How to Reach Tokyo
Tokyo is served by two major airports: Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND). Haneda is closer to central Tokyo (30 minutes by monorail) and increasingly serves international routes. From Narita, the Narita Express (N'EX) reaches Shinjuku in 90 minutes. The JR Pass covers both airport trains if purchased in advance.
Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card immediately on arrival — it works on virtually all trains, buses, and even convenience store purchases throughout Japan. Far simpler than buying individual tickets.
Top Things to See & Do
1. Shibuya Crossing
The world's busiest pedestrian crossing — up to 3,000 people crossing simultaneously from all directions in perfect organized chaos. Best viewed from the Starbucks or Shibuya Sky observation deck above. At night, surrounded by neon, it is one of the most cinematic sights in the world.
2. Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa
Tokyo's oldest and most famous temple — approached through the magnificent Kaminarimon Thunder Gate and the Nakamise shopping street of traditional craft stalls. Visit at dawn before the crowds arrive for a genuinely meditative experience.
3. Shinjuku
Tokyo's most intense neighborhood — the world's busiest train station at its center, surrounded by skyscraper hotels, department stores, the golden-glowing Kabukichō entertainment district, and the extraordinary narrow-alley drinking streets of Golden Gai and Omoide Yokochō.
4. TeamLab Borderless
The world's most remarkable digital art museum — an immersive experience of light, sound, and interaction that dissolves boundaries between visitor and artwork. A genuinely new kind of art experience unlike anything that existed before. Book months in advance.
5. Harajuku & Meiji Shrine
The serene forested Meiji Shrine sits in extraordinary contrast to the street fashion chaos of Takeshita Street just minutes away. Together they encapsulate Tokyo's permanent, exhilarating tension between tradition and spectacle.
What to Eat in Tokyo
- Ramen — each neighborhood has its own specialist ramen shop; Tokyo-style is a soy-based clear broth
- Sushi at Tsukiji outer market — the freshest fish in the world eaten standing at a counter at 7am
- Yakitori — grilled chicken skewers over charcoal in a smoky basement bar under the Yurakucho tracks
- Tonkatsu — thick breaded pork cutlet with shredded cabbage and rich tonkatsu sauce
- Conveyor belt sushi (kaiten-zushi) — the greatest casual dining concept in the world
Best Time to Visit
Cherry blossom season (late March to early April) is magical but very crowded. Autumn foliage (November) is equally beautiful with more manageable crowds. Spring and autumn generally offer the most pleasant temperatures for exploring on foot.
