Things to do in Tokyo for free

Things to do in Tokyo for free

Tokyo is one of the greatest cities in the world.  In every sense of the word.  Just one of the great things about it is that there are so many things to do in Tokyo for free.  You’d probably need at least 2 weeks to get around them all but here are a few of our favourites. 

Visit the Statue of Liberty

Yes you read that right.  And you haven’t mistakenly landed on a post for New York!  Tokyo really does have it’s own version of the Great Lady.  Albeit very much smaller.  It’s definitely worth visiting though and while you’re there you’ll also get to…….

See the colours of the Rainbow Bridge

The Statue of Liberty overlooks the Rainbow Bridge and from here you get a really great view of it.  Obviously it’s much better after nightfall when it, and the city beyond, lights up.  This is just one of the great things to do in Odaiba.

Shibuya Scramble

Apparently the busiest crossing in the world.  When you walk up the steps from the subway you’ll hear the busyness even before you see it.  This could be partly because Shibuya station is one of the busiest in the world.  Don’t let this put you off.  It’s busy without feeling crowded and because people are so very, very polite here, you never feel in danger of being trampled underfoot!  

One of the best views of the Shibuya Scramble is from the Starbucks which overlooks it and, whilst the crossing is free, unfortunately, the coffee is not.

It is very reasonably priced though.  Especially considering the view!

Meiji Shrine

Meiji Jingu Shrine is one of the main shrines in Tokyo and dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shokenand.  The First Torii Gate leading to the to the Meiji Shrine complex is located close to Meiji Jingu Harajuku station.  Again, entry here is free.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is one of Tokyo’s landmarks with a 45th floor observatory.  And entry is free!

Our tip:  Aim to get there up to an hour before sunset.  This way you’ll get to see the cityscape in both daylight and at night.  If you’re really lucky you may even get to see a sunset as a bonus.  All free of charge!

Tokyo Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace, the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan, was well worth the visit in our opinion.  With so much history,  it’s a fascinating place and has plenty to keep you occupied. 

The gardens are fantastic and, in April (a great time to visit), full of colour.  You do need a ticket for entry but they are free!

Nissan Crossing

If you’ve any petrol heads amongst you it’s worth checking this place out.  Here, Nissan exhibit luxury, high performance vehicles with an opportunity to get inside after listening to some interesting talks.   A good example of what you may see or do by loosening the itinerary a bit.  Entry is free.

Senso-ji

This was at the top of our list of things to do in Tokyo for free.  This place is simply a stunning must-see.  

Senso-ji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is Tokyo’s oldest and most famous Buddhist temple.  Just a 5 minute walk from Asakusa Station, entry is free.  

A shopping street of over 200 meters, Nakamise-dori, leads from the outer gate to the temple.  And while the food or souvenirs on offer here aren’t free, browsing is.

Electric Town

If you have any sort of interest in tech or gaming, like some of us, a visit here will probably be toward the top of your list of things to do in Tokyo for free.

Akihabara is also known as Electric Town due to the quantity of electric stores.  Crowds of gamers fill the large 6 story Sega gaming store amongst others. 

A fascinating experience but they can be very busy and noisy inside and the games themselves are not free!  Wandering the streets or into the arcades for free is though and gives a great insight into this part of Tokyo’s modern popular culture.

Thoughts on things to do in Tokyo for free

And that was a brief overview of some of the things to do in Tokyo for free.  Feel free to comment or get in touch if you’d like more detail on any of it.  Or check out our other pages on Tokyo or Tokyo DisneySea and Tokyo DisneyLand.

We think what makes Tokyo so special is the variety and contrast.  One minute you’re at the world’s busiest crossing (reportedly), the next you’re in the serenity of one of the most stunning temples in the world (well, in our opinion).

The city is split into a number of different districts and it’s difficult to get around them all.  We recommend making a priority list of the things you want to see and do and then work out the best way to combine at least a couple of these on each day.  Once done look at the best way to get to and from those places and back to your hotel.  This guide really helped us with the planning and when we were there.  

Where to stay in Tokyo

We stayed at the Tokyo Bay Hilton and loved it but as you can imagine there is a huge amount and range of places to stay in Tokyo.  We’d recommend starting your search on Booking.com where you can see what’s available where and the sort of price you can expect to pay.  Try and find somewhere that’s close to most of the things to do in Tokyo for free that you want include in your visit.

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Other Posts on Tokyo

11 thoughts on “Things to do in Tokyo for free”

  1. There’s quite a bit to do for free. I would have loved the electronic area when I was younger. Could easily have spent days in the sega building. Now I’d be happier in that temple.

  2. I have been to Japan before, but never Tokyo! Considering how expensive it is, free activities are wonderful! I can’t believe the Nissan crossing is free – or the Imperial Palace! Great tips!!

  3. This is a great list of free things to do in Tokyo! I checked off several of these things on my first visit but see some that I could do on my next trip. The Meiji Shrine and its gardens was one of my favorite places.

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