People tend to have the impression that Tokyo is expensive, however that's not necessarily the case! Today I want to share with you 10 free things you can do in Tokyo! These 10 activities and places could easily fill a couple of days in Tokyo.

1. Visit Sensoji Temple in Asakusa

Sensoji is Tokyo's oldest and most famous temple. Get there early to avoid the crowds, then wander down Nakamise shopping street on your way back to the station after the stalls have opened (might be hard to avoid spending money at the stalls!).

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa

2. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

This building in Shinjuku has a free observation deck 202m above ground! On a clear day you might be able to spot Mt Fuji in the distance. If you come for the sunset you can see the lights come out across the city.

3. People watch in Harajuku

Take a walk down Takeshita-dori to see all the crazy fashion people are wearing and the shops they buy them from. There is also a multi-story Daiso (100 yen store) where you can spend at least an hour shopping for anything and everything. At 100 yen a piece, it's almost free!

4. Check out the Neon Lights at Shibuya Crossing

You can't visit Tokyo without crossing at the famous Shibuya intersection. Once you are safely across the road you can spend hours wandering the shops in Shibuya. Check out my more detailed blog post about this.

Shibuya Crossing

5. Meiji Jingu Shrine

Once you've had enough of the crowds and sensory overload of Shibuya and Harajuku, head to the Meiji Jingu Shrine. You can enter just behind Harajuku station. It's serene and quiet and you would never guess it was in the middle of a city like Tokyo.

6. Visit one of the many parks

If you are lucky enough to be in Tokyo during cherry blossom season, Ueno and Yoyogi parks are free and great for cherry blossom viewing. If you're in Tokyo at a another time of year Ueno Park has lost of other things to keep you occupied, including museums and temples.

Blossoms in Ueno Park

7. Watch Sumo Practice

Even if you don't happen to be in Tokyo during a sumo tournament, you can watch their morning practice session in the sumo "stables".

8. Meguro Parasitalogical Museum

This has got to be one of the weirdest museums in Tokyo, or anywhere really. This museum displays a large array of parasites in jars as well as a 8.8m long tape worm! Eww! You can find more information here.

Parasites in Jars

9. Yebisu Beer Museum

After grossing yourself out, make your way to the Yebisu Beer Museum, just one stop away from the parasitological museum. You can take a free tour, followed by a beer tasting in their bar/restaurant.

Yebisu

10. Cycle Around the Imperial Palace

Every sunday, there are FREE bike rentals to cycle around the imperial palace cycling path. The bikes are available on a first come, first served basis and you can chose from adult and kids bikes as well as tandem bikes.


There are so many more options of free things to do in Tokyo! Do you have any recommendations that I haven't included in my list?

Ok, so this isn't going to be a glowing review of Tokyo Disneyland, but i'll start by declaring that i'm not really a Disney kind of person. My idea of a holiday in Tokyo does not include Disneyland, however because I was travelling with 2 young children (8 and 4 year old boys) and family that really wanted to go, I went. Am I glad we went?.....not really. I thought I would list the pros and cons of our experience to help you decide whether you want to spend a day of your Tokyo trip at Disneyland.

I love Shibuya

Izakaya fun

Izakaya foods

Shibuya streets

My favourite store in the distance - Loft!

To get to Shibuya crossing, take the JR line train to Shibuya (we took the Yamanote line from Ueno) and follow signs to the Hachiko exit. As soon as you exit you will know you have arrived!

Have you ever been to Shibuya? What did you think?

Continuing on with my one day Tokyo itinerary, our next stop was Ueno Park. It is a short train tride from Asakusa, and it has so many different things you can do, depending on your interests. You can shop along Ameyokocho for food, souvenirs, clothes and shoes, or you can head to one of the many museums in Ueno Park. Our aim was to see some cherry blossoms! 

Map of Ueno Park taken from http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3019.html

View of Tokyo Skytree on the walk from Ueno to Asakusa

Shops shuttered before 10am

Cool art on the shutters

Koi Carp pond and Japanese garden on the Sensoji grounds

Sensoji Temple

Looking down from the temple to the temple gate

View of the pagoda from the temple

People lighting incense at the entrance to the temple

View of Tokyo Skytree from Sensoji

Weeping Cherry Blossom

Me and the kids!

My favourite stall on Nakamise Street - selling deep friend manju

Of course I got the sakura (cherry blossom) flavour!

View of Sensoji from Nakamise street

Senbei shop