The two adjacent neighborhoods of Marunouchi and Otemachi make it seem like it’s just all strictly down to business, but don’t be fooled by the rows of office towers and throng of suit-wearers, because this billion-dollar-heavy patch of land knows how to make you spend that hard-earned money well.

Watch as the mighty Shinkansen bullet trains zoom into historic Tokyo Station from the free rooftop gardens of KITTE and the Shin-Marunouchi Building’s (marunouchi) HOUSE Garden from where you can get some of the best views of central Tokyo while taking a rest from your busy sightseeing day. Both KITTE and the Shin-Marunouchi Building offer a range of nice dining and shopping options, while the latter let’s you order food from its 7th floor dining floor and take it outside onto the rooftop garden to enjoy.  

        Take a stroll alongside Marunouchi Naka-dori Avenue with its small sleek boutiques and make your way down to Marunouchi Brick Square and the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum which is housed in a late 19th century building designed by English architect Josiah Conder. You can also make a bigger circle and walk through the Outer Gardens of the Imperial Palace which are adjacent to the palace’s moat and the photogenic Seimon Stone Bridge from where you can take in the stark contrast between downtown Tokyo’s urban skyline against the green patch that is the Imperial Palace. 

Further down the road you will find the world-famous Tokyo International Forum which frequently hosts large international events and congresses and which is one of Tokyo’s most impressive architectural structures. Take the elevator up to the top floor and enjoy the marvelous view of the building’s interior and its zig-zag walkways which are beautifully illuminated at night.  

        If you want to feel like modern-day royalty, head over to two of Tokyo’s most dazzling hotels, the Aman and Palace Hotel, which are both located in the Otemachi area and which are just simply in a league of their own.

To reach the Aman, take the hotel’s very own elevator up to the 33F of Otemachi Tower, upon entering you will find yourself in a serene world of groundbreaking traditional Japanese design paired with sleek interiors, one of Tokyo’s best cocktail lounges and an unbeatable view of the city. Back on the ground floor, surrounded by a small urban forest, the Aman also boasts a small, but sleek café inside a modern glass cube which serves wonderful desserts, afternoon tea, and warm cuisine.

Over at the Palace Hotel’s ground floor lounge you can enjoy a classy afternoon tea with a view of the Imperial Palace moat while being surrounded by exquisite pieces of traditional Japanese lacquerware, ceramics and flower arrangements which are displayed throughout the hotel’s first floor.

        To immerse yourself in a completely different world, head over to the underground passageway on the east side of Tokyo Station to find Tokyo Character Street, a cluster of busy alleyways boasting over 30 shops dedicated to many of Japan’s most famous character franchises including Pokémon, Studio Ghibli, Hello Kitty, Rilakkuma and more. 

In the same underground shopping area you will also find Tokyo Ramen Street where you can try various styles of Ramen from all over Japan, as well as the wonderful basement food section of Daimaru department store where you can buy any kind of Japanese or Western food, desserts, drinks and more to takeaway, perfect for a picnic nearby.

PRO TIP — Marunouchi at Night

        Discovering Marunouchi after hours, especially on a rainy night, reveals a quieter, cinematic side of Tokyo. As the office crowds disperse and the streets empty, the area transforms into a peaceful, almost deserted landscape. The rain-soaked streets mirror the towering skyscrapers, creating stunning reflections that seem straight out of a movie scene. With the lights shimmering off the wet pavement, Marunouchi becomes a hidden gem for photographers and those seeking a serene, atmospheric view of Tokyo.