Tokyo Mosque
Mosque in Japan.
Dress covers shoulders and knees and shoes are left at the entrance; the visit is short and quiet.
Morning · 45 minDay 1
A mosque, then the sky above Shinjuku
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Building in Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
The visit is the lift to the observation level; check the sky before queueing, since the deck needs clear air.
Afternoon · 45 min
Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower
Building in Tokyo, Japan.
It is a working school, so the stop is from the pavement at its base; the silhouette is the point of the visit.
Afternoon · 45 minThe mosque sits in its own neighbourhood, so allow the short ride into Shinjuku; the two towers are then a short walk apart.
Day 2
Forest, shrine and state rooms
Yoyogi Park
Park.
In April the cherry trees along the main avenue are the reason to arrive at the start of the morning.
Morning · 1 hr 15 min
Meiji Jingū
Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Japan.
The forest approach is the visit; leave the main road at the first gate and let the gravel path set the pace.
Afternoon · 45 min
Akasaka Palace
State guest house in Japan.
Seen on the guided visit from the main gate; the interior rooms and the gardens are both part of it.
Afternoon · 1 hr 30 minMeiji Jingū adjoins Yoyogi Park, so the morning and early afternoon read as one long green walk; pack the walking shoes.
Day 3
Art, tower and parliament
National Art Center, Tokyo
Art museum in Tokyo, Japan.
The curved glass facade is the first exhibit; check the current shows before deciding how much of the two hours goes indoors.
Morning · 2 hr
Tokyo Tower
Tower in Tokyo, Japan.
Head to the main observation deck early in the window; it gives the wide view over the city centre.
Afternoon · 45 min
National Diet Building
Parliament building of Japan.
The visit is the guided tour from the visitor entrance, with a bag check before it; allow a little extra time for that.
Afternoon · 45 minThe art centre holds the morning; the tower and the Diet sit close together for the afternoon.
Day 4
Cathedral, shrine and palace grounds
St. Mary's Cathedral
Seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tokyo.
The concrete shell reads well from outside before you step in; the interior is still and quiet in the morning.
Morning · 45 min.jpg?width=800)
Yasukuni Shrine
Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Japan.
The grounds are larger than the gate suggests; let the half hour include the approach and the trees, not only the hall.
Afternoon · 45 min.jpg?width=800)
Tokyo Imperial Palace
Main residence of the Emperor of Japan.
The palace building is not open to the public; the visit is the plaza, the East Gardens and the moat, which fill the listed time.
Afternoon · 1 hr 30 minThe cathedral is quiet at the start of the day; keep the rest of the afternoon for the long palace grounds.
Day 5
Park, temple and a last tower
Ueno Imperial Grant Park
Park in Tokyo, Japan.
The museums line the hill at the top of the park, but in April the blossoms around the pond are the draw.
Morning · 1 hr 15 min
Sensō-ji Temple
Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Japan.
Afternoon · 45 min
Tokyo Skytree
Tower in Tokyo, Japan.
The lift queues grow through the afternoon; take the listed window early and let the lights come in at the end.
Afternoon · 45 minThe east-side finish; leaving Skytree for the end of the listed window turns the view from daylight to lights.
Good to know
Is the Tokyo Imperial Palace open to the public
The palace building itself is not open, but the plaza, the East Gardens and the moat walk are; that is where the listed hour and a half goes.
What should I wear to visit Tokyo Mosque
Modest dress that covers shoulders and knees, with shoes left at the entrance. The visit is short and quiet, so plain clothes are enough.
Can you go inside Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower
No, it is a working school building. The stop is about reading the tower from the pavement at its base, where the silhouette stands on its own.
When should I queue for Tokyo Skytree
Early in the listed afternoon window. Queues grow as the day goes on, and starting early still leaves time for the city lights at the end.
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