The Meiji Shrine is one of the most important and famous shrines in Tokyo. Within the shrine is a beautiful inner garden that was once the resident home of Kato Kiyomasa, a power feudal lord in the area. The garden has a quaint Japanese tea house, an Iris garden, ponds filled with turtles and koi and a famous well called Kiyomasa’s Well, named after the feudal lord. The well is a popular “power spot” in Japan. A power spot is a place that is said to give off positive, restorative and lucky energy. Due to it’s popularity, there is often someone looking out after the well to ensure the line doesn’t get too long and keep people from spending too much time at the well.

Entrance fee: 500 Yen

Photo credit: Moshi Moshi Nippon

Address: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0052 (Located in the Meiji Shrine)

Hours:

9am - 4:00 pm (November till February)

9am - 4:30pm (March till October)

Website: https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/whattosee/garden/

How to get there: Located right in the Meiji Shrine, it’s a 1 minute walk from Harajuku Station on the JR Line.

 

Once a resident home for a merchant during the Edo period (1603-1868), the ownership was transferred to a feudal war lord who turned it into a garden. Then, during the Meiji period (1868-1912) the founder of Mitsubishi bought the land and rebuilt the garden in order to have a nice place to bring important guests to. In 1932, Mitsubishi donated the garden to the Tokyo government who continue to possess this garden. The highlight of the garden are the stones throughout the landscape. Each stone is placed for a reason and some even make a water-less waterfall. The stone were acquired throughout Japan in an effort to make this unique garden. On your stroll around the garden, make sure to step across the stone paths in the water. These are placed to so that you can see fish and turtles inside the ponds. The garden also features a tea house styled Japanese restaurant (reservations required).

Entrance fee: 150 Yen for general admission, 70 Yen for 65&over

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Address: Kiyosumi Garden Service Center 3-3-9 Kiyosumi, Koto-ku, Tokyo

135-0024 

Hours: 9am - 5pm

Website: http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/format/index033.html

How to get there: A 3 minute walk from the Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station on the Hanzomon or Oedo subway lines.

 

Apart of the inner palace, the Imperial Palace East Garden is the former site of the Edo Castle’s inner-most circle of defense. While the castle doesn’t remain to this day the East Garden features seasonal flowers and ancient gardens surrounded by moats, walls, gates and several old guardhouses. While you’re inside, you can also find the beautiful Suwano-Chaya teahouse, the Museum of Imperial Collections and Gakubu Music Hall. You’ll also see the former base of the Edo Castle that once stood there, which you can climb on top of for a view of the surrounding area.

The Edo Castle was once the tallest castle in Japan and was occupied by Tokugawa Shogun who ruled Japan from 1603-1868.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Japan Guide

Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8111

Hours: Closed every Monday and Friday. *If national holiday is on Monday/Friday then it is open and closed the next day

9am - 5pm (March 1 to April 14 and all of September)

9am - 6pm (April 15 through August)
9am - 4:30pm (October)
9am - 4pm (November through February)

Website: https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/shisetsu/higashigyoen-map.html

How to get there: There are several gates to enter from, but the Otemon Gate is the main entrance. It is a 5 minute walk from the Otemachi Station on the Chiyoda, Tozai, Hanzomon, Marunouchi and Mita subway lines. It’s a 15 minute walk from Tokyo Station.

 

This large, landscape garden along the Tokyo Bay was the former site of the shogun’s family villa in the 1600s. It features seawater ponds and lakes, a beautiful field of various flowers, a tea house in the middle of a lake for a scenic view and traditional tea and snacks and a small port for a boat ride up towards Asakusa. The unique view of a traditional Japanese garden with a backdrop of skyscrapers of the Shiodome district puts you in a special location to experience the contrast of past and present in Tokyo.

Entrance fee: 300 Yen for adults, 150 Yen for 65&over

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Address: 1-1 Hamarikyuteien, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0046

Hours: 9am-5pm, Closed End of the year New Years holiday

Website: https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/format/index028.html

How to get there: A 12 minute walk from Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Line or a 7 minute walk from Shiodome Station on the Oeda Subway Line.

 

In the midst of the largest metropolis in the world, you can find a lush forest of green at Yoyogi Park. It’s the largest park in Tokyo and features wide lawns, ponds and lakes and frequent gatherings and events. Also adjacent to the Meiji Shrine and close to Harajuku, it should definitely be on your list of things to do in Tokyo. During the spring time, you can also enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms while picnicking on the lawns. Before becoming a park in 1967, it served as the Olympic Village for the 1964 Olympics and before the Olympics, it was a military housing unit for the Americans during the occupation after World War II.

Entrance fee: free

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Address: 2-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0052

Website: http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/format/index039.html#googtrans(en)

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from the Harajuku Station on the JR Line. It’s right next to the Meiji Shrine.

 

The Edo Tokyo Museum is the first museum built dedicated to Tokyo’s history. It’s a place to reflect on the past and culture of Edo (Tokyo was named Edo until 1868) and also envision what Tokyo could become in the future. The museum features many interesting exhibitions such as the life size replica of Nihonbashi - which used to be the area around the famous bridge (still exists) that marked the zero marker for all roads leading out from Japan - model towns and villages across the different eras and replicas of kabuki theaters. The museums architecture is a unique building that’s modeled after a traditional rice storehouse and is the same height as the Edo Castle. This building is a landmark and tourist attraction in Tokyo.

Entrance fee: 600 Yen for adults, 300 Yen for 65&over, 480 Yen for University Students, 300 Yen for Junior High and High School Students, Free for under Junior High

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Address: Koganei Park, 3 Chome-7-1 Sakuracho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-0005

Hours: Closed Mondays and New years holiday, 9:00am - 5:30pm (7:30 on Saturdays)

*If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: 042-388-3300

Website: https://www.tatemonoen.jp/english/

How to get there: A 6 minute walk from Ryogoku Station, East Exit on the JR Line.

 

Established in 1871, this is one of Japan’s biggest science museums with over 25,000 artifacts in possession. This museum features exhibits about outer space, nature, history, science and climate, possesses a 360 degree theater and many hands-on activities to learn about science which is great for kids. The mission statement for this museum is to be able to allow people to appreciate the earth, life, nature and science and how they can co-exist together.

Entrance fee: 630 Yen General admission, Free for High School students and under

Photo credit: Time Out Tokyo

Address: 7-20 Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-8718

Hours: Closed Mondays and New years holiday, 9:00am - 5:00pm (8:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays)

*If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: 03-5777-8600

Website: https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from Ueno Station, park Exit on the JR Line. A 10 min. walk from Ueno Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza/Hibiya Lines.

 

Miraikan means the place for the future - a name that fits it’s experience. At Miraikan, you are able to view the world of today from a scientific point of view and explore the future of science. You can enjoy hands on activities, witness cool exhibitions like their dome theater show and their performance from ASIMO the robot and learn about the innovative sciences from Japan. It’s definitely one of the most unique science museums around!

Entrance fee:

630 Yen for adults, 210 yen for 18&under

Dome Theater entrance: 10 yen for Adults, 100 Yen for 18&under

Photo credit: Miraikan website

Address: 2-3-6 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Hours: Closed Tuesdays, New years holiday, 10:00am - 5:00pm

*If Tuesday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Tel: +81-3-3570-9151

Website: https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from the Tokyo International Cruise Station or a 4 minute walk from the Telecom Center Station on the Yurikamome Line

 

A one of a kind museum, the Baseball Hall of Fame museum opened in 1959 right next to the Korakuen Stadium - a mecca for baseball. The stadium gave way to the Tokyo Dome where the museum currently sits, which is a true professional baseball symbol throughout Japan. This museum is dedicated to baseball greats such as players, executives, umpires etc by having an extensive collection and exhibitions of all things baseball including baseball literature.

Entrance fee:

600 Yen for adults, 400 Yen for 65&over, 400 Yen for University and High School Students, 200 Yen for elementary and Junior High students

Photo credit: Japan Visitor

Address: 1-3-61 Koraku, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0004 (Located in Tokyo Dome)

Hours: Closed Mondays and holidays. *If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

Macrh-September: 10am - 6pm

October-February: 10am - 5pm

Tel: N/A

Website: http://english.baseball-museum.or.jp/

How to get there: A 6 minute walk from Korakuen Station, Exit 5 on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line. Or a 4 minute walk from Korakuen Station, Exit 2 on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. The museum is located inside the Tokyo Dome.

 

Tokyo has been prone to floods, earthquakes, disasters and warfare for the past couple hundred years making it hard to place to preserve and keep old, historical buildings alive. In 1993, the Tokyo Government created this massive 7 hectare museum to relocate, reconstruct and keep old buildings to ensure future generations will keep learning about the values of the past. This includes old farmhouses, temples, bars, resident homes, shops and more. It’s a great place to experience

Entrance fee: 400 Yen for adults, 200 Yen for 65&over, 320 Yen for University Students, 200 Yen for High School students, Free for Junior High and under

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Address:  3-7-1 Sakuracho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo (inside Koganei Park) 184-0005

Hours: Closed Mondays and holidays. *If Monday is a holiday then it is open and closed the next day

April-September: 9:30am - 5:30pm

October-March: 9:30am - 4:30pm

Tel: 042-388-3300

Website: https://www.tatemonoen.jp/english/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from the North exit of Musashi-Koganei Station on the JR Chuo Line.