Tokyo

Meiji Jingu Shrine is one of Japan’s most well-known and revered Shinto shrines, and a visit there would be a highlight of any Tokyo tour package. You can reach this ancient Shinto temple in a few minutes on foot from Harajuku station and the bustling Yoyogi Park in the center of Tokyo. A magnificent, tranquil woodland along the path to the main shrine, which is just one part of the large grounds. Despite being in the heart of Tokyo, the country’s most populous metropolis, a visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine can transport you to a more tranquil place. In addition to the large shrine grounds, it is home to a number of must-see attractions. This comprehensive guide to Meiji Jingu Shrine will help you learn about the shrine’s storied past as well as the many attractions and activities available to you during your visit.

The close ties that the Meiji Jingu Shrine maintained with the Imperial Family during the Meiji era are the starting point for any study of the shrine’s background. This temple honors Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. After the deaths of Emperor Meiji (1912) and Empress Shoken (1914), the Japanese government began constructing Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo to honor their enshrined souls. Prior to its official dedication in 1920, the shrine’s construction took roughly five years to reach its final stages.

The Tokyo Skytree is the city’s most well-known television transmission tower. It is the heart of Tokyo Skytree Town and is located in the Sumida City Ward, close to Asakusa. It is the highest structure in Japan at 634 meters. When completed, it was the second-tallest structure in the world. The number 634 can be interpreted as “Musashi,” the historical name for the Tokyo metropolitan region. At the building’s base lies a massive shopping center with stores and an aquarium.

The nicest aspect of the Tokyo Skytree is the two viewing decks at the summit. Each one offers breathtaking views of the city. These are the two tallest covered decks in Japan. The first is 350 meters tall, while the second is 450 meters tall.

The Tembo Deck is the worse deck of the two. It is 350 meters tall and consists of three floors, all of which provide spectacular views. On the top story, expansive windows provide a view of the entire city in all directions. There is a café and a few glass panels that allow you to see straight down on the bottom floor. On the third story, there is a souvenir shop and the restaurant Musashi Sky, which provides a combination of French and Japanese cuisine.

450 meters above the earth, a second pair of elevators connects the Tembo Deck to the Tembo Galleria. The Tembo Galleria is a spiral ramp that spirals around the exterior of the skyscraper and ascends gently. It is well known as “the highest skywalk in the world.” Because of how the glass and steel tube is constructed, the tower’s incredible vantage position allows tourists to see all of Kanto and even farther.

At the top of the spiral staircase is a more conventional observation deck with chairs and large windows from which to observe the sights of Tokyo. This level is 451.2 meters above earth, which is the height of the observation decks.

Start your ascent up the Tokyo Skytree on the fourth floor, where you may buy tickets to the first observation deck (but not the second). To reach the second observation deck, you must take an elevator to the top level of the first deck, where tickets are sold, before transferring to the second deck. From there, you may stroll to the second deck. After touring the second level, guests can return to the first observatory via elevator and exit the tower from the fifth floor.

Hayao Miyazaki designed the exhibitions of the Ghibli Museum, which may be experienced in any sequence. Even though it is designed for children, adults may also enjoy becoming lost in Miyazaki’s universe. “Let’s lose our way together” is the museum’s tagline, which is consistent with its name.

All ages will enjoy their time at the Ghibli Museum, and the admission price of 1,000 per person is a deal. In contrast, being one of Tokyo’s most popular tourist locations, the Ghibli Museum is constantly sold out. Not only is purchasing tickets in advance recommended, it is compulsory to access the museum.

The inside of the museum resembles and feels like a maze. It may be Bruce Wayne’s house from an other reality, one in which he was pampered and cherished as a youngster and never had to deal with the perpetual grief of remembering the deaths of his parents. There are some permanent exhibits, such as the history of animation in the basement, which has an astounding collection of zoetropes, stroboscopes, and other intriguing objects whose names I had to look up.

In addition, there is an exhibit commemorating Hayao Miyazaki’s career and legacy. It’s a fascinating look at his personal notes and artwork, and while it’s incredibly thorough, the major thing I took away from it was how awful it is to be an animator. Undoubtedly, Hayao Miyazaki has smoked more cigarettes than Joe Camel.

Shinjuku Gyoen Park, which is one of the largest parks in Japan, is a gorgeous retreat away from the hustling and bustling urban life that is all around it.

Shinjuku Gyoen was originally commissioned by the Japanese imperial family during the Edo period to serve as a private botanical garden. The first garden is an example of a traditional Japanese garden, and it features many gigantic ponds. The second garden is an example of a Chinese garden, while the third garden is an example of a Western garden. In the month of November, this garden puts on a chrysanthemum exhibition, which is ideal for aspiring photographers and anyone with a green thumb. In addition, there is a stunning greenhouse that is home to a variety of tropical plants, as well as a French garden, an English garden, and spacious lawns in each of these gardens. Shinjuku Gyoen is well-known for having a plethora of gorgeous cherry trees throughout the park. When more than 400 unique species of cherry blossoms are in full bloom from March through April, this region transforms into a spectacular cherry blossom viewing spot for tourists in Tokyo.

This piece of land was given to Lord Nait (daimy) of Tsuruga by the shgun during the Edo period, and in 1772, he created a garden on it. Lord Nait was a powerful figure in the region.

Following the completion of the Meiji Restoration, the residence and the land immediately surrounding it were converted into a center for agricultural research. Early in the nineteenth century, a botanical garden was constructed there, and just a few decades later, in 1879, it was given imperial rank. 1906 was the year that saw the completion of the garden in its current state. The majority of the garden was obliterated by aerial raids in 1945, right as World War II was drawing to a conclusion.

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo is the official house of the Emperor of Japan. It is also commonly referred to as the Kkyo (meaning “Imperial Residence”). The Imperial Palace Grounds are a large park-like area in the Chiyoda district of Tokyo’s Chiyoda ward that house a number of buildings including the Fukiage Palace (, Fukiage gosho), where the Emperor resides, the main palace (, Kyden), where various ceremonies and receptions take place, some residences of the Imperial Family, an archive, museums, and administrative offices. The Chiyoda neighborhood is home to the Fukiage Palace.

It’s built on the same site as the original Edo Castle. The whole area, including the gardens, is 1.15 square kilometers. During the 1980s, when Japan’s real estate market was at its peak, the palace’s grounds were considered by some to be worth more than all of California’s real estate.

As part of its modern design, the Imperial Palace incorporates the defenses that were formerly part of Edo Castle. Contemporary Kyden (), designed for usage in various imperial court events and feasts, may be found in the old Nishinomaru area of the grounds that compose the palace. The Fukiage Garden is home to the Fukiage Palace (, Fukiage gosho), where the Emperor and Empress of Japan dwell in their official capacity. The size of this palace is much less than the size of the others. This ultra-modern residence, conceived by Shz Uchii of Japan, was built and completed in 1993.

The Tokyo National Museum may be found at Ueno Park, which is located in the Tait ward of Tokyo, Japan (, Tky Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan). It is the oldest national museum in Japan, the largest art museum in Japan, and one of the four museums[a] maintained by the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage. In addition, it is the oldest national museum in Japan (ja:). The museum is committed to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting Asian art and cultural relics, with a special emphasis on art from the Silk Road and Japanese art from the early and mid-Tennan eras. In addition, the museum has a substantial collection of artwork with Greco-Buddhist influences. The museum is home to more than one hundred and ninety Important Cultural Properties, three hundred and nineteen (319) Horyuji treasures, and a total of almost six hundred and forty-four (644) Japanese national treasures. The Tokyo National Museum is home to roughly 10% of the arts and crafts items that have been designated as national treasures in Japan (as of 2022). The museum has almost 3000 cultural properties in its collection, including 55 national treasures and 253 valuable cultural assets. These cultural properties were donated by individuals and organizations (as of March 2019).

The capital city of Tokyo is home to the nation’s first national museum, so there’s no need to search any farther.

The Yushima Seido or Shoheizaka was a public exhibition that was held in the fifth year of the Meiji era (10 March–30 April 1872) and was organized by the Museum Department of the Ministry of Education. The show featured scientific specimens and artwork from the imperial collection.

A historic Buddhist temple, Sensji (also spelled Kinryu-zan Sensji) may be situated in the heart of Tokyo’s Asakusa district. It’s not only the oldest temple in Tokyo, but also one of the most well-known. This Buddhist school, once associated with the Tendai sect, broke apart shortly after the end of World War II. More than 30 million pilgrims from every corner of the globe make the journey each year to pay their respects at this holy site. Kannon refers to the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

Thousands of people go to Senso-ji every year for Tokyo’s biggest festival, Sanja Matsuri. For three or four days in the late spring, the event causes the neighboring streets to be closed to traffic from dawn till night.

The Kaminarimon, or “Thunder Entrance,” is a magnificent gate that leads into the temple grounds. A massive paper lantern, painted in red and black tones to depict storm clouds and lightning, serves as the finishing touch to this Buddhist temple’s outstanding architecture. Nakamise-dori, a retail street, can be found after the Kaminarimon, and the Hzmon, also called the “Treasure House Gate,” which leads inside the inner complex, is the next stop. Inside the grounds is a stunning five-story pagoda and the main hall, both of which are dedicated to Kannon.