At the heart of the city lies the Imperial Palace, home of the Emperor of Japan, and the site of Edo Castle. North of the Imperial Palace is the Tokyo National Museum, the Science Museum and the Budokan, originally built for the judo competition at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and now serving as a venue for major concerts as well as Japanese martial arts events. Sumo, karate and kendo have been popular in Japan for centuries, and these traditional sports are still widely enjoyed today. South of the palace grounds is Tokyo International Forum, a convention and arts centre.

Ginza is the most famous shopping area in Tokyo with numerous upmarket department stores and private art galleries, while a little further east is Tsukiji with its famous fish market.

One of the city's most famous sightseeing spots is the Tokyo Tower. Modelled on the Eiffel Tower, Minato Ward, close to the cosmopolitan nightlife area of Roppongi with its numerous karaoke houses.

The Asakusa Kannon Temple is one of the main attractions in the Asakusa area, together with the Nakamise walkway with many small shops offering traditional Japanese snacks, sweets and countless souvenirs.