JAPAN TRAVEL GUIDE

Tokyo

Temple lanes, neon crossings, immersive art, and immense city views.

5 to 7 days Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, or Ginza Illustrated city guide

Choose one neighbourhood cluster per day. Asakusa and Skytree work together, while Shibuya and Meiji Shrine make another natural pairing; keep the bay and digital-art venues for a separate outing.

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Illustrated panorama of Tokyo, Japan

What to see

Six places show different sides of Tokyo; choose paid entries only when they fit your route.

Sight 1
Illustrated Senso-ji and Kaminarimon in Tokyo, Japan

Senso-ji and Kaminarimon

Enter Asakusa through Kaminarimon and explore the temple approach, then step into quieter streets beyond Nakamise.

Best forOld Tokyo atmosphere Do not missThe approach is busiest around midday
Sight 2
Illustrated Shibuya Crossing and SHIBUYA SKY in Tokyo, Japan

Shibuya Crossing and SHIBUYA SKY

Watch the crossing at street level, then use a timed observation-deck visit for a very different view.

Best forCity energy and skyline Do not missThe crossing itself is free; the deck requires a separate ticket
Sight 3
Illustrated Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan

Meiji Shrine

Walk the wooded approach to this active Shinto shrine, leaving the shopping streets of Harajuku behind for a while.

Best forShrine culture and green space Do not missKeep voices low near worship areas
Sight 4
Illustrated Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo Skytree

Choose the observation level you actually want and allow time for the Oshiage area rather than rushing straight back across town.

Best forA broad city panorama Do not missVisibility and deck packages vary
Sight 5
Illustrated teamLab Borderless in Tokyo, Japan

teamLab Borderless

Explore the immersive digital-art spaces at Azabudai Hills with a timed entry and room to wander.

Best forContemporary art Do not missBorderless and Planets are different venues
Sight 6
Illustrated Tokyo DisneySea in Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo DisneySea

Treat the park as a full-day outing and check current admission, entry and transport requirements before booking.

Best forTheme-park day Do not missDo not combine it with central sightseeing

Check current opening rules and ticket inclusions before travelling.

Plan your Tokyo trip

Start with arrival and a Tokyo base, then group the illustrated sights into realistic days.

CONNECTIVITY

Get an eSIM

Compare Japan data coverage and device compatibility before your Tokyo trip.

GETTING THERE

Compare flights

Compare arrival options for Haneda or Narita airports, baggage rules, and the onward trip to your base.

EXPERIENCES

Book top experiences

Choose a specific Tokyo ticket or tour below and check its location and inclusions.

TRIP PLANNING

Tokyo Subway Ticket

Compare 24-, 48-, and 72-hour subway tickets for Tokyo Metro and Toei lines; JR trains are separate.

Smarter routes

Four illustrated routes keep nearby sights and longer excursions in sensible groups.

Illustrated Classic Tokyo icons in Tokyo, Japan

Classic Tokyo icons

Pair an older Tokyo area with one modern skyline district rather than trying to cross the city at every stop.

Best for: First-time orientation

Time: Half to full day

Do not miss: Allow generous rail-transfer time

Book Tokyo highlights walk
Illustrated Asakusa, Ueno and old Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan

Asakusa, Ueno and old Tokyo

Start at Senso-ji, then use the nearby museum and backstreet areas for a slower east-side day.

Best for: Temple and museum culture

Time: Half to full day

Do not miss: Choose one museum instead of racing through several

Book Asakusa and Ueno tour
Illustrated Shibuya, Harajuku and Meiji in Tokyo, Japan

Shibuya, Harajuku and Meiji

Walk the shrine grounds before moving through Harajuku and finishing around Shibuya after dark.

Best for: Shrine-to-city contrast

Time: Half to full day

Do not miss: Reserve the deck separately if you want the view

Book neighbourhood walk
Illustrated Tokyo Bay and digital future in Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo Bay and digital future

Set aside a bay-side outing for waterfront views and one immersive-art venue with a known entry slot.

Best for: Contemporary Tokyo

Time: Half to full day

Do not miss: Check the venue address before travelling

What to do

Six specific experiences can add one focused outing without overfilling the day.

Illustrated Tsukiji Market food tour in Tokyo, Japan

Tsukiji Market food tour

Taste market specialities with a guide while respecting working stalls and narrow pedestrian lanes.

Best timeCheck scheduled times Best forMorning food discovery
Illustrated Tokyo sumo experience in Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo sumo experience

Learn the sport's customs through a scheduled visit or demonstration rather than assuming a tournament is always on.

Best timeCheck scheduled times Best forSport and tradition
Illustrated teamLab Planets experience in Tokyo, Japan

teamLab Planets experience

Move through the interactive installations at the Toyosu venue with the right timed ticket.

Best timeCheck scheduled times Best forImmersive art
Illustrated Asakusa kimono and matcha experience in Tokyo, Japan

Asakusa kimono and matcha experience

Combine a garment fitting with a guided tea or matcha session, leaving time to walk nearby lanes respectfully.

Best timeCheck scheduled times Best forHands-on culture
Illustrated Tokyo city bike tour in Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo city bike tour

Ride a guided route through selected neighbourhoods rather than attempting to cycle every landmark in one trip.

Best timeCheck scheduled times Best forActive city discovery
Illustrated Shinjuku izakaya and Golden Gai tour in Tokyo, Japan

Shinjuku izakaya and Golden Gai tour

Explore compact evening lanes with a guide who can explain local bar etiquette and what tastings are included.

Best timeCheck scheduled times Best forNightlife and food

Check the precise product, date, departure point, and accessibility before booking.

Where to stay

Compare distinct areas and use the individual property map before committing.

Shinjuku

Best for: A Shinjuku base

Why stay here: Compare properties in Shinjuku and check their position against your chosen sights.

Good to know: Confirm the exact property address, room conditions, and transport connections.

Find Shinjuku stays

Shibuya

Best for: A Shibuya base

Why stay here: Compare properties in Shibuya and check their position against your chosen sights.

Good to know: Confirm the exact property address, room conditions, and transport connections.

Find Shibuya stays

Asakusa

Best for: A Asakusa base

Why stay here: Compare properties in Asakusa and check their position against your chosen sights.

Good to know: Confirm the exact property address, room conditions, and transport connections.

Find Asakusa stays

Ginza

Best for: A Ginza base

Why stay here: Compare properties in Ginza and check their position against your chosen sights.

Good to know: Confirm the exact property address, room conditions, and transport connections.

Find Ginza stays

A Booking area search is a starting point, not a guarantee of a particular room or location.

Quick planning

Six practical choices for a first Tokyo trip.

5 to 7 days

Ideal stay

Keep one area cluster per day and separate longer outings.

Humid summers and changeable seasonal conditions

Conditions

Check current weather, access, and seasonal opening rules.

Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, or Ginza

Choose a base

Compare a specific property map with your planned days.

Group districts around rail lines and allow station transfer time

Getting around

Allow time for transfers and walking between stops.

Haneda or Narita airports

Arrival

Check the final journey to your accommodation.

Reserve fixed entries

Book ahead

Time-slot attractions and guided activities need advance choices.

Hidden gems

Four smaller stops add texture beyond the headline sights.

Illustrated Yanaka Ginza in Tokyo, Japan

Yanaka Ginza

Browse a small shopping street and its side lanes at a quieter pace than central Tokyo's major retail districts.

Best for: Everyday neighbourhood life

Quick tip: Keep residential entrances clear

Illustrated Kagurazaka backstreets in Tokyo, Japan

Kagurazaka backstreets

Follow the sloping lanes and small shops away from the district's busier main road.

Best for: Intimate street texture

Quick tip: Explore on foot and respect private doorways

Illustrated Nezu Shrine and Yanesen lanes in Tokyo, Japan

Nezu Shrine and Yanesen lanes

Visit the shrine, then continue through low-rise residential streets and small cafés.

Best for: Shrine and neighbourhood contrast

Quick tip: Do not treat the shrine grounds as a photo set

Illustrated Kiyosumi-Shirakawa in Tokyo, Japan

Kiyosumi-Shirakawa

Pair canalside streets and small cafés with a calm neighbourhood wander east of the centre.

Best for: Coffee and slower city life

Quick tip: Check individual café opening days

Tokyo tips from locals

Small practical habits that make Tokyo easier, calmer, and more rewarding.

1

Group nearby sights

Make Tokyo days by area rather than constantly crossing town.

Tip: Use one cluster at a time.

2

Check the exact ticket

Venues can offer different times, levels, and packages.

Tip: Read inclusions before paying.

3

Plan for weather

Humid summers and changeable seasonal conditions

Tip: Keep a flexible outdoor block.

4

Respect local spaces

Shrines, markets, and residential lanes are part of daily life.

Tip: Follow posted guidance and keep pathways clear.

5

Confirm the meeting point

Tours can depart from a different station or district.

Tip: Save the exact address offline.

6

Leave time to eat

A slower meal often improves a dense sightseeing day.

Tip: Do not stack every evening with tickets.

Easy mistakes to avoid

Avoid the planning, timing, transport, and etiquette mistakes that weaken a first Tokyo visit.

1Crossing the city repeatedly

A short list of sights can still involve long transfers.

Instead: Plan by neighbourhood.

2Confusing entry types

A venue may sell several ticket packages.

Instead: Check the selected option.

3Underestimating transfers

Group districts around rail lines and allow station transfer time

Instead: Leave buffers around fixed entries.

4Ignoring seasonal conditions

Humid summers and changeable seasonal conditions

Instead: Check conditions close to travel.

5Booking the wrong departure

Tours can have several meeting points.

Instead: Confirm the exact departure address.

6Treating an area as a hotel promise

A neighbourhood label is not a specific room location.

Instead: Check the individual property map.