Tokyo Imperial Palace vs Tokyo Tower: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Tokyo Imperial Palace first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 93 against 91 for Tokyo Tower, and it has 333 ranked ways to see it versus 282. With a full day in Tokyo, pair them: plan Tokyo Imperial Palace in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower

Side by side

Tokyo Imperial Palace compared with Tokyo Tower in Tokyo
Tokyo Imperial PalaceTokyo Tower
Ranked experiences333282
Top Outty Ranking9595
Average ranking (top 10)9391
Cheapest experience£21£21
Average time needed4h4.2h
Free cancellation100% of options100% of options
Free to visitNoNo

Best ways to see Tokyo Imperial Palace

  1. 1. Tokyo Castle & Imperial Palace - Shogun Walking Tour

    Outty Ranking 95 · from ¥1,500 · 2h

  2. 2. Tokyo Guided Small-Group Biking Tour

    Outty Ranking 95 · from ¥16,500 · 6.5h

  3. 3. Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥6,600 · 4h

  4. 4. Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥6,600 · 4h

  5. 5. Tokyo Customized Private Tour See Top Attractions in 1 Day

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥3,700 · 4h

All 333 Tokyo Imperial Palace experiences

Best ways to see Tokyo Tower

  1. 1. Tokyo Guided Small-Group Biking Tour

    Outty Ranking 95 · from ¥16,500 · 6.5h

  2. 2. Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥6,600 · 4h

  3. 3. Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥6,600 · 4h

  4. 4. Tokyo Customized Private Tour See Top Attractions in 1 Day

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥3,700 · 4h

  5. 5. Flagship 2-Hours Official Street Go-Kart Tour - Tokyo Bay Shop

    Outty Ranking 92 · from ¥13,200 · 2h

All 282 Tokyo Tower experiences

Frequently asked questions

Tokyo Imperial Palace or Tokyo Tower: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Tokyo Imperial Palace first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 93 against 91 for Tokyo Tower, and it has 333 ranked ways to see it versus 282. With a full day in Tokyo, pair them: plan Tokyo Imperial Palace in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, Tokyo Imperial Palace or Tokyo Tower?

Ranked experiences at Tokyo Imperial Palace start from £21 and at Tokyo Tower from £21 per person.

How long do you need at Tokyo Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower?

Experiences at Tokyo Imperial Palace run 4 hours on average and at Tokyo Tower 4.2 hours, so both fit in one day in Tokyo with a break in between.

Can you do Tokyo Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower on the same day?

Yes. Book the longer visit for the morning when crowds are lighter, and keep the afternoon for the other. 100% of Tokyo Imperial Palace options and 100% of Tokyo Tower options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Tokyo Imperial Palace: Tokyo Castle & Imperial Palace - Shogun Walking Tour (Outty Ranking 95, from ¥1,500). For Tokyo Tower: Tokyo Guided Small-Group Biking Tour (Outty Ranking 95, from ¥16,500).

More Tokyo matchups

Best things to do in TokyoTokyo city guideTokyo tours comparedHow the Outty Ranking works