Tokyo travel guide

Places to visit in Tokyo

The atmospheric grounds of the once formidable Imperial Palace ­compound offer unhurried exploration in the heart of Tokyo. On the other side of Tokyo Station from the palace is the elegant shopping nexus of Ginza, an area of fine museums and glitzy ­shopping malls, restaurants, cafés and boutiques.

Tokyo’s international nightlife centres on Roppongi to the southwest of Ginza, an area infamous for its pick-up bars and strip joints. These days, however, the area’s carnal pleasures face competition from the upscale Roppongi Hills enclave of offices, luxury housing, upmarket shops, restaurants and museums. Down the hill, nearby Asakusa is as busy with office workers by day as it is with restaurant- and bar-goers by night and is home to the famous Buddhist temple of Senso-ji and the enormous new skyscraper, the Tokyo Skytree.

See our blog post on the opening of the Tokyo Skytree...

Further west is the epicentre of Japanese youth culture, Shibuya – a bustling labyrinth of fashion, entertainment, communications and commerce. Omotesando, Tokyo’s most fashionable shopping avenue, runs east-west through the district, many of its boutiques  housed in striking modern buildings designed by the world’s top architects.

To the north is Shinjuku, a microcosm of all that is Tokyo: soaring high-rises, massive malls, tiny shops, classy boutiques and a maze of entertainment venues. The area is home to the imposing Tokyo City Hall and the elegant New National Theatre. The area is a fertile ground for shopping, dining, people-watching and simply taking in all that is contemporary Japan. There is also a beautiful traditional garden, the extensive Shinjuku Gyoen.

Heading north from Tokyo Station brings you to Ueno. Occupying a bluff, Ueno Park contains the largest concentration of museums in Japan, easily taking a full day. The park is famous for its cherry blossom in April.

Developments along Tokyo Bay continue to expand as landfills add new dimensions to Tokyo’s urban compression for over 400 years. A highlight here is Tsukiji Fish Market.

Places to visit outside of Tokyo

Tokyo’s concrete can seem unending but, thanks to an efficient rail system, nearby getaways offer easily accessible escapes. Depending on your fancy, choose from rambunctious Tokyo Disneyland, old-world Kawagoe, the laid-back port town Yokohama, Zen-like Kamakura, ­majestic Mt Fuji and temple-crammed Nikko. All of these – not to mention broad Pacific beaches and soaring peaks – are within two hours’ reach of downtown. It should be remembered, however, that getting out of the city can be challenging – especially at weekends, when it seems as if all of Tokyo has the same idea.

See our Tokyo highlights...