Travelling to Tokyo?

Our routes, not a list of everything. Places that have been there for centuries: no opening times or prices, which go stale.

1. 01

   Tokyo in a day

   10 hThe shrine’s forest was planted by hand, the tower is 634 m because of a pun, and Shibuya crossing moves 3,000 people at a time.Meiji Jingū and its fake forest · Harajuku and Omotesandō · The Shibuya crossing · The free viewpoint in Shinjuku · Sensō-ji, in Asakusa · Golden Gai, to finishRead the full guide
2. 02

   Tokyo in a weekend

   48 hTwo days and twenty-three districts: you have to give things up. The plan that works, and the tuna market that isn’t where you think.Friday night: izakaya under the tracks · Saturday: the modern west · Sunday, early: Toyosu, not Tsukiji · Sunday: Asakusa, Ueno and old TokyoRead the full guide
3. 03

   Eating in Tokyo

   3 hThe city with the most Michelin stars in the world, and the best of it is still in a basement, under a railway, or in a 7-Eleven.The konbini, seriously · The depachika · The ramen, and the ticket machine · Sushi for breakfast · Yakitori under the tracksRead the full guide
4. 04

   Tokyo’s neighbourhoods

   6 hTwenty-three districts that were cities. One escaped the earthquake and the bombs, and there you see the Tokyo that no longer exists.Yanaka · Shimokitazawa · Shinjuku · Yanaka, Nezu and SendagiRead the full guide
5. 05

   Day trips from Tokyo

   9 hA 13-metre bronze Buddha an hour away, a lacquered shrine in the mountains, and Fuji, which only shows up in winter.Kamakura · 1 h · Nikkō · 2 h · Mount Fuji · 2 h · Yokohama · 30 minRead the full guide
6. 06

   Narita and Haneda to Tokyo

   1 hHaneda is in the city and Narita is 60 km out. That detail on your ticket decides an hour of your life and a fair bit of money.Haneda: the easy one · Narita: the Skyliner and the N’EX · The IC card: they’re on sale again · The last trainRead the full guide
7. 07

   Tokyo: how not to get it wrong

   1 hThere are no bins and there’s a dark reason. You don’t tip. And in Tokyo you stand left, but in Osaka you stand right.There are no bins, and there’s a reason · You don’t tip. Ever · Stand left in Tokyo, right in Osaka · Phone on silent, and no talking · The shoes, and the onsenRead the full guide
8. 08

   Tokyo: practical tips

   1 hJapan isn’t in the EU, you still need cash, and the last train is at midnight. And August is a humid oven.Japan is not in the EU · You still need cash · The last train, and the heat · The language is less of a problem than you thinkRead the full guide

The real options, with what actually decides it: which terminal it leaves from and where it drops you. Fares and timetables live with the operator, who keeps them current.

• TrainNarita ExpressNRT → Tokyo Station · Shibuya · ShinjukuJR’s direct train to the major stations. Covered if you already have a JR Pass, though the pass doesn’t pay off for a Tokyo-only trip.·Fares and timesJR East
• TrainSkylinerNRT → Ueno · NipporiThe N’EX’s rival: quicker to Ueno. For the north and east of the city, it wins.·Fares and timesKeisei
• TrainHND → HamamatsuchōHaneda to town in a long quarter-hour, changing to the Yamanote line. At Hamamatsuchō you can also reach the subway (Asakusa and Oedo) by walking to Daimon, which is right next door.·Fares and timesTokyo Monorail
• TrainKeikyūHND → Shinagawa · SengakujiThe monorail’s alternative: many trains continue straight onto the Asakusa subway line.·Fares and timesKeikyu

Before you fly, or on the layover. Pay per visit, whatever airline.

• I.A.S.S Superior Lounge -KoCoo-from €33.00
• I.A.S.S Superior Lounge -NOA-from €33.00
• EXECUTIVE LOUNGE 2from €39.90
• 9h nine hours Narita Airportfrom €39.90

• OsakaKIX · ITM8 routes