Tourist Attractions & Monuments Tokyo

Ueno hill dominated the Edo bay. During the Tokugawa era, the park belonged to lordly families such as the Tsugaru. The shōgun Iemitsu Tokugawa (1623-1651) asked a monk named Tenkai to build a Buddhist monastery, Kan'ei-ji, there. Located in the northeast of the city, the temple was intended to protect it from evil. It was burned down during the struggle between the supporters of the emperor and the Tokugawa after the Meiji restoration. From that time on, the park became public and opened in 1873.

125 hectares in size, it is much more than a recreational area where people come to relax. Whether it is to go to the shrines and museums, to see the cherry blossoms or to participate in a festival, visitors are always numerous. The park is said to be visited by nearly 10 million people every year.
It is also a cultural center of the capital, as it is home to the University of Arts and Music, the Metropolitan Museum of Arts, the Academy of Fine Arts, the National Museum. All these buildings were built by prestigious architects such as Le Corbusier, Hitoshi Watanabe, Junzō Sakakura, Kunio Maekawa.
Arriving by the southern entrance of the park, by the Keisei station, one climbs up wide, gently sloping steps to reach the bronze statue of Saigō Takamori (1827-1877). It represents the samurai of the Satsuma clan and was erected by sculptor Kōun Takamura in 1892, in memory of this popular figure who fought with the imperial forces, before meeting a tragic end in 1877. Behind his statue is the tomb of the Shōgitai, the collective name for the samurai who defended the shōgun against imperial troops on Ueno Hill.
The famous Ueno Zoo, to the west of the park, is Japan's oldest. Pandas are the main attraction. You have to be patient to see them, but the rest of the animal park is a bit faded.
Another nostalgic museum, the Shitamachi museum, is located near the south entrance. Shitamachi, or the lower city, refers to the old working-class neighborhoods where merchants and craftsmen used to gather. Reconstructions of houses from the past, children's games, photos of Tokyo before and after the 1923 earthquake, there is enough to give an idea of the atmosphere in old Tokyo.
Finally, Shinobazu Pond is transformed into a field of water lilies in late summer. In the spring, the park's long driveway lined with cherry trees is dressed in white and pink. A must-see!

The Tsukiji Fish Market, formerly the main fish market of the metropolis of Tōkyō and the largest wholesale market in the world, is gradually disappearing for health reasons and because it was no longer large enough to accommodate the growing number of traders and visitors. However, there are still a few shops near the old market hall that are more restaurants than fish shops! It is now in Toyosu, 15 minutes by transport from there, that you can appreciate the real market and its 600 stands.

Within the temple Sensō-ji enclosure stands one of the city's best-known shrines, Asakusa jinja, also known as Sanja-sama. Located east of the main building, it is marked by the stone torii. It was built in 1649 in honour of the 3 founders of Sensō-ji, and unlike the latter, it resisted the air raids of World War II. The sanctuary is at the heart of the Sanja-matsuri festivities in mid-May, when the o-mikoshi are carried in procession through the neighbourhood. With a bit of luck, you will also come across married couples there.

The garden, though surrounded by skyscrapers, feels like it is outside the city. It was originally the residence of a daimyō, a regional lord, during his stays in Tokyo. It was part of a hunting preserve, but was destroyed by fire and restored in the 19th century. In the middle is a small teahouse. At the southeast of the garden, a pier allows to embark for a cruise on the Sumida River to Asakusa from 9 am until the evening. A good alternative to the subway to reach the north of the city.

Opened to the public in May 2012, this magnificent tower reaches a height of 634 m, making it one of the tallest buildings on the planet. There are shops, cafes and two observation points, at 350 and 450 m. In 2018, a gallery of explanations and information about the tower opened on the first floor. What attracts visitors above all is the beauty of the structure, not forgetting of course the impressive view. Although off-centre in relation to Asakusa, a visit of the Sky Tree can be combined with a stroll in this area.

Regulars describe it as a "workers' paradise", or at least that's how it's been promoted. Young girls, students and residents of Tokyo's north-western suburbs flock here. And no expense has been spared: a 60-storey building with numerous offices, but also a veritable city of attractions and stores. Apart from the Sunshine City Prince Ikebukuro Hotel, whose lobby is on the first floor, the shopping arcade is endless. This "paradise" was built on the site of Sugamo Prison, where some prisoners were hanged after the^2nd World War. This was the case of former Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō, responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbor and executed on December 23, 1948. Today, the prison is just an old memory in this temple of leisure.

Namja Town is a fun theme park devoted entirely to food. Games and tastings are on the program.

The Konica Minolta Manten planetarium is the perfect place to watch the sky from the comfort of your sofa. Aromatherapy sessions are held in the evenings.

The Museum of the Ancient Orient boasts a fine collection of objects from the Near East and Central Asia.

Mazaria , an arcade and video game center, attracts young and old alike.

The Sunshine 60 observatory reopened in April 2023. The view from the ^16th floor is impressive. Its main attraction: areas of fake grass and greenery where you can picnic, lie down or read.

Kawaii, bizarre, spectacular: all the originality of Harajuku can be found inside. Since 1998, the Design Festa gallery has supported freedom of expression in all its forms. Regardless of nationality, language or technique, artists gather and exhibit in this teeming place of expression. The visit continues to the adjacent café, where you can enjoy a cup of tea or a beer in the open air, and ends at the okonomiyaki restaurant Sakura-tei, whose walls are covered with frescoes.

Here is the war of stars! You're going to be able to enter George Lucas'imagination for a hectic adventure in a flight simulator. Outside, a cinema décor recreates the film forest and a huge metal monster in full attack. After the waiting queue that allows you to visit the space vessels garage, you can take a seat in a futuristic boarding hall. By luck, you fall into Captain Rex's ship, which is the first flight! Fasten your belts, and on the way for an adventure of about 7 minutes across the galaxy. An attraction that combines action and humour not to be missed.

Halfway between Shibuya and Roppongi, this museum has about 5,000 works that were collected by Kaichirō Nezu. Among the pieces in the collection, in particular, is the famous Iris Screen by Kōrin Ogata, master painter and master lacquerer of the Edo period, as well as older works such as the Nachi Waterfall from the Kamakura period. This is one of the best private museums. Tea ceremonies can be attended in the garden.

Omotesandō Boulevard and its extension to Aoyama are similar to the Champs-Élysées and Avenue Montaigne in Paris, but much more crowded. This is where the big brands set up shop to test their fame and value. They compete for attention with masterpieces of contemporary architecture (Louis Vuitton, Prada, Miu Miu). The district also reflects all the new trends in Tokyo, in terms of food (organic, bio, vegan), aspirations (terraces, gardens, coworking spaces) and fashion.

This gigantic complex, located in the 50+ story Mori Tower, is one of Tokyo's great attractions. It gathers all the major fashion brands, fancy restaurants, a cinema, the Mori Arts Center and the Mori Art Museum. From the top of the tower, 250 meters above the ground, there is a superb 360° panorama. One of the most beautiful views of the capital (with a bonus tour on the roof!). The tower hosts exhibitions of all kinds, such as the Roppongi Crossings, a contemporary art event held every three years.

The large Inca temple in ruins reflects the entrance of this attraction. You must face Crystal Skull which protects the path to the Fountain of Youth. Fortunately for you, Indiana Newspaper has already mapped the way for your jeep… But this adventure gives you many surprises!