East Asia · Japan
Tokyo travel guide
Updated August 2026 · 5-day itinerary included
Give Tokyo 5 days: Asakusa's Senso-ji at dawn, Shibuya Crossing and Shinjuku's neon nights, Tsukiji's outer-market breakfast, teamLab Planets, and day trips to Hakone or Nikko. Budget ¥15,000–25,000/day. Get a Suica card on arrival — you'll ride trains 5–10 times daily.
Right now in Tokyo
Live data · updated 2026-08-251 EUR ≈ 185.63 JPY · local currency
- Respect for the Aged DayMon, Sep 21
- Autumnal Equinox DayWed, Sep 23
- Sports DayMon, Oct 12
Expect crowds + higher prices around these dates.
Golden hour: last hour before sunset
PM2.5: 26.2 µg/m³
Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Bef…
Sources: Open-Meteo · open.er-api.com · Nager.Date · GOV.UK Foreign Travel Advice · Open-Meteo Air Quality · Open-Meteo · Passport Index (open dataset, MIT). Checked at build time — verify critical details before booking.
Do you need a visa for Japan?
By passport — checked 2026-08-25 against the Passport Index open dataset (199 passports). Always confirm with the official embassy before booking.
| Passport | Requirement | Stay allowed |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| United Kingdom | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Germany | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| France | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Italy | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Spain | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| India | e-Visa required | — |
| China | e-Visa required | — |
| South Korea | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Australia | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Canada | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Brazil | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| UAE | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| Singapore | Visa-free | Up to 90 days |
| South Africa | e-Visa required | — |
Requirement data: Passport Index (open dataset, MIT) · Get a visa checklist in your AI plan →
Know before you go
US passports: 90 days visa-free. Nonstop from most US hubs (HND/NRT). Your US appliances work, but 100V means hair dryers run slower.
Top things to do in Tokyo
Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa)
Tokyo's oldest temple (628 AD) behind the giant Kaminarimon lantern. Nakamise shopping street leads to the main hall and five-story pagoda.
Shibuya Crossing & Center-gai
The world's busiest pedestrian scramble — up to 3,000 people per green light. Watch from Shibuya Sky (rooftop, 229m) or Starbucks Tsutaya.
Tsukiji Outer Market
The inner fish market moved to Toyosu, but the outer market's 400+ shops remain — tamagoyaki skewers, uni bowls, knife shops.
teamLab Planets (Toyosu)
Walk-through digital art — knee-deep water rooms, mirrored infinity gardens, floating flower fields. Barefoot, immersive, wildly photogenic.
Meiji Shrine & Harajuku
Forested Shinto shrine with 100,000 donated trees, then Takeshita Street's crepes and cosplay one block away — old and new Tokyo in an hour's walk.
Shinjuku nights — Omoide Yokocho & Golden Gai
Postwar alleyways of yakitori smoke (Omoide Yokocho) and 200 six-seat bars (Golden Gai). The Tokyo of movies.
What to eat
- Sushi breakfast — Toyosu or a standing sushi bar in Tsukiji — fresh, ~¥2,000–5,000, no reservation needed at standing bars.
- Ramen — Ichiran for solo-booth solo-focus; Afuri for yuzu ramen. ¥1,000–1,500. Buy the ticket from the machine first.
- Tonkatsu — Panko-fried pork cutlet at Maisen or a department-store basement (depachika) food hall.
- Convenience stores (konbini) — 7-Eleven egg sandwiches and onigiri are genuinely good. ¥300–600 breakfast, eaten standing, totally normal.
Where to stay
- Shinjuku — Neon core, nightlife, world's busiest station, great hotel value Best for: First-timers, nightlife, transport links
- Shibuya — Youth culture, shopping, the crossing, walkable to Harajuku Best for: Shopping, energy, couples
- Asakusa — Traditional Tokyo, temples, river views, ryokan-style stays Best for: Culture focus, quieter nights
- Ginza — Department stores, flagship shops, refined dining Best for: Luxury trips, food-focused travelers
5-day Tokyo itinerary (the realistic kind)
Day 1 — Old Tokyo
Senso-ji at 7am → Nakamise snacks → Sumida river walk → Tokyo Skytree or Solamachi lunch → evening in Ueno's lantern-lit izakaya alleys (Hoppy Street).
Day 2 — Modern icons
Meiji Shrine morning → Harajuku Takeshita + Cat Street → Omotesando → Shibuya Crossing → Shibuya Sky at sunset → Center-gai dinner.
Day 3 — Market morning & bay
Tsukiji outer market breakfast (8am) → Ginza architecture + depachika → teamLab Planets afternoon slot → Odaiba waterfront sunset.
Day 4 — Shinjuku & art
Shinjuku Gyoen garden morning → Tokyo Metropolitan Building free observation deck → Don Quijote chaos → Omoide Yokocho yakitori dinner → Golden Gai bar hop.
Day 5 — Day trip
Hakone loop (pirate ship, ropeway, Mt Fuji views — ¥6,100 Hakone FreePass) or Nikko's shrines. Back by evening for a farewell ramen.
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Tokyo FAQ
How many days do you need in Tokyo?
Five days covers old Tokyo (Asakusa), modern icons (Shibuya/Shinjuku), a market morning, teamLab, and one day trip. Seven days adds Nikko/Hakone at a slower pace.
Do I need a JR Pass for Tokyo?
No — the nationwide JR Pass rarely pays off since the 2023 price hike. In Tokyo, a prepaid Suica/Pasmo IC card (add ¥5,000) covers all metro and JR lines. Day trips use separate tickets.
Is Tokyo expensive?
Softer than its reputation: ¥15,000–25,000/day (~$100–170) mid-range covers a business hotel, excellent meals and transit. Budget travelers manage on ¥9,000 with hostels and konbini meals.
When is the best time to visit Tokyo?
Late March–early April for cherry blossoms (book 3+ months ahead) or late October–November for autumn colors and clear skies. June is rainy season; August is hot and humid.
Is Tokyo safe at night?
Very — among the safest megacities on earth. Trains run until ~midnight; after that, taxis are plentiful and safe. Standard pickpocket awareness is all that's needed.