During my two and a half week stay in Japan, I spent a little over a week in Tokyo, so I had time to see this city which is very different from one neighborhood to another! I will tell you what to do in Tokyo.
📋 Key points to remember: Tokyo is best explored neighborhood by neighborhood. My 5 must-see areas: Shibuya (legendary crossing), Shinjuku (nightlife, Golden Gai), Asakusa (Senso-ji temple, traditional atmosphere), Akihabara (electronics, manga), Harajuku/Omotesando (fashion, art). Plan for at least 5 days. Metro is very efficient, JR Pass useful if you travel to several Japanese cities.
Visiting the neighborhoods: What to do in Tokyo?
If you want to get around this city, I recommend checking out this article: http://www.conseil-voyageur.fr/asie/se-deplacer-au-japon-3654, where you will find advice on using public transportation in Japan.
What to do in Tokyo? : The different neighborhoods
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Asakusa: This is Tokyo’s traditional district, where you can find many temples and places to pray for good fortune. The Tokyo Tower is also located here. This is the area with the highest number of youth hostels, and also the cheapest. I specifically tried the Asakusa Smile and the Khaosan Road Hotel.
🗣️ My experience: The most striking moment of my first visit: getting off at Shibuya station at 6 p.m. on a Friday. Exiting the metro, seeing the Hachiko crossing filled with 3,000 people crossing in 90 seconds. Above, the giant screens, the music, the neon signs. It took me 5 minutes to regain my composure. Tokyo in all its visual power. A must-see.
- Ueno: Ueno is known for its park, which is one of the largest in Tokyo; you can take nice little walks in this park. There is also a zoo where you can see pandas, very interesting museums on Japanese culture (notably the Tokyo museum), and there are also Japanese exhibitions. You can also go boating on the lake, it’s very enjoyable!
- Shinjunku: This is a neighborhood where you can take the bus to Mount Fuji! It is also a place with many shopping centers; this district is also known for hosting some of its bars and nightclubs catering to gay clientele.
- Akihabara: This is Tokyo’s technology district or the geek district; you can find large stores for manga or video games. There are also many video game centers; the Japanese are quite fond of them! Special note also for stores that have an -18 section completely accessible to everyone. There is also an entire building for sex toys, accessories, and videos. It’s really a district to visit!
- Shibuya: This is a district where fashion takes a very important place, and it is also a district with many nightclubs! Shibuya is also known for housing the 109 building, which is a store only with shops for girls!
- Roppongi: This is the district of Gaijins and nightclubs. There are many nightclubs there, and it is the place with the most tourists (males). Many Japanese women go there to find a Gaijin (foreigner).
- Harajuku: This is a district known for being the cosplay district; you find many stores rather for lolita, dark, emo styles or normal stores! It’s also a district to visit for its shops different from Shibuya.
There are other districts in Tokyo that I have not visited, but these are the essential districts for tourism and for the approach to Tokyo.
🍀 Tokyo
- Unique mix of tradition + ultra-modernity
- Exceptional cuisine at any price
- Maximum safety, punctuality
- Ultra-efficient Metro/JR
🔻 Limits
- High cost of living
- Language barrier (little English)
- Sometimes exhausting density
- Small capsule hotels, little space
If you want to know the budget for Japan you can consult this article: http://www.conseil-voyageur.fr/info-asie/budget-cout-japon-2829
⚠️ Classic trap
Buying a JR Pass only for Tokyo. The national JR Pass (€270 for 7 days since 2023) is only worthwhile if you travel between several cities (Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima). For Tokyo alone, the Tokyo Metro Pass (24-72 h) or the rechargeable Suica card are more than enough.
There are also other places outside Tokyo on its outskirts, which I will talk about in more detail in another article.
How many days to visit Tokyo?
Do you need a JR Pass for Tokyo?
What budget for 5 days in Tokyo?
To extend the discovery of Japan, what to do in Kyoto covers the other traditional side of the country. The Japan budget details the costs to anticipate. And getting around Japan helps to decide between JR Pass and single tickets.
| District | Atmosphere | To see / do | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shibuya | Modern, young | Shibuya Crossing, Sky, Shibuya 109 | Half-day |
| Shinjuku | Nightlife | Golden Gai, Kabukicho, Omoide Yokocho | Evening |
| Asakusa | Traditional | Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Dori | Half-day |
| Akihabara | Geek, electronics | Maid cafés, arcade games, manga | Half-day |
| Harajuku | Fashion, youth | Takeshita Dori, Meiji-jingu Shrine | Half-day |
| Ginza | Luxury, gastronomy | High-end shops, sushi bars | Half-day |
| Odaiba | Futuristic, bay | TeamLab, Gundam statue, urban beach | Full day |
🌍 Did you know?
Tokyo is the most populous metropolitan area in the world with 37 million inhabitants (Greater Tokyo region). It is also the city with the most Michelin stars in the world (262 starred restaurants in 2024), ahead of Paris and New York.
