10 Hidden Gems in Tokyo: Unique Places to Discover Beyond the Tourist Spots
It goes without saying that there is no shortage of things to do in Tokyo. Beyond famous spots such as Shibuya Crossing, Senso-ji Temple, and Tokyo Skytree, there are so many hidden gems and lesser-known places that I was lucky enough to discover during the four years I lived in this wonderful city. If you're looking for something quieter and more unique, below is a list of places that I would personally recommend without hesitation, hoping that some of them will give you ideas for your exploration of Tokyo.
In this list of Tokyo's hidden gems, I have included practical tips such as the nearest train stations, admission prices (if any), and other interesting places nearby, as well as links to more detailed guides when I have written them.
1. Horin-ji, a Hidden Gem for Goshuin Collectors in Shinjuku
Horin-ji (法輪寺) is a small and very cute Buddhist temple located in Nishi-Waseda. The temple is decorated with splendid seasonal flower displays on water called hanachozu. It has become one of my favorite places in Tokyo for goshuin (temple stamps). The designs are unique and beautifully detailed. Decorations are changed regularly and there are several types of goshuin also changing each month.
If you are a goshuin collector, this is one of the places in Tokyo that you should not miss. Of the more than 100 goshuin stamps I have collected at temples throughout Japan, my most beautiful ones are from Horin-ji!
📍Horin-ji temple, Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku City, Tokyo
🚋 Nearest station: Waseda Station (Tozai Line)
✨ Other things to do nearby: Visit more local shrines and temples nearby, like Hōjōji Temple (放生寺) and Ana-hachimangu Shrine (穴八幡宮) and enjoy a delicious taiyaki to take away nearby at 鳴門鯛焼本舗.
➡️ If you’re interested in goshuin, check out my dedicated guide: A Guide to Goshuin: the Perfect Souvenir for Temple Lovers from Japan.
2. Tokyo Somei Onsen SAKURA, to Relax Like a Local
Tucked away in a quiet part of Komagome, Tokyo Somei Onsen SAKURA (東京染井温泉 SAKURA) is one of my favorite day onsen in Tokyo and a great place to slow down and spend a few hours (or a whole day) to unwind. This modern spa with indoor and outdoor hot-spring baths is the perfect spot to experience an authentic Japanese onsen without leaving Tokyo. The baths are clean, modern, and affordable, and you can enjoy before or after your bath a delicious and healthy lunch at a café onsite with a Japanese-style interior.
📍Tokyo Somei Onsen, Komagome, Toshima City, Tokyo
💴 Entrance fee: ¥1,800 for adult on weekdays, ¥2,130 on weekends
🚋 Nearest station: Sugamo Station (JR Yamanote Line and Toei Mita Line)
✨ Other things to do nearby: Visit the beautiful Rikugien Gardens (六義園) or Kyu-Furukawa Gardens (旧古河庭園), accessible within walking distance (15 minutes).
3. Todoroki Valley and Tamagawa River, A Nature Escape in Setagaya
I lived near Todoroki Valley (等々力渓谷公園) for two years and completely fell in love with the area, especially the nearby Futako-Tamagawa neighborhood. Todoroki Valley itself is Tokyo’s only natural ravine and a beautiful spot all year round and especially for autumn colors, but the charm doesn’t end there. You can continue with a walk through the residential streets between Todoroki and Futako-Tamagawa, stopping by small temples and enjoying a stroll along the Tamagawa River. Once in Futako-Tamagawa, you might want to explore the shops and restaurants at Futako-Tamagawa Rise Shopping Center (二子玉川ライズ) or catch a movie at 109 Cinemas Futako-Tamagawa.
📍Todoroki Valley, Setagaya City, Tokyo
🚋 Nearest station: Todoroki Station (Tokyu Oimachi Line)
IMPORTANT: Parts of Todoroki Valley are closed since September 2023 due to falling trees with heavy rains and the resulting safety measures. The ban is expected to be lifted in fiscal year 2025, once the renovation work will be complete. Although it is not possible to descend into the valley from the entrance under the Golf bridge near the station, you can still visit the Todoroki Fudoson temple, the tea house and the Japanese garden entering by the southern entrance or the temple entrance.
➡️ I love this area so much that I’ve written two dedicated articles about it:
4. Gotoku-ji, Discover Tokyo’s Cat Temple
Gotoku-ji temple, also known as the “Cat Temple”, is said to be the birthplace of the manekineko (beckoning cat). Hundreds of cat figurines line the temple grounds, making it a quirky and photogenic stop and a must for cat lovers. The figurines are sold at the temple shop in various sizes (¥300 to ¥5,000) along with amulets and other good luck charms. It has become a quite popular Insta spot, so I’d recommend visiting early or on a weekday if you prefer a quieter atmosphere.
📍Gotoku-ji temple, Gotokuji, Setagaya City, Tokyo
🚋 Nearest station: Gotoku-ji Station (Odakyu Line)
✨ Other things to do nearby: Hanegi Park is a peaceful green space that pairs well with a visit to Gotoku-ji, especially during plum blossom season from February to early March.
➡️ If you’d like to know more, you can check my walking itinerary: A Walk in Setagaya: Plum Blossoms and Lucky Cat Temple
5. Shibamata, A Travel Back in Time
Shibamata (柴又) feels like stepping back into old Tokyo, with its retro shopping street called Taishakuten Sandō (帝釈天参道), traditional sweets shops, and Taishakuten temple (柴又帝釈天), a beautiful Buddhist temple where you can admire stunning wooden carvings gallery as well as a charming Japanese garden. It’s also famous for the long-running “Tora-san” movie series, and as you exit Shibamata station, you will be greeted by a bronze statue of Tora-san and his younger sister Sakura. Shibamata is a wonderful half-day or full-day excursion and is a true hidden gem that offers a glimpse into the atmosphere of the Edo period.
📍Shibamata, Katsushika City, Tokyo
🚋 Nearest station: Shibamata Station (Keisei Kanamachi Line), about 30 minutes by train from Asakusa station
✨ Other things to do nearby: You can also visit the small museum dedicated to Tora-san it if it interests you. In spring and summer, it’s lovely to enjoy a picnic on the banks of the Edogawa river nearby, and you can even cross the river on an old traditional boat, connecting Shibamata to Matsudo city in Chiba prefecture (it is called Yagiri-no-watashi on Google Maps, and the one-way crossing costs ¥300). You can also visit Yamamoto-tei (山本亭), a traditional house with a beautiful Japanese garden open to the public for a small entrance fee.
6. Nakano, Retro Shopping and Atmosphere
Beyond Akihabara, Nakano is another fascinating area of Tokyo if you’re into anime, manga, or retro pop culture (but that you’ve probably never heard of). Nakano Broadway (中野ブロードウェイ) is a shopping mall that is more like a maze of tiny shops selling everything from vintage toys to rare figurines. Outside the station, the shopping arcades are full of small shops, affordable izakayas and ramen spots. It’s only a 5-minute train ride from Shinjuku station!
📍Nakano Broadway, Nakano City, Tokyo
🚋 Nearest station: Nakano Station (JR Chuo Line)
✨ Other things to do nearby: In the summer, don’t miss the Nakano Bon Odori matsuri taking place in August in Nakano Shiki no Mori Park, for an authentic Japanese summer festival experience.
7. Gajoen Hotel, Stay or Visit a Hidden Art Treasure
Even if you don’t stay overnight, Hotel Gajoen (ホテル雅叙園東京) in Meguro is definitely worth a visit! This luxury hotel is famous for its stunning interiors and art displays, including lavishly decorated traditional rooms. I went twice to exhibitions organized at Hotel Gajoen and was in complete admiration in front of them. And if you attend one of them, you’ll get the chance to see Hyakudan Kaidan (“One Hundred Steps Staircase”), a remarkable cultural and architectural gem in Tokyo constructed in 1935. Gajoen is a hidden gem that feels more like a museum than just a hotel.
UPDATE: Hotel Gajoen is undergoing a temporary closure starting October 1, 2025 and will post updates on its reopening schedule on its official website once it’s decided. Hopefully it will reopen soon!
📍Hotel Gajoen, Meguro City, Tokyo
💴 Entrance fee: Free to enter the lobby; temporary exhibitions usually have a fee around ¥1,000-¥1,500
🚋 Nearest station: Meguro Station (JR Yamanote line, or Metro Namboku, Mita and Meguro lines)
✨ Other things to do nearby: Don’t miss a beautiful little temple nearby, Daien Temple (大圓寺), and my favorite sushi restaurant, Mawashi Sushi Katsu Meguro (回し寿司活 目黒店), located in the Atré 2 Mall next to Meguro station.
8. Inokashira Park and Mitaka Area, A Relaxed Day Out
Inokashira Park (井の頭恩賜公園) is one of Tokyo’s most charming parks, with a central pond where you can rent boats and tree-lined walking paths, and stop by the local temple Inokashira Benzaiten. It is an amazing spot for both fall foliage and cherry blossoms. It is located in Mitaka area, which is full of things to do and where you can certainly spend an entire afternoon exploring.
📍Inokashira Park, Gotenyama, Musashino City, Tokyo
🚋 Nearest station: Kichijoji Station (JR Chuo Line / Keio Inokashira Line)
✨ Other things to do nearby: After a stroll around the park, you can visit the nearby Ghibli Museum (advance reservation is required) or Inokashira zoo, relax in one of the local cafes, and do some shopping in the vintage and cute shops that line the way from Kichioji station to the park.
9. Jindai-ji Area: Temples, Gardens, and Soba
Jindai-ji temple (深大寺) in Chofu is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Tokyo. The area is particularly beautiful in autumn, but it’s definitely worth visiting also during the rest of the year. The shitamachi atmosphere, together with the nearby botanical gardens and traditional soba shops and stores make it one of my favorite day trips in Tokyo.
📍Jindai-ji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo
💴 Entrance fee: ¥500 to visit the Jindai Botanical Gardens
🚋 Nearest station: Chofu Station (Keio Line). From there, you can take the bus #34, #56, or #66 towards Jindai-ji.
➡️ Read my full guide here: Autumn Walk Around Jindai-ji: Discover Tokyo’s Hidden Gem for Fall Foliage.
10. Kanda River and Higo-Hosokawa Garden
For a quiet urban walk, follow the Kanda River around Bunkyo ward, where you’ll come across the Higo-Hosokawa Garden (肥後細川庭園), a magnificent and little-known Japanese garden in the heart of Tokyo. This garden near the Kanda River is not crowded, allowing you to experience the beauty of a Japanese garden in all its serenity. You can also visit the Shouseikaku, a historic building with a lounge-café serving Japanese green tea and sweets (for a fee) and an observatory floor.
📍Higo-Hosokawa Garden, Mejirodai, Bunkyo City, Tokyo
🚋 Nearest station: Edogawabashi station on Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line (15 minutes walk) or Waseda station on the Toden Arakawa line (5 minutes walk)
✨ Other things to do nearby: Take a long walk along the Kanda River, or walk towards Waseda and visit Horinji temple (mentioned above in this article)
To Conclude
If you want to experience a different side of Tokyo, these 10 hidden gems are a great place to start. From secret temples and retro neighborhoods to riverside walks and relaxing hot springs, they show a quieter, more local side of the city. I’ll update this list every now and then with additional hidden gems, so don’t hesitate to subscribe to my monthly newsletter to be informed of my newest updates.
Planning your trip to Tokyo? Don’t miss my Tokyo Hotel Guide and explore my other Tokyo articles for itineraries, local tips, and inspiration on what to do in this amazing city.
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