Neon nights, quiet shrines and superb food.
Tokyo is a huge but orderly city of distinct neighbourhoods, from neon Shinjuku to old-style Asakusa. It is famous for its food, spotless trains, shrines and pop culture. It suits food lovers, families and first-time visitors to Japan.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
Japan's highest mountain, best seen from the Fuji Five Lakes or Hakone. Climbing season is July to early September.
Check the official site for current prices.
A 634 meter broadcast tower with two observation decks. Views can reach Fuji on clear days.
Adult ticket price for the main decks.
Tokyo's oldest temple, reached through the Kaminarimon gate and Nakamise shopping street. Busy and atmospheric.
2026 general access is free; optional purchases and separately charged activities are extra.
The famous scramble crossing where crowds surge from all sides. Shibuya Sky gives a bird's-eye view.
The Shibuya Sky deck is paid.
A forest shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji, next to Harajuku. Tall torii gates lead through the trees.
Free entry.
The red and white 1958 tower inspired by the Eiffel Tower. It glows at night.
Check the official site for current prices.
A large garden mixing Japanese, English and French styles. A top cherry blossom spot.
Small admission fee.
Stalls and small restaurants selling seafood, snacks and kitchen tools. The wholesale market moved to Toyosu.
2026 general access is free; optional purchases and separately charged activities are extra.
The emperor's residence, surrounded by moats and gardens. The East Gardens are open to visitors.
2026 general access is free; optional purchases and separately charged activities are extra.
The electronics and anime district, packed with arcades and themed cafes. It is the best place in Tokyo for retro games, figures and maid cafes.
2026 general access is free; optional purchases and separately charged activities are extra.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one Asakusa, Skytree and Tsukiji, day two Meiji Shrine and Shibuya, day three the palace, Shinjuku Gyoen and Akihabara.
Ornate shrines and waterfalls in the mountains.
87 mi · Tobu train, about 2 hours
The Great Buddha and seaside temples.
31 mi · JR train, about 1 hour
Chinatown and a bay waterfront.
19 mi · Train, about 30 minutes
Hot springs and mountain views.
56 mi · Odakyu Romancecar, about 1h30
Iconic lakeside views of Mount Fuji, the Chureito Pagoda, and ropeway cable cars.
68 mi · Direct Fuji Excursion express train from Shinjuku Station in 1 hour and 55 minutes.
Best: March to May and October to November. Cherry blossom in spring and clear, mild autumn days.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
No season note for this month.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
Late March to early April
Picnics under the blossom in parks like Ueno.
Last Saturday of July
One of the city's biggest summer fireworks shows.
Third weekend of May
A lively festival around Senso-ji in Asakusa.
January 1 to 3
Shrine visits and many businesses close.
Spring, usually March to April; flowering dates vary
Use the official forecast for the travel year rather than assuming fixed festival dates.
Mid-May (odd years)
One of Tokyo's major Shinto festivals, featuring parades of two hundred mikoshi portable shrines through central streets.
Last Saturday of July
Historic fireworks competition launched from barges on the Sumida River, drawing nearly a million spectators in yukata.
The US State Department rates Japan Level 1, exercise normal precautions; Tokyo has very low crime, though it is worth knowing earthquake basics.
Neighbourhoods are pleasant to walk, but the city is so large that trains link most visits.
Dense, punctual JR and metro lines go everywhere; tap a Suica or Pasmo card or phone.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers, nightlife
Huge transit hub with bars and restaurants.
Best for: nightlife, shopping
Lively streets and easy airport links.
Best for: luxury, couples
Upscale shopping near Tokyo Station.
Best for: budget, families
Old-town feel near Senso-ji.
Best for: luxury seekers, shinkansen travellers
Upscale shopping and easy rail access.
Best for: museum fans, budget travellers
Parks, museums and Narita access.
| Main airport | Haneda (HND), 9 mi from the center |
| To the center | The Keikyu line reaches Shinagawa in about 11 to 14 minutes and the monorail Hamamatsucho in about 13 minutes (2026); Narita is about an hour by Skyliner or Narita Express. |
| Around town | Use trains and walk. Taxis are clean but expensive; GO is the main taxi app. |
| Ride apps | GO, Uber |
Try a counter sushi bar or a conveyor belt place.
Many styles, from shoyu to tonkotsu.
Light battered seafood and vegetables.
A runny griddle pancake, a Tokyo specialty.
Savoury griddle snacks.
Surprisingly good convenience store food.
Buckwheat noodles served hot or cold.
Fresh nigiri sushi crafted with seasoned vinegared rice and marinated, cured, or fresh raw fish from Toyosu Market.
Springy wheat noodles served in rich pork bone broth or clear soy-dashi broth, topped with sliced chashu pork and a soft-boiled egg.
Skewered chicken cuts grilled over binchotan white charcoal embers, seasoned with coarse sea salt (shio) or sweet soy glaze (tare).
| Plugs | Type A and B, 100 V |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Tipping | Tipping is not part of the culture and can cause confusion. |
| Payments | Cards are increasingly common, but carry cash for small restaurants and shrines. |
| Etiquette | Keep quiet on trains, do not eat while walking in busy areas, and remove shoes where asked. |
Tokyo was a fishing village called Edo until the Tokugawa shoguns made it their seat in 1603. It was renamed Tokyo when the emperor moved there in 1868. Rebuilt after the 1923 earthquake and Second World War bombing, it became one of the largest cities on earth.
Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.