Tokyo, Japan

Japan is one of our favorite countries in the world. It's rich with unique culture and so many fun activities that you'll need at least a week to fully explore Tokyo. Here's our guide on how to be a tourist in Tokyo, Japan.

Where to stay

Tokyo is a very big city so where you stay depends on what activities you want to do. There are no unsafe areas, so you don't have to worry about that. We always like to spend a lot of time at Disney, so we try to stay closer to that area. The further you get out of the city, the less expensive your options are. Hotels in Tokyo are notoriously small to the point where you can't even set your suitcase on the floor and walk around it, but there's so much to do in Tokyo that you likely won't spend much time in your hotel room. The most important thing is to make sure your hotel is walking distance to a subway station if you plan on using public transportation.

Getting around

Uber is available in Tokyo, but is known to be very expensive. Sometimes traffic doesn't make it any faster either. Public transportation is the best way to get around Tokyo. The subway is super efficient and inexpensive. You'll want to download Suica on your phone in advance and reload that with money as needed. At the subway, you can use Apple Pay to pull up Suica and tap to pay for the subway. The subway stations are an activity themselves as some them go multiple stories underground with endless shopping and restaurants.

Things to do

Mt Fuji day trip

Seeing Mt Fuji is a bucket list item that you can experience on a tour from Tokyo. It includes a ride on a gondola, a cruise on Lake Ashi, and round trip transportation. Be aware that on cloudy days, you might not get a very good view of Mt Fuji.

Shibuya Crossing

Visiting the famous Shibuya crossing is a must do on your trip to Tokyo. Wait until the crosswalk turns green and join the rush of people crossing the intersection in all different directions at Shibuya Crossing.

There are a lot of other activities to do in Shibuya while there:

Shibuya sky

The Shibuya sky is an outdoor observation deck with wonderful views of Tokyo and Shibuya crossing from above. The cost is 2,200 yen (~$14.50 USD) and you should plan to spend around an hour and a half here.

Visit the Disney Store

The Disney Store in Shibuya is imaginatively themed inside and out. They even have exclusive official Disney merchandise only sold in Shibuya.

Arcade games

Shiubya is one of the better areas to find some good arcade games. Walking on the street, you'll see plenty of first floors filled with arcade games

Go shopping

There is a shopping mall connected to Shibuya sky, and also tons of shopping all around Shibuya.

Go-kart tour

If you have ever wanted to go-kart like Mario Bros., Tokyo is the place to do it. A go-karting tour is an exciting experience where you can actually dress up in costume and go-kart on the street of Tokyo. This tour includes the use of go-karts, costume rental, and a guide to take you around. You will need to obtain an international drivers license in advance.

Sensoji temple

Sensoji temple is Tokyo's oldest and most significant Buddhist temple. There is no charge to enter the temple and you should plan to spend one to two hours exploring it. Surrounding the Sensoji temple are many vendors selling local products that are fun to shop around.

Tokyo tower

The Tokyo tower is inspired by the Eiffel tower, but red and white colored. It costs 3,000 yen (~$20 USD) to go to the top where you can experience great views and even stand on a glass floor.

Ueno park

Ueno park is the perfect spot to get away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. You can just walk around and take in the beauty, or visit the museums and temples.

Tokyo skytree

At the bottom of the Tokyo skytree is a shopping mall and aquarium. You can go to the top for around 2,700 yen (~$20 USD). The Tokyo skytree is the tallest tower in the world and it certainly feels like it when looking down from the top. If you visit around Christmas, the Tokyo skytree has a great European inspired Christmas market.

Shinjuku

There is so much exploring to be done in the Shinjuku district, one of our favorite districts in Tokyo.

Godzilla head

Located on top of Hotel Gracery is a life sized Godzilla head, visible from Yasukuni Street. You can go up close to Godzilla by going up the 8th floor lobby of Hotel Gracery, where there is a view platform outside. Technically, you are suppose to be a guest of the hotel or eating at the cafe to go up here.

Shopping

Shinjuku has some great shopping at mega stores. Our favorite mega store is called Donki which features multiple stories of any item you can possibly think of at a great price. Be sure to try the viral and delicious cheese toastie.

Arcade games

We have tried all of the arcade games in Tokyo, and Shinjuku is easily the best place to play. They are on every corner, so it's impossible to miss. Just have fun exploring Shinjuku district and playing games along the way. Be prepared to carry around giant bags of stuffed animals if you win big.

Pro tip: the employees are super friendly will help move the stuffed animals closer to the edge if you ask for help. They will also teach you the proper technique on how to win. All the machines are designed to win with strategy and persistence.

Akihabara

Akihabara is the anime district of Tokyo and another great place to play arcade games. You'll find multi story buildings filled with arcade games. Gigo is one of the most popular spots for more arcade games than you can imagine. It usually costs a 100 yen coin (~$0.66 USD) for one play on a claw machine. There are always change machines located near the arcade games.

Animal cafes

Tokyo has all sorts of animal cafes such as pigs, dogs, birds, owls, and cats. They typically charge an entrance fee and require a minimum purchase of food or drinks. You'll have a set amount of time to spend in the cafe that you choose upfront. They will usually have you take off your shoes and sit on the ground where the animal will come up to you and you'll get to interact with them the entire time. This is a really unique experience that we recommend trying.

Ginza

Ginza is the glamorous shopping district of Tokyo. This is where you will find high end stores and restaurants. It is a popular destination for luxury shopping.

Local food

Zauo

For a unique dining experience where you go fishing and the restaurant cooks the fish that you catch for your meal, head to Zauo. There are multiple locations in Tokyo including Shinjuku and Shibuya. Be sure to grab a reservation in advance, as they do sell out.

Flipper's

Located in Shibuya, Flipper's is famous for serving the best fluffy pancakes. We recommend getting there before they open, as the line often wraps around the building for hungry people waiting to feast on the Japanese style pancake. You can choose from a variety of toppings and they truly are delicious. It's a food unique to Japan that is something you must try while there.

Anpan

The Japanese are known to use red bean paste as a popular ingredient. Anpan is a unique pastry filled with red bean paste and it's one of those things that you will either love or hate. The best spot to find anpan is in Ginza at Kimura-ya.

Things to know

Culture

Japanese people are among the most polite people in the world and try to avoid conflict at all costs. There is no shortage of holding doors, letting others go first, and bowing to show thanks. You will never see cutting lines, especially on trains where they line up to get on the train after allowing everyone to get off first. Most locals seem genuinely happy and proud of their culture, and are welcoming and friendly tourists. Bowing is a symbol of thanks in Japan. The further down the bow, the more respectful it is considered to be.

There are some unspoken customs in Japan to be aware of. If you do any of these things, people will understand you are a tourist, but it is nice to be respectful of other cultures and try to follow their customs when you visit.

• No eating on the subway

• No eating or drinking while walking

• Be quiet on public transportation

Currency

The Japanese Yen is the official currency of Japan. It is useful to have cash on you, especially if you plan on playing arcade games. Japanese use more coins than bills, so be sure to pack a coin bag for your trip.

Language

The official language of Japan is Japanese. You can get by only speaking English, but it will be difficult at times. Brand name hotel chains and restaurants will have English speaking workers. Many locals in Tokyo will understand some words in English, but can only speak a little bit of broken English. There will probably be times where nobody speaks English and it gets difficult to communicate. It's always best to have a translator app on your phone to make these situations easier.

Plugs

Japan uses plug type A and B. You can purchase an international plug adapter here.

Safety

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world, even for Americans and females. There is very minimal crime or theft, as those types of actions are considered embarrassing in the Japanese culture.

Tipping

Tipping is not expected in Japan even if you receive excellent service. Some Japanese will be offended if you try to tip because they take pride in doing a good job and find it embarrassing that they would need to be incentivized.

Sim card

You can get reasonably priced digital sim cards for your phone. There are several apps available for download for you to purchase and install in advance. As soon as you land, you can activate the sim card.

Visa

US citizens must have a valid passport, but do not need to apply for a visa in advance. Once you arrive at the airport in Japan is when you get a free tourist visa that allows you to stay for up to 90 days.

We hope you have enjoyed our guide on how to be a tourist in Tokyo, Japan. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

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