Tokyo (東京, Tōkyō) is Japan’s capital and the world’s most populous metropolis. It is also one of Japan’s 47 prefectures, consisting of 23 central city wards and multiple cities, towns and villages west of the city center. The Izu and Ogasawara Islands are also part of Tokyo.
Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known as Edo. A small castle town in the 16th century, Edo became Japan’s political center in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world’s most populous cities. With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the emperor and capital moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo (“Eastern Capital”). Large parts of Tokyo were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and in the air raids of 1945.
Today, Tokyo offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining to its visitors. The city’s history can be appreciated in districts such as Asakusa and in many excellent museums, historic temples and gardens. Contrary to common perception, Tokyo also offers a number of attractive green spaces in the city center and within relatively short train rides at its outskirts.
Tokyo Itineraries
Make the most of your time in Tokyo with my carefully planned itineraries for trips from 1 to 5 days. Or use one of my special interest Tokyo itineraries. And don’t miss my Tokyo-Kyoto combination itineraries.
Tokyo Itineraries – 1 to 5 Days
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1-Day Tokyo Itinerary
Even one day is enough to get a taste of this incredible world city. In this itinerary, I’ll show you how to make the very best of a short stay in Tokyo.
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Must See 1-Day Tokyo Itinerary
So you only have one day in Tokyo? This must-see 1-day Tokyo itinerary allows you to get a taste of the city and see the real highlights without tiring yourself out.
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2-Day Tokyo Itinerary
Two days is enough to see both sides of Tokyo: the traditional and the modern. This itinerary is the perfect way to make the most of two days in this incredible city.
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3-Day Tokyo Itinerary
Three days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Tokyo. My three-day Tokyo itinerary is the best way to get the most out of your time in this incredible city.
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4-Day Tokyo Itinerary
Four days in Tokyo gives you enough time to see the city and make one day trip out of the city. My four-day Tokyo itinerary is the best way to make use of four days in this incredible city.
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5-Day Tokyo Itinerary
Five days in Tokyo allows for an awesome experience of the city and time for a daytrip out of the city. My five-day Tokyo itinerary is the best way to make use of five days in this incredible city.
Best Tokyo Restaurants
Here is my list of the best accessible restaurants in Tokyo divided by type of cuisine. I’ve checked them all personally I can assure you that they’re excellent and also comfortable with foreign guests.
Here, I’ve chosen the best accessible restaurants in Tokyo. They’re all located in areas you’re likely to visit (ie, the main urban hubs). Sure, there are better restaurants in Tokyo, but they’re not accessible (ie, they’re inconveniently located, crushingly expensive or difficult for “foreigners to enter”). The restaurants listed here are places you can actually go to and enjoy, most without any reservations.
For information about Tokyo specialties, restaurant costs and where to find the best restaurants, see my What and Where to Eat in Tokyo page. There are also plenty of great vegetarian restaurants and vegan restaurants in Tokyo too.
If you want an even more adventurous eating experience where you mingle with Tokyo locals, see our selection of places to eat on the Eat Like A Local In Tokyo page.
Best Tokyo Restaurants
Here, I’ve chosen the best accessible restaurants in Tokyo. They’re all located in areas you’re likely to visit (ie, the main urban hubs). Sure, there are better restaurants in Tokyo, but they’re not accessible (ie, they’re inconveniently located, crushingly expensive or difficult for “foreigners to enter”). The restaurants listed here are places you can actually go to and enjoy, most without any reservations.
For information about Tokyo specialties, restaurant costs and where to find the best restaurants, see my What and Where to Eat in Tokyo page. There are also plenty of great vegetarian restaurants and vegan restaurants in Tokyo too.
If you want an even more adventurous eating experience where you mingle with Tokyo locals, see our selection of places to eat on the Eat Like A Local In Tokyo page.
Mandarin OrientalLuxury
Ryokan KamogawaLuxury Ryokan
Hotel RyumeikanMid
Best Restaurants in Tokyo by Type of Cuisine
Best Tokyo Sushi Restaurants
- Ginza Aoki (Ginza)
Ginza has no shortage of amazing sushi restaurants. Sushi Aoki, a 1-star Michelin restaurant is a tiny restaurant down a quiet lane in Ginza that’s a great place to begin your sushi journey. - Ginza Sushiko Honten (Ginza)
Ginza Sushiko Honten has 1 Michelin star and the honor of being one of the oldest sushi places in Tokyo. Naturally, it has the sushi chops to match these accolades. - Ginza Kyubey (Ginza)
Sushi empire Kyubey is one of Tokyo’s most famous high-end sushi restaurants. At the Ginza branch, you’ll get quality sushi without the rigid atmosphere of tiny counter seaters. - Janoshin (Imperial Palace District)
Looking for a no-fuss neighborhood sushi joint that’s also good value for money? The quiet and unassuming Janoshin in Kojimachi might be right up your alley. - Namazu Uogashi (Tokyo Station Area)
Though Numazu Uogashizushi doesn’t look like much, this nondescript-looking restaurant in Tokyo Station’s Kitchen Street offers sushi sets that are great value for money. - Umegaoka Sushi-no-Midori (Akasaka)
Umegaoka Sushi-no-Midori is a mid-range sushi chain that’s a favorite with travelers for their reasonable prices. If you’re in Akasaka and need an affordable place for sushi, this is a good place to have on your list.
Things To Do In Tokyo
Trying to decide what to do in Tokyo is enough to cause a serious case of information overload. To help you choose, we’ve created this high-level guide so you can make the most of your time in the city.
Tokyo is loaded with fantastic attractions ranging from ultra-traditional to hypermodern. On this page, we list the main things to do in each category and we link out to our pages where you can get all the details. We keep it simple and brief so hopefully we won’t add to your information overload!
Things To Do In Tokyo List:
Check out a Traditional Buddhist Temple or Shinto Shrine
Start your time in Tokyo by going back to basics: the spiritual roots of the Japanese people. Check out our guide to Tokyo’s Best Shrines and Temples.
Tour a World-Class Museum
Tokyo has a collection of fantastic museums covering all aspects of Japanese culture, art and history. Get a good sampling with our Tokyo 1-Day Art Lover’s Itinerary. And, for cutting edge digital art, check out Teamlab Borderless.
Stroll Through a Japanese Garden
Hidden around the city are some fantastic pockets of green. Check them out with our Tokyo Nature and Garden Lover’s Itinerary.
Eat Some of the Best Food of Your Life
Tokyo has more Michelin stars than any other city on earth. With a little effort you can eat some of the best meals of your life. Check out our Tokyo Restaurants page. And, if you’re adventurous and want something really authentic, check out our Eat Like a Local section.
Enter the World of Miyazaki at the Ghibli Musuem
If you or your kids love the magical films of Hayao Miyazaki, then you should make the trip out to the wonderful Ghibli Museum.
Spend a Day at Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea
You might be surprised to discover that Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea are only about 25 minutes from Tokyo Station by easy train. Check out our Tokyo Disneyland guide and our Tokyo DisneySea guide.
Shop for the Perfect Gift or Souvenir
Tokyo is the best shopping city on earth, full stop. Whether it’s Japanese or imported, you’ll find it here. Check out our Tokyo Shopping guide.
Escape the Tourists in a Hip Local District
Tokyo is crawling with tourists. If you’ve had enough, head to a place more popular with the locals like Shimokitazawa (Tokyo’s Brooklyn) or Jimbocho (the bookstore district).
Check Out the View from the Tokyo Skytree
If you need a bit of perspective on it all, take the elevators up the Tokyo Skytree for some truly eye-popping views. Check out our Tokyo Skytree guide.
Take a Daytrip or Overnight Trip Out of the City
Within easy distance of Tokyo you’ll find attractions like Mt Fuji, Nikko, Kamakura, and Kyoto (that’s right: you can even do it as a day trip). Check out our Best Day Trips from Tokyo guide.
Take a Deep Dive into Japanese Pop Culture
If you love anime, robots, kawaii things and whatever else is popular in Japan right now, you’ll love Tokyo. Why not grab a seat at Shinjuku’s Robot Restaurant? Or, how about a snack at the Kawaii Monster Café in Harajuku? And, if you love Hello Kitty (you know who you are), then you can’t miss Sanrio Puroland.
Check out a Baseball Game
Baseball in Japan is just like baseball back home, except it’s totally different. Check out a game to see what we mean. It’s easy to get tickets – just read our Baseball in Tokyo guide.
See a Sumo Match
You can’t come all the way to Japan and not see sumo. If a match is on while you’re in town, you gotta see it. Check our How to Buy Tickets for a Tokyo Sumo Match.
Keep the Kids Happy
We know what it’s like to travel with kids. We give you all the information you need to keep everyone happy. Just check out our Tokyo 1-Day Itinerary with Children.
Suggested Itineraries
If you need some ideas about how to put it all together, check out our Tokyo Itineraries page. And, if you need some help planning your trip, we’d be happy to help you plan things with travelomama and Japan Travel Consulting.
