Being the oldest temple in Tokyo, Zojoji dates back to 628, when two fisherman were fishing nearby in the Sumida River and were surprised to see that they had caught a statue. They brought the statue to their village headman and he was surprised to see that it was a statue of Kannon - the buddhist deity associated with compassion. The village headman converted his home to a place of worship. The area grew in popularity with many visitors and worshipers and even became an important place where shoguns (the military dictator) had their offerings.

Today, it’s a very popular and important temple that is surrounded by many cultural and traditional stores which include the famous Nakamise shopping street - a large line of shopping vendors that lead up to the temple.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

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

Hours: The shopping street hours are from 10am - 5pm

Website: http://www.senso-ji.jp/english/

How to get there: A 5 minute walk from the Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line, Asakusa Line, Tobu Skytree Line and Tsukuba Express.

 

Zojoji temple was built in 1393 as the Jodo-shu sect of Buddhism (Pure Land Buddhism) for the eastern region of Japan (Kanto). It moved to it’s current location in 1598, when Tokugawa Ieyasu moved to Tokyo and began ruling as shogun. Under Shogun Tokugawa’s rule, Zojoji Temple became the family temple. It also served as the center for religious studies and activities for Jodo-shu Buddhism. Since then, it has been destroyed by fires and air raids during World War II and rebuilt to it’s current form now. This temple is special in that it features the Tokyo Tower in the background, making it a unique contrast between the past and the present.

Entrance fee: Free

Photo credit: Go Tokyo

Address: 4-7-35 Shibakoen Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011 Japan

Website: https://www.zojoji.or.jp/en/

How to get there: A 10 minute walk from Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Lines, a 3 minute walk from Onarimon Station on the Mita Line and 5 minute walk from Daimon Station on the Toei Asakusa and Oedo Lines.

 

Originally on the site of feudal Lord Naito’s private mansion, this garden is one of Japan’s largest, most popular and considered to be one of the most important gardens. The garden was completed in 1772, but the current form dates back to 1906 when it was converted to an Imperial Garden for the Imperial family to use to entertain guests. After World War II it was re-designated as a national garden and opened up to the public. Spanning over 144 acres, this garden has three distinctive styles to it - a formal garden, landscape garden and a Japanese traditional garden. This massive area features spacious lawns, peaceful walking paths and photogenic scenery. During the spring time, it’s one of the best places to cherry blossoms.

Entrance fee: 500 yen for Adults, 250 Yen for 65&over/students, Free for 15&under

Photo credit: Japan Forward

Address: 11 Naito-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0014, Japan 

Hours:

October - March 14th: 9am - 4pm

March 15 - September: 9am - 5:30pm (6:30pm from July 1st - August 20)

Website: https://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/english/index.html

How to get there: A 10 minute walk from Shinjuku Station South Exit. A 5 minute walk from Shinjuku Gyoen-mae Station Exit 1 on the Marunouchi Subway Line.

 

If you are looking for things to do in Tokyo Japan, away from the bustle of the city, then look no further than the Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens. Located right next to the Tokyo Dome in Korakuen, it’s a nice peaceful garden inn the middle of this large metropolis.

Completed in 1629, this garden was built by Tokugawa Yorifusa, a member of the ruling Shogun Tokugawa family of the edo period (1603-1868) and a daimyo. His son, Tokugawa Mitsukuni fully completed building it. When Misukuni was constructing the garden and wondering what to put in the garden, he incorporated some concepts from the Chinese Confucian scholar Shushunsui which included the Seiko Lake from China and a full moon bridge (the bridge is supposed to look like a full moon with the reflection of the water). It was named Korakuen after a Chinese poem which entertained the idea that a ruler should enjoy his power after pleasing his people first. The garden also features tea house where you can enjoy traditional Japanese tea and sweets, a nice pond and seasonal flowers.

Entrance fee: 300 yen for Adults, 150 Yen for 65&over

Photo credit: Japan Guide

Address:  1 Chome-6-6 Koraku, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0004

Hours: Closed New Years holiday and occasional event days) 9am - 5pm

Website: https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/format/index030.html

How to get there: A 5-10 minute walk from Iidabashi Station on the JR Chuo Line, Tozai, Yurakucho, Namboku and Oedo Subway Lines. Also a 5 minute walk from Suidobashi Station on the JR Chuo Line.

 

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.