Things to Do in Tokyo

This content was last updated on 25.02.2024 23:54

Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is an extremely colorful and exciting city, especially in terms of culture, art and social life. The lack of security problems in the city allows you to travel comfortably until late at night.

Where is Tokyo

Japan is an island country in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean. Tokyo is located in the central part of Honshu, one of the islands that make up the country, on the shores of Tokyo Bay.

General Information About Tokyo

Tokyo, or officially Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and one of the prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the largest city in the world, with an area of 600 km² and a megapolis with a population of 37 million. At the same time, according to the latest researches, the city with the most expensive living in the world is Tokyo.

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When to Go to Tokyo

The best time to visit Tokyo is March-April and September-October-November.

Unique views await you both in Spring and Autumn. However, as you can imagine, the ticket prices of these seasons will be a little more expensive.

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How to Get to Tokyo

There are flights to Tokyo Narita Airport from many international airports. This is an extremely modern, developed and huge airport. Therefore, transportation to Tokyo will not be difficult at all. For example; If you are in Istanbul, you can fly to Tokyo Narita Airport with Turkish Airlines from Istanbul Airport with direct flights that take approximately 12 hours every day of the week.

Transportation from Airport to City Center

The airport is 75 km from the city center. As we said before; Since Tokyo is an expensive city and the distance between the airport and the city center is long, we recommend using the train and subway lines. The easiest way to get from the airport to the city center Tokyo Station is to take the Narita Express, which departs from Terminal 1 or 2. It is possible to reach Tokyo Station with an average of 1 hour train journey. The ticket costs 3,000 JPY (25 USD).

You can also take the Keisei Skyliner train from Terminal 1 or 2 to reach Nippori Station in half an hour, from which you can connect with the Yamanote Line to arrive at Okachimachi Station in half an hour. From Okachimachi Station, you can take the Oedo Line to Shinjuku Station in 10 minutes. If you wish, you can reach the city center Ginza Station with the shuttle service departing from the airport for 26 USD, with an average of 1.5 journeys.

Transportation in Tokyo

Your transportation business in Tokyo is very convenient. Because the city has an incredible metro and train network. Transportation from one point to another is very comfortable. (Of course, it is useful to learn certain Japanese words)

Do not give up on the subway system for transportation in the city. The subway system reaches everywhere. You just need to know the system. Almost all railways are interconnected. If you go to any place where there is already a railway in Japan, it is possible to reach the place you want without using any other means of transportation.

There are 3 types of lines you need to know in Tokyo Metro; JR line, Subway Line and Special Lines. The most used of these are the JR lines. This line is used for lines shown in black and white on the map and mostly for long distances. For example, there is a JR line between the airport and the center. The easiest line to reach anywhere is the Yamanote line. This line loops through popular places in a circle.

The metro is the colorful part you see on the map. Almost all of these lines are interconnected and you can transfer to the next without leaving the station. The metro lines you will use most will be as follows;

Ginza Line (Orange), Oedo Line (Magenta) Asakusa Line (Pink), Shinjuku line (Pistachio green)

If you ask anyone in the subway, it will take you and show you the name of the station. You don't have to worry about that.

If you have purchased a JR Pass and activated it in Tokyo, you can use all JR Train lines in the city free of charge without purchasing a separate ticket, and you can reach many main areas (such as Shinjuku, Shibuya) throughout Tokyo by using these lines. Just show your JR Pass to the attendant next to the turnstiles at the stations and pass.

If you do not have a JR Pass and you are going to use the subway more than 3 times a day (you will use it very highly in a big city like Tokyo), the most suitable option is to use the Tokyo Metro lines with 1, 2 or 3 days option and unlimited during this period. purchasing a Tokyo Subway Ticket that you can use. (It's even more convenient if you take 3 days). Let's put it this way, the fare varies according to the distance you will go on the subway, but a one-way, single-use subway ticket is around 150-200 Yen. The 3-day pass costs 1500 Yen, ie 500 Yen per day. In this case, if you use more than 3 subways a day, it is much more convenient to buy Subway Tickets directly. The ticket starts to be valid from the first time of use. So let's say you bought a 1-day ticket on Tuesday. If you use it for the first time Wednesday at 14:00, you can do whatever you want until Thursday at 14:00. This pass is not valid on JR lines or other special lines. If you are going to use these lines, you need to buy a ticket separately. Only JR or one of these special lines goes to some points in the city (for example, Teamlab Borderless, which is one of the places you would probably want to go), but except for 3-4 points like this, this pass is the most logical option since you can reach anywhere you want by using only Tokyo subway lines throughout the entire trip.

Tokyo Attractions

1. Meiji Shrine

Meiji Temple is located in a forest covering 70 hectares. This forest area temple consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species that were donated by people from all over Japan when it was founded. The forest is seen by many as a recreation and relaxation area in central Tokyo. The temple is divided into two districts, Naien and Gaien.

The royal treasury is housed in the Naien. Gaien, on the other hand, hosts a multi-purpose sports complex with a picture gallery displaying wallpapers depicting the life of emperors.

2. Sensoji Temple

Sensoji Temple, a Buddhist temple, is located in Asakusa and is the oldest temple in Tokyo.

The temple, which is shown as the most important attraction of North Tokyo due to its colorful architecture and historical importance, hosts various events throughout the year.

3. Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower, which is shown among the 20 most important structures in the world, II. It is a symbol of the rapid rise of Japan after World War II. It has a height of 333 meters and is the largest in the world among self-supporting steel towers.

Tokyo Tower, which was designed with inspiration from the Eiffel Tower in the capital of France and was the tallest structure in the country until 2012, was opened to visitors in 1958. This structure, which is very similar to the Eiffel Tower in terms of structure and shape, has orange and white colors, unlike the Eiffel that inspired it.

Tokyo Tower, which enables television broadcasts to reach large audiences, also has 2 viewing terraces. The main viewing terrace is at an altitude of 150 meters and has a very beautiful view. The upper terrace is 250 meters high and is designed for those who want to observe the city in detail.

If you have time, you may want to visit Foot Town at the bottom of the tower, which has an amusement park called One Piece Tower, along with restaurants and souvenir shops.

4. Tokyo Imperial Palace

The flamboyant residence of the Japanese emperor, the Imperial Palace is a must-see in the city centre. Surrounded by moats and stone walls, the Palace and its extensive gardens are breathtaking.

The palace occupies the site of a former fortress where the Shogu resided in the 15th century. In the 19th century, when Emperor Meiji moved the royal household from Kyoto to Tokyo, it became the property of the royal family. Most of what remains of the palace today is only 50 years old, as most of the buildings were destroyed in the Second World War.

The beautiful gardens of the palace were opened to the public in 1968 with free access at any time. It is worth seeing, especially in the spring season, when the cherry blossoms bloom.

Only a limited number of visitors can enter the interior of the palace on January 2 (new year celebration) and December 23 (the emperor's birthday).

5. Ginza District

Ginza is Tokyo's popular luxury shopping district, home to numerous international shops, boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops. The district is considered one of the most luxurious shopping districts in the world and attracts visitors from all over the world.

The area, valued at more than 10 million yen per square meter of shops in its centre, was home to a mint where silver coins were minted from 1612 to 1800. The name of the region already means "silver mint" in Turkish. If you want to shop in the residential area, which started to gain its present appearance after the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, you can visit Ginza Wako, Ginza Six or Tokyu Plaza Ginza.

6. Shibuya

Shibuya is one of the liveliest, most popular, crowded and touristic spots in Tokyo. for Shibuya; When Tokyo is mentioned, we can say that it is the place where the image that comes to life before your eyes comes to life.

The most famous and must-see point is undoubtedly Shibuya Crossing. It is a crosswalk where 5-6 pedestrian crossings intersect and hundreds of people cross at the same time during the busiest hours. Do not just look at it, cross the street and experience this experience where you can feel like a part of a zombie invasion. It goes without saying that it is much more crowded, especially during rush hour.

It is also an alternative to go to this region after dark. Starting from Shibuya Crossing, you can feel like you are in Tokyo by following the streets and the crowd and diving into the streets as much as you can among the neon signs.

7. Ueno Park and Tokyo National Museum

Due to the museums within its borders, Ueno Park is considered one of the most important attractions visited by travelers who enjoy cultural tours in the city. If you go in late March or early April, you can witness the breathtaking view of cherry blossoms blooming on over a thousand trees.

After exiting Ueno Park, you can go straight to the Tokyo National Museum. This is a 2-storey museum that is not very big. We recommend you to take a tour in order to have information about the history of Japan, traditional Japanese clothes in a short time, and the Tokyo National Museum should be seen while you are in Ueno Park.

8. Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi Park, which hosts the Meiji Temple, is a popular destination for travelers who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and spend a pleasant time doing nature sports or picnicking. The park attracts those who want to photograph the eye-catching beauty of the cherry blossoms, especially in spring. The ponds at various points contribute to the increase in the diversity of life in the park.

9. Akihabara ‌Electric ‌Town

If you are a fan of Japanese comics, anime and manga, you will feel like you have fallen into heaven in Akihabara ‌Electric ‌Town. This is a place where you'll be immersed in the anime you've watched when you see huge posters of anime characters or cute Japanese dressed in anime costumes.

Akihabara is not only a place that appeals to comic book lovers, but also an electronics center where you can find all kinds of electronic goods.

You can easily access any product you want in the multi-storey stores of Akihabara ‌Electric ‌Town (such as Yamada Denki, Sofmap, Akky and Laox) where you will encounter a rich variety of leading electronics brands in technology. However, you should pay attention to whether the products you plan to buy are compatible with the electricity infrastructure in our country. Otherwise, you may not be able to use the products you bring in our country.

10. Tsukiji Fish Market

Another place you must visit on your Tokyo trip: Tsukiji Fish Market.

The restaurants in Tsukiji area prepare the best and most delicious sushi in Tokyo, and when you visit Tsukiji Fish Market, you will see that; restaurants and gastronomy enthusiasts visit this place more than local people. Auctions in this market where fresh seafood is sold will surprise you. Sometimes, record prices appear at auctions entered by restaurant owners.

11. Odaiba

Odaiba, an after-filled artificial island, is located in Southern Tokyo. Built during the Edo period (1603-1867) to protect the city from naval attacks, this area has now become a crowded neighborhood that welcomes millions of tourists every year.

In the Odaiba area, Rainbow Bridge, Aquacity Odaiba and Decks Tokyo Beach areas are definitely worth a visit. The museums in this region are located in the Telecom Center Area. Many museums, especially the Museum of Marine Sciences, are waiting for their visitors.

When you enter the Palette Town area, a giant Ferris wheel will welcome you. This Ferris wheel is one of the most ideal places to see the island view. At the same time, by visiting the Toyota Mega Web Factory, you can have the opportunity to see the company's latest vehicles and even take a test drive. Finally, you can spend time in Venus Fort in shopping centers specific to the region.

12. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building; It should perhaps be at the top of your Tokyo Places to Visit list. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, which was the tallest building in the city until the Midtown Tower was completed in 2007, has a total height of 243 meters. There are towers in both the North and South sections of the building. Visitors can have the pleasure of watching the city by going to the observation terraces in both towers. These observation terraces, which can be entered for free, are flooded by travelers during the day.

You can see the whole city in detail on good weather days from the observation terraces with a height of 202 meters. Those who go to the observation terrace can watch many important places such as Mount Fuji, Tokyo Tower, Meiji Temple, Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Dome as a bird's eye view.

The observation terrace in the northern part is also open to visitors at midnight. In this way, travelers have the opportunity to watch the evening view of Tokyo.

Before going to the observation decks, you can get very interesting information about Japan and Tokyo by going to the tourism office on the second floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

13. Kabukicho

One of the most famous regions of Japan, Kabukicho (Red Light District) stands out with its entertainment opportunities for adults.

The name of this region, whose origin goes back to the Edo Period, comes from the Kabuki theater. Located in the Shinjuku Neighborhood, which includes the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, this area stands out with its restaurants, nightclubs and bars. If you are looking for excitement, you can also participate in slot machine experiences at the entertainment centers called Pachinko.

Kabukicho offers special deals not only for adults, but also for couples who want to experience love. If people who have a good time in Love Hotels want to seek different entertainment, they can participate in Peep Show events.

14. Nakamise

You can experience endless shopping pleasure in this street, which is one of the oldest shopping streets of Tokyo and even Japan.

Nakamise Street starts right where Sensoji Temple ends. The street, which is about 200 meters long, has been actively used since the Edo Period. There are 54 shops in total on this street, whose content has not changed much. When you move towards the west side, 35 more businesses will welcome you.

In Nakamise street, which has 89 shops in total, travelers are mostly interested in Japanese candy bars. However, many trinkets, wooden slippers and masks with different meanings, which are thought to bring good luck, are waiting to buy. Even if you do not buy any product, even the atmosphere of the environment will be enough to impress you.

15. Roppongi

If you are visiting Tokyo for the first time and looking for rich entertainment possibilities, you can go to Roppongi area. Roppongi, which means Six Trees, has a predominantly foreign population rather than local people due to its foreign-friendly environment.

Akasaka, Azabu and Hiroo districts are located around the Roppongi district. These regions are mostly home to people working in foreign representative offices. Areas such as Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills have been highly developed and changed thanks to high-level urban transformations.

The Roppongi area was not a region that received much attention before. Over time, the investments made in this region have contributed to the value of the region. Boutiques, luxury residences and hotels and entertainment venues opened one after the other have transformed this place into a living center.

While you're all the way to Roppongi, you might want to visit the Suntory Art Museum, Mori Art Museum and the National Art Center in this area.

16. Harajuku

Located between Shibuya and Shinjuku, Harajuku is a region with opportunities for all purposes. Offering the most beautiful entertainment centers to those who want to have fun, Harajuku offers restaurants from every budget to those who want to eat and drink. It is almost impossible to leave this area empty-handed, which is also very assertive about shopping. You may want to spend more time in Takeshita Street in Harajuku.

There are hundreds of large and small souvenir shops on this street, which is similar to the Champs-Elysées in France, both in appearance and in content.

Harajuku is one of Tokyo's most culturally rich venues. While you are on this boulevard, we recommend you to visit centers such as Nezu Museum, Togo Temple and NHK Studio Park.

17. Takeshita Street

We definitely recommend that you add this street where the local youth of Tokyo spend time to your travel list.

The pedestrian path of Takeshita Street, also called Takeshita Dori, is 400 meters in average. The street, on which there are countless shops, boutiques, restaurants and cafes, is visited by the young people in particular.

The businesses located on Takeshita Street have content focused entirely on pop culture. Just walking around this street is enough to get to know the Japanese local culture.

People who enter the street on the weekends will find that this place is extremely busy. If you don't like crowds, we suggest you stop by during the daytime on weekdays. Otherwise, a large crowd will greet you.

18. Tokyo ‌Disneyland

This entertainment center opened in Tokyo is the first Disneyland to open outside the United States. It was inspired by theme parks located in Florida and California at the time of its founding.

Tokyo Disneyland decoration changes every year. The entertainment center, which likes a theme every year and uses designs suitable for that theme, always wants to take the experiences to be experienced to a higher level.
Tokyo Disneyland, which offers entertainment options to people of all age groups, offers shopping, eating and drinking venues as well as entertainment options.

Tomorrowland, located in Tokyo Disneyland, has very different content about space and the future. In addition, a large area with cartoon characters will welcome you in Toontown.
You can also enter the Westernland and Adventureland theme parks. Tokyo Disneyland, with an all-day entrance fee of 7,400 Yen, offers you an experience you will not regret.