To discover the best of Tokyo's nightlife, see our separate guide. For a local experience, head to Uta Hiroba near Shibuya Station where you can rent a small private room with a large screen, some percussion and a drinks menu which can be ordered on a telephone – before belting out classic pop hits. Choose from more than 30 seasonal fish selections every day – and wash it all down with some recommended nihonshu sake. For more suggestions on where to eat on a budget in Tokyo, see our separate guide.įinish the evening by indulging in that celebrated national pastime: karaoke. LateĮscape the shopping crowds with a lively fish feast in atmospheric Kaikaya by the Sea, a buzzy restaurant celebrating all things fish, located on a small lane of a neon-lit Dogenzaka Street in nocturnal Shibuya. Don’t forget to venture outside to wander among its exquisitely maintained gardens, complete with ponds and teahouses.
Pause for a breather at the Kengo Kuma-designed Nezu Museum: walk along its serene bamboo and stone entry path before exploring its Japanese heritage treasures (from tea tools to swords). And an added gold star? It’s as clean as a city can possibly be.īut perhaps best of all is its structure: lacking a clearly marked centre, it’s made up of a patchwork of different neighbourhoods, each distinct in identity and atmosphere – and so there are the museum-like fashion flagships of architectural nirvana Aoyama the edgily rainbow-bright fashion tribes of trends-hub Harajuku the low-key fashion stores and cafés of leafy Daikanyama and the narrow lanes, old school kimono shops, temples and lively markets of Asakusa.Įxplore our interactive map below for all the local highlights, and scroll down for our suggested day-by-day summary of the best things to see and do. For further Tokyo inspiration, see our guides to the city's best hotels, restaurants, budget restaurants, shopping, nightlife, things to do and things to do for free.
Despite its salaryman crowds, flashing neon and sprawling train networks, it is a place that thrives on running smoothly and safely.
In reality, however, it is a refreshingly easy city to visit. The very idea of Tokyo – one of most densely packed cities on the planet – can be intimidating even before getting off the plane.