Travel guide · Japan
Tokyo travel guide
Neon districts, historic shrines, outstanding food and punctual trains
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Tokyo is less a single city than a cluster of distinct centres linked by an exceptionally efficient rail network: neon-lit Shinjuku and Shibuya, the department stores of Ginza, the temple quarter of Asakusa, the museums of Ueno and the anime shops of Akihabara. Historic shrines and gardens sit between skyscrapers, and food ranges from ramen counters and convenience-store onigiri to some of the most acclaimed restaurants anywhere. Visitors get around easily with a rechargeable IC card, and day trips reach Mount Fuji views, Kamakura's Great Buddha and Nikko's shrines. Plan 6 days for a first visit; the best months are March–May and October–November.
Key facts
- Country
- Japan
- Best time to visit
- March–May and October–November
- Ideal stay
- 6 days
- Main airports
- HND, NRT
- Mid-range daily budget
- $150–$280 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen, Temples and shrines and Cherry blossom
Why visit Tokyo
- Distinct districts — Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ginza, Akihabara — each feel like a different city, linked by fast, punctual trains.
- Old and new sit side by side: Senso-ji temple and Meiji Jingu shrine are a short ride from Shibuya Crossing and the Skytree.
- Eating well is easy at every budget, from ramen counters and conveyor-belt sushi to department-store food halls and kaiseki restaurants.
- Clean streets, clear signage in English and trains that run to the minute make the city easy for first-time visitors.
- Cherry blossom in spring and autumn leaves in November transform the parks and gardens.
- Mount Fuji's lakes, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko are all reachable as day trips.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Religious site · Asakusa
Senso-ji Temple
Tokyo's oldest temple, founded according to tradition in 628, is approached through the Kaminarimon gate with its giant red lantern and along Nakamise-dori, a 250-metre street of snack and souvenir stalls.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Photo spot
Religious site · Harajuku
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, this Shinto shrine stands in a forest of around 100,000 trees donated from across Japan and planted in the 1910s.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Nature
Landmark · Shibuya
Shibuya Crossing
When the lights change at Shibuya's scramble crossing, pedestrians pour across from every direction at once, in their thousands at busy times.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Oshiage
Tokyo Skytree
At 634 metres, the Skytree is the world's tallest tower, with observation decks at 350 and 450 metres.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- Iconic
- After dark
Landmark · Shiba
Tokyo Tower
The orange-and-white Tokyo Tower, completed in 1958 and inspired by the Eiffel Tower, stands 333 metres high beside Zojo-ji temple.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- After dark
- Couples
Viewpoint · Shibuya
Shibuya Sky
The open-air rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square, about 230 metres up, gives a 360-degree view over the crossing far below, Shinjuku's towers and, on clear days, Mount Fuji.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Shinjuku is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, shopping and solo travellers
Shinjuku
Skyscrapers, neon alleys and one of the world's busiest railway stations
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, shopping and food lovers
Shibuya
The famous crossing, youth fashion and rooftop views
$$$$ · Best for luxury, families, shopping and first-timers
Ginza and Marunouchi
Department stores, polished boulevards and Tokyo Station
$$ · Best for budget, culture, families and solo travellers
Asakusa
Senso-ji temple, old-Tokyo streets and views of the Skytree
What to eat
- Sushi — Tokyo is the home of Edomae sushi, originally made with fish from Tokyo Bay: hand-pressed rice topped with tuna, shellfish or cured fish, brushed with soy by the chef.
- Ramen — Tokyo-style ramen is a clear soy-sauce (shoyu) broth with curly noodles, roast pork (chashu), bamboo shoots and nori, but every style from rich pork-bone tonkotsu to miso is easy to find.
- Tsukemen — Thick, chewy noodles served separately for dipping into a concentrated pork-and-fish broth; at the end, ask for hot soup to thin the remaining dip and drink it.
- Tempura — Seafood and vegetables in an ultra-light batter, fried in front of you at a counter and eaten piece by piece with salt or a dipping sauce with grated daikon.
- Monjayaki — Tokyo's runny cousin of okonomiyaki: chopped cabbage and toppings fried on a hotplate at your table, with a thin batter poured into the middle, eaten crisp straight off the griddle with tiny spatulas.
- Yakitori — Skewers of chicken — thigh, meatballs (tsukune), skin, hearts — grilled over charcoal and seasoned with salt or a sweet soy tare, the classic food to go with beer.
When to go
The best times to visit Tokyo are late March to May and October to November, with comfortable temperatures, cherry blossom in spring and autumn leaves in late November. Winter is cold but dry and sunny, with clear Mount Fuji views and lower prices outside the New Year. June brings the rainy season, and July to September is hot and humid, with a risk of typhoons.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Plum and then cherry blossom, mild days and fresh greenery; hotel prices peak during blossom season and Golden Week. |
| Summer | June–August | The rainy season in June and early July, then hot, humid weather with fireworks, festivals and Bon dances. |
| Autumn | September–November | Heat and typhoon risk in September give way to clear, comfortable October days and autumn leaves in November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold, dry and sunny, with illuminations, New Year traditions, plum blossom in February and clear views of Mount Fuji. |
Getting there and around
From Haneda, the Keikyu line reaches Shinagawa in about 15 minutes and the Tokyo Monorail reaches Hamamatsucho in about 15–20 minutes. From Narita, the Keisei Skyliner reaches Ueno in about 45 minutes and the Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station in about an hour. Limousine buses serve major hotels from both airports.
Tokyo's rail network — JR lines including the Yamanote loop, 13 subway lines run by Tokyo Metro and Toei, and private railways — reaches almost everywhere, with trains every few minutes. A rechargeable IC card such as Suica or PASMO works on all of them, as well as on buses and in convenience stores.
Plan your days
Three days covers Asakusa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku at a fast pace. Five or six days adds Ueno's museums, Akihabara, teamLab and slower neighbourhoods such as Yanaka; with a week or more, add day trips to Kamakura, Hakone or Nikko.
Practical information
- Currency
- JPY
- Language
- Japanese
- Plugs
- Type A sockets (two flat pins), 100 V, 50 Hz in Tokyo; check your devices accept 100 V
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink throughout the city.
- Emergency number
- 110 for police; 119 for fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Tipping is not part of Japanese culture and is usually politely refused.
Tokyo has low street crime and is easy to walk at night, but stay alert to touts and drink-spiking warnings in Kabukicho and Roppongi. Learn your hotel's earthquake procedures, and take heatstroke seriously in July and August.
Flights to Tokyo
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Tokyo?
Three days covers Asakusa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku at a fast pace. Five or six days adds Ueno's museums, Akihabara, teamLab and slower neighbourhoods such as Yanaka; with a week or more, add day trips to Kamakura, Hakone or Nikko. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Tokyo?
The best times to visit Tokyo are late March to May and October to November, with comfortable temperatures, cherry blossom in spring and autumn leaves in late November. Winter is cold but dry and sunny, with clear Mount Fuji views and lower prices outside the New Year. June brings the rainy season, and July to September is hot and humid, with a risk of typhoons.
+What is Tokyo known for?
Shibuya Crossing, Sushi and ramen, Temples and shrines, Cherry blossom, Anime and manga, Neon nightlife, Efficient trains and Department-store food halls. Distinct districts — Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ginza, Akihabara — each feel like a different city, linked by fast, punctual trains.
+Is Tokyo expensive?
Tokyo is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $150–$280 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Tokyo?
No. Trains and subways reach everywhere, traffic is heavy and parking is very expensive. A car only helps in rural areas such as around Mount Fuji's lakes or Nikko.