First time in Tokyo? What to know before you go

Tokyo rewards a short list. Pick one big sight per day, then let the neighbourhood around it fill the rest of the hours. The eight below cover the classic first-trip spread: old temple, city view, market, pop culture, garden and a day out.

Start with Sensō-ji early, before 8am, when the approach street is quiet. Pair it with the Nakamise shops and a walk along the Sumida River. Meiji Jingū and the Harajuku backstreets work as a half day. Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky are best after dark. Tsukiji Outer Market is a breakfast stop, not a lunch one. teamLab Planets needs a timed ticket. Shinjuku Omoide Yokochō is for a drink and skewers, not a full meal. Ueno Park covers museums and a zoo if you have children. And a day trip to Kamakura or Nikkō breaks up the city.

Tokyo is not one centre. It is a ring of districts around the JR Yamanote loop, and the loop is the mental model that makes a first trip easy. Asakusa and Ueno sit on the north-east side. Shinjuku and Shibuya are on the west. Tokyo Station and Ginza are in the middle. Roppongi and Toyosu are south of the centre.

Two districts a day is realistic. Three is a rush. The rail map looks dense but the lines are colour-coded and station signs are in English, so a first-timer can move around without much trouble. Walking between neighbouring stations is often faster than a transfer.

Get an IC card. Suica and Pasmo are rechargeable cards that work on trains, buses and many convenience stores. Buy one at the airport or a major station, load ¥3,000–¥5,000, and top up as you go. Fares are distance-based, usually ¥180–¥320 per ride in the centre (2026 estimate).

Carry cash. Japan is card-friendly in hotels, department stores and chain restaurants, but small ramen shops, shrines and older cafés often take cash only. Seven-Eleven and Japan Post ATMs accept most foreign cards; many bank ATMs do not.

Learn two phrases. Sumimasen (excuse me) and arigatō gozaimasu (thank you) cover most situations. Staff are used to visitors and will often switch to simple English.

Do not tip. It is not expected and can cause confusion. Service charges are not added either.

Sort your rubbish. Bins are rare on the street; convenience stores have them, and stations have separated bins for burnable, plastic and cans.

Book the big tickets early. teamLab, Shibuya Sky and the Ghibli Museum use timed entry and sell out days or weeks ahead in peak season. Same for popular ramen counters and any restaurant you have your heart set on.

March to May and October to December are the easiest months: mild temperatures, low rain and the cherry blossom or autumn colour windows. Late March to early April is the busiest and most expensive stretch of the year, so book lodging months ahead.

Avoid Golden Week (late April to early May), when domestic travel peaks and trains and hotels fill. Mid-August is hot and humid, often above 33 °C, and typhoon season runs roughly August to September. Winter is cold but dry and clear, with the best views of Mount Fuji from the city on good days.

Rain is manageable. June is the rainy season, and summer afternoons can bring heavy showers. The rainy-day list is mostly indoor: museums, department stores, teamLab, and the covered arcades at Asakusa and Shinjuku.