Azaleas at Nezu Shrine (Photo: kanegen / CC BY 2.0)
Azaleas at Nezu Shrine (Photo: kanegen / CC BY 2.0)
- 11 min read

Tokyo's Top 3 Travel Rankings

Find out what are the best places to visit — in and out of Tokyo!

First time in Japan? Tokyo, Japan's dynamic capital city, is probably the first you'd visit. Whether you're a fan of Japanese culture, food, or anime, there is always something for you in Tokyo.

With so much to do and only so little time, it might be daunting to decide where to best spend your holiday here. So if you're short on time — we helped pick out the "Top 3s" to visit, both in and out (from) Tokyo!

Three Shrines with Fushimi Inari-like Torii Gates in Tokyo

Anamori Inari Shrine

Photo: Ota City

Conveniently one stop away from Haneda Airport, Anamori Inari Shrine is a nice spot if you're on a layover and want to experience a “Fushimi Inari” in Tokyo. Anamori Inari Shrine is located in Ota ward and is also home to a charming torii tunnel that mimics one of Kyoto’s most revered sights.

Anamori Inari Shrine
穴守稲荷神社 4 1 Review
  • 5 Chome-2-7 Haneda, Ota City, Tokyo 144-0043
  • 9:00 - 17:00 (Closed now)

Nezu Shrine

Azaleas at Nezu Shrine
Azaleas at Nezu Shrine (Photo: kanegen / CC BY 2.0)

Located north of bustling Ueno Park, Nezu Shrine is a hidden enclave for locals and those in the know. One of the oldest shrines in Tokyo, this small shrine retains its Edo-period structures and is situated atop a hill on which blue and purple azaleas bloom during April and May. The Otome Inari Jinja located within the Nezu Shrine grounds offers a Kyoto-esque sight of a tunnel of red torii gates.

Nezu Shrine
根津神社 5 1 Review
  • 1 Chome-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0031
  • 6:00 - 16:30 (Closed now)

Hie Shrine, Akasaka

Hie Shrine
Hie Shrine (Photo: Tom Chen / Unsplash)

Hie Shrine in Akasaka is located amongst busy commercial districts, a strange area for a place of worship to be situated. However, this makes the small shrine less crowded with tourists, offering a more authentic experience of visiting a local shrine. Like the previous two, Hie Shrine also has a slew of torii gates lined up in a tunnel—no need to travel all the way to Kyoto for it.

Hie Shrine
日枝神社
  • 2 Chome-10-5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0014
  • 5:00 - 15:00 (Closed now)

Three Best Tokyo Getaways without using the Shinkansen

Try these easily accessible escapes from the metropolis with minimal travel fuss — suitable for a day-trip or overnight weekend stay.

Kawagoe

Streets of Kawagoe
Streets of Kawagoe (Photo: Raita Futo / CC BY 2.0)

Known as “Little Edo”, Kawagoe is barely an hour away from Tokyo via local trains. This charming, historic town is known for its Edo-period structures and its Candy Alley—streets lined with traditional confectioneries. Here, you’ll also find Kawagoe Castle, Kita-in Temple, Toshogu Shrine, and even a traditional Starbucks outlet.

Kamakura

Kamakura's Great Buddha in Spring
Kamakura's Great Buddha in Spring (Photo: bryansjs / CC BY-SA 2.0)

A secret to none, Kamakura is a popular destination for daytrippers due to its ease of access from Tokyo and its iconic Great Buddha statue. Only an hour away from central Tokyo, Kamakura is home to shrines, temples, cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, and even beaches. A trip to Kamakura can be easily extended to a weekend by staying overnight and exploring nearby Enoshima Island as well.

Mount Takao

Summit of Mt Takao
Summit of Mt Takao (Photo: e X p o s e / Shutterstock.com)

For those who love hiking, Mount Takao is an excellent choice—with multiple trails and ropeway options, this mountain caters to hikers of all skill levels. From Shinjuku, Mount Takao is less than an hour away via local train. Visit during spring or autumn to enjoy viewing the mountaintop cherry blossoms or autumn foliage.

Mount Takao
高尾山 4.8 6 Reviews
  • Takaomachi, Hachioji, Tokyo 193-0844

Top 3 Permanent Character Cafes in Tokyo

Pokemon Cafe Nihonbashi

Pokemon Cafe Nihonbashi
Pokemon Cafe Nihonbashi

One of the most popular franchises in the world, Pokemon is no stranger to us. While the series has had several temporary pop-up cafes, the Pokemon Cafe Nihonbashi is its first permanent outlet. The cafe switches up its menu offerings every month or so to match the changing seasons and new game releases, not forgetting its cafe-exclusive merchandise. It makes the perfect trip after visiting a Tokyo-based Pokemon Center.

Pokemon Cafe Nihonbashi
ポケモンカフェ 4 1 Review
  • 〒103-0027 Tokyo, Chuo City, Nihonbashi, 2 Chome−11−2 日本橋髙島屋S.C.東館 5階
  • 10:30 - 22:00 (Open Now)

Moomin Cafe

Tasty omurice at the Moomin cafe
Tasty omurice at the Moomin cafe (Photo: Ayla Bobrove)

Moomin, although a Finnish cartoon character, is beloved in Japan. Its popularity has spawned several Moomin-related franchises, but the outlet at Tokyo Skytree Town is one of the two permanent cafes in Tokyo. Unlike most cafes, you might want to consider ditching your friends and going alone—for the chance to get seated with an adorable life-sized Moomin plush. Its location at Tokyo Skytree also makes it convenient to visit the Kirby Cafe and Pokemon Center Tokyo Skytree store as well.

Moomin House Cafe Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi [Closed]
ムーミンハウスカフェ 東京スカイツリータウン・ソラマチ店 4 1 Review
  • 〒131-0045 Tokyo, Sumida City, Oshiage, 1 Chome−1−2 Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi
  • 10:00 - 22:30 (Open Now)

Kirby Cafe

Fluffy pancakes and Kirby mousse
Fluffy pancakes and Kirby mousse (Photo: Kirby Cafe TOKYO)

The Kirby Cafe opened its doors to eager fans in December 2019, and is located on the 4th floor of Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi. Visiting the Kirby Cafe is an experience in itself, with vibrant and whimsical decor covering the entire area. This cafe boasts a larger menu than the previous two, with a large assortment of savory and sweet dishes that are both photogenic and delicious. Of course, cafe-exclusive merchandise is also available for purchase—provided you’re able to secure a cafe reservation in advance!

3 Real-life Anime Spots in Tokyo

Sangenjaya (Persona 5)

Entrance to Chiyu no Yu Sento
Entrance to Chiyu no Yu Sento
"LeBlanc" in Real Life
"LeBlanc" in Real Life

Fans of the Persona 5 game would find the streets of Sangenjaya almost nostalgic. The game’s “Yongenjaya” area was based on Sangenjaya; a hip, local district full of pubs and great coffee places. The station’s yellow mosaic walls are almost identical to the ones seen in-game, as well as the protagonist’s home—LeBlanc, the hidden sento with the ¥100 vending machine outside, and not forgetting the iconic coin laundry machines. Sangenjaya is a haven for those on their Persona 5 pilgrimage, but let’s not forget that this is still a residential district and not a tourist attraction.

Kanda Myojin Shrine (Love Live)

Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson / CC BY 2.0

Kanda Myojin Shrine is unique for being a “tech shrine”: its version of ema good luck talismans are said to protect the fate of your electronic goods. The wooden tablets, or ema, here at Kanda Shrine are often decorated with characters from popular anime "Love Live"—as the shrine was featured as a significant place throughout the show. Its close proximity to Akihabara makes it an interesting site to visit along your way to the anime lover's shopping haven.

Kanda Myojin Shrine
神田明神
  • 2 Chome-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021
  • Open 24 hours (Open Now)

Suga Shrine (Your Name)

Suga Shrine Staircase
Suga Shrine Staircase (Photo: Vista Wei / Unsplash)

Makoto Shinkai’s 2016 international hit film Your Name has multiple “real-life” locations spread out across Tokyo. However, the staircase at Suga Shrine is undoubtedly the most significant. The film’s pivotal scene where our two protagonists meet again happened on the narrow steps leading to Suga Shrine. While many fans of the film make their trip here for this spot, make sure to pay the shrine a visit as well—Suga Shrine is the Yotsuya area’s guardian shrine since its establishment in the early Edo period.

Suga Shrine
須賀神社 4 1 Review
  • 5-banchi Sugacho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0018
  • Open 24 hours (Open Now)

Top 3 Izakaya Bar Alleys (Yokocho) in Tokyo

Golden Gai Shinjuku

Golden Gai at Night
Golden Gai at Night (Photo: shiranai / CC BY 2.0)

Nightlife in Shinjuku wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Golden Gai. Golden Gai is a maze of small pubs and eateries, or izakaya, where locals and tourists alike go to have a drink. The most touristy of the three yokocho listed here, Golden Gai's bars might have some English signage, but it's still best to come equipped with basic ordering-Japanese (or a Japanese friend)!

Shinjuku Golden Gai
新宿ゴールデン街 4 2 Reviews
  • 1 Chome-1-6 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021
  • Open 24 hours (Open Now)

Ebisu Yokocho

Ebisu Yokocho
Ebisu Yokocho (Photo: misteryeo / CC BY 2.0)

Just minutes from Ebisu Station are rows of small food stalls, their tiny outdoor seating areas packed with locals seeking to wind down after a day’s hard work. Ebisu Yokocho is mostly frequented by locals, loved for its variety of food options clustered within a small convenient location.

Ebisu Yokocho
恵比寿横丁
  • 1 Chome-7-4 Ebisu, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0013

Harmonica Yokocho Kichijoji

Lanterns and shop lights at Harmonica Alley
Lanterns and shop lights at Harmonica Alley (Photo: Victoria Kamila)

Located in the hipster upscale neighborhood of Kichijoji, Harmonica Yokocho almost seems out of place. Consisting of narrow alleyways and small individual stores, Harmonica Yokocho truly comes alive at night—when the izakaya opens for business and the red lanterns hanging at their doors are lit up. Unlike some of the other yokocho, Harmonica Yokocho also consists of some individual shops and small eateries, including homemade pasta, Thai food, and even an Okinawan taco rice stall.

Harmonica Alley Yokocho
ハーモニカ横丁
  • 〒180-0004 Tokyo, Musashino, Kichijoji Honcho, 1 Chome−1−1 ハモニカ横丁内

3 Great Festivals in Tokyo

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri
Sanja Matsuri (Photo: Yoshikazu TAKADA / CC BY 2.0)

One of Tokyo’s largest and most popular festivals—Sanja Matsuri is held in Asakusa, during the third weekend of May every year. If you want to experience an authentic Japanese festival and only have time for one, make sure to visit Tokyo during May. The festival grounds encompass the majestic Sensoji Temple as well as rows of local food stalls to sate your hunger throughout the day. Over 100 mikoshi (portable shrines) are paraded around the area, to the delight of millions of excited festival-goers. Sanja Matsuri is predictably crowded each year, so take care if going with small children or the elderly.

Sanja Matsuri

Sanja Matsuri

May 17th - May 19th

Sanja Matsuri is one of Tokyo's biggest festivals and features over 100 mikoshi floats paraded through the grounds of Senso-ji..

9 Free Entry

Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival

Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival
Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival (Photo: 桜庭シェリー / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Fireworks have always been an integral part of Japanese summers. The Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is one of Tokyo’s biggest and oldest festivals, dating back to the Edo period. Brilliant fireworks displays can be seen from either side of the Sumida River, where rows of food and traditional game stalls are set up, adding to the festive atmosphere. Locals come dressed up in yukata (summer robes) to beat the summer heat and celebrate the festival on every last Saturday of July.

Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival

Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival

Late Jul

The Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival around the Tokyo Skytree is one of Japan's major summer fireworks displays, held each year..

10 Free Entry

Koenji Awa Odori

Koenji Awa Odori
Koenji Awa Odori (Photo: Lucertola / Public Domain)

During the last weekend of August, over 10,000 dancers and performers gather in Koenji for the annual Awa Odori Festival. One of the more unique festivals, the Awa Odori celebrates summer with vibrant song and dance, with the performers decked out in colorful costumes. Koenji itself also has much to offer, being known as one of the “cooler” yet laid-back neighborhoods in Tokyo, so make sure to check out the area after enjoying the festival.

Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori

Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori

Late Aug

This dance festival is held annually on the last or second to last weekend of August. Dancing lasts exactly 3 hours, but festivities..

4 Free Entry

3 Places to See Snow near Tokyo

Gala Yuzawa Ski Resort

GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort
GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort (Photo: shinji_w / CC BY 2.0)

One of the most well-known winter escapes for Tokyoites is the GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort. Located within an hour’s bullet train ride from Tokyo, this resort is the only one with a shinkansen station located within the resort premises itself. With multiple ski slopes catering to skiers of different skill levels and thick snow cover, GALA Yuzawa is a great day or weekend trip for those wanting to see a snowy winter landscape while in Tokyo. For those without rail passes, multiple highway bus companies also operate Tokyo-Yuzawa routes offering competitive prices. The trip usually takes around three hours one-way.

GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort
GALA湯沢スノーリゾート
  • 1039-2 Yuzawa, Minamiuonuma District, Niigata 949-6101
  • 8:00 - 17:00 (Closed now)

Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu Onsen during Winter
Kusatsu Onsen during Winter (Photo: inf_supTJ / Public Domain)

For travelers who wish to see a stunning Japanese snowscape—head to Kusatsu Onsen. Located in Gunma Prefecture, Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan’s top three hot spring resorts. The natural sulfuric hot spring water is renowned for its emerald-green color and therapeutic effects. In winter, bathing in an outdoor rotenburo surrounded by snow-capped traditional buildings is sure to be the highlight of your trip. From Tokyo, Kusatsu Onsen is accessible via a two-and-a-half-hour journey combining a bullet train to Karuizawa and a direct bus to the onsen village. Alternatively, regular highway buses travel from Tokyo to Kusatsu Onsen in about four hours.

Karuizawa Prince Hotel Resort

Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort
Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort (Photo: Ski Mania / Public Domain)

An open secret among the locals, Karuizawa is a haven for those wishing to escape the summer heat as well as savor the best of winter by hitting the slopes. The upscale mountainside resort town is home to Karuizawa Prince Hotel Resort—a ski resort that’s a mere 10-minute walk from Karuizawa Station. The family-friendly resort also includes hotels and a shopping complex, making it a great weekend getaway. To get here, simply take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Karuizawa and you’ll be in a winter wonderland in under an hour.

Karuizawa Prince Hotel Snow Resort
軽井沢プリンスホテルスキー場
  • 1016 Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0102
80
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Nga Nguyễn a year ago
An extremely detailed article, it makes my list of must-visit spots when coming to Japan longer! Thank you so much!
Justin Velgus 2 years ago
The 3 anime locations and 3 drinking alleys were fun additions!
Luca De Pasquale 3 years ago
Ufff so much to see ! All the places listed are very high quality and as a Tokyoite mysel I cannot agree more with your picks !
Lynda Hogan 3 years ago
Great round up of some of Tokyo's highlights
Novia Mardasari 3 years ago
kirby cafe very nice!

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