What each Tokyo neighbourhood is actually for - and how to group them so you stop losing hours on the trains.
Tokyo is not one city you see; it is a dozen districts that each do one thing extremely well. First-timers lose time by treating it as a single map. Group the districts by purpose and the trip gets shorter and better at the same time.
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How Tokyo is laid out
The Yamanote line loops around the city centre and connects most of the districts first-timers care about. Anything inside the loop is close; the interesting parts - Shimokita, Kichijoji, Odaiba - sit outside it. A route that crosses the loop twice in a day is a route you will remember as trains, not as Tokyo.
West Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Nakameguro
- ['Shinjuku - the transport hub and the night district. Best base for a first trip: the station serves almost everything, including day trips.', 'Shibuya - the crossing, the shopping, and the view from above it. Very busy; go early or after 20:00.', 'Harajuku and Omotesando - between them, youth fashion on Takeshita Street and the quieter design brands one street over.', 'Nakameguro - canal-side cafes and small shops; best in the late afternoon.']
East and North: Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara, Ryogoku
- ['Asakusa - the temple district and the most traditional corner of the city. Go before 09:00 or after 19:00 to see it without the crowd.', 'Ueno - museums, a park, and a market street with good-value food. A practical base for the north.', 'Akihabara - electronics and hobby shops. Two or three hours is enough for most people; a full day for anyone who collects.', 'Ryogoku - sumo country, with the museum and the stable district around the arena.']
Centre and Waterfront: Ginza, Tsukiji, Odaiba
- ['Ginza - department stores and the most polished shopping streets; also the easiest place to find a good lunch set at a fixed price.', 'Tsukiji - the outer market still trades in the morning; go before 11:00.', 'Odaiba - the waterfront, reached by a driverless train that is worth the ride for the view alone.']
Three days, grouped sensibly
- ['Day 1 - Shinjuku morning, Harajuku and Omotesando midday, Shibuya at night.', 'Day 2 - Asakusa at dawn, Ueno museums late morning, Akihabara afternoon, Ginza for dinner.', 'Day 3 - a day trip (Nikko, Kamakura or Hakone), then Odaiba or Nakameguro in the evening.']
See the regions covered on our coverage page.
Which Tokyo neighbourhood suits which traveller
- ['Cluster districts by direction; never cross the city twice in a day.', 'Shinjuku for first-timers who want transport and nightlife at the door.', 'Asakusa and Ueno for a calmer base with the temple district walkable from the hotel.', 'Go early for temples and markets, late for the busy shopping districts.']
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Tokyo?
Four full days covers the main districts without rushing, plus one day trip. Two days is enough for a first taste if it is part of a longer route.
Is a transit card worth it?
Yes for almost everyone. Fares are per ride, and a stored-value card removes the need to work out the fare at every gate.
Where should I stay with children?
Ueno. The park, the museums, the market and the transport are all within a short walk, and the streets are calmer than Shinjuku's.
Do I need to book restaurants?
Only for the well-known places. Small restaurants in Ueno, Asakusa and along the Yamanote loop generally take walk-ins.
What should I skip on a short trip?
Odaiba and Akihabara if you are short of time - both are excellent, but both are single-interest districts that a first-timer can leave for a second visit.