Tokyo is a massive metropolis (in every sense of the word) – it’s the city with the largest population in the world, in parts a concrete and neon jungle, in others you’ll find tiny shrines and quiet backstreets flanked by high-rise apartments.

It has 23 wards, each with its distinct culture and atmosphere. You may have heard of names like Chuo, Shinjuku, Shibuya or Taito, each with their own neighborhoods. It’s the kind of city where you could spend weeks on end and not see everything on your list.

I scored a return trip from London via Copenhagen to Tokyo for under £450, and I spent 5 full days traversing the city. Read on for my tips on how to make the most of your time (and where to get the best ramen) in town. 

A quick note on the links in this guide: we’re not affiliated with any of the external sites included in this guide, so we’re not getting any kick-backs or commission. We’ve only included resources we think will genuinely be useful to help you decide if this destination is for you.

Getting there

Tokyo is a major transport hub, so it’s usually easy to find flights from around the world. 

Japan has 2 major airlines that fly from Europe and North America to Tokyo: Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). Both offer non-stop flights from large hubs like London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Stockholm, New York, LA, San Francisco, Vancouver, Chicago, Boston and Dallas. ZipAir Tokyo is a budget option for non-stop flights from the West Coast of the US. 

Most flagship airlines offer non-stop flights to Tokyo as well, like British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, SAS, Air Canada, Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines. However, the cheapest way to get there is usually to take connecting flights, especially via China.

Here’s a handy JFC guide on what to expect when booking your flight to Tokyo:

From Europe:

• Expected average price range: €470s-€670s
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 15+
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: €300 rtn 

From the UK:

• Expected average price range: £350s-£530s
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 20+
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: £338 rtn

From the USA:

• Expected average price range: $570s-$890s
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 20+
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: $257 rtn

From Canada:

• Expected average price range: $770s-$1200s
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 15+
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: $678 rtn

By train

If you’ve arrived in another city in Japan, you’ll likely catch the Shinkansen (bullet train) and/or JR Rail (the national rail service) to Tokyo. 

Shinkansen tickets are typically pricey, but they make up for that with exceptional service and speed – you’ll be able to get from Osaka/Kyoto to Tokyo in less than 3 hours. As of 2025, ticket prices are around: 

• 14,920 JPY from Osaka (approx. $100/£75)
• 18,380 JPY from Hiroshima (approx. $125/£95)
• 11,500 JPY from Nagoya (approx. $80/£60)
• 13,320 JPY from Kyoto (approx. $90/£70)

You can buy Shinkansen tickets from major stations in these big cities (via machine or ticket counter), or you can pre-book online via the official website. 

JR Rail pass

You may be wondering whether it’s worth buying a JR Rail pass (which would give you unlimited travel for a certain number of days), or buy your tickets as you go. Unless you’re planning on travelling constantly on Shinkansen trains throughout your trip, it’ll likely be cheaper to skip the pass and just book your tickets individually. You can check your individual itinerary here.

Visas

Depending on which passport you hold, you may need a visa to enter Japan.

At the time of writing (June 2025), travelers from the UK, most of Europe, the USA, and Canada will be granted a 90-day visitor visa on entry, so you don’t need to apply before your trip. 

All visitors need to fill out a customs declaration before they arrive — you can do this on the plane with a paper form, or you can organize it beforehand via Japan Web and present your QR code on arrival. 

The rules for each country are updated regularly, so it’s important to check your own government guidelines before traveling.

Cash & Currency

The currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY), with $1 USD being equivalent to around 145 JPY. This is about the price it’ll cost you to buy a bottle of water or a pastry at the convenience store. 

Your accommodation costs will depend on where you want to stay. Dormitory/hostel beds start at 2500-6000 JPY/night, while a standard hotel room costs 10,000–20,000 JPY/night. Ryokans are traditional Japanese rooms, with tatami mats, paper doors and dinner/breakfast included, and you can book these (usually outside big cities) for around 20,000–30,000 JPY/night. 

Japan is very much still a cash-based country, particularly for touristy stuff like souvenirs, street snacks, and temple charms. Some restaurants will also be cash-only, even in big cities like Tokyo or Osaka. 

The majority of hotels, restaurants, and shops will accept card payments though, either with your bank or credit cards. In a particular Japanese quirk, the public transport IC card you’ll be buying to travel on the metro, the bus or the train can also be used at convenience stores and some restaurants. The most popular IC cards are Suica and Iwoca.

Seasonality

Japanese culture is in tune with the changing seasons, with thousands of festivals and celebrations that line up with the calendar. 

Depending on where you head in Japan, the intensity of the cold/heat will differ – in Hokkaido you’ll get much cooler summers and frozen winters, versus Okinawa, where the opposite is true. But for central cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, the weather will be similar enough. 

Spring — March–May

Temperature: 5–28 C/41–82 F

The biggest celebration of spring is when the cherry blossoms bloom in March–April, and it’s also a popular time to visit the country. The maps published each year that predict when the blossoms will peak across the country are a handy tool for planning your cherry blossom tour. 

During these times, you should expect crowds of Sakura spotters everywhere, and locals will be out taking part in hanami, or picnics under the cherry blossom trees. There will also be lots of Sakura-flavored snacks and treats on offer. 

Summer — June–August

Temperature: 18–35 C/64–95 F

One word: humid. If you visit during these months, the humidity will be above 70%. That means it’s worth packing light layers, as well as sunscreen and a hat. 

People often travel for summer festivals in cities like Aomori, Sendai, Kochi and Shiranui. But within Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, you’ll hear the sound of taiko drums, and shrines will be decorated with lanterns and finery. 

Fall — September–November

Temperature: 10–20 C/50–68 F

This time of year is becoming almost as popular as cherry blossom season, with autumn foliage painting the country red. It’s also cheaper in general to visit Japan post-summer, which makes it a really nice option if you’re looking for discounts on accommodation or flights. 

Unsurprisingly, you’ve also got plenty of festivals to celebrate the change in season. At the shrines of Kyoto, there are light shows going into the evening during this time, against a backdrop of autumn leaves. 

Winter — December–February

Temperature: 4–15 C/39–59 F

I visited in February 2025, so I have a particular fondness for this time of year! The majority of my days there were sunny, but I still needed my scarf and a winter coat. We had one day of snow in Kyoto, which was a nice treat, too. It was decent sightseeing weather, but we did have to wrap up at times.

Our trip also coincided with the plum blossom festival in Kyoto — they’re less well-known than cherry blossoms, but equally beautiful. Unfortunately, not many trees had bloomed by the time the festival rolled around on the 25th February, but it was still enjoyable to go to the shrine and have plum tea and dango.

Travel Style

Japan is, on the whole, extremely easy to navigate. You’ll find the society there is very orderly (more than back home, at least!), so you can almost guarantee your train will be on time, the streets will be clean, and you’ll find signs to get you where you want to go. 

Japanese people have, in general, a very welcoming and hospitable approach to foreigners. It’s not uncommon for everyone, from the staff in your hotel to a random stranger on the street, to 'go the extra mile' and be willing to help you, even if they’re not confident speaking English. 

These things combined make it simple to get around big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto without knowing one word of Japanese. Even if you need to order in a restaurant without an English menu, you can point to the pictures of the food you want. Of course, at least a few words of Japanese are appreciated, like: 

• Konnichiwa — Hello
• Arigato gozaimasu — Thank you very much (formal, used for everyone you don’t know)
• Ohayō gozaimasu — Good morning
• Konbanwa — Good evening
• Itadakimasu — Thank you for the meal (said before eating)
• Sumimasen — Excuse me (useful to get the attention of waitstaff)

Outside of this, Google Translate (or another translation app which has image-to-text translation) will be your best friend. Almost everything is written down in Japan, with plenty of signs, menus, instructions and so on. You just need to know where to look, and when to whip out your phone to find that hidden ramen restaurant. 

Pickpockets (or, not)

You may know (or have read stories about) someone who has misplaced their valuables while travelling in Japan, only to be reunited with their phone, passport, or wallet down the line. This may lead you to believe that the country is some sort of anti-pickpocket Utopia, where something lost will always find its way back to its rightful owner, and petty theft is the last thing you need to worry about. 

It’s true that Japan is, in general, an extremely safe country to visit on the whole — not only is violent crime uncommon, but even muggings and theft are nowhere near as prevalent as in Europe. But, this doesn’t mean it can’t happen to you during your visit. 

There are some areas of large cities, like Kabukicho or Roppongi in Tokyo, or Nishinari in Osaka, where there is a higher risk of pickpocketing and general antisocial behavior. So, keep your wits about you regardless. 

LGBTQI+ travelers are unlikely to receive any harassment or discrimination from locals — you will find a higher proportion of LGBTQI+ friendly bars, clubs, and businesses in places like Shinjuku/Ni-chome and Nakano in Tokyo, but you won’t find these types of businesses outside big cities. 

Many LGBTQI+ travelers visit Japan without any problem, but activities that are both specifically aimed at LGBTQI+ people and welcoming of foreigners can be limited and hard to find. World Nomads has a great guide on visiting as an LGBTQI+ traveler, with specific bar recommendations and sauna etiquette. 

Japan is a conservative country and, regardless of your orientation, physical or sexual touch is seen as something to be kept private, so it’s worth keeping this in mind. 

POC travelers do stand out in Japan, given that it’s a largely homogenous society. That being said, foreigners and expats are now extremely common in the big cities, so you’re unlikely to experience any discrimination or harassment. Here’s a first-hand account of a Black woman’s experience travelling in Japan. 

If you’re a solo female traveler, Japan is likely going to feel much safer than some Western countries, due to the absence of violent and petty crime in society. City streets are very well lit, and there are always many people around, no matter when you’re out and about. 

There have been some reports of sexist and misogynistic behavior against women, but these tend to be targeted towards residents rather than foreigners. This article talks about what to watch out for if you do decide to travel to Japan alone.

Getting around

Tokyo has one of the most extensive public transport systems you might encounter anywhere in the world — no surprise when it has to move millions of people a day. 

As with all public transport in Japan, there are certain customs which are seen as normal on the metro but may seem strict in comparison to what you experience at home: 

• No talking loudly/playing music on the train, and keep your phone on silent
• There are no rubbish bins in the station (or on the streets), so take your rubbish with you back to the hotel 
• No eating/drinking on the train (unless you’re on the Shinkansen)
• Women-only cars are active during peak hours 
• Wait in an orderly line on the platform when waiting for the train (you’ll likely see arrows on the ground) 
• Keep your bag in your lap, and be aware of your surroundings

Metro and suburban trains

The crowning feature (and the one you’ll likely use most often) is the metro. It’s extensive, with 142 stations spread across the metropolitan area. The most popular stations include: 

• Ginza (Ginza Line, Hibiya Line, Marunouchi Line)
• Asakusa (Asakua Line, Ginza Line)
• Ueno (Ginza Line, Hibiya Line)
• Shibuya (Ginza Line, Fukutoshin Line, Hanzomon Line)
• Shinjuku (Shinjuku Line, Marunouchi Line, Oedo Line)

It’s quick, clean, efficient (the norm in Japan) and runs throughout the day from 5am until around midnight. It’s also fairly cheap, with a ride typically costing between 180 and 324 JPY, depending on the distance. You can buy tickets from ticket machines at each station (in denominations from 180 JPY to 330 JPY), or use your preloaded IC card. You can put money on your IC card directly in your phone’s wallet (if you have the e-version of the card, which is exclusive to Apple phones), or via the ticket machine with cash (or debit/credit card). 

Using Google Maps is your best bet for navigating the metro, as it has extremely easy-to-understand way finding features. It’ll tell you which exit you’ll need to take, which carriage you should travel in, and which color line you’re transiting on. 

To get to places like the Ghibli Museum or Disneyland, you’ll need to jump on a suburban train instead. Functionally, there isn’t any difference between this and the metro in terms of your tickets (IC card works across both) or the way you navigate it. The only difference is that you’ll have to catch these trains from major stations, like Tokyo Station, and the platforms are usually above ground, instead of underground like the metro platforms.

Buses

Similarly to the metro, the Tokyo bus network is extensive. To use the bus, you find the bus stop and stand in an orderly line behind those who arrived before you. In busy areas, there will be lines on the pavement to direct you.

Once the bus arrives, you jump on through the back door. If you’re paying with cash, you’ll need to take a ticket from the box near the door; otherwise you’re fine to just sit down. The normal rules apply here — if the bus is too busy, offer your seat to those around you who may need it more than you. If you’re standing, hold on to the handrail. 

When you reach your stop, press the button and get your payment ready — you’ll pay when you leave the bus (via the front door). You can pay with your IC card by tapping it as you leave (via the front door), or with change. Keep in mind, the driver can’t break notes over 1000 JPY. 

Food

A lot of what we now know as ‘Japanese’ food originated in Tokyo. That, alongside the fact it’s Japan’s biggest city, means you’ll be absolutely spoiled for choice for every single Japanese dish you want to try. 

Here are a few that are known to be particularly good in Tokyo: 

• Curry: served with rice or udon
• Monjayaki: pan-fried batter topped with cabbage, seafood (similar to okonomiyaki) 
• Edomae sushi: the ‘typical’ sushi you’re probably familiar with, with raw seafood on rice
• Gyu-katsu: deep-fried beef cutlet (usually wagyu beef)

Tokyo also has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, covering not just Japanese cuisine, but also French, Chinese, Spanish and Indian. As with everywhere in Japan, Tabelog is where you should go for restaurant reviews and reservations. Any restaurant above a 3.5 rating should guarantee you a really good meal (these ratings are stricter in Japan than in other countries). 

Street food

It’s worth noting that ‘street food’ in Japan isn’t quite the same as in other countries, as it’s considered rude to eat and walk. Because of this, you’re more likely to find shopfronts with proper seating, or casual pub-style spots called izakayas.

Memory Lane in Shinjuku is a place that comes highly recommended by travelers for its atmosphere and yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) shops. Otherwise, Nakamise Street in Asauka, Tsukiji Outer Market and the Takeshita Street in Harajuku have some street food stalls.

If you're looking for a little more than traditional foods like takoyaki (octopus balls), taiyaki (fish-shaped pancakes filled with red bean), and sweet sticky rice sticks called dango across the board, Harajuku is where you’ll find the latest viral food crazes as seen on social media. 

If you do buy food from a shop with no seating, it’s either expected you’ll take it away to eat later, or you’ll eat it standing directly in front of the store you bought it from. 

Convenience store food

There's no shortage of convenience stores in the country (7-11, Lawson, and Family Mart are the big three). You'd struggle to find a single street in a major metropolitan area that doesn't have one of these stores on it. Because of this, the food available here has become ubiquitous with a trip to Japan. It's almost a type of pilgrimage, where visitors scope out their favorite foods. 

As well as the sheer number of stores, the quality of the food is impressive. You can find the usual snacks and drinks you'd expect anywhere in the world, alongside a surprising variety of baked pastries, hot food and take away meals. I'd recommend trying onigiri, katsu/egg sandwiches, and the melon pan from any of these stores. 

Useful links

• Google Translate App 
• Welcome Suica card (here’s how to get it on your phone) 
• Tabelog - used for restaurant recommendations and booking