The Best of Tokyo

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Tsukiji Fish Market

Location

Tokyo
Japan
35° 39' 41.6484" N, 139° 46' 11.2296" E
JP

Tsukiji Fish Market is perhaps the most famous, largest and busiest fish market in the world. This is the place where the world records for most expensive fish in the world are often made. The tuna auctions take place at 5am but it is the fishing seasons first auction and first fish which often results in unbelievable prices. For example in 2013, the first tuna was sold for 1,8 million dollars. The auctions are held every day and if you are suffering from jet lag, it should be no problem going to the early morning tuna auctions at 5am.

Sumo at Ryogoku Kokugikan

Location

Tokyo
Japan
35° 41' 48.9732" N, 139° 47' 36.4884" E
JP

Something you wont see in every city of the world, sumo. If you happen to be around during one of the tournaments that are held here three times a year, make sure not to miss it. Ryogoku Kokugikan is Tokyo's National Sumo Hall and it is mainly used for sumo wrestling tournaments (honbasho). The tournaments are the hatsu basho in January, the natsu basho in May, and the aki basho in September. During the tournaments the bouts take place throughout the day. They last usually just a few intense seconds but there is a lot of stretching, stomping, salt-tossing in between.

Yoyogi Park

Location

Tokyo
Japan
35° 40' 24.2688" N, 139° 41' 52.1952" E
JP

Yoyogi Park is a great getaway from the city noise and huzzle. It is one of Tokyo's largest city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds and forested areas. It is perfect for jogging, picnicking and any other outdoor activities. Obviously the best time to visit Yoyogi is spring, during the cherry trees blossom period. Although it has relatively few cherry trees compared to other sites in Tokyo, it makes a nice cherry blossom viewing spot in spring. In the autumn time Yoyogi turns golden as the ginko tree forest changes colours. Yoyogi is also a good place for people watching as it draws all sorts of talent.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Location

Tokyo
Japan
35° 41' 6.1872" N, 139° 42' 34.8372" E
JP

The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden has to be the most beautiful park in Tokyo. There is not so much going on as in Yoyougi Park, rather Shinjuku Gyoen is about calmness and beauty. The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden features several gardens with different themes. When wondering around the park you will probably end up in all the major ones: English Landscape, French Formal, Japanese Traditional (with teahouse) and the Mother and Child Forest. There's also a lovely Taiwan Pavilion; go inside and look out the second-story windows. During the cherry blossom season in late March and early April, the park becomes the most popular hanami (cherry flower viewing) areas in the city.

Meiji Shrine

Location

Tokyo
Japan
35° 40' 34.8312" N, 139° 41' 57.6564" E
JP

Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the deified spirits of late 19th century Emperor Meiji and his wife is the most famous shrine in Tokyo. In this wonderfully serene and austere shrine the city sounds are quickly replaced by a tranquil forest. The approximately 100,000 trees that make up Meiji Jingu's forest were planted during the shrine's construction and were donated from regions across the entire country. The 40-foot-high (12-meter) torii gate at the entrance to the 200-acre park is made of 1,500-year-old cypress, and there's a second one like it closer to the shrine itself. You can dip into a communal water tank and purify your hands and mouth before offering up a prayer.

Roppongi Hills & Tokyo City View observation deck

Location

Tokyo
Japan
35° 39' 37.1232" N, 139° 43' 44.2164" E
JP

Roppongi Hills is a small city within a city. The popular complex opened in 2003 and there's a lot going on — a garden, a cinema, loads of shops, cafés and restaurants. Our pick however is Tokyo City View in the 52th floor of the Mori Tower. The tower stands 238 meters tall and the observation deck gives the best views over Tokyo. The $15 ticket includes admission to the Mori Art Museum, where exhibits range from the modern to bizarre ones. To get an open air view, its extra $3 to go up to the 54th floor Sky Deck, which runs the perimeter of the rooftop heliport.

Akihabara Electric Town (Denki-Gai)

Location

Tokyo
Japan
35° 41' 54.096" N, 139° 46' 23.268" E
JP

Akihabara is the major market for electronics in Tokyo. It is bustling, busy and fun to watch, and has been around already since the world war II. Due to increased competition from denser hubs such as Shinjuku and Ikebukuro however, Akihabara can no longer claim exclusive rights to the title of the city’s electronics centre, yet it is still quite the scene. And it is also the place where many products are still market tested so wandering around the market might give you an idea of what will be coming up two years hence.

Sensō-ji Temple

Location

Tokyo
Japan
35° 42' 53.1612" N, 139° 47' 47.9292" E
JP

Sensō-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple and located in Asakusa, Tokyo. It is Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of its most significant. The temple is dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) . According to legend, a statue of the Kannon was found in the Sumida River in 628 by two fishermen. The chief of their village, Hajino Nakamoto, recognized the sanctity of the statue and enshrined it by remodeling his own house into a small temple in Asakusa. It remains to be seen if the ancient image of Kannon actually exists, as it's not on public display. There or not, the stream of worshippers travelling to the top of the stairs to bow and clap is always steady.

Umegaoka Sushi No Midori

Location

Tokyo
Japan
35° 38' 57.6852" N, 139° 42' 9.7128" E
JP

Tokyo is the ultimate place for sushi and there is a variety of good sushi restaurants to choose from. Here is our pick for one of the best sushi in town. The prices are reasonable, the sushi is simply great and the dishes are big enough. The restaurant is pretty popular so prepare for a crowded restaurant and during lunchtime even some queues.

Baseball at Tokyo Dome

Location

Tokyo
Japan
35° 42' 20.2428" N, 139° 45' 6.6528" E
JP

Baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan and The Yomiuri Giants are the oldest and most popular team. In case you happen to be around during the Giants game, we recommend to come to Tokyo Dome to experience it for yourself. The Yomiuri Giants are regarded as private://The New York Yankees of Japanprivate:// due to their widespread popularity, past dominance of the league, and polarizing effect on fans. The Giants games pull full stadiums and the atmosphere gets intense especially in games against the main rivalry Hanshin Tigers. Tokyo Dome is a 42,000-seat baseball stadium opened in 1988.

Tokyo Skytree

Location

Tokyo
Japan
35° 42' 36.5004" N, 139° 48' 38.9988" E
JP

Tokyo Skytree was finished in 2012 at 634 meters high making it the tallest structure in Japan, tallest tower in the world, and the second tallest structure in the world after Burj Khalifa. That is impressive. And as it is impressive, the Japanese wanted to make everything out of the spectacularity of the tower and in fact built a small town around the Skytree tower, called the Skytree Town. Skytree Town's sprawling entertainment complex covers several city blocks. Shops, restaurants, an aquarium, a planetarium and, of course, the tower itself.