Senso-ji
Tokyo's oldest temple, in Asakusa, entered through the huge red Kaminarimon gate and a lane of snack and souvenir stalls. Incense smoke and worshippers give it a lively, traditional atmosphere.
Tokyo
A huge food scene, theme parks and shopping are found in the capital of Japan, along with temples, gardens and neon districts.
Attractive locations
Meiji Jingu
Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, set in a forest of planted trees beside Harajuku. Gravel paths and large wooden torii gates make a calm break from the city.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Famous intersection where pedestrians cross in every direction at once whenever the lights change, surrounded by giant screens and shops. Nearby buildings and cafes give a view of the whole scene.
Tokyo Skytree
Very tall broadcasting tower in Sumida with observation decks looking across the Kanto plain. The base holds a large shopping and dining complex, an aquarium and a planetarium.
Tokyo Tower
Red-and-white steel tower in Minato ward, inspired by the Eiffel Tower. Its observation decks look over central Tokyo, and the tower is lit up after dark.
Tokyo National Museum
Museum in Ueno Park with a wide collection of Japanese art and antiquities, including samurai swords, ceramics, kimono and Buddhist sculpture.
Ueno Park
Large public park with museums, a zoo, temples and a pond covered in lotus leaves in summer. In spring, its avenues of cherry trees draw big crowds for picnics.
Shinjuku Gyoen
Spacious garden near Shinjuku Station mixing Japanese, English and French landscape styles, with ponds, a greenhouse and many cherry trees. A quiet place to rest after busy streets.
Tokyo Imperial Palace
Home of the Emperor, set among moats and stone walls on the site of old Edo Castle. Visitors usually walk the outer grounds and East Gardens, as the inner residence is closed to the public.
Ghibli Museum
Museum in Mitaka dedicated to the animated films of Studio Ghibli, with exhibition rooms, a short-film cinema and a rooftop garden. Photography indoors is not allowed, and visits need advance planning.
Odaiba
Man-made island in Tokyo Bay with shopping centres, museums, a beach park and views of the Rainbow Bridge and the skyline. Evenings are especially popular for the lights.
Tokyo Disneyland
Theme park east of the city, based on classic Disney stories, with rides, parades and a castle at its centre.
Airports
Tokyo Haneda International Airport HND
It is about 18 km in a straight line from Tokyo.
Narita International Airport NRT
It is about 64 km in a straight line from Tokyo.
Ibaraki Airport IBR
It is about 85 km in a straight line from Tokyo.
Getting around
From Narita Airport
By rail from Narita there is the Keisei Skyliner, which runs to Nippori and Keisei Ueno and takes about 45 minutes to Ueno, and JR East's Narita Express, which serves Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku and takes about 60 minutes to Tokyo Station. Limousine buses go to Tokyo City Air Terminal and other stops. Fixed-fare taxis for Tokyo zones depart from the numbered taxi stands at each terminal; ask the driver about the fixed fare before setting off, and expect expressway tolls on top.
- Source: GO TOKYO (Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau): Narita Airport (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Narita International Airport: Rail access (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Narita International Airport: Taxi (checked 4 Nov 2026)
From Haneda Airport
The Keikyu Line and the Tokyo Monorail both connect directly to Haneda Airport. Leaving Terminal 3, Keikyu's fastest trains get to Shinagawa in about 11 minutes and the monorail to Hamamatsucho in about 13 minutes, and both stations link with JR's Yamanote Line. Limousine buses also go into the city. Ordinary taxi stands are in the first-floor arrival lobby of each terminal; taxis called by app or booked ahead use separate reserved-taxi stands.
- Source: Haneda Airport: Train and monorail (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: GO TOKYO (Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau): Haneda Airport (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Haneda Airport: Taxi (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Trains and subways
Tokyo's trains are run by several companies. The JR lines are operated by JR East, while the subway is split between Tokyo Metro, with nine lines, and Toei, with four, one being the Oedo Line that loops around the centre. Because the two subway operators are separate companies, a single-journey ticket for one is not valid on the other. Signs in several languages appear in stations and on trains. Rush hours in the morning and evening are the most crowded, and some lines run women-only cars then.
- Source: GO TOKYO (Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau): Transportation in Tokyo (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: GO TOKYO (Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau): Subways (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Government of Canada travel advice: Japan (checked 4 Nov 2026)
IC cards and passes
Suica and PASMO are prepaid IC cards; touch the card to the reader at the gate or on the bus and the fare comes off the balance. A Welcome Suica can be set up by short-term visitors in its mobile app, either before or after arrival. The Tokyo Subway Ticket is valid on every Tokyo Metro and Toei line for 24, 48 or 72 hours. Many lines also take a contactless credit card tapped at the gate, though JR lines, the Keisei Line and the Tokyo Monorail do not.
- Source: GO TOKYO (Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau): Cheap tickets and IC cards (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Scams and safe taxis
Taking a taxi in Tokyo
Tokyo taxis use the meter, and licensed ones have green number plates. A window sign reading 空車 shows that a cab is free, and many now display this in English too. The regional transport bureau asks visitors to use official taxi stands and not to accept rides from drivers who approach them. Since drivers may not speak English, have your destination written down in Japanese.
- Source: GO TOKYO (Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau): Taxis (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Kanto District Transport Bureau: white-plate taxis and hire-car touting (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Japan National Tourism Organization: A guide to chartered taxis in Japan (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Nightlife touts and bar bills
Kabukicho, Roppongi, Shibuya and Ikebukuro are the areas Tokyo police have named as higher risk for drink spiking and card fraud, UK advice says, and most British victims reported Kabukicho in Shinjuku. Touts approach visitors in English offering free drinks or a quick look inside, and some visitors have ended up in disputes over very large bills. Do not follow touts, ask to see a price list before going in, confirm any entry charge and keep your drink with you.
- Source: UK FCDO travel advice: Japan, safety and security (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Government of Canada travel advice: Japan (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan4.7 °C80 mm
- Feb5.6 °C75 mm
- Mar8.8 °C124 mm
- Apr13.5 °C135 mm
- May18.2 °C148 mm
- Jun21.8 °C185 mm
- Jul25.5 °C153 mm
- Aug26.9 °C134 mm
- Sep23.6 °C211 mm
- Oct18.1 °C246 mm
- Nov12.7 °C120 mm
- Dec7.3 °C83 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Sep, Oct.
Costs
Prices here are about 65% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
sport
Grand Sumo tournament (Tokyo)
Held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, the tournament lasts 15 days and recurs in May and September.
sport
Tokyo Marathon
Central Tokyo's hotels fill up for this race, one of six World Marathon Majors.
festival
Cherry blossom season
Early planning is sensible, since this is among the country's largest annual events, with hotels filling up and prices rising.
culture
Golden Week holidays
Hotels, flights and trains fill up during Japan's busiest holiday week.
sport
Grand Sumo tournament (Tokyo)
Sumo is held for 15 days in the Ryogoku Kokugikan.
sport
Grand Sumo tournament (Tokyo)
Ryogoku Kokugikan is the venue for a 15-day sumo tournament.
sport
Grand Sumo tournament (Tokyo)
Held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, the tournament lasts 15 days and recurs in May and September.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 110. Fire and ambulance 119.
local government
Japan Visitor Hotline (Japan National Tourism Organization)
Helps with: Hotline run by Japan's national tourism organization. It gives support in emergencies such as accidents, illness and natural disasters, plus general tourist information, in English, Chinese and Korean, 24 hours a day.
Who qualifies: Visitors to Japan, calling from inside Japan or from overseas.
Phone: +81-50-3816-2787
local government
Police emergency number 110
Helps with: Japan's police emergency number, for reporting a crime or an accident. For less urgent matters, visitors can also go to a neighbourhood police box (koban).
Who qualifies: Anyone in Japan who needs the police urgently.
Phone: 110
local government
Ambulance and fire emergency number 119 (Fire and Disaster Management Agency)
Helps with: Call 119 for an ambulance or a fire. First say whether it is a fire or a medical emergency, then give your location; a nearby building or intersection helps if you lack the address.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Japan; the ambulance service is available to everyone.
Phone: 119
ngo
Japanese Red Cross Society
Helps with: Japan's national Red Cross society. In disasters it sends medical relief teams, sets up aid stations, gives psychological care in evacuation centres and hands out relief supplies such as blankets.
Who qualifies: People in Japan affected by disasters, through its relief work.
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Japan
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Japan it supports migrants through work against human trafficking and help with voluntary return home and reintegration.
Who qualifies: Migrants in Japan, including people affected by human trafficking. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: 03 (3595) 2487
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in Japan (JNTO list)
Helps with: For a lost passport, an emergency or a natural disaster, contact your own country's embassy. This Japan National Tourism Organization page gives addresses and phones, but only for some countries.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each listed country, through their own embassy or consulate.
local government
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department General Advisory Center
Helps with: Police advice line for non-emergencies, in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean: trouble nearby, malicious business practices, stalking or domestic violence. For emergencies dial 110 instead.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Tokyo with a police matter that is not an emergency.
Phone: 03-3501-0110
local government
Tokyo Tourist Information Center (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building)
Helps with: Run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Gives information on sightseeing, routes, transport and places to stay in Tokyo and elsewhere in Japan, in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Tokyo. Email replies cover sightseeing questions only and may take several days.
Email: [email protected]
Address: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Main Building No.1, 1F, 2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo