Tokyo, Japan Destination Guide

Destination Guide
Written By ID90 Travel

Section 1: Intro to the Destination

Quite possibly the best destination for foodies and wanderlust-seekers alike, Tokyo is a feast for the senses. The perfect combo of modern yet still historic, there are numerous old landmarks that contrast the cutting edge technology that is present in the city. This energetic city is always on the move so you’ll have to move quick to keep up.

Which of the Following Phrases Best Describes this Destination? (You can select more than one)

Energetic & Active, Modern, Historic, Mysterious

What’s the Destination Known For?

Gardens, historic temples, international cuisine  

Getting There

  • Tokyo Airports:

  • (NRT) Narita International Airport

  • Located 37 miles from downtown Tokyo, almost all international flights to Japan land at this airport. Although it is a pain to travel so far to get downtown, there are plenty of public transportation options since so many travelers arrive here.

  • (HND) Haneda International Airport

    • This airport is located closer to downtown Tokyo but is mostly just for domestic flights. If you are coming from Kyoto or another city in Japan, this is a good airport to fly into.

  • Nearby Airports:

    • (KIX) Kansai International Airport

      • This airport is located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay. It serves as an international hub for All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and Nippon Cargo Airlines. A one-hour flight from here to Narita is your best option to get to Tokyo, with fares starting as low as $40.

    • (NGO) Chubu Centrair International Airport 

      • Many large airlines, such as Cathay Pacific, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have flights to this airport. To get to Tokyo from here, we recommend taking either a train or a short flight.

Local Etiquette

  • Make sure to remove your shoes before entering a home. Some historic buildings and restaurants will ask you to do the same. 

  • No tip is necessary for waitstaff, tour guides or taxi drivers. Also, waitstaff does not continually check on you so you may have to wave them down when you’re ready to order or ready for the check. 

  • Never use your fingers to pick up food. Use chopsticks for soup and then lift the bowl to your mouth to drink the broth. If you don’t know how to use chopsticks…. well good luck.

  • When greeting someone, offer a gentle handshake and a slight bow of the head. Avoid drawn out eye contact and any other touching.

  • Keep left on sidewalks and stairs

  • Punctuality is very important to the Japanese. Always be on time for any social occasions.

Weather

  • Temperatures

  • Spring:

  • High: 70F / 21C

  • Low: 50F / 10C

  • Summer:

    • High: 84F / 29C

    • Low: 64F / 18C

  • Fall:

    • High: 79F / 26C

    • Low: 59F / 15C

  • Winter:

    • High: 59F / 15C

    • Low: 36F / 2C

  • Avoid June - September, as it is rainy and typhoon season. The best weather is in October - November and Cherry Blossoms bloom March - May.

  • 131 ft / 40 m

Getting Around

  • In City Transportation…

    • Metro - As the cheapest way to get from one side of town to the other, the metro is a great option for getting around. One day of unlimited rides is approximately $8 and single rides are $1.50-$2.75, depending on distance traveled. But beware, some stations don’t have a map that’s in English so having a picture of the Tokyo Subway Route map on your phone isn’t a bad idea. 

    • Walking - Tokyo is a fairly large city so walking everywhere is a waste of time. Taking the metro to an area for the day and then walking everywhere is a great combo though.

    • Uber - Although Lyft doesn’t exist here, Uber is a quick way to get around town and a rideshare will save you some $$$.

    • Taxi - These can be pretty expensive in Tokyo, especially if it’s just for one person. If you have a group of four people and want to get somewhere quick though, it might be worth it.

    • Bike - This is all you need to know...

Section 2: What to See, Do, and Eat

Breakfast

Brunch

Lunch

  • $$-tier

  • $$$-tier

    • Yakiniku a Five Toku

    • Barbeque 

    • GINZA TOKIDEN Building 9th Floor 8-3-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061

    • Website

    • Dress is casual

    • All you can eat Yakiniku and a view of the train tracks and the city if you sit by the window.

Dinner

Other (Food Trucks, Late Night Bites, Ice Cream Shops, etc.)

  • Food Trucks

    • Garage 50

      • Pizza

      • 1-23-5 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino (Kichijoji Station)

      • Website 

      • Dress is casual

      • This food truck is parked in a converted garage with seating available. Every 24cm pizza is just ¥500 ($4.45)! The Italian basil pizza is a must try.

    • Adwee Lalawee

      • Pad Thai

      • Lalawee is a roaming chef. He tends to set up around the Koenji/Asagaya area but frequently updates his Twitter with a picture of his location.

      • Website

      • Dress is casual

      • The only dish served from the wooden cart attached to the back of Lalawee’s bicycle is pad Thai for ¥380 ($3.38) and a Singha beer for ¥400 ($3.56). 

Top things to See and Do

  1. Sensō-ji Temple

  • A famous Buddhist temple located in Asakusa

  • Here are the deets you need to know before visiting…

    • Admission is free

    • Hours for the main hall are 6AM-5PM but the temple grounds are always open

    • This temple has 30 MILLION visitors each year

  1. Tokyo Skytree

  • The world’s tallest freestanding broadcasting tower with an observation deck that has 360 views of the city.

  • Here are the deets you need to know before visiting…

  1. Meiji Shrine

  • Read about how this Shrine was used during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics

  • Here are the deets you need to know before visiting…

    • It costs $4.50 to enter the Inner Garden

    • Opens at sunrise and closes at sunset

  1. Tokyo Disneyland 

  • It’s Disney in Tokyo!

  • Here are the deets you need to know before visiting…

    • Cost is $68 for adults and $45 for children

    • Open 7 days a week 8AM-10PM

    • We recommend buying your tickets here beforehand to avoid waiting in line once you arrive at the park.

  1. Harajuku

  • “Harajuku (原宿) refers to the area around Tokyo's Harajuku Station, which is between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. It is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights.”

  • Here are the deets you need to know before visiting…

    • Takeshita Dori is a famous street in this neighborhood that is lined with shops and cafes and is nearly always crowded with people.

    • Most shops are open 11AM-8PM or 9PM

  1. Tokyo Imperial Palace

  • The Imperial Palace is the home of the Emperor of Japan and his family so the inside is not open to the public. However, there are two days a year, January 2 and December 23, where the palace opens for a New Year’s Greeting and for the Emperor’s birthday.

  • Here are the deets you need to know before visiting…

    • Closed Monday and Friday but open 8AM-5PM all other days

    • There is no admission fee to visit the gardens

  1. Ueno Park

  • This park is one of the best spots to see Cherry Blossoms when they are in full bloom March - May, as there are more than 1000 cherry trees on the grounds.

  • Here are the deets you need to know before visiting…

    • Open 7 days a week 5AM-11PM

    • There are multiple museums on the grounds of this park, including the Tokyo National Museum and the National Science Museum, that are definitely worth a visit.

  1. Tsukiji Fish Market

  • “Tsukiji Market (築地市場, Tsukiji Shijō) is a large wholesale market for fish, fruits and vegetables in central Tokyo. It is the most famous of over ten wholesale markets that handle the distribution of food and flowers in Tokyo. Tsukiji Market is best known as one of the world's largest fish markets, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day.”

  • Here are the deets you need to know before visiting…

    • The fish market tuna auction is 3:30AM-6AM Monday-Saturday

    • Only 120 visitors are allowed at the tuna action each day. Tourists must apply at the Osakana Fukya Center (Fish Information Center) at the Kachidoki Gate, in order to try to get a spot.

    • The wholesale area opens at 11am to tourists. Make sure you don’t touch ANYTHING, don’t bring small children or pets with you and do not obstruct traffic!

  1. Public Baths

  • Bath houses are a normal thing for many locals and a great way to really immerse yourself into Japanese culture. 

  • Here are the deets you need to know before visiting…

Festivals/Parades

  1. Kanda Matsuri 

  • One of Tokyo’s most famous festivals, this event lasts a whole week but the main procession and parades are on Saturday and Sunday. From a parade of shrines to men in samurai uniforms riding horses, there is so much music, culture and dancing to be a part of in the this festival.

  1. Sanno Matsuri

  • This festival only takes place in mid-June of even numbered years, so if you happen to be in town, you should take advantage of the opportunity to experience it.

  1. Tokyo St. Patrick’s Day

  • “The parade was started in 1992 by the Irish Network Japan, with support from the Embassy of Ireland, to introduce Irish culture to the people of Japan.” 

  1. Mitama Matsuri

  • “Around 300,000 people flock to Yasukuni Shrine during its annual Mitama Matsuri, one of Tokyo's biggest Obon festivals. First held in 1947, the festival is best known for the 30,000 lanterns that light the way to the shrine each evening – so don't forget your camera. Given that the event is intended to honour the dead, some visitors might be surprised to discover that the attractions include a popular obake yashiki haunted house; there are also mikoshi parades, concerts and traditional dance performances held over the four days.”

Nightlife

Where to go and hang once the sun sets – bars, nightclubs, etc. Try and find BOTH places where the locals hang AND places where the tourists hang. For each location, record the name, address, website, and anything interesting it might be known for (e.g. live Tango demonstration by professional dancers every Thursday night at 9PM.)

  1. Ginza

  • Ginza, Chou 104-0061, Tokyo Prefacture

  • Website

  • If you want to stay away from tourists and the younger crowd, this is your spot.

  • “One of the priciest shopping areas of Japan”

  • 10 essential bars in Ginza

  1. Roppongi

  • Roppongi, Minato 106-0032, Tokyo Prefecture

  • Website

  • Great nightlife! Many of the pubs and bars in this area are open til morning 

  1. Gen Yamamoto

  • 1-6-4 Azabujuban, Anniversary Building 1F, Minato 106-0045, Tokyo Prefecture

  • Website

  • “Gen Yamamoto’s eponymous bar is a serene oasis with eight seats around a handsome bar made from 500-year old Mizunara oak. He approaches cocktail making with a chef-like respect for ingredients and emphasis on balance, with drinks that are fresh, focused, and never boozy.”

  1. Another8

  • 1 Chrome-2- 1 8 Shimomeguro, Meguro, Tokyo 153-0064, Japan

  • Website

  • “Another8 is chill and stylish (like the crowd) and a relaxed place to stop in for an early-evening drink—Japanese beer is the name of the game here.”

Hidden Gems

  1. Shimokitazawa

  • An artistic neighborhood with plenty of thrift shops and record stores for all you wanderers 

  • Location

  1. Journey to the End of the Night

  • Essentially an adult game of tag... 

  • Location

  1. Les Grands Arbres

  • This hole-in-the-wall coffee shop has a giant tree growing through the middle of the floor! It is a great spot to relax and sip on some coffee or tea

  • Location

ID90 Travel http://www.id90travel.com
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