All roads in Tokyo – be it mostly underground – eventually lead to Tokyo Station. The city’s most beautiful train station is also one of Japan’s most important travel hubs. Almost all Shinkansen bullet trains stop here, always right on time, carrying travellers to every corner of the country. Just across the street – shielded by a forest of skyscrapers and surrounded by timeless gardens – lies the Imperial Palace, still home to Japan’s emperor.
Unlike cities such as Amsterdam, Brussels or even New York, Tokyo doesn’t really have a single city centre that draws most of the attention. The Japanese capital can best be imagined as an endless sea of residential neighbourhoods, office buildings and 7-Elevens. From this sea, the occasional island rises: self-contained “downtowns” that function as nerve centres for shopping, nightlife, culture or transport. Shinjuku, Shibuya and Asakusa are obvious examples, but places Akihabara, Harajuku, Ueno and several others all play their part as well. Tokyo has more than a dozen of these centres, each with a distinct personality.
Officially, Tokyo does have a geographical centre. That honour goes to Nihonbashi Bridge (literal translation: Japan Bridge), which has stood here in various forms for over four hundred years. It used to mark the main access road to Edo, Tokyo’s former incarnation, and even today all distances in the city are measured from this point. Sadly the bridge doesn’t look all too photogenic these days, because in the not so distant past the government decided to build an elevated highway right above it. Fortunately this eyesore is scheduled for demolition within the next decade. Your perfect photo moment is coming, just hang on.
Before you start reading: Are you visiting Tokyo for the first time? Check my complete Tokyo travel guide for an overview of every main neighbourhood, fun itineraries, the best hotels in each area and lots of practical tips – then dive into Tokyo Station.
Why Tokyo Station is the real heart of Tokyo
Nihonbashi Bridge may be the geographical centre of Tokyo, but the beating heart of modern Tokyo is nearby Tokyo Station. While it’s not the busiest station in the city – Shinjuku serves almost four million commuters a day – it is the main gateway to the rest of Japan. If you plan to leave Tokyo by Shinkansen at any point, you’ll most likely pass through here. Tokyo Station sits in Marunouchi: a polished business district of glass towers, shopping malls and expensive coffee. Directly opposite the station, hidden behind thick walls and wide moats, lies the Imperial Palace: a vast green domain, right in the middle of the world’s largest metropolis. There isn’t an endless list of attractions here, but between the station itself, a handful of excellent museums and the Imperial Palace just across the road, there’s more than enough to justify slowing down for a few hours.
Tokyo Station: more than just a train station
‘Goddamnit, it’s raining. Guess I’ll just have to hang around in Brussels-Central Station for the day.’ This is a sentence that has never been spoken by a non-homeless person in Belgium (and even they don’t like sitting there). At Tokyo Station, however, it’s an entirely valid plan. Like many large train stations in Japan, half a city was built right underneath it.
Explore the Underground City Beneath Tokyo Station
Tokyo Station is far more than a transport hub. Beneath the platforms you’ll find an extensive network of underground shopping streets, packed with souvenir shops, fashionable boutiques and food options ranging from quick bento boxes to proper fine dining. There’s even the Tokyo Station Gallery: an art museum housed inside the actual station complex. With more than thirty exits, navigating Tokyo Station can feel overwhelming, but thanks to obsessive signage – names, arrows, symbols and even floor markings – actually getting lost takes some dedication – and there’s always Google Maps as a last resort.
What really sets Tokyo Station apart from most other (mostly plain looking) major stations in Japan however, is that it looks just as impressive above ground. The iconic red-brick façade was designed by Japanese architect Tatsuno Kingo, who took inspiration from Amsterdam Central Station. The building opened in 1914, was badly damaged during World War II and later rebuilt in a far more modest form. Only after a second major renovation – completed in 2012 – could Tokyo Station once again be admired in its original glory. Better enjoy it while you’re here, I’d say.
Tokyo Character Street & Ramen Street: anime en noodles in Tokyo Station
Two underground streets in particular are worth a visit inside Tokyo Station. Tokyo Character Street is a collection of more than twenty colourful shops dedicated to Japanese and international pop culture (read: nerd stuff). Looking for a stuffed Pikachu, Hello Kitty or even Miffy? They all have their own themed shop (there was a worrying amount of military Miffies on sale; I must have missed that book as a toddler). Fans of Harry Potter, Snoopy (hey Boomer!) and the wonderful Studio Ghibli will also find plenty of ways to lighten their wallets.
If all that shopping made you hungry, Tokyo Ramen Street is right around the corner. This extremely popular underground hallway is lined with eight good restaurants that serve nothing but ramen. Everything is highly streamlined: you queue up, order from a vending machine at the entrance, hand your ticket to the waiter, sit down and start slurping. During peak hours the lines can be long, so if you don’t want to starve, timing your visit is advised.
The Imperial Palace: Tokyo’s Green Heart
Directly opposite Tokyo Station lies one of the most surprising places in the city. The Imperial Palace is a vast green enclave that occupies some of the most valuable land on the planet. It’s still the actual residence of Japan’s head of state today – the world’s only remaining emperor. The current Japanese emperor, Naruhito, ascended the throne in 2019. His role is entirely ceremonial these days, but the setting is still absolutely majestic.
The Imperial Palace Grounds and Nijubashi Bridge
The Imperial Palace of Japan was built on the foundations of the old Edo Castle – from where the Shogun used to rule – but the current palace buildings are relatively recent. They were completed in the sixties after the previous palace was razed to the ground during WWII (which is pretty much the story of most of Tokyo). Guided tours of the palace grounds are organised twice daily, although visitors are not allowed to enter any of the buildings (I skipped the tour myself: reviews were mixed).
What is original are the massive outer walls and watchtowers, which can be admired freely. For the classic photo of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo I posted above this section, walk toward Nijubashi Bridge and cross the somewhat uninspiring parking lot along the way. From here you’ll get the iconic view of the palace with the bridge and the water in the foreground.
The Imperial Palace East Gardens (Free to Visit)
What you can visit – and what’s likely the highlight for most travellers – are the Imperial Palace East Gardens. These gardens are open to the public free of charge (closed on Mondays and Fridays) and function as a kind of Tokyo version of Central Park, albeit with more stone walls and fewer joggers in neon outfits.
The gardens are very pleasant to explore. You can climb the foundations of the former Edo Castle, visit a small museum displaying items from the Imperial Collection and wander through several beautifully maintained Japanese gardens. The koi in the ponds were personally bred by the previous emperor, which is probably the most imperial hobby imaginable.
Walk the imperial moat and spot Tokyo’s herons
When I decided to walk back toward the Imperial Palace East Gardens from Ginza’s bustling shopping streets (which are very close by), I followed the wide moat that separates the palace grounds from the rest of the city. This body of water runs all the way around the Imperial Palace and feels strangely calm for such a central location.
The moat appears to be remarkably clean, because you’ll almost always spot several white herons fishing from the quayside. These birds have grown so accustomed to humans, they’ll hardly notice you and will continue to scan the water for silvery snacks without a bother. And so I ended up spending half an hour sitting next to my new heron friend, taking pictures and pretending we were fishing together. Quite soothing and the ideal remedy for the occasional loneliness every megacity brings.
Museums & hidden gems near Tokyo Station
Marunouchi may look like just a business district for office workers and stock brokers, but there are a couple of cultural surprises hidden between the glass towers – some of them surprisingly good.
Intermediatheque: a curiosity cabinet in a mall
About ten years ago, KITTE opened in the former Marunouchi Post Office building near Tokyo Station. From the outside (and inside), it looks like just another slick Tokyo shopping mall – of which there are dozens. What makes it special is what you’ll find on the second and third floors.
Intermediatheque is a free museum run by the University of Tokyo, used to exhibit objects from its extensive academic collections. In a stately, almost old-fashioned setting, you’ll encounter everything from Egyptian mummies, African musical instruments and Roman coins to vintage scientific instruments and an impressive number of taxidermied animals. There’s a giraffe, a whale, a prancing draft horse and a massive crocodile climbing the wall near the entrance.
Most special might be the skeleton of a moa: a flightless bird from New Zealand about two ostriches in size. Unfortunately the whole species got eaten almost instantly when the Maori discovered the islands. All in all, Intermediatheque is a fascinating and completely unexpected stop – and it comes with a great view over Tokyo Station.
Other Museums in the Tokyo Station Area
There are two larger museums in the immediate area that I didn’t manage to visit myself (choices, choices), but they’re worth mentioning if you have more time.
The Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum is housed in a classic red-brick building surrounded by modern skyscrapers. The original structure was demolished in the 1960s and rebuilt forty years later using the original plans. The museum focuses primarily on Western art from around 1900, with works by artists like Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir.
The National Museum of Modern Art is probably Japan’s most important modern art museum. It concentrates on Japanese art from the past two centuries and offers a solid overview of how the country’s artistic traditions evolved alongside rapid modernisation.
The Marunouchi Building: a free observation deck over Tokyo
The Marunouchi Building isn’t just another office skyscraper – it’s one of the best places near Tokyo Station to get a free elevated view of the city. Inside you’ll find a mall, offices and several restaurants, including a few on the top floors. If you’d like a view over Tokyo and the Imperial Palace without having to pay for a multi-course meal, this building has you covered.
Simply take the elevator to the 35th floor, take a seat on a cosy sofa and watch the sun bleed out over the Marunouchi skyscrapers and the Imperial Palace below. As you can see in my picture, you’ll have to deal with some reflections on the glass caused by light from inside the building. The perfect shot might require one of those silly rubber blackout jackets to put over your lens. I haven’t bothered yet, but they do exist.
Info & conclusion: what to know before you go
**There are a couple of affiliate links to interesting activities or hotels in this article. These were personally selected to make sure they actually add value. If you’re already planning to book a tour or hotel in Tokyo, consider doing so via one of my links. Doesn’t cost you an extra dime and I’ll get a small compensation for my efforts. Thank you in advance.**
By now you should have a pretty clear idea of why Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace make a compelling duo for your Tokyo itinerary: one is the main gateway to the rest of Japan, and the green heart of it’s capital. Between underground shopping, ramen raiding, pop-culture treasure hunts, nature strolls and free views, you can easily spend half a day here without running out of things to do.
Practical Tips for Your Visit
-Best time to visit the Imperial Palace: Early morning or late afternoon for soft light around Nijubashi Bridge and peaceful walks around the moat.
-Food inside the station: Ramen Street gets busy, especially at lunch and dinner. Visit early or late to avoid long waits.
-Transport: Tokyo Station connects to all major Shinkansen lines and local metro – it’s the perfect base for day trips and onward travel.
Where to Stay Near Tokyo Station & Marunouchi
There are plenty of fantastic hotels to pick close to Tokyo station, but many of them are in the higher price ranges. True budget options are often a bit further away, but oft still managable.
Betaalbare hotels bij Tokyo Station
–Hostel Den: cheap but highly rated hostel, in between Marunouchi and nearby Akihabara. A bit further away from Tokyo Station but a two minute walk from a metro station. By far the cheapest (decent) place in the area. Offers private rooms as well as dorm beds. Adults only.
–lyf Ginza Tokyo: colourful and playfully decorated hotel with surprisingly cheap rooms, in between Tokyo Station and Ginza.
–Hotel Intergate Tokyo Kyobashi: great budget-friendly stay with good reviews.
Mid-Range & Comfortable
–Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo: highly rated option a short walk from the station.
–remm Tokyo Kyobashi: stylish, compact rooms and excellent location for metro access.
–Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi: excellent comfort and service within easy walking distance of the station.
–Super Hotel Premier Tokyo‑eki Yaesu Chuo‑guchi: popular choice that’s quiet, comfortable and close to the station.
Luxury & Premium
–Shangri-La Tokyo: one of Tokyo’s top luxury hotels, with easy access to Tokyo Station and world-class service.
–Palace Hotel Tokyo: luxurious choice, right by the Imperial Palace and a short walk from Tokyo Station.
–The Tokyo Station Hotel : historic and beautiful, inside Tokyo Station itself. Often rated as one of the best hotels in Japan.
–Oakwood Premier Tokyo: spacious serviced apartments for longer stays or families.
You can book a whole range of interesting activities, guided tours and food experiences in Tokyo. For a complete overview, take a look at my Tokyo Neighbourhood Guide or do it yourself and check GetYourGuide.
Stay connected with a local eSIM
Buy a local eSIM card before you get to Japan. I’ve been using Airalo eSIMs for years. Airalo lets you buy data in almost every country on the planet. Install the sim at home and activate it after landing: that’s it. You actually need mobile data in Tokyo, to Google Maps to navigate through the city and its subway system (Maps is a life saver here).
Buy a Suica-card for subway rides and small purchases
You’ll need a Suica Card to use public transport smoothly. You can buy one in any station, and top it up with cash through the machines. It works in every Japanese city and can even be used as an electronic wallet. While most major stores accept credit cards, Japan is surprisingly cash based. If you don’t have a Suica Card, you’ll be carrying around a pound worth of useless coins after two days.
Consider a Japan Rail Pass to explore the rest of Japan
Plan to visit a bunch of cities with the Shinkansen bullet train? It’s probably best to buy a Japan Rail Pass. You’ll have to do this from home and long before your departure, because they’ll actually send it by mail and you apparently can’t buy one in Japan. If you’re only visiting three or four cities like I did, it might be better to buy separate tickets on the spot – you’ll have to do the math to see which option is preferable.
Further reading
If you’re looking for a tailor-made multi week trip to several cities and destinations, check out Japan Experience. They offer a whole array of wonderful itineraries.
Ready for more Tokyo? I made individual articles on the following neighbourhoods: Akihabara, Odaiba, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Harajuku, Asakusa and Ueno.
Looking for other trips in Asia-Pacific? I have city guides on Seoul, Kanazawa, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Hanoi.
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