A short history of Tokyo
In the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace you walk between walls built of huge stone blocks. They are what is left of Edo Castle. When Tokugawa Ieyasu became shogun in 1603, this castle town called Edo became the country's real seat of government, and by the 18th century it was one of the most populous cities in the world.
In 1868 the shogunate ended, the emperor moved here from Kyoto and the city was renamed Tokyo, meaning eastern capital. The grounds of the old castle became the imperial palace.
Tokyo has few old buildings for two main reasons: the Great Kantō earthquake of 1923 and the fires that followed it, and then the air raids of 1945. Even the main hall of Sensō-ji temple in Asakusa was rebuilt after the war. The 1964 Olympics became the symbol of the city's recovery, and the first Shinkansen line opened the same year.
Tokyo neighbourhoods
Yanaka is one of the few districts that largely escaped the bombing of 1945. In its lanes between wooden houses, small temples and the cemetery you get a feel for old Tokyo, and in the late afternoon the shops on the Yanaka Ginza shopping street sell snacks.
Shimokitazawa is full of second-hand clothing shops, small theatres and live music bars. It is a short ride from Shibuya on the Keiō Inokashira line, but it feels like a different city.
In Nakameguro the cherry trees lining the Meguro River bloom in late March. The rest of the year the cafés and boutiques along the canal keep a quiet walk company.
Harajuku puts two different worlds side by side. Takeshita Street fills with youth fashion and crowds, while a few hundred metres away the wooded paths of Meiji Shrine begin. On Omotesando avenue next door, shop buildings designed by well-known architects line the street.
Where to stay
- Shinjuku: Huge transit hub, nightlife and hotels for every budget.
- Shibuya: Young and lively, with shopping, cafés and easy metro links.
- Ginza / Tokyo Station: Polished and central, with the Shinkansen and Narita Express on the doorstep.
- Asakusa: Old-Tokyo feel, temples and affordable hostels.
- Ueno: Museums, park and a fast Skyliner to Narita.
- Roppongi: Art museums and late-night bars.
When to visit Tokyo
Winter in Tokyo is nicer than most people expect. From December to February the weather is dry and sunny, days reach 8-12 °C, and on clear days you can see Mount Fuji from the terraces of tall buildings. Still, there are two best seasons: the cherry blossom weeks from late March to early April, and November, when the leaves turn red.
During cherry blossom time Ueno Park and the Chidorigafuchi moat fill with picnickers, and hotels sell out early. During Golden Week, from late April to early May, Japanese travellers are on the move too, so trains and sights get very crowded.
The rainy season, called tsuyu, lasts from early June to mid-July. The summer that follows brings 30-35 °C and stifling humidity, and August and September are typhoon season. On the last Saturday of July, the fireworks over the Sumida River make for the busiest evening of the summer.
Food culture in Tokyo
Good food in Tokyo spans every budget. At small ramen shops around the stations you order from a ticket machine by the door, hand the ticket over the counter and get your bowl within minutes. At lunch, 11.30-14.00, set meals called teishoku come with rice, soup and pickles.
After 18.00 the izakayas fill up. When you sit down a small dish arrives without you ordering it. This is otoshi, and it goes on the bill as a table charge. Beyond sushi, soba, tempura and yakitori, explore the food halls called depachika in the basements of department stores.
The 24-hour convenience stores, konbini, with their onigiri and hot meals, are the easiest way to eat on the go. Eating while walking down the street is frowned upon, and people usually stand outside the shop to eat. In Japan nothing is added to the bill as a tip.
Tokyo trip budget
Tokyo has a reputation for being expensive, but compared with London or New York it comes out cheaper on most counts. Accommodation is the real expense, while food is surprisingly affordable. A filling bowl of ramen costs 1,000-1,500 JPY.
In 2026, a capsule hotel or hostel guest living on konbini food and ramen spends 8,000-12,000 JPY a day. For someone in a mid-range business hotel who goes to an izakaya in the evenings, that becomes 20,000-35,000 JPY. A day with a good hotel and an omakase sushi dinner reaches 60,000 JPY.
A short metro ride is 180-260 JPY, and the 24-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket is around 800 JPY. A ticket to the Tokyo National Museum costs 1,000 JPY. The observation floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku is free, and so are Sensō-ji, Meiji Shrine and the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace.
Prices are approximate as of October 2026.
Build your route on the Tokyo map