The capital of Japan is eclectic, colorful, and anything but conventional, making it a treasure trove of photo opportunities. There's hundreds of things to do and see (as well as eat) when you visit Tokyo, but for those seeking the best Instagram shot possible, a few spots stand out from the rest. From gardens to temples to massive shopping centers, Tokyo offers a wild mix of history and modernity, and we're here to help you capture it all. Read on to see the most Instagram-worthy visitor spots for a 'gram that's worth a thousand likes (and memories!).
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Located deep in Setagaya, the Buddhist Gotokuji Temple is also known as the cat temple for the hundreds of adorable maneki nekos figures (or beckoning cats) that can be found throughout the area, making it a super kawaii picture spot.
As well as awesome counter-serve drinks and snacks, this maze of narrow alleys close to the West Exit of Shinjuku Station is a popular pick for Instagramers trying to get an authentic shot of Tokyo.
This collaborative workspace on Odaiba Island is an unexpectedly awesome photo spot, as it features 13 floors of fun, colorful doors (which are especially pretty when they're lit up at night).
This mall entrance in the heart of Harajuku offers an insane puzzle of mirrors that make for some totally trippy photo opportunities.
The towering gates of the Shinto Meiji Shrine in Shibuya are unarguably beautiful, but even cooler are the rows of kazaridaru (or decorate sake barels) lining all of the walkways.
This Tokyo metropolitan park in Bunkyō-ku (located just a few minutes from Komagome Station) is best known for its weeping cherry sakura in the Spring and its colorful foliage in the Fall, but the garden is great for photo ops in all seasons.
Tokyo Tower (which bears a striking resemblance to Paris's Eiffel Tower) can be spotted from all over the city, but this spot — which can be found when you ascend the basement stairs from the Tokyo Tower Parking Center — is particularly awesome.
Located between Nakameguro Station and Meguro Station, this walk is enjoyable anytime of year, but the part of the Meguro River that goes through Nakameguro is a must-visit spot for Instagram hunters during cherry blossom season.
For a shop full of pretty pastel candies and decor (as well as rainbow cotton candy bigger than your head), be sure to visit Totti Candy Factory in Harajuku.
If you don't have time to make it to Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine to see the beautiful Torii gates, this miniature version is located right by the Akasaka subway station and makes for a particularly eye-catching shot in the mornings when it isn't super crowded.
The shopping hub of Akihabara is filled with arcades, anime shops, and maid cafes (or cosplay restaurants), making for a colorful and totally Instagramable background.
The famously busy intersection outside Shibuya Station — where pedestrians scramble into the intersection from all sides — is a shot that can be captured from the window of the Starbucks in front of the crossing, but the best way to get a shot is by diving right into the action.
Colorful vending machines filled with unique drinks and snacks can be found literally on every corner in Tokyo, so it won't be difficult to find one for a cute pic.
This interactive digital art museum — located right near the Tokyo Teleport Station on the JR Rinkai Line or at Aomi Station on the Yurikamome Line — is an Instagramer's dream, offering computer-generated artwork shifting in real time.
The eccentric Kawaii Monster Café in Harajuku is filled with Instagramable oddities, but the colorful restroom — complete with chandeliers, multi-colored stall doors, and a plastic ball-filled countertop — is the stuff of dreams.
Disguised as a bright pink ice cream vending machine, this adorably tiny Harajuku ice cream stand features Instagram-worthy animal ice cream creations.
This Buddhist temple in Asakusa is the oldest and one of Tokyo's most colorful, and its imposing gates and five-story pagoda are practically begging to be photographed.
Next to Ueno Station in central Tokyo, this large public park offers a zoo, multiple museums, and the must-see lotus-filled Shinobazu Pond.
Located on the 52nd floor of the Mori Tower building in Roppongi, this observation gallery offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the city, especially awesome on clear days.
This strange collection of mismatched taverns and bars — found in the dark, narrow alleyways of Shinjuku — only appears run-down, but it is actually one of the coolest nightlife spots and photo locations in the city.
The Todoroki Valley Park can be found right in the middle of the busy Setagaya city ward (just a few steps from Todoroki Station on the Tokyu Oimachi Line), offering beautiful wooded walking trails and plenty of greenery.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku is pretty cool from the outside, but one of its best features is the totally free observation decks that tourists can take advantage of for gorgeous views (and even better pics).
This central station in Chiyoda's Marunouchi business district is way more than just a train station, offering an enormous shopping center as well as a beautiful brick-built facade.
Part of the Imperial Palace area in the center of Tokyo and publicly accessible, the East Gardens offer seasonal flowers, Japanese gardens, and Edo castle ruins.
Located in the old Manseibashi Station near Akihabara, this unique microbrewery offers great beer, a rustic taproom, and an awesome outdoor photo spot.
