A First Timer’s Guide to Tokyo
For most first time travellers to Japan Tokyo will be on your list of places to visit during your trip, and rightly so! Tokyo is of course very famous, but even for those travellers wanting something off the beaten path and hidden gems, Tokyo still has plenty to offer. That’s why we have created this page to give all first timers to Tokyo an informative guide to provide you with all the know how, what to expect and our top recommendations on how to make your first Tokyo trip smooth and unforgettable! On this page you will find the following information :
— The Best Areas and Activities for Tokyo First Timers
— Times of Year to Visit Tokyo
— Packing Tips for First Timers
BEST AREAS AND ACTIVITIES FOR TOKYO FIRST TIMERS
Why should you choose Tokyo for your Japan Trip? It’s simple, Tokyo is one of the great cities in the world. It is an expansive metropolis that blends traditional old Tokyo with the pop culture of modern Tokyo. It offers something for everybody, and you will never run out of things to do. If you’re a family, couple or group of friends, you can easily choose activities and attractions to ensure everybody is happy. Tokyo is also home to a diverse range of neighbourhoods, each offering visitors its own unique atmosphere and attractions. To see a decent amount of Tokyo on your first trip, we recommend no less than 5 days in the capital. So let’s look at the best areas and activities for all Tokyo first timers that will give you a great 1 week introduction to the city’s culture, history and modern attractions!
Day 1 / Modern Tokyo – Shibuya / Half a Day
Shibuya is one of the most famous, and therefore busiest of Tokyo’s neighbourhoods. It is known for its youthful, vibrant atmosphere. Shibuya is known for its iconic ’Scramble Crossing’, statue of Hachikō, Harajuku, countless shops and fashion. If you want to experience the Tokyo you’ve seen in movies or on instagram, then Shibuya is a must for any first timer. However, not too far away from Harajuku is the tranquil and serene Meiji Jingue shrine which is an absolute must visit for first timers. If you’re going to visit some shrines and temples in Tokyo, make sure this is one of them. We recommend spending half a day exploring all Shibuya has to offer. Your Shibuya itinerary should include Shibuya Crossing, the Hachikō statue, Shibuya Sky, Miyashita Park, Harajuku, Meiji Jingu Shrine and plenty of shopping! If you want to experience Shibuya on your trip, join our ’Best of Both’ tour.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Shinjuku and Shibuya : The Best of Both | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 17:30 |
| Meeting Place | Inside Yotsuya-Sanchome Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
Day 1 / Modern Tokyo – Shinjuku / Half a Day
Known by locals as the entertainment district of Tokyo, Shinjuku has a long history with its nightlife, bars and restaurants. Shinjuku has an electric atmosphere, but is also tranquil in equal measure depending on where you want to explore. It offers a dynamic range of attractions to suit many people, and is perhaps geared more towards older people as oppose to Shinjuku’s more youthful culture. Surrounded by skyscrapers, a plethora of shops and department stores, and the bright lights of the games arcades and Kabukicho. Like Shibuya, visiting Shinjuku on your first trip to Tokyo will leave you with that quintessential ’Tokyo’ experience. We recommend spending half a day exploring Shinjuku. Your Shinjuku itinerary should include Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Shinjuku Historical Museum, Hanazono Shrine, Golden Gai, Kabukicho and the Godzilla statue! Join our ‘Best of Both’ tour or our ‘Hotspots and Hidden Gems’ tour to experience Shinjuku!
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Shinjuku and Kagurazaka : Tokyo Hot Spots and Hidden Gems | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 17:30 |
| Meeting Place | Inside Yotsuya Sanchome Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
Day 2 / Traditional Tokyo / 1 Day
For those wanting a great first introduction to Tokyo and a taste of its past, first time visitors should look no further than Asakusa. Famous for its historical and traditional atmosphere, it has some of the best temples and shrines in all of Tokyo, including the oldest temple in Tokyo, Senso-ji. Asakusa also has many narrow side streets giving you that old Tokyo vibe. These narrow streets are lined with amazing street food vendors and local crafts to pick up the perfect souvenir. Nakamise Dori is a great example of this. For those wanting to try wearing the traditional dress of Kimono or Yukata, Asakusa is one of the best places in Tokyo to do this! Make sure to also wander off the popular tourist path in Asakusa to find hidden shrines and temples, fantastic experiences such as Taiko Drum playing and nature walks along the Sumida River in the park. For some of the best panoramic views of Tokyo, Tokyo Skytree is a must and we highly recommend visiting in the evening to watch the sunset and see Tokyo lit up! Your itinerary should include Senso-ji Temple and Asakusa Shrine, Nakamise Dori, Asakusa Tourist Information Centre, Kappabashi ’Kitchen Town’, Hoppy Dori, Taikokan Drum Museum, Samurai and Ninja Museum, Sumida Park and Tokyo Skytree. Join our ‘1 Day Walking Tour in Asakusa’ for the chance to explore this amazing area!
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Asakusa : Traditional Tokyo, Culinary Delights and Nature | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30- 17:00 |
| Meeting Place | Outside the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Centre |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Day 3 / Culture and Art / 1 Day
Ueno is the laidback and cultural hub of Tokyo. Home to Ueno Park, you will find an array of historic shrines and temples, retro shopping and eateries, some of Japan’s largest and most impressive museums, Ueno Zoo and a beautiful lake. There is also a traditional flea market held in the park most weekends where you can buy beautiful crafts. In Spring, the park shines with beautiful blooming Cherry trees that you can enjoy. From Ueno, you can hop on the JR Yamanote line to nearby Akihabara for all things anime and pop culture! Here you can enjoy the bright lights and neon signs, character cafes, games arcades and shopping for anime goods. Your itinerary should include Ameyoko, Ueno Park, Ueno Toshogu Shrine, Ueno Zoo, and a museum of your choice such as Tokyo National Museum or the National Museum of Nature and Science, Akihabara’s electric town. Join our ‘Ueno and Yanaka’ tour to experience many of the attractions mentioned above.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Ueno and Yanaka : Culture, Art and Old Tokyo | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 17:00 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Ueno Station Park Gate Exit |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Day 4 / The Hidden Gem of Tokyo / Half a day to 1 Day
Just a stone’s throw away from Ueno is the nostaglic and charming area known as ‘Yanesen’ comprising of Yanaka, Sendagi and Nezu. Together, this trifecta of neighbourhoods will satisfy any first timer wanting to escape the crowds and get off the beaten path of Tokyo! Contrasting with the high rise buildings in other parts of Tokyo, the hidden gem of Yanesen is full of traditional, low level buildings full of craft shops, street food vendors and cafes. ‘Yanesen’ is also home to beautiful shrines and temples. For fans of Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, Nezu Shrine provides just as much beauty with its rows of red Torii gates. Nearby Sendagi has some great traditional shops, cafes and a small park. Yanaka is home to some amazing galleries and museums such as Asakura Museum of Scultpure. You can even enjoy a traditional tea ceremony in Yanaka at Gallery Okubo. If you’re looking for a trendy cafe, Miyano-yu in Nezu is an old traditional bath house that has been restored into a cool cafe! Here you can enjoy matcha or coffee. So challenge yourself as a first timer to explore a different side to Tokyo! We recommend spending anywhere between half a day to 1 day exploring here. Your ’Yanesen’ itinerary should include Yanaka Cemetry and Sakura Dori, Asakura Museum of Sculpture, Yanaka Ginza, Sendagi Sudo Park, Nezu Shrine, and Nezu’s Miyano-yu Cafe. Join our ‘Yanasen’ Old Tokyo tour to experience a true hidden gem of Tokyo.
1 Day Tour
| Walking Tour in Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi : Experience Tea Ceremony and ’Yanesen’ Old Tokyo | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 10.30 – 17:10 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Nippori Station WEST exit |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Day 5 / Shopping and Relaxation / 1 Day
For your final day in Tokyo, you should enjoy any last minute shopping, and the relaxing attractions and experiences it has to offer. Head to the famous Tsukiji Outer Market which opens from 6am for a breakfast like no other as you sample the culinary delights of the freshest sushi, seafood, Wagyu beef and fruits. From the market, you can take a short walk of ten minutes to one of Tokyo’s most historic and famous gardens Hamarikyu, to enjoy a walk amongst nature and a tea experience at their tea house. From there, walk 20 minutes to Zojo-ji temple to watch Buddhist Monks chanting and try your hand at Sutra copying. A very relaxing and traditional experience that you can do at the temple. Tokyo Tower is located right behind Zojo-ji temple, so we recommend visiting to take in more panoramic views of the city from the top of the retro tower. From Tokyo Tower, venture across to the lux and modern area of Roppongi. Here you can visit the Mori Building and go to the famous Teamlab Borderless exhibition. A relaxing and immersive digital art experience that is one of a kind! Roppongi also has some great luxury shopping and restaurants. Your itinerary should include Tsukiji Outer Market, Hamarikyu Gardens, Zojoji Temple, Tokyo Tower, TeamLab and shopping. Join our Tokyo Highlights tour to experience Tokyo Tower as well as many other great attractions Tokyo has to offer!
1 Day Tour
| Tokyo Highlights Tour : Sumo, Sushi, Tea, Temples and Tokyo Tower | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:15 – 16:30 |
| Meeting Place | Inside of Hamacho Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
BEST TOURS IN TOKYO
To make your Tokyo trip planning easy and smooth, we at SMR have done the hard work for you by crafting a great range of Tokyo based tours to choose from. Our tours cover a wide range of the areas mentioned above, with both the hot spots and some hidden gems in Tokyo included.
Tokyo is steeped in history. The city has faced many hardships from earthquakes, fires and the air raids of WW2, and unfortunately many of its oldest buildings and structures have disappeared over time. However, Tokyo does a fantastic job at celebrating and retaining much of its character and culture, with stunning renovations of temples and shrines, museums housing some of Japan’s finest artefacts, and pockets of neighbourhoods that have managed to preserve its original architecture despite the many challenges its faced. Pop culture lovers will rejoice at Japan’s modern aesthetic, with its bright lights and neon signs that make the city glow at night. There is so much to see and do in Tokyo. So checkout our ’Best Tours in Tokyo’ page which will give you information on the best tours in Tokyo as well as the best day trips from Tokyo throughout the Kanto region.
WHERE TO STAY IN TOKYO?
Not just the largest city in Japan but also the largest city in the world, Tokyo is a sprawling giant that must be experienced at least once. Knowing where to stay when visiting Tokyo can make a huge difference when it comes to getting around the city and ultimately, getting the most out of your time there. Our ‘Where To Stay In Tokyo?’ page breakdowns the best areas to stay including accommodation listings.
TIMES OF YEAR TO VISIT TOKYO
Spring / March to May
Weather : Mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to 20 degrees. The days are generally sunny, and the evenings can be cool. Layers are recommended.
Highlights of Spring include Cherry Blossom season, also known as Sakura. The blossom usually peak around late March, but recently the blossom has been blooming a lot later in mid to late April. It attracts some of the largest crowds to Tokyo. You can enjoy many Spring festivals where ’Hanami’ or flower viewing parties take place as you eat street food and wear Yukata. Check out our ’Cherry Blossom’ page for more information on where you can see blossom in Tokyo.
Summer / June to early September
Weather : It is incredibly hot and humid in the summer in Tokyo and across Japan. Temperatures range from 25 degrees up to 35 degrees, and with the humidity levels it can feel much hotter. From mid June to mid July, it is the rainy season or ’Tsuyu’ here. This is when Tokyo receives its highest amount of rainfall. July and August are the hottest months. The sun in Japan is very strong, so if you are coming to Japan during the summer please ensure to take precautions to stay hydrated and safe. Wear SPF, hats, and protective clothing. You can buy UV umbrellas here and products to help keep your body cool.
Highlights of Summer include the Summer Festivals. There will be many festivals that you can go to across Tokyo during your trip! Some of Tokyo’s biggest festivals are held in the Summer like the Sumida Fireworks Festival. You can wear Yukata, watch beautiful fireworks and eat lots of delicious festival foods.
Autumn / Mid September to November
Weather : After the hot and humid summer, Autumn is mild and comfortable. Temperatures range from 15 degrees to 25 degrees. The days are generally sunny, and the humidity drops off making it one of the most pleasant times to visit. Layers are essential to keep comfortable throughout the day.
Highlights of Autumn include the Autumn leaves known as ’Koyo’. You can see a lot of beautiful Autumn leaves across Tokyo and Japan. Check out our ’Autumn Leaves’ page for more information. Autumn is also the time of the popular flavours of sweet potato and chestnut. You can try many delicious foods and sweets with these flavours in the Autumn.
Winter / December to February
Weather : The winter in Tokyo can get quite cold, but snow is rarely seen. Temperatures range from 2 degrees to 12 degrees. The days feel crisp and the air is much fresher with little humidity. Tokyo actually experiences quite dry winters. There is a lot of sunshine, and the mornings and nights are chilly.
Highlights of Winter include the many illuminations dotted throughout the city. These impressive light displays are for both winter, Christmas and New Year. They can be enjoyed throughout most of winter. They give Tokyo a cosy and magical atmosphere, with some of the best being in Marunouchi, Roppongi and the Tokyo Skytree.
BUDGET FOR TOKYO
For many, figuring out how much to budget for a trip to Tokyo can be confusing! You have to factor in your hotels, transport, activities, eating and drinking, and any shopping you might want to do. Everybody has a different budget, so please take this as a guide only and adjust to suit your preferences.
Hotels vary widely in cost, especially as Japan has such a large spectrum of hotels available. For lower level budgets you can expect to pay between ¥5,000 to ¥8,000 per night for anything from hostels, capsule hotels and budget hotels. Mid range budget can expect to pay between ¥10,000 – ¥20,000 per night for 3-4 star hotels and ryokans. High end budgets can expect to pay anywhere from ¥25,000 and up for luxury hotels and high end ryokans.
For transportation, Tokyo has some of the best in the world. It’s clean and almost always on time to the minute! Tokyo is a very walkable city in parts, so expect to do plenty on your trip. However, you will also need to rely on public transport or even taxis from time to time. We highly recommend picking up a Suica or Pasmo card at either of Tokyo’s airports when you first arrive. You can top them up as needed using cash at the machines found at every station. Per day, depending on how far and how much you’re using the train, you could be spending between ¥1,500 to ¥3,000 each day. For taxis in Tokyo, you can expect to pay anywhere between ¥3,000 to ¥5,000 + depending on much how you’re using them alongside walking and the train.
Food is Japan is world famous, and food in Tokyo is excellent. There is a wide range of food to suit all budgets for first time visitors to the city. Depending on the type of experience you want, you can eat extremely cheaply for your week here, or seek out the many high end and Michelin star restaurants dotted throughout the city. For lower budgets, you can expect to pay between ¥2,000 to ¥4,000 per day if you’re eating at Convenience Stores, budget chain restaurants, ramen shops and street food. For mid range budgets, expect to pay between ¥5,000 to ¥8,000 per day if you’re eating at more mid-range restaurants, nice cafes and Izakayas. For high end budgets, expect to pay ¥15,000+ to enjoy fine dining experiences and luxury sushi.
As you can read from above, Tokyo offers a huge selection of activities to enjoy! As a result, prices vary widely. We recommend searching in advance what attractions you want to visit, and work your activity budget out from there. For those on a lower budget, expect to pay between ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 per day for standard attractions such as gardens and parks, some shrines and temples, and museums. For mid range budgets expect to pay ¥4,000 to ¥10,000 per day for popular attractions, experiences and theme parks. For high end budgets, expect to pay ¥10,000+ per day for more high end or private experiences. If you want to join tours, please also factor that into your budget. Our Tokyo tours include all activity costs as part of the set price, as well as being with an experienced local guide.
PACKING TIPS FOR TOKYO
Packing for any trip can be stressful, especially when it is your first time travelling to the country. To help you and make your packing process less stressful, here are some basic packing tips to help you!
— Essentials! Of course, your passport is a must! However, also remember any travel insurance information, printed tickets if necessary, credit cards and cash. Tokyo is still very much a cash based society, and many smaller and less modern establishments still only take cash. So make sure you have plenty for the duration of your trip.
— Consider the seasons! Think about what season you’re travelling in. Will it be the heat and humidity of the summer, or the fresh and crisp air of the Autumn. Make sure to pack plenty of layers so that you can easily cool down or warm up. Tokyo’s rainy season is usually around June and July, so make sure to pack a light waterproof or just buy an umbrella there when you arrive! If you forget anything, Uniqlo offers high quality and affordable basics to help you feel warm or cool.
— Comfortable Shoes! You will be doing a lot of walking! So don’t leave home without packing your most comfortable pair of boots, trainers or sandals.
— Toiletries and Personal Care! Japan has a wide selection of skincare, body and makeup products to buy here! However, it is still important to pack anything you need before your trip. Deodorant here in Japan is not as widely available or as strong as Western options, so we recommend bringing your own. We also recommend packing Sunscreen as the sun in Japan is extremely strong. For makeup, the shade ranges are unfortunately not very diverse here, so please make sure to bring your own makeup for comfort. You can bring any prescription medication with you alongside your usual paperwork to confirm it.
— Electronics! Please remember that Japan has different power outlets to the UK, Europe and American. You will need to stock up on Type A and B outlet adaptors to use your electronics. It is worth noting that nearly all hotels will provide you with hair dryers and even pyjamas! So you don’t have to worry about packing those items. You will need access to the internet and your device a lot while you’re in Tokyo, so make sure to also pack a portable charger, and either a portable wi-fi device or SIM card. You can rent or buy these items at the airport. In readiness for your trip, we recommend downloading the ’Klook’ app for buying transport and attractions tickets, and ‘JapanTravel’ to search for your travel routes across Tokyo!
HOW TO GET TO TOKYO
As Japan’s sprawling capital, Tokyo is the start and end point of numerous train lines and express bus services making it easy to reach from all over the country. Our ‘How to Get to Tokyo’ page includes detailed information about just how to get there from popular starting points including Tokyo Narita Airport and Tokyo Haneda Airport. Why not also check out our ’Comparing Tokyo Haneda Airport and Tokyo Narita Airport’ page for more useful information for planning your trip.
