🏮 TOKYO TRAVEL GUIDE
- berfinozelsel
- Apr 10
- 9 min read
Updated: May 3
PLACES TO VISIT IN TOKYO
Tokyo is one of the world's most dynamic metropolises, blending traditional Japanese culture with modern life. With its towering buildings reaching into the sky, colorful neon signs, temples, exquisite cuisine and technological wonders, Tokyo is a city that every traveler should definitely explore.
Tokyo has been one of Japan's most important cities since the Edo period. It became the country's capital in 1868 with the Meiji Restoration and quickly modernized into its current form.
A city that feels like you have been transported to the future while preserving its traditions. In addition to its high technology, there is everything from peaceful and calm temples to unusual street food and Michelin star restaurants. When you first start researching Tokyo, it will seem so confusing that if I can make and implement a travel plan for this city, you will feel like I can visit every city in the world. With so much to do and see, planning a perfect Tokyo trip can be overwhelming, but don't worry, the useful information we have prepared for your Tokyo trip will help you.
With a population of over thirty-eight million, Tokyo is the largest city on the planet. It could take a lifetime to explore Tokyo, but most of us only have a week, so plan ahead.
To explore this city, it would be good to know the basic lines of the subway. You can divide Tokyo into 7 main areas in your head; Shibuya with its fast pulse, Harajuku for Japanese fashion, Akihabara for electronics and technology enthusiasts, Shinjuku for glittering and bright nightlife, Kabukicho and Golden Gai0 for lively nightlife and bars, Ginza for luxury stores and rich restaurants, Asakusa (Taito) for those who want to explore traditional culture, and Roppongi for art galleries. You can make your plan by adapting it to your vacation days according to their proximity to each other.
Shibuya and Shinjuku : The areas where the action never ends, where skyscrapers rise and are the center of shopping.
Asakusa and Senso-ji Temple : Experience traditional Japanese culture by visiting Tokyo's oldest temple.
Akihabara : The center of anime, manga and electronics shopping.
Tsukiji Outer Market : One of the most famous fish markets in the world.
Harajuku and Takeshita Street : Famous for their colorful youth fashion and quirky cafes.
Tokyo Tower and Skytree : The best spots to watch the city view.
Ghibli Museum : A fascinating experience for anime lovers.
Odaiba : The center of technology and entertainment, the giant Gundam statue is here!
Ueno Park : An area surrounded by nature with museums, a zoo and sakura trees.
Golden Gai : An area famous for its narrow streets and bars where you can breathe the air of old Tokyo.
You can plan your trip day by day as follows.
Asakusa, Ueno park and Akihabara,
Harajuku and Shibuya
Shinjuku, Kabukicho, Golden Gai,
Teamlab Planets, Tsukiji Market and Ginza
Ometesando, Meiji shrine, Yoyogi Park
Tokyo Tower—minato
Asakusa 🏮
You can start your Tokyo trip by visiting Senso-ji Temple, the oldest and most famous Buddhist Temple in the city, in Asakusa, located in the middle of the Taito district.
Once you're done at the temple, wander around Nakamise Shopping Street where you can snack on traditional delicacies and buy souvenirs.
When visiting Senso-ji Temple, the first thing you see is Kaminarimon Gate, this gate is known for its giant red paper lanterns and scary statues of guards. After passing the gate, you walk along Nakamise Street to the temple, where you can find souvenir shops and try street food. The other gate of the temple is called Hozomon Gate.
Asakusa is located in the northeast of Tokyo and is in the Taito district . You can reach it from Ginza by subway in 20-25 minutes. Right next to it is the Sumida River, and a little further on is the Tokyo Skytree.
Shibuya, the Heart of Tokyo: Meeting Point of Neon Lights and Crazy Crowds!
Shibuya is not just a district in Tokyo; it is like another planet. The energy is high, the rhythm is fast, the lights are bright.
🚦The Famous Shibuya Crossing: Symphony of the Crowd
Who doesn't know the legendary crosswalk that makes Shibuya what it is? That chaotic yet hypnotic crossing where hundreds of people walk in all directions at the same time at every green light ... Just crossing the street is considered a touristic activity here. You feel like you're in the middle of a music video, starring in it.
🐶 Hachiko, the Monument of Loyalty
Right next to the gate, there is a statue of Hachiko greeting you – the cute dog that has been waiting for his owner for years.
🛍️ Shopping: Shibuya 109
🎉 Nightlife?
Shibuya's night is a different world. You should visit this area at night with its neon lights. Rooftop bars, live music venues, karaoke bars... 🎤🌃
When you exit Hachiko station by subway, you will reach Shibuya crossing square. When you exit this station, you will also see the statue of the famous Hackiko.🐶
Harajuku: The Capital of Colors, Style and Dessert! 🎀🍓🌈🍡
There's a place in Tokyo that looks like it came out of a cartoon scene: Harajuku! This is the center of creativity and unique style.
💅 Takeshita Street
The heart of Harajuku is undoubtedly Takeshita Street. This street is like the fashion world’s unregulated playground. From lolita to punk, from anime characters to cosplay, every style is here. It’s like a cosplay festival is happening every day. There’s no question of “Can you go out with this outfit?” here. It’s a kind of freedom of style spilling out onto the streets! You can find anime clothes here, and if you want to keep your memories, you can also have your picture taken in photo booths.
🍡 Sweet Kingdom: Cotton Candy & Kawaii Snacks
This place is not only a feast for the eyes, it is a real dessert paradise ! Giant cotton candies, heart waffles, colorful milkshakes... My favorite? Of course rainbow cotton candy! But the crepe shops are also legendary!🌈
🛍️ Vintage Havens & Boutiques
On one side, sparkly accessories, on the other, vintage t-shirts straight out of the 80s… Harajuku is Tokyo’s most creative shopping district. If you’re thinking “nobody else has it, but it’s just right for you,” then Harajuku is for you. Especially shopping malls like Laforet Harajuku and tiny backstreet boutiques are a treasure trove!
⛩️ Meiji Shrine
Start your vacation by visiting Meiji Shrine with a peaceful walk in a lush forest one morning. You will feel like you are in a completely different world, far away from the city. Meiji Shrine, which seems to be hidden right behind all this colorful chaos, is the peaceful face of Harajuku. When you pass through the giant torii gate, you are suddenly left alone with silence and nature.
📸 Instagram Corners
If you want to “get some Japanese flair on your Instagram feed”, Harajuku is the place for you. Every corner is a different filter, every wall is a different pose. 🤳✨
At the end of Ometesando street you can see the Meiji Shrine. After passing the Tori Gate in the forest, you can reach the shrine by walking on a wide road.
Next to the Meiji Shrine is Yoyogi Park, where you can stop by to relax and get some fresh air.
There is also Ometesando Hills on Ometesando street where you can shop, one of the Apple stores in Tokyo, if you are thinking of buying a phone you can buy it from here.
Akihabara: Tokyo's "Electric Town" ⚡🎮💿
Akihabara's old name is "Electric Town"! This area, which has been Japan's technology center since the 1950s, is still full of headphones, cameras, computer parts, robotic devices, cables and "things you don't even know what they're for but want to buy". 😅
You can get lost for hours in giant 7-story electronics stores like Yodobashi Camera .
In addition to anime and manga venues, there are also plenty of game arcades here. You can visit the game arcades and play games. There are many who spend hours thinking, “Let me give you a hand with Street Fighter!” 🎮
Shinjuku
The “never sleeping” heart of Tokyo: Shinjuku! Skyscrapers reach for the sky, neon lights wink.🏙️🌃
Shinjuku Station , which has not lost the title of the world's busiest train station to anyone, is like a passage to another universe. When you first enter, you feel like "I can never leave this place again", but then you realize that this chaos also has an order within itself.
🏙️ Skyscraper District
The western side of Shinjuku is Tokyo’s business district, the skyscrapers and serious-faced suits . But it’s not just offices! You can go up to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building ’s free observation deck and get a 360-degree view of the entire city. If the weather is clear, even Mount Fuji will wave “I’m here”! 🗻
🌸 Shinjuku Gyoen
Did you want to take a breath in the city? Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a paradise! When the cherry blossoms bloom, you experience Japanese romance to your core. Like a portal to nature among concrete! 🌸🍃
🍜 Did You Say Nightlife? Kabukicho Responds!
Things get even more colorful when you move to the east side of Shinjuku! Kabukicho is Tokyo’s most famous (and a bit crazy) nightlife area. Neon lights, karaoke bars, robot restaurants, izakayas on secluded streets… 🎤🍶🎉
🤖 Robot Restaurant: The Show That Makes You Say "What Is This Really?"
The legendary place that is on everyone's list! Giant robots, dancing samurai, light-up dragons and a world that spins like a disco ball. A show that makes you say "Is this real?" If it sounds too much... There is no such thing as "too much" in Tokyo! 🤖💥
🎮 Golden Gai: Mini Bars🍻💬
A little further on from Kabukicho, Golden Gai is an area full of tiny bars crammed into narrow streets. Each bar has its own style, and most of them only have room for 4-5 people. But the conversations inside? It will probably be the most memorable moment of the whole trip.
Shinjuku is the heart, soul and most entertaining side of Tokyo that makes you say “what the hell is going on here?” It draws you in with its buildings reaching up to the sky during the day and its crowded streets at night.✨
Ginza: Tokyo's Chic Face, Its Glittering Heart ✨👠🍷
If Shibuya is the energy of youth, Akihabara is the heart of technology, Harajuku is the colorful imagination... Ginza is the temple of elegance, luxury and classy touches.
While walking here, you can feel like you are on a street tour in Paris. The only difference: there is no public transport that works this well in Paris. 😄
👜 The Capital of Luxury Shopping
Ginza is Tokyo's fashion showcase! Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Uniqlo's 12-story building (!) and much more... The streets are like a catwalk. Glass display cases, sparkling signs and streets that smell of perfume...
A visual feast even for those who say "I'll look at it even if I don't shop". 🛍️💎
Aesthetically presented patisseries, desserts that look like works of art, stylish tea sets... Ginza is a gourmet destination, especially for Japanese tea or matcha lovers!
📍Recommendation: You can catch some view and some peace on the terrace of Ginza Six .
There are museums, art galleries and even the traditional Japanese Kabuki theatre (Kabuki-za Theatre) . Kabuki's dramatic make-up and gesture-filled shows offer a completely different experience for travelers looking to dive into the cultural depths of Tokyo. 🎭🌸
Ginza's famous Chuo Dori street is home to the most luxurious stores in Tokyo
It reminds me a bit of New York 5th Avenue.🌃🥂
Ameyoko (Ameya Yokocho) is a famous shopping street located in the Ueno district of Tokyo. Starting from Ueno Station, this street offers a traditional Japanese market feel. The name "Ameya" refers to the shops selling sweet and salty snacks here, while "Yokocho" means "narrow street". The street offers a wide variety of goods: clothing, fresh fish, seafood, dried goods, fruit, souvenirs, and more.
Ameyoko is known for its generally affordable prices and lively atmosphere. It is also possible to see various cultural elements of Japan on the street. It is busiest during Japanese holiday periods, especially during the New Year and summer months.
Don Quijoti, with our millionaire mentality, there are stores in many neighborhoods where you can find everything, we visited the one in Asakusa.
Don't forget to add seeing Tokyo Tower, the Eiffel Tower of Tokyo, and visiting Roppongi in the evening to your travel plans.
🎉 Things You Shouldn't Return Without Doing
Walk through Shibuya Scramble Crossing!
Make a wish at Senso-ji Temple!
Watch a crazy show at the Robot Restaurant!
See the giant Gundam statue in Odaiba!
End the night at one of the small bars in Shinjuku Golden Gai!
Experience karaoke!
Eat at vending machine restaurants!
Watch a sumo wrestler!
Discover Konbini (Japanese convenience store) snacks!
🎭 Alternative Tokyo
Gotokuji Temple : Temple of the Maneki Neko (lucky cat), believed to bring good luck.
Shimokitazawa : Tokyo's bohemian neighborhood, famous for its second-hand shops and coffee shops.
Yanaka Ginza : The nostalgic side of Tokyo, a great area to experience the atmosphere of old Japan.
🛍 Shopping in Tokyo
Ginza : The center of luxury brands and shopping.
Harajuku : Young and fun fashion shops.
Akihabara : Electronics and anime paradise.
Shibuya 109 : The best examples of Japanese street fashion.
Don Quijote : The best place to buy souvenirs from Tokyo.
💡 Recommendations
Tokyo is a big city, it can be difficult to get around without a good plan. Use apps like Google Maps and Hyperdia.
Cash is still very important in Japan, so always keep some Yen with you.
It is not common to leave a tip in restaurants!
Maintain silence, talking on the phone is not welcome on public transport.
Tokyo is a world waiting to be discovered in every corner. I hope our guide will make your trip easier and more enjoyable. Enjoy your trip! ✈️🌍
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