18 of the best · Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo’s Great Sights, from Sensō-ji to Shibuya

Sensō-ji and its lantern gate, Meiji Jingū in its forest, the palace gardens, Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower, the Shibuya crossing from above, the markets of Tsukiji and Toyosu, and the teamLab museums.

Our 18 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026

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Insiders' picks

Three Tokyo moments we keep going back to: Sensō-ji before the shops open, a bowl of soba in Kagurazaka, and the Shibuya crossing from the rooftop at dusk.

Tokyo’s great temple

Sensō-ji

Asakusa·Temple

The red Kaminarimon gate and its giant lantern, the Nakamise shopping street, the five-storey pagoda and the main hall: the oldest-feeling corner of Tokyo.

2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032Explore View on map
A shrine in a planted forest

Meiji Jingū

Harajuku·Shrine

A wide gravel path through tall trees from Harajuku to the shrine, its forest planted by hand when the shrine was built.

1-1 Yoyogi Kamizonochō, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-8557Explore View on map
The scramble from above

The Shibuya crossing and SHIBUYA SKY

Shibuya·Viewpoint

The world’s best-known pedestrian crossing, and the open-air rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square above it.

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The full list: Sights, A–Z

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More areas 9

The back story 2

Old Edo and the new city: the temples, the shrines and the towers.

The back story

Old Edo and the new city: Tokyo’s great sights

Tokyo·In depth

Sensō-ji and the Kaminarimon, Meiji Jingū in its forest, the palace gardens, Skytree and Tokyo Tower, the Shibuya crossing from above and the teamLab worlds of light: how to see Tokyo without wearing yourself out.

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History & heritage

Tokyo: history and heritage

Marunouchi·In depth: history and heritage

Edo Castle and the shogun’s city, the merchants of Nihonbashi, the eastern capital of 1868, the earthquake of 1923, rebuilding after the war and the city of many centres: Tokyo’s heritage.

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Asakusa and the east 4

Old Edo.

Reopened 2026

Edo-Tokyo Museum

Ryōgoku·Museum

The story of Edo and Tokyo, from a life-size half of the old Nihonbashi bridge to model streets of the shogun’s city, reopened after four years.

1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0015Explore View on map
Three tournaments a year

Grand Sumo at Ryōgoku Kokugikan

Ryōgoku·Sumo hall

The home of sumo, where three of the six annual Grand Sumo tournaments are held, in January, May and September.

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Tokyo’s great temple

Sensō-ji

Asakusa·Temple

The red Kaminarimon gate and its giant lantern, the Nakamise shopping street, the five-storey pagoda and the main hall: the oldest-feeling corner of Tokyo.

2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032Explore View on map
634 metres

Tokyo Skytree

Oshiage·Tower

Japan’s tallest structure, with two observation decks at 350 and 450 metres and the Solamachi shops at its foot.

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The palace, Ginza and the markets 5

The heart of the city.

Kabuki in Ginza

Kabuki-za

Ginza·Theatre

The home of kabuki, in Ginza, where you can buy a ticket for the whole programme or a single act.

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Within the palace walls

The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace

Marunouchi·Garden

The gardens on the site of the old Edo Castle keep: stone walls and moats, a Japanese garden, and the open lawn where the keep once stood.

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Red brick and domes

Tokyo Station Marunouchi building

Marunouchi·Landmark

The red-brick station of 1914, restored with its two domes, facing the avenue to the palace.

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The tuna auction

Toyosu Market

Toyosu·Market

Tokyo’s wholesale fish and produce market since 2018, with galleries over the tuna auction floor and restaurants inside.

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Breakfast at the market

Tsukiji Outer Market

Tsukiji·Market

The lanes of shops and stalls that stayed when the wholesale market moved to Toyosu: knives, tea, dried fish, tamagoyaki and sushi for breakfast.

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Shibuya and Shinjuku 3

Shrines and skylines.

A shrine in a planted forest

Meiji Jingū

Harajuku·Shrine

A wide gravel path through tall trees from Harajuku to the shrine, its forest planted by hand when the shrine was built.

1-1 Yoyogi Kamizonochō, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-8557Explore View on map
The scramble from above

The Shibuya crossing and SHIBUYA SKY

Shibuya·Viewpoint

The world’s best-known pedestrian crossing, and the open-air rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square above it.

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The city from Shinjuku

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories

Shinjuku·Viewpoint

Two observatories at the top of the twin-towered city hall in Nishi-Shinjuku, with views towards Mount Fuji on clear days.

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Roppongi and Shiba 4

Towers and temples.

A world without borders

teamLab Borderless

Azabudai·Digital art museum

teamLab’s museum of light and projection at Azabudai Hills, where artworks move from room to room and into one another.

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Barefoot through water and light

teamLab Planets

Toyosu·Digital art museum

A teamLab museum you walk through barefoot, wading through water and a garden of floating flowers, near the Toyosu market.

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1958, white and orange

Tokyo Tower

Shiba·Tower

The orange-and-white tower of 1958, with its Main Deck and Top Deck, best of all when lit at night.

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With Tokyo Tower behind

Zōjō-ji

Shiba·Temple

A great Jōdo-shū temple whose red Sangedatsumon gate frames Tokyo Tower, with rows of small stone jizō statues in the grounds.

4-7-35 Shibakōen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011Explore View on map

Ueno, Yanaka and further 2

Shrines and museums.

Torii and azaleas

Nezu Shrine

Nezu·Shrine

A shrine of lacquered halls in the old Nezu district, with a tunnel of small red torii and an azalea festival in spring.

1-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0031Explore View on map
Tickets in advance only

The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

Mitaka·Museum

Studio Ghibli’s museum at the edge of Inokashira Park, where tickets are sold only in advance, for a set day and time.

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