Tokyo

This nationally recognised Shinto shrine is considered one of Japan’s primary symbols of the country’s major religion. Take in the huge 11-metre cypress tree torii (gate) before wandering peacefully along winding paths to the wonderful inner buildings. Near the main complex, the modern Meiji Jingu Museum displays personal artefacts of the imperial couple, from manuscripts to garments. For a small fee, the Inner Garden (Jingu Naien) reveals a landscape of seasonal beauty, most famous for its June iris blooms.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and discover Japan's natural wonders around World Heritage Mount Fuji and Hakone in just one day. Visit the 5th Station of Mt Fuji, explore the Ninja House, and relax in a Japanese Garden. Later, experience the vibrant energy of Owakudani, the Great Boiling Valley, go for a landscape ride on a sky gondola, then feel the breeze from a Lake Ashi cruise.

The Senso-ji temple is Tokyo's oldest-established Buddhist temple. Though a major tourist attraction, this is primarily a traditional, local site where worshippers cast coins, clap ceremoniously and bow in respect to an image of Kannon, the Goddess of Compassion.

The stylised Kabuki-za theatre performance consists of elaborate choreography and makeup combined with colourful traditional nagauta music. In the 17th century, female kabuki performers were banned; men now play the roles of both genders most convincingly.

For a taste of Japanese history, this is where you’ll find Japan’s largest collection of Asian artefacts. The main gallery, Honkan, displays an impressive assortment of swords, masks, wood-block prints and kimonos while other must-see features include the 7th-century bronze-seated Buddhas in the Horyu-ji Homotusukan.

At the top of Mori Tower in the vast Roppongi Hills, this one of the major contemporary art museums in Tokyo combines breathtaking views with fresh artistic talent. The museum has held exhibitions featuring a number of big-name artists from Japan and beyond, including Yayoi Kusama, Ai Weiwei, Anish Kapoor and Jeff Koons. Of particular note are the visual projections allowing guests to traverse through virtual imagery and environments. Also includes The Sun cafe, The Moon restaurant, a gift shop and a panoramic observation deck.

Shinjuku Gyoen offers a serene escape from Tokyo’s skyscraper district, blending traditional Japanese landscapes with elegant French formal gardens and expansive English lawns. Originally an imperial retreat (1906), it reopened to the public in 1949 and remains a favourite for picnics and cherry-blossom viewing. Don’t miss the sleek greenhouse brimming with tropical plants, the historic Taiwanese pavilion overlooking reflective ponds, or Momijiyama’s fiery autumn maples. With over a dozen cherry varieties, the bloom season stretches unusually long.

To discover the city in a different way, a bike tour might be exactly what you're looking for. Tokyo Great Cycling Tour is a guided tour which will take you to the major tourist spots in Tokyo. You’ll pass by the Tsukiji Jogai Market, Zojoji Temple, Roppongi District, Aoyama Cemetery, Meiji Jingu and Imperial Palace.

The National Museum of Nature and Science offers a comprehensive journey through Japan’s natural history and scientific development. Its collections span from pre-Meiji scientific instruments to modern technology, including a real rocket launcher and a digital seismograph tracking earthquakes in real time. The museum is famous for its lifelike dinosaur exhibitions, a major draw for younger visitors, and houses the taxidermied figures of the loyal dog Hachikō and the Antarctic sled dogs Taro and Jiro. The Japan Gallery explores the archipelago's diverse ecosystems, featuring wildlife from Hokkaidō bears to Okinawan giant beetles. Other notable exhibits include an Edo-period mummy and an immersive 360-degree theatre.

Shinjuku's red-light district, Kabukicho, is worth visiting even only for the spectacle of neon signs that brighten its alleys when the sun sets. From a roaring Godzilla head to a robot-themed restaurant, this bizarre location doesn't hold back in giving a unique experience to its visitors.

Ueno Zoo is the oldest zoo in Japan. It was founded in 1882, and today it holds 3,000 animals of more than 400 different species and provides all visitors a learning experience. In the East area, you will find pandas, native animals of Japan, mammals and ocean creatures. In the West area, you will find African animals, reptiles, small mammals, and a children's zoo.