Travelling in general is costly–but it doesn’t always have to.
Japan has an abundance of free things to do throughout the country and each one is well worth your time.
Check out some of the free things you can do in Japan’s booming capital Tokyo.
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
- There is an observation deck on the 45th floor of the building in Shinjuku (west exit) for amazing view of the city. This is a must see while visiting Tokyo, for the views of Tokyo, Mount Fuji and Yokohama are positively stunning.
Open: 09:30 to 17:30, sometimes 22:30.
Closed: Monday (Tuesday, if Monday was a public holiday).
- There is an observation deck on the 45th floor of the building in Shinjuku (west exit) for amazing view of the city. This is a must see while visiting Tokyo, for the views of Tokyo, Mount Fuji and Yokohama are positively stunning.
- Asakusa culture tourist centre
- Sky Carrot Tower
- observation deck. Trivia: Home to game company Game Freak, creators of Pocket Monsters/Pokemon.
Sangenjaya. It’s actually just a building rather than a carrot shaped tower and it’s only 26 stories high – but there is nothing around it so you should get a great view of the city.
- observation deck. Trivia: Home to game company Game Freak, creators of Pocket Monsters/Pokemon.
- Bunkyo Civic Centre — observation deck
- Yebisu Beer Museum — drink samples not free though.
- Suntory Musashino Beer Factory
- Morinaga Milk Tama Plant
- Coca-Cola Tama Factory
- Oath (Bar) — no cover/surcharge
- Suntory Hall Organ Promenade Concert Hall
- Tama Library Tokyo Magazine Bank
- Travel Library
- Only Free Paper
- Harajuku crossings / shopping arcade
- Harajuku is one of the most iconic locations in Tokyo. It is probably the most fashionable location as well, where you can always spot people wearing the latest trends of all types of fashion genres.
- Harajuku is one of the most iconic locations in Tokyo. It is probably the most fashionable location as well, where you can always spot people wearing the latest trends of all types of fashion genres.
- Meiji Shrine
- If Harajuku’s colours and crowds become too much for you, take an escape to the forested grounds that envelope the capital’s premier Shinto shrine.
- If Harajuku’s colours and crowds become too much for you, take an escape to the forested grounds that envelope the capital’s premier Shinto shrine.
- Kabuki-cho (Shinjuku)
- “Red Light District”
Home to many host[ess] clubs/bars, love hotels, karaoke places, izakayas, etc. A must-see at least once for the unique experience.
- “Red Light District”
- Odaiba
- This island of reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay is linked to the city by the Rainbow Bridge. Walk over the 918-metre-long single-span suspension bridge to or from Odaiba where, weather permitting, you can sunbathe on a man-made beach and view a scale copy of the Statue of Liberty.
If you are a fan of the anime/manga Gundam, then Odaiba is the place you want to be! They have the Gundam City and an actual to scale Gundam meccha.
You can also find the club/concert hall Zepp Odaiba City here, where many famous groups and artists preform there. Of course, you need to purchase tickets for your concert of choice well in advance, as with all concerts, however, if you want to buy goods (merchandise) of the artist performing that day, you can do so without a ticket [usually].
- This island of reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay is linked to the city by the Rainbow Bridge. Walk over the 918-metre-long single-span suspension bridge to or from Odaiba where, weather permitting, you can sunbathe on a man-made beach and view a scale copy of the Statue of Liberty.
- Higashi-gyoen [Imperial Palace Gardens]
- Opens 9 AM; not open Mondays and Fridays. On Sundays, there is a 3 km cycling course designated and closed off from vehicles to allow for everyone to cycle the path.
- Opens 9 AM; not open Mondays and Fridays. On Sundays, there is a 3 km cycling course designated and closed off from vehicles to allow for everyone to cycle the path.
- Free bike rentals for the Imperial Palace Cycling course on Sundays (see above)
- Nishubashi-mae Street 10 am – 3 pm. Check it out here.
- Nishubashi-mae Street 10 am – 3 pm. Check it out here.
- Free Guided tours of the Imperial Palace restricted area
- 4 day advanced reservation needed
- 4 day advanced reservation needed
- Bank of Japan Currency Museum — Closed Mondays
- Luis Vuitton Escape Exhibit
- Meguro Parasitological Museum
- Not for the squeamish–the Meguro Parasitological Museum is the perfect place to get nice and cosy with that special someone when they need to hide from all the creepy-crawlies on display. Meguro Parasitological Museum displaying record-breaking tapeworms and gruesome photos of their victims.
- Not for the squeamish–the Meguro Parasitological Museum is the perfect place to get nice and cosy with that special someone when they need to hide from all the creepy-crawlies on display. Meguro Parasitological Museum displaying record-breaking tapeworms and gruesome photos of their victims.
- Yasukuni Shrine
- Senso-ji [Temple]
- Many people think that this temple’s name is actually Asakusa, but Asakusa is the neighbourhood it is in.
Tokyo’s most famous Buddhist temple along Nakamise-dori, lined with colourful booths selling all manner of souvenirs from giant rice crackers to exquisitely decorated battledores.
- Many people think that this temple’s name is actually Asakusa, but Asakusa is the neighbourhood it is in.
- Zojo-ji [Temple]
- Yoyogi Park
- Yoyogi Secret Park
- Sumo Wrestling Museum
- NHK Broadcasting Museum
- Kanto Earthquake Museum
- Sony Building (Ginza)
- Toyota Meg Web (Pallette Town, Odaiba)
- Futuristic car show
- Futuristic car show
- Nakimese Shopping Aracde (Asakusa)
- Free food samples
- Free food samples
- Wendy’s (Yes, the fast food chain in the USA)
- The shop in Ginza offers free drink refills. This might not seem big to some people in the West (mainly the US) but it’s huge in Japan, since most places do not offer refills unless you get a drink bar option in a restaurant.
- The shop in Ginza offers free drink refills. This might not seem big to some people in the West (mainly the US) but it’s huge in Japan, since most places do not offer refills unless you get a drink bar option in a restaurant.
- Tsukiji Fish Market
- Want to witness the famous tuna auctions? Then set your alarm for well before 5am when registration for the maximum of 120 daily viewing places starts.
- Want to witness the famous tuna auctions? Then set your alarm for well before 5am when registration for the maximum of 120 daily viewing places starts.
- Nippon Budokan
- Olympic Martial Arts arena
- Olympic Martial Arts arena
- Kitomonaru Park
- Miura Penisula
- Mt. Takao
- Ueno Park
- Chidorigafuchi Park
- Origami Kaikan
- If you are interested in taking lessons in the art of origami, you can join in at that Origami Kaikan.
- If you are interested in taking lessons in the art of origami, you can join in at that Origami Kaikan.
- Advertising Museum Tokyo (ADMT)
- One of the city’s most interesting free museums is ADMT. The museum has exhibits of old ads providing an illuminating visual history of commerce in Japan.
- One of the city’s most interesting free museums is ADMT. The museum has exhibits of old ads providing an illuminating visual history of commerce in Japan.
- 3331 Arts Chiyoda (Akihabara)
- 3331 Arts Chiyoda hosts a score of free contemporary art galleries offering a mix of exhibitions and interactive installations.
- 3331 Arts Chiyoda hosts a score of free contemporary art galleries offering a mix of exhibitions and interactive installations.
- National DIET Building tour
- Take a free tour of Japan’s seat of governance, the National Diet Building, to view the wood-panelled, leather-bound and gilded interiors and the gardens planted with species from across the country.
- Take a free tour of Japan’s seat of governance, the National Diet Building, to view the wood-panelled, leather-bound and gilded interiors and the gardens planted with species from across the country.
- Yansen neighbourhood (pre-WWII areas kept in tact)
- The streets of Nezu, Yanaka and Sendag provide an idea of what pre-WWII Tokyo was like. Here you’ll find small temples and shrines, craft shops, galleries and cafes and Yanaka Cemetery, one of the city’s oldest graveyards.
- The streets of Nezu, Yanaka and Sendag provide an idea of what pre-WWII Tokyo was like. Here you’ll find small temples and shrines, craft shops, galleries and cafes and Yanaka Cemetery, one of the city’s oldest graveyards.
- Scai Bathhouse
- 200-year-old bath house
- Komorebi no Ashiyu
- Suginami Animation Museum
- Asukayama Park Monorail
- Yokojikkengawa Shinsui Park
- boat rides
- Fishing at Shimizuike Park — though, you cannot keep the fish you keep…
- Homonya Dobutsu Hiroba
- petting zoo
- Tokyo Tower
- On your birthday (with proof!) you get a discount ticket and free cake at the restaurant at the top of the tower.
- On your birthday (with proof!) you get a discount ticket and free cake at the restaurant at the top of the tower.
- Joypolis Amusement Centre/Park
- Birthday = free admission and ride tickets
- Tokyo Kite Museum
- Chofu Aerospace Museum (JAXA)
- Tokyo Gas Museum
- Tokyo Fire-fighter Museum
- Hibiya Park
- Hinokicho Park (Akasaka)
- Hotel New Otani garden
- Beautiful gardens can be admired in Tokyo’s New Otani Hotel, even if you are not a guest.
- Beautiful gardens can be admired in Tokyo’s New Otani Hotel, even if you are not a guest.
- Chinzano Garden (The Four Seasons Hotel)
- Tamagawadai Park
- Gyosen Park + Zoo
- Roppongi West Park
- Shin-Edogawa Park
- Nissan Showroom (Ginza)
- Hakuhinkan Toyshop (Ginza/Chuo)
- M’s (Akihabara)
- 7-story sex[toy] shop.
If you are of legal age, check it out if you dare. I gotta say that this is one of the most unique things in Tokyo/Japan, for having a full out building of this stuff is a feat in itself. No one really bats an eye at you there, though I would probably advise women going to go with a male friend to avoid unwanted attention.
- 7-story sex[toy] shop.
- Senkaku-ji [temple]
- Famous for the 47 ronin burial site.
- Famous for the 47 ronin burial site.
- Hongan-ji [Temple] (Tsukiji)
- Famous of being one of the only Western styled temples, in the style of a cathedral.
- Famous of being one of the only Western styled temples, in the style of a cathedral.
- Shimbashi Station
- On the 2nd floor there is the infamous panty vending machine. They still had one when I was there recently, so if you want to find the mythical vending machine, try your luck there! 😛
- On the 2nd floor there is the infamous panty vending machine. They still had one when I was there recently, so if you want to find the mythical vending machine, try your luck there! 😛
- “Tachiyomi” in every book-store and conbini [basically]
- 立ち読み (Tachiyomi) is the Japanese term for standing while reading. You will find people of all ages doing this, where they will essentially read an entire book or magazine in the shop without buying it while standing. Great to just kill time if you want for free.
Enjoy wandering around the Tokyo when you come to Japan and don’t forget to take advantage of all the freebies along the way!
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