Last reviewed: · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.
Overview
Tokyo is less a single city than a patchwork of districts, each with its own personality. Most visitors base themselves near a station on the JR Yamanote Line, the loop line that connects major hubs such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo Station, Ueno and Ikebukuro.
Plan your days by area rather than by attraction: group Asakusa with Ueno, Harajuku with Shibuya, and Ginza with Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace gardens. Trains are frequent, but transfers inside big stations can take ten minutes or more.
Neighbourhoods & areas
Shinjuku
Huge transport hub with skyscraper hotels, department stores, the tiny bars of Golden Gai, the lantern-lit alleys of Omoide Yokocho, and Shinjuku Gyoen garden. A convenient, lively base with endless dining.
Shibuya & Harajuku
Youth fashion and pop culture: the scramble crossing, Shibuya Sky observation deck, Takeshita Street, upscale Omotesando, and the forested Meiji Jingu shrine.
Asakusa & Ueno
Old Tokyo atmosphere around Sensō-ji temple and Nakamise shopping street; Ueno Park hosts the Tokyo National Museum, zoo and Ameyoko market. Good value hotels and easy Narita access via the Keisei and Toei lines.
Ginza & Tokyo Station
Flagship stores, department-store food halls, the restored red-brick Tokyo Station, the Imperial Palace East Gardens and quick Shinkansen departures.
Akihabara
Electronics, anime, manga, retro-game shops and maid cafés. Easy to combine with Ueno or Kanda.
Roppongi & Azabudai
Art museums (Mori Art Museum, National Art Center), nightlife and modern mixed-use developments with city views.
Shimokitazawa, Koenji & Kichijoji
Laid-back western neighbourhoods known for vintage clothing, live music, coffee and, in Kichijoji, Inokashira Park and the Ghibli Museum in nearby Mitaka (advance tickets required).
Yanaka & Nezu
One of the few areas with a pre-war feel: temples, a historic cemetery, small craft shops and Nezu Shrine's tunnel of torii gates.
Top sights & experiences
Sensō-ji Temple (Asakusa)
Tokyo's oldest temple, best visited early morning or after dark when the crowds thin and the buildings are illuminated.
Meiji Jingu
A large Shinto shrine set in planted forest beside Harajuku — a calm contrast to the city around it.
Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky
Watch the famous scramble from street level or from the open-air rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square (timed tickets; sunset slots sell out).
Tokyo National Museum
Japan's largest collection of Japanese art and artefacts, in Ueno Park.
Imperial Palace East Gardens
Free gardens on the site of the former Edo Castle keep; closed on some days each week — check the Imperial Household Agency calendar.
teamLab digital art museums
Immersive digital art (teamLab Planets in Toyosu and teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills). Book timed tickets online in advance.
Toyosu & Tsukiji
Toyosu hosts the wholesale fish market (viewing galleries); the Tsukiji Outer Market remains a busy street-food and kitchenware area.
Observation decks
Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, and the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory in Shinjuku.
Odaiba
Waterfront entertainment island with malls, a life-size Gundam statue and views of Rainbow Bridge.
What to eat
Sushi
From conveyor-belt chains to counter omakase. Many high-end counters require reservations, often via hotel concierges or booking platforms.
Ramen
Every style is represented, from shoyu (soy) Tokyo ramen to tsukemen dipping noodles. Many shops use a ticket vending machine at the door.
Monjayaki
A runny, griddle-cooked cousin of okonomiyaki, associated with Tsukishima's Monja Street.
Depachika food halls
Department-store basements (e.g. in Ginza, Nihonbashi, Shinjuku) sell beautifully packaged sweets, bento and gifts.
Izakaya & yakitori
Casual pubs and grilled-chicken skewers under the train tracks at Yurakucho, or in Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho.
Where to stay by budget
Budget
Hostels and capsule hotels around Asakusa, Ueno and Ikebukuro offer the best value and good transport links.
Mid-range
Business hotels near Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza or Tokyo Station — rooms are compact but clean and well located.
Luxury
International luxury brands cluster around Marunouchi, Otemachi, Toranomon and Roppongi, many with high-floor city or Mt Fuji views on clear days.
Rough nightly ranges: hostels and capsule hotels often run a few thousand yen per person; business hotels commonly ¥8,000–¥20,000 per room; upscale hotels and ryokan can be far higher, especially in peak seasons. See our accommodation guide.
Getting there
Tokyo has two airports. Haneda (HND) is close to the city — roughly 15–30 minutes by Keikyu Line or Tokyo Monorail. Narita (NRT) is further out — around an hour by Narita Express (JR) or Keisei Skyliner, or longer by cheaper limited-stop trains and airport buses.
From elsewhere in Japan, Shinkansen lines converge at Tokyo Station (and Shinagawa / Ueno). The Tokaido Shinkansen from Kyoto and Osaka takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours on the fastest services.
Getting around
Use an IC card (Suica or PASMO) for nearly all trains, subways and buses — see our IC card guide. Tokyo has two subway operators (Tokyo Metro and Toei); tourist subway passes covering both are sold for 24, 48 and 72 hours, and can be good value if you ride often.
Google Maps and similar apps give accurate train routing, including platform and exit numbers. Avoid travelling with large luggage at rush hour (roughly 7:30–9:30 and 17:30–19:30 on weekdays); consider luggage forwarding instead.
Day trips & side trips
Kamakura
Great Buddha (Daibutsu), Zen temples and hiking trails about an hour south by JR. See our Kamakura guide.
Hakone & Mt Fuji area
Hot springs, lake cruises and Fuji views. Possible as a long day trip, better overnight. See our Hakone & Fuji guide.
Nikko
Ornate shrines and mountain scenery about two hours north. See our Nikko guide.
Yokohama
Chinatown, harbour walks, the Cup Noodles Museum and Sankeien Garden, around 30 minutes away. See our Yokohama guide.
Kawagoe
'Little Edo' with clay-walled warehouse streets and a candy alley, under an hour from Ikebukuro.
Mt Takao
An easy, popular hiking mountain about an hour west from Shinjuku by Keio Line.
Best time to visit
Spring (late March to early April) brings cherry blossoms to parks like Ueno, Shinjuku Gyoen and Chidorigafuchi — expect crowds. Summer (June–August) starts with the rainy season and turns hot and humid; it's also festival and fireworks season. Autumn (October–November) is generally pleasant, with ginkgo and maple colour peaking around late November to early December. Winter is cold but often dry and sunny, with clear Fuji views.
Local tips
- Many stations have multiple operators; follow signs for your line's colour and letter-number code (e.g. G09).
- Carry a small bag for rubbish — public bins are scarce. Convenience stores usually have bins for their own customers.
- Museums commonly close one day a week, often Monday.
- The Yamanote Line loop is a useful mental map, but subways are often faster for cross-town trips.
Official sources & further reading
Rules, prices and schedules change. Confirm details here before you travel: