Tokyo is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Modern, with a lot of history and a culture that makes it unique.
It is undoubtedly one of the most important tourist destinations in Asia and the world, that is why we want to show you which are the 7 districts that you cannot miss on your trip to Tokyo.
1-Asakusa
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Asakusa District is a fascinating area, here you can find the Sensoji Temple, the most famous shrine in the city, dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of compassion.
It is visited every year by 30 million people and is one of the most important tourist attractions in Tokyo.
The Kaminari Gate or Furaijin Gate of Sensoji Temple is one of the most famous tourist spots in Asakusa.
Nakamise Shopping Street is another must-see place in Tokyo, in this street, many small shops sell Japanese-style items, such as handicrafts, accessories, trinkets, sweets, and more.
Some shops have old ukiyo-e woodblock prints, so overall it's the perfect place for fans of Japanese culture.
Shin-nakamise-dori is at the intersection of Shin-nakamise-dori avenue, near the Kaminari gate. It is a covered arcade, perfect for strolling even in bad weather.
In this commercial street, there are restaurants, confectioneries, clothing and souvenir shops, and all kinds of places where both visitors and locals can make their purchases.
The Asakusa Kokusai-Dori area is full of music venues, restaurants, hotels, and other commercial facilities.
Facing the Kaminari gate and looking towards the Sumida River, you will see a bridge with red balustrades. This is the Azuma Bridge.
From the Asakusa side of the bridge, you can see the Asahi Beer Tower, which represents a mug of foamy beer, across the river.
Next to the Azuma Bridge is the boarding pier for Tokyo Cruise Boats, from where you can enjoy a ride upriver to Hamarikyu Gardens or Hinode Pier.
Behind Sensoji Temple, Kototoi-Dori Avenue crosses the Sumida River at the Kototoi Bridge. This bridge was a site of tragedy during the Tokyo air raids of 1945.
Today, however, the bridge is a much calmer place, with tourists taking photos of the Tokyo Skytree.
The Amuse Museum is also here, with art exhibits made from scraps of old cloth and shops selling Japanese-style accessories.
Attached to Asakusa, in the Sumida district, it is worth highlighting the Tokyo Skytree.
This 634-meter-high communications and observation tower rises across the Sumida River like a huge space rocket.
It opened its doors in 2012 and has quickly become one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city thanks to the incredible panoramic views from its restaurant and observation decks.
2-Shinjuku
Shinjuku is Probably the best area to stay in Tokyo. Shinjuku is a constantly bustling city, being a business district during the day and an entertainment district at night. It also has the busiest train station in the world.
Within this district is the Kabukicho area, one of the most famous entertainment and nightlife areas in Tokyo. Visitors will find a veritable urban playground filled with restaurants, clubs, bars, cinemas, internet cafes, and hotels. It is one of the wild areas of Japan, if not the most.
Truly, Kabukicho is an unquestionable must-see for anyone going to Tokyo.
Read my review of the APA Shinjuku-Kabukicho Tower Hotel here.
Another must-see in the area, especially for those interested in Japanese martial arts, is the Samurai Museum.
Just a few minutes away, don't miss Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, an especially famous spot in spring when people come to see the cherry blossoms.
Already on the west side of the Shinjuku district is where the skyscrapers are located, which includes several luxury hotels such as the Hilton Tokyo, but also interesting places such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office.
The area is also known for the many tour buses that depart from here. Don't miss the "Tokyo Opera City", a complex with restaurants, concert halls, art galleries and more.
3-Ginza
Ginza. This shopping area is very popular with many department stores and charming cafes that are perfect for spending time.
The 20th-century-old building of Tokyo Station is a piece of architecture to be appreciated, but it's also great to pick up some Tokyo Station sweets as a souvenir while you're there.
Then it's quite an easy walk to the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Built on the site of the old Edo Castle, the current palace was built in the 1960s and is home to the Japanese royal family.
The palace and gardens are surrounded by a moat which, together with the bridges spanning the moat, creates a lovely place to stroll and enjoy the day.
Sukiyabashi Crossing, bordered by Yurakucho Mullion and Tokyu Plaza Ginza, has a distinctive air. Nearby is Sukiyabashi Jiro, one of the best sushi shops in the country, famous for its three Michelin stars.
The Sukiyabashi area is home to hundreds of bars and other drinking establishments.
The heart of Ginza is the Ginza 4 Chrome Crossing area, an intersection used by many Tokyoites and visitors every day.
Wako Jewelry's clock tower on the corner is often used in photographs depicting the area. Across the street is another landmark of Ginza, the Ginza Mitsukoshi Department Store.
Also in Ginza is the Kabukiza Theatre, where Kabuki plays, perhaps the most famous traditional Japanese performing art, are performed.
The original Kabukiza theatre was built in 1889 and consequently replaced several times due to fire. The current theatre, the fifth Kabukiza, was completed in 2013. The all-Japanese-style architecture attracts tourists from all over the world.
4-Akihabara
Akihabara is now a paradise for those looking for electronic gear and for otaku looking for the latest anime and manga-related products!
Akihabara is a great place to spend a day travelling and sightseeing. Being close to Asakusa and Ueno, there are a variety of interesting shops and cafes, such as the ever-popular maid cafes.
There are loads of electronics stores, some as small as an office cubicle and others with 10+ floors of the latest technology!
Akihabara consists of the bright lights of the future.
Chuo-dori is the main street in Akihabara. All large-scale e-retailers can be found here.
Also Every Sunday, the 570 meters between the Kanda 5-Chome intersection and the Mansei-Bashi intersection become a pedestrian paradise, attracting the weekend crowd.
The Kanda Myojin-Dori area is known for the Dynamic Audio speciality audio store and Bic Camera Akiba.
This area is also home to the Kanda Festival, designated as one of the three largest festivals in Japan and one of the three great festivals in Edo.
5-Roppongi
Roppongi is the sexiest and most cosmopolitan part of the city.
Roppongi is well known for its Japanese nightlife, luxury apartments, and many attractions.
Here is the Roppongi Hills, which was built on the concept of being a city within a city, a place where people can live, shop and work without having to travel far.
That is why it is quite a fascinating area to visit.
One of the most popular areas in Tokyo for international tourists to enjoy a great night out is the Roppongi Gaien Higashi area, known for its active nightlife, clubs, bars, and more.
From the street, you can see a perfect view of the Tokyo Tower, one of the most emblematic places in the city and if you continue towards the tower, you can find two temples, the Zojoji Temple and a shrine with a unique story: The Atago Shrine.
Atago Shrine is known for its steep steps that are famous for an Edo period samurai riding his horse to the top.
Just outside Roppongi Station, you can see one of the area's landmarks: Roppongi Crossing.
A little further west there is Tokyo Midtown, which has become a popular shopping and dining destination in Tokyo since it opened to the public in 2007. Also here is located the Ritz Carlton Tokyo Hotel, you can read my review here.
Just around the corner from Tokyo Midtown, you can also visit the National Art Center. The building itself is a work of art and is based on the concept of "a museum in the forest".
It has one of the largest exhibition spaces in Japan.
The museum focuses on progressive artwork from both Japan and abroad.
6-Shibuya
Quite similar to Shinjuku, Shibuya has many shops and restaurants, as well as many other attractions. It's only slightly less crowded than Shinjuku and a bit more youth-oriented.
Shibuya Crossing is located here, which has become somewhat of a representative of Japan, and for many tourists, a visit to Tokyo is not complete without crossing this street.
It's not often that an intersection becomes famous, but after being featured in movies like Lost in Translation and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, the intersection at Shibuya has entered the international consciousness.
In addition, those who come here will not want to miss the statue of Hachiko, the dog that came to Shibuya station every day waiting loyally for her deceased master.
Located near the Shibuya crossing, Center Gai is like an endless concentration of restaurants, karaoke bars, and bars.
Near Center Gai, another street worth visiting is Spain Zaka. Known for its unique Mediterranean atmosphere, it is full of small shops and restaurants.
West of Shibuya Station, Dogenzaka is an area where the crowds never seem to stop, with its streets lined with entertainment venues, restaurants, and shops.
7-Harajuku
For decades, Harajuku has been the centre of affordable, casual, and subcultural fashion and a favourite hangout for young people.
The heart of Harajuku is undoubtedly Takeshita Street, a colourful 350-meter-long pedestrian-only street that boasts all manner of fashion boutiques, crepe stalls, and candy stores alike, and is located directly across from Harajuku Station. of J.R.
When it comes to looks, anything is allowed in Harajuku. Whether it's Gothic Lolita, J-Rocker, or Rapper, Harajuku welcomes everyone with open arms.
For those willing to window shop and watch the local fashionistas, another must-see is Cat Street.
The narrow alleys area is home to much iconic outdoor gear, as well as thrift stores and not-so-expensive retailers.
Cat Street is quieter than the other side of Harajuku.
Omotesando is a long avenue lined with large trees and the most sophisticated and high-class side of Harajuku.
While strolling through the area, it's hard to miss Omotesando Hills. a complex that was designed by Tadao Ando, one of the most famous Japanese architects. It has more than 100 shops and restaurants.
Across from Harajuku Station are Yoyogi Park and the Meiji Jingu Shrine.
This is the shrine where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken are enshrined.
Yoyogi Park is a vast 700,000-square-meter site that is home to the Shrine, a rich green forest of around 100,000 trees from all over Japan.
More than 3 million people visit the shrine on the first days of each New Year, which is the largest number in Japan.
Tokyo is an amazing city, but it has the advantage of having a great public transport system that makes it easy to know all of the city. And these are 7 areas you need to know.
This is our YouTube video of the 7 areas in Tokyo to visit:
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase.
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