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Japan Travel Guide:

Best Places to Visit in Tokyo

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Tokyo, the capital of Japan and one of the world's great cities, is located on the eastern coast of Honshu, the largest of the chain of islands that form the country. It is situated within the Kanto Administrative Region. Tokyo is a densely populated metropolitan area (over 11,000,000 inhabitants).  

Founded in the early 17th century, the city was originally called Edo, a name it retained until the mid-19th century when the Emperor Meiji renamed it Tokyo. Its history has been turbulent.  In 1923, a major earthquake flattened parts of Tokyo and its suburbs.  Near the end of World War II,  Tokyo was firebombed.  The number of deaths was high and large areas of the city were destroyed.  The Japanese people responded to both tragedies by rebuilding and Tokyo's status, as one of the world's leading cities, is a result of this diligence and dedication.

Tokyo is a city that blends the old and the new in a seamless manner.  The country's religious and feudal past are represented by temples and palaces that might seem as if they belong in a different era, but are considered an integral part of their culture by most Japanese. Conversely, the proliferation of zany trends among Japan's youth is more widespread and startling in Tokyo than in many of the world's major cities. The blend of old and new is relatively harmonious and merges to make Tokyo a very attractive place to visit.

Tokyo is so large and diverse that it is difficult to tour on your own.  In addition, it is an expensive place to visit and you need to optimize your time by pre-planning your visit. We provide a brief overview of the most popular attractions in Tokyo, but advise you to buy a quality guidebook and  plan your itinerary, before you depart.   

Tokyo is a challenge for English speakers, has a wacky address system that makes it hard to find places (even for taxi drivers) and has a mass transit system that visitors from other countries may prefer to avoid  during the morning and evening rush hours (the Japanese find ways to fit so many people into subway cars that most westerners will feel uncomfortable riding during peak hours). 

The very best way to visit Tokyo is to take a tour.  Either hire a guide or join a tour group.  Both alternatives are good ways to optimize your time in Tokyo.  In either case, you should study Japanese customs and Tokyo attractions before you depart.

The Imperial Palace, one of the best places to visit in Tokyo 

The Imperial Palace Moat, Tokyo -  There are not many major cities where you will find a feudal palace mixed in with a modern skyline. 

         

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Map of Japan showing the location of Tokyo

 

 

 

Monks approaching a temple during a solemn ceremony

 

 
Most international travelers arrive at Narita Airport, which is approximately 70 miles from Tokyo.  Avoid the taxi due to its expense.  Take either the  Airport Bus (1.5 to 2 hours or more, depending on traffic) or the Narita Express Train (about one hour to the main Tokyo station). We recommend the train.

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If you are interested in Japan, its people, history, economy and geography,  visit our section:   Japan Country Facts

 
If you plan to travel in Japan, read the information you need to know about public safety, visas, crime, driving, health care, and more in our section: Japan Travel Information

  • Tokyo  Click for chart of Tokyo's precipitation and temperatures throughout the year.  Click for photographs of Tokyo

    • Tokyo is the city where most tourists first encounter the Japanese culture. It is hard to understate the shock value of Tokyo to the western visitor, as you finally will understand the real meaning of the word "foreign".  Don't let that stop you, Tokyo is a gem and worth the extra effort to discover its treasures.

      • Tokyo has numerous interesting attractions and most of them will amaze and please you. When you do not have touring scheduled, take some time to visit a Kabuki theater, do the Karaoke thing, or play some Pachinko (a pinball variant).


    • Be sure to consider these locations for your tour of Tokyo:

      • Ginza (shopping and food)  Click for a photograph of Ginza

        • The Ginza is a fun visit anytime, but you really need to experience it at night.  At the main intersections, the neon is fabulous and almost as bright as daytime. There is a lot of shopping here and good food at high prices.


      • Shinjuku (business and shopping area)

        • - but with an attitude. You could wander this area for a long time and not tire of the action.

          • Visit during the daytime, during the evenings the area can be a little "rough".


      • Asakusa

        • Stop here for a look at historical Tokyo, as it appeared when the city was named Edo. 

        • The Sensoji Temple is the main attraction, but the street vendors in the area have some interesting crafts and food for sale. In addition, there are some fine tempura restaurants nearby. 

     

     

    • Shibuya

      • A newer shopping and entertainment area on the western side of Tokyo that is one of the current "in" areas.


    • Akihabara

      •  A must visit, if you are a gadget or computer lover.   This is the part of Tokyo where there are wall- to-wall electronics stores and numerous gadgets you have never seen before.

        • Many of the "gadgets" are not built for export and may not be compatible with the power supply or broadcast services where you live.


    • Tsukiji

      •  The largest open-air fish market in the world is an amazing place to visit. The market claims to offer 450 varieties of fish and over 2200 tons of fish,, worth millions of dollars, are sold each day.  If this is of interest to you, be prepared to visit very early in the morning.  The most popular attraction is the daily tuna auction, where large, frozen tuna

        • In 2008, the Tsukii Fish Market cut back on tourist access, due to behavior that was considered unruly by some visitors.  Unlimited access no longer exists for visitors and tourist are restricted to specific viewing areas from 0500 to 0615 (morning).  In December, 2008 and most  of January, 2009 there was a complete ban on visits, although that was rescinded in late January.  Check with local sources on the accessibility of the market if you wish to visit.


    • Roppongi

      • In the evening, many visitors to Tokyo can be found in Roppongi where restaurants, nightclubs and the red light district seem to attract a crowd.

        • Roppongi can be unsavory, do not travel here alone.


    • The Imperial Palace  Click for photographs of the Imperial Palace

      • Located in the center of Tokyo, the Palace is not open to the public (except two days a year and even then the royal residence is not open). 

        • However, the gardens surrounding the palace are public parks and wonderful places for  relaxing walks and glimpses of the palace.


 When in bloom, Tokyo's cherry trees make a delightful scene.

The cherry tree is known in Japan by the name "Sakura" and it is thought by the Japanese to be a symbol of the strength of the Japanese culture.   Some of the cherry trees in Japan are related to a variety given to the U.S. by Japan in the early 1900s.  When the cherry trees along the famed grove along the Arkawa River (near Tokyo) were infected by a deadly fungus, cuttings from their descendant trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C., were sent "home" to revitalize the original site.

 

 

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The Tokyo Tower was originally constructed to convey TV signals but has evolved into an entertainment complex that is very popular

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Tuskiji Market you will see an extraordinary supply of fish and seafood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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