FREE THINGS TO DO IN Tokyo

The Sens-ji Temple is the oldest temple in Tokyo and is also one of the most popular and highly visited Buddhist temples in the city.

It’s an ideal place for history buffs to visit as it’s enriched in fascinating historic tales and stories. The temple opened way back in 645 AD and was once associated with the Tendai sect of Buddhism, before it gained independence after World War 2.

On the way to the temple, you’ll pass by approximately 90 shops and stalls where local vendors will sell their produce and trinkets; it’s an ideal place to pick up a souvenir to take home with you!

The Sens-ji Temple is just a 2-minute walk from the Hanayashiki Amusement Park, so you could always persuade the kids to visit the temple first, and then head to the amusement park after!

Address: 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan

Harajuku is one of Tokyo’s largest and most popular shopping areas, residing in the Shibuya District.

However, as this list focuses on the top free activities to do in Tokyo, it’s also an ideal place to window shop; you don’t have to buy anything to have a good time in Harajuku! If you do want to shop however, then you’ll find everything you could ever want including eccentric leopard print garments and outrageous fashion accessories, to name a few!

The culture here is quintessentially Japanese; it’s loud, it’s colourful and it’s full of enigmatic and intriguing fashionable youngsters who flock to the area on an evening to shop.

Harajuku is a place that the whole family will enjoy seeing as it’s such an eye-opening cultural experience and it’s a great place to get accustomed to the Tokyo way of life.

Address: Jingmae 1 chme to 4 chme, Tokyo, Japan

Arguably one of the most famous “landmarks” in Tokyo, the Shibuya Crossing resides in the heart of the city and is one of the most iconic street crossings in the world.

An estimated 2,500 people cross the road every time the pedestrian lights turn green, so you can only imagine how busy it is!

It’s probably not an ideal place in the city to take young children, especially during the middle of the day, as it’s overwhelmingly crowded, and you really don’t want to run the risk of losing them!

If you’re a fan of New York however, then Shibuya Crossing is definitely somewhere you’ll want to visit while in Tokyo as the crowds of people, huge advert billboards and flashing neon lights are sure to remind you of Times Square!

Address:Shibuya 150-8010, Tokyo Prefecture

Hibiya Park covers an impressive area of 40 acres so you can rest assured that you’ll find something to do there for the whole family.

It’s one of the best free attractions in Tokyo, simply because of its incredible size, but also because it’s home to many activities to enjoy as well.

Here you’ll find numerous ponds where turtles and herons, a giant lake that’s surrounded by trees that look truly beautiful in the autumn and an open-air concert hall that comes alive during the summer months.

Even if you don’t want to do one particular thing inside Hibiya Park, you can still enjoy a leisurely stroll around its gardens all year round.

Address: 1-6 Hibiyakoen, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0012, Japan

Surprisingly for a metropolitan as busy and as bustling as Tokyo, there is actually one place in the city that you can watch the adventures of the streets below from 45 stories high.

And best of all You can do it for free!

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building has a free observation deck on the 45^th floor where you can watch the city below in fascination.

It’s rare to find such an incredible free activity, especially in a city like Tokyo, but that’s what makes the city truly unique; it’s full of lots of remarkable hidden gems!

Kids and adults of all ages are sure to love the views from the observation deck, and regardless of the time of day that you visit, you’ll enjoy watching the city go about its bustling business!

Address: 2 Chome-8-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 163-8001, Japan

Yoyogi is located adjacent to the Meiji Shrine and just a couple of minutes’ walk from Harajuku Station so it’s conveniently located within the city, so you don’t have to go out of your way to find it!

The park is a beautiful oasis away from the hubbub of the big streets and towering skyscrapers of the city and is home to more than 10,000 trees which have all been donated from various cities and regions throughout Japan.

Yoyogi Park is one of the best free attractions in Tokyo as it’s famed for its plethora of events hosted throughout the year.

Daily street performers, cultural festivals, flea markets and dozens of musicians and dancers flock to Yoyogi Park to showcase their talents and put on a show for the whole family to enjoy!

Address:2-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0052, Japan

Tsukiji Market, more commonly referred to as the Fish Market, is a sprawling wholesale collection of local vendors who sell a vast array of seafood.

The market is most famous for its popular tuna auction; you’ll want to get a good viewing spot if you plan on taking the auction seriously!

Children probably won’t find Tsukiji Market very fun or interesting, but foodie fanatics are sure to love watching the intense tuna auction that begins at 5am every morning!

Tsukiji Market is actually the largest seafood market in the world, so while it might not seem like a pleasant-smelling way to spend a morning, it is definitely something you need to add to your Tokyo itinerary!

Address:5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan

Odaiba is a manmade island in southern Tokyo and is without a doubt one of the top free things to do in the city.

You can get to the island by walking across the 918-metre long Rainbow Suspension Bridge which takes you from the city of Tokyo, all the way into Odaiba.

Once in Odaiba, there’s something free for everyone to enjoy! From lounging on the artificial beach, to seeing the Statue of Liberty to playing dozens of arcade games and visiting the giant Gundam Statue.

It’s the perfect place in Tokyo to visit any time of year, but it’s especially fun during the spring and summer when the nicer weather permits a day at the “beach”!

Address:Odaiba Island, Tokyo, Japan

The whopping 5km grounds at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo are a great place to spend a full day in the city, and it certainly deserves a place in this list of the top 10 free attractions in Tokyo!

The Palace is home to ancient moats and medieval bridges and keeps and you can hire a bike to cycle around the many park paths, put on your running shoes and go for a jog around the gardens, or just enjoy a leisurely stroll with the whole family.

If you visit on a Sunday between 10am and 3pm, you’ll get a choice of one of the free 150 bikes to rent for the afternoon; a perfect way to spend a few hours while in Tokyo!

Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8111, Japan

While you will have to pay to go all the way up to the top of the Tokyo Skytree, you can gaze up in wonderment at it from below on the street.

It’s the tallest tower in the world and the second tallest structure after the Burj Khalifa and it stands proudly at an incredibly impressive 634m high!

Kids and teenager probably wouldn’t understand the fascination of just looking up at a tower, but architecture fanatics are sure to love admiring the towering statue from the ground.

Make sure you start taking pictures of it from a fair distance; otherwise you’re sure to miss out the top or bottom of it if you take a picture while stood too close!

Address: 1 Chome-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo 131-0045, Japan