History / Culture / Tour Spots in Tokyo Area

Area

Tokyo
- Japan
- Hokkaido / Tohoku
  
  Hokkaido
  
  Aomori
  
  Iwate
  
  Miyagi
  
  Akita
  
  Yamagata
  
  Fukushima
- Kanto
  
  Ibaraki
  
  Tochigi
  
  Gunma
  
  Saitama
  
  Chiba
  
  Tokyo
  
  Kanagawa
- Koshinetsu / Hokuriku
  
  Niigata
  
  Toyama
  
  Ishikawa
  
  Fukui
  
  Yamanashi
  
  Nagano
- Tokai
  
  Gifu
  
  Shizuoka
  
  Aichi
  
  Mie
- Kinki
  
  Shiga
  
  Kyoto
  
  Osaka
  
  Hyogo
  
  Nara
  
  Wakayama
- Chugoku
  
  Tottori
  
  Shimane
  
  Okayama
  
  Hiroshima
  
  Yamaguchi
- Shikoku
  
  Tokushima
  
  Kagawa
  
  Ehime
  
  Kochi
- Kyushu / Okinawa
  
  Fukuoka
  
  Saga
  
  Nagasaki
  
  Kumamoto
  
  Oita
  
  Miyazaki
  
  Kagoshima
  
  Okinawa

Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum

4.0

133 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Minato-ku Minamiaoyama 6-1-19

A museum erected on the site of artist Taro Okamoto’s studio and home. The museum exhibits a large collection of the artist’s works, including sketches and oil paintings. Okamoto’s work area is also displayed just as it looked when the artist was alive and the museum’s materials relating to postwar culture in Japan are a highlight. The museum holds numerous events that are musts for fans of the artist.

Cute little memorial museum conveniently located in the heart of Tokyo. It is interesting to see some of the artist’s work which also used to be his home and studio while he was alive. The exhibit...
Tokyo Fuji Art Museum

4.0

66 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Hachioujishi Yanomachi 492-1

An art museum located close to Soka University in Yano-machi, Hachioji City, Tokyo. The museum was established by Soka Gakkai International founder Daisaku Ikeda. The museum's collection of some 30,000 paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures, and crafts covers a broad array of periods and regions, including Western art from the Renaissance to the modern day and photographs dating back to the birth of the art form.

This museum has the largest collection of Western art of any museum we have been to so far. The collection is very well balanced as far as major schools of art being represented across a historical...
Swords Museum

3.5

119 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Sumida-ku Yokoami 1-12-9

Recently moved to a new building and location. The first floor has a video with a Japanese narrative but understandable via beautiful camera work, along with descriptions in Japanese/English about...
Nakano ZERO (Momijiyama Culture Center)

3.5

31 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Nakano-ku Nakano 2-9-7

This is a complex facility for lifelong learning located in the Nakano district of Tokyo’s Nakano City. The main hall with its excellent acoustics is often used for concerts and as a venue for symposiums. In addition the facility also includes small halls, practice rooms, study rooms and a support corner for lifelong learning. In the basement is the Nakano City Library, and there is a planetarium in the West Building. Located right next to Momijiyama Park with its abundant nature, this facility functions as a place for interaction among the city residents.

仕事で西館・小ホールを利用しました。初めての訪問ですがアクセスも線路沿い一本道で分かりやすいです。案内板も道々出ています。1974年（昭47）建築で結構施設は古いです。ただ場内は客席数５００余りで見易い会場でした。終日の利用でしたがお昼を取る飲食店がなく駅前まで行きました。（隣の本館にはレストランありましたが、当日は臨時休業でした。）公園が隣接され蒸気機関車C-11が展示されています。
Setagaya Art Museum

4.0

94 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Setagaya-ku Kinutakouen 1-2

This art museum located within Kinuta Koen Park in Tokyo’s Setagaya City has a distinctive building designed by architect Shozo Uchii which integrates into its surrounding lush scenery. The museum has approximately 15,000 works in its collection including Henri Rousseau’s “Portrait of Frumence Biche in Uniform,” Kitaoji Rosanjin’s “Figure of Sweetfish,” and works of artists with some connection to Setagaya City. In addition to exhibits of collections which change according to theme of the artifacts, it also hosts exhibitions in collaboration with museums and art museums inside Japan and around the world. The French restaurant that offers views of Kinuta Koen Park is also popular.

砧公園内にある小規模な美術館です。外観から、展示室に利用されるスペースは広めに設定されていると感じるかもしれませんが、実際に利用すると、1階及び2階にある展示室は、外観からのイメージと比較すると小さいように感じるでしょう。展示内容によっては、パーティション等を活用してさらに狭くなることがあるため、特に休日を中心に混雑することがあります。近現代のアートをメインに展示していることが多く、また、いわゆ...
Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall

3.5

30 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Chuou-ku Nihombashimuromachi 2-2-1

This multipurpose event hall located in the Nihombashi Muromachi district of Tokyo’s Chuo City is often used for business functions such as exhibitions and seminars. There are 690 seats in theater style which can be adapted to 432 seats in a classroom style. Additionally, it can be used for a wide range of purposes including gatherings, parties, concerts, yose (traditional entertainment) and theater. Every summer the Art Aquarium event is held here with the theme of “Edo, Coolness of Kingyo (Japanese goldfish),” which is well-attended as a reminder of summer in Nihombashi.

友達が良かった!とのことで、他の友達と行きました。印象派の画家の方々の作品が、会場全面に広がっていく、不思議な感じでした。30分ほどで、又、同じものが見れます。私達は、２回観ました。はじめは、真ん中の後ろの方で。次は、丸いクッション型のイスを、もって前のはじに移動しました。あまり近くを見ているとよってしまいそうだったので、遠くをみてみたり。想像力を働かせて、自分の世界に入れます。実際に昔、パ...
Tokyo Daijingu

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Chiyoda-ku Fujimi 2-4-1

Built in 1880 as a shrine to worship the deities of Ise Shrine, this shrine is well known for being “O-Ise-sama in Tokyo.” Initially it was located in Hibiya, but relocated to Tokyo’s Chiyoda City after the Great Kanto Earthquake. The main deities enshrined are Amaterasu-Sume-Okami and Toyouke-no-Okami. It is also popular as a wedding venue as it is a shrine that originated Shinto weddings. It is visited by many worshippers who pray for good candidates for marriage. In addition to its main festival held every year in April, there are many smaller events held each month.
Ekoin Temple

3.5

142 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Sumida-ku Ryougoku 2-8-10

A Pure Land Buddhist temple founded in 1657 which was started as a burial mound created on land gifted by the then-shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna to inter the countless, unidentifiable bodies of people who died in a great fire. Closely affiliated with the common people throughout its history, even today the temple is still beloved by many.

My cat passed away and took her to this temple.She was cremated the next day. If you live in Tokyo,this a nice place to say good bye. This helped me to deal with my cats death. I recommend it...
Musashi-Mitake Jinja Shrine

4.0

101 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Oumeshi Mitakesan 176

This shrine located on the top of Mt. Mitake (also known as Musashi Mitakesan) in Ome City flourished as a sacred place for mountain worship. It is reported to have been established in 91 BC. In addition to the former honden (main shrine), which was designated a Tangible Cultural Property by the Tokyo metropolitan government, the current honden in shinmei-zukuri style (a style of shrine architecture based on that of Ise Jingu), and the haiden (hall of worship) in gongen-zukuri style (a style of Shinto architecture in which the main hall and worship hall share one roof), visitors can see the “Akaito Odoshi Oyoroi (odoshi armor with red strings),” which is a National Treasure, in the Homotsuden (treasure house). A grand kagura performance that is open to the public is held every year on the third Sunday in June and on the Senior Citizen’s Day in September. Since Musashi-Mitake Jinja enshrines a white wolf in the form of an “oinusama” (sacred dog), there have been increasing numbers of worshippers who come to pray for their beloved dogs’ health, and the shrine accepts requests for prayers on behalf of pet dogs.

青梅の山奥、武蔵御岳山の山上に鎮座する神社です。やや勾配のきつい山道を歩き、山肌の鬱蒼とした森を抜けたそこは、標高が1000m近くあり、境内から眺める関東平野は必見です。奥武蔵の自然豊かな場所でもありますので、参拝は勿論、ハイキングにもうってつけのところです。お勧めの季節は8月。山裾にレンゲショウマの群生地があり、可愛らしい花をつけます。何分山奥ですので、天候の急激な変化にご注意ください。ただ...
Hon Ryu In (Matsuchiyama Shoten)

4.0

75 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Taito-ku Asakusa 7-4-1

Kangiten, otherwise called Ganabachi / Ganapa-tei / Ganwha / Binayaka-ten / Sho-ten (and the clue is in these names!) is the elephant headed deity (Deva or Ten) of bliss, joy, material prosperity...
Tokyo Water Science Museum

4.0

78 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Koutou-ku Ariake 3-1-8

A hands-on museum dedicated to water operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Waterworks. Entry is free. A variety of facilities can be found in the museum, including a theater room and experiment labs, teaching visitors about water through videos, quizzes, and experiment shows. Closest station: Kokusai-tenjijo-seimon Station on the Yurikamome.

Its a small, free exhibition about drinking water purification in Tokio. The majority is in Japanese, bit there are really cool self explaining experiments and English headers for the most...
Tsukiji Hongwanji

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Chuou-ku Tsukiji 3-15-1

Tsukiji Hongwanji is a building of reinforced concrete construction with a round roof and a big stone staircase. It is an ancient Indian style temple and also looks like a palace. It is a temple of Jodo Shinshu Hongan-ji School located in Tsukiji in Chuo City, Tokyo and was originally built in 1617 in Asakusa as a branch temple of Nishi-hongan-ji temple in Kyoto. Subsequently, the building was relocated to the current building which was constructed to incorporate the designs of the architect, Chuta Ito. The building has been designated as a National Cultural Property. It is famous for having held the funerals of many notable public figures. A theater called “Buddhist Hall” is built on the grounds of the property.
Ohmiya-Hachimangu

4.0

95 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Suginami-ku Omiya 2-3-1

A Shinto shrine located in Omiya, Suginami City, Tokyo. The shrine was built in 1063 by Minamoto no Yoriyoshi. The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Ojin and his father and mother, Emperor Chuai and Empress Jingu. Due to the many events attesting to the deep bonds between these three, many worshipers visit the shrine to pray for aid in easy childbirth, childrearing, and finding marriage. The shrine grounds are host to several subordinate shrines, such as the Ohmiya-Tenmangu, which is dedicated Sugawara no Michizane.

ご祭神は応神天皇、仲哀天皇、神功皇后。お祭りをやっており、参道は賑わっていた。清涼殿前に磐座がある。本殿右側の天満宮が神さびていた。ご由緒とは違うが、元は出雲系の神社か？御朱印は書き置きのみ。御朱印帳は受けとらないが、現金は受け取るシステム。お祭りだってしてるのに。改めて欲しい。楼門前に喫煙所があったので一服（有難い）してると、目前に多摩清水社があった。宅地造成の影響で水の勢いが...
Museum of Maritime Science

3.0

91 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Shinagawa-ku Higashiyashio 3-1

A museum dedicated to ocean science located close to Yurikamome Fune-no-kagakukan Station in Higashiyashio, Shinagawa City, Tokyo. Focusing on oceangoing boats and maritime culture, the museum displays materials on ocean industries in Japan and also provides mini classes on canoeing and sailing using an outdoor pool. The museum also has outdoor displays of model submarines and actual ships such as the Soya, a first-generation Antarctic exploration vessel.

Museum is closed for renovation. There is a small exhibit in a single small space at ground level that appears to be the original ticket or gift shop. Minimal multilingual support. Neighboring...
Mori Art Museum

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Minato-ku Roppongi 6-10-1 Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 53F

This international modern art gallery is located on the 53rd floor of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. A variety of planned exhibits are hosted throughout the year during which times the gallery remains open until 10 p.m. (excluding Tuesdays), allowing one to casually stop by after work or dinner. The 52nd floor, Tokyo City View, cafes and restaurants offer a panoramic view of Tokyo while enjoying a meal or tea. The closest station is Roppongi Station.
Shiofune Kannonji temple

4.0

86 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Oumeshi Shiobune 194

A Shingon Daigo Buddhist temple located in Shiobune, Ome City, Tokyo. The temple is said to have been founded by the mythical 800 year old nun Yao Bikuni during the Taika era (645-650). The temple's principal object of worship is an 11 faced, 1,000 armed, 1,000 eyed figure of Avalokitesvara. Bigleaf hydrangeas, lilies, Japanese clover, red spider lilies, and other plants bloom seasonally on the temple's grounds. An azalea festival is held at the temple in spring when the azaleas come into full bloom.

Beautiful azalea if you time it right. We went on April 24 2023 and it was a bit passed full bloom, but still over 50% blooming and not terribly crowded. There is a nice hiking path nearby which is...
Kuhonbutsu Joshinji Temple

4.0

109 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Setagaya-ku Okusawa 7-41-3

"Located in the city center a five-minute walk from Kuhonbutsu Station and a 10-minute walk from Jiyugaoka Station, this Jodo Buddhist temple has an authentic traditional dry landscape garden like you might see in Kyoto. ""Kuhonbutsu"" refers to the nine statues of Amida Buddha enshrined at the temple, and the temple is often referred to by this name. Founded in 1678, it houses Tangible Cultural Properties such as a seated wooden Amida Nyorai sculpture, a silk-based colored picture of the master Kaseki Shonin, and an old Buddhist temple bell. The garden with its pond across from the dry landscape garden is well known for its colored leaves in autumn, when it gets busy with tourists."

Walking here at winter could be very cold but still I love the peaceful vibe and serenity of this place. It’s located in a very quiet neighborhood up a hill. It’s quite far from downtown Tokyo but if...
Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo

4.0

72 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Nerima-ku Shimoshakuji 4-7-2

An art museum standing along Metropolitan Road 245 in Shimoshakujii, Nerima City. The museum displays works by Chihiro Iwasaki, a painter with a home and studio in Shimoshakujii known for her watercolors and picture books depicting children. The museum also holds exhibitions on related themes.

子供向けの絵本の挿絵を多く描いていたいわさきちひろさんの自宅兼アトリエの跡地にあります。現在、黒柳徹子さんがこの美術館と安曇野にある美術館、両方の館長を務めているそうです。大きな通りから少しだけ中に入った閑静な場所で、不整形な建物であるゆえにその隙間となる中庭が落ち着いた雰囲気を醸し出していました。実際にご本人が使ったアトリエをそのまま残してあるのが、とても興味深かったです。
Oji-jinja Shrine

4.0

74 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Tokyo Kita-ku Oujihonchou 1-1-12

A Shinto shrine located in Ojihon-cho, Kita City, Tokyo. The shrine is dedicated to Izanagi no Mikoto and four other principal Shinto gods termed the Oji Okami. The majority of the grounds were destroy during the war but were rebuilt as part of post-war recovery activities. A large gingko tree on the grounds avoided being damaged by the war and is designated a Natural Monument by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Seki-jinja Shrine, a subordinate ancestor shrine on the shrine's grounds, is said to provide aid to those seeking help with their hair as well as music and other performing arts.

Small but a steady stream of visitors ringing the bell. There was an amazing golden shrine on display behind glass. A nice, peaceful area for a few minutes.
The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

4.0

113 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Tokyo Bunkyou-ku Kouraku 1-3-61

"The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located inside the Tokyo Dome, around five minutes' walk from either Suidobashi Station (JR Sobu Line and Toei Mita Line) or Korakuen Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line). The museum provides an easy-to-understand introduction to the history and current status of baseball in Japan (both professional and amateur leagues), and has on display a large amount of fascinating historical artifacts and documents, etc. The Baseball Hall of Fame commemorates individuals who made a particularly important contribution towards the development of baseball; there is also a library with around 50,000 sports-related books, and a ""Batter's Box Experience Zone"" where visitors can try their hand against professional baseball pitchers (shown on video screens), etc."

in tokyo for our last visit to japan most probably and our good friend brought us here one day. built in 1959 and moved to the tokyo dome since 1986. has a library, reference rooms, and many...

Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour

Reference/Local/Exhibition/Literature Museum Shrine Castle / Ruins of Castle Historical Monument Temple Church Ruin / Grave / Ancient Tomb Memorial Hall Cultural Property Event Hall / Public Hall Art Museum Museum / Science Museum Other Historic Site/Building

Tokyo Areas

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.