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Cities and regions
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and seven more stops: where to stay, what to see, what to book, with checked prices.
- Tokyo
- Kyoto
- Osaka
- Nara
- Hiroshima and Miyajima
- Hakone and Mount Fuji
- The Japanese Alps
- Kyushu
- Hokkaido
- Okinawa
Tokyo Tower and Mount Fuji at sunriseTokyo, a city of a thousand neighborhoods
Centuries-old temples and glass towers, izakaya alleys and giant crossings: you don't see Tokyo all at once, you explore it neighborhood by neighborhood.
PlanJapanCities and regions · TokyoFrom the airport, the right train
Haneda is close to the center, Narita an hour away. The train is the easiest and cheapest option: the Keikyu line and the monorail both connect to the Yamanote line. Adult fares, October 2026.
From Haneda
Depends on the area; tolls extra.
From Narita
Stops at Nippori.
Shinjuku, Shibuya: ≈ 1 hr 25, 3,330 ¥.
Tokyo Station, then Ginza.
Two tickets reserved for foreign passport holders. The Skyliner e-ticket is sold online only.
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As soon as you land: turn on data roaming for your PlanJapan eSIM, even before customs. You're online to find your train.
PlanJapanCities and regions · TokyoOne card, and the whole city opens up
JR trains, subways, buses: you pay for everything by tapping an IC card on the gate. The cards are covered in detail in the chapter “Suica, PASMO, ICOCA”.
A Suica or PASMO in the Wallet app, topped up with a credit card. Test it before you leave.
Welcome Suica or TOURIST PASMO: no deposit, 28 days, balance not refunded.
Back on sale since March 2025, with a 500 ¥ deposit refunded when you leave.
A phone bought outside Japan usually accepts neither Suica nor PASMO: get a physical card.
- Do
- Keep Google Maps open: right platform, right car, right exit. You get signal in the subway too.
- Stand still on escalators: the rail companies have asked for it since July 2026.
- Leave your suitcase in a locker (300 to 1,000 ¥ a day) or ship it to Kyoto with Yamato, for about 3,160 ¥.
- Avoid
- The morning rush, before 9:30 am, especially with a suitcase.
- Phone calls on the train: switch to silent mode.
- Missing the last train, around 12:30 am: nothing runs at night.
The Yamanote line circles the center in about an hour, with a train every 3 to 5 minutes: Tokyo, Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya. The Tokyo Subway Ticket doesn't cover it.
PlanJapanCities and regions · TokyoTwelve neighborhoods, and where to stay
Kabukicho's neon, skyscrapers and a free view.
Tokyo's most photographed crossing, fashion, SHIBUYA SKY.
Takeshita Street, Omotesando and Meiji-jingu shrine.
Senso-ji, the Kaminarimon gate, Nakamise street, the Sumida River.
Museums, Ameyoko market. No more pandas since 2026.
Department stores; the avenue is car-free on weekends.
Electronics, manga, video games and figures.
An island in the bay: malls and fountains.
The fish market (closed Sun., holidays, some Wed.) and teamLab Planets.
Thrift stores, record shops, alley bars. It wakes up around noon.
Riverside cafés, under the cherry trees in late March.
Sunshine City, its aquarium and the Pokémon Center.
Rooms are small: 18 m² (190 sq ft) is already comfortable. $ budget, $$ mid-range, $$$ comfort.
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PlanJapanCities and regions · TokyoEating in Tokyo, from counter to market
To book: TableCheck, Tabelog or the “Reserve” button in Google Maps. Ticket machines, otoshi, tipping: see “Eating well in Japan”.
An izakaya alleyOmoide Yokocho
In Shinjuku, an alley of skewer bars: five or six seats per counter.
A bowl of ramenTokyo Ramen Street
Ten ramen shops inside Tokyo Station. The local style: a dark soy-based broth.
Nigiri sushiTsukiji Market
Sushi, sashimi bowls, omelet on a stick. Eat at the shop, not while walking.
Golden Gainearly 300 tiny bars, around 8 pm
Ameyoko400 shops along the railway
Depachikathe food halls in department store basements
The konbinionigiri and hot meals, day and night
PlanJapanCities and regions · TokyoThe must-sees, and what to book
- 01
Senso-ji, in AsakusaThe Kaminarimon gate, Nakamise street, then the temple, lit up until 11 pm.
- 02
Shibuya CrossingFree from street level. From above: SHIBUYA SKY, the open-air rooftop, 229 m (750 ft) up.
- 03
Meiji-jingu shrineIn Harajuku, open from sunrise to sunset.
- 04
Shinjuku Gyoen, then the free viewThe garden (closed Mondays, no alcohol), then the observatories of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
- 05
Tokyo TowerThe Main Deck at 150 m; the Top Deck, at 250 m, 3,300 ¥ online.
Adult prices checked in October 2026; they vary by date and time.
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PlanJapanCities and regions · Tokyo