9 Most Instagrammable Places in Tokyo

Shibuya Crossing is a bustling crossroads in the heart of Tokyo's city centre, where you can see throngs of people moving at the same time when the signal changes. This intersection is considered one of the busiest crossroads in the entire world and has been featured in films from Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift to Lost in Translation.

One popular way to catch a photo of this crosswalk is from above. You can head for a Starbucks across the street that's higher than street level, or you can try the Magnet shopping centre rooftop. Whether you catch a photo from the ground among the crowds or climb the stairs to catch it from above, it's a fantastic Instagram photo.

Sensoji Temple, famed for its enormous lantern at the entrance, is an enormous temple that's hundreds of years old with a 5-storey pagoda, statues, monuments and smaller shrines. While the Sensoji lantern is without a doubt the most famous part of this temple, the entire place has enough opportunities for photographs to completely change the face of your Instagram feed. It's also at the head of a bustling shopping street filled with market stalls selling locally made arts and crafts as well as delicious local foods, and is decorated with colourful murals.

To capture the lantern, head for Thunder Gate, which is ideally viewed from the Asakusa Tourist Information Centre. It's about 25 minutes east of the city centre.

The Tokyo Skytree in Oshiage is one of the premiere spots to get outstanding panoramic city views from 350- or 450-metre high observation decks. Depending on whether you want the lower or higher deck, you'll pay different entry fees, and fast tickets are available that allow you to skip the queue for an additional fee. Another option is to book a dinner at the SKY restaurant, which gives you priority access to both viewing platforms and a meal. Whichever path you choose, you're sure to get an astounding photo for your Instagram feed.

Hot tip: sunset is one of the most popular times to visit for really breathtaking shots. The Skytree is about 30 minutes east of the city centre.

Kabukicho in Shinjuku offers a wide array of unique sites to see that are sure to highlight your feed, from exceptional restaurants to vibrant flashing lights in every colour. Here you'll experience rows upon rows of neon advertising just about every kind of eatery, bar, club and service. You'll also want to snap photos of the iconic Golden Gai alleyway and the Robot restaurant. In this neighbourhood, you'll fill your social media feed with images out of a cyberpunk movie like 'Blade Runner'.

Here, you'll find small clubs, late-night snack bars, smoky pubs and rock clubs. Don’t forget to stop at the Samurai Museum and Ninja Trick House. It's 17 minutes west of downtown.

Nihonbashi in Ginza is a business district that grew up around its namesake bridge that spans the Nihonbashi River and offers a range of Instagrammable photo ops. From the bridge itself, you can get beautiful, scenic shots of the river as it flows through and beneath the bridge. A bridge has been on this site since 1603, though the current bridge dates to 1911, replacing former wooden bridges on the site. This historic neighbourhood is also the original downtown centre of Edo-Tokyo before the city's expansion to neighbouring regions.

Other points of interest besides the bridge in this neighbourhood include the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, the Mandarin Oriental and the Kilometre Zero site. It's 20 minutes east of the city centre.

The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the home of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and is a gorgeous building surrounded by beautiful gardens dating back nearly 150 years. The building was erected in 1888 and is flanked by a moat, which reflects the commercial buildings surrounding the place at night. During springtime, the place comes alive with colour as the Sakura blossoms come into season, and in autumn, the ginkgo trees turn brilliant yellow. The gardens are open all year long and are free to enter.

The Nijubashi Bridge on the Imperial Palace grounds is among the most popular photos to take. A good vantage point is from the Kokyo Gaien National Garden. The palace is 15 minutes from the city centre.

The Nezu Shrine is among the oldest shrines in Tokyo and offers a chance to photograph a unique, genuine and historical hidden gem of Tokyo for your social media feed. The shrine dates to 1705, and because it is hidden and often overshadowed by more famous temples, it's less crowded than other temples and shrines, which gives you a better chance of taking an authentic shot. It's also a fantastic place to find some meditative serenity in the heart of Tokyo's city centre.

The temple itself offers a stunning pagoda and is surrounded by scenic walking paths with immaculately cared-for foliage. Don't forget to photograph the artistic torii gates.

The Rainbow Bridge, especially from Odaiba Island, offers a chance to snap a photo of a vast suspension bridge spanning 798 metres that you can walk across. The bridge includes pedestrian-only promenades and takes about 25 minutes to get from one side to the other on foot. During your walk, you'll get astonishing views of the Tokyo skyline, and some of the best are from the Odaiba Island side of the bridge.

If here during December, try to capture some photos of the bridge itself, particularly at night when it's brilliantly lit up with the rainbow colours that are its namesake. It's 18 minutes south-east of the Tokyo city centre.