Free things to do · Tokyo · Japan
11 free things to do in Tokyo
Tokyo without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Kernan, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Tokyo without paying an entry fee: Senso-ji Temple, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Shibuya Crossing and Tsukiji Outer Market are all free. Lunch sets (teishoku) cost far less than the same dishes at dinner.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 11
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Free sights and experiences
Religious site · Asakusa
1.Senso-ji Temple
Come at dawn or after dark, when the buildings are lit and the crowds have gone; the temple grounds stay accessible after the stalls close.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Photo spot
Religious site · Harajuku
2.Meiji Jingu Shrine
Enter from the Harajuku side and leave through the quieter Yoyogi side, or continue into Yoyogi Park next door.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Nature
Landmark · Shibuya
3.Shibuya Crossing
Watch from above at Shibuya Sky or from the station's upper walkways, then cross it yourself at dusk when the screens light up.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Photo spot
Market · Tsukiji
4.Tsukiji Outer Market
Arrive by mid-morning, as many stalls wind down by early afternoon, and eat standing beside the stall rather than walking through the crowded lanes.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
Park · Ueno
5.Ueno Park
Arrive early in blossom season to see the trees before groups claim every patch of ground.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
Garden · Marunouchi
6.Imperial Palace East Gardens
Climb the keep foundations for a view over the gardens, then follow the moat to the Nijubashi bridge viewpoint.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
- Nature
Street · Harajuku
7.Harajuku and Takeshita Street
Go on a weekday morning to avoid shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, then explore the quieter backstreets of Ura-Harajuku.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Food
- Kids
Neighbourhood · Akihabara
8.Akihabara
Explore the side streets west of Chuo-dori for second-hand games and figures; on some Sunday afternoons the main street is closed to traffic.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- Kids
- After dark
Neighbourhood · Yanaka
9.Yanaka
Walk from Nippori Station through the cemetery to Yanaka Ginza late in the afternoon, when the 'sunset steps' (Yuyake Dandan) live up to their name.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Island · Odaiba
10.Odaiba
Sit at the front of the Yurikamome for the view as it loops onto the Rainbow Bridge, and stay for the illuminated skyline at dusk.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Views
- After dark
- Free
Viewpoint · Shinjuku
11.Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories
Go on a clear winter morning for the best chance of seeing Mount Fuji, and check which tower's observatory is open that day.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- After dark
- Architecture
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Asakusa | Senso-ji Temple | 1–2 hours |
| Harajuku | Meiji Jingu Shrine and Harajuku and Takeshita Street | 1–1.5 hours + 1–2 hours |
| Shibuya | Shibuya Crossing | 30 minutes |
| Tsukiji | Tsukiji Outer Market | 1.5–2 hours |
| Ueno | Ueno Park | 2–3 hours |
| Marunouchi | Imperial Palace East Gardens | 1–1.5 hours |
| Akihabara | Akihabara | 2–3 hours |
| Yanaka | Yanaka | Half a day |
| Odaiba | Odaiba | Half a day |
| Shinjuku | Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories | 45 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Garden · Shinjuku
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Visit from late March to mid-April for cherry blossom, or from mid-November to early December for autumn leaves.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Photo spot
Museum · Ueno
Tokyo National Museum
Start in the main Honkan building for an overview of Japanese art, then save the dimly lit Horyuji gallery for a quiet finish.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Shinjuku
Golden Gai
Go after 9pm, check the cover charge posted by the door, and ask before taking photos inside a bar.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- After dark
- Off the beaten path
- Food
Museum · Mitaka
Ghibli Museum
Walk to the museum through Inokashira Park from Kichijoji Station, about 15 minutes.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Aoyama
Nezu Museum
Visit in late April or May for the iris screen and blooms, or in November for autumn colour in the garden.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
More ways to save
- Lunch sets (teishoku) cost far less than the same dishes at dinner.
- Convenience stores and department-store food halls sell excellent ready meals, and food halls discount many items near closing time.
- The free observatories of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building rival the paid decks.
- Shrines, temples, parks and districts such as Asakusa, Harajuku and Akihabara cost nothing to explore.
- A Tokyo Subway Ticket pays off if you take four or more subway rides a day.
- Hotels in Asakusa, Ueno and Ikebukuro are usually cheaper than in Shibuya, Ginza or Roppongi.
- Avoid cherry blossom season, Golden Week and the New Year holidays if you want lower hotel prices.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Tokyo expensive to visit?
Tokyo is moderately priced for most visitors, but 11 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Tokyo?
Senso-ji Temple: Come at dawn or after dark, when the buildings are lit and the crowds have gone; the temple grounds stay accessible after the stalls close.