The 11 Best Attractions in Tokyo (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 11 picks

The best things to do in Tokyo in 2026 are Senso-ji in Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, teamLab Planets and teamLab Borderless, Shibuya Crossing, Tsukiji Outer Market and the Imperial Palace East Gardens. Book teamLab and Tokyo Disney Resort tickets in advance for a specific date; the temples, shrine grounds, the East Gardens and Shibuya Crossing are free to enter.

Tokyo is spread across a dozen hubs, so group your days by area: Asakusa and Ueno together, Harajuku with Shibuya, Tsukiji with the palace gardens. Most of the best sights are free or cheap. The two that need planning are the teamLab museums and Tokyo Disney Resort, which sell date-specific tickets that can run out on busy days.

For views, head to our guide to the best observation decks in Tokyo; for rainy days, see the best museums in Tokyo. Looking for a side trip? Try the best day trips from Tokyo.

1. Senso-ji — Asakusa

Tokyo's oldest temple, reached through Kaminarimon and Nakamise-dori.

Best for Families · Couples · Solo

Senso-ji is the oldest temple in Tokyo, affiliated with the Sho Kannon sect and dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. You approach through the Kaminarimon gate and Nakamise-dori, a shopping street selling traditional snacks, toys and souvenirs, before reaching the main hall (Kannondo). The principal image is not on public view.

Goshuin seal stamps are available at the Yogodo hall. Visit for free; the grounds stay open at all hours.

Good to know: Go early or after dark; the main hall and pagoda are lit in the evening, and the daytime crowds thin out.

2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032

Google Maps Website

2. Meiji Jingu — Yoyogi

A forested Shinto shrine beside Harajuku, free to enter and open daily.

Best for Couples · Families · Solo

Meiji Jingu sits inside a large forest between Harajuku and Shinjuku. The grounds are open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset, and entry to the shrine grounds is free. Walk the wide gravel approach under the torii gates to reach the main shrine.

Some facilities inside keep shorter hours, mainly 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Good to know: Closing time follows sunset and shifts by month, from about 4 p.m. in December to 6:30 p.m. in June; check the official visiting page.

1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-8557

Google Maps Website

3. teamLab Planets TOKYO — Toyosu

A walk-through digital art museum with water rooms and mirrored flower fields.

¥¥¥Best for Families · Couples · Groups

teamLab Planets in Toyosu is an immersive art museum where you walk through water, wade into projected koi and enter mirrored rooms filled with flowers. It is one of the most popular attractions in Tokyo.

It is a short walk from Shin-Toyosu Station on the Yurikamome line and about 10 minutes on foot from Toyosu Station.

Good to know: Book a date-specific ticket online in advance; popular days sell out. Check the official FAQ for footwear and clothing rules for the water areas.

6-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061

Google Maps Website

4. Shibuya Scramble Crossing — Shibuya

The world's best-known pedestrian crossing, free and always open.

Best for Solo · Groups

Shibuya Crossing sits directly outside Shibuya Station's Hachiko Exit, where pedestrians cross in all directions when the lights change. Stand on the crossing itself for the full effect, or watch from an elevated vantage point.

It is free, and you can pair it with a visit to Shibuya Sky or the Hachiko statue nearby.

Good to know: Visit after dark, when the video screens and neon lights give the best atmosphere. Keep an eye on your belongings in the crowd.

Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Dogenzaka, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0043

Google Maps

5. teamLab Borderless — Azabudai Hills

Digital artworks that move between rooms, inside Azabudai Hills.

¥¥¥Best for Couples · Families · Groups

teamLab Borderless is a digital art museum in Azabudai Hills where the artworks move through the rooms and interact with each other and with visitors. It sits on one basement level of Garden Plaza B.

It is a good alternative or companion to teamLab Planets, with a different layout and less water.

Good to know: Standard tickets carry an entry time slot, and a more expensive flexible ticket lets you arrive at any time on your date. Book ahead and check the official site for the day's hours.

Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B B1F, 5-9 Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0001

Google Maps Website

6. Tsukiji Outer Market — Tsukiji

A maze of food stalls and wholesale shops, a short walk from Ginza.

¥¥Best for Couples · Groups · Solo

Tsukiji Outer Market is the shopping and eating district that remained in Tsukiji after the inner wholesale market and fish auctions moved to Toyosu. Shops that once served mainly professionals now sell smaller portions to visitors, such as ready-to-eat sushi and bite-sized egg rolls.

The streets form a maze, so keep a map open. Plan to eat there rather than just browse.

Good to know: Arrive in the morning, when most stalls are open and the crowds are manageable. Check the official calendar for market closed days before you go.

Tsukiji 4-chome, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045

Google Maps Website

7. Imperial Palace East Gardens — Chiyoda

Free gardens on the former Edo Castle grounds, steps from Tokyo Station.

Best for Families · Couples · Solo

The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace are free to enter and sit on the grounds of the former Edo Castle. Enter through Ote-mon, Hirakawa-mon or Kitahanebashi-mon gate. Bags are inspected at the entrance.

Hours change by season, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from mid-April to August, with last entry 30 minutes before closing.

Good to know: The gardens are closed every Monday and Friday (open on national holidays except February 23) and from December 28 to January 3. Leave large bags in a station locker.

1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0001

Google Maps Website

8. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden — Shinjuku

A large garden with a Japanese garden, greenhouse and cherry trees near Shinjuku Station.

¥Best for Families · Couples · Solo

Shinjuku Gyoen is a national garden a few minutes from Shinjuku Station, with a Japanese garden, historic buildings including the former Western-style rest house, a greenhouse and large old trees. It is known for cherry blossoms in spring, roses and a chrysanthemum exhibition in autumn.

It is a quiet break from the nearby streets.

Good to know: Closed every Monday (or the next weekday if Monday is a public holiday) and over New Year. Check the official site for opening hours, which change by season, and for the on-site rules.

11 Naito-machi, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0014

Google Maps Website

9. Hama-rikyu Gardens — Shiodome

A tidal-pond garden beside the skyscrapers of Shiodome.

¥Best for Couples · Families · Solo

Hama-rikyu Gardens is a metropolitan garden on Tokyo Bay, set against the skyscrapers of Shiodome. It is a short walk from Shimbashi and Shiodome stations and makes an easy stop between Ginza and Tsukiji.

The gardens run their own calendar and entry pages, so confirm hours and any fee before you go.

Good to know: Combine it with Tsukiji Outer Market, which is a short walk away.

1-1 Hamarikyu-teien, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0046

Google Maps Website

10. Ueno Park — Ueno

A park with Ueno Zoo, Shinobazu Pond and a cluster of national museums.

Best for Families · Couples · Solo

Ueno Park is a large park on the Ueno hill and around Shinobazu Pond. It holds the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, the National Museum of Nature and Science, Ueno Zoo and other cultural venues, and it is known for cherry blossoms in spring and lotus flowers in summer.

Allow a full day if you plan to visit a museum or the zoo.

Good to know: Each museum and the zoo keeps its own hours and closed days; check each website before you go.

Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0007

Google Maps Website

11. Tokyo Disney Resort — Maihama, Chiba

Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, just outside the city in Chiba.

¥¥¥Best for Families · Couples

Tokyo Disney Resort has two parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, in Urayasu, Chiba, on the eastern side of Tokyo Bay. A 1-Day Passport covers one park, and there are limited-period Park Hopper tickets that let you switch parks after 11 a.m.

Tickets are tied to a specific date and park, and are sold online through the resort's official site and app.

Good to know: Buy your date-specific ticket before you arrive; popular dates can sell out weeks or months ahead, and prices vary by date.

1-1 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba 279-0031

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

What are the top things to do in Tokyo for first-time visitors?

Start with Senso-ji and Nakamise-dori in Asakusa, Meiji Jingu and Harajuku, Shibuya Crossing, Tsukiji Outer Market and one teamLab museum. Add a garden such as Shinjuku Gyoen or the Imperial Palace East Gardens for a quieter break.

Do I need to book tickets in advance for Tokyo attractions?

For teamLab Planets, teamLab Borderless and Tokyo Disney Resort, yes: tickets are date-specific and busy dates sell out. Temples, Meiji Jingu's grounds, the Imperial Palace East Gardens and Shibuya Crossing need no ticket.

Which Tokyo attractions are free?

Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu's grounds, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, Shibuya Crossing and the Tsukiji Outer Market streets are free to enter. You pay only for what you eat or buy. Check each place's page for closed days before you go.

How many days do you need in Tokyo?

Three to four days covers the major sights listed here without rushing; five or more lets you add day trips and slower neighborhoods like Yanaka. Group nearby places on the same day to save transit time.

What is the best time of day to visit Senso-ji?

Go early in the morning or after dark. The grounds are open around the clock, the main hall closes in the late afternoon and the temple is lit up in the evening, so you can see it without the daytime crowds.

Is the Imperial Palace open to visitors?

The East Gardens are open to the public free of charge, but are closed every Monday and Friday and from December 28 to January 3. The inner palace grounds are not open for general visits.

1. Senso-ji — Asakusa

2. Meiji Jingu — Yoyogi

3. teamLab Planets TOKYO — Toyosu

4. Shibuya Scramble Crossing — Shibuya

5. teamLab Borderless — Azabudai Hills

6. Tsukiji Outer Market — Tsukiji

7. Imperial Palace East Gardens — Chiyoda

8. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden — Shinjuku

9. Hama-rikyu Gardens — Shiodome

10. Ueno Park — Ueno

11. Tokyo Disney Resort — Maihama, Chiba

Frequently asked questions

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