Districts · Tokyo
Tokyo by district
Think of central Tokyo as the JR Yamanote loop, about 35 km and an hour end to end. Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro sit on its west side; Tokyo Station, Ginza and Ueno on the east; Asakusa is just outside it to the north-east and Odaiba across the bay. A first visit lives on the loop plus Asakusa: pick a bed near a station on your airport's line and keep each day on one side of the loop.Think of central Tokyo as the JR Yamanote loop, about 22 mi and an hour end to end. Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro sit on its west side; Tokyo Station, Ginza and Ueno on the east; Asakusa is just outside it to the north-east and Odaiba across the bay. A first visit lives on the loop plus Asakusa: pick a bed near a station on your airport's line and keep each day on one side of the loop.
About these names
Ward names (Chiyoda, Minato, Taitō) matter on addresses; travellers and signs use station names. 'Tokyo Bay' in a hotel name can mean Odaiba or even Chiba prefecture, 30–60 min from the sights.
- Shinjuku (west and south exits)新宿sleepeatSuits: First visit via Haneda, night owls, day trips westBig 24-hour hotels, direct trains to Hakone and Fuji; the station is a maze, so pick a hotel by exit.1 sights · 2 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Shinjuku east: Kabukichō, Golden Gai, Ni-chōme歌舞伎町・ゴールデン街・二丁目eatseeSuits: One evening of bars and neonLoud until morning; touts on every corner of Kabukichō. Drink here, sleep on the south or west side.1 sights · 2 eatsDistrict guide →
- Shibuya and Harajuku渋谷・原宿seeeatsleepSuits: Fashion, the crossing, Meiji JingūWalk it north to south in one morning. Hotels are newer and pricier than Shinjuku; weekend crowds are heavy.3 sights · 1 eatsDistrict guide →
- Asakusa浅草seesleepSuits: Temple mornings, budget and ryokan-style bedsSensō-ji before 08:30; quiet after 21:00. Direct Toei Asakusa line trains from both airports on some runs (check).Sensō-ji before 8:30 AM; quiet after 9:00 PM. Direct Toei Asakusa line trains from both airports on some runs (check).2 sights · 2 eatsDistrict guide →
- Ueno上野sleepseeSuits: Narita arrivals, museum days, value hotelsSkyliner terminus; the national museums, zoo and park on one side, Ameyoko market on the other.1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Tokyo Station, Marunouchi, Ginza, Nihonbashi丸の内・銀座・日本橋seeeatsleepSuits: Shinkansen days, business travel, department storesFlat, covered and quiet at night; the East Gardens and Tsukiji on foot. Upmarket hotel prices.1 sights · 2 eatsDistrict guide →
- Roppongi, Azabudai, Akasaka六本木・麻布台・赤坂seeeatSuits: Art museums, Tokyo Tower views, late dinnersMori Art Museum and the National Art Center by day. At night the main crossing has bar touts and a record of drink spiking: pick bars yourself.District guide →
- Ikebukuro池袋sleepSuits: Budget and mid-range beds, anime shopsHuge station on the north-west of the loop; good hotel value but 25–35 min to Asakusa or Ginza.District guide →
- Akihabara and Kanda秋葉原・神田seeSuits: Electronics, anime, retro gamesOne stop from Ueno or Tokyo Station; a 2–3 hour visit. Maid-café touts on the main street are pushy but harmless.District guide →
- Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi谷中・根津・千駄木seeSuits: A slow half day of old lanes and templesWalk from Nippori station through the cemetery; small shops keep short hours and many close one weekday.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Ryōgoku and Oshiage (Skytree)両国・押上seeSuits: Sumo, Skytree, Edo historySumo tournaments in January, May and September; Skytree is one stop from Asakusa by Tobu.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Odaiba and Toyosuお台場・豊洲seeskip as a baseSuits: teamLab, Miraikan, a bay viewA half-day ride out on the Yurikamome or Rinkai line; do not base yourself here.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
- Ebisu, Nakameguro, Daikanyama恵比寿・中目黒・代官山eatSuits: Dinner and bars away from the crowdsOne stop from Shibuya; Meguro River is packed in blossom week.District guide →
- Shimokitazawa, Kōenji, Nakano下北沢・高円寺・中野eatSuits: Vintage clothes, live music, small bars10–15 min west of Shibuya or Shinjuku; afternoons and evenings, not mornings.District guide →
- Shinagawa品川sleepSuits: Early Haneda flights, Shinkansen to KyotoKeikyu to Haneda in under 20 min and a Shinkansen stop; business hotels, little to see.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
Hover, tap or tab to an area to see what it is like. Pins are sleep areas; arrows at the edge point to the airport.
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Roppongi, Azabudai, Akasaka, Ikebukuro, Akihabara and Kanda, Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi, Ryōgoku and Oshiage (Skytree), Odaiba and Toyosu, Ebisu, Nakameguro, Daikanyama, Shimokitazawa, Kōenji, Nakano, Shinagawa. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Shinjuku (west and south exits) (新宿): Big 24-hour hotels, direct trains to Hakone and Fuji; the station is a maze, so pick a hotel by exit. Suits: First visit via Haneda, night owls, day trips west. Price band $$.
- Shinjuku east: Kabukichō, Golden Gai, Ni-chōme (歌舞伎町・ゴールデン街・二丁目): Loud until morning; touts on every corner of Kabukichō. Drink here, sleep on the south or west side. Suits: One evening of bars and neon.
- Shibuya and Harajuku (渋谷・原宿): Walk it north to south in one morning. Hotels are newer and pricier than Shinjuku; weekend crowds are heavy. Suits: Fashion, the crossing, Meiji Jingū.
- Asakusa (浅草): Sensō-ji before 08:30; quiet after 21:00. Direct Toei Asakusa line trains from both airports on some runs (check).Sensō-ji before 8:30 AM; quiet after 9:00 PM. Direct Toei Asakusa line trains from both airports on some runs (check). Suits: Temple mornings, budget and ryokan-style beds.
- Ueno (上野): Skyliner terminus; the national museums, zoo and park on one side, Ameyoko market on the other. Suits: Narita arrivals, museum days, value hotels. Price band $$.
- Tokyo Station, Marunouchi, Ginza, Nihonbashi (丸の内・銀座・日本橋): Flat, covered and quiet at night; the East Gardens and Tsukiji on foot. Upmarket hotel prices. Suits: Shinkansen days, business travel, department stores.
- Roppongi, Azabudai, Akasaka (六本木・麻布台・赤坂): Mori Art Museum and the National Art Center by day. At night the main crossing has bar touts and a record of drink spiking: pick bars yourself. Suits: Art museums, Tokyo Tower views, late dinners.
- Ikebukuro (池袋): Huge station on the north-west of the loop; good hotel value but 25–35 min to Asakusa or Ginza. Suits: Budget and mid-range beds, anime shops.
- Akihabara and Kanda (秋葉原・神田): One stop from Ueno or Tokyo Station; a 2–3 hour visit. Maid-café touts on the main street are pushy but harmless. Suits: Electronics, anime, retro games.
- Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi (谷中・根津・千駄木): Walk from Nippori station through the cemetery; small shops keep short hours and many close one weekday. Suits: A slow half day of old lanes and temples.
- Ryōgoku and Oshiage (Skytree) (両国・押上): Sumo tournaments in January, May and September; Skytree is one stop from Asakusa by Tobu. Suits: Sumo, Skytree, Edo history.
- Odaiba and Toyosu (お台場・豊洲): A half-day ride out on the Yurikamome or Rinkai line; do not base yourself here. Suits: teamLab, Miraikan, a bay view.
- Ebisu, Nakameguro, Daikanyama (恵比寿・中目黒・代官山): One stop from Shibuya; Meguro River is packed in blossom week. Suits: Dinner and bars away from the crowds.
- Shimokitazawa, Kōenji, Nakano (下北沢・高円寺・中野): 10–15 min west of Shibuya or Shinjuku; afternoons and evenings, not mornings. Suits: Vintage clothes, live music, small bars.
- Shinagawa (品川): Keikyu to Haneda in under 20 min and a Shinkansen stop; business hotels, little to see. Suits: Early Haneda flights, Shinkansen to Kyoto.
- Sleep area Shinjuku (south/west): suits First visit via Haneda, night owls, day trips west, price band $$.
- Sleep area Ueno: suits Narita arrivals, museum days, value hotels, price band $$.
- Haneda Airport (HND), about 17 km11 mi from the centre, 18–25 min by the usual route.
- Narita Airport (NRT), about 62 km39 mi from the centre, 44–52 min by the usual route.