First Time in Tokyo: 5 Must-Visit Attractions and Shopping Spots

📍 Tokyo · 👁 5 reads · ❤️ 1 likes

Friends visiting Tokyo for the first time often find it hard to choose among the many attractions. If your trip is short and you still need to head from Tokyo to Osaka and Kyoto, checking out these 5 must-visit spots and shopping destinations in Tokyo is enough, unlocking both the traditional and modern sides of Tokyo.

Sensoji Temple in Tokyo is a very familiar sightseeing spot. Basically, everyone visiting Tokyo for the first time goes to Sensoji. It has the Kaminarimon Gate, the five-storied pagoda, bustling alleys, and Nakamise Street with its shops.

Taking a rickshaw offers a unique perspective to explore the Asakusa area. The rickshaw pullers are very enthusiastic, taking us deep into the streets, letting us experience the retro atmosphere of Asakusa's old downtown area from the Edo period.

Tokyo Skytree offers extraordinary views of the entire city. Riding the elevator decorated with seasonal scenery, you reach the observation floors. From 445 meters high up to 450 meters, there is a slope-like corridor about 110 meters long called the "Tembo Galleria" (Sky Corridor), where you can enjoy the fun of a skywalk. Inside the Tembo Galleria, there is a point called SORAKARA POINT at a height of 451.2 meters, the highest reachable point in Tokyo Skytree. On clear days, you can also see Mount Fuji from the Skytree.

At the base of the tower, there is "TOKYO Solamachi" with over 300 stores. You can buy Japanese specialties and food here. Many stores offer multilingual support, which is very convenient.

Shibuya's landmark, Shibuya Scramble Square, is currently the tallest building in Shibuya. The top floor features "SHIBUYA SKY," an observation facility with Japan's largest rooftop viewing space, making you feel as if you are walking on the clouds. At night, there are special light shows that look like a time-space door to another parallel world, very cool.

In May 2022, the "Art Aquarium Museum GINZA" opened on the 8th floor of the new wing of Ginza Mitsukoshi. This Tokyo Ginza Art Aquarium exhibition has become a must-visit art destination in Ginza in recent years. Starting June 28 this year, the special exhibition "Summer Art Aquarium 2024 - Hua Ying Goldfish Festival" begins. In the hot summer, it is perfect to enjoy this cool art goldfish exhibition!

The Tokyo Ginza Art Aquarium cleverly combines high-tech sound and light effects with art design installations to create a dreamlike art goldfish exhibition. When I went, it was the early summer exhibition. The original permanent exhibition space was redecorated, adding a summer atmosphere with hydrangeas. The goldfish corridor was also filled with hydrangeas, and the colorful tanks on both sides reflected red light, creating a very beautiful scene.

Various goldfish swim and dance gracefully in carefully designed artistic tanks, showcasing unique visual art. The "Summer Art Aquarium 2024 - Hua Ying Goldfish Festival" runs for 90 days from June 28 to September 25, 2024. Note that the art aquarium is on the 8th floor, but the same-day ticket vending machines are on the 9th floor. You need to go to the 9th floor to buy tickets first, then go to the 8th floor for the visit!

The art gallery on the 7th floor of Ginza Mitsukoshi is also a must-visit for art lovers. The gallery displays artworks from different fields every week, ranging from paintings, crafts, and sculptures to modern art, covering works by famous Japanese artists and young emerging artists.

Attracted by the fresh colors and delicate lines, I looked up the painter: her name is Nao Saito. Born in the 1980s, her works depict the inner world of girls who are neither adults nor children with unique brushstrokes, showing their loneliness and sense of alienation.

Teacher Yasuhide Kunimoto, a Japanese modern artist, is known for his delicate depictions and a unique style that blends reality and fantasy, incorporating deep philosophical themes and emotions.

Previously in Tokyo, I saw the works of Kenji Shimizu. A graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts with a master's degree, Shimizu's works feature the character "Buridori," inspired by old wind-up toys, using tin bird toys as symbols of "time" and "memory." His works fuse traditional Japanese painting elements with modern Japanese character culture. He will hold his 4th solo exhibition at Ginza Mitsukoshi from Wednesday, August 28 to Monday, September 2.

After viewing the art exhibition, before shopping, you can go to the duty-free counter on the 7th floor to apply for a GUEST CARD that offers a 5% discount. You only need to show your passport to get it. Except for food, discounted items, and some high-end products, items over 3,000 yen are within the discount range.

The home goods floor, on the same level as the art gallery, is an area I often visit recently. During the mask era, staying at home made me value the quality and ritual of home life more, so I now enjoy browsing this floor, where you can buy many high-quality household items. The Yves Delorme cotton wool blanket made in Japan feels good against the skin and has good moisture retention and absorption, suitable for year-round use. The Gobelin tapestry cushion covers and small bags show a delicate beauty like paintings.

Japanese century-old home lifestyle brand UCHINO's pajamas are made of very comfortable material. This marshmallow yarn® material combines fine, soft low-twist yarn with high-strength yarn, creating a gauze with a soft and gentle touch through triple weaving, while also having moisture absorption, water absorption, warmth retention, and breathability. They are very comfortable to wear at home.

Japanese-made pillows have become very popular recently, but to buy a truly suitable pillow, you need to go to a specialty store. Nishikawa is a bedding brand with decades of good reputation. Tourists can't buy duvets, down comforters, or mattresses, but they can buy pillows, haha. Professional pillow consultants will help guests choose the most suitable pillow based on height, material, and fit after measurement and consultation.

enherb, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, is favored by Tokyo office ladies and wealthy wives. They can blend herbal teas according to individual needs, helping to improve sleep quality and internal health. They also have essential oils and other products. The entry-level set of five popular herbal tea blends is perfect for gifting.

Ginza Mitsukoshi also has Ponte Vecchio, which is very popular now. The colorful pink sapphire and diamond ETERNO series and platinum jewelry designs are very stylish, loved by Japanese youth, and increasingly popular in China.

Ginza Mitsukoshi's Franck Muller probably has the most complete collection in Tokyo, haha. The shop assistants are also very enthusiastic. You can try on several styles you like. With the recent favorable exchange rate, if you like this brand, it's best to buy now.

The most beautiful is the Grand Cintrée Curvex series, both elegant and stylish.

The entire basement level 2 is a food floor. Nowadays, I rarely buy standard snacks from the airport as gifts; instead, I buy unique and limited items from department stores. These souvenirs are more special. HOLLANDISCHE KAKAO-STUBE's Ginza mille-feuille is very popular. Layered crispy cookies with hazelnut cream filling, plus carefully baked crispy puff pastry, wrapped in sweet chocolate, offering a rich texture.

Fujiya's Peko-chan ningyoyaki (doll-shaped cakes) are great for children. They come in several flavors, and you can choose your favorite combinations to buy together.

the vegan marshmallooow's Ginza vegan cookie tin is very stylish, with a crispy texture, perfect for gifting to girlfriends. These cookies come in elegantly designed boxes, both delicious and pleasing to the eye.

If you buy items that need refrigeration before lunch, you can store them in the冷藏 storage lockers. Such lockers are available on the B3 floor of the main building and the 12th floor of the new wing.

On a clear day, you can go to the "Ginza TERRACE" on the 9th floor for photos. If you buy snacks or drinks that you want to consume immediately, you can enjoy them here. I never expected such a leisure green garden in the prime location of Ginza.

This terrace garden on the 9th floor of Ginza Mitsukoshi also has a hidden gem: the "Ginza Shusse Jizoson" (Ginza Success Jizo Statue), said to bless success and fortune. Many people come specifically to pray here, making it a place to experience Japan's unique culture.

The adjacent shrine office sells wooden amulets themed around the "Ginza Shusse Jizoson." They are available from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Ginza is truly crowded, and the merchants at Ginza Mitsukoshi are highly competitive, constantly introducing new products. Speaking of which, prices in Japan keep rising. Every time I go, I feel they have increased a bit. The products and prices recommended this time might change by your next visit!

On our return trip, we used Narita Airport. We took the Ginza Line to Asakusa and transferred to the Toei Asakusa Line to get there. Note that the Toei Asakusa Line goes to both Narita Airport and Haneda Airport. Make sure to confirm the boarding platform before getting on!

Travel log directory:

1. Sensoji Temple

2. Tokyo Skytree

3. Tokyo Tower

4. Shibuya

5. Ginza

6. Airport to Ginza Mitsukoshi Transportation Tips

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