Tokyo is huge, but it is also one of the easiest big cities in the world to explore. Each neighbourhood feels like its own town: ancient temples in one, neon and fashion in the next, and quiet gardens tucked between skyscrapers. This Tokyo travel guide covers the best areas to explore, top sights, getting around, where to stay, when to go, easy day trips and local tips for your first (or next) visit.
Tokyo neighbourhoods to explore
Shinjuku
Shinjuku is home to what is officially the world's busiest train station and the place for nightlife, with towering hotels, department stores and small bars. The station is a maze, so give yourself extra time to find the right exit. For a break from the crowds, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is about a 10-minute walk from the station's south exit.
Shibuya and Harajuku
Start at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing to watch the crowds, then explore the shops and the area's newer developments. For the view from above, SHIBUYA SKY sits on top of Shibuya Scramble Square, right above Shibuya Station, with an open-air rooftop deck about 229 metres up and 360-degree views across Tokyo. A short walk north takes you to Harajuku, the centre of Tokyo's "kawaii" pop culture, with Takeshita-dori Street for quirky fashion and snacks. Right next door, the tall trees of Yoyogi Park lead to Meiji Jingu, a calm shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife. Cat Street links Harajuku and Shibuya with a mix of second-hand and outdoor shops.
Asakusa
Asakusa is old Tokyo at its best. Walk through the Kaminarimon "Thunder Gate" and along Nakamise-dori, a 250-metre shopping street of snacks and crafts, to Sensoji, the oldest temple in Tokyo. Nearby, Hoppy Street has old-style izakaya pubs, and Kappabashi "kitchen town" is full of cooking tools and realistic plastic food samples. TOKYO SKYTREE is a short trip across the river.
Ueno and Akihabara
Ueno Park holds several museums, including the Tokyo National Museum, plus Ueno Zoo, a large pond and a shrine. Beside the train tracks, Ameyoko is a lively market street that was once a post-war black market. A little further south, Akihabara is famous for electronics stores and anime, manga and gaming culture.
Ginza and Tokyo Station
Ginza is Tokyo's elegant shopping district, with some of the city's original department stores on its main street and small boutiques and bistros in the backstreets. Next door, the area around Tokyo Station sits beside the grounds of the Imperial Palace, a good green space for a slower afternoon. In the evening, try the small izakaya and yakitori bars under the railway arches in Yurakucho.
Odaiba
Odaiba is Tokyo's waterfront playground on the bay. Stroll the seafront for views of the Rainbow Bridge, especially at night, and visit Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, which is great for families. Close by in Toyosu, teamLab Planets TOKYO is an immersive digital art museum where you walk barefoot through water and through rooms of art that change as people move.
Top sights in Tokyo
- Sensoji Temple: Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in 628, with its five-storey pagoda and incense-filled courtyard.
- Meiji Jingu: a peaceful forest shrine in the middle of the city.
- Shibuya Scramble Crossing: the classic Tokyo photo of crowds crossing from every direction.
- Tokyo National Museum: a deep collection of Japanese art and artefacts in Ueno Park.
- TOKYO SKYTREE and Tokyo Tower: two of the best places for a bird's-eye view of the city.
- Imperial Palace grounds: open green space and moats right in the business district.
Getting around Tokyo
Subway and the JR Yamanote Line
Tokyo's subway has 13 lines run by two operators: Tokyo Metro (nine lines) and Toei (four lines). Together they cover central Tokyo densely. The JR Yamanote Line is a loop that links the big hubs, including Tokyo, Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa. If you plan to ride a lot, the Tokyo Subway Ticket for visitors gives unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines for 24, 48 or 72 hours from first use, but it does not cover JR or other private railways.
IC cards
Get a rechargeable IC card such as Suica or PASMO and simply tap in and out at the gates. The same card works on buses, at many convenience stores and in vending machines. Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO are visitor versions with no deposit.
Airport transfers
Narita: the Skyliner runs to Ueno in about an hour, and the Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station in about an hour. Limousine buses also go to major stations and hotels. Haneda: the airport connects directly to the Keikyu Line and the Tokyo Monorail. Shinagawa is about 15 minutes away and Tokyo Station about 30 minutes.
Where to stay in Tokyo
- Shinjuku: best for first-timers who want nightlife, food and train links in every direction.
- Shibuya: great for shopping and cafés, with Harajuku within walking distance.
- Tokyo Station and Ginza: handy for shinkansen day trips and upmarket shopping.
- Asakusa and Ueno: a more traditional atmosphere, and Ueno has the Skyliner to Narita.
- Shinagawa: convenient for Haneda flights and the Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto and Osaka.
Best time to visit Tokyo
Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable weather. Cherry blossoms usually peak around late March to early April, and autumn leaves colour the city's gardens from about mid-November to early December. Summer is hot and humid, the rainy season usually covers June into July, and typhoons can arrive in August and September. Winter in Tokyo has little snow and many clear, sunny days.
Seasonal events
- Late March to early April: cherry blossom festivals in Ueno Park and along the Sumida River, with lit-up trees at night.
- May: Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa, a lively festival around Asakusa Shrine held since the Edo period.
- July: the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, one of the biggest fireworks shows in Tokyo.
- September: Mori no Takigi Noh, a firelit Noh performance in Shinjuku Gyoen.
Festival dates change every year, so check the official event pages before you book.
Easy day trips from Tokyo
Mt Fuji area
Lake Kawaguchiko at the foot of Mt Fuji is known for views of the mountain reflected in the lake. Staying overnight gives you a better chance of clear morning views.
Hakone
Hakone is a mountain hot spring area about 80 minutes from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto on the Odakyu Romancecar limited express. Highlights include Lake Ashi and the lakeside torii gate of Hakone Shrine, the volcanic valley of Owakudani on the Hakone Ropeway, and the Hakone Open-Air Museum in Gora.
Kamakura
Kamakura, once Japan's political capital, is about 55 minutes from Tokyo Station on the JR Yokosuka Line. It is known for the open-air Great Buddha at Kotoku-in and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.
Nikko
About two hours from Asakusa on the Tobu line, Nikko is home to the richly carved Toshogu Shrine, where the first Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, is entombed. It is part of the UNESCO-listed Shrines and Temples of Nikko.
Local tips for Tokyo
- Carry some cash. Cards are accepted in most shops and restaurants, but some small places only take cash. 7-Eleven and Japan Post Bank ATMs accept many overseas cards.
- No tipping. Tipping is not practised in Japan.
- Take your rubbish with you. Public bins are limited, so carry a small bag.
- Keep the gates moving. Have your IC card ready and tap smoothly at ticket gates.
- Quiet on trains. Keep conversations low and avoid phone calls on board.
- Use legal taxis. Licensed taxis have green number plates.
Best eSIM for Tokyo
Tokyo's train maps and transfers are much easier with mobile data. Our Japan eSIM covers Tokyo with high speed internet that is hotspot ready, so you can share with a laptop or travel buddy. Pick a Total plan for one data bucket, a Daily plan for a fresh allowance each day, or an Unlimited plan, which gives high-speed data first and then slower speed after the high-speed data is used. Your QR code arrives instantly by email, so you can install it before you fly. Plans are data only.
Tokyo travel FAQ
How many days do I need in Tokyo?
Three days covers the highlights: Asakusa and Ueno, Shibuya and Harajuku, and Ginza and the Tokyo Station area. Add extra days for day trips like Hakone, Kamakura or Nikko.
What is the best area to stay in Tokyo for first-timers?
Shinjuku and Shibuya are popular for their train links, food and nightlife. Choose Asakusa or Ueno for a more traditional feel.
How do I get from Narita or Haneda to central Tokyo?
From Narita, take the Skyliner to Ueno or the Narita Express to Tokyo Station, both about an hour. From Haneda, the Keikyu Line and Tokyo Monorail reach the city centre in around 15 to 30 minutes.
Do I need an IC card in Tokyo?
It is highly recommended. Suica or PASMO lets you tap through gates on trains and buses and pay at many shops, and visitor versions need no deposit.
When is cherry blossom season in Tokyo?
Usually from late March to early April. Ueno Park and Sumida Park along the river are two of the most popular viewing spots.
More guides: read our South Korea and Thailand guides, or browse all destinations in Shop eSIMs.
