In a quiet residential corner of Setagaya, far from the tourist trail, sits one of Tokyo’s most charming and unusual temples: Gotokuji. This peaceful Buddhist temple is widely believed to

Where the Sumida River meets Tokyo Bay sits Hamarikyu, one of the city’s most special traditional gardens. Once the private retreat and duck-hunting grounds of the Tokugawa shoguns, this beautiful

Right in the heart of Tokyo, surrounded by moats and massive stone ramparts, lies the Imperial Palace — the home of Japan’s Emperor. While the palace itself is mostly closed

One of Tokyo’s most elegant and atmospheric neighborhoods, Kagurazaka is a delightful blend of old geisha-district charm and contemporary French sophistication. Once a fashionable entertainment quarter, its sloping main street

Tucked between Ueno and Asakusa lies one of Tokyo’s most unusual and delightful shopping streets: Kappabashi, also known as “Kitchen Town.” For around 800 metres, this is where the city’s

A serene and beautifully composed traditional garden in the city’s east, Kiyosumi Teien is a hidden delight that many visitors never reach. Built around a large central pond and famous

One of the oldest and finest traditional gardens in Tokyo, Koishikawa Korakuen is a tranquil masterpiece dating back to the early Edo period, in the 1600s. Created by the powerful

A guide to Meiji Jingu, the serene Shinto shrine set in a vast forest beside Harajuku, and how to make the most of a visit.

One of Tokyo’s most effortlessly stylish neighborhoods, Nakameguro sits along the gently winding Meguro River and has become a byword for laid-back cool. Its tree-lined canal, independent boutiques, design shops,

Tucked into the old, atmospheric streets between Nezu and Sendagi, Nezu Shrine is one of Tokyo’s oldest and most beautiful Shinto shrines — and one of its best-kept secrets. With