Tokyo/Chiyoda

Visit Chiyoda is the local tourism association's multilingual guide site.

• 🌍 Tokyo Station (東京駅 Tōkyō-eki) (to the east side of Chiyoda). The hub for all Shinkansen trains. Note that the Shinkansen exits are on the Yaesu side in Chuo Ward; to get to the Marunouchi side in Chiyoda Ward, you want to cross over to the west exit. The west side of the station is something of a sight in itself as it reflects the station's original World War I-era architecture. (updated Nov 2023)

The JR Yamanote line (light green) passes through Tokyo Station in a loop around the center of the city, and the JR Chuo line (orange) and Sobu line (yellow) bisect the loop horizontally. Yurakucho, Akihabara, Kanda (on the Yamanote) and Ochanomizu, Yotsuya (on the Chuo) are among the train stations located within the ward. Narita Express trains from Narita Airport stop at Tokyo (¥2,940, 53 min) on the Sobu platforms. The JR Keiyo Line services Tokyo station, and it transports passengers to destinations such as Kasai Rinkai Park, Tokyo Disney Resort, the Makuhari Messe, and destinations on the Boso peninsula via through services. Trains also frequently run through onto the Musashino Line to Saitama and western Tokyo, although some of these areas are reached faster via other lines. However, the platforms are located south of the main station complex. It was built for a new Shinkansen line, which is why it was built at an equal distance between Tokyo and Yurakucho stations. It can be a long walk to reach the rest of the train lines (even farther than transferring to the Tozai Line at Otemachi!), therefore in some cases it may be easier to walk to Yurakucho station.

• 🌍 Otemachi Station (大手町駅 Ōtemachi-eki). It is shared by five subway lines, is by far the largest subway station in Tokyo and sprawls under multiple city blocks underneath the Marunouchi district between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace. Transferring from, say, the Hanzomon Line to the Toei Mita Line here involves navigating a gauntlet of escalators and walking well over a kilometer. Tokyo and Otemachi station are connected to each other via underground passageways. Nijubashimae Station on the Chiyoda Line is also connected to Tokyo station, and is much closer to it than the line's own Otemachi station, although passengers riding the Romancecar service will still need to use Otemachi. (updated Nov 2023)

Many subway lines crisscross the district. These include the Marunouchi Line (red) (to Shinjuku), the Hanzomon Line (purple) (to Shibuya), the Hibiya Line (gray) (to Roppongi), the Tozai Line (blue) (to Nakano), and the Chiyoda Line (green) (to Harajuku). The nearby Toei Asakusa Line (pink) stops slightly to the east at Kyobashi and Nihonbashi, on which Keikyu Line trains run through to Haneda Airport (¥650, about 35 minutes).

Airport Limousine buses run from Narita to Tokyo Station every 10–20 minutes via the Tokyo City Air Terminal (1½-2 HR depending on traffic, ¥3,000), and less frequently to area hotels. From Haneda, buses run every 30–40 minutes (about 45 minutes in duration, depending on traffic, ¥900).

• 🌍 Imperial Palace (皇居 Kōkyo), ☏ +81 3-3213-1111. Surrounded by a series of moats and high walls, the site of the former Edo Castle has been the official residence of the Japanese imperial family since 1868. Reputedly the most expensive square kilometre in the world, which during the height of Japan's bubble was estimated to be worth slightly more than California. The inner palace gardens and buildings are closed to the general public except on the second day of the New Year (January 2) and the Emperor's birthday (February 23), when the imperial family makes a public appearance, and the emperor gives a speech to his assembled subjects. However, foreigners can also apply online to join a free guided tour (M-F at 10:00 and 13:30). If you're feeling lucky, you can also try just showing up at the Imperial Household Agency office located in the northwest corner of the Imperial Palace Park, which is open 09:00-12:00, 13:00-14:00; if there's space, you can join a tour on the same day. Tours are conducted only in Japanese, but electronic audio guides (in English) will be lent to foreign visitors free of charge. At the end of the tour, visitors wishing to enter the East Gardens (see next entry) will be given entrance cards and allowed through to the gardens via a private gate, allowing them to bypass the lines at the main Ōte-mon entrance; pay attention to the announcement in Japanese and queue up as directed. (updated Jan 2020)

• 🌍 Imperial Palace East Garden. Open daily except Mondays and Fridays. Kept in impeccable shape, the gardens of the Imperial Palace are particularly beautiful during the March and April plum and cherry blossom seasons. During the Edo period, this was the heart of the Shogun's castle, and you can see the tenshudai, the raised platform where the tenshukaku (main keep) was once located, and an open field that was once the site of the honmaru goten, the Shogun's main residential palace. Entrance is free through a number of gates; you will be given a plastic entrance card at the gate, which you are obliged to return upon leaving; most visitors use the Ōte-mon (大手門) gate near the Ōtemachi subway station (exit C10). Also an easy walking distance from Tokyo station. 

• 🌍 Kitanomaru Park (北の丸公園, kita-no-maru kōen). Connected to the East Gardens on the north side is this park. Offering much of the same, it is a convenient way to get to Yasukuni Shrine. The park also houses the Nippon Budōkan (日本武道館), which regularly stages martial arts competitions and live concerts, as well as the Kagaku Gijyutsukan (科学技術館, Science museum). 

• 🌍 Chidoriga-fuchi Moat (千鳥ヶ淵), on the northwest side of the Imperial gardens grounds. One of, if not the most prominent cherry blossom site in Tokyo, and attracts throngs of people in its March-to-April peak season. It is located just across the street from Yasukuni-shrine. Rowboats are also available for one to row along a limited portion of the moat at ¥500 for 30 minutes, ¥1000 for an hour and at a slightly more expensive rate during cherry blossom periods. 

• 🌍 Yūshūkan War Memorial Museum (遊就館) (adjacent to Yasukuni Shrine). Daily 09:00-16:30. An odd collection of military paraphernalia (including human torpedoes and letters from kamikaze pilots) and one-sided (allegedly revisionist according to the Chinese, Koreans and other Asian countries except Taiwan) descriptions of Imperial Japan and World War II, but it can be pretty confronting at times. The museum includes a small military history book and model shop. Adult ¥1000, post-secondary student ¥500, high school student ¥300, child free. (updated Aug 2020)

• 🌍 Holy Resurrection Cathedral (ニコライ堂 Nikorai-do), ☏ +81 3-3291-1885. A beautifully-restored 1800s-vintage Russian Orthodox cathedral located near Ochanomizu Station on the Chuo Line. Use the Hijiribashi exit. The Hijiribashi bridge by the exit is one of the better looking bridges in Tokyo and looks moderately attractive when lit-up at night. 
• 🌍 Kanda Shrine (神田明神 Kanda-myojin), A block north across the river from Ochanomizu station. This shrine has a history dating back to the 8th century and had been highly regarded under the Edo shogunate. The current red-pillared structure has been rebuilt after being completely destroyed in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. The Kanda Matsuri festival, which takes place in mid-May every other year is one of the largest in Tokyo and is a sight to behold. Arrive before noon or the shrine gets packed with spectators. 
• 🌍 Hie Shrine (日枝神社, Hie Jinja) (on the opposite side of the Imperial garden; a five-minute walk from Kokkai-gijidō-mae station on the Metro Chiyoda line), ☏ +81 3-3581-2471. Another prominent shrine in Tokyo. Located atop a little hill at the edge of the area. Reached by a steep flight of stairs under a veritable tunnel of orange torii, the shrine grounds are an oasis of tranquility in the middle of Tokyo and, in good weather, a popular place for a lunchtime picnic. The Sanno Matsuri (山王祭) festival it hosts in June is counted among the 3 Great festival of Tokyo, featuring the usual panoply of music, dancing, yatai stalls and sake. 

• 🌍 Yasukuni Shrine (靖國神社 Yasukuni-jinja), 3-1-1 Kudan-kita, ☏ +81 3-3261-8326. A controversial shrine to Japan's war dead, housing the souls of some 2.5 million people killed in Japan's wars — including convicted war criminals executed by the Allies. A favorite haunt of right-wing groups in black loudspeaker-equipped trucks, and often visited by Japanese and Taiwanese politicians, drawing sharp criticisms from neighbors China and South Korea in the process. Consider keeping your visit to the shrine secret if you have Chinese or Korean friends or relatives. Open daily and free entrance adjacent to Metro Hanzomon line Kudanshita station, or cross the bridge north from Kitanomaru Park. Festivals take place most notably in mid-July and mid-October, which can attract as many people and vendors as it does on New Year's Day when the Japanese come to pray for a prosperous year. It can also get quite crowded during cherry blossom season. 

• 🌍 Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art (東京国立近代美術館, Tōkyō Kokuritsu Kindai Bijutsukan), 3-1 Kitanomaru-kōen (Closest to Takebashi station on the Tōzai subway line), ☏ +81 3-5777-8600. Tu-Th Sa-Su 10:30-17:00, F 10:30-20:00, closed M. With a modest permanent collection on display and regularly changing exhibitions, MOMAT is a nice place to kill a couple of hours after you've seen the Imperial Palace across the road. Entry to the nearby Crafts Gallery is included in the price. ¥420 for adults, ¥130 for students and children under 15 free. Admission is also free on May 18, November 3 and the first Sunday of every month. Special exhibits extra. 
• 🌍 Idemitsu Museum of Arts (出光美術館, Idemitsu Bijutsukan), On the 9th floor of the Imperial Theatre building (on the East side of the Imperial gardens), ☏ +81 35777 8600. Daily 10:00-17:00 (until 19:00 on Fridays). Has a noteworthy collection centering on Japanese traditional arts. ¥1000 for adults. (updated Jun 2018)

• Tokyo Central Youth Hostel, 1-1 Kagurakashi, Shinjuku-ku (in the far east end of Shinjuku, far from its station, and just in the north of Chiyoda, 800 m away from the Imperial Palace area), ☏ +81 3-3235-1107, fax: +81 3-3267-4000, tcyh@jyh.gr.jp. Located on the 18th and 19th floors of a high-rise, with great views over the city (including a hot tub and baths overlooking the lights and skyscrapers of Shinjuku) and comfortable rooms. Formerly known as Tokyo International Hostel. ¥4050. 

• 🌍 Imperial Hotel Tokyo (帝国ホテル Teikoku Hoteru), Uchisaiwaicho 1-1-1, ☏ +81 3 3504-1251. Never mind upstarts like the Park Hyatt, this is the grand old dame of Tokyo's hotels with over 115 years of history behind it and legendary service fit for an Emperor. Standard rooms are musty, but the refurbished Imperial Floor rooms are nice. The hotel overlooks Hibiya Park and is only a short walk from the Imperial Palace and the Ginza. ¥43,000 and higher. 
• 🌍 The New Otani, Kioicho 4-1, ☏ +81 3 3265-1111. The flagship of the international New Otani chain, and one of the largest hotels in Tokyo, with a variety of shops and restaurants under its roof. While the main building is a 1960s concrete monolith, the extensive gardens were once part of a prince's residence and date back to the 1600s. Convenient for business travellers, as it is located within an easy walk of Akasaka, Nagatacho, and other international business districts; less convenient for tourists, although somewhat close to Roppongi, Shinjuku, and other play areas. ¥36,000 and up. 
• Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo, 1-1-1 Otemachi, ☏ +81 3 5208-2001, enquiry.marunouchi@the-ascott.com. A range of apartments with access to the swimming pool, rooftop terrace, gym, reading lounge, business centre and meeting rooms. 
• 🌍 Tokyo Station Hotel, Marunouchi 1-chome 9-1, ☏ +81 3-3231-2511. If you ever wanted to sleep in a train station, then this might be the place to do it. A part of Hyatt's Small Luxury Hotel collection, the Tokyo Station Hotel makes up a part of the 1914 red-brick building that is the terminal station of all but one of the country's Shinkansen lines. It is within easy walking distance of the Imperial Palace, and you can simply walk out of the lobby and make a U-turn to catch a train like the Yamanote line. From ¥89,000. 10% discount with an active Japan Rail Pass or JR East Rail Pass.