Tokyo
Essentials
The answers you need first
Best for
Food, design, neighbourhoods, nightlife and museums
Ideal stay
5–7 full days
Airports
Haneda and Narita
Main transport
JR lines, metro, private railways and buses
Police
110
Fire and ambulance
119
Tap water
Safe to drink
Language
Japanese
01
Is Tokyo right for your trip?
Tokyo is ideal for travellers who enjoy large cities, food, design, neighbourhood exploration, museums and highly efficient public transport.
The city is not one centre. Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Ueno, Ginza, Marunouchi, Kichijoji and many other districts feel like separate destinations.
The best first visit is built around neighbourhood clusters rather than one long checklist of famous sights.
- Strong choice for first-time visitors to Japan.
- Excellent for solo travel, food-focused trips and urban culture.
- Five full days is the practical minimum.
- A rental car is unnecessary.
- Late-night transport needs planning because trains stop running.
02
When should you visit?
Tokyo works year-round, but spring and autumn usually offer the most comfortable balance of weather and walking conditions.
Spring brings cherry blossom demand and variable temperatures. Summer is hot and humid, while autumn is popular for milder weather. Winter is generally dry and bright, with cold mornings and evenings.
Golden Week, New Year and major events can affect transport, opening hours and accommodation prices.
- March to April: high demand and variable cherry blossom timing.
- May: generally comfortable after Golden Week.
- June: rainy season.
- July to August: hot, humid and physically demanding.
- September to November: popular, with typhoon risk earlier in the period.
- December to February: cooler, drier and often clear.
03
Which airport should you use?
Haneda is much closer to central Tokyo, while Narita serves many international routes but requires a longer transfer.
- HND — Haneda: usually the most convenient airport for central Tokyo.
- NRT — Narita: farther from the city but connected by rail and airport buses.
- Check the terminal before departure.
- Choose the airport transfer according to your exact hotel area.
- Do not schedule a tight transfer between Haneda and Narita.
- Allow extra time during rush hour and major holidays.
04
Which neighbourhood should you stay in?
Choose by transport connections, evening atmosphere and the areas you plan to visit most.
For a first visit, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Asakusa, Ginza, Marunouchi or Shinagawa usually provide the simplest logistics.
- Shinjuku: major transport hub, nightlife and broad hotel choice.
- Shibuya: shopping, nightlife and strong west-Tokyo access.
- Ginza and Marunouchi: central, polished and convenient for Tokyo Station.
- Asakusa: historic atmosphere and easier access to traditional sights.
- Ueno: museums, markets and useful rail connections.
- Roppongi: nightlife, contemporary art and international dining.
- Kichijoji: calmer local atmosphere and access to Inokashira Park.
- Shinagawa: practical for Haneda and shinkansen connections.
05
How does Tokyo transport work?
Tokyo uses multiple railway, subway and bus operators, but an IC card makes ordinary journeys straightforward.
JR East, Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway and several private railway companies operate different parts of the network. Fares are calculated by operator and distance.
Large interchange stations can take significant time to navigate, so station exits and transfer routes matter.
- Use an IC card for most urban journeys.
- Check the operator before following a route.
- Allow extra time at Shinjuku, Tokyo, Shibuya, Ueno and Ikebukuro.
- Use the exact station exit shown in your route plan.
- Avoid peak commuting times when possible.
- Check the final train before late-night plans.
06
What is a realistic five-day itinerary?
Group each day by area to reduce unnecessary cross-city travel.
Add a sixth or seventh day for slower neighbourhood exploration, a day trip or weather flexibility.
- Day 1: Shibuya, Harajuku, Omotesando and Aoyama.
- Day 2: Asakusa, Ueno and Yanaka.
- Day 3: Shinjuku, Meiji Jingu and an evening viewpoint.
- Day 4: Ginza, Marunouchi, Tokyo Station and Nihonbashi.
- Day 5: choose Odaiba, Kichijoji, Koenji, Nakameguro, Roppongi or a museum-focused day.
07
What is genuinely worth seeing?
The strongest first-time experiences combine major landmarks with neighbourhoods that reveal everyday Tokyo.
- Senso-ji and Asakusa.
- Meiji Jingu and the Harajuku–Omotesando area.
- Shibuya Crossing and surrounding streets.
- Tokyo Station and Marunouchi.
- Ueno Park and its museums.
- A city viewpoint such as Shibuya Sky or Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
- A residential or local district such as Yanaka, Kichijoji, Koenji or Nakameguro.
- One food-focused evening in Shinjuku, Ebisu, Ginza or another district.
08
What should you book in advance?
High-demand attractions, museums and restaurants can sell out well before arrival.
- TeamLab Borderless or Planets.
- Ghibli Museum.
- Shibuya Sky sunset slots.
- Special exhibitions.
- Popular observation decks.
- High-demand restaurants.
- Theme parks and timed-entry attractions.
Important
Use official websites or clearly authorised sales channels. Avoid resellers with unclear ticket conditions.
09
How should you approach Tokyo’s food scene?
Tokyo rewards travellers who mix famous restaurants with neighbourhood specialists, markets and department-store food halls.
- Try sushi, ramen, soba, tempura, yakitori, tonkatsu and regional Japanese cuisines.
- Explore department-store basement food halls.
- Use standing bars, izakaya and specialised restaurants.
- Reserve high-demand restaurants early.
- Check whether the restaurant requires one order per guest.
- Do not tip.
- Carry cash for smaller businesses.
10
What should you know about nightlife?
Tokyo nightlife is varied, but transport timing and venue pricing require attention.
- Check the final train before going out.
- Use recognised venues with clear pricing.
- Avoid following street touts into bars or clubs.
- Confirm cover charges and table charges.
- Keep drinks attended.
- Plan a taxi budget if staying out after trains stop.
- Carry your hotel address in Japanese.
11
How do payments and cash work?
Cards and contactless payments are common, but cash remains useful.
- Carry Japanese yen.
- Use ATMs in convenience stores, banks or post offices.
- Carry a second payment card.
- Do not tip.
- Use payment trays when provided.
- Check whether a vending machine or restaurant accepts notes, coins or IC cards.
12
Which etiquette rules matter most?
A few practical habits are more important than trying to memorise every custom.
- Queue where marked.
- Let passengers exit before boarding.
- Keep calls and conversations quiet on public transport.
- Do not block station gates, pavements or shop entrances.
- Carry rubbish until you find a bin.
- Remove shoes where requested.
- Ask before photographing people or private interiors.
- Follow smoking-area rules.
13
What are the real safety risks?
Tokyo is generally safe, but travellers should still prepare for scams, lost property, crowded transport and natural hazards.
- Keep belongings secure in crowded stations.
- Avoid entertainment venues with unclear pricing.
- Use koban police boxes for lost property or local assistance.
- Police: 110.
- Fire and ambulance: 119.
- Non-emergency police consultation: #9110.
- Note your hotel emergency exits.
- Follow official instructions during earthquakes, floods or severe weather.
14
How should you prepare for disruptions?
Earthquakes, heavy rain, typhoons and transport suspensions can affect plans with little notice.
- Keep your phone charged.
- Save accommodation details offline.
- Bookmark official railway and airport status pages.
- Install or bookmark disaster-information tools.
- Follow staff instructions in stations, hotels and attractions.
- Do not travel toward a closed or affected area.
- Carry water, medication and a portable charger.
15
Which day trips are worth considering?
Choose one day trip only after giving Tokyo itself enough time.
- Kamakura: temples, historic streets and coast.
- Nikko: shrines, forested scenery and mountain travel.
- Hakone: hot springs, museums and Mount Fuji views when conditions are clear.
- Kawagoe: compact historic district.
- Yokohama: waterfront, food and urban architecture.
- Mount Takao: accessible hiking from central Tokyo.
16
What do travellers usually discover too late?
These planning mistakes most often make a first Tokyo trip harder.
- Tokyo is several centres, not one compact downtown.
- A wrong station exit can add a long walk.
- Shinjuku Station needs extra transfer time.
- Last trains stop before many nightlife venues close.
- Popular attractions require advance booking.
- Cash is still useful.
- Hotel rooms can be smaller than expected.
- Cross-city travel can consume more time than the map suggests.
- Five full days is the practical minimum for a balanced first visit.
17
Before you go checklist
Complete these checks before departure.
- Confirm which airport each flight uses.
- Choose accommodation near useful transport.
- Arrange an IC card or compatible mobile option.
- Reserve high-demand attractions.
- Check the final train for late-night plans.
- Download offline maps and Japanese addresses.
- Carry cash and a second payment card.
- Save emergency numbers 110 and 119.
- Bookmark official transport-status pages.
- Install or bookmark disaster information.
- Keep attraction tickets available offline.
- Purchase travel insurance.
Next guide