Five expected places to go when you're in Tokyo
Tokyo is a booming metropolis with seemingly endless things to see and do. If you want a unique, boutique experience buried in the backstreets and markets of the city, that can happen. There are so many sides of this city to take in, more than anyone could experience in a lifetime.
Keeping that in mind, there's nothing wrong with hitting the big tourist highlights. There are certain places in Tokyo every visitor should see, certain experiences everyone hitting Tokyo should have. Sometimes, you just have to be a tourist and get that expected shot for Instagram.
Ueno Park
Opened in the late 1800s, Uneo Park is one of Tokyo's most popular destinations. It contains a zoo, several highly respected museums, and so much more. It's the kind of place your can easily plan to spend an entire day of your trip in. Keeping in mind this would be in a high travel season, Ueno Park is also a superb place to enjoy the annual Cherry Blossom bloom.
Japan Radio Tower
What is it about really tall structures that fascinate people so much? They are inevitably lightning rods for tourists as well as actual lightning. Japan Radio Tower, better known to some as Tokyo Tower, is over 1000 feet tall and the design was actually inspired by the Eiffel Tower. There are two different observation decks, one of which is roughly three quarters of the way up.
Senso-ji
Buddhism plays a pivotal role in Japanese culture, both modern and historical. And Senso-ji is a major part of that, particularly from a tourism perspective. This is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo as it was completed in 635 AD. It remains a central part of religion and culture in Tokyo, welcoming more than 30 millions visitors per year.
Tokyo National Museum
This is one of the main features of Ueno Park, so if you go there make sure the Tokyo National Museum is on your list. It is considered to be the oldest institution of its kind in the country, and features a comprehensive collection of art and artifacts from both Japan and Asia as a whole. Honestly, taking it all in can be a little overwhelming, so plan to spend a bit of time here.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Whenever a TV show, movie, or documentary shows stock footage of Tokyo, there's at least a 95% chance that will include Shibuya. Specifically, the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. This is the busiest intersection in the world, with up to 3000 people crossing at one time as vehicle traffic from every direction is shut down at once. Yes, crossing the street in Tokyo is an essential tourist experience.