Travel tips · Tokyo · Japan
Tokyo travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Tokyo runs on consideration for others: quiet trains, orderly queues and spotless streets. Visitors are not expected to know every custom, but small gestures such as a slight bow, keeping your voice down and carrying your rubbish with you are noticed and appreciated.
Key facts
- Language
- Japanese
- Currency
- JPY
- 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
- 110 for police; 119 for fire and ambulance
Things to know
- Keep phone calls off trains and buses, and switch phones to silent ('manner mode').
- Stand on the left of escalators in Tokyo and leave the right side for people walking.
- Take off your shoes where you see a raised step or slippers — in ryokan, temples, some restaurants and homes.
- Public bins are rare; carry your rubbish until you find one at a station or convenience store.
- Avoid eating while walking in busy streets; eat beside the stall or on a bench.
- Visible tattoos may be refused at public baths and many onsen; check policies in advance or look for tattoo-friendly baths.
- Book Tokyo Skytree ahead: Timed tickets bought online save queuing at weekends and holidays.
- Book Shibuya Sky ahead: Sunset time slots sell out well in advance; book online.
- Book teamLab Planets ahead: Tickets are sold for timed entry and sell out at weekends; book online.
- Lunch sets (teishoku) cost far less than the same dishes at dinner.
Tipping
Tipping is not part of Japanese culture and is usually politely refused. Service charges appear only in some high-end restaurants and hotels.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Konnichiwa | Hello |
| Arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you very much |
| Sumimasen | Excuse me / sorry |
| Kore o kudasai | This one, please |
| O-kaikei onegaishimasu | The bill, please |
| Eigo no menyū wa arimasu ka? | Do you have an English menu? |
| Itadakimasu | Said before eating |
What to wear
Tokyo dresses neatly and in layers; wear shoes that slip on and off easily for temples and restaurants, and pack light, breathable clothes for the humid summer.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A sockets (two flat pins), 100 V, 50 Hz in Tokyo; check your devices accept 100 V
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink throughout the city.
- Emergency number
- 110 for police; 119 for fire and ambulance
- Phone and internet
- eSIMs and pocket Wi-Fi routers are widely sold to visitors, and free Wi-Fi is available at stations, convenience stores and many cafés.
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
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.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Japan's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Tokyo?
Tipping is not part of Japanese culture and is usually politely refused. Service charges appear only in some high-end restaurants and hotels.
+Can you drink the tap water in Tokyo?
Tap water is safe to drink throughout the city.
+What plugs are used in Tokyo?
Type A sockets (two flat pins), 100 V, 50 Hz in Tokyo; check your devices accept 100 V
+What language is spoken in Tokyo?
Japanese.