Tokyo is a bustling Metropolitan city. It is the most densely populated city in the world. If it's your first time here, it can get overwhelming to navigate the city and figure out what is worth doing. So here's my guide to 12 of the best things to do and places to see in this city.

Shibuya Crossing

A visit to this city would not be complete without visiting this iconic crossing. You can either be at the center of the commotion or watch the pedestrians from a distance. One place is from the first floor of nearby Starbucks.

Shinjuku Station + Surrounding Area

Shinjuku Station houses one of Tokyo's busiest transport hub. From here you'll be able to take trains that goes everywhere around the city and around Japan. Outside, malls are a plenty. Be sure to visit Robot Cafe and Godzilla Road nearby the station.

Harajuku

Much of the cosplay culture Tokyo is known for is evident in the streets of Harajuku so you'll be seeing lots of cute and colorful shops inspired by cosplay, anime etc. Also don't miss out the anime inspired Harajuku metro station. Nearby Omotesando Hills have cool hipster cafes that'll be great for your instagram collection.

Akihabara

Most stores here are focused on electronics. Another draw of this location are the modern and neon facades of the building here. You will feel like you've entered a futuristic city here. Also check out cafes of celebrities and game studios located here.

Sensoji Temple+Nakamise Street

One of the most recognizable temple in the city is the Sensoji temple in Asakusa. The best experience is to start from Nakamise street which is lined with souvenir shops and lead straight to the temple. Admire the architecture and intricate details inside this temple.

Meiji Shrine

Nearby Harajuku is the Meiji Shrine, which is a Shinto shrine for renown Emperor Meiji, situated in a forested area in the city. You'll be going through several huge torii gates before reaching the shrine and museum. This is a great escape from the hectic hustle and bustle of the city.

Ueno Park

Another park you can visit is Ueno park. The park is smaller than Meiji but you get to see colorful flowers blooming here. I got to see Hydrangea on my visit in the summer and I read cherry blossoms are abundant here during Spring. There are several museums you can visit and a pond fully covered with lotuses.

Odaiba

A man-made island off Tokyo Bay, initially built for defensive purposes but now houses residential and commercial developments. Take in the view of Rainbow Bridge, maybe include the replica of the Statue of Liberty as well which is nearby. Visit Diver City mall to see a giant Gundam model as well as its cafe. There's also a huge open space or seasonal events. One time I was here there was a motor show, another time there was a concert. The unique Fuji Television building is a sight as well. There's also Palette Town where you can visit the huge ferris wheel.

Tokyo Disney Resort

About an hour train ride outside of Tokyo are 2 of the most visited theme parks in the world, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. DisneySea particularly is unique as it hosts rides and attractions that are related to water-related IPs. Choose when to visit wisely as the crowd can cause 2 hour queues on rides.

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower to me is the defining landmark of the city's skyline. It's like a mini Eiffel Tower but is different as it has white and orange hue giving it a distinct feature from the other surrounding buildings. You can go up the tower to get a view of the city but the skyline will be missing the tower itself to make it recognisable.

Roppongi Hill

Roppongi Hill is like the Beverly Hills of Tokyo where the upper class citizens meet and mingle. What I would recommend doing here is to visit the Tokyo City View observation deck near Mori Tower to get a great 360 view of the city. If the weather is right, you can even visit the open roof top deck to get an even exhilirating view of the city.

World Trade Center

A more affordable option to get a 360 degree view of the city is at the World Trade Center building. It does offer a great view of the city albeit at a lower floor than the one at Roppongi Hill.

Dearly missed is the Tsukiji Market. It was a great place to dine for fresh sushi and seafood. Unfortunately, it has been closed and the market has moved to a new location further away from the city. Oh well, but hopefully the other places can still satisfy your visit to this amazing city. Have you been to these places?