Aperçu Général
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.
Que Voir & Que Faire
- 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.
Gastronomie & Spécialités Locales
- 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.
Accès & Transports
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.
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.
Où Dormir
- Économique: Hostels and capsule hotels around Asakusa, Ueno and Ikebukuro offer the best value and good transport links.
- Milieu de gamme: Business hotels near Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza or Tokyo Station — rooms are compact but clean and well located.
- Luxe & Ryokan: International luxury brands cluster around Marunouchi, Otemachi, Toranomon and Roppongi, many with high-floor city or Mt Fuji views on clear days.