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Top things to do in Tokyo

Attractions, tours and activities in Tokyo

Recommended museums in Tokyo

Where to discover culture and the arts in Tokyo

Tokyo: the city's best neighbourhoods

Find a great area to stay in Tokyo

About Tokyo

Including tips for the best time to visit Tokyo

Japan's capital is home to over 13 million people and a variety of diverse districts, making it one of the world's most intriguing megacities. Its blend of old-world charm and new-age innovations means it has something for everyone.

To soak up Tokyo's traditions and culture, there's no better place to start than the ancient temples of Asakusa, the Meiji Shrine (in Harajuku) and Chiyoda's Imperial Palace. Tsukiji Market is a sight to behold for its vast amount of seafood with close to 2,000 tonnes being traded daily. It's also a great place to enjoy a sushi breakfast, while meat, fruit, vegetables and flowers are also for sale.

The city is home to some stellar museums like Tokyo's National Museum, which houses a large collection of Japanese art, as well as samurai swords and colourful kimonos. Film lovers will appreciate the Ghibli Museum, showcasing the work of world-renowned animator Miyazaki Hayao. Pieces includes original sketches, a rooftop garden and life-size recreations of film sets.

To take in the best views over the city, take a trip up the Tokyo Skytree – one of the tallest structures in the world. The observation deck offers a 360-degree view, while other floors offer a restaurant and shopping mall. If you've got time to do more, catch a sumo wrestling show in Ryōgoku, or visit Tokyo Disneyland, which features a huge selection of rides and attractions.

Tokyo is served primarily by Narita Airport, located 70 kilometres north-east of the city. The quickest way to travel between there and the city is by taking the Skyliner electric railway, with journeys taking less than 45 minutes. Some international flights operate from Haneda Airport but most flights are domestic.

Tonight

From £271 per night

This weekend

From £570 per night

Next weekend

From £220 per night

Most popular time to visit October–December
Cheapest time to visit January–March
Local currency ¥1,000 = £5.23
Language Japanese
Average weekend price £108 per night
Average weekday price £105 per night
Typical stay 2 nights

Points of interest in Tokyo

Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Tokyo

Tokyo reviews

What other travellers say about Tokyo

8.0

Everything was great except the tour operator for the...

28 March 2024

Everything was great except the tour operator for the 'Full-Day Private Tour to Discover The Best of Tokyo' was a dismal let-down. They cancelled the tour without even notifying us. We were waiting in vain for the pick-up to show. When called, they said they need to check & will call back. Then they sent a message to say they had a vehicle damaged the previous night & had to cancel. As a tour operator surely they have contingency plans to rent a car then to let the customer suffer waiting without being notified. A totally unreliable operator! Our whole day spoiled by this unprofessional conduct.

Tshung
Tshung Canada
10

We loved the cleanliness and friendly polite Japanese people.

28 March 2024

We loved the cleanliness and friendly polite Japanese people. The restaurant and even the street food vendors served excellent food. Subway travel overall was so efficient. We really enjoyed free observation floor at TM. Sky tower was so fun for our whole group.

Eric
Eric United States
10

You could spend a lifetime here.

27 March 2024

You could spend a lifetime here. Any and every interest you have probably has a community or businesses dedicated to it, and that is aside the chance of discovering new and old cultural and local experiences

Luis
Luis United States
10

Japan is a great holiday destination!

27 March 2024

Japan is a great holiday destination! It's very easy to get around using the Metro or JR lines but this can be a little bit confusing because several different companies operate different lines around Japan, not just the two afore mentioned. Don't worry. You'll work it out. The railway staff are very helpful. Just keep some cash on hand in case you have to fork out for unexpected expenses when changing lines. Toilets... wow! Every toilet I visited in Japan was very clean. Impressive! There are signs to tell everyone to disinfect the toilet seat and there are dispensers to make this possible! The toilets are so high tech it was a learning curve trying to operate them sometimes but this in itself was a welcome experience! Shinjuku and Shibuya are really fun places to visit. Get ready to go shopping, get ready to eat. Lots to see! Need years to visit everywhere just in these two locations! Some things in Japan are super cheap too... If you like a drink... alcohol is super cheap in Japan! Drinks are more expensive in restaurants but not unreasonably priced. If you got to 7-Eleven... beer, wine and spirits are very reasonably priced. You can't go wrong there! Tobacco is also quite reasonably priced if that's your thing. Finally, the people in Japan, although quite reserved, are very friendly, polite and helpful. There were several occasions in our travels with two kids and several heavy suit cases where people travelling on the metro stopped to help us carry our luggage up the many stair cases in the metro without hesitation. This really made me see the true nature of Japanese people and made our experience on the whole, the best experience we could have asked for. From my experience, Japanese people are very kind, helpful and respectful. Overall, I wish I had months in Japan instead of weeks! I'll be coming back again and again...!

Anonymous Australia
10

Tokyo is a must visit city, it is very busy but the people...

27 March 2024

Tokyo is a must visit city, it is very busy but the people are friendly and the trains are easy to navigate and always on time. If you have dietary requirements you would need to research where to eat. The food is delicious and plentiful. Some experiences need to be booked in advance, such as Go-karting and The sky view.

Jodi
Jodi Australia
8.0

Tokyo was good and nice place to visit.

27 March 2024

Tokyo was good and nice place to visit. As for personal security, I think the city was relatively save for foreigners to walk around. The department stores and supermarkets were among the best I have seen.

Ronnie
Ronnie Malaysia

Popular places to stay in Tokyo

Stay in some of the best accommodation Tokyo has to offer

Other attractions and activities in Tokyo

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