Tokyo Travel Guide by Area
I'm Shin, and I run this travel blog from Odawara, Kanagawa — but Tokyo keeps pulling me back. From the silent forest of Meiji Shrine, to the old-town energy of Asakusa, to the flowing curves of Azabudai Hills, this page organizes my Tokyo coverage by area so you can jump straight to whichever side of the city you're curious about.
Meiji Shrine — Tokyo's Sacred Forest in the Heart of the City
Step off the platform at Harajuku Station, pass through the first torii gate, and the noise of the city disappears. This is one of Tokyo's most striking contrasts — 100,000 trees, a shrine built for the Meiji Emperor and Empress Shōken, and total silence just minutes from Takeshita Street.
Everything from the Great Torii and Meoto Kusunoki to Kiyomasa's Well, goshuin, manners, and access — a complete guide based on my own visits.
Dig deeper with the Meoto Kusunoki, Meiji Shrine's married-couple camphor trees, Kiyomasa's Well, the Inner Garden, and the shrine's omamori.
Asakusa — Old Tokyo, Street Food, and Sensō-ji Temple
Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise shopping street, and Sensō-ji's main hall — Asakusa is where Tokyo's Edo-era atmosphere is still fully intact, lantern smoke, street food, and all.
Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise, the main hall, and the five-story pagoda — plus goshuin, worship etiquette, and the surrounding shopping streets.
More on Asakusa: Kaminarimon Gate, the street food guide, the Five-Story Pagoda, and a complete goshuin guide.
Azabudai Hills — Curved Architecture Meets Old Tokyo
Thomas Heatherwick's flowing, curve-heavy buildings, public art by Nara Yoshitomo, and surprise views of Tokyo Tower — plus, one step outside the complex, a quiet neighborhood that still remembers Gazenbō Valley, the ravine this site used to be.
Heatherwick's curved architecture, public art, hydrangeas in June, Tokyo Tower views, and the old Gazenbō Valley neighborhood next door — everything to see in one visit.
Summary: Which Tokyo Area Should You Visit?
Meiji Shrine's stillness, Asakusa's energy, Azabudai Hills' modern skyline — three completely different sides of the same city. More Tokyo areas, including Yasukuni Shrine and Kameari Katori Shrine, are on the way in English. Pick whichever mood matches your trip, and start with the guide above.
