14 Totally Free Things to Do in Tokyo

Tokyo is easily one of the most expensive cities in the world, it’s also one of the busiest and the most densely populated. However, it’s hard to visit Japan without spending at least a little time in the capital and there is a lot to do here.  There’s also a lot to do in Tokyo that can cost a lot of money, heck even staying here can cost a small fortune.  But, that shouldn’t stop you from visiting.  There are many things to do in Tokyo that don’t cost a single Japanese Yen.  The oldest temple in the city is free to visit, and the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing can be checked out for free too.  Here’s our guide to the top 14 free things to do in Tokyo.

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Many of these free activities in Tokyo can be found quite close to each other, which means that you get to them on foot and on the same day (so you’ll save on accommodation).  Some of the free Tokyo things to do are, however, quite a distance away, so I’ve created a map of these free things to do in Tokyo, so you can identify which ones you might want to head to.  Tokyo metro tickets are affordable, the schedule is reliable and the trains are always on time – perfect if you don’t have much time in Tokyo.  Ready to explore Tokyo for free?

The 14 Top Free Things to Do in Tokyo

Whether you’re looking to see ancient temples, learn about Japanese culture, or wander through Japanese markets, there are many things you can do in Tokyo without spending a yen.  We’ve whittled it down to the top 14 free Tokyo activities and attractions.  And, fortunately, Japanese public transport makes getting from one place to another very accessible. You don’t need to take a taxi or rent a vehicle to visit these attractions in Tokyo.

1.      Walk across Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya Crossing might seem like a regular pedestrian crossing. But what makes it unique is the fact that it is the busiest pedestrian walkway in the world. Shibuya sees around 3,000 people crossing at the same time. Shibuya has been a popular tourist attraction in itself for quite some time and it’s well worth a visit to experience the chaos for yourself. The best time to come to Shibuya is between 4 PM and 7 PM on a weekday.  These are the peak hours.   The easiest way to get here is to take the metro and get off at Shibuya Station.  If you don’t want to get involved in the scrum that is getting across the road, and just want to observe, then the most famous viewing spot is the Starbucks coffee shop within the Shibuya Tsutaya video rental store.  You will have to order yourself a drink though.

To find another spot to observe the Shibuya crossing without being involved in the action, you can head to the Shibuya Mark City Walkway – this is the walkway between the Keio Inokashira Line exit and the JR Yamanote Line Tamagawa exit. 

While it’s not as high a viewpoint, the walls here are glass so you can see easily.  It is a busy thoroughfare though, so make sure you stay out of the way of commuters!

• Address Shibuya Crossing: 1 Chome-23-10 Jinnan, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0041, Japan

2.  Explore Sensoji Temple for free in Tokyo

Sensoji Temple is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, it’s also one of the most significant in the city.  The temple is located in Asakusa and was built in 645 to honor the goddess of mercy, Kannon.

This nearly 1,400-year-old temple contains a whole lot of history and is still a working temple, it’s not just a tourist attraction.  You’ll enter through the “Thunder Gate”, the symbol of Asakusa and Tokyo, and then head down a shopping street called Nakamise.  After entering a second gate, you’ll see the main hall of the temple and a five-storied pagoda.  The originals were destroyed during World War II and these are relatively recent.

The best time to visit Sensoji Temple is in the morning, between 8 am and 10 am, when it’s not too busy. But please observe the requirement for silence as there will be people praying in the temple.

If you’re taking the metro to get to Sensoji Temple, then the nearest station is Asakusa. 

• Address of Sensoji Temple: 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
• Opening Hours of Sensoji Temple: always open

3.  See a Sumo Practice for free in Tokyo

Sumo wrestling has a significant role in Japanese culture and attending a sumo tournament is a sight to behold, but here in Tokyo they only happen in January, May, and September and tickets are both extremely popular and particularly expensive. 

If you’re not traveling to Tokyo during those months, or don’t have the budget and want to see some Sumo, then another option if you want to explore the world of sumo is to head along to see sumo practice. This involves going into the sumo stable and observing (in silence) the wrestlers going about their training. 

I wrote about our fabulous experience of seeing Sumo Practice in Tokyo here.

Tickets for this are also very popular and are extremely limited – but you can check availability on GetYourGuide here, on Viator here – and on Klook here > it’s worth checking all three companies as they visit different sumo stables.

However.  You don’t need to spend anything to catch a glimpse of sumo practice.

While it doesn’t happen every day, when it does, you can go to the Arashio-bey Sumo Stable. The place is small, and you can’t go inside, but the windows are wide, and it is a recognized thing to stand outside to watch.

The Arashio-bey Sumo stable now have an online calendar on their webpage that shows if a practice is taking place or if they are away training or at a Sumo tournament. You can see the up to date calendar here. You no longer have to call them to check whether Sumo practice is taking place as the website has the up to date information.

The sumo wrestlers of the Arashio-bey stable are also very friendly and willing to take photos when they step outside.

You can take the Sobu Metro Line and Bakurocho Station as your stop. You can walk from there or change to Shinjuku Line, and get off at Hamacho Station. If you can spare the time, you should also walk to the Sumo Museum, which is about 20 minute’s walk from the sumo stable. If there’s no major tournament happening (check here), then it’s free admission to the museum.  During major tournaments, then the museum is only open to people who have tickets to the sumo tournaments.

• Address of the Arashio-bey Sumo Stable: 2 Chome-47-2 Nihonbashihamacho, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0007, Japan
• Opening Hours of the Arashio-bey Sumo Stable: 7:30 AM to 10 AM

4.  Explore the Tokyo Imperial Palace and Gardens for Free.

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo was built in 1993 and has beautiful grounds and gardens. It was constructed as the residence of the Imperial Family when they are in Tokyo. Although many areas of the grounds are open to the public, some interior sections are private and some can only be accessed with a tour (however, the tours of the Tokyo Imperial Palace are free and can be booked here).  You’ll need to take your official ID along.  Tours generally happen twice a day.

If you’re not lucky enough to score a ticket for the Imperial Palace tours, then you can also walk around the gardens, then they are free to access, but only at certain hours (see below).  The gardens are delightfully maintained and a pleasant walk at the right time of the day.

Both Kojimachi Station and Tokyo Station are within walking distance from the Palace. The best time to visit the Tokyo Imperial Palace Gardens is around 9 am when there are fewer crowds.

• Address of the Tokyo Imperial Palace: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8111, Japan
• Opening Hours of the  Gardens of the Tokyo Imperial Palace: 9 am to 11:15 am, then again from 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays, it’s closed on Sundays and Mondays

Although its not free (there’s a 100 Yen fee to enter), the glorious Kyu Asakura House and Garden is an oasis of calm and peace within Shibuya, my guide to visiting is here.

The best way to travel around Japan is by train – and you can save a fortune on train travel in Japan by buying the JR Pass BEFORE you get to Japan. You can buy the JR Pass from a number of outlets. We recommend:

Get your JR Pass from KLOOK here. – estimate 2 weeks for delivery of the exchange order

Buy a JR Pass from JRAILPASS here – get it Fedexed within 24-48 hours to any location including a Fedex office or your hotel in Japan.

5.  Go to the Tokyo Tuna Auction at Toyosu Market

Fish is a staple food in Japan, and tuna is both one of the most popular and the most expensive in the country. Record breaking tuna prices are reported on widely throughout the country and the tuna auctions in Tokyo are something special.  We were lucky enough to go to the tuna auction when it was held at the old Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo and while the tuna actions continue they have now moved to Toyosu market.

Tickets are again limited and you must apply in advance (previously at Tsukiji you simply had to turn up at around 02:30! and hope there was space)  Of course, you’ll still have to get up early, but an advance application is necessary for tickets.  The auctions are fast, seriously interesting, and extremely passionate.  Our video of the Tsukiji auction will give you an idea of what happens here.

You can apply for a ticket (they’re free) for the tuna auction lottery at Toyosu here.  Tickets open in the first week of the month for the following month.  So get clicking!

The old market at Tsukiji closed its doors to the auctions finally in 2018. An aging air conditioning system and a market that just wasn’t big enough for sellers and everyone who wanted to visit meant that the auctions moved to Toyosu.  You can however still head to Tsukiji.  The old “outer market” still has hundreds of places to eat, shop and explore.  And a breakfast of sushi is still a fabulous thing to do here.

Whether you’re in the market for an auction, want to buy some seafood or fish, or just plain want to see how passionate Japanese are about tuna, a visit to Toyosu Market (and/or Tsukiji) is a must in Tokyo.

Shijō-mae Station is right in front of the market if you’re taking the metro. HOWEVER, If you get lucky enough to get tickets for the auction you’ll need either a taxi or a hotel within walking distance, as the metro isn’t running at the time you need to get to the auction.

Tokyo Stay Monzen Nakacho is a great hotel option within a short walk of Toyosu Market.

• Address of Toyosu Market: 6 Chome-6-1 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061, Japan
• Opening Hours of the Market: 5 am to 3 pm from Thursdays to Tuesdays, closed on Wednesdays

6. Take a Free Traditional Boat Ride on the Yokojikkengawa Canal

Riding the canals of Tokyo is a very traditional Japanese activity.  It was in the Koto ward of the city that the Wasen Tomo no Kai group formed to preserve the culture of wooden boats here.  These volunteers host boat rides for free.  The rides are in a traditional Wasen wooden boat which can take 7 people.  You’ll need to sign up in advance, and wear lifevests and your trip will take about 10 minutes along the quiet Yokojikkengawa Canal.  The schedule varies and is subject to weather cancellations, but check the latest schedule here.

The site is only in Japanese, but just hit up Google translate and all will be well.

• Address of the Yokojikkengawa Canal: 4 Chome-10 Kinshi, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0013, Japan
• Opening Hours of the Yokojikkengawa Canal: varies

7.  Join a free tour of the Suntory Brewery in Tokyo

We love free tours in Japan.  And free factory tours are even better.  The Asahi brand has a series of free tours, there’s a beer tour in Sapporo that we recommend and there’s also a free brewery tour in Tokyo that you can sign up for.

Like the idea of free factory tours? My guide to 10 of the best in Japan is here.

Suntory is a premium Japanese brand and they too provide free tours of their breweries.

At this free Tokyo brewery tour, you’ll learn about Japanese-style brewing when it comes to rice wine and beer. The tour is in Japanese though, although you might luck out with a guide who speaks some English, but it will more than make up for itself when you get a free tasting at the end.  That’s right you’ll get 3 free glasses to try once the tour is over, as well as seeing inside the factory.  If you take the Keio Line from Shinjuku and get to Bubaigawara there will be a free shuttle bus to the factory waiting outside the station. 

Factory tours take about 70 minutes and are free.  While the tour runs in Japanese, you can download an app and listen to the commentary in English, Korean, or Chinese (get the details here). Suntory free brewery tours run at 10:00, 10:45, 11:30, 12:15, 13:00, 13:45, 14:30, and 15:15. 

You’re best to reserve your place – you can do this here.  The site is all in Japanese, but again Google Translate is your friend.

• Address of the Suntory Brewery: 3 Chome-1 Yazakicho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-0025, Japan
• Opening Hours of the Suntory Brewery: 9:30 AM to 5 PM every day

8.  Join a free tour of the Glico Ice cream factory

Glico is the most popular ice cream brand in Japan. It’s easy to say that it’s a significant part of Japanese food culture. Glico launched its ice cream in 1922, and since then it has been everyone’s choice. It’s so popular that the company offers a free tour around their factory where you can learn about their ice cream, how it’s made, and even give you free ice cream to try. The tour is in English but must be booked ahead of time.  You can book the Glico Ice Cream Factory Tour here.

The tour is free of charge, but your place must be pre-booked.  And as I’m writing this, there are no spaces available for the next week – so book early!  The site is only in Japanese, so reach for Google translate again.

This is an ideal place to go, especially if you have children or love ice cream. You can get there by train, but you must make a connection at Kashiwa station and take the Tobu Urban Park Line.  Check the times of trains carefully as it will take around an hour to get here.

• Address of the Glico Ice Cream Factory: 278-0041 Chiba, Noda, Bansho
• Opening Hours of the Glico Ice Cream Factory: 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM

9.  Visit the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo

Meiji Shrine was built in 1915 and completed in 1926 for Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.  This is a Shinto shrine and is a little oasis in a small forest in the middle of the super busy Shibuya City in Tokyo. The shrine is surrounded by beautiful trees that dampen the city’s noise, making it a great place to escape all the hustle and bustle.

The largest wooden tori in Japan can also be found here. You can board the Chiyoda Line and get off at Yoyogi-Koen Station.

• Address of the Meiji Shrine: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-8557, Japan
• Opening Hours of the Meiji Shrine: 5:20 am to 5:20 pm, daily

10.  Get views of Tokyo and Mount Fuji from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation decks

You can view the majestic Mount Fuji and greater Tokyo without going on an expensive tour. Instead, head to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, aka the Tocho, sitting pretty at 202 meters. Anyone can access one of the observation decks on the 45th floor free of charge. There are both North and South observatories.  When you enter Main Building 1, look for the “Observatory Elevator”. The observatory floor also has a gift and coffee shop.

It’s best to come either early in the morning or up until lunch. The afternoon is often the busiest.  There are queue times listed on the Tokyo city website, but a general rule of thumb is that you can estimate a 30-minute line. Take the Marunouchi Line metro, disembark at Nishi-Shinjuku Station or the green line, and get off at Shinjuku Station.

When you’re here you can scan a QR code and get a commentary in 32 different languages to explain the landscape.

• Address of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building: 2 Chome-8-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 163-8001, Japan
• Opening Hours of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building: 9:30 Am to 10 PM, from Mondays to Fridays, closed at the weekend

11.  Explore the Suginami Animation Museum

Enjoy free admission to this unique museum showcasing Japanese anime. You can watch a video to understand how the world-famous Japanese anime is made. The displays are interactive, one even allows you to create your own animation. The place is small, you’ll get through it in 30 minutes. However, it’s best to come in the morning or around lunch when there are not too many people. Take the Chuo Line metro and alight at Nishi-Ogikubo Station to get to Suginami Animation Museum.

• Address of the Suginami Animation Museum: 167-0043 Tokyo, Suginami City, Kamiogi, 3 Chome−29−5
• Opening Hours of the Suginami Animation Museum: 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays, closed on Mondays

12.  Learn about Origami at the Free Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan

The art of folding paper, origami, has been practiced here in Tokyo for centuries.  We’ve seen it throughout the country, most recently, hundreds of folded paper cranes in Naha, Okinawa, and more of the same back in both Nagasaki and Hiroshima in years gone by.

Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan is the top origami center in Japan.  There are displays with some incredible origami examples and displays on how to do this – as well as instructional books if you want to try it yourself.   You can also, of course, sign up for a workshop and head towards becoming an expert too.  The Kaikan is closed on Sundays and holidays and opens from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

• Address of the Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan:  1-7-14 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
• Opening Hours of the Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan:  9:30 am to 4:30 pm

13.  Take a Free Tourist Bus around Tokyo

If you have limited time and budget, the best way to go sightseeing in Tokyo is by taking a free tourist bus. Now you’ll get four for the price of one here because there are a total of 4 different free tourist buses which operate daily. Each bus has a different route and visits numerous sights. If you have the time, each one has a different aspect to see the best of Tokyo. But if you want to see the main area and have limited time in Tokyo, then the Tokyo Bay Shuttle bus is the best free tourist bus to take.

The Tokyo Bay Shuttle explores the Odaiba area. This free Tokyo tour bus has five stops: the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Venus Fort, DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, Hilton Tokyo Odaiba, and Fuji TV. This means that you can get on and off at any of these stops. Just wait at the sign that says “Bay Shuttle”. There’s a bus every 20 minutes, and it operates every day from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm.

The Marunouchi Shuttle tours around Tokyo Station. You can catch it at the Otemachi Tower, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Dai-chi Life, Hibiya, and Shin Kokusai Building. There’s a bus that comes to these stops every 12 to 15 minutes. On weekdays, it starts at 8 am and runs until 8 pm, then for the weekends and holidays, it runs from 10 am to 8 pm.

The Metrolink Nihonbashi is a great way to learn about the Nihonbashi area. This part of Tokyo is known for huge shopping malls and towering skyscrapers. There are five stops where you can board the bus; Nihonbashi Station, Mitsui Memorial Museum, Nihonbashi Muromachi Itchome, Nihonbashi Nichome, and Yaesu Underground Mall. The bus goes every 10 minutes and is in service from 10 am to 8 pm daily.

The Panda Bus is a cutesy bus in which to explore the Asakusa District. This adorable vehicle is perfect if you’re traveling with young children and this is also the free Tokyo bus tour you want to ride if you want to go to Kaminarimon and Sensoji Temple. It also has five stops where you can embark; Kamiarimon, in front of ROX, in front of Tokyo Skytree Station, Tobu Asakusa station, and Nitenmon. It only works on weekends and public holidays, from 10 am to 5 pm (but the Panda Bus takes a break from 1 pm to 2 pm), aside from the breaks there’s a bus every 40 minutes.

14. Take a Tour with a Free Tokyo Guide

This is an amazing service offered by volunteers in Tokyo.  They’ll take you around areas of Tokyo and show you places, tell the history, and explain the cultural aspects of what you’re seeing.  The Tokyo Free Guide service was set up in 2004 and has 570 volunteer guides on their books!

This is unlike free tours that you might have experienced in other countries, where you tip your guide.  Far from it.  Your guide here – like in the rest of Japan – will NOT accept a tip.  It’s just not the cultural norm.

The guides admit that their English might not be perfect, but their desire to show you their city, and Japan is very deep.  They all undergo training and there’s also a test of their capabilities.  This might be a volunteer organization, but it is very, very professional

You will need to request a free Tokyo guide well in advance and you can do that via their website here.

Final Words on the 14 Top Free Things to Do in Tokyo

Tokyo might be expensive, but it shouldn’t stop you from exploring it.  Finding cheaper and free things to do in Tokyo certainly helps to spread the budget out, and they tend to be great fun too.  Most of the tours that operate as free require advanced booking, so be sure to reserve in advance as much as possible and also map out your route before leaving your accommodation, this is a big city and it can take a while to navigate your way around!

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