I didn't really like the shopping here, though there's both Takashimaya and Isetan here. Hence, Shinjuku is placed under "Sightseeing" instead of "Shopping". In fact, there's quite a no. of sights here!
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings
After walking past rows of skyscrapers housing banks, MNCs etc, you will reach the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings, which offer awesome (and free!) views from the 45th floor.
There's a north and south tower, so I recommend going to both, and going once in the daytime and once at nightime. It's good to make this trip earlier as there's a tourism office on the 1st floor, with lots of information on different areas within Tokyo.
Tokyo Imperial Palace
Before your trip, go to the website https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.html and apply for a permit one to two months in advance. The Imperial Palace in Tokyo only offers Japanese tours, but there's an English audio guide available.
Modern palace inside the grounds.
The Imperial East Gardens are next to the palace. Entry is free and there's no need to apply for a permit.
Senso-ji temple
Location: Asakusa station
The path to the temple is lined with traditional shops, selling lots of traditional food and charms... love charms,good luck charms, health charms etc. The amulets being sold in the temple are quite expensive. Bought amulets for good health at JPY500 each for my parents.
Meiji-jinju
Location: Harajuku station
I recommend going to the temple in the morning, while waiting for shops at Takeshita-dori to open. It’s quite a nice, leafy stroll to the temple.
I saw a wedding there! So pretty!
Odaiba
This is the prettiest place in Tokyo! Go to Shimbashi station to buy a one-day pass for the Yurikamome Line, which functions like a monorail.
Palette Town has Venus Fort (see "Shopping" for more details) and the huge Ferris Wheel which changes colour at night!
Tokyo Decks, with a well-utilised beach… there’s shopping centers Aqua City and Seaside mall just above the beach.
Famous Fuji TV building.
Tokyo Big Sight, an exhibition center. There's a 100 yen shop there too.
Gorgeous Rainbow Bridge at night.
Swallowtail – a butlers’ café
Located near Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, this was my BEST experience in Japan. Imagine, gorgeous boys dressed up as butlers, all ready to wait on you hand and foot. For example, a princess's hands are too delicate to pour her own tea from the teapot. Hence, if any strenuous tea-pouring activity was required, you would ring your own adorable antique bell, and your butler would come running. Of course, the experience is even better if you know Japanese, but they are very kind to tourists. Reservations need to be made weeks in advance, especially if you have more than one person in your party. Photographs are not allowed inside, but don't worry, your memories will be more than sufficient to justify the costs.
Gorgeous perfect anime-style butler: "I hope you'll have a good time here, my princess."
Me: *massive internal squeeing* "Thank you, I will!"
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