Easy Travel Guide Tokyo (東京, Tōkyō)

Tokyo is Japan’s capital and a very important city all over the world. It offers a variety of attractions, shopping centers, history and so much more. Here’s an easy travel guide to Tokyo for your first time.

But it’s not the only place you should visit, there are tons of other places nearby that you can’t miss. Check other Japan blogs.

Japan is a very well organized country, so it makes it very easy to go around. But to make most of it, there are some things you should keep in mind before you arrive to this beautiful country. 

What to visit in your first trip to Tokyo (東京, Tōkyō).

Plan your trip.

First of all it’s important that you buy in advance the Japan Rail Pass, in your own country. 

This is a pass that will allow you to travel from one city to another, and even use it in some metro lines in the city of Tokyo. (Yamanote Line)

You can get it on their website or any travel agency. 
It’s a great deal, and it includes the Shinkansen (bullet train)

Travel Guide Tokyo:

First stop: TOKYO

As soon as we got to the airport we headed to the JR Pass office to get it physically (we bought the 7 days pass) to be able to take our first train, the Narita Express and be able to leave suitcases in the Airbnb we rented.

On most bullet and normal trains, you have to book the seat in advance, but there is no cost. It’s just a matter of looking for offices, showing your pass, choosing time and day, and they give you your ticket.

Where to stay

The area where we rented our AirBNB was called Shinjuku. This place is full of restaurants and bars.

You can choose other areas like Tokyo Station Area, Ginza/Hibiya or Roppongi. Other decent places include Nihombashi, Shinagawa, Hamamatsucho and Shiodome. Try to chose one near a Yamanote Line, especially if you have the JR Pass. 

And as Japan is a very safe place, you can walk freely at any time and don’t have to worry about anything. Our place was close to 2 metro stations, so it was a very good deal, and it had two bedrooms.  https://www.airbnb.mx/

How many days to visit Tokyo?

If you only have limited time to visit all of Japan, you can do plenty of things in 3 days. Of course to really know a city it could actually take you a while, maybe a week or a month! But to get to know the main touristic places, 3 to 4 days is ok. 

Areas and places you can’t miss

Downtown Tokyo

• • Imperial Palace
  • Character St
  • Ginza
  • Tsujiki Fish Market

Ginza

Shibuya

• • Famous pedestrian crossing
  • Statue of Hachiko
  • Center Gai and Koen Dori (Panchiko, restaurants, locals, etc)

Harajuku (from Shibuya crossing the bridge Jingu)

• • Takeshita Dori Street
  • Omotesando Shopping Street
  • Yoyogi Park
  • Meiji Temple

Shinjuku

• • Tokyo government Building (observatory)
  • Kabuchiko (lively area to visit a karaoke at night or dinner)

Akahibara

Asakusa

• • Sensoji Temple
  • Calle Nakamise (Buy souvenirs)

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo National Museum by Ueno Park

KAMAKURA

Kamakura is worth visiting while you’re in Tokyo. It is about an hour by train and you can go and come back the same day without a problem.

You can’t miss the “Daibutsu” or Great Buddha. This one is in the temple Kotoku-in, and it’s amazing, it is impressive! 

One of my favorite temples was the Hase-dera where there are many statues “Jizo” and an offering to the deceased children. 

The Gokurakuji Forest, Temple of Hokokuji temple, sometimes called “the Temple of Bamboo”.
Zuisenji temple, located in a small valley

How to get there: 

Take the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station.

If you have the JR Pass take the Shonan Shinjuku Jr from the station From Shinjuku.

Use the train Enoden (via Enoshima) which stops at both Hase and Kamakura stations. This option is perfect if you don’t count on the JR Pass.