Tokyo travel blog — The fullest Tokyo travel guide for first time visiting Tokyo

This is the largest park in Tokyo, with green lawns, lakes and shady trees. The park is an ideal place for picnic trips, sightseeing, walks, or even watching the street performance shows. Especially, there are also the beautiful road of yellow ginkgo trees. The place is also the favorite place of the old goods devotees, items here are quite diverse, but the most popular is the clothes and household items.

Address: 2-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0052, Japan
Hours: Open 24/7
Phone: +81 3-3469-6081
Free entrance

Odaiba Bay

A large artificial island in Tokyo Bay (Japan) that connects to the center via the Rainbow Bridge, this is a large commercial, residential and entertainment area with lots of interesting activities.

Museums, palaces, cultural places, experience Japanese culture

Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu)

This is the most famous Shinto shrine in Tokyo. The temple was built to commemorate the Emperor Meiji – The Emperor of the late 19th century. If you come here on Sunday morning, you will see the wedding processional in Japanese tradition. The temple is open from dawn to dusk, free entrance.

Address: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-8557, Japan
Free entrance
Hours: Sunrise to sunset

Sensoji Temple (Asakusa Kannon Temple)

The ancient temple of Senso-ji or Asakusa Kannon are known not only as the oldest Buddhist temple in Asakusa, in Tokyo but also the place of worship of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, full of spiritual colors.

Address: 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taitō, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
Hours: Main hall: 6:00 to 17:00 (from 6:30 from October to March). Temple grounds: Always open
Free admission

Tokyo Imperial Palace

It is the capital of the ancient Edo Dynasty, covering an area of over 7.5 square kilometers and surrounded by moats and stone walls. When you come here, you will be watching the majestic beauty of the ancient palace.

Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-8111, Japan
Phone: +81 3-3213-1111
Hours: Tue-Sat 9AM–5PM. Mon, Sun Closed
Website: http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.html

Rent and take pictures with the traditional kimono

Experience a day of transforming yourself into a Japanese incarnation with your own kimono and walking on the fairytale street of Asakusa.

Onsen bathing

Enjoy the onsen bathing in your own way in 13 different forms with water source taken from 1400m deep underground.

Try sake rice wine

Sip your favorite sake in one of Tokyo’s famous bars for up to 6 hours.

Nightlife and shopping

Tokyo Dome City

A popular entertainment complex, it attracts many visitors to visit while touring Tokyo. You will be pleased to discover the modern beauty here from the famous spa centers, beautiful and luxurious hotels to exciting entertainment zones, full of fun.

Address: 1 Chome-3-61 Koraku, Bunkyō, Tokyo 112-0004, Japan
Hours: 10:00–21:00
Admission: Free to enter the park. [1-Day Passport] 3,800 yen (for Adults), 3,300 yen (for Adolescents), 2.000 ( for Children), 1.200 (for Kids)
Phone: 03-3817-6001
Website: https://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/en/tourists/

Akihabara

This neighborhood is located in Chiyoda District, Tokyo, famous for its hi-tech stores, entertainment venues and restaurants. Akihabara is also known as “Electronic Quarter” because the stores here are mainly dealing in electronic items extremely diverse.

Shibuya Street & Shibuya Crossing

Tokyo’s busiest shopping district. Shibuya is the most popular venue for young people in Tokyo. It is known as a fashion and cultural center for young people and a place that never lights off. Here, you will learn about the newest fashion trends and popular entertainment Japan.

In the tourist spots in Tokyo, it would be a big mistake to come here without going through the famous Shibuya crossroads. This is the destination of so many people from students, civil servants, couples and travelers. It is also famous for its fashionable boutiques and very crowded restaurants, so it always attracts a lot of visitors when they visit Tokyo.

Tokyo travel blog: Suggested Tokyo itinerary 3 days

Day 1: Discover the cultural and historical relics

8:00 am – Breakfast at the hotel => 9:00 – Visit the Tokyo Royal Palace => 11:00 – Lunch in Kanda District – where selling many good curries dishes => 12:00 – Visit Senso–ji Temple => 14:00 – Visit, sightseeing and shopping at Tokyo Skytree => 17:00 – Dinner at Ginza Quarter => 22:00 – Strolling in Tokyo Dome City.

Day 2: Enjoy the nature beauty of Tokyo

7:30 am – Breakfast at the hotel => 8:30 am – Visit the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden => 10:00 – Visit Mount Fuji – The symbol of the land of the rising sun => 13:00 – Lunch in Japanese style => 15:00 – Visit The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace => 19:00 – 22:00 => Eating and shopping in Shibuya street.

Day 3: Spend whole day for fun, entertainment

7:30 am – Breakfast at the hotel => 8:30 am – Going to Kanagawa prefecture => 10:00 – Visit Fujiko F Fujio Museum => 1pm – Go to Shinjuku and lunch => 2pm – Experience traditional kimono at Asakusa => 18:00 – Visiting artificial bay of Odaiba => 22:00 – Rest and boarding.

We have suggested a very detailed 3-day itinerary in Tokyo in this article. Let’s check it out: Tokyo itinerary 3 days — What to do in Tokyo in 3 days?

Tokyo blog: What & where to eat in Tokyo?

Tokyo cuisine in particular and Japanese cuisine in general are aimed at refined, harmonious and top-notch flavors. And delicious specialties must definitely enjoy when traveling Tokyo, Japan can be referred to as: Sushi, Tempura, Soba noodles, Gyaoza, Shabu Shabu, Okonomiyaki, …

Visiting Tokyo, you should not miss the specialities dishes of Japan below:

Sushi

Sushi is the most popular dish when referring to Japanese cuisine. To making sushi , chefs have to learn from 5 to 10 years to master each meticulous detailing such as wash the rice, cooking rice, how to mix rice mixed with vinegar, how to grasp the rice with slices of fish with moderate thickness. There are different types of sushi such as nigiri, maki, gunkanmaki, … Each type have processing way and different ingredients, but most are seafood: shrimp, fish, octopus, uni (sea urchin), …

Sashimi

This dish is the most famous “eat alive” food in the world. Similarly sushi, the seafood used in sashimi have to very fresh and be eaten immediately without any processing. To make sashimi, the chef will thoroughly select fresh seafood, preliminary processing, then cut into slices fit mouth. When eating, as well as sushi, you will be served with soy sauce and wasabi. The most famous sashimi are fugu, sashimi made from puffer fish – very delicious but deadly. Only certified chefs can prepare this type of sashimi.

Ramen Noodles

Ramen is a dish originally from China, but has been recreated with pure Japanese ingredients and taste such as Japanese soy sauce and soybean powder, and has since become one of the most famous Japanese food in the world.

Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is a fried pork, born in the late 19th century and is a popular dish in Japan. The ingredients consist of a packet of fried dough, thickness pork tenderloin from 1 centimeter to 2 centimeters and sliced into pieces, usually served with chopped cabbage and miso soup.

Tempura

Tempura is a dish of seafood, vegetables.. dip in Tempura batter (made from flour with water, eggs) and deep fried in oil. Tempura comes in a variety of ordinary meals to luxurious banquets. Sauce is also an important factor to create the flavor of Tempura. Normally when enjoying Tempura, the Japanese mix soy sauce is diluted, has a light taste to help reduce the feeling of fatty food.

Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki

These two dishes are made from powdered mashed potatoes mixed with typical spices but different in form of processing. Takoyaki is a round pellets with octopus inside, Okonomiyaki is a pancakes, saute with egg, and chopped cabbage.

Chanko Nabe Hot Pot

This is a delicious food, nutrition and is a favorite dish of the people of Tokyo. With the delicious ingredients such as chicken, pork, beef, seafood and fresh vegetables to create a pot of Chankonabe that can attract any diner. To enjoy the best Chankonabe, you should go to restaurants next to the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium to enjoy the full taste of this hotpot.

Soba Noodles

Noodles Soba is a popular dish in Japan in general and is delicious food, attractive in Tokyo in particular. When visiting Tokyo, you can easily find specialty shops selling Soba noodles all over the streets. Especially, when tasting this noodles in Tokyo you will feel better taste than other areas, because the sauce in this area is processed follow by the secret formula that nowhere else has.

Matcha

Green tea is a very beloved popular part of Japanese culture, from sweets to even delicious food. Visiting to Tokyo do not forget to try a matcha ice cream or a cup of authentic Matcha Latte.

Budet/cheap places to eat in Tokyo

Although famous as a country with high living standards and expensive, but do not worry because there are always cheap places and restaurants to cater to your culinary needs. Let’s refer some good cheap places to eat cheap in Tokyo below.

Steak chains

This delicious chain of restaurants in Tokyo serves a variety of beef, pork, chicken or hamburgers. A full meal at Steak, priced at 980 yen and up, you will be served with salad bar, rice, curry and soup. Drinks will cost about 200 yen. This famous Tokyo specialty restaurant chain has grown with a network of 18 restaurants.

Address: Tokyo Steak Chains have many restaurants, you can refer some addresses: Tama, Tokyo Minamino 2-31-5/Tokyo Kokubunji Fuji 1-1-1/Chofu, Tokyo Nishimachi 376-3
Phone: 042-372-8929/042-580-088/042-488-2989
Hours of operation: All days of the week from 11:00 am-23:00 pm
Cost: Prices range from ¥200- ¥600

Kin no Kura Jr

The special point of this popular restaurant in Tokyo is the dishes that sells at the same price ¥ 270, including 165 dishes. Includes deep fried dishes, fried, fish, meat, sushi and dessert snacks. The most expensive dishes here are also sold only for ¥ 284 with full taxed, so you can freely enjoy eating but still saving quite money for your trip to Japan.

Address: 5F Humax Pavilion, Minami Ikebukuro 1-21-1, Toshima
Phone: (03) 5911 1460
Hours of operation: All days of the week from 5 pm-11:30 pm
Cost: Same price: ¥ 270 or ¥ 284 with taxed

Sweets Paradise

The famous restaurant for its desserts that attracts many female diners. With more than 30 types of desserts and 25 different drinks, the cost for a meal here is about 1,405 yen.

Address: Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 1 Chome−8−２ SoLaDo原宿 3階
Hours: 11AM–8:30PM
Phone: +81 3-6661-8671

Bucchigiri Sakaba Restaurant

This good-value restaurant in Tokyo offers delicious foods at good prices of 105 yen to 189 yen per dish. The most favorite dish is grilled skewered beef with price of 294 yen and beverage with price of 294 yen.

Address: 6F Kaleid Shibuya Miyamasuzaka, 1-12-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
Phone: (03) 54648060
Hours of operation: All days of the week from 4 pm-5am
Cost: Most dishes cost ¥ 105, ¥ 189, ¥ 294 or ¥ 399, ¥ 294 for drinks.

Teppanyaki and Shochu restaurant Ushikai

The restaurant specialize serves teppanyaki. You will be selected hundreds of dishes rich, diverse and attractive with 100 drinks, 60 delicious Japanese traditional wine within 100 minutes.

Address: 4F Aishin Bldg, 2-2 Yotsuya, Shinjuku
Phone: (03) 6457 4899
Service hours: Monday – Friday 17:00 – 24:00(L.O.23:00) Saturday 15:00 – 24:00(L.O.23:00)
Cost: Most dishes cost ¥ 300, ¥ 500 or ¥ 800

Food Stalls

Dining at Food Stalls in shopping center areas or convenience stores like Lawson, Family Mart, or street food areas .. if you want to save as much as you can.

Read more: Best places to eat in Tokyo on a budget — Top 5 best cheap restaurants in Tokyo.

Mid-range eating places

Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai

TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice 2017 Restaurant. It serves high-quality tofu dishes.

Address: 4 Chome-4-１３ Shibakoen, Minato, Tokyo 105-0011, Japan
Hours: 11:45AM–3PM, 5–10PM
Phone: +81 3-3436-1028

Sushi Sora

A fusion style sushi restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo building. Sitting here, diners can watch the Tokyo Skytree.

Address: Japan, 〒103-8328 Tokyo 2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi Chuo-ku
Hours: 11:30AM–2:30PM, 5:30–10PM
Phone: +81 3-3270-8188

Aoya Restaurant

A well-known Tokyo lunch restaurant. Built in the style of an old Japanese house, located on Nakameguro.

Address: 1-15-10 Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11.30am-5pm, 6.30pm-11pm (last orders 10pm) / closed Mon
Phone: +81 3-3464-1615

High-end restaurants

Kioi Nadaman

The famous restaurant chain in Tokyo. It serves traditional Kaiseki cuisine in exquisite Japanese cuisine style. Some of the signature dishes of the restaurant you should try are shabu shabu hot pot, tempura and barbecue.

Address: 4-1 Kioicho | Hotel New Otani Garden Tower 6F, Chiyoda 102-8578, Tokyo Prefecture
Phone: +81 3-3265-7591
Hours: 7AM–10PM
Website: https://www.nadaman.co.jp/

Sukiyabashi Jiro

The glowing jewel of Japanese cuisine, especially sushi – Jiro Ono is the owner of the Sukiyabashi Jiro restaurant. In order to enjoy the dishes of the best of Tokyo’s best restaurants, you have to book 3 months in advance with a deposit of 30.000 yen. Sukiyabashi Jiro restaurant is rated 3 star Michelin. It is also a place to welcome former US President Barack Obama when visiting Japan.

Address: 4-2-15 Ginza | Tsukamoto Sogyo Bldg. B1F, Ginza, Chuo 104-0061, Tokyo Prefecture
Phone: +81 3-3535-3600

Wagyu Imari

Situated in the heart of Tokyo’s Ginza district, when you come here, you will not only enjoy the Japanese culinary elite with beef dishes prepared in a variety of ways, including shabu shabu hot pot or grilled by yakiniku style; but also enjoy the great time in a luxurious space, level and extremely relaxing.

Address: 2-8-12 | Uniden Ginza Bldg. 7F, Ginza, Chuo 104-0061, Tokyo Prefecture
Phone: +81 3-6263-0386

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tokyo you can refer to

• Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Airport Limousine Bus Transfers from/to Narita and Haneda International Airport (Free Wifi Onboard)
• Tokyo Amazing Sightseeing Bus Day Tour
• Tokyo Highlights Private Day Tour
• Nikko Day Tour from Tokyo
• Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour: Lake Ashi & Ropeway Day Trip from Tokyo
• Nikko Cultural Day Tour from Tokyo
• Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48, or 72 Hours)
• Tokyo Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket
• Shuttle Bus Transfers (One Way/Round Trip) from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea
• Tokyo Disney Resort Park Ticket
• Klook Pass Greater Tokyo
• SHIBUYA SKY Ticket
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter Ticket
• Skyliner Narita Airport Express Ticket
• TeamLab Planets Ticket
• TOKYO SKYTREE® Ticket
• Limousine Bus Narita or Haneda Airport to Tokyo
• Skyliner Narita Airport Express With Tokyo Subway Ticket
• JR Tokyo Wide Pass
• Sky Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Pass
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (BKK and DMK Airport Pick Up) for Japan (Unlimited Data)
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Are you looking for more Tokyo travel guide and top things to do in Tokyo: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Tokyo itinerary 3 days — What to do in Tokyo in 3 days?