How To Experience Old and New Tokyo
Tokyo has a reputation as an ultra-modern city, and in many ways, it's true. You'll find world-class infrastructure; a transit system that's fast, clean, and reliable; and cutting-edge tech in many parts of the city. Some of this modernity is by necessity: The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the World War II firebombings of Tokyo by the US in 1945 flattened much of the city, so its citizens were forced to rebuild from the ground up.
However, there are still plenty of remnants from prior eras in this constantly shifting metropolis, with neighborhoods and buildings that blend Tokyo past and present. Read on for our city guide to old and new Tokyo.
1. Tokyo Tower
The postwar monument is literally a piece of history.
Tokyo Tower has been an indelible part of the cityscape since 1958. Originally built as a radio tower to broadcast to stations around the metropolis, the 1,093-foot (333-meter) orange and white steel structure was built partially from scrapped US tanks left over from the Korean War. Today, it still serves as a broadcast station and as a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors for the 360-degree views from its height. Purchase your e-ticket in advance and head straight to the indoor observation deck.
2. Tokyo Skytree
This shiny tower looks to the future.
Tokyo Skytree is Tokyo’s tower-come-lately: Opened in 2012, it supplanted Tokyo Tower as the city’s main broadcasting tower and became, at 2,080 feet (634 meters), the world’s tallest tower. In addition to its role in digital radio and television broadcasting, the Skytree is also a tourist attraction, a research site for lighting observation, and a hub for disaster-control activities. Prebook admission to multiple observation decks, which offer sweeping views of Tokyo and beyond, plus a section of glass floor that lets the brave test their acrophobia.
Related: 11 of the Best Views in Tokyo and Where To Find Them
3. Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa Temple)
Tokyo’s oldest temple beckons.
You can’t get much more traditional in Tokyo than Senso-ji Temple, the city’s oldest Buddhist temple, established in the 600s in Asakusa. One of Tokyo’s most historic sights, the temple grounds are marked by a huge entrance called Kaminarimon, or Thunder Gate, which leads to a busy shopping street filled with snacks and souvenirs to peruse before you enter the inner temple precinct. There, you can pray, light incense, and buy fortunes and good luck talismans. Make it a stop on a sightseeing tour of Tokyo.
4. Akihabara
Geek stuff, pop culture, and electronics await in Akihabara.
Only a few subway stops from the traditional temple quarter in Asakusa is a much more modern side of Tokyo: Akihabara. Also known as Electric Town, Akihabara is famous for its concentration of gadget shops, which draw in gear heads with a penchant for tinkering. It’s a good place to see sides of Tokyo modern and traditional; in recent years, it's also become a hub for gamers and anime fans. Customize your own Akihabara tour and go toy hunting at Animate Akihabara or Mandarake; stop in at Gigo for a game center session; and pop by Aki-Oka for artisan made-in-Japan souvenirs.
5. Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street
Stroll along an old-fashioned shopping street.
While so much of the city is shiny and recently developed, part of its charm is in old (vs. new) Tokyo attractions. Yanaka Ginza is a shotengai —a traditional shopping street. Populated mostly by independent and family-run businesses, some shops have been here for generations. The rhythms of daily life are apparent, with temples and a cemetery standing adjacent to greengrocers and clothiers.
Try the roasted chestnuts at Waguriya Tokyo for a traditional snack, or peruse bamboo crafts at Midoriya. Visit on a private, customizable tour of Tokyo or take a guided walking tour through this historic district to get a more in-depth insight.
6. Azabudai Hills
Splurge at this flashy new shopping mall.
By contrast, Azabudai Hills is decidedly new. What the mall lacks in grit and timeworn charm it makes up for with glitz and swag. This swanky new shopping complex and office park, opened in 2024, offers luxe goods and foods in the international, embassy-dense neighborhood of Azabu. The mall also holds the newly reopened teamLab Borderless Tokyo—directly connected to the Kamiyacho subway station—where you can immerse yourself in the latest digital art. Here, browse books and accessories at Ogaki Bookstore and shop with stylish crowds at Alchemy.
7. Tokyo Station
Tokyo’s handsome station is at the center of it all.
If you want to discover old and new Tokyo in one place, look no further than the venerable Tokyo Station (Tokyo Eki). Built in 1914, the stately brick structure has withstood the challenges of a century and remains one of the country’s major hubs for rail transportation, serving as the terminus for the ultra-modern bullet trains heading north, south, and west. Step inside and you’ll find not only a train station, but dozens of restaurants and shopping arcades, both inside and outside the ticket gates.
8. Toden Arakawa Line
Meander through an old-fashioned Tokyo neighborhood on the Toei streetcar.
For a blend of old and new in Tokyo, the so-called Tokyo Sakura Tram, one of the city’s few remaining electric streetcars which wends its way through a crescent of northern Tokyo, is a must. If you’re interested in visiting a less touristy part of the city, this is a delightful ride for train nerds and those who like to wander. The single driver, single cars can cover the 7.5-mile (12.2-kilometer), 30-station line in just under an hour and the terminus stations of Waseda and Minowabashi are especially rich in sights: Look out for parks, museums, cafés, and the old-fashioned Joyful Minowa Shopping Street.
9. Miraikan
Envision the future at The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.
The interactive National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) caters to everything tech and exploration. Kids especially will enjoy exhibitions on robots, space, and earth science. Travel there on the Yurikamome Line: the driverless, automated elevated rail. The museum is located in Odaiba Seaside Park (Oaidaba Kaihin Koen), an area rife with modern development including many shopping malls and entertainment halls. Don't miss the giant Gundam Statue and the Statue of Liberty, either.
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