Shinjuku
Ideal for: first visit, nightlife
A huge transport hub, with restaurants, bars and neon lights. Handy for getting everywhere, very lively.
Tokyo
A megacity that is both ultra-modern and traditional, best discovered area by area.
Plan your stay in Tokyo
Best areas to stay in Tokyo
Shibuya
Ideal for: solo, couples, shopping
The famous crossing, shops and a young atmosphere.
Asakusa
Ideal for: culture, budget
Traditional Tokyo around Sensō-ji temple, with often more affordable accommodation.
Ginza and Tokyo Station
Ideal for: seniors, comfort, train travel
An elegant, central area, handy for catching the Shinkansen (bullet train).
Ueno
Ideal for: families, museums
A large park, museums and a market, well connected to transport.
Practical info about Tokyo
Tokyo is huge, but its train and metro network is very efficient: choose accommodation near a well-connected station. A rechargeable transport card (Suica or PASMO, also usable on a phone) makes travel easier.
Check entry requirements for Japan before you go, as well as your mobile plan: a travel eSIM is often the simplest way to get online on arrival.
What to see in Tokyo
- Shibuya and its famous crossing, Shinjuku and its towers;
- Asakusa and Sensō-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple;
- Meiji Shrine, in a large wooded park;
- Akihabara for video games and manga, Ginza for shopping;
- day trips: Nikko, Kamakura, Hakone and Mount Fuji.
Arriving in Tokyo
From Narita, the Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station in about 53 minutes; Haneda is 20 to 30 minutes from the centre. Kyoto is about 2h10 away by Shinkansen. Register on Visit Japan Web before you go. All our tips in Travel in Japan.