From top sightseeing spots to popular cafés and restaurants, spend a day touring through the best of Tokyo
You've already been and seen major touristy pots in the city, but still need some more sightseeing inspiration? Check out our list of one-day trips around the city that we've put together with some deep local spots just for you.
Let's start with a morning stroll. Covering around a third of the total area of the Imperial Palace, the free-to-enter East Gardens include most of the land where Edo Castle stood back when the shoguns ruled Japan. The Bairinzaka ('plum forest hill') between the outer and inner keep is lined with over 50 plum trees. The East Garden of the Imperial Palace
Back in the statino area and dig some sourvenirs in Kitte. Freeze-dried food manufacturer Amano Jitsugyo's shop carries everything from miso soup to Japanese-style curry, all in rock-hard, moisture-free form. Use the store's free hot water supplier to dig into your space food right then and there. Amano Freeze-Dried Station
Get on JR Chuo line to Shinjuku and have a lunch. This shio ramen specialist is located just outside the southeast exit of Shinjuku Station. The menu centres on daily specials, offering soup stock made with five different types of fish. And we recommend throwing in a grilled onigiri at the end for a delicious hodgepodge.
Take Odakyu line to Gotokuji Station for a temple. Hidden out deep in Setagaya, this ‘cat temple’ is thought to be the origin of maneki neko, Japan’s famous ‘beckoning cat’ that serves as a symbol of good luck. Gotokuji may seem ordinary at first glance – until you see the army of cat figurines sitting in the corner next to the temple. These figurines are sold at the administration building and customarily returned to the shelf after wishes are granted. Gotokuji
Back in Shinjuku. The Beams Japan flagship in Shinjuku was re-opened in bigger and better form in April 2016, and now spreads out over a total of six floors. You'll find a dizzying collection of clothing, crafts and art, plus a gallery hosting an eclectic array of events and exhibitions, a rather serious yoshoku restaurant in the basement, and a branch of Ebisu's Sarutahiko Coffee on the ground floor. Beams Japan
Head to Shibuya on Yamanote line for sushi dinner. Chef Rei Masuda worked as an apprentice at Jiro for nine years before opening his own restaurant, Masuda, in January 2014. Customers can enjoy their two-hour dinner slot in a more relaxed atmosphere, or book a private room that can accommodate six. Masuda
The ramshackle street of Nonbei Yokocho ('Drunkard's Alley’) where you'll find rows of tiny bars – some so small that they only fit four or five people at a time. Although it's become a tad more touristy in recent years, this one's still one of Tokyo's most representative yokocho. Nonbei Yokocho
The red-brick facade of Tokyo Station is a prominent reminder of Japan’s rush to modernisation in the early 20th century – and it’s looking even better after a recently completed, six-year restoration. Tokyo Station
Take Tozai line from Otemachi Sta. to Takebashi Sta, just one stop. Technically part of the Imperial Palace Outer Garden, this forest park has a range of species of trees that include evergreens, deciduous and flowering types. The National Museum of Modern Art and the Science Museum are located nearby, so you can get a culture fix as well as a dose of nature.
Unfazed by the furious competition between curry shops in Jinbocho, this old-timer almost always fills up for lunch. The place itself may be a bit difficult to find, but the generously sized and gently flavoured curries are worth the search, even at a slightly steep ¥1,480 a pop. Bondy
Stocking only books published during the Edo period, Ohya Shobo also sells valuable art prints, occasionally by celebrated artists like Katsushika Hokusai or Utagawa Hiroshige’s Ukiyoe, for example. Guidebooks are also available, and they also stock reference books on the history of Ukiyoe prints of Sharaku, Utamaro and more contemporary artists. Ohya Shobo
Take Hanzomon line from Jimbocho Sta. to Oshiage Sta, the tallest freestanding tower in the world is await. The area around its base is home to Tokyo Skytree Town, a complex boasting 310 shops and restaurants. Families looking for a cheap day out might have to content themselves with Tokyo Tower for the foreseeable future: the total cost for an adult to visit the the Sky Tree's 450m observatory is a wallet-worrying ¥3,000, meaning that a family of four could end up paying as much as ¥10,600. Tokyo Skytree
Walk to the Tokyo’s oldest temple. The principal statue of Kannon enshrined in the temple is said to have been saving worshippers ever since first appearing 1400 years ago when – as legend has it – fishermen discovered it in the Sumida river. Sensoji Temple
Just a few steps away from the Kaminarimon and next to Azumabashi, with a great riverside view from the second floor. At first glance, their menu focuses on pretty standard izakaya fare (some yakitori, some appetisers, some noodles), but the execution is definitely better than run-of-the-mill. It's also somewhat East-meets-West, with their Bagna Cauda having a kani miso dipping sauce instead of the traditional Italian anchovy-based version. Gonpachi Asakusa Azumabashi
Wondering how to get your bags from the airport to your hotel and vice versa? Check out Luggage-Free Travel for hassle-free trip.
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