10 Best Places to Visit in Tokyo for First Timers (& What to do in each!)

Last updated on May 22nd, 2026

Unsure where to go in Tokyo? We’re sharing the best places to visit in Tokyo for first timers, plus the best things to do in each!

For most first-time visitors to Japan, Tokyo is where your adventure will begin. But as the largest city in the world (by population!), with dozens of neighborhoods to explore, figuring out where to go and what to do can be pretty daunting.

One of our top tips to make exploring Tokyo a bit less overwhelming is to focus on 1-3 different neighborhoods per day. This allows you to explore areas a bit more in-depth, avoid spending too much time traveling between places, and it makes the city feel a bit more manageable!

And in this guide we’re sharing the best places to visit in Tokyo from first timers. We’re focusing on the different neighborhoods and areas we would prioritize visiting, plus sharing our favorite sights, activities, and eats within each one. That way, you can pick a neighborhood or two to explore each day and have a ready to go list of what we’d suggest doing in each one!

The Best Places to Visit in Tokyo for First Timers

Shibuya

When you think of Tokyo, you likely think of Shibuya. Here is where you can find the iconic Shibuya Scramble Crossing, colorful, lit up streets, tons of shopping and entertainment, and countless places to eat. It’s chaotic, exciting, and is without a doubt one of the best places to visit in Tokyo for first timers.

Things to do in Shibuya

There are tons of fun things to do in Shibuya, but if there’s only one thing you do, make sure it’s walking the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. This is the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world with sometimes up to 2,500 people crossing at once!

But not only is it fun to walk across it, we also suggest going to see it from above! Our top pick is Shibuya Sky, which has sweeping views of Tokyo. But tickets can be hard to get and some time slots sell out 2 weeks beforehand. So if you’re unable to get a ticket, head to Mag’s Park Rooftop Shibuya Crossing (has a fee, which includes a drink), Starbucks (drink purchase required), or the 11th floor of Shibuya Hikarie (free, but a further away view).

And if the chaos of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing isn’t enough for you, make sure to pop into MEGA Don Quijote. This Japanese discount store sells everything from clothing, to snacks, household items, electronics, cosmetics, and souvenirs. You could truly spend hours just wandering around here!

What to eat in Shibuya

Being one of the most popular tourist spots in Tokyo, you won’t have any issues finding a place to eat here. From narrow alleyways full of izakayas to Japanese chains to hole in the wall spots, there’s something for everyone.

During our time in Shibuya, we grabbed conveyor belt sushi from Mawashizushi Katsu Seibu Shibuya Store. It was such a fun experience waiting to see which sushi would come around the corner next! Just beware, the queue is very long, so get your name on the list early and go walk around while you wait.

And if you want to experience this area’s food scene with a local, we highly suggest going on a food tour. This Shibuya food tour includes 13 different dishes!

Harajuku 

While technically a smaller district of Shibuya, Harajuku deserves its own spot on this list, as it offers a different vibe!

Harajuku is known for youth fashion and kawaii culture, which is a term that means “cute.” Think Hello Kitty, Pikachu, and adorable round characters with big eyes. It’s a touristy and busy area to visit, but in our opinion, is still worth checking out. Here you’ll find bustling shopping streets, fun activities, and one of the best temples in the city!

Below is a quick glimpse of our top spots to check out in Harajuku. But for even more ideas, check out our detailed guide to Harajuku.

Things to do in Harajuku

No visit to Harajuku is complete without walking down Takeshita Street, one of the most popular shopping streets in Tokyo! Here you’ll find tons of shops selling clothes, fun desserts, and souvenirs. Our favorite shop was WIGGLE WIGGLE.ZIP HARAJUKU, which is part fun, colorful store and part photo experience, with different rooms you can take a photo in.

We also loved going into CAPSULE LAB, which has hundreds upon hundreds of gachapon, which are capsule vending machines with trinkets inside. You simply pick the one you want an item from (there are so many different types!), put some coins in the slot, turn the handle, and then it spits out a little capsule. You don’t get to choose which item you actually get, so it’s a fun little surprise!

Another fun thing to do in Harajuku is purikura, which is a Japanese photobooth that distorts your face by giving you larger eyes, glossier skin, etc. PURIKURA Shop NOA Takeshita Street has tons of purikura booths and we are still laughing at how hilarious our photos turned out!

And if you start to feel a bit overstimulated in Harajuku, head to the Meiji Jingu Shrine. This Shinto shrine is located in a forest with towering trees, which will make you forget that you’re in the most populated city in the world. Here you can have a picnic on its lawn, explore different gardens and ponds, and see the wall of sake barrels.

What to eat in Harajuku

Harajuku is known for a couple iconic food items like rainbow cotton candy and crepe stands. But there are also so many other great food spots to check out!

Baggage Coffee was one of our favorite coffee shops in Tokyo. It’s open earlier than most coffee shops, which is a huge win. Plus, they have a super cute dog!

For lunch, we loved Gyukatsu Motomura Harajuku Branch, which is a gyukatsu (beef katsu) where you get to cook the beef on a hot plate yourself!

And for dessert, head to PAP.COFFEE for kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) with cream, sauces, and fresh fruit. Or Micasadeco & Cafe Jingumae for fluffy Japanese souffle pancakes!

Shinjuku

Shinjuku is an area of contrasts. In one area you’ll find the quintessential high energy and vibrant Tokyo, with buildings covered in colorful signs, quirky attractions, and alleyways lined with izakayas. But then walk just 10 minutes and you can find peaceful escapes, like one of the largest parks in the city. This is where we personally stayed while in Tokyo and we loved getting to experience its mix of activities throughout our time in the city!

Things to do in Shinjuku

There are so many fun things to see in Shinjuku, both during the day and at night!

During the day, we suggest spending your time at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. This is one of the largest parks in the city, with three different types of gardens, plus a greenhouse with tropical plants and lots of ponds.

And at night, head to the main part of Shinjuku, near the Kabukicho area. This area is much more lively and colorful in the evenings, thanks to all of the bright lights. While here, you can see the 3D cat billboard (SO cute!) and watch godzilla breathe fire over the city. But just a 15 minute walk west of this chaotic area you’ll find the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Here you not only can go up to a free observation deck, but they also have nightly free light shows. During the Tokyo Night & Light show you’ll get to see different graphics projected onto the building, with music and sound effects. It is really mesmerizing!

What to eat in Shinjuku

Our mornings in Shinjuku always started with coffee. And one of the best coffee shops in Shinjuku is Coffee Swamp. It’s open early and has fantastic flat whites. Plus the vibe is super cool, with the sounds of the record player floating through the small space.

Shinjuku was also home to some of the best ramen we had in Japan! Ramen Tatsunoya Shinjuku Otakibashidōri makes some delicious tonkotsu ramen, with a rich pork based broth, as well as tsukemen, which means “dipping ramen.” The noodles are served separately from a thick, concentrated broth and then you dip the noodles into it.

And for drinks and small bites, Shinjuku is known for its izakayas, which are small Japanese pubs. Head down Omoide Yokocho Memory Lane or Shinjuku Golden-Gai and you’ll find tons to choose from. Just keep in mind that some do have an otoshi (cover charge) in the form of a mandatory side dish or food purchase. This is not a scam, but simply a part of the izakaya culture, as they are small establishments with little seating and typically slower turnover.

Want to explore the Shinjuku food scene with a guide? Check out this Izakaya food tour in Shinjuku, which has 4 stops and 14 different tastings! Or this Shinjuku food tour, which includes a stop at a food stall, an izakaya, a traditional restaurant, and a gastrobar.

Asakusa

Asakusa (pronounced “Ah-sahk-sah”) is located about a 30 minute train ride from Shinjuku and Shibuya. But despite this distance, we think it’s easily one of the best places to visit in Tokyo for first timers. This neighborhood is most famous for Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s oldest and most famous Buddhist temple. But there is more to experience here than just walking the temple grounds!

Things to do in Asakusa

If you’re heading to Asakusa, it’s almost a guarantee you’re going to see Sensō-ji. And while at the temple, make sure to read your omikuji (fortune)! How this works is that you’ll put a ¥100 coin into the slot and then shake the metal box. After shaking it, pull out a stick and then find the corresponding box on the wall to the stick. Then, read your fortune! Don’t worry, if it’s a bad fortune, like ours was, you can tie it up and pretend it never happened. 😉

As you explore the Sensō-ji area, make sure to head up to the 8th floor of the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center. It is totally free and has an amazing view of the temple and Nakamise Shopping Street! We also loved walking along the riverfront at Sumida Park.

Lastly, this area has some fun tours and experiences. Like a sushi making class, a knife making class, and sumo experiences! While we personally attended a sumo experience about 20 minutes away in Ryogoku, they have quite a few of these in Asakusa as well. 

What to eat in Asakusa

If you’re like us and are visiting Sensō-ji early (which we highly recommend), you will likely need some caffeine. So head to February Coffee Roastery! They had great coffee and their purin (Japanese custard pudding) looked really good too.

If you prefer your drinks with a bit of alcohol, head to Hoppy Street, a street filled with izakayas, where you can sit on the street while enjoying hoppy, a special low alcohol drink the road is named after. Plus various small dishes! Or grab tonkatsu at Tonkatsu Juroku, karaage at Asakusa Chicken, or crepes at Fleur de Sarrasin.

But whatever you do, do not leave Asakusa without trying the melon pan from Asakusa Kagetsudō Melon Bread. Melon pan is a Japanese sweet bread which gets its name because it looks like a melon, not because it contains melon. Their plain melon pan was heavenly on its own, but add in the macha ice cream for a next level experience!

Tsukiji

Akihabara

For the anime, manga, and gaming lovers, one of the best places to visit in Tokyo is Akihabara Electric Town! But honestly, even if you’re not into any of those things, it’s still a ton of fun!

This neighborhood is the hub for all things otaku culture. Here you can find buildings covered with anime, countless stores selling both recent and retro games, and multi-story arcades. While we both played video games growing up and occasionally still do, we wouldn’t consider ourselves necessarily the target audience for Akihabara. But we are really glad we stopped by here. It’s so nostalgic that you’ll likely find something that puts a smile on your face!

Things to do in Akihabara

We loved walking around Akihabara, popping into different stores that piqued our interest. One of our favorites was Super Potato, which has tons of retro game systems and games to buy. Plus an old school arcade! 

And for an even larger arcade, head to TAITO Station. This multi story arcade has so many games to choose from, including claw machines, video games, music games, and arcade games. We had a blast here!

If you’d rather experience this area with a local guide, this Akihabara Anime & Game Adventure Walking Tour will not only take you to some cool spots (including food stops!), but also help you better appreciate the area.

What to eat in Akihabara

If you get hungry while exploring, check out Hinoya Curry Akihabara for Japanese style curry or Roast Beef Ōno Akihabara for a bowl of wagyu roast beef that is wrapped around rice and topped with an egg. But if you want a more Akihabara-esque experience, head to Final Fantasy Eorzea Cafe!

And just down the road, Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo Kanda Honten is a popular spot for spicy ramen. We tried to eat here, but the line was too long. So instead, we ended up at Kanda Ramen Waizu Kanda Honten, which was delicious! If you’re craving udon instead, we hear that Kanda Matsuyais great.

Jimbocho

Jimbocho Book Town is one of the best places to visit in Tokyo for book lovers! This area is home to around 200 bookstores and offers a more quiet, less crowded vibe compared to some of the other neighborhoods in Tokyo. We personally explored it on a rainy day (along with Akihabara nearby!) and loved having bookstores to pop into to escape the rain.

Things to do in Jimbocho

The best thing to do in Jimbocho is check out the book stores! While most of the books are in Japanese, it was still fun to pop in and out of shops. Some of our favorites were Jimbocho Book Center, Yaguchi Book Store, magnif, and Nanyodo Books. Just keep in mind, photos are prohibited in most of the bookstores.

What to eat in Jimbocho

Besides books, Jimbocho is known for its curry shops, so we suggest planning your visit to this area around lunch or dinner. Curry Bondy is one of the most famous curry shops and while the wait was very long, the beef curry was fantastic!

While in Jimbocho we also visited Glitch Coffee & Roasters. This coffee roastery has multiple locations around Tokyo and offers a wonderful coffee experience. You are given a personalized walk through of the beans and then you can choose which you’d like for the drink. This is another spot where you will likely have to wait in a line. We waited probably 30 minutes from getting in line to actually getting our drink, but we hear others have waited much longer.

Ginza

Located just a 20 minute walk from Tsukiji Outer Market, Ginza makes for a great addition after spending the morning tasting the market’s different foods. And compared to Tsukiji, where you’ll find souvenir stands, in Ginza you’ll find many high end stores and both worldwide and Japanese chains.

Things to do in Ginza

The best thing to do in Ginza is shop! Even if you’re not much of a shopper, we still recommend coming here for a few stores in particular. We loved Ginza Itoya, which is a massive 11 story stationary shop! You can not only find stationery items, but also greeting cards, pens, leather goods, art supplies, crafts, home decor, gifts, and so much more.

Ginza Tsutaya Books is also so much fun to walk around! This beautiful book store is spread out amongst a floor of the Ginza Six Mall, with different sections for different genres of books. Most books were in Japanese, but it was still fun to walk around.

And lastly, check out MUJI Ginza: This is the flagship store for MUJI, which is a Japanese brand that sells apparel and home goods, with a focus on minimalism and sustainability. This location even has a hotel and cafe!

What to eat in Ginza

We personally suggest saving your appetite and eating at Tsukiji Outer Market, which is what we did! But if you are still hungry when exploring Ginza, you’ll find tons of options. One spot we had hoped to check out, but ran out of time, was Hangetsu. Their curry looks delicious!

You can also find another location for Glitch Coffee and Roasters here, plus some other great coffee shops, like ROAR Coffee, which does some cool rainbow latte art!

Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea

While not a neighborhood in Tokyo, two of the top places to visit in Tokyo are Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea! These parks are located right next to each other, but offer different experiences.

Tokyo Disneyland offers some of the classic rides you can find in other Disney parks, like Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Haunted Mansion. Plus it has a castle!

Tokyo DisneySea on the other hand, is a completely new concept, unique to Japan. We hear it’s more of a story that you journey through, with beautifully designed, themed port of calls, all centering around a lagoon. And it has a couple more thrill rides, making it more fun for adults!

But the best part? Both parks are a fraction of the price of the US parks. You can visit just Disneyland or DisneySea starting at $61.25 USD per day. Or you can get a one day park hopper pass from $105.29 per day. 

If you’re a Disney fan, this is definitely one of the best places to visit in Tokyo for first timers. Or even return visitors!

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