Neon skylines, ancient shrines, and the world's best food city
Most first-time visitors arrive with the wrong mental model. Tokyo is not Manhattan-with-better-trains; it isn't a city you can crack with a 4-day itinerary. The 23 wards run together into something more like a constellation — each neighbourhood is a separate city in feel, and the gap between Shimokitazawa (vintage shops, indie cafés, low buildings) and Roppongi (towers, finance bros, flagship hotels) is bigger than the gap between Brooklyn and Boston. The pleasant surprise is that this works in your favour: you don't need to 'do' Tokyo. You need to pick three or four wards and live in them for three days each. The food alone justifies it — Tokyo has more Michelin stars than any other city on the planet, but that statistic understates the case, because the best meal you'll have will almost certainly be at a 7-seat counter that doesn't accept foreign reservations and serves one dish you've never heard of. Bring a translator app and a willingness to point.
Get there
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Book on KKdayWhat to do
Tours, attractions, and day trips in Tokyo — free cancellation on most.
Book on KlookTokyo's scale is intimidating but its transport network means the neighbourhood you choose matters less than in most cities. Shinjuku is the easiest for first-timers — central, enormous, and with the best transport connections. Shibuya suits people who want to be in the thick of modern Tokyo. Asakusa is the historic neighbourhood, excellent for culture and with more affordable hotels. Harajuku and Omotesando are the fashion and architecture quarters. Ginza is expensive and business-focused.
TravelBuzzy Tips
Get a Suica or IC card at the airport — it works on virtually every train, bus, and many vending machines
Google Maps gives accurate transit directions in English — download offline maps before you go
Shinjuku has two very different sides: the east exit (entertainment, Kabukicho) and west exit (skyscrapers, quieter hotels)
Price Calendar
Flight prices & hotel demand for Tokyo — click any month for details
Sweet spots
Jan · Feb · Sep · Oct · Nov
Cheapest flights: Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov, Dec
JuneThis month
Decent
Flight price
Moderate
$$
Hotel demand
Light traffic
Weather
Mixed
June is an average time to visit. Prices and conditions are neither at their best nor worst — a flexible choice for most travellers.
8 annual events — pick a month
2 events in March
We'll notify you when flight or hotel prices drop for your chosen month.
Estimated total
$1,791
≈ $256 per day · 7 nights · Mid-range
Flights: $480–$750 est.
Estimates only — prices vary by season and availability.
Compare travel styles (7 nights + flights)
Tokyo offers great value at budget and mid tiers. Luxury escalates quickly.
Items adapt to weather & trip length
Tap the speaker icon to hear the pronunciation. Tap a phrase row for insider tips.
Hello / Good day
こんにちは
/kon-NEE-chee-wah/
Thank you
ありがとうございます
/ah-ree-GAH-toh goh-ZAI-mahs/
Sorry / Excuse me
すみません
/soo-mee-mah-SEN/
This one please
これをください
/koh-reh oh koo-dah-SAI/
How much?
いくらですか?
/ee-KOO-rah des-kah/
Where is…?
…はどこですか?
/…wah DOH-koh des-kah/
Train station
駅
/EH-kee/
Delicious!
おいしい!
/oh-ee-SHEE/
Where's the toilet?
トイレはどこですか?
/TOH-ee-reh wah DOH-koh des-kah/
Cheers!
乾杯!
/KAN-pye/
Cultural note
Don't tip — it can be considered rude. Also, eat and walk at the same time only in theme parks or festivals; elsewhere it's considered bad manners.
A few words in the local language go a long way — locals genuinely appreciate the effort.
Select your passport
Max stay
90 days
UK passport holders can visit for up to 90 days visa-free for tourism/business.
Passport validity
Must be valid for the duration of your stay — Japan does not require the 6-month rule, but airlines may differ.
Health & vaccinations
All COVID-19 border measures removed as of May 2023.
Recommended for rural travel or stays longer than 30 days.
Extremely low risk — Japan is considered rabies-free.
Entry tips
Complete the Visit Japan Web registration before arrival to speed up immigration and customs.
Some over-the-counter medications are banned in Japan (e.g. certain cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine). Check before you pack.
Japan has strict drug laws — even cannabis (legal in your home country) is illegal and carries serious penalties.
Carry cash — Japan is still largely cash-based. 7-Eleven ATMs accept international cards reliably.
Japan occasionally adjusts visa and entry rules. Check the Japan Tourism Agency and your country's embassy for current requirements.
Airport → Tokyo
💡 Fastest from Narita — goes directly to Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Tokyo Station. Book online.
💡 Comfortable, no changes. Goes directly to major hotels. Good if you have heavy luggage.
💡 From Haneda it's a very short trip to Hamamatsucho — then straight onto the JR lines.
💡 Expensive but useful late at night when trains stop.
The Tokyo train network is huge but very logical. Download a offline metro map before you arrive. Avoid rush hour (7:30–9am and 5:30–8pm) — carriages are genuinely packed.
Last trains run around midnight. If you miss the last train, a taxi home can cost $35–100. Check your last train time in Google Maps before a night out.
Tokyo is one of the safest major cities in the world. Crime rates are extremely low and tourists rarely experience any problems beyond getting lost.
Tap water: ✓ Safe to drink
Tokyo tap water is excellent quality — clean, safe, and good-tasting. You can drink freely from the tap and refill bottles anywhere.
Japan has very low theft rates. That said, don't leave belongings unattended in busy areas.
Japan is seismically active. Familiarise yourself with the earthquake alert sound on your phone and the 'Drop, Cover, Hold' protocol.
July–August in Tokyo is brutal: 35–38°C with very high humidity. Stay hydrated and use air-conditioned spaces regularly.
Typhoon season runs June–October. Monitor NHK World or the Japan Meteorological Agency app for updates.
Trains in rush hour are extremely crowded. Be mindful of personal space and follow queuing rules strictly.
Extremely rare. Tokyo is consistently ranked among the world's safest cities.
Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city on earth — yet its best meals are often found in tiny 8-seat ramen bars, standing sushi counters, and basement izakayas. Every neighbourhood has its own food identity.
Tokyo-style ramen is soy (shoyu) based with curly noodles and rich broth. Try Fuunji (tsukemen) or Ichiran for a solitary ramen experience.
For the real experience, go to a sushi counter (not a conveyor belt) and say 'omakase' — let the chef decide. Budget $80–300 but it's life-changing.
Seafood and vegetables in a light, crispy batter. Brilliant at a specialist tempura restaurant like Kondo in Ginza.
Thick-cut pork cutlet breaded and deep-fried, served with cabbage and tonkatsu sauce. One of Japan's great comfort foods.
Pan-fried pork and cabbage dumplings — crispy bottom, juicy inside. Eat with soy and rice vinegar. Best at a dedicated gyoza shop.
Chicken skewers grilled over charcoal. Every part is used — breast, thigh, liver, skin. Eaten at izakayas with cold beer.
A multi-course Japanese feast of seasonal ingredients, beautifully presented. The apex of Japanese dining — allow 2–3 hours and $100–300 per person.
Traditional Japanese sweets paired with matcha tea. Try Toraya in Aoyama — confectionery as an art form.
Japan has strict rules about bringing food into restaurants from outside. Never eat walking down the street (except at festival stalls) — it's considered bad manners. In restaurants, the food comes to you — don't rush.
$198
per night
Tokyo's most architecturally interesting luxury hotel, occupying floors 47–52 of Toranomon Hills tower. Rooftop infinity pool, panoramic city views, free minibar.
$290
per night
The famous hotel from Lost in Translation, still delivering one of the most atmospheric Tokyo experiences available. Floors 39–52, sky-high pool, extraordinary service.
$68
per night
Reliable and well-priced business hotel in the historic Asakusa district. Clean, compact rooms, excellent transit connections, and next to the Sensoji temple complex.
$28
per night
The most characterful budget stay in Tokyo — ninja-themed capsule beds, social common areas, and a great Asakusa location at a price that lets you spend your money on food.
*Prices shown are indicative and may vary. TravelBuzzy earns a commission on bookings made through these links, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure
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