After a complete travel ban for international tourists, Japan has finally reopened its borders. This is music to many travelers’ ears, as foreigners have waited over 2 years to visit the country. To make travel easier for American and Canadian visitors, a new eVisa for Japan is available. If you’re a citizen of either of these countries, you can now visit Japan if you meet certain requirements. Without a doubt, Tokyo will be on your list of top destinations in Japan. We’ve put together our top things to do in this incredible city, to help you plan the trip you’ve been long waiting for.
Meiji Jingu Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, Japan. It is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor and Empress Meiji. The shrine was established in 1920, however most of the original building was destroyed in the Tokyo air raids of World War II. The present structure was built in 1958, thanks to a public fund-raising effort. Many festivals are held in the shrine throughout the year. If you plan to visit Tokyo in autumn, you may catch the Autumn Grand Festival, which runs from October 31 to November 3.
Yomiuriland is a theme park located in Yanokuchi, Inagi. It’s Tokyo’s largest amusement park and is open all year round. The park opened in 1969 and features 44 attractions that suit a range of ages, including a water park that runs in the summer months. There are also many shops and food courts to keep you well entertained and fed during your visit. If you visit Yomiuriland during the spring you’ll get to enjoy its impressive cherry blossom trees, which come out in all their bloom.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is Tokyo's most popular park. It is located in the center of Shinjuku, with a total area of 144 acres (58.3 hectares). The park's main attraction is its collection of over 1,500 cherry blossom trees, which bloom from late March (Shidare or Weeping Cherry), to early April (Somei or Tokyo Cherry), and on to late April (Kanzan Cherry). The garden also features greenhouses which display over 1,700 tropical and subtropical plant species.
The Edo-Tokyo Museum was founded in 1993 and is dedicated to the history of Tokyo. It’s located in Sumida-Ku, in the Ryogoku district. The museum is housed in a structure that’s based on an elevated-floor type warehouse, which is tall enough to be classed as a high-rise building. The museum itself contains exhibits on various aspects of Tokyo's history and culture, including art and architecture. It also has a planetarium and an area where you can try your hand at making traditional crafts.
Asakusa is one of the most popular districts in Tokyo. It has a long history of being the center of Tokyo's entertainment industry, dating back to the Edo period. It's a well-known tourist attraction, with many shops and restaurants lining the streets. There are also some very old temples and shrines in the area, including the famous Sensō-j Buddhist temple. There are many festivals held here all year round in Asakusa, and the neighborhood even holds an annual Brazilian style carnival.
Ueno Park was established in 1873, making it one of Tokyo’s first ever public parks. The space is also home to several museums, including the Tokyo National Museum. Ueno is one of Tokyo's most popular parks, and it's easy to see why. With a vast range of attractions to enjoy and some of the best cherry blossom viewing in the city, the area is an excellent place to spend the day. The manicured gardens are always beautiful, but they're especially breathtaking during spring when they burst into bloom with cherry blossoms. Ueon Park also hosts festivals throughout the year that celebrate Japanese culture and tradition.
Tokyo National Museum is a museum of Japanese art, located in Ueno Park in Taito. It’s Japan’s largest national museum, as well as one of the world’s largest. The museum's collections include Japanese paintings, sculpture, decorative arts and crafts, archaeological materials and anthropological materials. The museum also conducts research and educational activities related to its collection. During your visit you can also find restaurants, shops, outdoor exhibitions, and a garden.
Tokyo Skytree is a communications and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo. The tower is the tallest structure in Japan and the third-tallest structure in the world, after Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Merdeka in Malaysia. Tokyo Skytree is the primary television and radio broadcast site for the Kantō region. It has also become a popular tourist attraction since its opening in May 2012. The tower is a great place to view at night, with its colored LED lights in alternating patterns.
Photo: Ryutaro Tsukata, Pexels
