Travel Guide to Tokyo, Japan

Region: Asia · Budget: Mid-range · Flight from UK: 12 hours · Best months: March to May, October to November

Tokyo is a city of 14 million people that somehow feels calm. Trains run to the second, streets are spotless, and entire neighbourhoods specialise in one thing — books in Jimbocho, electronics in Akihabara, vintage clothes in Shimokitazawa, kitchen knives in Kappabashi. From the UK it's a 14-hour direct flight to Haneda, and once you're on the ground the Yamanote loop train links every district you've heard of in under 60 minutes. The mistake first-timers make is treating Tokyo like one city — it's really 23 wards stitched together, and the experience changes radically between neon-lit Shinjuku, traditional Yanaka, hipster Daikanyama and family-quiet Setagaya. Five days is a sensible minimum; a week is better if you want a day trip to Hakone or Kamakura. Cash is still king at small restaurants, English signage has improved hugely (especially on the JR network) and 7-Eleven is genuinely useful — for ATMs that accept UK cards, decent food at 3am and reliable Wi-Fi.

Budget breakdown (per day, GBP)

Stay £33–£61 · Food £14–£25 · Activities £8–£19 · Total £55–£105

Best time to visit

Late March–early April for cherry blossom (sakura) — the most magical and most expensive window, book 4–6 months ahead. October–November for autumn colours, mild weather (15–22°C) and significantly fewer crowds. Avoid June (rainy season), July–August (35°C and humid) and Golden Week (29 April–5 May, when domestic travel makes everything packed and pricey).

Weather overview

Four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid (30–35°C with 80%+ humidity); winters are crisp and dry (3–10°C, rarely snowy in central Tokyo). Spring and autumn hover in the perfect 15–22°C range. Typhoon season runs August–October and can disrupt flights for 24–48 hours.

Suggested trip length

1 Week or 2 Weeks

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo, drop bags at your accommodation and take a slow orientation walk through the centre to get your bearings before the jet lag hits. Grab an early dinner near your hotel — somewhere you can walk back from in five minutes — and have an early night to reset your body clock. If you've still got energy in the evening: Shibuya Crossing.
Day 2: Tsukiji Market in the morning while you're fresh and the light is good for photos, followed by a long local lunch somewhere off the main tourist drag. Afternoon: explore a neighbourhood you haven't seen yet on foot, stopping for a coffee or a drink whenever you find a spot that looks right.
Day 3: Meiji Shrine — book any tickets in advance online to skip the queues, which can easily eat 90 minutes in peak season. Afternoon: a slower café-and-shops loop in a different part of town, then dinner somewhere recommended by your accommodation hosts rather than a top-10 list.
Day 4: Akihabara. Use the second half of the day for any souvenirs or gifts to take home, and try a restaurant outside the main tourist strip — typically 30–40% cheaper for noticeably better food. End the day somewhere with a view, sunset is usually the best free attraction in any city.
Day 5: Day trip out of Tokyo — a coastal town, mountain village, vineyard region or nearby city is usually under an hour by train, bus or ferry and gives you a completely different angle on Japan. Pack light, leave early, and aim to be back for a relaxed dinner.
Day 6–7: Revisit your favourite spot from earlier in the week now that you know your way around, slow down with a long lunch, and pick up anything you missed on the first pass. Use the final morning for a quiet breakfast and a final wander before heading to the airport — leave at least 3 hours' buffer for international flights.

Things to do in Tokyo

Walk Shinjuku at night — start at Omoide Yokocho ('Memory Lane'), wander into Golden Gai's tiny six-seat bars, then up to the free observation decks of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
Take the early-morning tuna auction viewing at Toyosu Market (the new Tsukiji), then sushi breakfast at Sushi Dai's successor or Daiwa Sushi.
Spend a morning at teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills — book online at least a week ahead.
Quiet day in Yanaka — old wooden temples, cats, tiny art galleries and the best taiyaki at Yanaka Ginza.
Catch a sumo practice at Arashio-beya stable in Ryōgoku — free with advance booking via their website.
Day trip to Hakone via the Romance Car (90 minutes from Shinjuku) — onsen, Mt Fuji views and the Open Air Museum.
Coffee crawl in Shimokitazawa or Daikanyama — Tokyo's third-wave scene is genuinely world-class. Try Onibus or Streamer.
Watch a baseball game at the Tokyo Dome (Giants) or Jingu Stadium (Swallows) — tickets from £15, beer from a girl with a keg on her back, surprisingly good food.

Best areas to stay in Tokyo

Shinjuku — best transport links (everything connects here), big variety of hotels, lively at night. Excellent first-timer base.
Shibuya — younger, fashion and food focused, close to Harajuku and Daikanyama. Good for a second visit.
Asakusa — traditional neighbourhood near Senso-ji temple, more affordable, easy access via the Ginza line. Great for a quieter, older Tokyo feel.
Ginza / Marunouchi — high-end shopping and restaurants, easy walk to the Imperial Palace, ideal for luxury stays.
Avoid staying near Roppongi unless you specifically want nightlife — convenient by metro but the nighttime atmosphere isn't for everyone.

Transport tips

From Haneda: the Tokyo Monorail or Keikyu line both reach central Tokyo in under 30 minutes for around ¥500.
From Narita: the Narita Express (N'EX) is fastest at 60 minutes to Shinjuku (¥3,250); the Keisei Skyliner is cheapest at ¥2,580 to Ueno.
Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card on arrival — works on every train, bus and at convenience stores. Top up at any station.
JR Rail Pass is only worth it if you're doing 2+ Shinkansen trips (e.g. to Kyoto). For Tokyo-only stays, buy individual tickets.
Avoid taxis in central Tokyo unless you're after midnight — trains are 4× faster and 10× cheaper.
Last trains run around midnight, then nothing until 5am — plan accordingly or budget ¥3,000+ for a night taxi back to your hotel.

Safety tips

Tokyo is one of the safest big cities in the world — violent crime against tourists is extremely rare and lost wallets are routinely returned with cash intact.
Earthquake drills happen regularly — if you feel a tremor, get under a table; don't rush outside.
Tipping is not done and can cause confusion — service is included in the price.
Don't eat or drink while walking on the street; there are designated areas near vending machines.
Carry your passport at all times — police can legally stop and check, and most hotels require it for cash payments.

Visa & entry requirements (UK travellers)

Visa-free up to 90 days for UK passport holders.