Top 10 Walks to Take in Tokyo   

View of Shinjuku skyscrapers and Mount Fuji in Tokyo. By Morio – Wikimedia

Top 10 Walks to Take in Tokyo   

Tokyo Metropolis is the capital and largest city of Japan. Its metropolitan area is the largest and most populous in the world. Located at the head of Tokyo Bay, it is the political and economic center of the country, as well as the seat of the Emperor of Japan and the national government. 

Tokyo’s urban landscape consists mainly of modern architecture. Older buildings were destroyed by the Great earthquake and during World War II bombing. The city has a humid subtropical climate characterized by hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters.   

Being the largest city in the world, it takes a lot of time to visit all the interesting places. Walks will help you make the most of your time in Tokyo from visiting the famous shrines and temples to the crowded shopping streets and trying out the local foods. 

Here are the top 10 walks to take in Tokyo. 

1. The Modern Architecture Walk

National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo. Photo By Joyofmuseums – Wikimedia Commons

This walk takes you on the hunt for some of the city’s finest architecture focusing on some spectacular works. 

This route starts in Ueno Park, heads to Ryogoku, then onto Tokyo Station, and down into Ginza.  

The first stop is the National Museum of Western Art which is gracefully simple and the interior is impressive. Next, pass through Kuramae over the Sumida River and into Ryogoku.  

Here you will find Edo-Tokyo Museum followed by a stop at the early 20th-century designed Tokyo Station. The walk from Ryogoku takes you through Nihonbashi, a commercial district with plenty of imposing Western-style banks and hotels.  

From here heading south into upmarket Ginza. Here you will see two notable buildings, the Shizuoka Press and Broadcasting Building and the Nakagin Capsule Tower. These great buildings are the last stops on this walk.

2. The Old-Meets-New Walk 

This showcases Tokyo’s temples, shrines, history, culture, and art. 

The first stop is Sensoji Temple in Asakusa which is very popular with tourists and is always crowded. It has authentic colors, smells, and sights of traditional Japan.

From here head west and find the expressway with Ueno Station and Ueno Park on the other side. Enter the park and find the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.  

The next stop is SCAI the Bathhouse a gallery housed inside an old bathhouse. Next is the vast Yanaka Cemetery with 7,000 graves. Next is Nezu Shrine, a peaceful location that is the perfect final stop for the walk. 

3. The Rainbow Bridge Walk

Tokyo’s Rainbow Bridge at night. The picture was taken from Odaiba Island. Photo By Gussisaurio – Wikimedia

On this romantic walk follow the route from Tamachi in the south of the city, over the water via the inimitable Rainbow Bridge, and into Odaiba.

It’s a fairly short walk making it a good one for late in the day, plus the views at dusk are unbeatable.  

There are two elevators. One for the south side of the bridge that looks onto Odaiba and the curling expressway and the other for the north side that looks towards the city with a view of Tokyo Tower and the Skytree. 

4. The Laid-Back History and Culture Walk 

This walk starts in Jimbocho which is Tokyo’s Book Town. Here you will find a lot of bookstores selling affordable English books.

Walk up through Iidabashi and Kagurazaka, two great little neighborhoods, and get to Kudanshita Station. The next stop is the moat of the Imperial Palace and the entrance gate to Kitanomaru Park.

Inside the park is the Science Museum and also the Nippon Budokan Hall, a legendary venue where the Beatles played their first and last gigs in Japan. Across the road from the park is Yasukuni Shrine which is the last stop for this walk.

5. The Shopping/Fashion/Glamour Walk 

Shibuya Crossing. Photo By Celuici – Wikimedia Commons

This urban walk goes through Harajuku then Omotesando and ends at Shibuya, the three most fashionable districts in Tokyo.

The stops here include Harajuku Station, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Takeshita-dori, Daiso the huge 100-yen store, Meiji-dori, Laforet Harajuku, Tokyu Plaza with the mirrored portal-like entrance, and Omotesando which has upmarket stores like Kiddy Land and Oriental Bizarre the souvenir store.

Next is Aoyama-dori, the United Nations University, and then to the Shibuya crossing. In front of Shibuya Station, there is a statue of Hachiko the loyal dog just outside the exit.  

6. Tokyo Food Walk– The Tsukiji Fish Market 

The Tsukiji Fish market outer market has around 400 stores and shops where you can find not only fish, but also beef, pork, chicken, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and many other foods.  

On this two-hour walk, you will taste some of the exquisite foods the market has like the famous Tuna fish, Tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), and Japanese tea, among other tasty local foods. 

7. Asakusa Street Food and Local Drinks Walk 

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa at night. Photo By User – Wikimedia Commons

Asakusa looks different after sunset so this is ideally an evening tour. A lit-up Sensoji Temple, plus the restaurants and bars on Hoppy Street filled with lively people, whether tourists or locals, is a sight to behold. 

On this walk, you will taste great Sake and great food including “Monja-yaki” a savory pancake that is Tokyo’s soul food. Experience the Izakaya (Japanese bar) culture first hand. 

8. Backstreets Walk

This walk is for people interested in the lesser-known areas of Tokyo’s traditional old-town landscape. The walk features two towns that have different atmospheres.  

Yanaka has small street food shops, restaurants, and craftsmen shops while Kagurazaka has authentic restaurants where many business meetings take place.   

9. Shinjuku and Izakaya Walk

This is an evening walk that takes about two to three hours. Start by visiting a small Yakitori alley and try some Yakitori (skewed chicken) and beer. Then walk around the biggest red-light district, “Kabukicho”.  

After this move to a local Izakaya (Japanese style restaurant) and try the local food and drink. Then head to the Golden Gai Bar Alley at Shinjuku which is the largest drinking town in Tokyo. It’s also the biggest business area and many businessmen go drinking with colleagues or business partners.  

10. Tour Meiji Jingu Shrine 

Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. Photo By Rs1421 – Wikimedia Commons

This is a good walk for the whole family. It is the most visited religious site in Japan drawing crowds of up to a million on special occasions. The sight of a large wooden torii gate will guide you into the shrine that has two areas. 

The Naien is the inner precinct covering 700,000 square meters and includes the shrine buildings and the Treasure Museum as well as the surrounding gardens and forests.  

The Gaien is the outer precinct that stretches out to include the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, the nearby National Stadium, and the Meiji Memorial Hall which is often used for meetings and weddings.