Tokyo Travel FAQ

4 days minimum to cover the major districts (Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara). 5-7 days is ideal if you're adding day trips like Hakone, Kamakura, or Nikko. 2-3 days feels rushed and you'll miss the more interesting quieter neighborhoods like Shimokitazawa or Yanaka. The sweet spot is 5 days: 3 in central Tokyo, 1 day trip to Hakone, 1 day for Mitaka/Ghibli or local exploration.

Late March to early April (cherry blossoms, 10-20°C) and October to November (autumn foliage, 15-22°C) are the top seasons. Both have hotel prices double or triple normal — book 3-4 months ahead. June to August is hot and humid (30-35°C plus rainy season). December to February is cold but underrated: clear skies, lowest prices, best Mt. Fuji visibility from the city.

Among the safest large cities in the world. Walking alone at night is fine in nearly every neighborhood. Lost wallets are routinely returned with cash intact. Pickpocketing is extremely rare. Main concerns: bicycles speeding on shared sidewalks, and earthquake preparedness (read your hotel's safety card).

No, but knowing basic phrases helps. English signage is standard at major train stations, museums, and tourist sites. Restaurants in central districts often have picture menus or English menus. Google Translate's camera function instantly translates Japanese signs and menus and is essential. Three phrases — 'Arigato gozaimasu' (thank you), 'Sumimasen' (excuse me), 'Ikura desu ka' (how much) — cover most interactions.

Check visa rules for your passport (90-day visa-free for US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, NZ, and 65+ other countries). Get travel insurance. Set up Mobile Suica via Apple Pay or Google Pay before arrival. Reserve eSIM or pocket WiFi. Book popular attractions in advance (teamLab Borderless, Shibuya Sky, Imperial Palace inner garden tour). Power outlets are Type A/B 100V — same as US/Canada; UK/EU travelers need an adapter.

Basic English works at major tourist sites, hotels, and large restaurants. Local izakayas and small shops often have limited English. Google Translate's camera mode and a few Japanese phrases (sumimasen, ikura desu ka, okaikei) handle most situations. Major train stations all have English signage and announcements.

Budget travelers: around $83 / ¥12,500 per day (hostel, convenience store + ramen meals, public transit). Mid-range: $202 / ¥30,300 per day (3-star hotel, sit-down restaurants, attractions). Luxury: $495+ / ¥74,250+ per day (5-star hotel, Michelin meals, private tours).

Yes, more than you'd expect. Traditional izakayas, alley restaurants in Omoide Yokocho, and ramen shop ticket machines often only take cash. Chain restaurants (Ichiran, Marugame, Coco's) accept cards and IC cards. Always carry $50-100 / ¥7,500-¥15,000 in cash for safety.

Best rates: Wise, Revolut, or Charles Schwab debit cards (use 7-Eleven ATMs in Japan — fee-free with most US/EU cards). Airport currency counters at Narita/Haneda are decent backups. Avoid downtown currency exchanges. You'll need at least ¥10,000-20,000 ($65-130) cash on arrival for IC card top-ups and small vendors.

Hostels/capsule hotels: $20-35 / ¥3,000-5,000 per night. Business hotels: $55-100 / ¥8,000-15,000. 3-star: $100-170 / ¥15,000-25,000. 4-5 star: $200-550+ / ¥30,000-80,000+. Cherry blossom season (March-April) and year-end push prices up 50-100%.

Bring your passport. Stores with the Tax-Free logo refund 10% sales tax on purchases over ¥5,500 / $35. Consumables (cosmetics, food) and general goods can't be combined. Tax-free items must stay sealed until you leave Japan (consumables come specially packaged).

Accommodation tax (¥100-200/night). Service charge at upscale restaurants (10-15%). Coin lockers ($2-5 / ¥300-700). Pocket WiFi return delays ($13-20 / ¥2,000-3,000 per day late fee). Attraction stacking (teamLab + Skytree + Shibuya Sky combined runs $52-61 / ¥7,900-9,200).

Yes — strongly recommended. Physical cards have a $3 / ¥500 deposit, but iPhone/Android users can add Mobile Suica via Apple Pay or Google Pay before arrival, no physical card needed. Works on all trains, buses, vending machines, and convenience stores. Tap to enter, tap to exit.

Narita Express (N'EX): 53 min to Tokyo Station, $20 / ¥3,000. Keisei Skyliner: 41 min to Ueno, $14 / ¥2,100. Limousine Bus: 85-120 min to Shinjuku/Shibuya, $18 / ¥2,700 — best with heavy luggage. Cheapest option: Keisei Access Express to Asakusa, $8 / ¥1,270.

Tokyo Monorail: 13 min to Hamamatsucho, $3 / ¥500. Keikyu Line: 11 min to Shinagawa, $3 / ¥500. Limousine Bus: 25-50 min to Shinjuku/Shibuya, $9 / ¥1,300. Haneda is much closer to central Tokyo than Narita.

Tokyo Subway 72-hour pass ($10 / ¥1,500) covers Tokyo Metro + Toei lines unlimited — pays back in 2 days easily for active sightseeing. JR Pass is overkill if you're only in Tokyo; consider it only if you're doing day trips to Hakone, Nikko, or further. Day pass pays back at 4+ subway rides.

Clean and safe but expensive. Base fare around $5 / ¥750. Late-night surcharge of 20-30% from 22:00-5:00. With 3-4 people splitting, taxi cost ≈ subway. Use the GO or S.RIDE apps; Uber barely operates in Japan.

Hakone: Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku, 85 min, $15 / ¥2,330. Buy the Hakone Free Pass ($40 / ¥6,100, 2 days) — unlimited mountain railway, cable car, pirate ship, and bus. Kamakura: Shonan-Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku, 60 min, $6 / ¥940. The Great Buddha ($2 / ¥300) and Enoshima beach fill half a day.

Ramen (Ichiran, Mutekiya — $6-9 / ¥900+), sushi (Tsukiji Outer Market — $2 / ¥300+ per piece), yakitori (Omoide Yokocho — $0.50 / ¥75+ per skewer), gyukatsu (Motomura — $9 / ¥1,400+), tendon (Tenya — $3 / ¥500+), tonkatsu (Maisen — $10 / ¥1,500+). Convenience store bento ($4-6 / ¥600-900) is genuinely excellent.

Budget: $10-17 / day (convenience breakfast + ramen lunch + izakaya dinner). Mid-range: $27-40 / day (café brunch + sushi lunch + yakiniku dinner). Luxury: $65+ / day (omakase + wagyu course).

Most restaurants have ticket-vending machines (shokken-ki) — push the button with the picture. Photo menus are standard, and tourist-area restaurants often have English menus. Google Translate's camera mode reads menus instantly.

AFURI ramen has vegan options. Asakusa's shojin-ryori (Buddhist temple) restaurants are fully vegetarian. Convenience store onigiri with umeboshi (pickled plum) or kombu (kelp) are vegetarian. Note: most Japanese broth uses katsuobushi (bonito flakes), so confirm in advance for strict vegan.

Japanese konbini (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) are world-class. Onigiri ($1-1.50), bento boxes ($4-6), sandwiches ($3-4) — all rival specialty shops. Must-try: 7-Eleven's curry pan, Lawson's basque cheesecake.

Look for the Bib Gourmand list — Michelin-recognized quality under $35 / ¥5,000. Many star-rated restaurants offer lunch sets at 30-50% of dinner prices, so book lunch reservations.

Online via Tabelog, Gurunavi, or Hot Pepper Gourmet (Japanese). For English support: TableAll or Omakase apps. Hotel concierge can call on your behalf. Google Maps' 'Reserve' button works for many spots.

Japanese law requires labeling for 7 major allergens (wheat, buckwheat, dairy, eggs, peanuts, shrimp, crab) on packaged foods and many menus. Use Google Translate to make a Japanese allergy card to show staff — most places will accommodate.

First-time visitors: Shinjuku (transport hub, shopping, nightlife), Shibuya (trendy, 20s-30s), Asakusa (traditional, affordable, walking distance to Skytree). Ginza for luxury, Ueno for families, Roppongi for nightlife and international vibes.

Cherry blossom (March-April): book 3-4 months ahead. Autumn foliage (October-November): 2-3 months ahead. Year-end and Golden Week: 4-6 months ahead. Off-season (January-February, June): 1-2 weeks works, and prices drop 30-50%.

Yes — $20-35 / ¥3,000-5,000 per night for clean, modern capsules. Top picks: 9 Hours, First Cabin. Includes luggage lockers; some have public baths (sento). Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper.

Better outside central Tokyo — Hakone, Nikko, or Lake Kawaguchiko (Mt. Fuji area) for a 1-night ryokan trip. Costs $130-330+ / ¥20,000-50,000 per person including 2 meals (breakfast + kaiseki dinner). Tatami rooms, yukata, onsen included.

Yes, with restrictions. Japan's Minpaku law allows up to 180 days/year. Legitimate listings show a permit number. Hotels often beat Airbnb for solo/couple travelers — easier check-in, no language barrier, daily cleaning. Airbnb wins for groups of 4+.

Early June to mid-July (tsuyu, 梅雨). Not constant rain, but cloudy and humid. Folding umbrella is essential. Plan indoor attractions (teamLab, Akihabara, shopping malls) on the wettest days.

Yes — clear skies and low humidity make it pleasant. Temperatures 0-10°C, similar to Seoul. Best Mt. Fuji visibility of the year. Lowest hotel and flight prices. Pack a warm coat, scarf, and gloves.

Tokyo cherry blossoms typically open March 20-25 and reach full bloom late March to early April. Dates vary 1-2 weeks year to year — check the JMA cherry blossom forecast (sakura zensen). Best spots: Ueno Park, Meguro River, Chidorigafuchi.

Hot and humid (30-35°C, 70-80% humidity). Heat exhaustion risk is real. Hydrate aggressively, use cooling sheets (Hiyaron from convenience stores), and apply sunscreen. Upside: hanabi (fireworks) festivals and summer matsuri are unforgettable.

Late August through early October. Direct hits on Tokyo are rare but train suspensions and flight cancellations happen. Check NHK World news and Yahoo! Japan's disaster prevention app for real-time alerts.

Senso-ji (Asakusa, free), Shibuya Crossing, Meiji Shrine (free), Tokyo Skytree ($14 / ¥2,100+), teamLab Borderless/Planets ($25 / ¥3,800+), Tsukiji Outer Market, Akihabara, Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho. Plan minimum 3 days.

Senso-ji, Meiji Shrine, Ueno Park, Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck (45F, completely free), Harajuku Takeshita Street, Hamarikyu Garden (free on certain holidays), Imperial Palace outer garden, Ameyoko Market.

Borderless (Azabudai Hills): walk freely through boundless digital art. Planets (Toyosu): immersive, walk through water. If you can do both, do both. If just one, Planets is the more unique experience.

Disneyland: classic theme park (families, kids). DisneySea: adult-oriented (alcohol served, thrill rides, unique theming). First-timers should pick DisneySea. 1-day pass $52-72 / ¥7,900-10,900. Full coverage of both parks needs 2 days.

On clear days, yes — from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (free), Shibuya Sky, or Tokyo Skytree. December-February clear days have the highest visibility; summer rarely shows Fuji due to clouds. For guaranteed views, take a day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko (2h by bus) or Hakone.

eSIM (Ubigi, Airalo) is most convenient — $7-15 for 7 days. Pocket WiFi (e.g., Imoto WiFi) at airport pickup/return runs $4-7/day. Free WiFi at convenience stores, Starbucks, and Tokyo Metro stations works but is slow.

No, never. Tipping is not customary and can be confusing or even rude. Restaurants, taxis, hotels — all have service included in the price. The only exception: a small envelope (pochi-bukuro) for exceptional ryokan service.

Carry your trash with you and dispose of it at convenience stores, your hotel, or train stations. Sort by burnable, non-burnable, cans, PET bottles — Japanese recycling rules are strict.

Get under a table, protect your head, wait for shaking to stop. If outdoors, move away from buildings and power lines. Read your hotel's safety card on arrival. Install NHK World app or Yahoo! Japan disaster app for real-time alerts.

Yes — Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Sundrug are major drugstore chains carrying headache, stomach, cold medicines, bandages, etc. Some require no prescription. Tax-free is available. Active ingredients may differ from your home country — check English ingredient names.

Japan is restroom heaven. Subway stations, convenience stores, department stores, and parks all have free, clean restrooms (often the cleanest you've ever used). Washlets (bidets) are standard. Buttons are mostly Japanese, but the spray (おしり) and stop (止) buttons are easy to find.