Looking to do Tokyo on a budget? From free observation decks to themed shrines, kawaii activities to cool museums, there are many free things to do in Tokyo.
Taking in the city’s biggest Gundam statue to the world’s largest projection mapping show, here is our guide to the best free things to do in Tokyo.
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Free things to do in Tokyo
1. Shinjuku Lightshow (Godzilla) – the world’s largest projection mapping show
One of Tokyo’s newest free attractions, the world’s largest projection mapping show now takes place nightly projected onto the side of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Number 1 building.
As featured in the Guinness World Records as the largest permanent show of its kind, the building lights up every evening between several different shows, each designed by a different local Tokyo artist (a recent introduction to the lightshow was Godzilla).
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building projection mapping shows currently run every day from 7pm in the winter months and from 7.30pm in the summer (until around 9pm to 9.30pm approx at night).
Read more in our guide to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building lightshow >
2. Hello Kitty & Sanrio Fukoku Friendly Forest Stamp Trail
Looking for a super cute Sanrio stamp trail for kids? Welcome to the Sanrio Fukoku Friendly Forest, a free Tokyo attraction with all your favourite characters including Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Pochacco and Keroppi.
As well as a cute Kawaii forest to visit, you can also see dozens of different Hello Kitty plushies dressed differently to represent all the different regions including a takoyaki Hello Kitty, skiing kitty plus ramen noodle Hello Kitty.
This Tokyo Sanrio stamp trail at Fukoku Tower trail is located across several floors and it is a short walk from Shimbashi and Ginza.
From huge Hello Kittys to all the Sanrio stamp locations, here is our guide to the Sanrio Fukoku Friendly Forest Stamp Trail in Tokyo >
3. Unicorn Gundam Statue
Odaiba in Tokyo is known for its crazy attractions and theme-park style attractions – it should come as no surprise then that Odaiba is also home to a giant Gundam robot / mecha statue which is free to see.
20 metres high and a towering presence, this massive mecha model is a lifesize RX-0 Unicorn Gundam replica that springs into life every hour, gathering a huge crowd.
The Odaiba DiverCity Unicorn Gundam Statue ‘show’ / performance happens daily for free at Unicorn Gundam Statue at 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.
At night, the Unicorn Gundam Statue transforms every 30 minutes from 7pm to 9.30pm and each half-hour transformation is different.
Read more in our guide to the Unicorn Gundam statue >
4. Hachikō Statue
Possibly Japan’s most famous feline statue, Shibuya’s Hachikō Statue 忠犬ハチ公像 is one of the most free photographed sites in the whole of Tokyo.
The doggy statue is dedicated to the unwavering dedication shown by Hachikō who waited for his owner at Shibuya Station every day (even for many years after his master had died)
One of the most popular things to do in Shibuya and located right next to the famous scramble crossing, thousands congregate around the Tokyo Hachikō statue daily for selfies and family portraits. As its free, it gets very busy (one to avoid if you aren’t a fan of crowds or queuing)
From its history to the best place to buy akita gifts, here is our guide to the Hachikō Statue in Shibuya >
5. Sensō-ji
Is this Tokyo’s most beautiful temple? If not, Sensō-ji is certainly the busiest temple in Tokyo given its urban setting and close proximity to the Metro.
Although many of the buildings are quite recent due to the bombing in World World II, Sensō-ji was first established in 645 AD making it Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple.
Also known as Asakusa Kannon, Sensō-ji is the city’s most sacred and sublime Buddhist temple (although not necessarily the most serene given all the crowds and tourists).
Sensō-ji is a must do attraction in Asakusa, just to see locals at worship, explore the grounds and see the guardians of Hōzōmon Gate.
You might like our things to do in Asakusa guide >
6. Bandai Namco Museum
A fun free Tokyo thing to do in Asakusa, Tokyo’s Bandai Namco Museum is dedicated to all things cute and Kawaii plus gachapons and gaming.
Split across two floors plus several large cartoon character models outside including Doraemon and Ultraman, the Bandai Namco museum is a must visit for any otaku fan.
It takes a detailed look at Bandai Namco’s rich history plus has cabinets and display cases full of retro games and modern merchandise – it even has a rather unusual temporary Thomas Edison museum display on the upper floor, which we include in our weird and wonderful Tokyo guide.
From what to expect in the museum and all the characters inside, here is our guide to Tokyo’s Bandai Namco Museum in Asakusa >
7. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory
OK, this might sound like a boring place to visit (most Government buildings usually are) but on top lies one of Tokyo’s best observation decks which is free admission where you can see the Tokyo cityscape unfurl before you.
Plus if you are lucky (like we were), you can even see Mount Fuji on a clear day.
We’d rate the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory as one of the best free things to do in Tokyo.
Although there can be big queues to get in, it is totally worth it as there are panoramic views (although you may have to hustle to get a window view at sunset, especially looking towards Mount Fuji).
We include Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory in our 10 best Tokyo observation decks guide >
8. Yoyogi Park
A free Tokyo park containing the famous Meiji Jingu shrine, Yoyogi Park is where the locals go to escape the hustle and bustle of the city (and nearby Harajuku and Takeshita Street).
It began life as the Tokyo Olympic Village in the 1960s before becoming a pretty public park and well-used recreation space.
A green oasis in the city and covering over 130 acres, Yoyogi Park is buzzing at the weekends with families, joggers and young groups (plus really cute dogs, often in prams).
Yoyogi Park is a popular Tokyo cherry blossom / sakura spot in Spring and red gingko tree hotspot in Autumn.
Be sure to check out the Meiji Jingu Consecrated Sake Barrels (‘Kazaridaru’ near the main entrance), an offering to the shrine deities and a popular photo spot.
You might like our top Tokyo parks and rooftop gardens guide >
9. Shinjuku Cat 3D Billboard
Tokyo is known for its 3D billboards but it all started off with Shinjuku’s famous 3D immersive cat billboard at Cross Space.
The Most Famous 3D Billboard in Japan, the Cross Space Cat Shinjuku has clocked up thousands of posts and millions of views across social media, as well as tens of thousands of bystanders each day. This is easily one of the most fun things to do in Shinjuku.
The 3D billboard has its own Twitter channel (@ xspace_tokyo) and there used to be ‘GIANT 3D CAT CAFE’ and gift shop below but this is closed down for miaow…sorry…now.
You might like our guide to Tokyo’s best 3D billboards >
10. Take a stroll down Omoide Yokochō (AKA P*ss alley)
By day, Omoide Yokocho is full of small eateries frequented by workers and salarymen.
As evening falls, the alleyways are teeming with tourists and locals drinking beer and sake in close proximity – conversations and good cheer emanate from the dozens of small bars and restaurants.
Omoide Yokochō means ‘Memory Lane’ in Japanese and started life as quite a notorious black market hang-out full of illicit back-street bars in the 1940s.
As the bars were so small and often didn’t have toilets, drinkers would often have to relieve themselves in alleys or train tracks outside – hence the ‘P*ss Alley’ nickname for Omoide Yokochō.
If you are in Tokyo on a budget, there is also a branch of Coco Ichibanya down the alley, one of our favourite cheap chain restaurants in Japan.
11. Tokyo free walking tours
There are several free walking tour companies in Tokyo. Note that whilst these are ‘free’ in theory, some guides do expect a tip at the end – although some are volunteer-led and don’t expect gratuities.
Some of the best known Tokyo free walking tours include:
- Tokyo Free Walking Tour (TFWT) – run by local volunteers with tours in English with no expectations of tips
- Tokyo SGG
- Tokyo Guru
- Tokyo Localized
12. NHK Museum of Broadcasting
This fun museum is a good one to combine with the beautiful Atago Shrine next door (truly an oasis of calm in a busy part of the city – another free Tokyo thing to do).
The NHK Museum of Broadcasting is a free museum where kids can try their hand at reading the news or weather forecasting on camera. They can also pose with some of Japan’s most famous cartoon characters.
Over several levels, you can see thousands of items including old cameras and broadcasting technology – whilst not on the scale of a theme-park, this is an interesting and free place to learn about Japanese television and what local families have enjoyed over the years.
13. Ueno Park
Perhaps Tokyo’s most famous park (especially during cherry blossom season), Ueno Park is a popular place for families given its lakeside setting, Ueno Park Zoo plus a lake full of cute swan pedalos and rowing boats to hire.
Ueno Park is also famous for the museums located inside it including the Tokyo National Museum and the National Science Museum – we also spotted several food markets located in the park, selling lots of delicious Japanese food to try.
Heading to Tokyo soon? Check out our events, festivals and gigs guide for January 2026 and February 2026
14. Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Perhaps the most recognisable free ‘attraction’ in Tokyo, Shibuya Scramble crossing is said to be the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, with hundreds of thousands of commuters and visitors crossing the four way intersection every day.
Best viewed from Starbucks Shibuya Tsutaya or the nearby malls, you also have to experience and traverse Shibuya Scramble Crossing for yourselves – it can be quite a challenge during peak periods.
You can also get some good aerial Shibuya scramble views from Shibuya Sky itself and some of the restaurants in the Shibuya Scramble Square mall below like Kagurazaja Saryo but these will cost money.
15. Kanda Shrine
Everyone associates Akihabara with anime / gaming stores and bright lights, busy roads but you can have a moment of peace and tranquillity at the Kanda Shrine.
Originally built over 1,200 years, the Kanda shrine has been rebuilt several times due to war and earthquake damage. It is a peaceful place to escape the crowds or have a brief moment of respite.
Interestingly, the Kanda Shrine also sells tokens and talismans that have been blessed specifically to assist with fixing electronic equipment and troubling technology. The annual Daikoku festival is also held annually at Akihabara’s Kanda Shrine every January.
Check out our Tokyo monthly events and festival guides >
16. Explore Harajuku
Harajuku is Tokyo’s hip shopping neighbourhood home to Takeshita Street, many malls plus cool as a Cat Street.
Chock full of cute kawaii stores, thrift shops and modern shopping malls, Harajuku is also a great place to arrive hungry – colourful cotton candy, choice crepes and cheap traditional eateries are all part of the mix.
Whilst you might need money to shop, there are bargains to be had like gachapon funds, thrift / vintage clothing stores plus it is free to walk around and very atmospheric.
You might like our things to do in Harajuku guide >
17. Tokyo’s Gorilla FamilyMart, Sangenjaya
Or as we like to call it, the King Kong Konbini! We recently made a pilgrimage to this gorilla themed FamilyMart in Sangenjaya.
It was built in 1979 to help promote a local shopping center and has stayed swinging from the top ever since. The huge King Kong style statue also has a huge hand that is holding a damsel in distress.
Sadly the FamilyMart itself doesn’t have any theming as we really wanted to buy some giant gorilla gifts as some unusual souvenirs.
Read more about this Gorilla FamilyMart in our guide >
Plan My Japan guides to Japanese convenience stores / ‘konbinis’ featuring:
– 7-Eleven
– FamilyMart
– Lawson
– Daily Yamazaki
– Seicomart
– 7-Eleven smoothies
– Convenience store egg sandwiches
– Lawson fried karaage/chicken nuggets
– 7-Eleven’s famous craft beer shop
– 7-Eleven alcohol guide
18. Gotokuji Cat Temple
Also known as the neko or lucky cat temple in Tokyo, we were ‘cat-atonic’ to visit the Gotokuji Cat Temple one fine afternoon sunlight when the red autumn leaves were out.
A beautiful Buddhist temple that is popular with tourists (especially cat lovers), Gotokuji Cat Temple is home to tens of thousands of waving good luck cats in various shapes and sizes, all of which have been left there by worshippers – it really is a surreal but ultimately sublime experience.
Legend has it that Gotokuji Cat Temple came about after a temple cat invited in a lord who was passing by to shelter from the rain – in gratitude, the Lord donated land and wealth to the temple and the cat became a lucky charm.
Read our Gotokuji Lucky Cat Temple guide, as featured in our 40+ weird and wonderful things to do in Tokyo guide.
19. Tsukiji Outer Market
Free to walk around and a world away from the usual glitz and glamour associated with Ginza, the Tsukiji Outer Fish Market is a fascinating place to visit, with dozens of fresh fish and food stalls to explore.
Once a wholesale market (most of this ‘fishy’ business has now moved to another district), Tsukiji Outer Market is a combination of fresh fish and seafood stalls plus smaller stalls and alleyway eateries.
If you aren’t into fishy foods, Tsukiji Outer Market near Ginza is still worth a visit and you’ll find other food stalls too like a famous Tamagoyaki stall (layers of egg omelette on a stick).
Read more in our guide to Tsukiji Outer Market >
20. Ryogoku Sumo Museum
If your visit to Japan doesn’t coincide with one of the three annual Tokyo national sumo wrestling championships, another sumo-tastic thing to do is check out the Sumo Museum in Ryogoku.
Inside the wrestling stadium, it is full of famous sumo wrestling memorabilia and trophies.
The National Sumo Museum is open all year round to the public with free entry – opening times are Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm (last entry at 3.30pm). Times correct as of October 2025.
21. Go Japanese manhole cover spotting
Japan is one of the most beautiful countries in the world but not just because of its scenic landscapes or natural wonders – look down towards the sidewalk and you’ll see joyful Japanese manhole covers with incredible designs and artwork.
Japanese Manhole covers (マンホール蓋 – Manhōru futa) are colourful and often delightfully designed with intricate patterns creating an urban utopia out of what is usually just a drab sewer cover.
There are books, apps, calendars gachapons, trading cards and other themed manhole cover collectibles – check out our guide to the best Japanese manholes to spot >
22. Tokyo’s Onigiri shrine / Hikifune Takagi Shrine
A very ‘rice’ thing to do in Tokyo, Hikifune Takagi Shrine is perhaps better known as Japan’s joyful onigiri shrine.
Located in the shadow of Tokyo Skytree and hidden away in a very quiet side-street, this onigiri shrine site is hundreds of years old and attracts dozens of visitors everyday.
It even has a small gift shop onsite where you can buy onigiri shaped charms (‘ema’) and trinkets to write on and leave behind. Check out our full guide to Tokyo’s onigiri shrine >
23. Studio Ghibli Clock Tokyo NTV
There are so many Studio Ghibli Tokyo things to do from eating official ‘Totoro Cream Puffs’ to shopping in the official Studio Ghibli Donguri Republic stores.
However, did you know one of the best Studio Ghibli attractions in Japan is actually free? Tokyo is home to the giant Studio Ghibli Clock Tokyo NTV, designed by Hayao Miyazaki, Ghibli’s founder.
The Ghibli Clock Tokyo is an incredible time-piece, featuring an array of cute characters and there is even a ‘show’ several times a day when the clock springs into life.
From show-times to the location, here is our ultimate guide to visit the Studio Ghibli clock in Tokyo with photos >
24. Shibuya Parco Rooftop Garden
Shibuya’s sparkling and shiny shopping mall, Shibuya Parco has so many good stores to browse, from e-sports cafes to Shibuya Pokémon Center, plus a basement with multiple restaurants and bars.
As Shibuya doesn’t have a lot of green spaces, head to the top of Shibuya Parco for a sublime rooftop garden that is a free Tokyo activity to visit and a great way to see the sunset.
Our final free thing to do in Tokyo
25. Asakusa Observatory
Head to the free Asakusa Observatory atop the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center.
Located on the top floor, the viewing deck is open daily from 9am until 10pm and offers stunning views of Sensō-ji temple, nearby Nakamise-dori Street plus a view of the Sumida River and the Asahi Golden Flame building (jokingly known locally as the ‘golden turd’ due to its interesting shape – more on this later).
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