Best Places to Visit in Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan and one of the world’s great cities, is located on the eastern coast of Honshu, the largest of the chain of islands that form the country. It is situated within the Kanto Administrative Region. Tokyo is a densely populated metropolitan area (over 11,000,000 inhabitants).
Founded in the early 17th century, the city was originally called Edo, a name it retained until the mid-19th century when the Emperor Meiji renamed it Tokyo.
Tokyo’s history has been turbulent. In 1923, a major earthquake destroyed parts of Tokyo and its suburbs. Near the end of World War II, Tokyo was firebombed. The number of deaths was high and large areas of the city were destroyed. The Japanese people responded to both tragedies by rebuilding and Tokyo’s status, as one of the world’s leading cities, is a result of this diligence and dedication.
Tokyo is a city that blends the old and the new in a seamless manner. The country’s religious and feudal past are represented by temples and palaces that might seem as if they belong in a different era, but are considered an integral part of their culture by most Japanese. Conversely, the proliferation of zany trends among Japan’s youth is more widespread and startling in Tokyo than in many of the world’s major cities.
Tokyo is so large and diverse that it is difficult to tour on your own. In addition, it is an expensive place to visit and you need to optimize your time by pre-planning your visit. We provide a brief overview of the most popular attractions in Tokyo, but advise you to buy a quality guidebook and plan your itinerary, before you depart.
Tokyo is a challenge for English speakers, has a wacky address system (often no street signs) that makes it hard to find places (even for taxi drivers). The city’s mass transit system is one that visitors from other countries may prefer to avoid during the morning and evening rush hours unless you idolize sardines packed in a tin. The Japanese transit teams find ways to fit so many people into subway cars that most westerners will feel uncomfortable riding during peak hours.
The very best way to visit Tokyo is to take a tour. Either hire a guide or join a tour group. Both alternatives are good ways to optimize your time in Tokyo. In either case, you should study Japanese customs and Tokyo attractions before you depart.
Most international travelers arrive at Narita Airport, which is approximately 70 miles from Tokyo. Avoid the taxi due to its expense. Take either the Airport Bus (1.5 to 2 hours or more, depending on traffic) or the Narita Express Train (about one hour to the main Tokyo station). We recommend the train.
Travel Caution
On March 11, 2011 at 2:46 local time in Japan, a massive magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck off of the eastern shores of Honshu, Japan’s largest island, resulting in a significant number of deaths and incredible destruction of property/infrastructure related to an ensuing tsunami. The earthquake, but not the tsunami, damaged some areas of Tokyo worse than others. Through much of 2011 Japan’s tourism industry declined due to the effects of the earthquake and tsunami, but tourism in Tokyo showed signs of recovery in 2012.
- Tokyo is the city where most tourists usually have their first encounter with Japanese culture. It is hard to understate the shock value of Tokyo to the western visitor, as you finally will understand the real meaning of the word “foreign”. However, don’t let that stop you, Tokyo is a gem and worth the extra effort to discover its treasures.
- Tokyo has numerous interesting attractions and most of them will amaze and please you. When you do not have touring scheduled, take some time to visit a Kabuki theater, do the Karaoke thing, or play some Pachinko (a pinball variant).
- Be sure to consider these locations for your tour of Tokyo:
Ginza (shopping and food)
- The Ginza is a fun visit anytime, but you really need to experience it at night. At the main intersections, the neon is fabulous and almost as bright as daytime. There is a lot of shopping here and good food, but few bargains can be found.
- Tokyo is the city where most tourists usually have their first encounter with Japanese culture. It is hard to understate the shock value of Tokyo to the western visitor, as you finally will understand the real meaning of the word “foreign”. However, don’t let that stop you, Tokyo is a gem and worth the extra effort to discover its treasures.
Shinjuku (business and shopping area)
- While this might seem like more of the same, Shinjuku is an area with a distincrt attitude. You could wander this area for a long time and not tire of the action.
- Visit during the daytime, during the evenings the area can be a little too “edgy” for many.
Asakusa
- Stop here for a look at historical Tokyo, as it appeared when the city was named Edo.
- The Sensoji Temple is the main attraction, but the street vendors in the area have some interesting crafts and a range of food is on sale. In addition, there are some fine tempura restaurants nearby.
Shibuya
- A newer shopping and entertainment area on the western side of Tokyo that is one of the current “trendy” areas.
Akihabara
- A must visit, if you are a gadget or computer lover. This is the part of Tokyo where there are wall- to-wall electronics stores and numerous gadgets you have never seen before.
- Many of the “gadgets” are not built for export and may not be compatible with the power supply or broadcast services where you live.
- In addition, this is a unique section of Tokyo where you will find “anime” stores and a host of amusing goods that you may not find elsewhere.
- A must visit, if you are a gadget or computer lover. This is the part of Tokyo where there are wall- to-wall electronics stores and numerous gadgets you have never seen before.
Tsukiji
- The largest open-air fish market in the world is an amazing place to visit. The market claims to offer 450 varieties of fish and over 2200 tons of fish, worth millions of dollars, are sold each day.
- If this is of interest to you, be prepared to visit very early in the morning. The most popular attraction is the daily tuna auction, where large, frozen tuna are auction for prices often in the stratosphere.
- In 2011 a giant bluefin tuna rated of excellent quality and caught of the coast of northern Japan, sold for approximately $400,000 or around $530 a pound.
- In 2008, the Tsukiji Fish Market cut back on tourist access, due to behavior that was considered unruly by some visitors. Unlimited access no longer exists for visitors and tourist are restricted to specific viewing areas only in the early morning (0500 to 0615).
- See the official website of the Tsukiji Market to see if and when the Tuna Auction is open to visitors or check with local sources on the accessibility of the market if you wish to visit.
Roppongi
- In the evening, many visitors to Tokyo can be found in Roppongi where restaurants, nightclubs and the “red light district” seem to attract a crowd.
- Roppongi can be unsavory, so do not travel here alone. If you are determined to explore this area at night take a friend along who agrees to act as your chaperone. Better yet, take a trusted local who knows how to avoid the tricks of the trade.
- In the evening, many visitors to Tokyo can be found in Roppongi where restaurants, nightclubs and the “red light district” seem to attract a crowd.
The Imperial Palace
- Located in the center of Tokyo, the Palace is not open to the public (except two days a year and even then the royal residence is not open).
- However, the gardens surrounding the palace are public parks and wonderful places for relaxing walks and glimpses of the scenic, historic palace.
- Located in the center of Tokyo, the Palace is not open to the public (except two days a year and even then the royal residence is not open).
The cherry tree is known in Japan by the name “Sakura” and it is thought by the Japanese to be a symbol of the strength of the Japanese culture. Some of the cherry trees in Japan are related to a variety given to the U.S. by Japan in the early 1900s. When the cherry trees along the famed grove along the Arkawa River (near Tokyo) were infected by a deadly fungus, cuttings from their descendant trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C., were sent “home” to revitalize the original site.
Additional Resources
See the official tourism website of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for more details on the attractions we mention, as well at other attractions that are not listed here.
You can discover more about Japan in our guide to the Best Places to Visit in Japan.
The official tourism website for Japan is hosted by theJapan National Tourism Organization .
For country facts on Japan, as well as travel information on driving, safety, crime, visas and other tourism related issues see this page on Japan from the U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs. Regardless of your home country, we think you will find this site useful when planning a trip to Japan.
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