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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Tokyo
東京
Tokyo is twenty districts on one rail loop: pick one bed near your airport's hub, one district per half-day, never cross the city twice in a day.
Tokyo runs on time and on rails, and it is too big to see. The failure is not missing a sight; it is spending three hours a day on trains, dragging bags through Shinjuku station at rush hour, and landing at Narita after the last Skyliner. Choose Shinjuku for Haneda, Ueno for Narita, and plan each day inside one or two neighbouring districts.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 東京
- Best months
- Jan · Feb · May · Oct · Nov · Dec
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Stay
- 2 days: Asakusa + Shibuya/Harajuku; skip the rest
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cards, phone wallets and IC cards work in most shops, stations and chains; carry cash for temples, shrines, small restaurants, markets and goshuin stamps. Convenience-store ATMs take foreign cards.
- Daily spend
- Budget · Mid · High (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or rent pocket Wi-Fi or buy a data SIM at the airport.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h) 050-3816-2787 · Tokyo English Life Line 03-5774-0992
- Plugs
- 100 V; type A sockets (two flat pins, often without the earth pin). Most phone and laptop chargers are dual-voltage; bring a plug adapter.
- Tipping
- Not practised — leaving money can cause confusion. Service is included.
- Water
- Tap water is safe to drink everywhere.
- Toilets
- Free and clean in stations, convenience stores, department stores and most temples.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee: café / convenience store | ¥450–800 / ¥120–250 |
| Bowl of ramen | ¥1,000–1,600 |
| Beer: draught in an izakaya / can at a konbini | ¥550–850 / ¥230–330 |
| 5 km taxi | ¥2,300–2,900 |
| Subway or JR ride in the centre | ¥150–330 |
| Tokyo Subway Ticket, 24 / 48 / 72 h | ¥1,000 / ¥1,500 / ¥2,000 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ¥2,000–4,000 |
| Museum or garden entry | ¥500–1,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Haneda Airport (HND)
- Haneda is Tokyo's easy airport: Keikyu to Shinagawa, then the JR loop; after the last train, night buses and a fixed-fare taxi still reach the bed.
- Narita Airport (NRT)
- Narita is far: the Skyliner to Ueno is the zero-brain path, and after about 22:00 the ladder ends at an airport hotel more often than at your bed.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Station (東京駅) | All Shinkansen: Tōkaidō (Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima), Tōhoku, Jōetsu, Hokuriku; Narita Express; Keiyō line to Disney | It is the centre; Yamanote and Marunouchi line inside |
| Shinagawa (品川駅) | Tōkaidō Shinkansen (every train stops), Keikyu to Haneda, Yokosuka line to Kamakura | Yamanote to Shibuya 12 min, to Tokyo 11 min |
| Ueno (上野駅) | Tōhoku, Jōetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen; Jōban line; Skyliner to Narita (Keisei Ueno, across the road) | Ginza line to Ginza 10 min |
| Shinjuku (JR, Odakyu, Keiō) (新宿駅) | Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone; JR limited expresses to Matsumoto and Kawaguchiko (Fuji Excursion); Narita Express | Chūō rapid to Tokyo 15 min |
| Asakusa (Tōbu) (浅草駅（東武）) | Tōbu limited expresses (Spacia X, Revaty) to Nikkō and Kinugawa | Ginza line from the next-door subway station |
| Ikebukuro (池袋駅) | Seibu to Chichibu and Kawagoe; Tōbu Tōjō to Kawagoe; night buses | Marunouchi line to Tokyo 17 min |
Typical fares
- Haneda → Shinagawa, Keikyu
- ¥330, about 15–20 min
- Narita → Ueno, Skyliner
- ¥2,580 reserved, about 45 min
- Taxi flag fall
- ¥500, then about ¥100 per 255 m; +20% 22:00–05:00
Get around
Trains and subway for everything, walking inside a district, taxis after midnight or with bags. Three rail systems (JR, Tokyo Metro, Toei) plus private lines share one IC card, so the only planning is the route and the exit.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| JR lines (Yamanote, Chūō) | ¥150–210 inside the loop | Linking the big hubs: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo, Ueno, Shinagawa |
| Subway (Tokyo Metro and Toei) | ¥180–330; 24/48/72 h pass ¥1,000/1,500/2,000 (check) | Asakusa, Ginza, Roppongi, Tsukiji and everything inside the loop |
| IC card (Suica/PASMO) | Deposit-free in phone wallets; ¥500 deposit on a plastic card | Every train, bus, locker and konbini |
| Walking | Free | Inside a district; Ginza to Tokyo Station; Harajuku to Shibuya |
| Taxi | ¥500 flag fall; ¥2,300–2,900 for 5 km | Bags, groups of 3–4, after the last train |
| City bus | ¥210 (Toei) or ¥220 flat | North–south hops the rail lines miss |
| Bike share | About ¥130–165 per 30 min (check) | Sunday rides along the palace moat and Sumida river |
| Water bus | About ¥1,000–1,800 (check) | Asakusa to Hama-rikyū or Odaiba as a sightseeing ride |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- A 24/48/72-hour subway pass pays with 4+ subway rides a day; JR lines are not included.
- Late at night
- Most last trains leave between 23:30 and 00:30; status unknown until verified per line.
See and do
01Sensō-ji before the crowds浅草寺
Tokyo's oldest temple with the lantern gate and incense; the grounds are open early and nearly empty before 08:00.
Hours: best 06:30–08:30, or lit up after dark · Price: Free · Time: 1 h
02Meiji Jingū明治神宮
A forest walk to a cedar-and-copper shrine in the middle of Harajuku; weddings on weekend mornings.
Hours: best Sunrise to 09:30 · Price: Free · Time: 1–1.5 h
03Shibuya Crossing and a view from above渋谷スクランブル交差点
The scramble on the ground, then Shibuya Sky or a café window for the aerial view.
Hours: best Dusk into night · Price: Crossing free; Shibuya Sky about ¥2,500–3,500 (check) · Time: 1–2 h
04Breakfast at Tsukiji Outer Market築地場外市場
Tamagoyaki, sushi counters and knife shops; the wholesale auction moved to Toyosu, the food stayed.
Hours: best 08:00–10:00; many stalls shut Sun, Wed and holidays · Price: ¥2,000–5,000 · Time: 1.5 h
05Omoide Yokochō and Golden Gai after dark思い出横丁
Two lanes of tiny yakitori grills and bars by Shinjuku station; the postwar city in two hours.
Hours: best 18:00–22:00 · Price: ¥3,000–7,000 including cover charges · Time: 2–3 h
06Shinjuku Gyoen新宿御苑
Three garden styles and the best blossom and maple lawns in the centre; alcohol is banned, so it stays calm.
Hours: best Late Mar–early Apr; mid-Nov–early Dec · Price: ¥500 · Time: 1–2 h
07Free observation deck, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
45th-floor view to Fuji on clear winter days; no ticket, short queue.
Hours: best Clear mornings Nov–Feb, or after dark · Price: Free · Time: 45 min
08teamLab Planets or Borderless
Walk-through digital art rooms; the rain-day and heat-day answer for all ages.
Hours: best First slot of the day; book ahead · Price: About ¥3,600–5,600 (check) · Time: 2 h
09Imperial Palace East Gardens皇居東御苑
Castle walls, the old keep base and seasonal gardens, a 5-min walk from Tokyo Station.
Hours: best Morning; closed Mon and Fri · Price: Free · Time: 1 h
10A day out: Kamakura or Nikkō
The Great Buddha and Zen temples an hour south, or Nikkō's lacquered shrines two hours north.
Hours: best Weekdays · Price: ¥2,000–6,000 in train fares · Time: Full day
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kamakura | JR Yokosuka line, about 1 h | Full day |
| Nikko | Tobu limited express from Asakusa, about 2 h | Long full day |
| Hakone | Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku, about 1.5 h | Full day or one night |
| Mt Fuji Five Lakes (Kawaguchiko) | Highway bus from Shinjuku, about 2 h | Full day |
| Yokohama | JR or Tōkyū, about 30 min | Half day or evening |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fūunji (tsukemen) | Tsukemen · Shinjuku south | ¥1,000–1,400 | Budget |
| Harajuku Gyoza-rō | Gyoza · Harajuku | ¥800–1,500 | Budget |
| Tokyo Ramen Street | Ramen and tsukemen · Tokyo Station Yaesu | ¥1,000–1,600 | Budget |
| Gyūdon chains (Matsuya, Yoshinoya, Sukiya) | Beef bowl, curry, breakfast sets · Every station | ¥450–900 | Budget |
| Omoide Yokochō | Yakitori and beer · Shinjuku west | ¥2,500–4,000 | Mid-range |
| Tsukiji Outer Market | Sushi and seafood breakfast · Tsukiji | ¥2,000–5,000 | Mid-range |
| Daikokuya Tempura | Tendon · Asakusa | ¥2,000–3,500 | Mid-range |
| Tsunahachi | Tempura sets · Shinjuku east (main shop) | ¥1,800–4,000 (check) | Mid-range |
| Asakusa Imahan (sukiyaki) | Sukiyaki course · Asakusa | Dinner ¥15,000–30,000; lunch from about ¥4,000 | Splurge |
| Edomae sushi counters | Chef's-choice nigiri (omakase) · Ginza, Akasaka, Roppongi | ¥20,000–50,000 dinner; lunch from about ¥8,000 | Splurge |
| Kaiseki restaurants | Seasonal multi-course Japanese · Ginza, Akasaka, Nishi-Azabu | ¥20,000–60,000 | Splurge |
| Tempura counters | Tempura fried piece by piece in front of you · Ginza, Nihonbashi | ¥15,000–35,000 | Splurge |
Per person, one meal, 2026 estimate. Popular places queue; check hours the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | ¥3,500–7,000 dorm bed or capsule · ¥9,000–14,000 double | Asakusa, Ueno, Kuramae, Ikebukuro | Hostels, capsule hotels, small inns |
| mid | ¥15,000–35,000 | Shinjuku, Ueno, Shinagawa, Ginza fringes | Business hotels and 3–4 star chains |
| splurge | ¥60,000–150,000+ | Marunouchi, Ōtemachi, Roppongi, West Shinjuku towers | International luxury hotels, the classic 'three great houses', ryokan-style city hotels |
Per room per night in yen, 2026 estimate; blossom weeks, Golden Week and New Year add 30–80%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| This one, please | これをくださいkore o kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| To this address, please | ここまでお願いしますkoko made onegai shimasu |
| A temple stamp (goshuin), please | 御朱印をお願いしますgoshuin o onegai shimasu |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Trains: Phones on silent and no calls; backpacks worn on the front or put on the rack in crowds; let people off before boarding at the marked lines.
- Shrines and temples: Bow at the gate, walk at the side of the approach, rinse hands at the basin; no photos where a sign says so.
- Shoes: Off at a raised step, a shoe rack or tatami — ryokan, some izakaya, fitting rooms. Toilet slippers stay in the toilet.
- Tipping: Not done; staff will chase you to return the change.
- Eating and rubbish: Eat at the stall or a bench, not on the move; carry rubbish to the next convenience-store bin.
- Paying: Put cash or card in the small tray at the till rather than handing it over.
- Tattoos: Many public baths, gyms and pools refuse visible tattoos; cover them or look for tattoo-friendly baths.
Red lines
- No phone calls on trains; set phones to silent.
- Queue in marked lines on platforms.
- Kabukichō touts: do not follow anyone into a bar.
Scams and watch-outs
- Kabukichō and Roppongi touts: bars with unposted prices can charge thousands in cover and drinks — do not follow anyone inside.
- People in monk robes selling charms near Sensō-ji are not affiliated with the temple.
One and two days
1 day
A layover or a first day off a morning flight. Skip: Tokyo Tower, Odaiba and anything that sends you back east.
- 07:00Temple grounds before the shops open
- 08:30Nakamise stalls opening, then the Ginza line west
- 10:00Forest walk to the shrine
- 11:30Takeshita-dōri and Omotesandō, gyoza lunch
- 15:00Walk south to the crossing; Shibuya Sky at dusk
- 19:00Yakitori under the tracks in Shinjuku
2 days
The short Tokyo stop before Kyoto. Skip: A Kamakura or Fuji day: it costs one of your two.
Day 1 — east: Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara
- 07:00Sensō-ji and Nakamise
- 10:00Tokyo National Museum or Ueno Park
- 13:00Ameyoko market lunch
- 15:00Akihabara electronics and retro games
- 18:00Tempura in Asakusa
Day 2 — west: Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku
- 08:00Meiji Jingū
- 10:00Harajuku and Omotesandō
- 13:00Shinjuku Gyoen
- 17:00Free deck at the Metropolitan Government Building
- 19:00Omoide Yokochō, then Golden Gai
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- GO TOKYO (official tourism): www.gotokyo.org/en/
- Tokyo Metro: www.tokyometro.jp/en/
- Wikivoyage — Tokyo: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tokyo
- Wikivoyage — Shinjuku: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tokyo/Shinjuku
- JNTO — Japan travel (official): www.japan.travel/en/
- JR East — passes and lines: www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/
- Toei Transportation (Tokyo Metropolitan Government): www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/eng/
- Shinjuku Gyoen (National Gardens Association): fng.or.jp/shinjuku/en/
- Wikitravel — Tokyo (blocked at check time): wikitravel.org/en/Tokyo
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Tokyo東京
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- 浅草寺Sensō-ji
- 明治神宮Meiji Jingū
- 渋谷スクランブル交差点Shibuya Crossing
- 築地場外市場Tsukiji Outer Market
- 思い出横丁Omoide Yokochō
- 新宿御苑Shinjuku Gyoen
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h)050-3816-2787
- Tokyo English Life Line03-5774-0992
Most embassies are in Minato (Akasaka, Azabu) and Chiyoda. Write your own embassy's 24-hour number below.
Show the hotel's address in Japanese plus its phone number; drivers enter the phone number into the navigation.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/tokyo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.