Tokyo visit guides

Two famous towers, more than a hundred museums, and a city that rewards planning. Start with the ten museums worth your time and the questions visitors ask most, from Skytree or Tokyo Tower to which tickets to book before you fly.

11 guides Tickets from ¥1,500
Where to Start

Where to start with Tokyo's museums

Tokyo has more than a hundred museums, and they split into two camps. The classical side centres on the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno, the country's largest collection of Japanese art. The other camp is digital: teamLab's immersive rooms, the reason half of Tokyo's museum photos exist. Most first-time visitors want one of each.

Prices start around ¥1,500, but the gap that matters isn't cost, it's booking. The national and city museums are inexpensive and usually walk-in. The experiences people fly for, like teamLab Planets and the Skytree observation deck, sell timed slots and need booking before you arrive.

One thing to book early: teamLab Planets. Entry is timed, popular dates go weeks ahead, and the venue closes for good in 2027 — so if it's on your list, this trip may be your only chance. If you're choosing between the two teamLab sites, the Planets vs Borderless comparison settles it.

Guides

Visitors inside a Tokyo museum gallery

10 Best Museums in Tokyo (2026)

Ranked, with honest verdicts: Tokyo National Museum, teamLab, Mori, Ghibli. Real prices, what's open, and the two you have to book before you fly.
Fujikyu Railway trains at a platform with Mount Fuji behind, partly covered by cloud

Best Day Trips from Tokyo (2026)

Fuji, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko compared on the two things the listings hide: how many hours you spend travelling, and whether a tour is worth paying for.
Gold leaf and carved dragons on the Yomeimon gate at Nikko Toshogu shrine

Nikko Day Trip (2026)

Toshogu is worth the four hours of travel. Read the booking option first: on the most popular tour, entry to the shrine is a paid extra.
The Great Buddha of Kamakura seen from the side, open to the sky at Kotoku-in

Kamakura Day Trip (2026)

An hour from Tokyo, and the one day trip where going alone costs a third of the tour. The Great Buddha, the temples and the seaside tram.
Lake Ashi in Hakone with the red torii gate on the shore and Mount Fuji faint in the distance

Hakone Day Trip (2026)

The Free Pass is ¥7,100 and the bus tours cost about the same — but they skip the Open-Air Museum, which is the reason to go.
Mount Fuji seen across a lake with cloud gathering around the peak

Mount Fuji Day Trip (2026)

Clear on ~80 days a year, and 18% of days in July. Which side of the mountain to pick, and the timing that decides whether you see it.
Rowing boats moored on the pond in Inokashira Park, Tokyo, in the woods around the Ghibli Museum

Ghibli Museum Tickets (2026)

¥1,000, one authorised seller, one release a month. Why no booking platform can sell you entry, and what those €77 tours actually include.
Barefoot visitor on a mirrored floor inside teamLab Planets Tokyo's light installation

teamLab Planets Tokyo Tickets 2026

Timed slots that sell out weeks ahead. How to book, what to do when DMM is sold out, the quietest slots, and Planets vs Borderless.
Visitors as silhouettes inside an immersive digital art exhibition with illuminated screens

teamLab Planets vs Borderless (2026)

Two teamLab museums, and people book the wrong one. Price, length, location, and which to pick — plus the one that closes in 2027.
Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower against the city skyline

Tokyo Skytree vs Tokyo Tower (2026)

Honest comparison: views, crowds, prices. One is taller, the other is better value — and the answer depends on what you're after.
Tokyo Skytree above the city skyline at sunset

Tokyo Skytree Tickets 2026

How to book, online vs same-day pricing, which deck to pick, and the clear-day and sunset timing that makes the view worth it.

Plan Your Visit

Tickets at a glance

Tokyo Tower Main Deck (150m) from ¥1,500. Top Deck Tour ¥3,300 online. Less crowded, better intimate views.
Tokyo Skytree Tembo Deck (350m) from ¥1,800 advance. Combined with Tembo Galleria (450m) from ¥3,000. Tallest in Japan.

Practical Info

Both in one day 45 minutes apart by metro (Sumida ↔ Minato). Skytree at 10am opening, Tower for sunset works well.
Best for views Tokyo Tower's lower deck gives more recognizable city photos. Skytree wins on horizon and Mount Fuji on clear days.
FAQ

Tokyo museums: frequently asked questions

What are the best museums in Tokyo?

The Tokyo National Museum for Japanese art, teamLab for digital immersion, and the Mori Art Museum for contemporary work with a skyline view. Our ranked guide covers ten worth your time, with honest verdicts on which to skip.

Do I need to book Tokyo attractions in advance?

For most museums, no — you can walk in. For teamLab Planets and the Skytree deck, yes: both sell timed-entry slots, and teamLab's popular dates go weeks ahead.

Is the Skytree or Tokyo Tower better?

Tokyo Tower is cheaper (from ¥1,500) and gives more recognizable city photos. The Skytree is the taller of the two (from ¥1,800) and wins on the horizon and Mount Fuji on a clear day.

Is teamLab Planets or Borderless better?

Planets is barefoot and water-based, and it closes in 2027 — so see it this trip if you can. Borderless is a dry maze with no map. Pick Planets for the photogenic rooms, Borderless if you'd rather wander.

Last verified: June 2026

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