Tokyo is such a big city that it is literally broken up into multiple other mini-cities that are the size of most big cities in any other modern country. There are 23 mini-cities within Tokyo. I will not be covering all 23 here. You could spend 2 weeks in Tokyo and barely scratch the service of the main 4 or 5. So in this section I’ll provide a map of the city and a brief explanation of what is in each mini-city. Below you’ll see links to each individual mini-city. I will include places to eat and drink in each of those separate pages.
The main parts of Tokyo, that you will want to spend by far the most time in as a first time visitor, are as follows:
Shinjuku Station is the biggest and busiest train station on Earth. This is the heart of Tokyo and an excellent place to call home base. You will find must-see tourist attractions like Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane), Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Golden Gai, New York Bar at Park Hyatt (The bar from Lost in Translation), the Kabuki Red Light District, and some of the city’s best restaurants.
Shibuya is nearly as bustling as Shinjuku. Here you’ll find Shibuya Scramble Crossing (the busiest pedestrian crossing on Earth), Meiji Jingu, the Shibuya Sky Observatory, Yoyogi Park, Harajuku, Takeshita Street, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Shibuya Center-Gai, and like everywhere else in this fabulous city, some of the best restaurants and bars you’ll find anywhere on Earth.
In Chiyoda, you will find the remnants of Old Edo Japan in the form of the Imperial Palace and the Yasukuni and Kanda Shrines as well as Akihabara, the cities central hub for “nerd culture.” Make sure to check out old-school neighborhood, Yurakucho.
Minato City is Tokyo’s major business district. There is not as much to do here and this is a spot that sees less tourism than the busier districts listed above. However, the area around Ropoongi Station is a bustling scene where businessmen flock after work for incredible local cuisine, many bars and an innumerable amount of places to walk up, sit outside and enjoy some food. You’ll also find the famous Tokyo Tower here.
Taito is home to Asakusa which houses additional blasts from Japan’s imperial past. Here you’ll find such tourist attractions as Senso-ji, Nakamise-dori Street, the Asakusa Shrine, Ueno Park, Hozomon Gate and the Tokyo Skytree.
If you click on each of the links above you will find specific Information for each of those parts of the city.
Where to Stay in Tokyo
We opted to stay right by Shinjuku Station at the Keio Plaza Hotel and could not have been happier with the decision. The hotel was extremely nice with great service, comfortable beds and fantastic bathroom amenities. But, the real star was the location. The hotel’s proximity to Shinjuku Station made getting around Tokyo extremely easy as you will take the train system to pretty much everywhere you go. It is also within walking distance of many of Tokyo’s best areas for tourists.
Whether or not you stay at the Keio Plaza Hotel, I would suggest that you stay near a major train stop in either Shinjuku or Shibuya as clear 1a/1b as far as priority over the rest of the city, with Chiyoda a distant 3rd. Everywhere in Tokyo is extremely safe and stunningly clean, so don’t even worry about the fact that you might end up in a seedy part of town. They really don’t exist in Japan. The one area I’d avoid, though, is the city’s red-light district, Kibuki. It’s not terribly seedy, but you’d still probably want to avoid staying there.
How to Get Around Tokyo
The best thing to do is to use Apple or Google Maps, type in your desired location and select public transportation. The resultant route will tell you exactly where to go to catch your desired train, when it will arrive and it will even tell you where on the platform to stand so you get into a train that is the most convenient for your eventual exit.
You will hear a lot about the JR Pass. DO NOT BUY A JR PASS! It is not worth it. The JR Pass only works on Japan Rail lines. These are the lines provided by the government. There are many train lines that are privately operated and you will not be able to use your JR Pass on these, and it’ll be a constant hassle to try and figure out which lines you can or cannot use. Further, the entire process is incredibly cumbersome and confusing. You have to order the pass before you arrive. Then the pass must be mailed to you, outside of Japan, as this pass is only for tourists. If you forget or lose the pass you are completely screwed. Then you have to get to Japan and exchange the pass they sent you for another pass. Then prior to each boarding you must go to a JR kiosk and reserve a seat with your pass which costs extra money. If you buy a first class JR Pass, be prepared for there to never be any first class seats available. It’s just a hassle and a waste of money as it barely provides a discount.
Instead, download the Suica App on your phone. This app can be used on ALL train lines and even many convenience stores, buses and other places that take credit and debit cards. Essentially, it operates like a debit card. You upload money onto the app and then you use it by scanning as you enter the train line and then when you exit the train line. It calculates your fare automatically and deducts it from your card. You never have to buy a ticket unless you are reserving a seat for a high speed train between cities.
For all travel between cities, you will also use rail. DO NOT RENT A CAR! Just take the amazing trains that leave throughout the day, always have tons of open seats and travel across the country at 200 mph (320kph). Renting cars and taxis are fairly expensive and Japans rail system is so easy, effective and efficient that there’s no reason to do anything else.
Other Things to do in Tokyo
TeamLab
Otherworldly art installations that make for the best instagram photos on the planet.
Sumo Wrestling
If you are in town during one of the competitions (Sumo wrestlers have massive competitions every other month), you should try to buy tickets to one of the rounds as this is one of the best things you can do in Tokyo. If you’re not in town on one of those months and still want to see Sumo, you’re still in luck. You can buy tickets to watch the Sumo wrestlers train, up close in their dojo. For this experience you will need a guide to get you in and the best in the business are the people at Otonami.
The Cruise Club Tokyo
For all types of cruises, lunch cruises, afternoon tea cruises, sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises and night-time party cruises, you can book whatever it is you are looking for with The Cruise Club Tokyo
Check Out Otonami Wabunka
This website caters to private, high-end, unique and authentic experiences. Check out their website for incredible offerings all throughout Japan.
