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Kantō · Japan
Tokyo
Tokyo is not one city but a chain of them, each with its own centre of gravity. The pleasure is not in ticking off sights — it is in picking a neighbourhood and letting it unfold.
Stays from €98 a night
The place
What Tokyo is actually like
Tokyo rewards depth over breadth. The city has no single centre; it has around a dozen, each grown around a railway station, and each with a distinct character that survives the density. Trying to see all of them in a week produces a blur. Choosing three and walking them properly produces a trip people talk about for years.
The transport is the quiet miracle. Trains are frequent, spotless and punctual to the second, and a Suica card on your phone opens almost everything including convenience stores and vending machines. Taxis are excellent and unnecessary.
Eating is the main event at every price point. The country has more Michelin stars than anywhere else, but the more startling thing is the floor — a ¥1,200 lunch at a counter with six seats will be better than most restaurant meals at home. Department store basements, standing soba bars and neighbourhood izakaya are where the city actually eats.
Timing
When to visit
Honest seasonality — including the months we would not recommend.
- Busiest
Mar – Apr
Cherry blossom
Extraordinary, and priced accordingly. Bloom lasts about ten days and moves each year.
- Balanced
May – Jun
Mild and green
Comfortable before the rainy season arrives in mid-June.
- Quietest
Jul – Aug
Hot and humid
Genuinely punishing humidity, but festival season and the best hotel rates.
- Busiest
Oct – Nov
Best overall
Clear skies, autumn colour through late November, and the most reliable weather of the year.
Neighbourhoods
Where to stay in Tokyo
Each area suits a different trip. Pick the one that matches yours.
Shinjuku
Maximum Tokyo — transport hub, neon, and everything open late
- First visits
- Nightlife
- Connections
Shibuya
Young, loud and endlessly walkable, with the best of the city's street life
- Shopping
- Bars
- Design hotels
Ginza
The grown-up choice — quiet at night, extraordinary food, central
- Luxury
- Dining
- Couples
Yanaka & Nezu
Low-rise old Tokyo that survived the war, twenty minutes from the centre
- Repeat visits
- Calm
- Walking
Stays
Popular hotels in Tokyo
Live prices from our accommodation partners for a sample three-night stay.
Things to do
What to do in Tokyo
- Early morning at Senso-ji in Asakusa, before the coach parties
- The Meiji Shrine forest, then straight into Harajuku for the contrast
- Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast — the inner market moved, the good stalls did not
- teamLab Borderless or Planets, booked well in advance
- A Golden Gai bar in Shinjuku that seats eight people
- Day trip to Kamakura or Nikko, both under two hours by train
Eating and drinking
- Standing sushi at a counter in Tsukiji or Toyosu, ¥3,000 for something remarkable
- Tonkatsu in Tonki-style Meguro, or tempura at a Ginza counter
- Depachika — the food halls beneath Isetan and Mitsukoshi are a destination in themselves
- Convenience store egg sandwiches, which are genuinely as good as everyone says
Book ahead
Tours, tickets and day trips
Practicalities
Things worth knowing
Get a Suica on your phone before you land
Apple and Google Wallet both support it. It removes ticket machines from your trip entirely.
Book the famous restaurants before you fly
Anything with a reputation takes reservations one to three months out, often only by phone or through your hotel concierge.
Rooms are small — that is normal
A 22 m² room in a good Tokyo hotel is standard. Filter by size explicitly if you need more space.
Carry some cash
Cards are widely accepted now, but small restaurants, shrines and older shops are still cash-only.
Orientation
Tokyo at a glance
Questions
Tokyo FAQ
How many days should I spend in Tokyo?
Five nights is the minimum that does not feel rushed, and seven is better if you want a day trip to Kamakura, Hakone or Nikko. Tokyo alone can hold two weeks without repetition.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
No. Signage on transport is bilingual, most restaurants have picture or English menus, and translation apps handle the rest. A few polite phrases go a long way.
Is Tokyo expensive?
Less than its reputation. Food and transport are cheaper than London or New York; hotels are comparable. The yen has been weak against the euro and pound for several years, which helps considerably.
Which airport should I fly into?
Haneda, if the fare is close. It is 30 minutes from central Tokyo against 60 to 90 from Narita, and the difference matters twice.
Elsewhere
