When we talk about picturesque nature, historic shrines and temples, colorful art, unique architecture, rich culture, mouth-watering food, and happy and amazing people, one of the places we often think about would be Tokyo. Situated in the country’s main island of Honshu within the heart of Tokyo Bay, Japan’s capital Tokyo is gifted with a lot of beautiful landmarks that tourists can get enough of, making them crave and come back for more, especially during holidays.

Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tokyo has decided to close its doors again to tourists. The decision happened several months after the country has reopened its tourism to the world. It was a part of the country’s strategies, and efforts in managing the virus and protecting its people as the number of infected have surged again.

Though it is not the best idea to visit Tokyo during this pandemic, talking about it while on quarantine won’t hurt, right? Besides, we will never know when the country will open its doors again. At least we will be able to glimpse what and where to visit once it happened.

So, what are those beautiful landmarks? What are the most amazing places in Tokyo that are best to visit once this pandemic is over?

THE MEIJI SHRINE

Built in 1915 and reconstructed after World War II in 1958, the Meiji Shrine was the historical structure dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, his wife. Located in 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-8557, this religious architecture is a gem itself surrounded by nature’s beauty with almost 120,000 trees enclosing the place. 

Spots that tourists can visit in the shrine include the Inner Precinct (Naien) featuring a museum displaying the emperor’s royal treasures, and the Outer Precinct (Gaien), a place filled with a beautiful collection of the emperor and empress’ murals.

UENO PARK AND ZOO

If you love to explore nature and long to see rows of cherry blossoms in Tokyo, Euno Park is a great place to wander around. Aside from its diverse selection of flora, the place also offers different choices of food, exhibitions, and beer, which will surely make tourists and locals excited.

Though admission fees needed to enter Ueno Park are free, some facilities in the park are not. Most of them cost 600 yen or almost 6 US dollars.

There are several exciting things one can do when visiting Ueno Park. Some of the things that tourists should do in the park are to visit the Hanazono Inari Shrine, Tokyo National Museum, and Bentendo Temple, to watch the animals and be familiar with them, and to look for great deals in the shopping street of Ameyoko and Takeya Shopping Mall.

Aside from Meiji Shrine and Ueno Park and Zoo, there are still other places Tokyo has to offer to its visitors. Other places one should visit are The Imperial Palace, Ginza District, The Senso-Ji Temple, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Western Art, The Tokyo Skytree, and the Kabuki-za Theater.

Have you been to any of these places? Share your experiences in the comment section below.