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Tokyo Itinerary for First Timers: Attractions, Transportation Guide

by Ryu_C@RakuRakuJP

How to plan a trip to Tokyo?

Tokyo, for many overseas tourists, is the first choice of tourist destinations in Japan for the first time, and it is also a place where many people will go again and again. And because Tokyo contains both new and old Japanese cultures, unlike in Kyoto, the itinerary is mainly based on visiting different temples and shrines. So in just a few days in Tokyo, you can go to the shrine, arrange a full-day shopping trip, go to the attractions in the suburbs of Tokyo, and you can also stay in some of the most luxurious hotels, or choose to experience the cheapest capsule hotel It will be all right.

Also because there are so many experiences to choose from in Tokyo, even local Tokyoites may not be able to name all the attractions in Tokyo. Therefore, for you who have never been to Tokyo much, it is very difficult to arrange a trip to Tokyo. So today's article will share with you all the experiences of traveling in Tokyo in the past, so that you can learn about "what experience you can get when traveling in Tokyo", "popular tourist areas in Tokyo", "itinerary planning in Tokyo", "Accommodation, transportation, ticket arrangements in Tokyo" and so on, so that you can choose a itinerary that best suits you from different attractions and different travel experiences.

Today's article has a lot of content, because I have included all the Tokyo travel information that is useful to you. If you are interested in a certain topic in this article, you can jump directly to the topics of attractions, itinerary, transportation, accommodation and other topics in this article, otherwise I will suggest that you first writeTokyo Travel ClassificationArticle collection, so that you can easily check the latest content until before departure!

Further reading: The latest Tokyo attractions list 60 attractions let you walk the whole of Tokyo!

Tokyo AttractionsShibuya Shopping District
There are many places worth visiting in Tokyo, such as the shopping malls in Shibuya, where you can spend a whole day shopping. (Click to enlarge the picture)

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What kind of experience can you get when traveling in Tokyo?

For many people, Tokyo is the first choice to set foot in Japan, or after traveling to the Kansai region, such as Kyoto, Osaka and other regions, basically everyone will travel to Japan Everyone always goes to Tokyo once.

If you want to simply say the biggest difference between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, it is that Tokyo has more business and shopping options than Osaka. The selection of attractions is generally based on urban attractions, and combined with the suburbs of Tokyo, some are suitable for day trips. The attractions of the itinerary, but there are fewer large-scale shrines and temples with history than in Kyoto.

Tokyo is like a city whose past history has been erased, and then continues to show the latest appearance with the evolution of time.

For you who are traveling to Tokyo for the first time, the most interesting thing about Tokyo is that you can get different types of experiences in just a few days. For example, you can wear a kimono to visit Sensoji Temple in the morning, go to the Tokyo Skytree Observatory in the afternoon to enjoy the city scenery of Tokyo, and then go to different izakayas in the evening to experience the local Japanese izakaya culture. Or go to the two fish markets of Tsukiji and Toyosu to eat sushi in the morning, and go to shopping areas such as Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Shibuya at noon to choose some products that you think are the most "Japanese Style". Then eat a bowl of ramen nearby, and in the afternoon, go to Shinjuku Gyoen, Odaiba, the must-see attractions for the first time in Tokyo, and finally go to Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree and other places to enjoy the night view of Tokyo in the evening, and finally in Tokyo Enjoy an all-you-can-eat set menu at Yakiniku Restaurant.

Of course, you can also arrange a day trip to Kamakura, Enoshima, Yokohama, Mount Takao, Nikko, Karuizawa, Hakone, Lake Kawaguchi, etc., which are enough for you to visit the suburbs of Tokyo for a whole day. The characteristics of these areas are that you can Let you see seaside scenery, hiking trails, Mount Fuji, and hot spring hotels that you will not have in Tokyo. In terms of transportation arrangements, the transportation arrangements in some areas such as Kamakura, Enoshima, Yokohama, and Mount Takao are relatively simple, and it is suitable to arrange a day to go to these attractions within the entire Tokyo itinerary. Nikko, Karuizawa, Hakone, and Lake Kawaguchi are relatively far away from Tokyo, and it is not too late to arrange to go there for the second time.

If you want to meet all your imagination of Japan in one travel itinerary, such as eating sushi, eating ramen, wearing kimono, participating in animation festivals, soaking in hot springs, sightseeing in the city, sightseeing in the suburbs, and experiencing intimate Japanese services Wait, as long as you can stay in Tokyo for more than a week, you can basically complete the entire wish list in Tokyo and then go home.

Itinerary and attractions planning for the first time traveling to Tokyo for free travel in Tokyo
Tokyo is a collection of different kinds of experience in Japan, and it is basically difficult to go to all places if you don't have enough time. (Click to enlarge the picture)

What are the popular tourist areas in Tokyo?

Are there any popular tourist areas in Tokyo that you must visit? How to arrange the itinerary when traveling in Tokyo to save transportation time and transportation expenses? I believe that whether you are a first-time traveler to Tokyo or have been to Tokyo many times, I believe these questions will stump many people.

The reason is very simple, because the area of Tokyo is really very large, and there are so many attractions to choose from, even if you arrange a one-month itinerary, you may not be able to visit all the attractions. If there is no proper itinerary planning, a lot of time and budget will be wasted on railway transportation such as JR and Metro.

So every time I plan a Tokyo travel itinerary for other people, I would recommend using the Tokyo Map, the Tokyo Metro Route Map, and the Tokyo JR Route Map to recognize the locations of different attractions and the distance between them. The required traffic route, travel time, etc.

Use the map to know the location of attractions in Tokyo

If you are planning to travel to Tokyo for the first time, you must first understand how big "Tokyo" is and what areas it includes. Because for the Japanese who generally live in Tokyo, from Saitama City in the north to Kawasaki City in the south, and from Hachioji City on the left to Chiba City on the right, they can be regarded as part of Tokyo. If you start from the central part of Tokyo to the above 4 places, you basically need to take the JR railway for more than 1 hour to get there.

Tokyo Travel Guide Tokyo Attractions Map
The area of Tokyo is very large, and it is absolutely impossible to run it in just a few days. (Click to enlarge the picture)

Indeed, the area of Tokyo is very large, and there are 23 wards, but for general travelers, especially those who plan to move within the Tokyo metropolitan area, basically you only need to recognize the location of the central green part of Tokyo - the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda District, Then divide Tokyo into four parts: east, south, west, and north, so that you can clearly understand the location of different attractions.

Because based on a long-distance trip of 9 days and 8 nights, even if you only go to one area every day, Taito Ward, Sumida Ward, Chuo Ward, Koto Ward, Minato Ward, Shibuya Ward, Shinjuku Ward, and Toshima Ward alone already occupy All the time of your entire Tokyo itinerary, and the time you may need to travel to Tokyo's suburban attractions is not counted.

Tokyo Travel Guide Tokyo Attractions Map
With Chiyoda District in Tokyo as the center, the surrounding areas are the concentration of tourist attractions in Tokyo. (Click to enlarge the picture)

In addition, as long as you open the Tokyo Metro route map, you will find that the locations of these major tourist areas can correspond to different stations. For example, Taito District – Ueno Station, Chiyoda District – Tokyo Station, Chuo District – Shimbashi Station, Shibuya District – Shibuya Station, Shinjuku District – Shinjuku Station, and Toshima District – Ikebukuro Station, which are often visited by tourists in Tokyo local place.

That is to say, as long as you try to arrange the whole day in the same area when arranging the itinerary, and play in the area near a specific station for a whole day, you can save more time and transportation costs.

The 6 main stations of Tokyo Metro represent 6 scenic spots that you will definitely go to. (Click to enlarge the picture)

In addition to using the Tokyo Metro route map, you can also open the JR East train route map for knowing the location of Tokyo attractions, because the main attractions in Tokyo are where the Yamanote Line (green line) will pass, such as Ueno, Tokyo, Shimbashi, Shinagawa, Shibuya, and Shinjuku are connected by stations on the Yamanote Line. In other words, as long as you take the JR East train, you can definitely go to most of the tourist attractions in Tokyo.

The main scenic spots in Tokyo are connected by the Yamanote Line of JR trains. Even if you are going to Tokyo for the first time, you will not be afraid of getting lost. (Click to enlarge the picture)

Selection of popular tourist attractions in Tokyo

After briefly introducing the locations of different areas in Tokyo, the following parts will introduce you clockwise to the attractions and experiences in each area that are worth adding to your Tokyo travel itinerary.

Taito District, Sumida District

For you who are traveling to Tokyo for the first time, you can experience the traditional and modern side of Tokyo in Ueno and Asakusa in Taito District.

For example, Ueno Zoo, Ueno Park, Ueno Ameyoko near Ueno Station; Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Kaminarimon, and Asakusa Nakamise Street in Asakusa Station. These two areas are very worthwhile for you to spend a whole day wandering around, especially on weekends. Ueno Park will hold different types of cultural programs from time to time, and it is also the most lively place in Tokyo. It's also perfect for visiting Sensoji Temple in a kimono, visiting the Asakusa Nakamisetong shopping street by rickshaw, and enjoying unagi rice at a restaurant in Asakusa Nakamisetong.

Rickshaw experience in front of Asakusa Kaminarimon Temple
If you can wear a kimono and take a rickshaw to take pictures in front of Asakusa Kaminarimon, it should be the most memorable moment in the entire Tokyo trip. (Click to enlarge the picture)

In addition, after visiting Sensoji Temple in the afternoon, you can slowly walk from Sensoji Temple to Oshiage Station in Sumida District next to it, which isTokyo Skytreelocation of .

The most unmissable activity in Tokyo Skytree is to watch the sunset in Tokyo from the observatory of Tokyo Skytree. In addition, you can also spend a little time visiting the underground Sumida Aquarium, or go to the shopping mall in Tokyo Solamachi to have dinner and shopping after sunset. It will be much more convenient than you spend time returning to the restaurant in Ueno and save The traffic time required in the middle, after dinner, you can take the car back to the hotel directly.

Essential Asakusa Ueno Go Play
Ueno, Asakusa, and Tokyo Skytree are all must-see places when visiting Tokyo for the first time. (Click to enlarge the picture)

Tourist Information for Taito District and Sumida District

Major stations: Ueno Station, Asakusa Station, Oshiage Station

Recommended activities: Visiting Ueno Zoo, visiting Sensoji Temple,Kimono wearing experience,Rickshaw experience,Tokyo Skytree Tokyo night view

Recommended accommodation: Hotel Wing International Hotel – Uemachi Okachimachi,Asakusa Tobu Hotel

Chiyoda Ward

Just like I said at the beginning that the green part of the center of Tokyo is the location of the Imperial Palace, and the area near the Imperial Palace is also within the scope of Chiyoda Ward. There are three main places in Chiyo-ku that are worth spending half a day visiting, namely Akihabara, Imperial Palace, and Tokyo Station.

Akihabara

If you decide to travel to Japan because you like Japanese anime, Akihabara is a place you must not miss.

Because there are many shops selling different animation products throughout Akihabara, as well as cafes and restaurants with maids, cats, and anime themes, and there are also several large game console centers. If you love Japanese animation very much, you will not have any difficulty spending a whole day in Akihabara. In addition, restaurants in Akihabara are cheaper than restaurants in other places, and it is not too far from Ueno. So you can choose to stay in cheap accommodation in Ueno, and then focus your travel budget on buying animation products.

tokyo station

In addition to being the largest station in Tokyo and the terminus of the Shinkansen connecting different cities, Tokyo Station is also a good place for shopping and taking pictures. So if you have spare time, it is worth spending some time to come to Tokyo Station. It is recommended to visit once in the daytime and at night, because the buildings in Tokyo Station will give you a completely different feeling.

In addition, in Tokyo Station "Tokyo Station First Street", in addition to gathering many different kinds of restaurants, it is also the "Tokyo Anime Character Street" where a large number of popular anime characters gather. If you like Pokemon, Disney, Harry Potter and other characters, "Tokyo Station First Street" is almost the most convenient place to buy popular anime character products in Tokyo.

imperial palace

If you are very interested in Japanese gardens, have a certain level of Japanese ability, and are willing to register more than one month in advance, you can also consider joining the official guided tour of the Imperial Palace. In this way, you can have the opportunity to closely observe the residences, palaces, and areas of the Japanese imperial family that are not usually open to the public.

It is a very rare experience to be able to participate in this short one-hour guided tour, mainly because there are so many registered people, even local Tokyoites need to pre-register, and it is not easy to get it. Therefore, if you can successfully register and make an appointment, you must attend the scheduled guided tour on time.

Only those who participate in the guided tour of the Imperial Palace can have the opportunity to visit the interior of the Imperial Palace. (Click to enlarge the picture)

Chiyoda City Tourist Information

Major stations: Akihabara Station, Tokyo Station, Otemachi Station

Recommended activity: experience in AkihabaraMaid Cafe, Buy popular animation products, eat ramen in the Tokyo Underground Street in Tokyo Station, and buy your favorite animation boutiques.

Recommended accommodation: Akihabara JR East METS,The Tokyo Station Hotel 

Central District

Next to Chiyoda District and below Taito District is Tokyo's Chuo District. The difference between Chuo District and Taito District and Chiyoda District is that Chuo District has a large number of high-end brands and high-end commercial buildings, and Chiyoda District has a large number of government agencies. Taito District is mainly shopping and tourism. The scenery you can see is the same. totally different.

Just like the Ginza, Shimbashi, Tsukiji, and Sumida River Fireworks Festivals you often hear, they are all worth spending half a day in the central area.

To put it simply, you can arrange to go to Tsukiji Market for sushi in the morning, and then go to Ginza’s Mitsukoshi Department Store, Matsuya Ginza, GINZA SIX and other high-end department stores for an afternoon at noon. At the same time, you can also visit the scenery of Nihonbashi and Sumida River. Finally, enjoy dinner with ordinary Japanese office workers in restaurants and izakayas in Ginza and Shimbashi, and experience the most authentic daily life in Tokyo.

However, one thing to note is that the consumption required near Ginza will never be low. For example, a simple Tea Set can exceed ¥1,000 yen. So if you are traveling to Tokyo for the first time, and you just want to simply experience "what is Japan", compared to the restaurants and shops near Ginza, the two areas of Shinjuku and Ueno will be more suitable for you. In addition, you only need to arrange to go to the off-site market of Tsukiji in the morning, which is enough.

However, if it is not your first time to travel to Tokyo, you also want to experience the daily life of local Tokyo people after get off work. Arrange to go to the izakaya and barbecue restaurants near Shimbashi Station in the evening. These are the places closest to the daily life of ordinary Japanese. You can order a glass of beer, a roasted meat set meal, summarize today's travel itinerary while having dinner, and then buy a box of red bean Daifuku cake at "Ginza あけぼの" next to Ginza Station and return to the hotel to enjoy slowly.

Major stations: Ginza Station, Shimbashi Station, Tsukiji Station

Recommended activities: eat sushi at Tsukiji Market in the morning, go shopping at Ginza Department Store at noon, and experience izakaya culture in Shimbashi in the evening

Recommended accommodation: Tokyu Stay Ginza,Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Tokyo

You can experience a different side of Tokyo in Tsukiji Market and Ginza in the central district of Tokyo. (Click to enlarge the picture)

Koto District

Before the official opening of the Toyosu Market, Koto District was not considered a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. But if you want to visit the fish auction, go to those very famous sushi restaurants, such as "Sushi Dai", "Yamato Sushi", etc., you must queue up outside before they officially open, so as to ensure that you Chance to come in and enjoy their meal.

But even if you don't want to spend time queuing, it doesn't mean you can't eat the freshest sushi. Because the ingredients of most sushi restaurants in Tokyo are shipped directly from Tsukiji Market and Toyosu Market every day, in fact, there is no big difference from the sushi restaurants in the market. And sometimes large chain sushi restaurants like "Sushi Sanmi すしざんまい" will buy the freshest seafood of the day from the market, plus there are many branches in Tokyo, some of which are open 24 hours, maybe in your hotel There will be one nearby.

Major Stations: Market Front Station

Recommended activities: Arrange to spend a morning visiting the Toyosu market and order a sushi set for breakfast

Recommended accommodation: Tokyu Stay Ginza,Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Tokyo

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Minato

In the eyes of local Tokyoites, the Minato area is a residential area exclusively for the rich, so you will not find the bustling streets like Ueno here, nor will you find a large number of office workers like Ginza and Shimbashi. It is a good place to spend an afternoon in Odaiba and Tokyo Tower during the holiday.

Tokyo Tower

Since the official operation of Tokyo Skytree, it seems that most people will choose to go to Tokyo Skytree instead of Tokyo Tower. However, for those who like Japanese dramas and anime, Tokyo Tower still has an irreplaceable position.

If you are traveling to Tokyo for the first time, you don’t have to worry about going to Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree at the same time to make you feel bored. Instead, you can compare the scenery you can see between the two observatories. What difference. And because there are fewer high-rise buildings near Tokyo Tower, it will be easier to take a panoramic view of Tokyo Tower.

Although the Tokyo Tower is not the tallest building in Tokyo, it is also a must-see attraction for many people who travel to Tokyo. (Click to enlarge the picture)

Odaiba

Odaiba is a comprehensive area that gathers shopping and museums. If you like Gundam, or if you will bring your children to Tokyo, there are several large-scale museums in Odaiba, such as Japan Science and Future Museum and Tokyo Legoland Discovery Center. Shopping malls such as DiverCity Tokyo, AQUA CiTY ODAIBA, etc., can make you spend a whole day.

Compared with Ueno and Shinjuku, which are also shopping areas, Odaiba has the advantages of less traffic, a larger place, and it is close to Tokyo Bay. So you can choose to stroll through every store in Odaiba slowly, or you can watch the sunset by the sea here before setting off to other Tokyo areas for an evening itinerary.

Major stations: Akabanebashi Station, Odaiba Station

Recommended activity: boardTokyo Tower ObservatoryEnjoy the sunset view of Tokyo, go to the Miraikan Museum of Science,Legoland Tokyo Discovery Centervisit

Recommended accommodation: Tokyu Stay Ginza,Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Tokyo

Shibuya

Finally, I came to Shibuya District on the left side of Tokyo. Shibuya District is almost a place that I will definitely go to every time I travel to Tokyo. Because in addition to a large number of shopping malls here, there are also Shibuya Sky, Yachiko Statue, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Harajuku Takeshita Street, and Omotesando to visit. If you don't plan to arrange a shopping itinerary, you can visit the entire Shibuya area in about half a day. But if you really plan to shop in the Shibuya area, it is highly recommended to arrange a full-day itinerary near the two stations of Shibuya and Harajuku.

Shibuya station

At Shibuya Station, you can take pictures with the statue of Yachi, or you can go to the Shibuya Sky Observatory to enjoy the scenery of Shibuya and Shinjuku. The difference from Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree is that the observatories of Shibuya Sky are arranged in an open-air place. The scenery you see is not blocked by glass like Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree, so you can view it from 360 degrees Enjoy the city view of Tokyo. If you like to take pictures, Shibuya Sky is definitely a very suitable place

There is another experience worth visiting, which is the pedestrian crossing in the center of Shibuya. The special feature is that in addition to the JR carriages in Tokyo, it is a relatively crowded place, which is also what you often see on TV. Tokyo scene.

In addition, near Shibuya Station, there are also several large shopping malls such as PARCO, Loft, SHIBUYA 109, and Miyashita Park. If you plan to spend money on shopping in Shibuya, it is better to reserve enough time.

The observation deck at Shibuya Sky is characterized by an open-air environment that is not blocked by glass. (Click to enlarge the picture)
The pedestrian crossing in the center of Shibuya is probably the most crowded place except JR trains. (Click to enlarge the picture)

Harajuku Station

If you don't plan to go to the Shibuya Sky Observatory or Shibuya's shopping malls, you can consider arranging a full-day trip near Harajuku Station.

Because you can visit shrines around Harajuku Station, buy some souvenirs in the shopping street, order some authentic snacks, or go shopping in some high-end brand stores. Basically, Harajuku is a place suitable for different hobbies and different consumption budgets. Everyone will find the experience they want.

For example, if you go to Meiji Shrine on the morning of a holiday, in addition to visiting the shrine as usual, you may also encounter a day when local Tokyoites hold a Japanese-style wedding, but it takes a little luck to successfully encounter it. In addition, you can also buy imperial guards and imperial seals at Meiji Jingu Shrine. These are the best souvenirs to prove that you have visited the shrine, and you can also get the gods to bless your health.

If you hope to catch a wedding at Meiji Shrine, you need a certain amount of luck. (Click to enlarge the picture)

In addition, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku Takeshita Street next to Harajuku Station, and Omotesando a little further away are all places where a large number of shops are gathered. There are souvenirs ranging from ¥300 yen to ¥30,000 yen for a leather bag. If you don’t think you should spend the cash on hand, maybe arrange to come to Harajuku on the last day of the trip, I believe you will buy it and can’t extricate yourself.

I believe that the shops included in Harajuku Takeshita Street and Omotesando Street can make you unable to extricate yourself. (Click to enlarge the picture)

Main stations: Shibuya Station, Harajuku Station, Meiji Jingumae Station

Recommended activities: View from Shibuya Sky Observatory, Yachi statue photo, Shibuya Shopping Center, visit to Meiji Shrine, Harajuku Takeshita Dori shopping, Omotesando shopping

Recommended accommodation: Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel,Shibuya Granbell Hotel,Shibuya Tobu Hotel

Shinjuku

From the experience of traveling to Tokyo many times, the overall impression of Shinjuku is convenience. For example, it is convenient to take the railway to Kamakura, Enoshima, Hakone, Lake Kawaguchi, and Mount Fuji. Convenient shopping, with a large collection of different kinds of brands. It is convenient to eat, basically there will be any dishes you can think of. Convenient for accommodation, the density of hotels is almost the highest in Tokyo. Basically, for you who are traveling to Tokyo for the first time, Shinjuku is the best starting point for you to go to different places.

In addition, there is also a free Metropolitan Observatory in Shinjuku where you can enjoy the night view of Tokyo, and Shinjuku Gyoen where you can visit the gardens in the city center. In addition, there are many large department stores, such as Isetan Shinjuku, Takashimaya, Odakyu Department Store, Keio Department Store and so on.

Then in Shinjuku Kabukicho near Shinjuku Station, you can experience the nightlife in Tokyo. At the same time, there is also "Yoide Yokocho" which gathers different izakaya. For you who come to Tokyo for the first time, it is an easier place to experience Tokyo nightlife if you don't know much Japanese.

However, it should be noted that Shinjuku Kabukicho and Omoide Yokocho are some places with high consumption, and they are also places with general law and order late at night. If you want to find some better places to eat, you can also choose to go to the restaurant floor of the department store, where there are more than ten restaurants with good quality to choose from.

If you have spare time, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo is a very suitable place to take pictures. (Click to enlarge the picture)
The best way to experience Shinjuku is to go to different restaurants and izakayas in Shinjuku at night. (Click to enlarge the picture)

Main stations: Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station, Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku Sanchome Station, Tochomae Station

Recommended activities: Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Building Observatory, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Shinjuku Department Store Shopping, Shinjuku Kabukicho Sightseeing

Recommended accommodation: APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho,Hotel Gracery Shinjuku,Tokyu Stay Shinjuku

Toshima Ward

Compared with Shinjuku District, which has a large number of shopping malls and different types of restaurants, Ikebukuro, Otsuka, and Sugamo in Toshima District are more like a residential area in Tokyo, and the shops here are more close to daily life. For some travelers with a low travel budget, they can stay in some good quality hotels in Ikebukuro, Otsuka, and Sugamo, but the price will be much cheaper than that in Shinjuku. At the same time, it is only a 15-minute JR ride to Shinjuku and Ueno, which is very convenient.

To put it simply, if your itinerary is mainly arranged near the stations of Shinjuku, Ueno, and Akihabara, you can save part of the accommodation expenses by choosing hotels in Ikebukuro, Otsuka, and Sugamo. Moreover, there are many restaurants and convenience stores near the station. You basically don’t need to worry about eating and shopping. It is very suitable for you who are traveling to Tokyo for the first time but want to save travel expenses.

Major stations: Ikebukuro Station, Otsuka Station, Sugamo Station

Recommended activities: Shopping at SunShine City in Ikebukuro, sightseeing in Sugamo Jizo-dori shopping street

Recommended accommodation: APA Hotel Ikebukuro Station North Exit,OMO5 Otsuka by Hoshino,APA Hotel Sugamo Ekimae

Where is the best place to enjoy the night view of Tokyo?

Since the whole of Tokyo is a large piece of flat land, unlike other cities that have high mountains, you can enjoy the night view of the entire city from a high altitude, so if you want to watch the night view of Tokyo, you must go to Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Sky, or These are the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory, so that you can enjoy the sunset view of Tokyo and the night view of Tokyo from multiple angles.

The main difference between these four places is that they are located in different parts of Tokyo, and the scenery they can enjoy is different, and there is also the ticket discount provided by each.

For example, take the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory as an example. Since it is operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, admission is free. The entrance fee for Tokyo Skytree is about ¥3,000 yen, and the Tokyo Tower also costs about ¥3,000 yen. The entrance fee for Shibuya Sky is a little cheaper, but it also costs around ¥2,500.

If you want to find a place to see the scenery of Tokyo clearly, I will recommend you to go to the highest observatory in Tokyo Skytree – TEMBO GALLERIA. Because the 450-meter observatory is almost twice the height of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory and 1.8 times the height of the Tokyo Tower. I believe you can see more different angles of the city of Tokyo here at Tokyo Skytree.

On the other hand, Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, and Shibuya Sky all offer additional discounts if you pre-purchase your tickets. The point is that the tickets will be cheaper, but it can save the time of queuing up to buy tickets.

Recommended ticket offers: Tokyo Skytree,Tokyo Tower,Shibuya Sky,Klook Greater Tokyo Attractions Pass

Night view of Tokyo skytree in Tokyo
Night view from Tokyo Skytree. (Click to enlarge the picture)

Attractions outside Tokyo

If you can arrange a Tokyo travel itinerary for more than 7 days, have you ever thought about starting from Tokyo and visiting some attractions in the suburbs of Tokyo?

For example, Yokohama, Kamakura, Mount Takao, Saitama さいたま near Tokyo, or a little further away in ChibaDisney Land, Mt. Fuji in Lake Kawaguchi, and a hot spring hotel in Hakone. If you will use the Shinkansen pass – JR TOKYO WIDE PASS​If you want to go to Karuizawa for vacation, go to Nikko to visit Toshogu Shrine, or return to the ski resort in Echigo Yuzawa on the same day, it is a suitable itinerary for long-distance travel in Tokyo.

The transportation in Tokyo is very convenient, and it is very easy to arrange a day trip to a place that is farther away. (Click to enlarge the picture)
If you will consider taking the Shinkansen, you can reach more suburban attractions by taking a 2-hour train ride. (Click to enlarge the picture)
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What is the best season to travel to Tokyo?

Tokyo, like most other Japanese cities, is a place with four distinct seasons. So you can choose some activities you like according to the weather changes throughout the year, and then arrange a most suitable itinerary.

Spring in Tokyo

For many people, spring in Tokyo is the season of cherry blossoms. Indeed, to enjoy the most beautiful cherry blossoms, you must come to Tokyo in spring March-April. At this time, Ueno Enshi Park, Chidori ヶyuan Green Road, and Yasukuni Shrine are the most suitable places to watch cherry blossoms. You can choose any of them.wearing kimonoTake pictures under the cherry tree. However, it should be noted that this period is also the time when people are most prone to pollen allergies. If necessary, you must wear a mask before going out.

summer in tokyo

Summer in Tokyo is the hottest time of the year, with average temperatures as high as 33 degrees, basically an environment where you would never want to go outside.

However, summer in Tokyo is also the most suitable season for taking pictures. During this period, the sky and sea are the bluest, and the trees are the greenest. In addition, the summer festival - Fireworks Festival will be held near the Sumida River in Tokyo, which is also the most lively day in the whole summer. You can be like a normal Tokyoitewearing bathrobeParticipate in the annual Fireworks Festival and fully immerse yourself in the local summer festival.

In addition, every summer is also openClimbing Mt.FujiIf you plan to go to the highest point in Japan, it is most suitable to arrange a Tokyo travel itinerary in July and August.

Autumn in Tokyo

Autumn in Tokyo is the best time to appreciate red leaves and ginkgo. It is also a short time that is not too hot and not too cold. It is very suitable for a one-day sightseeing trip to Takao and Nikko, which are far away from the center of Tokyo.

In addition, Shinjuku Gyoen and Meiji Jingu Gaien in Tokyo are also the best places to enjoy red leaves and ginkgo. Both local Japanese and overseas tourists will come to Tokyo during this period. So if you plan to come to Tokyo in October-November, I would suggest you book a hotel room early so that you can get the best room rate.

winter in tokyo

For many people, Tokyo in winter should be a season of cold weather. But on the contrary, the winter in Tokyo is actually not as cold as you think. Because there are heating supplies everywhere in Tokyo, and you can stay in hot spring hotels in Nikko and Hakone, sometimes Tokyo in winter is warmer than in summer.

In winter, in addition to enjoying the hot springs in Tokyo, you can also go to Lake Kawaguchi to admire the snow-covered Mount Fuji, or spend a day skiing in Echigo Yuzawa, and you can also experience Christmas and New Year festivals at the same time. If you like some dynamic festival activities, choosing to arrange a winter Tokyo travel itinerary will be the most suitable.

No matter what season it is, Tokyo has different types of experiences for you to participate in. (Click to enlarge the picture)

How many days should a Tokyo trip be arranged?

"Since Tokyo has so many attractions and activities to go to, how many days should be the most suitable itinerary?"

To be honest, after spending a year living in Tokyo in the past, there are actually some places that I still haven't had the chance to visit. The reason is that the city of Tokyo is changing very fast. Every year, there will be new attractions to visit and new activities to participate in. Even Japanese people who live in Tokyo may not have been to Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree.

How many days should I travel to Tokyo? Everyone will have a different answer. In the end, it depends on how much time you have and what experience you want to get.

I would recommend it if you are visiting Tokyo for the first timeComplete 4 days in Tokyo, about 96 hours of travel time. In this way, as long as you arrange to visit the areas near 2 major stations every day, such as Shinjuku & Harajuku, Ginza & Tokyo, etc., you can visit about 8 scenic spots in Tokyo in a 4-day trip, which is about the same It is most of the main attractions in Tokyo, and there will be enough time to eat the main Tokyo food.

And for you who have already been to Tokyo, going to the attractions in Tokyo may not be able to satisfy you again. So you can arrange one in TokyoStay for 6 full days, about 144 hours in Tokyo. In this way, you can arrange 3 days to revisit some attractions in Tokyo that you want to visit, and then arrange 1 day to go to Yokohama, Enoshima, Kamakura and other attractions that can go back and forth to the center of Tokyo on the same day, and spend 2 days staying in Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone , Karuizawa hot spring hotel

With such an itinerary, you can have enough time to go sightseeing, shopping, and have the opportunity to stay in some characteristic hot spring hotels.

If you have been to Tokyo many times, maybe you will not be satisfied with a purely arranged itinerary in Tokyo. Like me, you can use Tokyo as the starting point of your travel itinerary in Japan, and then set off to Hokkaido and Tohoku, a itinerary that focuses on skiing and winter experience. Or go to the Kansai region of Japan, such as Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and other regions, to enjoy cherry blossoms and red leaves. Then return to Tokyo for the last few days of your trip to shop and visit some of the Tokyo attractions you want to see.

Based on previous travel experience, Tokyo is actually a place that is suitable for visiting in different seasons, because you will always get some new experiences during each trip.

How does Tokyo Airport arrange traffic to the city?

How to arrange transportation from Tokyo airport to downtown? First of all, you have to know whether you will depart from Narita Airport or Haneda Airport.

Haneda Airport Transportation

If you are departing from Haneda Airport, transportation arrangements are very simple. You only need to take the Monorail from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho Station, and then transfer to the JR Yamanote Line to go to the main tourist attractions in Tokyo. Or take the Keikyu Airport Line from Haneda Airport to Shinagawa Station, and then transfer to the JR Yamanote Line, you can reach all tourist attractions in Tokyo in the same way.

Basically, there is not much difference between Monorail and Keikyu Airport Line, except that Monorail has more space for luggage, while Keikyu Airport Line has less space for luggage.

From Haneda Airport to downtown Tokyo, Monorail is a more comfortable choice.

Narita Airport Transportation

But if you are flying from Narita Airport, you need to consider which part of Tokyo your hotel accommodation is in.

If you book a hotel near Ueno Station, Asakusa Station, Akihabara Station, take from Tokyo Narita AirportSkyliner Keisei Electric RailwayYou can go directly to the hotel, reducing the time you need to drag your suitcase. If you have booked a hotel near Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station, it will be more convenient to take Narita Express from Tokyo Narita Airport.

In terms of ticket fees, Skyliner's one-way ticket costs about ¥2,500 yen, and Narita Express costs about ¥3,000 yen. However, I would recommend you to buy round-trip tickets for Skyliner and Narita Express, because it is much cheaper than simply buying a one-way ticket.

In addition, if you will go to Kawaguchiko, Nikko, and Karuizawa, buy a copyJR TOKYO WIDE PASSYou can take unlimited rides on Narita Express, Shinkansen trains, and all JR lines in Tokyo. It is a must-have discount ticket for a trip that plans to go sightseeing in the suburbs of Tokyo.

Recommended Tokyo Airport Transportation Package: Skyliner Keisei Electric Railway & Tokyo Metro Pass Ticket Set,JR TOKYO WIDE PASS

Tokyo Narita Airport Transportation Skyliner Route Map
Skyliner is most suitable for passengers who have booked hotels in the Ueno, Asakusa, and Akihabara areas. (Click to enlarge the picture)

How to choose between two Tokyo airports?

If you can choose between Haneda Airport and Narita Airport when booking a flight ticket, starting from Haneda Airport must be the best choice. Because it only takes about 30 minutes from Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station, but it takes more than 60 minutes from Narita Airport. In addition, the one-way standard fare from Narita Airport is more than twice that of Haneda Airport, so if there is no special reason, there is no need to consider Narita Airport.

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How to plan transportation in Tokyo?

For the general itinerary of sightseeing in Tokyo, JR railway and Tokyo Metro subway are the main means of transportation in Tokyo. Other buses, Toden Arakawa Line, Keio Electric Railway, Odakyu Electric Railway, Yurikamome Lily Seagull, etc. are all departing to specific scenic spots.

To put it simply, if your itinerary is concentrated in Tokyo, basically you only need to know the route map of JR Railway and Tokyo Metro before departure, and then use Tokyo's differentTravel APPs, you can easily find out the best way to travel from Ueno to Shinjuku.

In addition, if you travel a short distance in Tokyo, you can also consider taking a taxi. The first 1 kilometer is only about ¥500. If it is the distance from Shinjuku Station to Harajuku Station, it only costs about ¥1,500 yen. If you are traveling with multiple people, or if you need to drag a suitcase, it is better to take a taxi than JR Railway for a short trip. alternatives.

Recommended discounted transportation packages: Tokyo Metro One Day Unlimited Ride Ticket

A train that is often used when traveling in Tokyo. (Click to enlarge the picture)

What are the must-eat foods in Tokyo?

To be honest, there are really many types of food worth eating in Tokyo, so I would suggest that you prepare a food wish list before setting off for Tokyo.

For example, every time I go to Tokyo, I am used to eating sushi, ramen, and pork cutlet rice in Shinjuku, and then eat eel rice and taiyaki in Asakusa. If I have time, I will also go to Tsukiji Market to eat sushi once more, and then go to the barbecue restaurant and izakaya in Shimbashi for dinner.

In addition, rice balls and instant snacks from the Family Mart constipation store, or some fast food options such as Mos Burger, McDonald's, Matsuya beef bowl, station bento, etc., are all suitable meal choices when you need to catch up with the Shinkansen train.

For breakfast, I usually choose one of the two coffee shops, DOUTOR and PRONTO, or I go to Matsuya to eat beef rice for breakfast, which often happens.

There are also a lot of cheap sushi and bento in the supermarket in the basement of the department store. Some dishes that are sold in the restaurant for ¥1,500 can be bought in the supermarket for about ¥700.

So if you are planning to travel to Tokyo for the first time, you must be careful not to eat too much when faced with a large number of restaurant choices, so as not to be too fat to get on the plane.

What accommodation options are suitable for traveling in Tokyo?

How to choose a hotel that is most suitable for traveling in Tokyo? It depends on whether you want to stay in a high-end hotel, a business hotel, a cheap homestay, or some capsule hotels.

If you are coming to Tokyo to celebrate an important anniversary, you can choose some hotels near Chiyoda District and Nakashi District, that is, Ginza Station and Tokyo Station. such asFour Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi,Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, orHOSHINOYA TokyoThese are premium hotel options that offer top-notch service.

Under normal circumstances, the price of a double room in these hotels costs more than ¥100,000 per night, but it can guarantee you the most advanced accommodation experience and the best view in the room.

For business hotels, you can choose hotels in the two main areas of Ueno and Shinjuku. For example,Tokyu Stay Shinjuku,Asakusa Tobu Hotel,Hotel Wing International Hotel – Uemachi OkachimachiFor these, the average room rate per night is only around ¥10,000-¥15,000. This price is considered reasonable in Tokyo, and the room area is generally about 20 square meters, so there will be no problem in fully opening the suitcase.

If your accommodation pre-selection is very limited, some capsule hotels may be your best bet. For example in the Shibuya areaNadeshiko Shibuya,The Millennials Shibuya, are some capsule hotels where you can stay in a single room at a price of less than ¥5,000 per night. The point is that the facilities provided by these capsule hotels are similar to those of ordinary business hotels. If you don’t mind the need for shared bathrooms, you can actually consider these capsule hotels with cheaper prices.

What are the commonly used discount packages for traveling in Tokyo?

If you want to say that the most commonly used package ticket for traveling in Tokyo, it must be an IC card that is easy to buy at convenience stores by taking JR SUICA, and there is an unlimited number of rides on Tokyo Metro within 3 days72-hour Metro Pass. In addition, it provides unlimited and unlimited speed Internet access during the Tokyo travel itinerary.WiFi sharer, These are the package tickets that must be prepared every time you travel to Tokyo.

MoreoverJR TOKYO WIDE PASS,JR All Japan Rail Pass,Tokyo Disney Tickets, orShibuya Sky Observatory Admission Ticket,Tickets for Tokyo Skytree,Hakone 2-Day Tour PassAfter a while, I will see which areas I want to go to, and which family members or friends I will travel to Tokyo with, and then I will decide which ticket I need to buy.

The above packages can be bought on klook's website, and in many cases it will be cheaper than buying on-site. However, according to my experience, if you need to take care of your family, children, and girlfriend at the same time, if you can save the time of queuing up to buy tickets, even if there is no additional discount, it is very worthwhile.

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Tokyo Travel Q&A

I believe that after seeing this, you should be able to plan a Tokyo travel plan that is most suitable for you. You must prepare the information about attractions, tickets, and hotel accommodation before you leave.

However, in addition to the above points, there are some basic information about Tokyo travel that are worth paying attention to before departure, so that you can reduce time spent in unnecessary places during the travel itinerary.

Traveling in Tokyo on a budget?

Tokyo is a city that has it all, with everything from the most luxurious to the cheapest experiences. In the final analysis, it depends on what you want to eat, see, and buy, so it is impossible to plan a fixed travel budget.

However, according to the past years of Tokyo travel experience, if two people are in Tokyo together for a sightseeing itinerary that does not include shopping, the money will not be too much.

For example, based on the total consumption of the day, in terms of accommodation, the hotel room rate is about ¥10,000-¥15,000 per night, which is enough to live well. In terms of meals, if you arrange a budget of ¥10,000 a day, you can spend ¥1,000 on breakfast, ¥4,000 on lunch, and ¥5,000 on dinner, basically all roasted meat, sushi, ramen, and street food. There must be enough budget for snacks.

In terms of transportation, you can consider buying Tokyo Metro72-hour Metro Pass, the average daily price is only about ¥500 yen, and you can take unlimited rides. If you need to take JR trains at the same time, choose the Tokyo one-day pass issued by JR EAST. The fare is only about ¥1600 yen. , you can take all the railway transportation in Tokyo without any worries.

A simple summary calculation shows that the daily travel expenses for two people together are: accommodation ¥15,000 + meals ¥20,000 + transportation ¥2,000, a total of about ¥35,000. Of course, this number is just a rough calculation. If you choose to stay in some cheaper hotels and choose some cheaper restaurants, your daily travel budget can be further reduced.

How to pay when traveling in Tokyo?

To say that the biggest change in Tokyo in recent years must be that it is easier to accept payment methods other than cash. For example, IC cards are accepted in some chain restaurants SUICAInstead of cash payment, or more small shops appear to accept credit card, IC card SUICA instead of cash. In addition, general transportation can use the IC card SUICA to ride, basically only shrines, old-fashioned small individual shops still accept payment in cash.

To put it simply, cash is still necessary to carry when traveling in Tokyo, but the importance is much lower than before.

Ways to Withdraw Cash in Tokyo

There are two main places to withdraw cash in Tokyo: airports and convenience store ATMs. Since the ATMs of general banks do not accept bank cards issued overseas, you can only go to 7-Eleven ATMs to withdraw cash in Tokyo, and you need to pay a handling fee of about ¥250 each time.

How to call home and hotel in Tokyo

Since the mobile phone number in Tokyo is limited to the registration of Tokyo residents, travelers traveling to Tokyo from overseas can only use third-party mobile apps, such as Skype, to call the hotel or call home.

For general travelers, I recommend you to open a Skype account before leaving for Tokyo, because calls are not expensive, and you can call anyone as long as you are connected to the Internet. It completely solves the troubles of high charges for overseas communication and the need to spend time looking for telephone booths.

Further reading: Cheap Ways to Call Japan Using Skype

Voltage and outlets used in Tokyo

The voltage used in Tokyo is 110V 50Hz. If you don’t bring other electrical appliances to Japan, you basically don’t need to consider the voltage problem, because the original mobile phone socket can be used in Japan.

If you find that the socket of the charger you are carrying cannot be used in the hotel, you can go to Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, Nitori, convenience store, etc. to buy a charging socket. Or you can use a USB cable to quickly charge in some fast food restaurants and coffee shops, and then buy a suitable socket adapter and transformer for you.

Is it safe to travel in Tokyo?

Overall, Tokyo is safe and suitable for traveling alone or with a family. Basically, Tokyo people are very friendly to overseas tourists. Even if they don’t understand Japanese, as long as they are sightseeing in popular tourist areas, there will be no major communication problems.

But for you who are traveling to Tokyo for the first time, I would suggest that you avoid taking any railway during the busy period of 07:00-09:00 in the morning, unless you want to experience how crowded the "full tram" is. Forced unique environment. In addition, you should avoid staying in some alleys after 23:00 in the middle of the night, so as to reduce the chance of being harassed by unknown people.

In addition, be careful to avoid the soliciting behavior of some vicious izakaya, especially some izakaya that attract you to enter the store with low price and convenience, but will give you sky-high bills in the end. So if you don’t know much about restaurants in Tokyo, it’s safer to go to some chain restaurants or the catering department of a department store.

What's more, you don't need to worry too much when you lose something. You can ask the station staff, department store staff, and the police for help first. Under normal circumstances, no one will take your lost items, and the chances of recovering them at the police station are not low.

Summarize

Tokyo is a city that you can visit 100 times without getting bored, and it is also a place that cannot be clearly introduced in just one article. so inTokyo Travel InformationThere are more Tokyo attractions and Tokyo accommodation information here for your reference. I hope it will be helpful for your next Tokyo travel itinerary.

In addition, we all hope that you can bookmark and share this article, so that it can help more people who plan to travel to Tokyo, and at the same time, it can also give you constant reference to different Tokyo attractions and itinerary plans before departure, so that You have a Tokyo travel holiday with a difference!

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And our goal is to gather all practical itinerary information, discounted accommodation, and tickets, so that you can plan the entire Japan travel itinerary in the most convenient way.

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