Market's Block 6 in 2018. The chef's omakase of market-fresh Edo-style nigiri draws queues that form before dawn.

Harajuku Gyoza Lou Harajuku No-frills gyoza joint near Cat Street that has fed Harajuku for over two decades with exactly two styles, fried or steamed, at around 300 yen for six. The open kitchen and rock-bottom prices keep the queue constant.

Naniwaya Sohonten Azabu-Juban The birthplace of taiyaki, baking the fish-shaped bean-paste cakes in Azabu-Juban since 1909. Each one is still cooked individually in heavy iron molds using the laborious itcho-yaki method.

Himitsudo Yanaka Tokyo's most famous kakigori shop, just off the Yuyake Dandan steps by Yanaka Ginza. Natural ice from Nikko is shaved on a hand-cranked machine and drowned in homemade fruit syrups.

Cafe de l'Ambre Ginza Legendary Ginza kissaten pouring coffee and nothing else since 1948, with 30-plus single origins including beans aged for a decade or more. Much of the original interior survives.

Koffee Mameya Omotesando Eiichi Kunitomo's minimalist bean shop on the site of the famous Omotesando Koffee, stocking 20-30 coffees from top roasters worldwide. Baristas consult one-on-one and brew or sell beans to match your taste.

Kayaba Coffee Yanaka A Yanaka kissaten that opened in 1938 inside a 1915 machiya townhouse, closed in 2006, then was lovingly revived in 2009. Famous for its egg sandwiches and Russian coffee, with tatami seating upstairs.

Meikyoku Kissa Lion Shibuya A classical-music listening cafe on Dogenzaka founded in 1926 and rebuilt to the same design in 1950, with seats arranged like a theatre facing 3-metre wooden speakers. Talking is kept to whispers and photography is banned.

Leaves Coffee Roasters Kuramae Acclaimed roastery founded in 2019 by former professional boxer Yasuo Ishii, across the Sumida River from Kuramae. It has been named among the world's top roasters while keeping a neighbourhood-stand feel.

Obscura Laboratory Sangenjaya The roastery storefront of Obscura Coffee Roasters, the outfit that put Sangenjaya on Tokyo's specialty coffee map starting in 2009. Beans are roasted on site and hand brews are poured to order on Chazawa-dori.

Bar Benfiddich Nishi-Shinjuku Hiroyasu Kayama's 17-seat apothecary-style cocktail bar on a 9th floor in Nishi-Shinjuku, a fixture of the World's 50 Best Bars. He muddles herbs and spices he grows on his family farm, often with a mortar and pestle.

Bar High Five Ginza Hidetsugu Ueno's basement Ginza cocktail bar, a World's 50 Best Bars regular and once ranked third globally. Classical Japanese bartending: no menu, a few questions, and a drink built to your taste.

Beer Club Popeye Ryogoku Open since 1985 near the sumo stadium, Popeye is the pub credited with popularising the term craft beer in Japan, pouring around 70 meticulously kept Japanese taps. A pilgrimage site for beer lovers.

Kamiya Bar Asakusa Japan's oldest Western-style bar, founded in 1880 by the Azumabashi crossing in Asakusa, and home of Denki Bran, the herbal brandy cocktail invented in 1882. The ground floor is a noisy, communal beer-hall of locals.

Shirubee Shimokitazawa Beloved izakaya hidden down a Shimokitazawa backstreet, with a big counter wrapped around an open central kitchen. It serves izakaya classics with playful twists like nikujaga with garlic bread and tofu cheese with honey.

Orihara Shoten Monzen-Nakacho Standing sake bar run by a liquor shop founded in 1924, on the approach to Fukagawa Fudoson temple in Monzen-Nakacho. Over 100 sakes are poured by the glass at counters built from bottle crates.

About this Tokyo travel map

Most Tokyo sightseeing maps are either a Google Maps embed with the same twenty attractions or a static image you cannot search. This one is different. Every pin on this map of Tokyo attractions and neighbourhoods is a deliberate pick, from the headline sights to the standing bars and six-seat counters most visitors walk straight past. Filter by category or tag, search by name or neighbourhood, save favourites, and follow walking itineraries drawn directly on the map. Every place links to a full page with the nearest station, cost, and the best time to go.

Is this Tokyo travel map free to use?

Yes. The map is free, with no account or app download. Saved places are stored in your browser, so your shortlist is waiting next time you open it.

How were the places on the map chosen?

All 208 places were hand-picked by Daniel, who lived in Tokyo for a year and goes back regularly. Nothing was added by an algorithm, and the collection is edited constantly.

Can I plan a walking route with the map?

Yes. Nine curated walking itineraries draw their routes directly on the map with walk times between stops, and any shortlist of saved places can be exported to Google Maps as walking directions.

Does the map cover day trips outside Tokyo?

Yes. The day trips category covers Kamakura, Nikko, Hakone, Kawagoe, and Mt Takao, each with train access, cost, and how long to allow.

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