Tokyo / 20 photo spots
20 Instagram spots around Tokyo
Tokyo’s gardens, waterfront and architecture offer a range of subjects beyond the original ten locations, from a brick station building to a riverside walk.
The first 10 photo spots
Shrines in the forest, crossings in the neon: Tokyo runs from quiet to loud in one train stop. These 10 spots cover temples, streets and digital art.
Explore the map
Photo spots on the map
7 of 20 photo ideas have sourced location coordinates. The initial view is for orientation. An area marker does not indicate an exact photo position.
Select a highlighted number to show its sourced location on the map. Every name links to the photo spot.
If the map does not load, use the OpenStreetMap link or the photo spot list.
All photo spots
- Tokyo TowerSourced place
- Nezu ShrineSourced place
- Omoide YokochōApproximate area
- Imperial Palace East GardensApproximate area
- Shinjuku GyoenApproximate area
- Rainbow BridgeSourced place
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government BuildingSourced place
Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Destination reference: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Spot coordinates: Wikidata, CC0. Selection, association and some calculations by You, Me, Away.
Tokyo Tower
The 333-meter lattice tower lights up after dark. Shoot it from the nearby temple grounds or from the Roppongi rooftop decks.
Open in Google MapsInstagram examples (2)
Asakusa Shrine
The Senso-ji temple complex anchors old Asakusa with its large gate and pagoda. Come early morning to shoot the gate without the market crowds.
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Meiji Shrine
A Shinto shrine in a 140-hectare forest in Shibuya. The tall wooden gates and the gravel paths give calm, shaded shots.
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Nezu Shrine
A shrine with garden paths and rows of small gates in Bunkyo. The tunnel of vermilion gates gives the leading-line shot.
Open in Google MapsInstagram examples (1)
Harajuku style (Angel Crepes)
Colorful crepe stands line the Takeshita area. The decorated crepes and the shopfronts suit close, bright shots.
Open in Google MapsInstagram examples (1)
Tokyo Plaza Omotesando
A shopping building of stacked wooden terraces on Omotesando. The mirrored entrance and the tiered floors give the architectural shots.
Open in Google MapsInstagram examples (2)
Shibuya crossing
The scramble crossing in front of Shibuya Station moves thousands per light cycle. Shoot the crossing from the station deck or a cafe window above.
Open in Google MapsInstagram examples (2)
Omoide Yokochō
Narrow lanes of tiny food stalls and bars near Shinjuku Station. Go at night with a wide lens; the lit signs and steam give the old-Tokyo frame.
Open in Google MapsInstagram examples (2)
teamLab Planets
Walk-through digital installations of light, water and mirrors. Wear shorts you can roll up; several rooms are waded through barefoot.
Open in Google MapsInstagram examples (2)
Gotokuji Temple
The temple known for its rows of waving cat statues. The shelves of maneki-neko figures give the dense, repeated pattern shot.
Open in Google MapsInstagram examples (2)
TOKYO SKYTREE
TOKYO SKYTREE rises above the surrounding Skytree Town district. For a clear architectural portrait, use a vertical frame and leave space around the tower; a view from farther away can include more of the neighbourhood.
Search Google MapsUeno Park
Ueno Park combines rows of cherry trees with museums and a shrine. Pick a path as the central line of your photograph, then use the trees or a museum façade to give the scene its setting.
Search Google MapsTsukiji Outer Market
Tsukiji’s outer market has food stalls, shops and restaurants. Photograph a row of storefronts to convey the setting, or concentrate on one display of ingredients. Keep people and working vendors in mind when choosing your frame.
Search Google MapsImperial Palace East Gardens
The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace occupy part of the former Edo Castle site. Use a garden path or a surviving stone wall as a leading line, with the broader garden visible beyond it.
Search Google MapsShinjuku Gyoen
Shinjuku Gyoen is a large garden southeast of Shinjuku Station. A wider composition can show the trees and paths together, while a closer crop lets foliage become the subject without relying on a particular season.
Search Google MapsMeguro River
The Meguro River runs through the Nakameguro area, with cherry trees lining both banks. Frame the water between the banks for depth. When the trees are in bloom, the branches add a seasonal layer above the river.
Search Google MapsTokyo Station Marunouchi
Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi building has a restored red-brick exterior. Step back for a photograph of the façade as a whole, then isolate one section to make the colour and rhythm of the architecture more prominent.
Search Google MapsHama-rikyu Gardens
Hama-rikyu Gardens sit near Tokyo Bay and contain a tidal pond with a teahouse. Include the water in the foreground and the teahouse behind it, or widen the view to show the nearby high-rise buildings.
Search Google MapsRainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge crosses Tokyo Bay and can be seen from the water. Use the bridge as a long horizontal line in a bay photograph, with enough space around it to show the scale of its setting.
Search Google MapsTokyo Metropolitan Government Building
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku has observation decks with views across the city. Choose a section of the skyline for a tighter composition, or use a wide frame to show how far the buildings extend.
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