10 Beautiful Spots in Tokyo They Don't Tell You About [Ikemen Edition]

10 Beautiful Spots in Tokyo They Don't Tell You About [Ikemen Edition]

Those who have visited Tokyo would probably have been to many of the popular tourist attractions: the Tokyo Skytree, Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Meiji Shrine, etc. However, Tokyo has many more places that are great for a quick getaway - and your obligatory Instagram/Snapchat picture. The best part? Everything is easily accessible by public transport!

To help you plan your next trip to Tokyo, we've put together a list of our favorite Tokyo spots inspired by the ikemen from Dream Boyfriend -Astral Days-. (You can check out the bishies on iOS or Android) From city center to the outskirts of Tokyo, these are recommendations from your fellow Tokyo lovers who simply can't get enough of the enigmatic city. Most of these picks are also easy on the wallet - many are free to the public!

Sakura Viewing Spots

Many visitors to Japan come for the sakura, and during the cherry blossom season the popular spots are often crowded with tourists and locals alike. While the following spots we're going to introduce are just as pretty year-round, they are especially photogenic during the sakura season in spring.

1. Shiba Park

Located conveniently next to the Tokyo Tower, the Shiba Park is often overshadowed by the symbolic tourist attraction. We definitely recommend stopping by for a stroll around the beautiful Shiba Park. You can get an excellent view of the Tokyo Tower - without straining your neck.

Shiba Park

Access:
Shiba Park, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Nearest station: Shiba Kouen Station.

Hours and fees:
Open 24 hours, 365 days.

Fees:
Free park admission.

2. Koganei Park

For those tired of the bustling metropolis, why not try heading to the suburbs? Just an hour's train ride away from Tokyo Station is Koganei Park in Tokyo's Koganei City. Here you can indulge in the wide open spaces that would've otherwise been impossible in sardine-packed Tokyo. For absolutely nothing, you get to enjoy nearly 80 hectares of greenery, which turns a dreamy pink during spring.

Koganei Park

Access:
1-13-1 Sekinocho, Koganei, 184-0001 Tokyo
Nearest bus stop: Koganei-koen-nishiguchi

Hours:
Open all day weekdays and weekends.
*Certain facilities may have different hours.
*Hours may vary on public holidays.

Fees:
Free park admission.

Nature Escapade

Tokyo doesn't always have to be flashy lights and endless shopping - its well-developed public transport system meant that a refreshing getaway to nature is easily accessible. Here are some excellent spots to take in Tokyo's greener, quieter charms.

3. Rikugien Park

Right off Komagome Station is the Rikugien Park. Located conveniently on the JR Yamanote Line, you can get here without transfers from most major stations in Tokyo city center. While Rikugien Park also provides fantastic sakura photo ops, it's even more famous for its Autumn Leaves. There are light-ups during both spring and autumn so you can even visit twice to capture completely different but equally stunning views.

Rikugien Park

Access:
6-16-3 Hon-komagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Nearest station: Komagome Station

Hours and fees:
Weekdays and weekends: 9:00 am–5:00 pm (entry until 4:30 pm)
Night light-up for the autumn color and cherry blossom seasons until 9:00 pm.
Closed from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1 for end of year holidays.

Fees:
General: 300 yen
65 and over: 150 yen
Children (primary school and younger): free

4. Rinshi-no-mori Park

If you have some time on your hands, take a trip down to Rinshi-no-mori Park and find yourself transported into a little forest. It's hard to imagine that you're still in Tokyo, just about 45 minutes away from the crazy rush hour at Tokyo Station.

Rinshi-no-mori Park

Access:
2-6-11 Koyamadai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Nearest station: Musashi-Koyama Station

Hours:
Open all day weekdays and weekends.
*Certain facilities may have different hours.
*Hours may vary on public holidays.

Fees:
Park entrance free.

5. Mt. Takao

A few days into your Tokyo trip and you feel like you've put on a few pounds from all that sushi? Get some exercise - challenge yourself with a hike up Mt Takao and bask in the glory of your achievement! The views are fantastic and in case you decide to give up - there's a cable car that gives you equally picturesque views. While still relatively near, the foot of Mt. Takao is slightly over an hour away from city center, so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to and back!

Mt. Takao

Access:
Nearest station: Takaosanguchi Station

Hours and fees:
Cablecar
Weekdays and weekends: 8:00 am–5:45 pm (longer hours on weekends)
Chair Lift
Weekdays and weekends: 9:00 am–4:30 pm (until 4:00 pm for December to April)

Fees:
Cablecar: 480 yen (one way), 930 yen (round trip)
Chair Lift: 480 yen (one way), 930 yen (round trip)

Gardens

If you're into nature - but maybe just not that much, then gardens may be your thing. These carefully crafted and well-attended-to gardens are remnants from the past. Built to entertain, the art of these gardens lie in both the magnificent architecture as well as how they weave into the surroundings.

6. Kiyosumi Garden

Beautiful all year round, Kiyosumi Garden brings together nature and traditional culture. Built in the Meiji Era (1868-1912), the garden is constructed upon classic principles and showcases the elements of Japanese aesthetics. A walk around the large pond will bring you different exquisite views as trees and rocks juxtapose against one another.

Kiyosumi Garden

Access:
1-27-39 Nishigahara, Kita-ku, Tokyo
Nearest station: Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station

Hours and fees:
Weekdays and weekends: 9:00 am–5:00 pm (admission until 4:30 pm)
Closed from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1 for end of year holidays.
*Hours may vary on public holidays.

Fees:
General: 150 yen
65 and over: 70 yen
Children (primary school and younger): free.

7. Kyu-Furukawa Gardens

If a more Western style is your taste, then the Kyu-Furukawa Gardens would be your choice. It greets visitors with a Western-style mansion reminiscent of European architecture and comes with a rose garden. The "western" parts of the Kyu-Furukawa Gardens were completed in 1917, but a Japanese garden was also added later on so you get the best of both worlds!

Kyu-Furukawa Gardens

Access:
1-27-39 Nishigahara, Kita-ku, Tokyo
Nearest station: Kami-Nakasato Station

Hours and fees:
Weekdays and weekends: 9:00 am–5:00 pm (admission until 4:30 pm)
Closed from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1 for end of year holidays.
*Hours may vary on public holidays.

Fees:
General: 150 yen
65 and over: 70 yen
Children (primary school and younger): free.

Spiritual Spot

Rather than for religious reasons, Japanese people often visit temples and shrines for good luck and a peace of mind, or simply because it's a tradition. They also make great sightseeing spots as many are famous for their architecture or are known for being excellent "power spots" that might bring you great fortune for the year to come.

8. Kanda Myoujin Shrine

There are countless shrines and temples all over Japan, and Tokyo is no exception. Right on the top of the list of Tokyo attractions is the grand and sacred Meiji Shrine. However, here at Tokyo Otaku Mode our most recommended shrine is the Kanda Myoujin Shrine. Due to its proximity to the Akihabara district, the Kanda Myoujin Shrine draws in lots of visitors of the otaku variety - anime characters can be spotted on good luck charms, and there are event festivals at the shrine dedicated to certain anime titles. On a normal day, however, the Kanda Myoujin is a peaceful shrine perched on a corner of the quiet Kanda neighborhood, and is definitely worth a visit!

Access:
2-16-2 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Nearest station: Ochanomizu Station

Hours and fees:
Open 24 hours, 365 days.

Fees:
Entrance free.

Night Views

What better way to end a day in Tokyo with a wonderful view of the city lights? Tokyo is a city that never sleeps and even deep into the night the lights keep bustling on. While these attractions are on the pricier side, the view that awaits is definitely worth the visit.

9. Roppongi Hills

Located in the high-end part of town, Roppongi Hills is home to great food and art museums. You can enjoy an afternoon of culture and finish off with gorgeous night views atop the tower.

Access:
Roppongi Hills, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Nearest station: Roppongi Station

Hours:
Weekdays and holidays: 10:00 am–11:00 pm (last admission at 10:30 pm)
Fridays, Saturdays, days preceding holidays: 10:00 am–1:00 am (last admission at midnight)
Sky Deck: 11:00 am–8:00 pm (last admission at 7:30 pm)

Fees:
Adults: 1800 yen
65 and over: 1500 yen
Students (high school, technical college, and university): 1200 yen
Children (from four yrs to jr. high school student age): 600 yen

10. Sky Circus
Perched at the top of 60-floor skyscraper Sunshine 60, Ikebukuro’s Sky Circus gives couples a romantic view of two of Tokyo’s most famous landmarks - Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree. The recently renovated Sky Circus sits in the same entertainment complex as several popular Tokyo family attractions such as the Pokémon Center, Namco Namja Town and J-World Tokyo. What better way to end the day than to see the whole of Tokyo all at once?

Access:
Sunshine 60, 3-1-1 Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Nearest station: Higashi Ikebukuro Station

Hours:
Monday–Sunday: 10:00 am–10:00 pm
*Admission closes one hour before closing time.
*Hours may vary on public holidays.

Fees:
Adults: 1800 yen
Age 65 and above: 1500 yen
Students (high school, technical college and university): 1500 yen
Children (elementary & middle school): 900 yen
Toddlers (age 4 and up): 500 yen

As avid fans of Japan living in the otaku motherland, we hope that gave you some ideas for your next trip to Tokyo! And if you aren't able to visit, you can still get a taste of dates in Japan with your choice of customizable ikemen from Dream Boyfriend ~ Astral Days~, and in English too!

This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article sponsored by Dream Boyfriend ~ Astral Days~

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