Tokyo is a city full of Instagram spots and beautiful places to photograph.
It is so unique and fascinating – and as someone who has been to Tokyo several times I have selected the best photo spots and most Instagrammable places for you in this easy to follow guide.
Tokyo has been recognised as one of the most Instagrammable cities in the world and it’s not hard to see why, so let’s check out the best Instagram spots and places in Tokyo!
TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS: MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACES IN TOKYO
Senso-ji Temple
Sensi-ji Temple is the oldest Buddhist Temple in Tokyo, built in 628.
This temple is the most visited temple in the world, and probably Tokyo’s most visited spot! As it is one of the most Instagrammable places in the city, it is worth getting here first thing in the morning to escape the crowds.
Entrance is free and the gates are always open so you can come as early (or as late) as you like.
You will first come to the Kaminarimon gate – the main gate to Senso-ji temple, where an impressive giant lantern hangs.
Go through the gate (which is over 1000 years old!) and you will pass around 60 shopping stalls on Nakamise shopping street – the street between the main gate and the temple grounds.
These stalls make for some really cute Instagrammable photos.
After the stalls there is another large red gate to go through and then you’ll arrive at the main temple where you’ll see a big red lantern – another nice place to get some photos.
Take a moment to see how the Japanese act in the temple: they will first head to the ablution fountain to cleanse their hands and mouth.
Then at the temple they will throw a coin in the offering box, bow twice (deeply) and clap twice. They will also light incense sticks, you can purchase some and do the same too if you wish.
Some women will also be walking around dressed in kimonos. If you want to do the same, just go to one of the stalls here that hires them out and you can dress in a kimono for the day!
One of the main gates at Senso-ji temple, with the Tokyo Skytree in the background
Have a stroll around the grounds of the temple and you’ll see you can get some really nice photos from different angles of the temples and pagodas. There is also a Shinto shrine adjacent to the temple that makes for some nice pictures.
As with any religious site, please be respectful and adhere to any signs that prohibit photography.
BEST TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS
Tokyo Skytree
It’s a 20 minute walk over the river from Senso-ji temple to the Tokyo Skytree.
Tokyo Skytree, Japan’s highest observation deck and the world’s tallest freestanding broadcasting tower at 634 metres high is one of the Instagram spots in Tokyo you can’t miss.
You can get reach the Skytree on the Hanzoman metro line, alighting at Oshiage (Skytree) station.
I advise to get there early (it opens at 8am) to avoid the crowds, plus you also get a better chance of seeing Mount Fuji earlier on in the day.
Mount Fuji is 106 miles away from the Skytree and is known for being elusive – often hiding behind a blanket of cloud.
On a clear day however you can see Mount Fuji from the Skytree! Often as the day goes on the sky gets hazier, so you increase your chances of seeing Fuji if you visit the Skytree in the morning.
The view is really amazing: Tokyo looks so big and you can see many of Tokyo’s sights from here including the Tokyo Tower.
Entrance is 2060 yen (¥) (£14) to level 350 (350metres high). You can pay an additional ¥1030 (£7) to go up to level 450 at 450metres high.
It’s up to you which one you are happy with: many people just go to level 350 as the view there is spectacular enough. Click here to purchase tickets.
The view from the top of Tokyo Skytree
Asakusa
Asakusa is the old part of Tokyo. There is a very nice atmosphere in this area and it still retains the old downtown atmosphere from centuries ago.
The quaint little streets hidden behind and around the temple are nice and quiet, and seldom frequented by tourists so they can make for some great photographs.
Stop for lunch on one of these side streets – there are lots of cute and reasonably priced restaurants and street food stalls around. Many locals eat in these restaurants, which is always a sign that the food will be great.
From Asakusa take the Asakusa line straight down to Daimon (9 stops – 15 minute ride).
It’s then a 10 minute walk to the Tokyo Tower.
BEST TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS
Tokyo Tower
The Tokyo Tower is the iconic landmark of Tokyo and is a must-see!
Completed in 1958 Tokyo Tower is a communications and observations tower at 333 metres high, making it Japan’s second tallest structure.
It’s design was inspired by the Eiffel Tower, but it is painted white and orange to comply with air safety regulations.
Head up the Tokyo Tower: like the Skytree, there are two different viewing platforms you can go up to admire the view: the main deck (150m high) costs ¥900, or the top deck (250m high) costs ¥2,800, which also includes entrance to the main deck.
The main deck actually has 2 levels: the one you arrive from and the one on the floor below that you depart from (which is a lot less busier) so take your pictures from here as there are less people.
The lower floor also features a glass skywalk window that you can walk on. Even around lunchtime/early afternoon the viewing platforms don’t get too busy which is good.
As with the Tokyo Skytree, many people are happy with the view and the price to go to the main deck at costs 3 times more just to go up another 100 metres to the top deck. But of course if you choose to go the view is incredible!
From both viewing platforms you get a 360 degree view of Tokyo from the tower and the panoramic views are incredible.
If you’re in Tokyo in the winter when it gets dark early at around 4.30pm, you’ll maybe even be up here for sunset and you’ll be able to see Tokyo lit up at night, as well as seeing Tokyo Tower lit up beautifully.
Whilst you can get some great photos from inside Tokyo Tower, don’t forget to get some photos of it from outside!
There are a few spots where you can get nice Instagram photos of the Tokyo Tower – my favourite being from Zojiji Temple just in front! I love the mix of new and old in this photo.
There is also another popular Instagram spot by the Tokyo Tower – it’s a staircase coming up from an underground car park next to the Tokyo Tower.
This is a popular Instagram spot so it can get busy with people taking photos, especially at night when the tower is lit up!
From Tokyo Tower, make your way to Hamamatsucho station (15 minute walk from Tokyo Tower). From here you will take the JR Yamanote line to Shibuya (7 stops).
BEST TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS
Nezu Shrine
You’ve probably seen pictures of the famous red Torii gates in at the Fushimi Inari Shrine – however this is in Kyoto which is a 3 hour train ride from Tokyo.
The great news is that if you will only be in Tokyo when visiting Japan, there is a shrine here with Torii gates that you can visit and get some really nice Instagrammable photos.
BEST TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS
Shibuya
Welcome to the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world – Shibuya Crossing!
Hundreds of people and brightly coloured signs everywhere, as well as of course, the famous Shibuya crossing! Think London’s Picadilly Circus times 100!
Shibuya Crossing is an absolute must when in Tokyo – you can feel the pulse of the city here, with so many people and large screens and neon signs everywhere.
Somehow this crossing is both absolutely chaotic but super organised at the same time, so come prepared for the crowds and people stopping to take a photo, as well we people who are just going about their everyday business.
Do not even attempt to use a tripod to take photos here alone as it is just too busy and your tripod will probably get knocked over. Find someone to help you take photos if you are alone.
You’ll probably end up going across the crossing a couple of times just for the sheer excitement of it – and to get that Instagrammable shot of course!
Spend a few moments to just take everything in and to observe the pedestrian patterns first, so you can work out how you want to take your photo.
It can be difficult to get a nice photo with so many people around so don’t stress if it’s not going to happen. You can put portrait mode on and just blur out the other people, which gives a cool sense of motion in the photo.
Seeing Shibuya crossing in the evening lit up is the most impressive and exciting time to see it.
Mag’s Park
If you want to get some Instagrammable photos of Shibuya Crossing without actually being in the thick of the action, don’t head to the second floor of the Starbucks like everyone says. The view isn’t great plus it is pretty crowded.
Instead head to the hidden Shibuya Crossing View just opposite at on the 8th floor of the Magnet 109 Building that is unknown to most people.
Take the elevator up to Mag’s Park on the 8th floor, the entrance to the viewing platform is 600 yen per person.
The view of the crossing from here is really good as you are on the corner of the building so you get a great birds eye view of the crossing below.
Mag’s Park is open from 11am until 11pm.
If coming from Shibuya Station, take the Hachiko exit. Hachiko is the dog who walked his beloved owner to Shibuya train station every morning for work and waited for him every evening when he finished work.
But one day his owner never showed up as he had died suddenly whilst at work.
Hachiko continued to go to Shibuya train station every morning and evening for the next 10 years, waiting for the same train and the return of his owner, who sadly never came back.
You can see his statue just outside the station – it’s worth taking a shot!
BEST TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS
Nonbei Yokocho
Nonbei Yokocho is also known as Drunkards Alley and is a really cute spot to take some Instagram photos. Hidden just behind Shibuya Crossing you will find this traditional area filled with narrow lantern-lit streets and alleyways.
Over the years Shibuya has changed a lot and is one of Tokyo’s busiest and brightest neighbourhoods, but you can still find remnants of the old town in these back streets, which are an oasis of calm to those few in the know.
There are many little restaurants and bars here – some so small that they can only hold around 4 people at a time!
They are filled with local people and these ‘yokocho’ (alleyways) in Tokyo are definitely worth a visit, if not to experience the true Tokyo, then at least to have a break from the crowds!
BEST TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS
Shinjuku
Tall buildings, bright neon lights and bustling streets full of energy – this is Shinjuku!
Shinjuku is the vibrant heart of Tokyo and a fun and unique area to explore and photograph, as well as being one of the best places in Tokyo for eating and drinking!
Not only this though, but there is the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen National Park here. The 144 acre Shinjuku Gyoen National Park has some really beautiful gardens.
It is a very popular place to take photos of the sakura (cherry blossom) in the spring, and of the red leaves in the autumn months.
BEST TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS
Omoide Yokocho:
First make sure to head to the photogenic Omoide Yokocho – a really cute little lane filled with many restaurants.
It has a nostalgic feel to it, like you are stepping back in time, and it is an excellent place to experience authentic Japanese cuisine.
Omoide Yokocho actually means ‘memory lane’ – pretty cute right?!
Omoide Yokocho is at the north end of Shinjuku station, very close to the underpass by the train tracks.
Shinjuku is also the world’s busiest station so it is important to know which exit to take, as taking the wrong one can sometimes cost you upto 20 minutes to get back! So just look for the “East Exit” sign.
It is best to type Omoide Yokocho into your Google maps or maps.me offline map so you can follow the directions (it will take less than 5 minutes to walk) as it is easy to miss.
You could easily walk past the small entrance and not realise if you don’t know what you are looking for!
I have been to a few of the restaurants here and they all have great food and are very popular but as most of the restaurants only have space for about 8 people, you will often just go in any restaurant that has space!
The earlier in the evening you go, the less busy it is.
In most of the restaurants you will sit facing the bar and the chef. Often there are several small dishes (mostly meat dishes) to choose from.
Usually you’ll select maybe 4 dishes each and there is a very friendly atmosphere everywhere. I really enjoy coming back here time and time again and the prices are pretty reasonable and you can get some really cute photos.
Omoide Yokocho can get quite busy in the evenings, so it’s best to arrive earlier to take your photos if you want less people around.
However I loved the atmosphere and lighting in the evening and feel that you can really experience it though the photos.
BEST TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS
Kabukicho:
Right next to Omoide Yokocho is Kabukicho: the nightlife and seedy red light district of Tokyo in Shinjuku.
This is the area that never sleeps: it is filled with large screens, tall buildings, bright lights everywhere, and it is a big nightlife entertainment area with restaurants and bars, “massage” shops and sex shops.
It is a fascinating place to visit, and I think people love it or hate it so you just have to go and see for yourself.
Probably the most Instagrammable spot in Kabukicho is the red archway to the entrance of Kabukicho.
Photos in this area will always look best when taken after dark as all the streets are lit up. Do bear in mind to always stay alert, as though Japan is an extremely safe country, this area is a little seedy.
Golden Gai:
A few minutes walk from Kabukicho is Golden Gai. This is a really cute corner of Shinjuku with 6 narrow alleys filled with over 200 tiny bars each with their own unique style and theme.
The bars open from 9pm and it is great to come here in evening and have a stroll round and bar hop through these unique bars.
The bars are all super cute and different, and similar to Omoide Yokocho they just have space for just a few people inside. Some of them are really Instagrammable and you can get some really nice photos.
The bars still retain their post-war scruffy charm, which a lot of other parts of Tokyo have now lost in favour of a modern city.
BEST TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS
Harajuku – Takeshita Street
Head to Harajuku’s Takeshita Street – full of cute boutique shops and literally THE best place to people watch in Tokyo – especially on Sundays when the Harajuku Girls come out!
As there are so many colourful restaurants, themed cafes and boutique shops here, you can get some really fun photos here! There is so much colourful food here at the restaurants and food stalls that you can use as food props.
Totti Candy is a great shop to take photos outside with their amazing rainbow coloured cotton candy floss! Santa Monica Crepes and Angel Crepes are other really popular shops to take photos outside.
If you want to get photos outside without other people, you will have to visit first thing in the morning.
Also visit nearby Cat Street which is becoming really popular!
Hedgehog Cafe
Visit the Hedgehog cafe just around the corner from Takeshita Street. Honestly these hedgehogs are so cute and definitely deserve a spot on anyone’s Instagram feed – just look at that face!
The Tokyo Plaza Shopping Centre is also in Harajuku and is also worth checking out – it’s the most famous shopping mall in Tokyo.
If you go up the escalator by the inside entrance you will see that the walls are made of fractured pieces of glass like a kaleidoscope which can make for some really unique photos!
Mieji Shrine
Visit nearby Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park – a beautiful and peaceful oasis in the middle of the city. It’s a great place to get away from all the hustle and bustle, as well as a place where you can get some nice photographs (of course!).
You’ll see the large wooden Torii gate as you stroll through the tree-lined path on your way to the shrine. This is actually the largest wooden Torii gate in Japan!
Just outside of the main shrine you’ll also see rows of Sake barrels on a wall that make for a really unique photograph.
And of course – the actual shrine itself is really beautiful to photograph from the outside.
TeamLab Borderless
TeamLab Borderless is another one of the best Instagram spots in Tokyo. Similar to the Art Science Museum in Singapore, it has some really impressive and interactive exhibitions.
Bear in mind there is a 2 minute limit for the digital light canvas exhibition (whereas you can stay as long as you like at the one in Singapore), so make sure to not waste any time if you are after the perfect shot!
Tickets do sell out so make sure to get your tickets in advance and arrive early when there will be less people as it does get very crowded inside!
Do note that tripods are NOT allowed here! If you are a solo traveller and usually take photos of yourself with a tripod, buddy up and find someone else in the queue that can help you take photos of each other!
Otherwise just take photos of the exhibition without anybody in, or get some selfies!
Make sure to also check out the big colourful Ferris wheel next to TeamLab Borderless.
Ritz-Carlton Tokyo In Roppongi Hills
If you want to see Tokyo from above from a different viewpoint then head over to The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo in Roppongi Hills.
The hotel has a lovely bar at the top where you can have a great view of the Roppongi Hills, and you don’t have to be a hotel guest to visit the bar. As to be expected, drinks are expensive, but it is worth the view!
BEST TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS
Akihabara
Akihabara is a little bit like Shinjuku with all the bright lights and it really makes you feel like you have stepped into the future!
There are many anime and manga shops in Akihabara, and as well as electrical shops, anime and manga is what Akihabara is famous for! Also there are lots of arcades games and gadget shops here.
For something that you aren’t going to experience anywhere else, visit one of the maid cafe’s in Akihabara for one of the weirdest experiences of your life.
Women dressed in maid outfits singing to you and serving you food made to look like cute little animals.
Akihabara is also full of themed cafes! I visited the Owl Cafe here which was fun.
BEST TOKYO INSTAGRAM SPOTS TO GET PHOTOS OF THE SAKURA CHERRY BLOSSOMS
Meguro River Cherry Blossoms Promenade
Getting to witness the cherry blossom season in Japan is a really unique experience.
Meguro River Cherry Blossoms Promenade is one of the best places to the cherry blossoms in Tokyo. They look so beautiful cascading over the top of the river.
To get here, head to the Naka-meguro Metro Station and look for the river and cherry blossoms. You can get some really stunning photos here, but be prepared it can get quite busy as it is a very popular location!
There is a really nice atmosphere here though which is great.
Ueno Onshi Park
Another great spot to see the cherry blossoms is Ueno Onshi Park, which is also home to many beautiful traditional Japanese temples.
ACCOMMODATION IN TOKYO
If you are keen to do something a bit different and only found in Japan, and of course want your accommodation to be Instagrammable, then stay at a capsule hotel!
There are so many capsule hotels dotted throughout the city, you can check capsule hotels available in Tokyo for your stay. A very popular one is MyCUBE in Asakusa.
The Capsule Hotels in Tokyo are really unique and make for some really great Instagram spots.
Park Hotel Tokyo is another Instagrammable hotel in Tokyo you can stay at. Get one of the rooms with a view of the Tokyo Tower, and one a clear day you’ll be able to see all the way to Mount Fuji!
Travelling Around Tokyo On The Metro:
– You NEED cash to buy metro tickets; you cannot pay on card so make sure you have change. There are ATM machines in the main stations only, for you to withdraw money should you need.
– Avoid rush hour where possible as it is super busy at this time!
– Signs are usually in English but it can get pretty confusing sometimes, so the best advice I can give is to download an offline maps, such as Google maps or maps.me, so it will tell you which line to take and even how much to pay.
– To make things easier, buy a day pass for ¥600 if you plan to make 3 or more journeys in any 24 hour period. This saves time, hassle and money rather than buying single tickets each time.
– Check which exit you need to leave from the station as the majority of the stations have many exits. You will save a lot of time this way.
Tokyo is a massive city and it’s tourist attractions are pretty spread out from each other. Instead of thinking of Tokyo as one city, it’s best to think of it as several unique neighbourhoods, each with their own particular sights and attractions.
Looking at the simplified map below (you can pick one of these up yourself from any Tokyo Metro station), this really helps you to orientate yourself around the city and plan your day efficiently to ensure you get to see as much as possible.
How Long Should You Spend In Tokyo?
Ideally you want around 3 days to explore Tokyo. However if you only have 24 hours in Tokyo you can get to see a lot of the Instagram spots!
So there you are – those are the best Tokyo Instagram spots. I hope you have a great time exploring this city. Let me know in the comments below if there are any more Instagrammable places in Tokyo that you found!