IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE TOKYO LIGHTS
Always On the Move
- Information
- Tour Plan
- Gallery
What's included
- First Entrance fees
- Professionally guided tour
- Unlimited bottled water
- Entrance tickets to monuments and museums
- Tips to guide and driver
- Visa arrangements
Sci-fi Cityscapes
Tokyo’s neon-lit streetscapes still look like a sci-fi film set – and that’s a vision of the city from the 1980s. Tokyo has been building ever since, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on densely populated, earthquake-prone land, adding ever taller, sleeker structures. Come see the utopian mega-malls, the edgy designer boutiques from Japan’s award-winning architects, and the world’s tallest tower – Tokyo Sky Tree – a twisting spire that draws on ancient building techniques. Stand atop one of Tokyo’s skyscrapers and look out over the city at night to see it blinking like the control panel of a starship, stretching all the way to the horizon.
The Shogun’s City
Tokyo may be forever reaching into the future but you can still see traces of the shogun’s capital on the kabuki stage, at a sumo tournament or under the cherry blossoms. It’s a modern city built on old patterns, and in the shadows of skyscrapers you can find anachronistic wooden shanty bars and quiet alleys, raucous traditional festivals and lantern-lit yakitori (grilled chicken) stands. In older neighbourhoods you can shop for handicrafts made just as they have been for centuries, or wander down cobblestone lanes where geisha once trod.
Eat Your Heart Out
Yes, Tokyo has more Michelin stars than any other city. Yes, Japanese cuisine has been added to the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list. But that’s not what makes dining in Tokyo such an amazing experience. What really counts is the city’s long-standing artisan culture. You can splash out on the best sushi of your life, made by one of the city’s legendary chefs using the freshest, seasonal market ingredients. You can also spend ¥800 on a bowl of noodles made with the same care and exacting attention to detail, from a recipe honed through decades of experience.
Fashion & Pop Culture
From giant robots to saucer-eyed schoolgirls to a certain, ubiquitous kitty, Japanese pop culture is a phenomenon that has reached far around the world. Tokyo is the country’s pop-culture laboratory, where new trends grow legs. Come see the latest looks bubbling out of the backstreets of Harajuku, the hottest pop stars projected on the giant video screens in Shibuya, or the newest anime and manga flying off the shelves in Akihabara. Gawk at the giant statues of Godzilla; shop for your favourite character goods; or pick up some style inspiration just walking down the street.
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
Shrines & Temples
Meiji-jingū Tokyo’s grandest Shintō shrine, set in a wooded grove. Ueno Tōshō-gū Recently restored, gilded homage to warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu. Inokashira Benzaiten Ancient sanctuary of the sea goddess, Benzaiten. Akagi-jinja Centuries-old shrine updated with modern style.
Buddhist Temples
Tokyo National Museum Home to the world’s largest collection of Japanese art. Intermediatheque Experimental museum drawing on the holdings of the University of Tokyo. Nezu Museum Asian antiques in a striking contemporary building. Sumida Hokusai Museum New museum dedicated to woodblock artist Hokusai.
Art Museums
Tokyo National Museum Home to the world’s largest collection of Japanese art. Intermediatheque Experimental museum drawing on the holdings of the University of Tokyo. Nezu Museum Asian antiques in a striking contemporary building. Sumida Hokusai Museum New museum dedicated to woodblock artist Hokusai.
Hang-outs
Spend an afternoon in one of these neighbourhoods loved by locals. Shimo-Kitazawa A bastion of bohemia for decades, with snaking alleys, secondhand stores, coffee shops, hole-in-the-wall bars and live-music halls. Yanaka Long-time artists' neighbourhood, with studios, galleries, art supply shops and cafes – many of which are in old wooden buildings. Naka-Meguro Few tall buildings and a leafy canal flanked by small shops and restaurants give this artsy district a small-town vibe.
Get breakfast at a kissaten
Literally the ‘low city', Shitamachi was where merchants and artisans lived during the Edo period. The city is no longer carved up so neatly; however, many of the old patterns remain. On the east side of the city, former Shitamachi neighbourhoods remain a tangle of alleys and tightly packed quarters, with traditional architecture, artisan workshops and small businesses.