A polycentric metropolis where centuries-old Shinto shrines and cedar-wood izakayas sit calmly beside neon-lit skyscrapers and bullet trains, Tokyo is endlessly rewarding: safe, spotless, hyper-punctual, and home to the highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants and neighbourhood ramen counters on earth.
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Choosing the right district saves hours of transit time on a short weekend break.
Best for: First-time visitors, nightlife (Golden Gai) & transit links
The world’s best-connected rail hub: serene imperial gardens by day, yakitori smoke in Omoide Yokocho and sky bars by night.
Best for: Trendsetters, coffee roasters, shopping & lively evenings
From the famous Shibuya Scramble and Shibuya Sky rooftop to the leafy, low-rise designer lanes of Daikanyama and Ebisu.
Best for: Refined hotel stays, fine dining & Shinkansen access
Polished avenues beside the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station, home to Ginza’s historic cocktail bars and Michelin counters.
Grouped geographically so you spend your weekend exploring on foot rather than crisscrossing the city.
Walk beneath the towering cedar torii gates of Meiji Jingu Shrine, then explore Harajuku’s backstreets (Cat Street) and Omotesando architecture.
Stroll through Daikanyama’s T-Site bookshop, then head to Shibuya to cross the Scramble Crossing.
Book a sunset slot on the open-air helipad of Shibuya Sky, followed by charcoal-grilled yakitori and highballs in Ebisu or Shinjuku’s Omoide Yokocho.
Arrive early at Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, Senso-ji in Asakusa, and browse traditional snacks along Nakamise-dori.
Walk through Ueno Park or Kitchen Town (Kappabashi), then dive into the retro game arcades and electronics towers of Akihabara.
Edomae sushi counter dinner in Ginza or Tsukiji Outer Market, followed by a bespoke cocktail in a Ginza listening bar.
Graze on grilled tamagoyaki, uni, and matcha at Tsukiji Outer Market, then stroll the Imperial Palace East Gardens.
Immerse yourself in teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills, then soak in a natural thermal hot-spring onsen (Spa LaQua or Toyosu Manyo Club).
Tiny 6-seat bar hop in Shinjuku Golden Gai.
Verified sight locations in Tokyo, sense-checked against OpenStreetMap
The world's busiest pedestrian intersection where up to 3,000 people cross simultaneously, crowned by the 229m open-air Shibuya Sky rooftop observation deck.
Insider Tip: Book Shibuya Sky tickets for 30 minutes before sunset to watch Mt. Fuji on the horizon transition into neon Tokyo.
2 Chome-12 Shibuya, Tokyo 150-, Tokyo
The tallest freestanding tower in the world at 634 meters, offering panoramic views spanning the entire Kanto plain all the way to Mount Fuji.
Insider Tip: Combine your visit with the Solamachi shopping complex at the base for great food stalls and Japanese souvenirs.
1 Chome-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo 131-, Tokyo
Monumental 13-metre outdoor bronze Amitabha Buddha cast in 1252 in the coastal samurai capital of Kamakura.
4-2-28 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-, Tokyo
Widely acclaimed as the most imaginatively themed Disney park in the world, featuring Fantasy Springs, Mount Prometheus, and Venetian gondola canals on Tokyo Bay.
1-1 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba 279-8511 (15 mins from Tokyo Station)
Six-floor urban hot spring onsen in Shinjuku featuring natural thermal spring water transported daily from Nakaizu, carbonated baths, saunas, and oil massages.
Insider Tip: Open 24 hours—ideal after late-night exploring in Shinjuku.
1-1-2 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-, Tokyo
Luxury hot-spring complex overlooking Tokyo Bay fed with authentic Hakone and Yugawara thermal waters, featuring a 360-degree rooftop footbath garden.
Insider Tip: Soak in the open-air rooftop bath at sunset overlooking Rainbow Bridge.
6-5-1 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-, Tokyo
Verified pub locations in Tokyo, sense-checked against OpenStreetMap
Mangetsu is a yakitori pub located in Kagurazaka, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Sa 17:00-23:00
神楽坂二丁目, Tokyo
Two Dogs Taproom is a craft beer pub located in the Roppongi district of Tokyo.
Roppongi, Tokyo
Shinjuku Ale is a craft brewery located on Central Road in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: 11:00-28:00
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Wailele is a craft brewery taproom and beer hall in Shibuya, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Su 18:00-00:00
Shibuya, Tokyo
Andy's Shin Hinomoto is a craft brewery taproom and beer hall in Ginza, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Sa 17:00-23:30
Ginza, Tokyo
SHIBUYA BREWERY is a craft brewery taproom and beer hall in Shibuya, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00
Shibuya, Tokyo
Masaka is a craft brewery taproom and beer hall in Shibuya, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: 11:00-22:00
Shibuya, Tokyo
麦ノ音 is a craft brewery taproom and beer hall in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Kurosawa is a craft brewery taproom and beer hall in Roppongi, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: 11:30-15:00,18:00-03:00; Su off
Roppongi, Tokyo
Taito is a craft brewery taproom and beer hall in Roppongi, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Sa 11:30-14:00,18:00-03:00, Su,PH off
Roppongi, Tokyo
Sasano is a craft brewery taproom and beer hall in Roppongi, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-0:00
Roppongi, Tokyo
乃木坂 鳥幸 is a craft brewery taproom and beer hall in Roppongi, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:30
Roppongi, Tokyo
Central walkable hotels in Tokyo (airport & day-trip stays listed separately below)
Serene sky sanctuary atop Otemachi Tower with a soaring 30-metre washi-paper atrium lobby, basalt-lined onsen pool, and Imperial Palace views.
Insider Tip: Book the Black Afternoon Tea in the sky lounge.
The Otemachi Tower, 1-5-6 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-, Tokyo
5-star flagship hotel standing directly opposite the Imperial Palace Outer Gardens and steps from Ginza's flagship shopping boulevards.
Insider Tip: Head to Peter: The Bar on the 24th floor for Tokyo skyline cocktails.
1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-, Tokyo
17-storey modern Japanese ryokan in central Tokyo where guests remove their shoes at the genkan entrance and soak in an open-air rooftop hot spring.
Insider Tip: Each floor has its own private Ochanoma tea lounge for guests.
1-9-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-, Tokyo
Waterfront resort hotel on Tokyo Bay where every balcony and the outdoor heated spa whirlpool look directly across the water at Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower.
1-9-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-, Tokyo
Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel is a verified hotel in Maihama, Tokyo, featured on Paolo fromTOKYO.
東京ディズニーランド パーキング出口, Maihama, Tokyo
Kenzo Tange's iconic sky-high Shinjuku hotel occupying the top 14 floors of Shinjuku Park Tower, immortalized in Lost in Translation.
Insider Tip: Watch Mt. Fuji at dusk and live jazz at the 52nd-floor New York Bar.
3-7-1-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-, Tokyo
Designed by Kengo Kuma on floors 31–36 of Tokyo World Gate, featuring a 500-plant sky-jungle lobby terrace staring straight at glowing Tokyo Tower.
4-1-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-, Tokyo
Perched on the 30th–36th floors above Akasaka, famed for the double-height glass waterfall backdrop of Sky Gallery Lounge Levita.
1-2 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-, Tokyo
Waterfront Autograph Collection hotel overlooking Hamarikyu Gardens and Tokyo Bay where every guest room includes a Casio Privia digital piano and pour-over coffee set.
1-30 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-, Tokyo
Courtyard by Marriott Tokyo Station is a Marriott Bonvoy hotel on 2-1-3 Kyobashi in Tokyo Tokyo.
Insider Tip: Transport Hub: Tokyo Station (Shinkansen Bullet Train & Narita Express) & Kyobashi Ginza Line.
2-1-3 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-, Tokyo
The Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection is a Marriott Bonvoy hotel on 3-1 Takanawa in Tokyo Tokyo.
Insider Tip: Transport Hub: Shinagawa Shinkansen & JR Yamanote Hub (3 Mins Walk).
3-1 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-, Tokyo
Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho is a Marriott Bonvoy hotel on 3-4-2 Kotobashi in Tokyo Tokyo.
3-4-2 Kotobashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-, Tokyo
Aloft Tokyo Ginza is a Marriott Bonvoy hotel on 6-3 Ginza in Tokyo Tokyo.
6-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-, Tokyo
Tokyo Marriott Hotel is a Marriott Bonvoy hotel on 4-7-36 Kita-Shinagawa in Tokyo Tokyo.
4-7-36 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-, Tokyo
Harbourfront hotel in Yokohama's Minato Mirai 21 district with private balconies overlooking Yokohama Bay and the illuminated Cosmo Clock 21.
📍 2-3-7 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-, Tokyo
Verified food locations in Tokyo, sense-checked against OpenStreetMap
Four-storey Kengo Kuma architectural showpiece overlooking the cherry-blossom-lined Meguro River with a 17-metre copper cask, Princi bakery, and tea/cocktail terrace.
2-23 Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-, Tokyo
Cult third-wave espresso bar in bohemian Shimokitazawa, surrounded by Tokyo's best vintage clothing shops and independent vinyl record stores.
2-2 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-, Tokyo
Japan's largest and most vibrant Chinatown spanning 500+ restaurants, ornate Paifang gates, and Manchinro dim sum banquets just 30 minutes south of Tokyo.
Yamashitacho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-, Tokyo
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa's Tokyo flagship in Toranomon blending Japanese omakase craft with global signature dishes.
Insider Tip: Reserve the sushi counter for seasonal Toyosu Market fish.
4-1-28 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-, Tokyo
World-renowned Edomae sushi counter in Roppongi Hills led by the Ono family.
Insider Tip: Book through your Tokyo hotel concierge.
Roppongi Hills Residence B 3F, 6-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Dramatic timber-beamed izakaya in Roppongi/Nishiazabu that inspired the iconic Kill Bill fight scene.
Insider Tip: Order handmade buckwheat soba and charcoal yakitori skewers.
1-11 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-, Tokyo
Vibrant culinary labyrinth of narrow alleys packed with 400 wholesale food vendors serving fresh fatty tuna sashimi, grilled wagyu skewers, tamagoyaki, and sea urchin.
Insider Tip: Arrive hungry between 08:00 and 10:30 AM before vendors sell out of premium otoro tuna cuts.
4 Chome-2 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-, Tokyo
Atmospheric post-war alleyway jammed with 60 tiny, smoky yakitori stalls seating 6 to 8 patrons, sizzling chicken skewers over glowing Binchotan charcoal.
Insider Tip: Look for stalls with an English menu sign, pull up a wooden stool, and order tsukune (chicken meatball) with draft Asahi.
1 Chome-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-, Tokyo
Kagawa Ippuku Art is a Japanese restaurant on Meiji-dori Avenue in Shibuya 3, Tokyo.
Meiji-dori Avenue, Shibuya 3, Tokyo
Wagyu Ramen Goku is a verified restaurant in Shibuya 2, Tokyo, featured on Paolo fromTOKYO.
12-12 Miyamasu-zaka Street, Shibuya 2, Tokyo
Shifuku Shokudō is a verified restaurant in Kichijoji Honcho 2, Tokyo, featured on Paolo fromTOKYO.
Nakamichi dori, Kichijoji Honcho 2, Tokyo
Giolitti Cafe is a verified cafe in Yurakuchō, Tokyo, featured on Yellow Productions.
1, Yurakuchō, Tokyo
Verified culture locations in Tokyo, sense-checked against OpenStreetMap
Whimsical storybook mansion inside Inokashira Park designed by Hayao Miyazaki with a life-size Catbus, rooftop Laputa robot soldier, and exclusive short films.
1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-, Tokyo
Body-immersive digital art museum where visitors walk barefoot through water, an infinite mirror crystal universe, and floating orchid gardens.
Insider Tip: Wear pants that can easily roll above the knees since you will wade into knee-deep water.
6 Chome-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-, Tokyo
Tokyo's oldest and most sacred Buddhist temple founded in 645 AD, approached through the iconic Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) and Nakamise shopping street.
Insider Tip: Visit after 20:00 when the market stalls close; the temple grounds are beautifully illuminated and serenely quiet.
2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-, Tokyo
Historical Materials Section, Yoshioka Yayoi Memorial Room Tokyo Women's Medical University is a museum and cultural landmark in Historical Materials Section, Tokyo.
Historical Materials Section, Yoshioka Yayoi Memorial Room Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo
Verified nature locations in Tokyo, sense-checked against OpenStreetMap
Magnificent Shinto shrine nestled in a tranquil 170-acre evergreen forest of 120,000 trees donated from across Japan, entered under massive cypress Torii gates.
Insider Tip: Write a wish on an Ema wooden votive plaque by the sacred camphor trees, then walk across to trendy Takeshita Street.
1-1 Yoyogikamizonochō, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-, Tokyo
Verified nightlife locations in Tokyo, sense-checked against OpenStreetMap
Labyrinth of nearly 100 post-war micro-izakayas, yakitori counters, and standing sake bars packed into narrow lantern-lit alleys outside Kichijoji Station.
1-1 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-, Tokyo
LOST is a verified bar in Tokyo, Tokyo, featured on Abroad in Japan.
1, Tokyo
SOD LAND is a themed cocktail bar located in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Fr 18:00-23:30; Sa,Su,PH 15:00-23:30
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Jessicafe is a cocktail bar located in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Fr 18:30-23:30
12 Shinjuku, Tokyo
A wine-focused cocktail bar located in Shinjuku's Golden Gai district.
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Kurand Sake Market Shinjuku is a craft sake bar located in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo.
Shinjuku Watasei Tama Building, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Bar HIGH FIVE is a cocktail bar located in the Ginza district of Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Sa 17:00-23:30; Su,PH off
Ginza, Tokyo
Fukko Bar is a cocktail bar located in the Ginza district of Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Sa 18:00-22:00
Ginza, Tokyo
DAIKON 2nd is a cocktail bar located in Shibuya Sakura Stage, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-14:00; 19:00-04:00
Shibuya, Tokyo
INC Cocktails is a cocktail bar located in Shibuya, Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Su 18:00-02:00
Shibuya, Tokyo
TASUICHI is a cocktail bar located in the Shibuya district of Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Su-Th 17:00-02:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-03:00
Shibuya, Tokyo
Bar Gold Finger is a cocktail bar located in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo.
🕒 Hours: Mo-Th 18:00-02:00; Fr-Sa 18:00-04:00; Su 18:00-02:00
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Verified gaming locations in Tokyo, sense-checked against OpenStreetMap
Multi-storey Akihabara Electric Town arcade mecca with dedicated floors for crane games, rhythm games, and classic retro Japanese arcade cabinets on the 6th floor.
Insider Tip: Head straight to the top floors for retro fighting games and shoot-'em-ups.
1-11 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-, Tokyo
World-famous independent Tokyo arcade revered by fighting game and shoot-'em-up purists for live tournament streams and rare CRT cabinets.
Insider Tip: 100-yen coins only—watch top Japanese players compete live on the 2nd floor.
4-5-10 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-, Tokyo
Japan's largest esports and digital entertainment park spanning three floors inside the base of Tokyo Tower.
Insider Tip: Get the evening passport for unlimited VR, sim racing, and arcade play.
Tokyo Tower FootTown 3F-5F, 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Legendary 10-storey landmark directly outside Akihabara station overflowing with anime figurines, retro games, trading cards, and hobby collectibles.
Insider Tip: Check out AmiAmi on the 4th floor for duty-free figures and Yellow Submarine for rare board games and miniatures.
1 Chome-16 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-, Tokyo
Tokyo is world-famous for its bathing culture—explore verified thermal baths and wellness sanctuaries
Six-floor urban hot spring onsen in Shinjuku featuring natural thermal spring water transported daily from Nakaizu, carbonated baths, saunas, and oil massages.
1-1-2 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-, Tokyo
Luxury hot-spring complex overlooking Tokyo Bay fed with authentic Hakone and Yugawara thermal waters, featuring a 360-degree rooftop footbath garden.
6-5-1 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-, Tokyo
Waterfront resort hotel on Tokyo Bay where every balcony and the outdoor heated spa whirlpool look directly across the water at Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower.
1-9-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-, Tokyo
Kenzo Tange's iconic sky-high Shinjuku hotel occupying the top 14 floors of Shinjuku Park Tower, immortalized in Lost in Translation.
3-7-1-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-, Tokyo
Serene sky sanctuary atop Otemachi Tower with a soaring 30-metre washi-paper atrium lobby, basalt-lined onsen pool, and Imperial Palace views.
The Otemachi Tower, 1-5-6 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-, Tokyo
17-storey modern Japanese ryokan in central Tokyo where guests remove their shoes at the genkan entrance and soak in an open-air rooftop hot spring.
1-9-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-, Tokyo
For first-time visitors, Shinjuku is ideal (first-time visitors, nightlife (golden gai) & transit links). If you prefer food markets and evening buzz, choose Shibuya, Daikanyama & Ebisu, or pick Marunouchi, Ginza & Nihonbashi for refined hotel stays, fine dining & shinkansen access.
From Haneda (HND): Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho or Keikyu Line to Shinagawa in 15–20 mins. From Narita (NRT): Keisei Skyliner to Ueno in 41 mins or Narita Express (N'EX) to Tokyo/Shinjuku in 55 mins. Once in town, add a Welcome Suica or PASMO directly into Apple Wallet (or pick up a physical card at the airport) to tap instantaneously through every JR, Tokyo Metro, and Toei gate.
Top verified landmarks in Tokyo include Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Skytree, Kotoku-in (The Great Buddha of Kamakura), Tokyo DisneySea & Tokyo Disneyland Resort, Thermae-Yu Shinjuku (Natural Hot Spring Onsen & Spa). For food and evening drinks, standout local favourites include Harmonica Yokocho (Kichijoji Lantern Alley Izakayas), Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo (Nakameguro Meguro River), Bear Pond Espresso (Shimokitazawa), Yokohama Chinatown (Chūkagai – Kanteibyo Temple & 250+ Dim Sum Houses), Nobu Tokyo (Toranomon).
The best months to visit are March to May & Oct to Nov. Typical return flights from the UK start around £540, central hotels average £130/night, and daily dining/transit spend averages £55.
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