Outdoors · Tokyo · Japan
5 best outdoor things to do in Tokyo
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Akonnchiroll, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Meiji Jingu Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Ueno Park. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 7–10 hours across 5 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 7–10 hours
- Areas
- Harajuku, Shinjuku and Ueno
Outdoors in Tokyo
Religious site · Harajuku
1.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
Garden · Shinjuku
2.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
Park · Ueno
3.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
4.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
Museum · Aoyama
5.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
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Harajuku | Meiji Jingu Shrine | 1–1.5 hours |
| Shinjuku | Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden | 1.5–2 hours |
| Ueno | Ueno Park | 2–3 hours |
| Marunouchi | Imperial Palace East Gardens | 1–1.5 hours |
| Aoyama | Nezu Museum | 1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 3 free, 2 low cost. Book ahead for Nezu Museum. The longest visit is Ueno Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Nezu Museum: Timed tickets must be reserved online in advance.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Harajuku and Shinjuku): Meiji Jingu Shrine → Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Ueno and Marunouchi): Ueno Park → Imperial Palace East Gardens, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Aoyama): Nezu Museum, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- October: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 10 rainy days, busy crowds. Comfortable, often clear days as the humidity breaks; one of the best months for walking.
- December: highs of 12°C (54°F), about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds. Cold, dry and sunny, with winter illuminations across the city; many businesses close from about 29 December for the New Year holidays.
- November: highs of 17°C (63°F), about 8 rainy days, busy crowds. Crisp, sunny days and autumn leaves from mid-to-late November, especially the golden ginkgo avenue at Meiji Jingu Gaien.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Shinjuku — Skyscrapers, neon alleys and one of the world's busiest railway stations
- Ginza and Marunouchi — Department stores, polished boulevards and Tokyo Station
- Ueno — Museums, a big park and a busy market street
More of Tokyo
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Tokyo?
Meiji Jingu Shrine. Dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, this Shinto shrine stands in a forest of around 100,000 trees donated from across Japan and planted in the 1910s.
+Which of these are free in Tokyo?
Meiji Jingu Shrine, Ueno Park and Imperial Palace East Gardens.