Top places to visit in Tokyo

• Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise Shopping Street

  Buddhist temple · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · free entry

  Tokyo's oldest and most visited temple, founded 628 AD. The giant Kaminarimon Gate with its 700 kg red lantern is Tokyo's most iconic image. The 250-metre Nakamise-dori arcade leads to the main hall where incense curls above 30 million…

• Meiji Jingu Shrine

  Shinto shrine · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · free entry

  Tokyo's paramount Shinto shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Set inside a 70-hectare forested garden of 70,000 donated trees in Harajuku. Receives 3 million visitors on New Year's Day — Japan's single largest annual…

• Shibuya Crossing & SHIBUYA SKY Observatory

  urban landmark & observatory · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's busiest pedestrian crossing — up to 3,000 people cross simultaneously. SHIBUYA SKY on floors 45–47 of Shibuya Scramble Square offers 360° open-air Tokyo panorama from Mt Fuji to Tokyo Skytree, with the crossing visible directly…

• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

  national garden · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 58.3-hectare oasis blending French formal, English landscape, and Japanese garden styles in central Shinjuku. Over 1,000 cherry trees create Tokyo's finest hanami in late March. The Greenhouse holds tropical rarities and the large open…

• Tokyo National Museum, Ueno

  national museum · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Japan's oldest and largest museum (est. 1872) in Ueno Park. Houses 110,000+ objects across 5 buildings — the world's most comprehensive collection of Japanese art. National Treasures include 8th-century swords, Noh costumes, lacquerware,…

• teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills)

  digital art museum · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Reopened 2024 at Azabudai Hills. The world's most visited single-artist museum — a labyrinth of digital art with no map and no set route. Artworks overflow between rooms: mirror-infinity orchid forests, breathing light spheres, and…

• Tokyo Skytree

  Viewpoint · about 2 h · entry ¥2,100 (≈ ₹1,260)

  634 m broadcasting tower in Sumida with two observation decks (Tembo Deck 350 m, Tembo Galleria 450 m) and the Solamachi mall at its base.

• Tsukiji Outer Market

  Market · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Warren of stalls and small eateries around the former wholesale fish market — fresh seafood, tamagoyaki, knives and street food.

• Ueno Park

  Nature · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Sprawling public park with cherry blossoms, Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Zoo and a cluster of national museums.

• Akihabara Electric Town

  Cultural · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Neon district for anime, manga, video games, electronics, maid cafes and arcades.

• Ghibli Museum (Mitaka)

  Museum · about 2.5 h · entry ¥1,000 (≈ ₹600)

  Whimsical museum in Mitaka dedicated to Studio Ghibli — dated timed tickets required, no photography inside.

• Tokyo Tower

  Viewpoint · about 1.5 h · entry ¥1,200 (≈ ₹720)

  333 m red-and-white lattice tower in Minato with Main Deck (150 m) and Top Deck (250 m) observatories.

Things to do

• Kimono Rental & Harajuku / Asakusa Photoshoot Cultural · 4 h · from JPY 5,600 per person
• Shibuya Crossing & Neon Night Walking Tour Walking Tour · 2.5 h · from JPY 3,700 per person
• Tsukiji Outer Market Food Tour & Sushi Workshop Food Tour · 3 h · from JPY 13,800 per person
• Sumo Morning Practice Visit at Beya Cultural · 2 h · from JPY 11,100 per person
• Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Trip Day Trip · 10 h · from JPY 14,000 per person
• teamLab Planets Toyosu Attraction · 2 h · from JPY 3,800 per person
• Asakusa Rickshaw Tour Tour · 0.5 h · from JPY 9,000 per person
• Street Go-Kart Tour Shibuya Tour · 2 h · from JPY 10,000 per person

Day trips and tours

• Mt. Fuji & Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo 12 h · from JPY 18,500
• Tokyo Highlights Full Day — Asakusa, Harajuku, Shibuya & teamLab 10 h · from JPY 14,800

Where to stay in Tokyo

• Shinjuku about JPY 8,000 per night

  Bustling hub with hotels and nightlife

• Shibuya about JPY 7,500 per night

  Famous district with shopping and culture

• Asakusa about JPY 5,000 per night

  Historic area with temple and traditional culture

• Shinjuku–Shibuya about JPY 18,000 per night

  The hyperactive heart of modern Tokyo — Shinjuku has the world's busiest station, neon-lit Kabukicho entertainment district, and excellent transport connections. Shibuya offers iconic crossing and Harajuku shopping.…

• Asakusa–Ueno about JPY 10,000 per night

  Old Tokyo (Shitamachi) neighbourhood — rickshaws, incense smoke, craft shops and Senso-ji temple. Calmer and more traditional than Shinjuku. Excellent budget and mid-range hotel options. Good Skytree access.

• Ginza–Marunouchi about JPY 55,000 per night

  Tokyo's most upscale central district — Ginza luxury shopping, proximity to Tokyo Station (Shinkansen hub), and the Imperial Palace gardens. Ideal for business travellers and luxury stays.

Hotels

• Park Hyatt Tokyo 5-star · JPY 70,000 to JPY 150,000 per night
• The Tokyo Station Hotel 5-star · JPY 60,000 to JPY 120,000 per night
• Sequence Miyashita Park 4-star · JPY 22,000 to JPY 45,000 per night
• Mimaru Tokyo Ueno East 4-star · JPY 20,000 to JPY 38,000 per night
• Hotel Gracery Shinjuku 4-star · JPY 22,000 to JPY 40,000 per night
• Khaosan Tokyo Origami 2-star · JPY 3,500 to JPY 8,000 per night

Where to eat

• Ichiran Shinjuku Japanese, Ramen · about JPY 1,000 per person
• Gyukatsu Motomura Omotesando Japanese, Gyukatsu · about JPY 1,800 per person
• Fuunji Tsukemen Japanese, Ramen · about JPY 1,200 per person
• Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu Japanese, Izakaya, Yakitori · about JPY 4,000 per person
• Asakusa Imahan Japanese, Sukiyaki, Wagyu · about JPY 12,000 per person
• Sushi Saito (via omakase) Japanese, Sushi · about JPY 45,000 per person
• Kagari Ramen Ginza Ramen, Japanese · about JPY 1,500 per person
• Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama Tonkatsu, Japanese · about JPY 2,200 per person

Getting to Tokyo

Airport: Tokyo (TYO), Tokyo (Tokyo Haneda International Airport) (HND)

How visitors arrive in Tokyo

• Fly into Narita or Haneda By air from International cities · common

  Narita handles most international flights; Haneda is closer to the centre and is a major international hub. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Shinkansen to Tokyo Station By train from Japanese cities · common

  Tokyo Station is the main Shinkansen hub; northern lines also stop at Ueno and western lines at Shinagawa. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Highway bus By road from Japanese cities · possible

  Buses use terminals at the Yaesu exit of Tokyo Station and Busta Shinjuku. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Domestic ferry By ferry from Domestic ports · possible

  Domestic ferries use the Tokyo Port Ferry Terminal; no regular international ferries call. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Narita Express and Keisei Skyliner

  From Narita, the JR Narita Express goes to Tokyo Station and on to Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku. The Keisei Skyliner goes to Keisei Ueno and Nippori. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Airport Limousine Bus from Narita

  Limousine buses run direct to major hotels and suburbs, with a main hub at Tokyo City Air Terminal (T-CAT) in Hakozaki. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Tokyo Monorail from Haneda

  The Tokyo Monorail goes to Hamamatsucho, where you change to the JR Yamanote line. Keikyu line trains go to Shinagawa and Yokohama, some via the Toei Asakusa line. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi from Haneda

  Taxis can take you to central Tokyo, and some companies offer fixed-fare service to areas such as Shinjuku and Shibuya. Expressway tolls are added. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Haneda trains stop running overnight, but some limousine buses run after midnight. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Metro

  Tokyo is served by two subway systems, Tokyo Metro with nine lines and the Toei Subway with four, which run alongside JR and private railway lines.

• Transit Pass

  Rechargeable IC cards such as Suica and Pasmo work on trains, subways and most buses across the Tokyo area.

  PASMO official site

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Roppongi bar overcharge

  Roppongi · Kabukicho nightlife

  Foreign-fronted bar in Roppongi adds drink charges and seat fees you weren't shown; bill arrives at 5–10x expected.

  How to avoid it: Stick to bars with clear printed menus and prices on the door. Ask price before sitting.

• Friendly Bar / Hostess Club Overcharge

  Kabukicho (Shinjuku), Roppongi

  A friendly local (sometimes a tout) invites you to a bar or club. After a few drinks the bill arrives for ¥30,000–¥100,000+. The menu had no prices. Bouncers enforce payment.

  How to avoid it: Never enter a bar recommended by a stranger. Research bars independently on Google Maps or Tabelog. Insist on seeing a price list before ordering.

• Taxi Overcharging (No Meter)

  Near Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi stations at night

  Unlicensed or tourist-targeting taxis quote a flat fare (¥3,000+ for a ¥800 trip) and refuse to use the meter. Often park away from official taxi ranks.

  How to avoid it: Use the official taxi rank at station exits. Confirm the meter is running at journey start. Uber and GO app taxis are safer alternatives.

• Free Tourist Map / Attraction Tout

  Asakusa, near Senso-ji

  Someone hands you a "free" tourist map or guides you to a temple, then aggressively asks for ¥500–¥2,000 as a tip. Refusing escalates to verbal harassment.

  How to avoid it: Politely decline unsolicited help from strangers approaching tourists. Official tourist info centers at Asakusa and Tokyo Station are free.

• Taxi overcharging at night in Shinjuku

  Kabukicho and West Shinjuku late-night taxi ranks

  Unmetered or illegally operated "white-taxi" (shirohainsha) drivers solicit passengers outside clubs. They quote fixed prices far above metered rates — often ¥5,000–20,000 for short rides.

  How to avoid it: Only use clearly marked official taxis with illuminated roof signs. The meter must run from the moment you enter. Reject any driver who quotes a fixed price up front.

• Fake monks asking for donations

  Senso-ji (Asakusa), Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku

  People dressed in monk robes approach tourists offering a bead or charm, then demand a donation of ¥1,000–5,000. They are not affiliated with any temple and often become aggressive if refused.

  How to avoid it: Real Japanese monks do not solicit donations on streets or tourist sites. Politely decline and walk away. Do not accept items handed to you unsolicited.

• Bar tab scam in Roppongi

  Roppongi bars and clubs

  Foreign touts invite tourists into a bar, run up a large tab (often via overpriced "hostess" companions they seat at your table), then present an inflated bill of ¥30,000–100,000+. Physical intimidation may be used to collect.

  How to avoid it: Avoid bars recommended by street touts. Research venues on Google Maps first. Ask for a price list before ordering anything. This scam is well-documented in Roppongi.

Best time to visit Tokyo

• Jan 10°C
• Feb 11°C
• Mar 14°C
• Apr 19°C
• May 24°C
• Jun 26°C
• Jul 30°C
• Aug 31°C
• Sep 28°C
• Oct 22°C
• Nov 17°C
• Dec 12°C

More in Japan

• Kyoto
• Osaka
• Hakone
• Hiroshima
• Kamakura
• Nikko

Frequently asked questions about Tokyo

How many days do you need in Tokyo?

A typical trip to Tokyo is 4-5 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Tokyo?

The highest-rated places in our Tokyo guide are Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise Shopping Street, Shibuya Crossing & SHIBUYA SKY Observatory, teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills), Meiji Jingu Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Where should I stay in Tokyo?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Shinjuku–Shibuya.

How do I get around Tokyo?

Ways to get around Tokyo covered in our guide: Metro, Transit pass, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Tokyo?

Scams reported to us for Tokyo include Roppongi bar overcharge; Friendly Bar / Hostess Club Overcharge; Taxi Overcharging (No Meter). Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Tokyo?

Average daytime highs in Tokyo run from 10°C in Jan to 31°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Tokyo?

The nearest airport to Tokyo has the code TYO.