Kyoto
Kansai, Japan
Ancient temples and shrines, sublime cuisine, manicured gardens, colourful geishas and living history in spades – Kyoto is traditional Japan at its best.
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Destination guide for Tokyo
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
Credit Shutterstock.com/Sean Pavone
Last updated: 23 June, 2023
One of the world’s busiest and most-populated cities, Japan’s capital can be quite a culture shock for first-timers. In places, it’s overrun with crowds, concrete and high-rise, yet you’ll also find quiet neighbourhoods, sprawling parks, and traditional gardens.
There’s cutting-edge tech and ever-changing fashions, but also a fondness for the traditional ways that underpin society – you’ll see that in the way people bow. It’s become cliched to say Tokyo is where old meets new – but it’s true.
Here you can still (and must) experience the unique traditions of Japan: stay in a ryokan (a traditional inn), feast on a kaisheki-ryori dinner, partake in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony (regaled in a kimono), and perhaps, even, train to be a samurai (or a ninja).
And it’s absolutely true that Tokyo is one of the great culinary capitals – you could dine out on something different every night for a month and still have barely scratched the surface.
Orientation
The heart of Tokyo is comprised of 23 wards (called -ku) located on the eastern side of Tokyo Prefecture.
West of that are sprawling suburbs and rural areas, while there are also islands to the south that are technically within Tokyo.
Within the 23 -ku, the city’s transport hub is Tokyo Station, smack in the traditional centre of the city along with Ginza, Nihonbashi and the Imperial Palace.
The northern and eastern parts of the 23 -ku are more traditional and down-to-earth – places like Asakusa and Ueno – while high-rent western parts such as Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku are more fashionable and happening.
Culture & Customs
It can take years to fathom the intricacies of Japan’s social customs, but in the most part that’s not something a traveller needs to fret about.
Basic good manners, common sense and following the advice of the manner posters plastered everywhere will suffice.
And it’s worth remembering that while Toko can appear ultra-modern in places, it’s still quite a conservative city, where most are fairly reserved in public.
Food & Drink
Tokyo has cuisine from all over world, but local flavours still dominate.
You’ll find lots of seafood, especially sushi, sashimi and grilled fish, and rice is the traditional staple.
There are lots of noodles beyond ramen – soba and udon, both of which can come cold for dripping or in hot broth.
Many restaurants specialize in a single dish or style, while izakaya (the Japanese equivalent of a pub) are great for sampling a little of everything along with a drink.
When to go
Weather-wise, spring (late March-May) and autumn (October/November) both have lots of warm sunny days and are the most attractive – especially with the cherry blossom at the start of spring.
June’s rainy season doesn’t have heavy rains, but it’s damp and sticky, while July and August are very hot and humid – avoid if you can.
Major holidays are Golden Week (April 29-May 5), Obon (mid-August) and New Years (Dec 29-Jan 4) – prices rise and some attractions will close, especially over New Year.
Getting there and away
International flights arrive at either Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) airports. The latter receives less flights but is much more convenient – it’s actually in Tokyo, while Narita is 60 kilometres east.
From Haneda, Airport Limousine buses connect to many major Tokyo stations in around 30 minutes. There are also train options, but not direct to key accommodation areas.
Airport Limousine buses also run from Narita to key accommodation areas in Tokyo (one hour minimum), while for comfort, the Narita Express and Keisei Skyliner express trains are best – though you’ll probably need to transfer onwards.
Getting around
Tokyo has an extensive public transportation network, with multiple companies running trains (JR is the main one) and subways (like Tokyo Metro and TOEI) that crisscross the city and surrounding areas.
To save fare adjustment hassle when transferring from one rail service to another, get a chargeable PASMO or SUICA card which automatically pay fares when scanned on ticket gates.
Buses are great for airport access, but within Tokyo they can be very confusing to use – give them a miss. Taxis can be found by many stations and hailed in busy areas, and are great for short trips.
Where to stay
If you want to explore Tokyo’s nightlife, opt for Shibuya – there are plenty of hip hotels aimed at millennials in the area.
For luxury international brands, look to central areas like Nihonbashi, Ginza, Otemachi and Tokyo Station – all also have great access to business districts, shopping and dining, and good transportation links to other parts of the city.
Anyone after a more everyday Tokyo location should look to northeastern areas like Ueno, Yanaka and Asakusa, where you can find friendly, inexpensive ryokan.
For simple Western-style accommodation, look for budget business hotel chains like Toyoko Inn and Super Hotel – they have properties all over.
Where to eat or drink
Skip the safe surrounds of hotel dining and venture out. But where? Ginza is the place for Michelin-starred restaurants, the best sushi and old-school cocktails, while nearby Yurakucho and Shinbashi (and further afield Ebisu) are great hunting grounds for izakaya.
For bars with character, try Golden Gai in Shinjuku. Shibuya has clubs, karaoke, izakaya and all sorts else, although Roppongi is the biggest mishmash – it has clubs, Michelin-starred restaurants, dive bars, grim pick-up joints and swanky cocktails bars.
Where to shop
Head to Ginza for glitzy boutiques and department stores or the Harajuku-Shibuya-Omotesando triangle for a mix of youth trends, street fashion and sleek contemporary styles.
Akihabara is the place for anime goods and home electronics, while Kappabashi-dori has traditional kitchenware covered.
Roppongi delivers two mega retail and leisure complexes; Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown, while Shinjuku has a bit of everything.
What to buy
Crafts by traditional artisans, kitchenware, and drinks like green teas as well as sake and whisky are all standouts. There are plenty of colourful (sometimes eccentric) youth fashions and fun t-shirts to be had too.
Health & Safety
Japan has a reputation for low crime rates, and that holds true in Tokyo, but you should still take sensible precautions. There are high levels of medical care, with some medical institutions able to use English, but bring an ample supply of any medications you need – they might be hard to find.
Also, watch out for the heat and humidity in summer – it sends thousands to ER every year. And take five minutes to read up on earthquake awareness – Japan has them daily.
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