it doesn’t cost a cent to cross the famed Shibuya crossing.

The top free things to see in Tokyo

Escape

October 20, 2016 1:13pm

It’s just been named the best city in the world by Conde Nast Traveler but don’t let its reputation for being pricey turn you off. These top sights are completely free.

Recent research from Roy Morgan shows more Australians are planning a holiday to Japan than ever before (planned trips are up 9.1 per cent compared to 10 years ago), so here are nine things to include on your budgeting list.

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ARASHIO STABLE

Even most locals don’t know this, but a few sumo stables — where the wrestlers live and train — allow visitors to watch morning practice. At the friendliest stable, Arashio, you can spectate through the window, giving you a much closer look than you’d get at a tournament. Check the website for a practice schedule and rules for visitors. arashio.net; 2-47-2 Hama-chō, Nihombashi, Chūō-ku; 7.30-10am; free.

TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT BUILDING

Despite the dry-sounding name, the capital building is a fantastic double freebie: it’s an impressive piece of modern architecture by Japan’s late, great Tange Kenzō and, way up on the 45th floor, there is a free observatory. On a clear day you can see Mount Fuji in the west. In the evening, Tokyo’s twinkling lights stretch to the horizon. 2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjukuku; 9.30am-10.30pm; free.

IMPERIAL PALACE

Smack in the middle of the city is the home of Japan’s emperor. Free tours of the forested grounds run twice daily (10am & 1.30pm, Mon-Fri.). More enjoyable, however, is being free to roam around the East Garden (9am-5pm, closed Mon & Fri.) or take advantage of the free bicycle rentals available on Sundays (10am-3pm), which you can use to cycle around the outer moat. 1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku; free.

ROPPONGI HILLS

OK, this is a high-end mall, but of the benevolent sort: public artworks, such as a Louise Bourgeois’ spider sculpture, adorn the grounds. There’s also a landscaped garden that’s perfect for a picnic (cheaper food vendors are in the basement) and an amphitheatre that holds free events, like morning t’ai-chi, in summer. The complex is a love-it-or-hate- it piece of postmodern architecture. 6-11-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku; building open 7am-11am; admission free.

SHIBUYA CROSSING

A big part of Tokyo’s appeal is its dense, urban quality: getting swept up in the crowd, marvelling at the logistic efficiency, blinking back at that neon. No other place in the city packages this experience quite as neatly as Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo’s most famous intersection. At peak hours, more than a thousand people cross with each light change. Go in the evening when the neon is bright. Shibuya-ku; 24hr; free.

YOYOGI PARK

Of all Tokyo’s parks, this is the most fun. The landscaping is haphazard, wild along the fringes; there are no ‘keep off the grass’ signs here. On sunny weekends, all sorts gather for picnics, frisbee, drumming and dancing. The plaza across the street hosts free festivals on weekends during summer, including many hosted by the city’s ethnic communities. 2-1 Yoyogi Kamizono-chō, Shibuya-ku; 24hr; free.

HANAMI

When the cherry blossom blooms in early spring, the whole of Tokyo goes into party mode. Popular parks, such as Yoyogi Park, Ueno Park and Inokashira Park, fill with revellers who bring tarps to lay out under the trees, barbecues, and sometimes even turntables and speakers. Entry to the parks is free; beer and snacks from the nearest convenience store are optional (but are highly recommended). 24hr; late Mar — early Apr.; free.

Tokyo’s cherry blossoms are world-renowned.

NOT FREE, BUT CHEAP

ISETAN DEPARTMENT STORE

The basement food hall (known as depachika in Japanese) in this fancy department store includes outlets from some of the country’s top restaurants and confectioners. You can easily put together a pretty spectacular meal of sushi, dumplings, tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) sandwiches and cake for approximately US$20 per person. Then take it upstairs to eat it on the roof garden. isetan.mistore. jp; 3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku; 10am-8pm; admission free.

Isetan Shinjuku flagship store has cheap top meals.

SAGATANI

This noodle joint quite possibly wins the prize for offering Tokyo’s best cheap meal: fresh, stoneground soba (buckwheat) noodles are made daily and served on bamboo trays. Delicious noodles with a side of goma (sesame) dipping sauce costs just 380-yen, and you can wash it down with a 150-yen beer. Located in night-life district Shibuya, Sagatani is popular at all hours of the day. 2-25-7 Dōgenzaka, Shibuya-ku; 24hr; noodles from 280-yen.