Tokyo.

Whether you’re a Japanese person or a visitor to Japan, seemingly all roads lead to here.

With a population of well over 30 million, the Kanto Region comprises Tokyo’s 23 main wards (each of which is often considered a “city”) as well as nearby Yokohama (Japan’s second largest city), Saitama, Chiba and more.

Nearly 1 in 4 Japanese live in Tokyo & environs!

That’s what Tokyo is on the itinerary of nearly everyone traveling to Japan — from couples and honeymooners to families, solo travelers and anyone who’s looking to experience the pulsing energy of the world’s biggest city.

This iconic destination disappoints few, with a wealth of travel experiences, sights, sounds, flavors and memories that will last a lifetime.

In this article we’ll give you some of the basics of how to visit Tokyo and make the most of your experience in Japan.

A Selection of Tokyo’s Top Attractions

No Tokyo tour is complete without a visit to some of its iconic landmarks, as they say. But don’t take this as gospel, and don’t feel pressured to do everything.

Image of Senso-ji temple and Asakusa in Tokyo Japan with travelers and souvenir stands, restaurants, etc.

Asakusa & Ueno: Icons in Tokyo’s Northeast Core

The majestic Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa offers a glimpse into Tokyo's spiritual heart. The long street of shops and stands leading to the temple gets pretty crowded as the day goes on, so getting here early is key.

Nearby Tokyo Skytree provides panoramic views of the city's vast urban landscape. A Sumida River cruise from this area is a nice break anytime, especially in the hot summer months.

Ueno Park shines brightest in sakura season, with hundreds of thousands promenading through its leafy grounds to admire the cherry blossoms.

Ameyoko-cho in this area is a lively, local shopping street, and it will take you from Ueno to the electronics and gaming hub of Akihabara.

Shinjuku, Shibuya & Tokyo’s West Side

Shinjuku is home to Tokyo’s largest cluster of offices, though calling it “downtown” wouldn’t sit with Tokyo-ites (that word, in Japanese called “shitamachi,” usually refers to older, humbler parts of town). When you see images of Tokyo's neon-lit alleys and towering skyscrapers, it’s usually Shinjuku.

in Shinjuku you’ll find a wide range of hotel options, as well as restaurants, bars and entertainment to take you well into the night. Don’t miss the big department stores and their massive, sprawling basement food halls (Japan life hack: after 7pm or so, they start slashing prices on food that needs to go!).

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is underrated, and makes for a nice break amidst your Tokyo city exploration. Once the private garden of the Imperial Family, it's now a public park that beautifully showcases Japanese landscape design through the seasons.

Image of an electronics store and shopping area in Tokyo Japan.

South of Shinjuku is Yoyogi, another nice park though its heyday of music on the weekends is behind us.

Just beyond Yoyogi is Meiji Shrine, nestled in a lush forest next to bustling (but touristy) Harajuku, offering a stark contrast to the urban jungle around it. (Pro tip: for those who want more greenery after this, and with a glimpse of Japan's imperial past, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace also provide a calm break from the city's hustle and bustle).

From Meiji Jingu you can check out Takeshita Street in Harajuku. Its current iteration is a far cry from the trendy youth of its past, but it’s still worth a glance on your way. Then walk Omotesando and Minami Aoyama, which have some of Tokyo’s trendiest shops and restaurants, before ending up in Shibuya.

Shibuya Crossing, the world's busiest pedestrian intersection, lets you take part in the organized chaos of thousands of people crossing in all directions in a seemingly mad “scramble.”

Central Tokyo: Ginza, Roppongi, Tokyo Station & More

Tokyo Station is more than a transit hub. It sits in the middle of a financial and government district, featuring a restored red brick main building and a maze of shops and restaurants (some of which have Michelin stars). If you’re departing or arriving on a bullet train, it’s probably going to be at Tokyo Station (though Shinagawa is a good option for Kyoto or Osaka-bound shinkansen travel if you are connecting from Tokyo’s south or west sides, or from Tokyo Haneda Airport.

The famous Ginza is the high-end shopping street known across the world, though you can find plenty of side streets and alleyways that offer bargains and great eats.

Though Tsukiji is near here, the main fish auction has moved to Toyosu and what’s left is a set of restaurants and shops that are more in favor with tourists than locals nowadays.

Roppongi is another popular entertainment district, and nearby Azabu and surrounding areas offer plenty in the way of walking, shopping, eating and more. From here you can see and visit Tokyo Tower as well.

Image of Tokyo at blue hour in the early evening in Japan, featuring Tokyo Tower and a maze of streets and neon lights.

Veering Off the Beaten Path in Tokyo

While Tokyo's main attractions are impressive, the city truly reveals itself in its lesser-known (to tourists, anyhow) corners.

Take a stroll through the retro area of Yanaka, a hidden gem of a local Tokyo neighborhood and one of the few areas in Tokyo that escaped damage during World War II. Its narrow streets, traditional houses and numerous temples offer a glimpse into old Tokyo. Yanaka Ginza, the main shopping street, is a great example of a Japanese “shotengai” – a covered pedestrian arcade with shops, restaurants and local character galore.

In addition to Yanaka Ginza, there are a number of other shotengai around Tokyo that are great for a stroll – and time away from the tourists.

Plenty of other neighborhoods around Tokyo are worth your attention, and we’ll be spotlighting some of them in upcoming articles. These include Koenji, Kichijoji, Shimo-kitazawa, Ikebukuro, Ebisu, Naka-Meguro and many (many!) others.

Day Trips (& Overnights) from Tokyo

As great as the sights, sounds, tastes and feels of Tokyo are, it’s well worth the time and effort to get out beyond the city core.

Day trips, or even half-days, reward visitors with views and experiences that are rather different from what you’d experience in the capital itself. Whether you’re on your honeymoon in Japan, traveling here with family or doing a solo trip, there are Tokyo day trips for everyone.

Kamakura: Ancient Capital by the Sea

Just an hour from Tokyo, Kamakura offers history, nature and seaside charm.

Once the political center of medieval Japan, Kamakura is home to numerous Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines well known in Japan, including the famous Great Buddha at Kotoku-in Temple.

Many travelers enjoy the bamboo grove at Hokoku-ji Temple or the scenic Enoshima Electric Railway, affectionately known as the "Enoden," which offers picturesque coastal views – but is often packed with visitors these days thanks to popularity from an anime series.

Now it’s worth pointing out that Kamakura is about as much of a secret as Tokyo is – that is to say, it’s well on the radar of millions of travelers & tourists annually. Plan ahead, go early, and have a Plan B if/when things get too crowded for your liking.

Mount Fuji Area Day Trips

Looking to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji?

It’s an icon of Japan travel images, that’s for sure.

Fuji-san, as Japanese refer to it (not out of respect with the “san,” term, but because this “san” is also a suffix for mountain), is also a bit of a recluse.

Depending on what time of year you visit, you’ll either have pretty good chances of Mt. Fuji views in the winter and early spring months; or less than favorable odds in the summer humidity into the early fall (when its snow cap is mostly off and the mountain is often shrouded in haze or clouds).

Your best bets are to go early; and to plan a day trip from Tokyo in an area that will give you plenty of other sights and experiences, meaning that Fuji-san views are a bonus. Hope the weather cooperates on your trip!

Hakone is a great day trip, or an overnight, combining nature and beautiful scenery. Fuji Kawaguchiko is another worthwhile option.

Nikko: Nature and Spirituality

A 2+ hour train ride north of Tokyo takes you to Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its ornate shrines set against a backdrop of natural beauty.

A self-guided tour in Nikko ought to include the lavishly decorated Toshogu Shrine, final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Nature lovers will appreciate the scenic Lake Chuzenji and the majestic Kegon Falls, especially lovely during the season of autumn foliage in Japan.

These day trips offer an ideal complement to your Tokyo travel experience, allowing you to escape the urban jungle and experience Japan's cultural heritage and natural wonders. Whether you're marveling at Tokyo's modernity or stepping back in time in Kamakura or Nikko, Tokyo promises to be an unforgettable adventure.

Image of zaru soba, a noodle dish on a lacquer tray set at a restaurant in Tokyo Japan.

Eats in Tokyo: A Global Culinary Delight

One of the hardest decisions you’ll have to make is what and where to eat during your limited time in Tokyo.

The food here is some of the best in the world.

From hole-in-the-wall ramen shops and yakitori joints, to cafes and mid-range eateries, to Michelin-starred fine dining (the most of any city in the world!) and elaborate kaiseki and omakase food experiences, Tokyo’s culinary scene is perhaps unrivaled anywhere.

Want to eat in Tokyo like a local foodie? Take a food tour in Japan’s amazing capital that’s known for great eats from all over the country!

We will go further in-depth with food-focused pages about Tokyo. Suffice it to say, the sushi and ramen here aren’t to be missed. But neither are Japanese culinary mainstays like soba/udon, tempura, shabu-shabu, tonkatsu, okonomiyaki and much more.

Looking for a meal right now? A glance on Google Maps at the restaurants near you will undoubtedly reveal a full range of solid dining options and some real bangers! Unless you’ve fallen into a tourist trap (and the reviews can usually tip you off to that), you’re bound to eat well in Tokyo!

Image of a commuter train at the platform in a train station in Tokyo Japan.

Tokyo Transit: Planes, Trains & (Sometimes) Automobiles

Flying into Tokyo? You’ll land at either Haneda Airport (the closer one) or, further out (but often cheaper) Narita Airport. Allow plenty of time for customs/immigration, navigating the terminal and getting into the city (though considerably less from Haneda than from Narita).

Tokyo Station is the rail hub for two shinkansen (bullet train) lines. The Tokaido Shinkansen starts at Tokyo, stops at Shinagawa (a convenient option if your hotel is nearby), then continues southwest to Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. The Tohoku Shinkansen goes north to Sendai and elsewhere in the Tohoku region (northern Honshu island).

A number local, commuter and regional rail lines also form the labyrinth that is the Tokyo/Kanto train map. Your best bet is probably not to try to decipher that daunting map, but rather use Google Maps or similar transit app to plug in your departure and destination points for the best routes and timing.

Taxis are plentiful and affordable* in Tokyo. Uber exists but, as of this article’s publishing, not in the iteration you’d recognize from elsewhere; the GO taxi app is used frequently by locals, expats and travelers alike. (* If traveling to/from Narita Airport, the taxi fare is in the neighborhood of $150-200 USD (as opposed to $20-$30 by train).

Tokyo: Treat It Like Your First Visit Won’t Be Your Last

There’s really no way to do all of Tokyo in one visit.

Accepting this and carving out a Tokyo tour itinerary that’s manageable and hits the highlights of what interests you the most? That will be the key to getting the most out of your time in Tokyo.

Even if it’s a “bucket list” kind of trip to Tokyo, we still advise clients and friends on a self-guided tour in Tokyo to not try to do it all, but rather leave some for next time (because that’s pretty much inevitable).

Want to punch up that itinerary and get more local experiences in Tokyo and elsewhere in Japan? Use this handy tool to schedule a free consultation with us.

Have you been to Tokyo before? What were your favorite experiences? Let us know in the comments below.

Until next time, happy travels!