Tokyo

Overview

Tokyo has been Japan's political and economic centre since the Tokugawa shogunate made it their seat of power in 1603 under the name Edo, and it has been rebuilt more than once — after the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake and again after WWII firebombing — which is part of why it reads as so relentlessly modern. Yet the modernity sits directly on top of older layers: a Shinto shrine can appear between two skyscrapers, a centuries-old market street can run straight into a train station serving three million passengers a day. It is the world's most populous metropolitan area, and it manages that scale with a level of order, cleanliness, and quiet civility that surprises most first-time visitors. Understanding Tokyo means accepting that it isn't one city but a federation of very different ones — Shibuya's youth culture, Ginza's old-money polish, Asakusa's shitamachi (old downtown) atmosphere — stitched together by the best urban rail network on earth.

Best Time to Visit

Late March to early April for cherry blossom season — Tokyo blooms slightly earlier than Kyoto, and Ueno Park, the Meguro River, and Chidorigafuchi moat near the Imperial Palace are among the best viewing spots in the country. Book accommodation months ahead.

October to November for clear autumn air and foliage in Shinjuku Gyoen and the Imperial Palace East Gardens — fewer crowds than spring and comfortable walking weather.

Summer (June–August) brings intense heat and humidity, plus a rainy season in June, but also major festivals: Sumidagawa Fireworks in late July and the electric energy of Koenji Awa Odori in August.

Winter (December–February) is cold, dry, and often perfectly clear — some of the best skyline and Mount Fuji views of the year happen on crisp December mornings from Tokyo Skytree or the Shibuya Sky observation deck.

Top Things to Do

Shibuya Crossing

The world's busiest pedestrian crossing, with up to 3,000 people crossing at once when the lights change. Watch it first from the Starbucks overlooking the intersection, then walk it yourself, then get the aerial view from Shibuya Sky above. It's simple and it never stops being impressive.

Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo's oldest and most important temple, founded in 645 AD in the heart of Asakusa. Enter through the huge red Kaminarimon gate, walk the Nakamise shopping street of traditional snacks and souvenirs, then reach the temple itself with its five-storey pagoda alongside. Go at dawn for near-empty grounds and a completely different atmosphere.

Meiji Shrine

A forested Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji, set inside a 100,000-tree man-made forest that feels centuries older than it is, right next to Harajuku. The gravel approach under towering torii gates is one of the most effective transitions from urban noise to silence in the city.

teamLab Planets / Borderless

Immersive digital art museums where rooms of projected light respond to visitors walking through water and mirrored space. Book tickets well ahead — both locations sell out regularly. It's genuinely disorienting in the best way and photographs unlike anything else in the city.

Tsukiji Outer Market & Toyosu Market

The inner wholesale fish auction moved to Toyosu in 2018, but Tsukiji's outer market still thrives as a dense strip of food stalls, knife shops, and tea merchants — go hungry, early, and ready to eat standing up. Toyosu itself has an observation deck over the tuna auction floor if you're up before 5am.

Shinjuku Golden Gai & Omoide Yokocho

Two tiny warrens of alleyways near Shinjuku Station packed with matchbox-sized bars and yakitori stalls, some seating only five or six people. Golden Gai leans toward eccentric themed bars; Omoide Yokocho ("Memory Lane") is smoky, grilled-skewer, old-Tokyo atmosphere. Cash only in most places.

Akihabara

Tokyo's electronics-and-anime district: multi-storey stores of manga, retro games, figurines, and maid cafés. Even without an interest in anime culture, the sheer density and neon of the place is worth an hour's wander, especially after dark.

Tokyo Skytree

At 634m, one of the tallest towers in the world, with two observation decks giving a genuinely different perspective on the city's scale — on a clear day you can see Mount Fuji on the horizon. Book a sunset slot if possible.

Neighbourhoods Guide

Shibuya — Youth culture, fashion, nightlife, and the famous crossing. Loud, dense, endlessly walkable.

Shinjuku — The city's transit and business hub, plus Kabukicho nightlife and the quiet counterpoint of Shinjuku Gyoen garden.

Asakusa — Old downtown Tokyo (shitamachi). Senso-ji, traditional craft shops, rickshaw pullers, and the best-value accommodation near the centre.

Ginza — Tokyo's most polished shopping district — flagship department stores, art galleries, and some of the city's finest (and priciest) restaurants.

Harajuku & Omotesando — Youth street fashion on Takeshita Street next to Omotesando's tree-lined designer boulevard, with Meiji Shrine's forest a two-minute walk away.

Want to go even deeper into neighbourhoods like these? Explore our recommended Tokyo local guide →

Food & Drink

Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world, but its everyday food culture is just as remarkable:

• Sushi — From ¥1,500 conveyor-belt sets to six-figure-yen omakase counters in Ginza. Toyosu-area sushi breakfast spots serve genuinely top-tier fish for around ¥4,000–8,000 per person.
• Ramen — A serious regional cuisine in its own right — tonkotsu, shoyu, miso, tsukemen dipping noodles. A great bowl typically runs ¥900–1,200, often from a vending-machine ticket counter.
• Izakaya — Casual after-work pubs serving small plates (yakitori skewers, edamame, karaage) alongside beer and highballs. Expect ¥3,000–5,000 per person for a full evening.
• Depachika (department store basements) — Extraordinary food halls beneath stores like Isetan Shinjuku or Mitsukoshi Ginza, selling everything from wagyu bento boxes to delicate seasonal sweets — great for an affordable, high-quality meal on the move.
• Convenience store food — Not a compromise here: 7-Eleven and Lawson onigiri, sandwiches, and fried chicken are genuinely good and cost ¥150–500, useful for a fast, cheap meal between sights.

Getting Around

Tokyo's rail network is the backbone of the city and, once understood, extremely easy to use. The JR Yamanote Line loops around the centre connecting Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo Station, Ueno, and Akihabara — it's the single most useful line for a visitor. The Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway fill in everywhere else. Buy a Suica or Pasmo IC card on arrival (tap in, tap out, and it also works at convenience stores and vending machines) rather than fumbling with individual tickets. Trains are frequent, punctual to the minute, and stop running around midnight, so plan late nights around taxis or the last train.

From Narita or Haneda Airport: Narita Express or Skyliner from Narita (roughly 45–60 minutes to central Tokyo); Tokyo Monorail or Keikyu Line from Haneda (25–30 minutes) — Haneda is considerably closer to the city centre.

Budget Guide

Day Trips

• Kamakura — Coastal former capital with the Great Buddha (Kotoku-in) and dozens of temples and hiking trails. 1 hour by train from Tokyo Station.
• Nikko — Elaborate UNESCO-listed shrines and mausoleums set in mountain forest, including Toshogu Shrine. 2 hours by train from Asakusa.
• Hakone — Hot springs, Lake Ashi cruises, and (on clear days) views of Mount Fuji from the Hakone Ropeway. 1.5–2 hours by train from Shinjuku.
• Yokohama — Japan's second-largest city, with a walkable waterfront, Minato Mirai skyline, and the country's largest Chinatown. 30 minutes by train.
• Kawaguchiko — The best easily accessible Mount Fuji views, especially reflected in the lake at sunrise. 2 hours by direct highway bus from Shinjuku.

Practical Info

• Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY). Cash is still widely used outside major stores; carry some. 1 EUR ≈ 160 JPY (2026).
• Language: Japanese. English signage is strong on transit and in central districts; a translation app helps in local restaurants and smaller neighbourhoods.
• Tipping: Do not tip. Prices are final and service is included as a matter of course.
• Safety: One of the safest large cities in the world. The main practical risk is disorientation given the sheer scale — download offline maps.
• Scale: Tokyo is enormous; resist the urge to cram too many districts into one day. Pick two neighbourhoods per day and move between them via the Yamanote Line rather than zigzagging across the city.