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

208 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.

208 places on the map

Shrines 23 Parks 28 Viewpoints 13 Food 38 Cafes 19 Nightlife 19 Museums 19 Shopping 20 Markets 5 Landmarks 9 Neighbourhoods 9 Day trips 5 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 20 places Autumn Colour in Tokyo Koyo season, the best two months in the Tokyo calendar 20 places Rainy Day Tokyo Museums, arcades, food halls, and other dry pleasures 63 places Free Things to Do in Tokyo The best city in the world for spending nothing 65 places Tokyo Early in the Morning The city before it puts its face on 32 places Tokyo with Kids Places that work for small people and the adults carrying them 36 places

Know the neighbourhoods

All neighbourhoods →

Shinjuku Neon chaos, tiny bars, and a surprisingly serene garden 13 places

Shimokitazawa Vintage shops, live music, and the best curry in Tokyo 11 places

Asakusa Old Tokyo's front door, best before the tour buses arrive 10 places

Shibuya The crossing is just the cover page 10 places

Ueno Museums, market chaos, and Tokyo's great public park 9 places

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.

✍️ 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

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 honest 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 actually 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.

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 honest advice on choosing between them.

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.

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.

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 actually matter.

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.

Tokyo (Multi-neighborhood comparison)

First Time in Tokyo: The Best Neighborhood to Stay In

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

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.