Traveling to Tokyo means you will be barraged with a list of activities, things to do and places to see. But unfortunately, the dream doesn’t always match the reality. Here are the most overrated tourist spots in Tokyo.
5. Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace houses the Emperor of Japan. But it isn’t just a single palace, its an entire park-like compound that features beautiful lakes and historical buildings. Its truly a beautiful area — but only in photos. Sadly, much of it is closed to visitors. You cannot cross the stone bridge that leads you into the island where the Emperor lives. The only area tourists may freely walk around is the Kita-no-Maru park, where one can see cherry blossom during the season. But all-in-all, there are better things you can do with your time in Tokyo.
4. Takeshita Street
If one is a fan of Japanese cosplayers, you may be aware of Takeshita Street. In the past, it was infamous as a more secretive area where cosplayers can gather to show their underground fashion sense. Since then, its become a fun, quirky area where fans can gather and discuss their fandom of their favorite shows. However, the reality is that it isn’t quite like that anymore. It’s now a bustling street with tourists and ordinary shops, but not much else to set it apart. The cosplayers have relocated to different areas of the city.
3. Asakusa
This area features vintage craft shops and temples dating back to the 19th-century, making it a popular destination for tourists. However, it can get quite crowded, and at the end of the day it is quite a lot of temples to look at. While it may be a great stop for a few hours for those who haven’t seen it before, spending an entire day here is completely unnecessary.
2. Tokyo Sky Tree
There is nothing here that really deserves your time for more than a few minutes. A fantastic skyline is a great view to be sure, but an even better view would be on the plane flying in. It is upwards of $25 to go up here, and can get crowded with tourists. Value for money, this isn’t a great deal for tourists.
1. Ginza Shopping District
The Beverly Hills of Japan. For big-spending shoppers, this is where you want to be. There are many luxury brand flagship stores here on Chou-dori street (Central Street). In reality, there isn’t too much to do here besides shop, which makes it a flat experience. We think it’s close to location to other tourist destinations makes it more popular by default. For a better time luxury shopping, one should consider Omotesando in Harajuku.
