Tokyo Mosque
Mosque in Japan.
Morning · 45 minDay 1
A mosque and a shrine in the trees
Meiji Jingū
Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Japan.
Afternoon · 45 minBring a light layer; November mornings are cool, and most of these stops are reached on foot.
Day 2
Two towers of modern design
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Building in Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
The public observation decks in the north tower are the point of the visit, and a clear morning is the time to use them.
Morning · 45 min
Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower
Building in Tokyo, Japan.
It is a working design school with no public access, so the visit is the walk around its base and the long look up.
Afternoon · 45 minSee the government tower from its decks in the morning, then save the afternoon for looking up at the glass cocoon.
Day 3
Concrete and ceremony
St. Mary's Cathedral
Seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tokyo.
Morning · 45 min
Akasaka Palace
State guest house in Japan.
The state guest house is seen on its official guided tour, which runs at set times; the afternoon should settle around it.
Afternoon · 1 hr 30 minA formal afternoon follows a spare morning; the state guest house is the longer stop, so save energy for it.
Day 4
Art first, heights after
National Art Center, Tokyo
Art museum in Tokyo, Japan.
The museum shows special exhibitions rather than a permanent collection, so check what is on before planning the morning around it.
Morning · 2 hr
Tokyo Tower
Tower in Tokyo, Japan.
Afternoon · 45 minGive the morning to the gallery and keep the tower visit brief; the day works better in that order.
Day 5
The workings of the state
National Diet Building
Parliament building of Japan.
Guided tours are the only way in, and they run on weekdays and fill early; the morning slot matters.
Morning · 45 min.jpg?width=800)
Tokyo Imperial Palace
Main residence of the Emperor of Japan.
The inner palace is closed to the public; the moat circuit and the East Gardens are the practical route, and they reward a slow pace.
Afternoon · 1 hr 30 minThe Diet tour belongs to the morning; the palace grounds afterwards ask only for slow walking.
Day 6
Remembrance and open ground
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Yasukuni Shrine
Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Japan.
A place of layered history that asks for quiet. Reading something about it beforehand changes how the visit lands.
Morning · 45 min
Ueno Imperial Grant Park
Park in Tokyo, Japan.
The park holds more than its hour and a quarter; the ponds, walkways, and grand halls reward a loose afternoon.
Afternoon · 1 hr 15 minBoth places set a reflective tone; leave the afternoon loose so the park can take what it needs.
Day 7
Old temple, tall tower
Sensō-ji Temple
Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Japan.
The temple is calmest in the morning; take the approach through the great gate slowly, before the day crowds in.
Morning · 45 min
Tokyo Skytree
Tower in Tokyo, Japan.
The upper deck sits well above the city; on a clear November afternoon the view carries a long way.
Afternoon · 45 minThe temple is the early stop and the tower the late one, which ends the trip on a long view.
Good to know
Is seven days enough for Tokyo?
For this route, yes. The week takes in temples, shrines, a mosque, a cathedral, museums, and the city's great towers at two visits a day, which leaves room to slow down whenever something asks for it.
Where can you see Tokyo from above for free?
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's observation decks in the north tower are open to the public without charge, and on a clear November morning they give a wide view of the city.
Do Tokyo landmarks need booking in advance?
The National Diet Building and Akasaka Palace are only visited on official guided tours, so those two days need a plan. The shrines, temples, towers, and parks on this route are all walked in at leisure.
How should a family pack for Tokyo in November?
Layers. The days are mild and bright but mornings and evenings turn cool, and the route is walked more than it is ridden. Comfortable shoes and a light layer come first.
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