The Japanese capital is an eternally fascinating city. Travel to Tokyo and you’ll be rewarded with constant moments of discovery within its sprawl of neighbourhoods, each with their own character, charm and hidden gems.
From elegant temples to raucous izakayas to bleeding-edge tech, in Tokyo there’s always another amazing sight – or another phenomenal meal. Discover the best of the city with our Tokyo travel guide.
With some 270 bars crammed into a warren of streets in trendy Shinjuku, Golden Gai is popular among Tokyo attractions and perfect for bar-hopping. Each dinky bar has a dozen seats or fewer, and each has a different vibe – from divey rock bars to more casual drinking spots for salarymen.
Where do you go when you just need an adult-sized Pikachu costume, a Shiba Inu body pillow and souvenirs for the whole family? Don Quijote, of course. Shibuya’s branch of this wallet-friendly megastore is the biggest in the city, offering six floors packed with oddities.
The capital’s famous tuna auction moved to new premises in Toyosu in 2019, but the Tsukiji Outer Market still stands, and is still full of character. Here you'll score some of the city’s freshest cuts of sushi, from indulgent tuna belly to creamy uni, in the stalls and restaurants packed into narrow lanes.
Tokyo isn’t all neon-lit buildings and bustling commuters – as this quaint, stylish neighbourhood proves. Low-rise architecture and tree-lined, pedestrianised streets give a laid-back vibe that’s attracted handicrafts boutiques, vintage clothing shops, open-air cafes and stylish bars and restaurants.
Unleash your Gothic lolita in the colourful fashion boutiques of Harajuku, the spiritual heart of Tokyo’s eclectic street fashion. Expect to see candy-coloured wigs and cartoonish characters wandering the lanes, which are sprinkled with equally sweet dessert outlets.
Each spring heralds the annual cherry blossom – this means heading to one of the city’s many parks, which erupt in a riot of pink blossoms. Yoyogi Park in Shibuya has around 700 trees, making it a popular hanami (flower viewing) destination for locals and those who travel to Tokyo for the phenomenon.
Tokyo’s collection of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples offer a quiet space to appreciate the city’s history and culture. Two Tokyo attractions worth your time are Senso-ji in Asakusa, the city’s oldest temple at 1,500 years old, and Meiji-jingu in Shibuya, secreted within the wooded forests of Yoyogi Park.
Reflect on Hokusai’s masterpiece The Great Wave off Kanagawa at the Sumida Hokusai Museum, and nihonga Japanese watercolours at the Yamatane Museum of Art. Then delve into the psychedelic, selfie-factory that is the Yayoi Kusama Museum, showcasing works by the polka-dot-obsessed artist.
The collective of Japanese architects, engineers, programmers, CG animators, mathematicians and musicians known as teamLab has devised breathtaking interactive installations that play with light, colour and digital projection. The visual spectacular has made teamLab Borderless and teamLab Planets – both located in Tokyo Bay – essential Tokyo attractions.
At Shinjuku’s Omoide Yokocho, you’ll find an international mix of Tokyo salarymen, visitors and expats enjoying inexpensive izakaya fare in the many shacks that line this narrow street west of Shinjuku station. Pull up a stool when you visit Tokyo for grilled skewers and beer – then rinse and repeat further down the alley.
