Things to see and do in Tokyo for free

These are some of the places we visited and things we did during our Tokyo trip... all for free.

1. Harajuku
2. Meiji Shrine
3. Senjoji Temple
4. Tokyo Metrolitan Government Building
5. Imperial Palace Gardens
6. Basement Food Halls

 

1. Harajuku

There are a few interesting things to do at Harajuku:

 

People-watch - Observe young people in unique street fashion.

 

Takeshita Dori - Walk down and take in the atmosphere at Takeshita Dori. Here you will be able to jostle with many young people, pop into a boutique store, grab a bite on the go, or wander into a budget store 100 yen shop.

 

Harajuku Station - Admire this single platform iconic station that was built in early 1900s.

 

2. Meiji Shrine

Also in Harajuku, this shrine (Meiji Jingu) is nestled in a serene park. You will be able to admire the wooden Japanese architecture, and if you are lucky, be able to observe a wedding procession with the wedding party in traditional Japanese dress.

 

3. Senjoji Temple

Great photo opportunities at this Buddhist temple in Asakusa. At dusk the nearby pagoda is lit up bathed in gold. The Nakamise street leading up to the Senjoji temple is filled with stalls selling snacks and souvenirs. Grab some free food samples here.

4. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Rise up to the 45th floor and take in the panoramic view of Tokyo city. On a clear day, you will be able to see Mt Fuji.

5. Imperial Palace Gardens

Stroll the garden, have a picnic, or simply people watch. In spring, you will be greeted by cherry blossoms and in autumn, the rich colours of the leaves. Don't forget to catch the double bridge.

6. Basement Food Halls

Go to the basement food halls of the large department stores, and stretch out your hand for free food samples.

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Hotel Review - Hyatt Regency Tokyo

The Hyatt Regency Tokyo is located in Shinjuku, a fast-paced business, shopping and entertainment district. This five star hotel in Tokyo is next to the Shinjuku Central Park and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. It is also a 10 minute walk to the Shinjuku station where there are many malls like the Odakyu Department Store, HALC and BicCamera.

There is a free shuttle bus running between the hotel and bus stop 35 outside HALC department store at Shinjuku. The airport limosuine busses also stop here to/from Narita and Haneda airports.

After returning back to Tokyo from a one night trip to Hakone, we rolled our bags from Shinjuku station out the west exit over to bus stop 35 outside HALC. The clean white Hyatt Regency bus was waiting there. A wave to the driver, and the pleasant white-gloved driver came out to help us with our bags into the bus. A 5-minute bus ride later and we were at the Hyatt Regency.

The large lobby was lit by three huge chandeliers. How do they clean those things? A brisk walk over to the reception desk and a pleasant lady efficiently checked us in, informing us that we have free use of the fitness centre and swimming pool. If only we brought our trainers and swimming gear. Then she whispered ..."I upgraded you to a bigger King size room". That put a smile on our faces.

We booked the room online at hyatt.com about a month earlier and got a super saver deal of  ¥ 15,000 (including taxes), for two adults, excluding breakfasts. Not a bad deal, considering that other travel websites were offering higher rates for the same room. I also asked for a non-smoking and quiet room. Both requests were accommodated.

The room was certainly a "quiet" one, as it was down the corridor away from the lift lobby. The room was huge! It fitted a very comfortable king size bed, a two-seater sofa, small round table and chair, all comfortably without feeling cramped.

There was free Internet access via a LAN cable. Didn't try that out because we didn't bring our laptops. No room WIFI, unfortunately. There was the LCD TV with both English and Japanese channels. The refrigerator was well stocked with drinks and beer.

One of the first things I check out in a hotel room is the cleanliness of the bathroom. Hyatt Regency passed - very clean bathroom, full set of amenities, good water pressure from the shower head. No separate shower stall but within the bath tub. And the icing on the cake - a super thick terry cloth bathrobe.

We didn't opt for the breakfast option as we felt we could buy something small on the go. And a good thing too, because I spied on long quese outside the ground floor cafe at around 8:30am. There are two mini marts -7-11 and Family Mart - in the basement. We bought our milk and buns for breakfast on the go. I noticed fresh sushi being brought in the early morning that was quickly snapped up by office workers from the neighbourhood office buildings.

The concierge was very helpful with maps and directions. They also kept our bags with them after checking out as our departing flight was not until 11pm.

Hyatt Regency Shinjuku is in a good location in Tokyo and provides first class five star service you would expect from any five star hotel. Everything worked, service was impeccable. A very happy customer.

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Hotel Review - Keihan Hotel Tokyo

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The Keihan Hotel at Asakusa is a fairly new hotel. It is part of the Keihan chain of hotels.

It is a nine-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Toei Asakusa Line, the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, or the Tobu Isesaki Line. Alternatively, a seven-minute walk from Tawaramachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.

The rooms are typically small as per Tokyo standards with modern amenities. Our room was a semi double room (14 sq metre), which means a semi double bed - slightly smaller than a regular Queen size bed. There were the standard room facilities: LCD TV with Japanese channels, small writing desk and chair, small refrigerator, humidifier machine, trouble press and very narrow closet.

The very clean bathroom, though small, has the customary high tech toilet, shower within bath tub, set of bathroom amenities like shower gel, shampoo, hair dryer, toothbrushes.

The hotel reception is on the second floor and have some English speaking staff. Also on the second floor is a free-to-use washing machine and dryer. Pay only ¥100 for a small pack of detergent. Caution - it took me one hour to wash my clothes (medium cycle) and another one hour for the dryer to dry them.

Also on the second floor - two internet PCs for free use by hotel guests.

Hotel Keihan Asakusa is in a good area for tourists to be based as it's within walking distance to Senjoji temple. Many mini marts and affordable restaurants are within walking distance of the hotel.

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Photos - Day 6 - Tokyo

Tokyo Government Metropolitan Building > Lunch at Shinjuku > East Shinjuku > Hyatt Regency > Haneda Airport

Checked out of the Hyatt Regency, left our bags with the concierge as our flight only departs at 11pm, and walked 2 minutes to the building next door - the Tokyo Government Metropolitan. It was then a 55-second trip up the elevator to the observation deck on the 45th floor. Stunning views of Tokyo city! On a clear day you could even see majestic Mt Fuji in the horizon.

Looking down into Shinjuku Park.

Looking east and I spot the Tokyo Skytree in the background.

Restaurant, usually on the upper floors of department store buildings, have good deals for lunches and dinner. We climbed up to level 8... OK we took the elevator .... of the Palette building which is right next to the Odakyu building by Shinjuku station, and found this restaurant.

My set lunch of appetiser of pickled vegetables, pork, rice, sashimi and miso soup came to under ¥1,000.

Colourful billboards at busy intersectoin at East Shinjuku - the east side of the train station.

Two devils, with their tails, were roaming around in Shinjuku.

East Shinjuku.

Streets of East Shinjuku.

Walked back to Odakyu department store, and gave our legs a welcome rest at a cafe within the store. Pear tart and English Breakfast tea for me.

Strawberry cheesecake and floral tea.

Side streets of West Shinjuku at night when the colourful neon lights add to the atmosphere. We browsed through a few electronic stores and were amazing variety of mobile phones!

Took the limousine bus from the Hyatt to Haneda airport. This photo was taken from the outdoor observation deck at Haneda airport.

Goodbye Tokyo. Arigato gozaimasu. Hope to be back soon.

More Photos > Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 (am) - Day 4 (pm) - Day 5 - Day 5 (pm) - Day 6

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Photos - Day 5 (evening) - Tokyo

Hyatt Regency Shinjuku > Yakitori and Beer

Arrived at Shinjuku Station from Yumoti-Hakone at about 7pm. Walked out of the west side of the station to Halc department store, and looked for bus stop 35 where the Hyatt Regency bus makes it stop. Arrived at the Hyatt Regency at about 7:30pm and checked into our King Room. Then off to look for dinner of beer and yakitori.

Hyatt Regency Hotel at Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Hyatt Regency Hotel King room with King size bed. A good size room. Very comfortable king size bed. has a sofa, round table and single arm chair, and all the luxury you would expect from the Hyatt.

Hyatt Hotel King Room bathroom. Good set of toiletries. Shower and bathtub together; no separate shower area. Excellent super thick and comfy terry cloth bathrobe..

Took the shuttle bus back to Halc department store at Shinjuku. Came across a billboard advertising Yakitori at the Halc's basement. Since it was getting late and we were starving, we headed down the stairs.

After a few sticks of Yakitori, we spied on something delicious from the next table. It's called Okonomiyaki. We had to have one. It's a savoury pancake made of eggs, noodles, your choice of meat or seafood, and served with stripes of mayo.

We wanted more! More Beer and Yakitori! And so we opened up the Metropolitan free magazine, poured through the restaurant pages and came across an ad for yakitori and free flow drinks. Tucked away in East Shinjuku on the 6th floor or a narrow building, we entered a crowded smoky place. All locals; we were the only foreigners. But that's the fun of discovering new places and enjoying what the locals do. We ordered a variety of yakitori off the menu and was told that we could help ourselves to anything from the drinks counter - beer, juices, fruity flavoured liquor.

More Photos > Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 (am) - Day 4 (pm) - Day 5 - Day 5 (pm) - Day 6

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Photos - Day 4 (morning) - Tokyo

Romance Car Train Shinjuku Station > Yumoto Station

More Photos > Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 (am) - Day 4 (pm) - Day 5 - Day 5 (pm) - Day 6

Romance car train at Shinjuku station.

The Japanese train system runs on time. The journey from Shinjuki to Hakone Yumoto took an hour and 20 minutes.

Inside the Romance car. Comfortable seats and train cabins.

The seats are automatically set in the forward facing direction (isn't that a good idea!) before passengers board. Passengers can then rotate the seats should they want to face their friends.

As we travel to Yumoto, I captured some sights from my window seat on the train.

Leaving Tokyo city and into the countryside.

Mt Fuji awaits.

Odawara castle.

And finally arriving at Hakone-Yumoto station.

More Photos > Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 (am) - Day 4 (pm) - Day 5 - Day 5 (pm) - Day 6

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Photos - Day 3 - Tokyo

Kappabashi Street at Akasuka > Meiji Shrine > Harajuku Station > Okdayku Sightseeing Service Center at Shinjuku > Takashita Street at Harajuku > Sukiyaki dinner at Akasuka.

More Photos > Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 (am) - Day 4 (pm) - Day 5 - Day 5 (pm) - Day 6

Kappabashi Street at Asakusa, has many shops selling kitchenware and restaurant stuff.

Then off to Harajuku station. Exit the station, a short walk over the bridge and into a gravel path towards the Meiji Shrine. It was along this gravel path that I captured this beautiful stream.

Barrels of sake wrapped in straw. These barrels have been donated by the Sake Brewers Association, to show respect for Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

Barrels of wine.The Meiji period was a period where began a policy of adopting the best of Western culture. Emperor Meiji embraced many features such as wearing western attire and taking western food and wine. These barrels of wine to be consecrated at the Meiji Shrine have been offered by the vineyards of Bourgogne in France.

Fortunate enough to witness several wedding parties at the Meiji Shrine. This wedding party gets ready for a group photo while bride gets some help with her make up.

In true Japanese architecture, in timber and oriental lamps at the Meiji Shrine. The shrine presents an aura of calmness deep within the park. It's amazing that this gem is only a 5 minute walk from the hustle and bustle of the shops at Harajuku and Shibuya.

Cute little Japanese girl in her finest kimono joins the wedding procession around the shrine.

Wedding couple walk in procession around the Meiji Shrine as part of the wedding ceremony.

Harajuku station.

The Odakyu Seightseeing Service center at Shinjuku station. Collected our Hakone hotel vouchers and Romance car train tickets here. The booth is manned by young people who can speak English and Mandarin.

Across the street from Harajuku Station is Takashita Dori, a pedestrian lane packed with fashionable boutiques, cafes, popular with teenagers and young people.

Wolfgang Puck serves his express fare at Takashita Dori, Harajuku.

Harajuku is the place to see and be seen. Young Japanese girls like to play dress up and show off at Harajuku.

Socks for all days and all personalities. Feeling like an Angry Bird today?

High end boutiques at Harajuku.

Dinner at Askakusa Imahan where we tucked in marbled Wagyu beef sukiyaki.

Sake was elegantly served in these small cups

Appetisers were like miniature art pieces -so good to look at. And delicious too!

The main course - raw slices of marbled Wagyu beef, to be cooked at the table sukiyaki style.

The restaurant also gave us a brief step by step instruction on how to cook our sukiyaki.

More Photos > Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 (am) - Day 4 (pm) - Day 5 - Day 5 (pm) - Day 6

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