Tokyo Travel Guide
Tokyo is the most organized, functional, and densely layered city on earth. It operates with a precision that initially feels almost intimidating — trains arrive within seconds of their scheduled time, restaurants expect you at exactly your reservation time, and public spaces are maintained with a standard of cleanliness that most cities can't approach. But beneath the efficiency is a city of extraordinary depth, strangeness, and warmth. Tokyo contains 13 million people and somehow manages to feel intimate at the neighborhood level. The city is made of distinct villages — Yanaka, Shimokitazawa, Daikanyama, Yanesen — each with its own character, its own cafés, its own rhythms. The contrast between the futuristic and the ancient is everywhere: a 7-Eleven next to a 400-year-old temple, a ramen shop beneath a glass tower. Nothing in Tokyo is what you expect, and everything works better than anywhere else.
Where to stay in Tokyo
- Shinjuku
- The busiest station in the world. East exit = entertainment, shopping, Kabukicho. West exit = skyscrapers and budget hotels. Everything is accessible from here.
- Asakusa
- Most traditional neighborhood. Senso-ji temple is here. Nakamise street for souvenirs. Rickshaw rides available. Feels like a different century.
- Shibuya
- Famous crossing is here. Tower Records, Loft, lots of fashion. More American-influenced than the rest of Tokyo. Great food in the backstreets.
- Shimokitazawa
- Where Tokyo's artists and musicians live. Zero tourist infrastructure. Tiny live music venues, vintage clothing, third-wave coffee. Takes about 20 min from Shibuya.
- Yanaka
- A neighborhood that survived WWII. Traditional shotengai (shopping street), temple cemeteries, cats everywhere. No tourists. Go on a weekend morning.
- Ginza
- Tokyo's most upscale shopping district. Apple Store, luxury brands. Quiet and safe at any hour. Expensive everything.
What to see in Tokyo
- Senso-ji Temple
- Go before 8am to experience it without crowds. The main hall is free. Nakamise shopping street opens at 10am. The back streets behind the temple are also worth exploring.
- teamLab Planets (Toyosu)
- Book well in advance online — it sells out daily. Wear shorts — you walk through shallow water. One of the most remarkable art experiences in the world.
- Shibuya Crossing
- Watch from Mag's Park (rooftop entrance fee) or the Starbucks overlooking the crossing for the best bird's-eye view. Ground level is also fine.
- Meiji Shrine
- A large forested shrine in the middle of the city. Peaceful and beautiful. Combine with Harajuku (right next door) for a great half-day.
- Yanaka neighborhood walk
- Old Tokyo that survived the war. Yanaka Cemetery (not as morbid as it sounds), Yanaka Ginza shopping street, cats. Best weekend mornings.
- Day Trip: Nikko
- 150km north of Tokyo. Elaborate mausoleum for Tokugawa Ieyasu in a forested mountain. UNESCO listed. Take the Spacia limited express from Asakusa (2 hrs).
- Tsukiji Outer Market
- Inner market moved to Toyosu but the outer market still has excellent fresh seafood, tamagoyaki, and street food. Go by 8am for the freshest.
- Day Trip: Kamakura
- Giant Buddha, Zen temples, hiking trail between shrines. 50 min from Tokyo by JR Yokosuka line. Excellent day trip.