Tokyo Travel Tips

Tokyo (東京, Tōkyō) is Japan's capital and the world's most populous metropolis. It is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, consisting of 23 central city wards and multiple cities, towns and villages west of the city center. The Izu and Ogasawara Islands are also part of Tokyo.

Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known as Edo. Previously a small castle town, Edo became Japan's political center in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world's largest cities. With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the emperor and capital moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital"). Large parts of Tokyo were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the air raids of 1945.

Today, Tokyo offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining to its visitors. The city's history can be appreciated in districts such as Asakusa and in many excellent museums, historic temples and gardens. Contrary to common perception, Tokyo also offers a number of attractive green spaces in the city center and within relatively short train rides at its outskirts.


How to get to Tokyo
By air - Tokyo has two airports: Narita Airport handles the majority of international flights and only a small number of domestic flights. It is located 60 kilometers outside of central Tokyo. The more centrally located Haneda Airport handles a smaller number of international flights and the majority of domestic flights.

By shinkansen - Most shinkansen lines lead to Tokyo. The trip from Osaka/Kyoto takes about three hours. There are also direct trains to/from Kyushu, Kanazawa, Niigata and various destinations in the Tohoku Region and Hokkaido.


Getting around
Tokyo is covered by a dense network of train, subway and bus lines, which are operated by about a dozen different companies. The train lines operated by JR East and the subway lines are most convenient for moving around central Tokyo.

Tokyo's most prominent train line is the JR Yamanote Line, a loop line which connects Tokyo's multiple city centers. The city's 13 subway lines are operated by two companies and run largely inside the Yamanote circle and the areas around Ginza and the area east of the loop line. Most of the many suburban train lines commence at one of the six major stations of the Yamanote Line (Tokyo, Ueno, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa).


Explore Tokyo by Area

Imperial Palace & Tokyo Station

Elegant Imperial gardens, vast underground shopping malls, art and fine dining

Tokyo Station and the surrounding Marunouchi district epitomize the contrasts between traditional and modern Japan. Soaring skyscrapers overlook the quiet Imperial Gardens, and the station's striking 1900s-style facade conceals sleek bullet trains and a wealth of pop culture shopping and intriguing culinary options.

 

Ginza & Nihonbashi

Brand shopping and rich history

Visit the opulent downtown district of Ginza for the best offerings in fine dining and luxury brand shopping and head to Nihonbashi to explore the area's rich history.

 

Roppongi & Akasaka

An expat haven that's home to some of Tokyo's top nightlife and culture hotspots

The Roppongi and Akasaka areas are all about luxury and extravagant entertainment and dining. Home to top-rated nightlife and upscale museums, these districts are the go-to for sophisticates traveling in Tokyo. Smart travelers can enjoy a vibrant, fun time in this part of town at all hours.

 

Ueno & Akihabara

Landmark parks and zoos, the arts and culture meet the electricity of modern pop culture

Ueno and Akihabara are neighboring districts in Tokyo, but they couldn't be more different in style, substance and atmosphere. While Ueno boasts the zoo that shares its name, as well as many national museums, art galleries, parks and performing arts venues, Akihabara is geek heaven, an electronic wonderland known worldwide for its tech and pop subculture elements such as manga and anime.

 

Asakusa

From the venerable Sensoji to the futuristic Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa is a great juxtaposition of the old and the new

Enter through the enormous bright-red Kaminarimon, meaning "thunder gate," and walk through whorls of incense smoke before leaving a traditional five-yen offering at the capital's iconic Sensoji Temple.
With delicious street food, abundant shopping, and retro charm around every corner, Asakusa is an unmissable stop during your visit to Tokyo.

 

Shinjuku

Neon-filled Shinjuku is where Tokyo goes to have fun

With the dubious distinction of being home to the busiest train station in the world, Shinjuku has so much to offer. From modern high rises to green oases, it's a mecca for shopping, eating and relaxing.