Tokyo Travel

Explore Tokyo
beyond the tourist trail

Real neighbourhood knowledge and the hidden details only locals know.

Open the Tokyo travel map → Walking itineraries
  • 232 hand-picked places
  • 16 neighbourhood guides
  • 9 walking routes
Open the interactive map Every dot is a real place. Filter, save, and walk between them.

232 places on the map

Browse all →
Shrines 25 Parks 30 Viewpoints 14 Food 41 Cafes 22 Nightlife 21 Museums 22 Shopping 22 Markets 7 Landmarks 11 Neighbourhoods 9 Day trips 7 Special 1

See the city on foot

Itineraries All itineraries →
Half day · 6 stops Old Tokyo on Foot: Nippori to Ueno Temples, cats, street food, and the city that survived the 20th century. Full day · 6 stops A Perfect Day in Shimokitazawa Coffee, vintage, curry, and live music in Tokyo's counter-culture capital. Half day into evening · 4 stops Daniel's Old Neighbourhood: Yoyogi to Sasazuka The west-side Tokyo Daniel lived in for a year, exactly as he would show a friend. Half day · 5 stops East Side Classic: Asakusa to the Skytree The oldest temple, the kitchen street, an afternoon beer, and the tallest tower. Afternoon into evening · 6 stops Shibuya to Nakameguro: The Golden Hour Route The crossing, a rooftop sunset, then down the hill to canal-side drinks. Full day · 5 stops The Roppongi Art Crawl Three world-class museums, one design gallery, and tonkatsu to finish. Half day · 5 stops Markets to Marunouchi: Tsukiji, Ginza, Tokyo Station Eat the market, breathe in a garden, window-shop Ginza, end above the station. Full day · 4 stops West Side Day: Kichijoji and the Ghibli Museum A park, a black-market alley, and the museum that needs no introduction. Evening, 4 to 5 hours · 5 stops Shinjuku After Dark A free skyline sunset, smoke-filled alleys, a giant Godzilla, and 200 tiny bars.

Tokyo by season and situation

Collections
Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo The hanami spots locals actually go to, and when to go 23 places Autumn Colour in Tokyo Koyo season, the best two months in the Tokyo calendar 23 places Rainy Day Tokyo Museums, arcades, food halls, and other dry pleasures 73 places Free Things to Do in Tokyo The best city in the world for spending nothing 73 places Tokyo Early in the Morning The city before it puts its face on 36 places Tokyo with Kids Places that work for small people and the adults carrying them 42 places
What's on in Tokyo right now Festivals, markets, exhibitions, and fireworks over the next three months, refreshed every week.

Know the neighbourhoods

All neighbourhoods →
Shinjuku Shinjuku Neon chaos, tiny bars, and a surprisingly serene garden 13 places Shibuya Shibuya The crossing is just the cover page 12 places Shimokitazawa Shimokitazawa Vintage shops, live music, and the best curry in Tokyo 11 places Asakusa Asakusa Old Tokyo's front door, best before the tour buses arrive 11 places Ueno Ueno Museums, market chaos, and Tokyo's great public park 9 places Yanaka Yanaka The Tokyo that survived, cemetery walks and all 7 places

Personal Guides

First-hand
Residential street near Sasazuka Station, Tokyo
✍️ Personal Sasazuka

How to Get an Apartment in Tokyo as a Foreigner

A first-hand guide to renting an apartment in Tokyo as a foreigner: the sites to use, how to dodge key money and deposits, and why looking one neighbourhood out saves you a fortune.

 Tokyo city street scene with neon lights and crowds
✍️ Personal Tokyo

What Nobody Tells You About Staying in Tokyo

Practical insider knowledge for first-time Tokyo visitors, the stuff that takes months of living there to figure out.

 Narrow streets of Shimokitazawa with indie shops and cafés
✍️ Personal Shimokitazawa

Living in Shimokitazawa: An Insider's Tokyo Guide

Real insider knowledge on Tokyo's most creative neighbourhood, from someone who actually lived there. Where to stay, eat, and what makes Shimokita special.

Tokyo Guides

All guides →
Tokyo

Asakusa vs Ueno: Which East-Side Base Wins?

Asakusa or Ueno for your Tokyo stay? Comparing atmosphere, hotel value, museums, transport, and food, with a clear verdict for each kind of traveller.
Tokyo

Capsule Hotels in Tokyo: What They're Actually Like and Who Should Book One

The clear-eyed guide to Tokyo capsule hotels: what a night really involves, typical prices, the etiquette nobody explains, and who should skip them entirely.
Tokyo

Ryokan in Tokyo: The Honest Guide, and When to Go Elsewhere for One

Tokyo has surprisingly few true ryokan. Where the real ones are, what a stay involves, and why the best ryokan night of your trip is probably in Hakone instead.
Tokyo

Shinjuku vs Shibuya: Where Should You Actually Stay?

Shinjuku or Shibuya for your Tokyo base? A straight comparison of transport, hotels, nightlife, noise, and price, with a clear verdict for each type of trip.
Tokyo

Tokyo Itinerary: 3 Days Done Properly (Not a Checklist Sprint)

A realistic 3-day Tokyo itinerary: east side traditions, west side energy, and a final day of food and views, with train logistics that actually work.
Tokyo

Tokyo in Winter: Illuminations, Clear Skies, and the Emptiest Streets of the Year

What Tokyo in winter is actually like: December illuminations, New Year traditions, the best Mount Fuji visibility of the year, and why January is criminally underrated.
Tokyo

The 10 Best Neighbourhoods in Tokyo (And Who Each One Suits)

How to choose the right Tokyo neighbourhood for your trip: Shinjuku, Shimokitazawa, Asakusa, Yanaka, and 6 more, with candid takes on who each one suits.
Tokyo

One Week in Tokyo: A 7-Day Itinerary That Actually Works

A day-by-day Tokyo itinerary for 7 days: the icons done properly, the neighbourhoods locals love, one day trip, and room to breathe. From someone who lived there.
Tokyo

Tokyo in Autumn: Foliage, Festivals, and the Best Season Nobody Fights Over

What Tokyo in autumn is actually like: when koyo peaks, where to see the best autumn leaves, October vs November, and why autumn beats spring for most visitors.
Tokyo

Tokyo in Spring: Cherry Blossoms, Crowds, and What Nobody Tells You

What Tokyo in spring is really like: when cherry blossoms peak, what comes after, the Golden Week warning, and whether spring is the right season for your trip.
Tokyo

Where to Stay in Tokyo: Every Major Area Compared

Which Tokyo neighbourhood should you stay in? A quick verdict on Shinjuku, Asakusa, Shibuya, Ueno, Ginza, and more, plus when each area makes sense.

 Narrow shopping street in a Tokyo neighbourhood
Shimokitazawa

Things to Do in Shimokitazawa: Vintage Shops, Curry, and Live Music

The best things to do in Shimokitazawa: vintage shopping, the famous curry row, basement live houses, and the cafes locals queue for. With map and route.

 Summer festival fireworks near Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo

Tokyo in Summer: Festivals, Fireworks, and How to Handle the Heat

What Tokyo in summer is really like: matsuri season, riverside fireworks, beer gardens, and the local tricks for surviving July and August humidity.

 Lake and mountain scenery in Hakone, Japan
Tokyo

The Best Day Trips from Tokyo (And How to Pick the Right One)

Seven day trips from Tokyo actually worth your limited time: Kamakura, Nikko, Hakone, Mt Takao, Kawagoe, Yokohama, and Enoshima, with clear advice on choosing between them.

 Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo
Tokyo

40 Things to Do in Tokyo, From Someone Who Lived There

A local's list of the best things to do in Tokyo: free skyline views, shrine forests, izakaya alleys, day trips, and the spots tourists walk straight past.

 Crowds crossing the Shibuya scramble crossing in Tokyo
Tokyo

Tokyo Travel Tips: 30 Things to Know Before You Go

Practical Tokyo travel tips from a year of living there: trains, IC cards, cash, packing, etiquette that actually matters, jet lag strategy, and the mistakes everyone makes.

 Street food stalls at Tsukiji Outer Market, Tokyo
Tokyo

Where to Eat in Tokyo: A Neighbourhood-by-Neighbourhood Guide

Where to eat in Tokyo, organised the way locals think about it: by neighbourhood. Ramen, tsukemen, izakaya alleys, depachika, etiquette, and the rules that matter.

 Best Hotels in Shibuya, Tokyo: Where to Stay Near the Crossing
Shibuya

Best Hotels in Shibuya, Tokyo: Where to Stay Near the Crossing

The best hotels in Shibuya by price tier: luxury with crossing views, mid-range value picks, capsules, plus which blocks stay quiet and when to book.

 First Time in Tokyo: The Best Neighborhood to Stay In
Tokyo (Multi-neighborhood comparison)

First Time in Tokyo: The Best Neighborhood to Stay In

First time in Tokyo? Here's where to stay, based on neighborhoods that balance access, atmosphere, and value for new visitors.

 Where to Stay in Akihabara: Hotels, Apartments, and Long Stays
Akihabara

Where to Stay in Akihabara: Hotels, Apartments, and Long Stays

Where to stay in Akihabara, Tokyo: business hotels, anime-themed guesthouses, and monthly apartments, with train access notes and the blocks worth avoiding.