History / Culture / Tour Spots in Tokyo Area

  • Daikyoji Temple (Shibamata Taishakuten)
    rating-image
    4.0
    493 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Katsushika-ku Shibamata 7-10-3
    A temple of the school of Nichiren Buddhism in Shibamata, Katsushika City, Tokyo which was founded in 1629 during the Kan-ei period. As the Taishakuten faith increased during the Edo period, it became familiarly known as “Shibamata Taishakuten” and the number of visitors to the shrine increased together with faith in Koshin, “Koshin Shinko”. It is said that Saint Nichiren carved the principal object of worship at the temple, the deity, Taishakuten. In addition to the magnificent Nitenmon Gates at the Teishakuten entrance, Tamonten (Vaisravana) (Bishamonten), Jikokuten (Dhrtarastra), Komokuten (Virupaksa) and Zochoten (Virudhaka) are also present. There are many highlights such as the gardens and the large temple reception hall which is 495 meters squared (150 tsubo -Japanese unit of land measurement). It is famous also as the temple connected with Tora san’s movie “Otoko wa Tsurai yo”.

    I recommend visiting by train and walking up the main shopping street leading upto the temple - the shopping street is great - think wooden frames, calligraphy banners, and open store fronts - if you...

  • Ueno Toshogu
    rating-image
    4.0
    529 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 9-88
    This was established in 1627 to enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu, and it also enshrines Tokugawa Yoshimune and Tokugawa Yoshinobu. The shrine is located within Ueno-onshi-koen Park and after undergoing major renovations in 1651, it escaped calamities such as wars and earthquakes that followed, and is an important spot to see authentic architecture from the Edo period. The heavily gilded and splendid main building is also known as the shrine of gold. There is a peony garden on the premises and the shrine’s “peony festival” that takes place in spring is well-known.

    The shrine has been restored in the last 12 years, and what a wonderful job they have done. On approach to the shrine there are countless stone lanterns, and there are really good explanatory signs...

  • Suntory Hall
    rating-image
    4.5
    221 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Minato-ku Akasaka 1-13-1
    "This classical music hall is located in Akasaka Ark Hills in Minato Ward, Tokyo. There are two performance halls, the large Main Hall and the smaller Blue Rose hall. Aiming to achieve the most beautiful sound quality in the world, all 2,006 seats in the Main Hall are arranged in terraced rows in what is called ""vineyard style,"" the first time this style has been employed in Japan. Performances by first-rate artists from across the country and the world are held here daily. The foyer has a drink area and shop and is designed to be a socializing space where adults can enjoy friendly conversation before performances and during breaks."

    When they say Suntory Hall has fantastic acoustics, believe them. Attended an out of box performance of Legeti & Bartok pieces. Loved the experience.

  • Edo-Tokyo Open-air Architectural Museum
    rating-image
    4.5
    355 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Tokyo Koganeishi Sakurachou 3-7-1 In the Metropolitan Koganei Park
    This is an outdoor museum that exhibits historical buildings reconstructed from the metropolitan Koganei Park. It was established as an annex of the Edo-Tokyo Museum. In this museum, there are more than 30 restored buildings that date back to the Edo and early Showa periods. In the Center Zone are several reconstructed buildings such as Jisho-in Mausoleum (Otama-ya) and the residence of Takahashi Korekiyo who was assassinated in the 2.26 Incident. There are also reconstructed houses from Yamanote at the West Zone and at the East Zone visitors can enjoy a traditional neighborhood atmosphere with stores, public baths, and bars.

    小金井公園の敷地内にある野外博物館。江戸時代から明治・大正時代の面影を遺す建物を移築し、保存することにより、その時代の建物の特徴や暮らしを身近に体験することが出来ます。都心から1時間程度で行けるところにあるため、気軽に行くことが出来ます。昔ながらの家屋や古民家が好き、そこにいるとホッとする、という、日頃のコンクリートジャングルに囲まれた生活の中で疲れを感じた人が行くには最適のところではないかと思い...

  • Tokyo Camii and Turkish Culture Center
    rating-image
    4.5
    262 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Shibuya-ku Oyamachou 1-19
    The largest mosque in Japan, Tokyo Camii stands along Inokashira-dori Street in Oyama-cho, Shibuya City, Tokyo. In addition to five prayer services each day, Tokyo Camii also conducts wedding ceremonies, worship workshops, and other events. In addition, Camii actively seeks to provide information on Islam-during prayer times, the mosque is open to visitors who wish to view the building (parties of five or more require an advance reservation) and a guided tour in Japanese is provided during the 14:30 prayer on Saturdays and Sundays.

    You can perform your prayer when you come here. this building have 5 floor. they provide male prayer room and female prayer room as well

  • Museum of Yebisu Beer
    rating-image
    4.0
    521 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Shibuya-ku Ebisu 4-20-1 In Yebisu Garden Place
    This is a facility where you can learn about the history of and how to enjoy the beer brand “Ebisu”, manufactured and sold by Sapporo Beer Co., Ltd, located in Yebisu Garden Place. The gallery exhibiting the history from the foundation to the present can be viewed free of charge. Paid tours including tasting are popular. There is also a tasting salon and museum for a fee where you can buy many kinds of Yebisu Beer. The nearest station is Ebisu Station.

    The Ebisu Beer Museum is a great place to learn about beer history in Japan. Once you arrive at the grand entrance area of the museum youll have a great overview of the hall and can take a few...

  • Koami Shrine
    rating-image
    4.0
    168 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Chuou-ku Nihombashikoamichou 16-23
    A Shinto shrine located in Nihombashikoami-cho, Chuo City, Tokyo. Dedicated to Inari, the fox god, the shrine has long been known for providing good luck and protection from misfortune. There is a well on the shrine grounds named the Zeniarai no I and popularly known as the Tokyo Zeniarai Benten (money washing well and Tokyo money washing Benten, respectively) which is believed to grant financial luck to those who purify money in its waters; there's also a figure of the tall-headed god Fukurokuju said to reward worshipers with virtue.

    this is a short stop before the fish market walk through. there are no Englsih translation but you get the same effect from other shrines.

  • Tokyo National Museum
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen 13-9
    This is a national museum located within Ueno-onshi-koen Park that was established in 1872. Five buildings including the main building serve as exhibit halls, although it has several other facilities such as archives. With an enormous number of collections, it has accumulated over 116,000 items of Oriental art and ancient relics, mostly from Japan. A great number of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties are also included inside. The museum also holds special exhibitions that run three to five times a year.
  • Naritasan Fukagawafudoudou temple
    rating-image
    4.0
    318 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Koutou-ku Tomioka 1-17-13
    The Tokyo branch temple of the Buddhist Daihonzan Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture. Since ancient times, this temple has been popularly known by the honorific nickname “Fukagawa no o-Fudou-sama.” The temple’s principle object of worship is a figure of Acala which is believed by many to ward away evil. With the submission of the proper application form to the temple office, anyone may attend the temple’s goma ceremony in which cedar wood is burned before the statue of Acala in prayer for a blessing. Visitors may also participate in traditional sutra copying and Buddhist imagery tracing.

    There are Buddist Temples and there are Buddist Temples throughout Asia. This one is special and any description will not be able to convey the sense of involvement with the fire ritual ceremony. We...

  • 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT
    rating-image
    4.5
    285 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Tokyo Minato-ku Akasaka 9-7-6 Tokyo Midtown/Garden
    Located in Tokyo Midtown, a multi-purpose complex directly connected to Roppongi Station, this museum holds exhibitions about design. Unlike traditional museums it was created to “think about daily articles from a design perspective, create objects and propose new ideas.” It is mainly host to organized exhibitions but also features talks and other events. The architecture of the building was designed by Tadao Ando and makes for a very unique exterior, such as with its roof made of one folded iron plate.

    Incredible architecture with great design exhibit. Highly recommend for design enthusiasts. Park is also lovely. Limited but well curated gift shop.

  • The Sumida Hokusai Museum
    rating-image
    4.0
    270 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Tokyo Sumida-ku Kamezawa 2-7-2

    This is a hidden gem - you might have seen Hokusai works in your own country as part of an arts tour, but to see his work in his home area is pretty special. The entry fee was reasonable and we...

  • Ikegami Honmonji Temple
    rating-image
    4.0
    290 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Ota-ku Ikegami 1-1-1
    This is the head temple of the Nichiren school of Buddhism which is located in Ota City, Tokyo and is known as the temple where Saint Nichiren passed away (his deathbed). After the death of saint Nichiren, the then lord of Musashi Province, Ikegami Munenaka donated the temple grounds. On the grounds, there are many cultural assets of national importance such as the Ikegami Honmonji five-storied pagoda and a wooden seated statue of the Saint Nichiren. There are many Tangible Cultural Properties existing within Tokyo. A commemoration of the death of Saint Nichiren held on the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th of October every year to commemorate his death which occurred on the 13th—the “Oeshiki ceremony”—is celebrated at many places throughout the country but the most prestigious festival is conducted here on the evening of the 12th when some 300,000 people gather to visit the shrine. The highlight is the “Mando” (Buddhist lantern festival) rite in which about 3,000 people carry sacred lanterns decorated with cherry blossoms, called the “Mando neri kuyo” or Buddhist lantern procession. The nearest station to the temple is Ikegami Station.

    The temple and its surrounding are located neatly and orderly. Locals visit this place, and i hardly see any tourists there. Good if you like to enjoy a place where it is away from the crowds...

  • Fukagawa Edo Museum
    rating-image
    4.5
    315 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Koto-ku Shirakawa 1-3-28

    We visited here having found that the Edo Tokyo museum is closed for renovation for a long time, and this place did not disappoint. This gives you the opportunity to walk the small street as if you...

  • Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine
    rating-image
    4.0
    329 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Koutou-ku Tomioka 1-20-3
    This shrine located in the Tomioka district of Tokyo’s Koto City is affectionately known as the “Hachiman-sama of Fukagawa” and was established in 1624. The shrine attracted religious faith from the commoners as a tutelary shrine under the Tokugawa shogun family, and every year around August 15th the Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri (Fukagawa Matsuri) procession is held which is said to be one of the three largest festivals of Edo, boasting Japan’s largest ichi-no-miya mikoshi (portable shrine). It is also famous as the birthplace of Edo’s Kanjin-zumo, and there are many stone monuments on the premises such as the Yokozuna Stone, a stone monument to commend successive yokozuna sumo wrestlers.

    Interesting flea market held at the temple on Sunday mornings. As you might expect, lots of Japanese arts and crafts. Prices seemed reasonable. Worth combining with a visit to the nearby Fukugawa...

  • Okunitama Jinja Shrine
    rating-image
    4.0
    241 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Fuchushi Miyamachi 3-1
    This shrine located in Tokyo’s Fuchu City enshrines Okunitama-no-Okami, the guardian deity of the historical region of Musahi. This deity is well-known as the god of good luck, matchmaking, protection against misfortune, and cleansing from evil. The shrine is said to have been established in 111 and according to legend, shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo made an invocation on behalf of his wife Masako for safe childbirth. Since it enshrined six deities at the end of the Heian period, it came to be called Musashi Rokushogu. There are numerous cultural assets on the premises such as the wooden komainu (guardian lion-dogs) in addition to the shaden (shrine buildings), and the Babadaimon keyaki (zelkova) trees on the path to the shrine are designated as a national natural monument. The Kurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival) held from April 30th to May 6th is one of the three largest unusual festivals in the Kanto region.

    best to visit early morning time. this shrine is very historic one and rarely seen in center of Tokyo, really.

  • Tokyo Contemporary Art Museum
    rating-image
    4.0
    254 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Tokyo Koto-ku Miyoshi 4-1-1 Kiba Park

    Wonderful exhibitions in a beautiful space. We went to get into the Dior exhibition but had missed same day sales so we stayed to look at the two current displays of contemporary Japanese art...

  • Toyokawainari Tokyo Betsuin
    rating-image
    4.0
    180 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Minato-ku Motoakasaka 1-4-7

    高層ビルが立ち並ぶ都心の真ん中に、濃い緑の木々と鮮やかな赤の幟旗や鳥居、そして無数の狐の石像、という摩訶不思議ともいえる雰囲気を醸し出している寺院です。境内は狭く、一周するだけであれば30分とかかりません。それでもまるで引き寄せられるかのように参拝客が訪れます(勿論海外から訪れる観光客も多くいます)。 目の前の青山通りは、特に平日は車が多く行き交っているため、都心ならではの雑踏や喧騒は完全には遮断...

  • Suntory Museum of Art
    rating-image
    4.0
    199 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Tokyo Minato-ku Akasaka 9-7-4 Tokyo Midtown Galleria 3F
    This is an art gallery with a focus on Japanese ancient art located on the third floor of Tokyo Midtown Galleria Museum. Besides the National Treasure “Box with fusenryou design in mother-of-pearl inlay and maki-e”, the gallery is home to about 3,000 works of art. There is no permanent exhibition, but wonderful planned exhibitions not bound by the norms of regular exhibitions including paintings, ceramics, lacquer work, etc. are held. In addition, the tea room “Genchoan” offers Matcha green tea and seasonal Japanese sweets. The nearest station is Roppongi Station.

    Located in the middle of an upscale shopping mall, this small but elegant museum spread over two floors is devoted to special exhibits. Admission price is typical for most top tier museums hosting...

  • Yanaka Cemetary
    rating-image
    4.0
    318 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Tokyo Taitou-ku Yanaka 7-5-24
    This cemetery was the site of a five tier pagoda that was burned down by two lovers in a double-suicide, a story which inspired Koda Rohan's novel, The Five-Storied Pagoda. Numerous cherry trees are planted on Yanaka Cemetary's grounds. The cherries growing along either side of the central road running though the cemetery are particularly beautiful, and each year many people come here to see them when they blossom in spring. The cemetery is sunny and quiet, and many famous artists, writers, and actors are buried here.

    We had added this stop on our adventures through Yanaka. Our guide had incorporated it in our customized tour as per our request. This is not a spooky cemetery, it is full of history and beauty. It...

  • Tokyo Fire Department Museum
    rating-image
    4.0
    267 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Tokyo Shinjuku-ku Yotsuya 3-10

    I had this museum high on my list considering my father is a firefighter in Australia. The history levels and the static displays of the fire fighting equipment was fascinating, comparable to the...

Tokyo Areas

around-area-map

The setting of countless iconic movie scenes and the inspiration for songs, poetry, and literature worldwide, Tokyo barely requires an introduction. It’s hard for the kaleidoscopic neon lights, wacky pop culture, and some of the world’s tallest structures not to instill excitement in any first-time visitor to Tokyo, whether you’re in the very center of the hustle and bustle in Shinjuku or Shibuya or looking in from the quieter suburbs.

Tokyo Photo Album

Browse Interests