🇯🇵 Japan

10 best places in Tokyo

Tokyo is a city where imperial gardens and Shinto shrines sit alongside the neon streets of Shibuya and the world's busiest subway network. Precision and total sensory overload coexist here - and both are equally Tokyo.

Sight

Imperial Palace

The Japanese emperor's residence behind the moats of old Edo Castle, ringed by a park popular for walks and runs.

Sight

Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple in Asakusa, reached via the Nakamise shopping street of souvenirs and street food.

Sight

Meiji Jingu Shrine

A Shinto shrine at the city's centre, surrounded by a man-made forest of 100,000 trees.

Museum

Mori Art Museum (Roppongi Hills)

A contemporary art museum on the 53rd floor, with a panoramic observation deck over all of Tokyo.

Park

Shinjuku Gyoen

A sprawling park combining Japanese, French, and English gardens - the city's best spot for spring hanami.

Market

Toyosu Market

Successor to the famed Tsukiji fish market, where morning tuna auctions play out in front of visitors.

District

Shibuya

Home to the famous scramble crossing and a maze of shops, bars, and karaoke that never really sleeps.

Café

Fuglen Tokyo

A Norwegian-Japanese café in Shibuya-Tomigaya that became a symbol of Tokyo's third-wave coffee scene.

Restaurant

Sukiyabashi Jiro

The legendary ten-seat sushi counter made famous by a documentary and decades of flawless reputation.

District

Golden Gai

A Shinjuku maze of tiny bars, many barely large enough to seat a handful of people at once.

FAQ

Best time to visit Tokyo?

Late March to April for cherry blossoms and October to November for clear, mild weather are the two sweet spots. Summer is hot and very humid, June is the rainy season, and September falls inside typhoon season. Winter is cold but dry and sunny, with almost no snow.

How many days do you need in Tokyo?

Plan four to five days for a first visit, since the city is huge and moving between districts eats up time. A full week lets you add a day trip to Nikko, Kamakura or Mount Fuji. Under three days you will only skim Asakusa, Shinjuku and Shibuya.

Is Tokyo expensive?

Tokyo has not been the world's priciest capital for years: everyday meals and train fares are reasonable, and rent is the big variable, driven by how close you are to the Yamanote loop. Imported groceries, fruit and taxis are where the money goes. Your real budget also swings with the yen, so check current prices before you book.

Can you move to Japan?

The usual routes are a sponsored work visa, the points-based highly skilled professional track, study, or a business manager visa. Permanent residency normally takes years of continuous stay, and Japanese citizenship does not allow keeping your old passport. Without Japanese, job options and daily life narrow a lot, and immigration rules get revised from time to time.