Tokyo
Japan, Asia
Where 400-year-old temples sit next to robot restaurants and vending machines sell everything.
Japan's capital, where neon-lit districts, quiet shrines, and some of the world's best food sit side by side. Each neighbourhood has its own character, from the crowds of Shibuya to the old-town calm of Asakusa.
Our honest take
Tokyo is sensory overload in the best way. Don't try to 'see everything', pick 2-3 neighbourhoods per day and wander. The best experiences are unplanned: a tiny ramen counter, a shrine hidden between skyscrapers, a jazz bar in a basement.
Why go
- Food quality at every price point is unmatched globally
- The contrast between ancient and ultramodern never gets old
- Safest major city in the world, you can walk anywhere at 3am
Skip if you can
- Robot Restaurant, closed permanently, but copycat shows are tourist traps
- Shibuya Sky at peak times, queue 90min for a view; go to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (free)
- Tsukiji outer market for sushi, it's now a tourist mall; go to Toyosu or local spots
Things to do
Where locals eat
Wheat noodles in pork bone (tonkotsu), soy, or miso broth, every shop has its own style
Fuunji in Shinjuku for tsukemen (dipping noodles), or Nakiryu in Otsuka for a Michelin-starred bowl
Chef's choice at a 10-seat counter, the real Tokyo sushi experience, not conveyor belt
Sushi Dai or Daiwa at Toyosu outer market (5am queue), or any sushiya in Ginza side streets for lunch sets
Skewered chicken parts grilled over charcoal, heart, skin, thigh, cartilage, all of it
Under the train tracks at Yurakucho (smoky alley bars), or Toriki in Roppongi for quality without pretension
Thin-sliced beef simmered in sweet soy over rice, a 500-yen meal that's genuinely good
Yoshinoya or Matsuya (chains, but honest fast food, open 24h, solo counters)
Costs
Per person, per day on the ground, lodging, food, local transport and activities. Excludes international flights (see Getting there).
Train day pass: ¥600-1600. Ramen: ¥800-1200. Sushi omakase: ¥5000-30000.
Getting there
Where to stay
Transport hub, nightlife, good base for day trips
Young, trendy, great food, central
Traditional, near Senso-ji, budget-friendly
Luxury shopping, high-end dining, upscale hotels
Good to know
- Extremely safe, lost wallets are returned with cash intact
- Cash is still king in many small restaurants
- Tattoos may bar entry to onsen (hot springs)
- Quiet on trains, no phone calls, speak softly
Prices, visa rules, and transport details may change. Always verify with official sources before booking. Last updated: July 2026.