Where should you go in Tokyo?
Compare Asakusa and Skytree for temples and views, or Ueno for animals and park walks. Combine gardens, shrine and streets around Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya. For mountain scenery, take a separate day trip from Shinjuku to Mount Takao’s middle slopes. A different day from city sightseeing allows time to walk and return.
Choose attractions outside the suggested itineraries
Senso-ji
Sensoji Temple浅草寺
Visit Senso-ji for a temple and shopping-street walk in Asakusa. Follow Nakamise from Kaminarimon, then worship at the main hall. If you also want to shop or have a meal, check main-hall worship hours and shop hours separately. Paid special openings, prayers and souvenirs are excluded from itinerary costs.
- Opening hoursThe main hall opens from 06:00 to 17:00 between April and September, and from 06:30 to 17:00 between October and March.
- Getting thereWalk from Asakusa Station on the Ginza or Toei Asakusa Line. Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station is in a different location.
Official Senso-ji main-hall opening timesSenso-ji rail and walking access
Tokyo Skytree
TOKYO SKYTREE東京スカイツリー
Visit Skytree’s observation decks for a high view over Tokyo’s buildings and streets. Tickets differ according to whether you want only the 350 m Tembo Deck or both the deck and the 450 m Tembo Galleria. Clouds or rain can obscure distant scenery.
- AdmissionAdult web tickets start at JPY 1,800 for the Tembo Deck, or JPY 3,000 for the deck-and-gallery combination. Counter purchases add a JPY 500 issuance fee per ticket. Check the purchase screen for your date and child categories.
- Hours and reservationsCheck the operating calendar and admission slots for your date before booking. Do not apply another date’s hours unchanged.
- Getting thereFrom Asakusa, take Tobu to Tokyo Skytree Station, or use Oshiage Station if it better suits your hotel route.
Ueno Zoo
上野動物園
Include Ueno Zoo for time watching animals such as elephants and giraffes. Displays are divided between the East and West Gardens; find your chosen animals first to plan your walking order. Check display availability for your date.
- AdmissionStandard admission costs JPY 600, or JPY 300 for visitors aged 65 and above and JPY 200 for junior high school pupils. Children through primary school year 6 enter free. The exemption for junior high school pupils living or studying in Tokyo requires proof; it does not apply to every visitor.
- Opening hoursThe zoo opens from 09:30 to 17:00, with admission until 16:00. It usually closes on Mondays and 29 December–1 January. If Monday is a public holiday, it closes the following day; calendar exceptions apply.
- Getting thereThe official walk from JR Ueno Station’s Park Exit to the main gate is about 5 minutes.
Shinjuku Gyoen
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden新宿御苑
Allow time at Shinjuku Gyoen for an unhurried garden walk between city visits. Entering in the morning lets you combine walking and rest. For flowers or autumn leaves, check seasonal updates around your visit.
- AdmissionAdults pay JPY 500; visitors aged 65 and above and students aged 16 and above pay JPY 250. Children aged 15 and under enter free.
- Opening hoursFrom 1 October to 14 March, the garden opens from 09:00 to 16:30, with admission until 16:00. From 15 March to 30 September, it closes at 18:00, with an extended closing time of 19:00 from 11 June to 31 July. Last admission is 30 minutes before each closing time. It usually closes on Mondays and 29 December–3 January. Flower seasons have opening exceptions and advance reservation conditions.
- Getting thereShinjuku Gate is about a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station’s south exit, or about 5 minutes from Shinjuku-gyoemmae exit 1 or Shinjuku-sanchome exit E5. Other gates have different access routes.
Ministry of the Environment informationGyoen access by gate
Meiji Jingu
明治神宮
Visit Meiji Jingu for woodland paths and worship in Harajuku. Allow for the walk from the entrance to the main sanctuary. After worship and your woodland walk, continue to Harajuku’s shopping streets.
- AdmissionWorship in the grounds is free. Garden and museum visits cost extra and are excluded from the shrine itinerary.
- Opening hoursGate opening and closing times vary by month. October guidance lists 05:40–16:40.
- Getting thereReach the south entrance from JR Harajuku or Meiji-jingumae subway station exit 2. The entrance is about 1 minute from the station, followed by at least another 10 minutes to the main sanctuary.
Official Meiji Jingu FAQ: free worshipOfficial Meiji Jingu Museum guideGate opening informationShrine accessOfficial shrine access illustration
Mount Takao Cable Car
Mt. Takao Cable Car高尾山ケーブルカー
For mountain scenery without a summit climb, compare the Mount Takao cable car and a mid-slope walk. The cable car reaches only the middle slopes. Reaching the summit requires further trail walking, separate from the mid-slope walks in these itineraries.
- AdmissionAdults pay JPY 490 one way or JPY 980 return; children pay JPY 250 one way or JPY 500 return. Regular Keio trains between Shinjuku and Takaosanguchi cost an additional JPY 430 one way for adults.
- Opening hoursThe ride from Kiyotaki to Takaosan Station takes about 6 minutes. The usual first service is 08:00. From September to November, last services are 17:45 on weekdays and 18:00 on weekends and public holidays. Inspections, weather and events can change operation.
- Getting thereTake a train towards Takaosanguchi from Keio Shinjuku, changing at Kitano if required. Walk about 5 minutes from Takaosanguchi to Kiyotaki before boarding the cable car.
Cable car fares and hoursKeio fare tableCable car operator’s official access
Ueno Park
Tokyo Metropolitan Ueno Park上野恩賜公園
Walk through Ueno Park for the fountain square, tree-lined paths and Shinobazu Pond. It also offers a break after the zoo. A park walk and paid museum or zoo visits are separate choices.
- AdmissionPark admission is free. Museums, the zoo and boats cost extra.
- Opening hoursThe park opens from 05:00 to 23:00.
- Getting thereEnter opposite JR Ueno Station’s Park Exit. You can walk via the fountain square, main path, Saigo statue and Shinobazu Pond.
Ueno Toshogu
上野東照宮
Choose Ueno Toshogu for gilded buildings and fences in Ueno Park. Distinguish the paid fenced area from the separate peony garden.
- AdmissionAdult admission inside the fence is JPY 700. Building interiors are closed to visitors; the peony garden is separate.
- Opening hoursFree worship starts at 09:00, closing at 16:30 from October to February or 17:30 from March to September. The paid fenced area opens 09:30–16:00 from October to February, or until 17:00 from March to September. Seasons and weather can change hours.
- Getting thereThe shrine is about a 10-minute walk from JR Ueno Station’s Park Exit.
Current Japanese Toshogu fees, worship and visiting hoursOfficial access guide
Hachiko Statue
忠犬ハチ公像
See Hachiko beside Shibuya Station, then continue to the adjacent scramble crossing. JR recommends the south ticket gate instead of the crowded Hachiko gate. Shorten your time in the square if busy.
- AdmissionNo facility admission ticket is needed to view the outdoor statue.
- Opening hoursThe statue stands in an outdoor square. Events, crowding and local controls may affect access.
- Getting thereThe statue is in the square on the Hachiko Exit side. To reduce crowding, JR recommends leaving through the south ticket gate and walking about 250 m to the square. Use the south gate for your return.
Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center
浅草文化観光センター
For a high view of Asakusa’s streets, visit the free viewing terrace at the information centre opposite Kaminarimon. You can also see exhibitions, before or after Senso-ji worship or during a short visit on another day.
- AdmissionThe 8th-floor viewing terrace is free.
- Opening hoursThe 8th-floor terrace opens from 09:00 to 22:00; the 7th-floor exhibitions open from 09:00 to 20:00. Check official notices for maintenance-related changes.
- Getting thereThe centre is about a 1-minute walk from Ginza Line Asakusa exit 2, opposite Kaminarimon. Luggage storage ended on 31 March 2026.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building South Observatory
東京都庁南展望室
Consider the South Observatory for free city views in Shinjuku. Allow time to wait for the dedicated lift.
- AdmissionFree admission.
- Opening hoursThe observatory opens from 09:30 to 22:00, with admission until 21:30. Check the official calendar for closures including the first and third Tuesdays, New Year and building inspections. If a closure day is a public holiday, follow the next-weekday closure notice.
- Getting thereWalk about 10 minutes from JR Shinjuku’s west exit to the government building, then take the dedicated observatory lift from the 1st floor of Main Building No. 1. Waiting is extra to the walk.
- When to include it in these routesFour-day A and five-day A visit after arrival; four-day B visits on departure morning. Skip it on closure days or with long admission queues. On departure day, allow time afterwards to collect hotel-stored bags and reach the airport.
Official operation informationAdditional official information
Shinjuku Central Park
新宿中央公園
Visit Central Park west of Shinjuku for shaded and waterside paths among tall buildings. It suits a short walk after the government observatory. It is separate from the paid Shinjuku Gyoen garden.
- AdmissionGeneral park walks are free. Paid sports facilities, shops and activities are excluded.
- Opening hoursThe park is listed as open without closure days. The management office’s 09:00–17:00 hours are not opening hours for the whole park. Plan walks by day and check works and access notices.
- Getting thereThe park is about a 10-minute walk from JR Shinjuku’s west exit. On departure day, return the same way to collect bags at your Shinjuku hotel.
- When to include it in these routesFour-day A and five-day A include a short departure-morning walk. Choose it only with enough time afterwards to collect bags at the same hotel and travel to the airport.
Tourism association admission informationOfficial operation informationOfficial access
Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens
旧岩崎邸庭園
Visit for Western-style residence decorations, a Japanese hall and a lawn garden. In the wooden Western-style residence designed by British architect Josiah Conder, look at the wallpaper and veranda column decorations.
- AdmissionStandard admission is JPY 400.
- Opening hoursThe gardens open from 09:00 to 17:00, with admission until 16:30. They close on 29 December–1 January. Check official information for events and temporary changes.
- Getting thereThe gardens are about a 15-minute walk from JR Okachimachi. Wear socks inside the building. Separate guided access to the underground passage and billiard room is excluded.
- When to include it in these routesVisit on day 1 of five-day itinerary B. Arrive before last admission with enough time to look around. Add the journey via your hotel if stopping there first. Omit the visit after a late arrival.
Official operation informationAdditional official information
Yushima Tenmangu
湯島天満宮
Worship for academic success at this shrine and see its bronze torii and cypress-wood sanctuary. Consider a short visit while around Ueno and Okachimachi. To avoid stairs, look at the sloping route on the official access map.
- AdmissionWorship in the grounds is free. Treasure hall visits, prayers and charms are excluded.
- Opening hoursGates open 06:00–20:00. Prayer and treasure hall hours differ from gate hours.
- Getting thereThe shrine is about an 8-minute walk from JR Okachimachi’s north exit. The grounds are elevated; compare stairs and slopes on the official access map.
- When to include it in these routesMake a short departure-morning worship visit in five-day itinerary B only if you have time afterwards to collect bags at your Ueno hotel and reach the airport.
Tokyo tourism foundation’s Bunkyo guide PDFYushima Tenmangu access by station
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the zoo and Shinjuku Gyoen on a Monday?
Both usually close on Mondays, but public holidays and certain periods have exceptions. Check Ueno Zoo’s and Shinjuku Gyoen’s calendars separately. If both close on your chosen day, move each to an open date. You could worship at Senso-ji and browse Nakamise instead, checking shop hours separately from main-hall hours.
Official operating informationMinistry of the Environment information
Does Mount Takao’s cable car go straight to the summit?
It reaches Takaosan Station on the middle slopes. Reaching the summit requires further trail walking after getting off. These itineraries walk near the cable car station and return; a summit hike is excluded. Check the last descending cable car first.
Does a Skytree ticket include the Tembo Galleria?
There are separate tickets for only the 350 m Tembo Deck and for both the deck and 450 m Tembo Galleria. Adult advance web tickets start at JPY 1,800 for the deck or JPY 3,000 for both. Prices depend on date, age and purchase method; choose your desired areas. Itinerary subtotals use the minimum advance deck price.
Official sources and dates checked
- Official operating information ·
- Senso-ji rail and walking access ·
- Zoo main-gate access ·
- Ministry of the Environment information ·
- Gyoen access by gate ·
- Shrine access ·
- Official Skytree rail access ·
- Cable car operator’s official access ·
- Tickets ·
- Opening hours ·
- Gate opening information ·
- Cable car fares and hours ·
- Keio fare table ·
- Official guide ·
- Official access guide ·
- Official guide ·
- Access guide ·
- End of luggage storage service ·
- Official guide ·
- Official operation information ·
- Additional official information ·
- Official operation information ·
- Official access ·
- Tourism association admission information ·
- Official operation information ·
- Additional official information ·
- Yushima Tenmangu access by station ·
- Tokyo tourism foundation’s Bunkyo guide PDF ·
- Official Senso-ji main-hall opening times ·
- Official shrine access illustration ·
- Current Japanese Toshogu fees, worship and visiting hours ·
- JR Shibuya south-gate guidance ·
- Official Meiji Jingu FAQ: free worship ·
- Official Meiji Jingu Museum guide ·