Tokyo Travel Guide 2026

It will be much easier if you first accept that "you won't be able to finish the whole day" when you come here for the first time. Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Ueno, and Tokyo Station are formed into circles respectively, and the circles are connected by railways.

How Tokyo Is Laid Out

The city is dense and has too many choices. You can go to the shrine Omotesando at Asakusa, then go to a department store and a crossroads after a few stops; in the evening, go back to the accommodation station for a meal and call it a day. The point isStay in the same direction on the same day, less turning back; it doesn’t matter if the list is endless.

Start With Tokyo’s Main Areas

There is no single "city center" in Tokyo, more likeSeveral people are obsessed with Yamanote Line. First understand what each circle is about, and then decide where to live and which side to walk on during the day. Scroll down for detailed attractions Block Picks。

• How to use Yamanote Line: Like a circular trunk line, a large station is mostly a living circle. Living in a subway station that is online or has direct access to these major stations will save a lot of mental energy.
• The principle of arranging heaven: Stay on the same side on the same day (for example, Ueno + Asakusa on the east side, or Shibuya + Harajuku on the west side). As you can see on the map in the morning and evening in the east, your feet will be exhausted.
• Airport traffic: South of Haneda, east of Narita; for the last day’s accommodation and souvenirs, it’s best to be close to the route you want to take on your return trip.

Tokyo Weather: Recent Summers Run Hot

You don’t need to take all of these. If you know you have tickets first, you will not regret not waiting in line when you arrive at the venue.

• Azabutai Hills × teamLab Unbounded：Roppongi is a new landmark in the area. If you want to see teamLab, you must first book timed-entry tickets before departure. The tickets are often sold out on site. Online booking
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: In Nerima Ward, some distance from the city. Movie fans need to spend at least 4 to 5 hours watching the movie; tickets are divided into different shows, and they must be booked first and then queued up. Online booking
• DisneySea "Fantasy Springs": The queues for facilities such as Frozen are fierce. If you want to rush, you should queue up at the gate before the park opens and pay for quick customs clearance before entering the park. It is more practical than thinking about strategies after arriving on site. Online booking
• Shibuya Sky, Skytree: The dusk session at the observatory is often sold instantly. If you want the sunset, book a time slot on the platform in advance, don’t bet on the spot. Online booking　Online booking
• Ghibli Art Museum: No tickets are sold on site, fixed rules are to grab every other month’s tickets. If you can't get it, don't force it on. Change it to the Fujiko Fujio Museum or the city. If released:Check tickets online
• Yomiuriland’s Pokémon theme park: Tickets are in high demand during popular periods; fans can queue up and skip the general itinerary, saving a day for urban areas or suburbs.

Common First-Timer Mistakes

• Traveling across three sub-cities in one day: Asakusa in the morning, Shibuya in the afternoon, and Ikebukuro in the evening. As you can see on the map, both feet will be reimbursed.
• Fill up on shopping first: Carrying large and small bags when walking or rushing to an exhibition will be very annoying. Put shopping, medicine and cosmetics at the back, and the luggage is relatively small.
• ignore rainy days: Tokyo will change if it says so. Department stores, underground shopping malls, and train stations form a shopping mall, which is suitable for filing. There is no need to follow the outdoor list.
• The queue is too far on the last day: On the day of departure, it is safer to reserve souvenirs in an area that is easy to pick up at the airport than to go to a spot that is "far away but wants to go".
• Checking only holidays at home and overlooking Japan’s holiday periods: During Golden Week (around early May), Obon (around mid-August), cherry blossom and maple viewing season, housing prices and crowds are fierce. If you can stagger it, stagger it; if you hit it, lock the room first and relax your schedule.
• Carrying large luggage on the Peak Tram: Approximately 7:30–9:00, 17:30–19:30 Yamanote Line, the central line is very crowded. Dragging a 29-inch onto a tram would be a pain, and it would easily get in the way of people. During this period, it is better to leave later or store your luggage first.
• Use queues at famous stores as the main axis: Wudijia, Liulishe, Toyosu famous stores, it is common to wait for 1 to 2 hours. Just keep one or two popular restaurants, and for the rest, look for the food articles on the site to register, so don’t spend the whole day waiting in line.
• Use the big station as a maze to force your way through: The exports of Shinjuku, Tokyo, and Shibuya are exaggerated. Before leaving the station, check the exit name given by the hotel. If you get lost, ask the station staff; above-ground landmarks are sometimes easier to understand than underground ones.
• The tax refund time is too tight: The system and on-site movement routes will be changed (including subsequent adjustments related to unified airport tax refund). If there is a lot of shopping, take an extra 1 to 2 hours to go through the formalities. Don’t use the “last bus is stuck” schedule.

Pre-departure checklist

From November 2026: Japan’s Tax-Free Shopping Changes

If the itinerary falls in After November 2026, Japan's shopping tax refund process is different from before. I read the new system once before departure, so I don't panic at the airport. Under the old system, when you spend 5,000 yen or more and show your passport at checkout, you can get an on-the-spot tax discount;From November 1, 2026, "on-site tax refund" will be completely stopped., changed toTax first, tax later: Pay the tax-included price first when shopping, and then go to the airport to apply for a tax refund when leaving the country to get the tax back.

• Checkout: Pay the tax-included amount first; use the amount provided by the store J-TaxRefund Website/QR Code to register passport and payment method (credit card, bank account or cash, etc., subject to on-site selection).
• Departure: Go to the airport self-service check-in machine (KIOSK) or customs counter to complete the inspection and confirm that you are eligible for tax exemption. The refund will be transferred to the designated account.
• time: There will probably be longer queues for tax refund at the airport. It is recommended to reserve plenty of time compared to the old system to avoid being stuck on boarding the plane.

Details and updates are subject to the official/site version; if you want to understand the process at once, you can read:Introduction to Japan’s New Tax Refund System。

Packing and Restricted-Item Reminders

Check "what you can bring/cannot check/cannot enter" before departure. It is more cost-effective than being stopped or having your things thrown away at the airport.

• Power bank and lithium battery: According to civil aviation regulationsNot allowed to be checked, must be carried on board the aircraft. Capacity Below 100Wh(approximately 27,000mAh) can probably be placed directly in hand luggage;100–160Wh Prior approval from the airline is required, with a maximum of two pills per person;More than 160Wh prohibited. Some airlines will require you to discard mobile power banks of unknown brands and without marked capacity. Please make sure the specifications are clearly marked before departure. Small items with built-in lithium batteries, such as electric razors and wireless earphone charging cases, are also recommended.Take it with you, to avoid being stopped by your consignment.
• Food entry (Japanese customs is very strict): Fresh fruits andAll meat products are prohibited, including meat buns, dried meat, ham, instant noodles containing meat, etc. Violators may face heavy fines. Specialties containing water (such as peanut tofu, sea grapes, jelly, etc.) are mostly liquid/semi-liquid, so remember to addconsignmentrather than hand-held (if subject to the 100ml liquid rule, aviation/security inspection shall prevail).
• Stand-alone gadgets: It is recommended to keep cold medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, analgesics and OK bandages with you. Most Japanese supermarkets have to pay for shopping bags, so it is very practical to bring a lightweight environmentally friendly bag; you can also bring a thermos bottle, which is convenient for rehydration when going out.

Adding Suica or ICOCA to Your Phone

Most people in Japan use transportation ICs when taking rides or making small payments at supermarkets. If you can bind it to your mobile phone, you need to bring one less card; if you can't bind it, just buy a physical card. Commonly used in Tokyo area Suica／PASMO, commonly used in Kansai ICOCA. Most of the time, you can brush each other across regions.Issuance and recharge interfaceIt still depends on the card type.

• Suica (including Apple wallet, etc.): Most iPhones can be added in "Wallet"; see the steps and precautions. Suica mobile phone binding tutorial. many Android phones sold outside Japan is often unable to use official digital Suica, so buy a physical card or check the currently available solutions.
• ICOCA + Apple Pay: When departing from Kansai or if you already need ICOCA, you can follow ICOCA Apple Pay Tutorial operation. Device/system versions and regional restrictions are subject to teaching and official guidance.
• Practical reminder: Before departure, try to see if you can add a card or store value (credit card/cash recharge machine); if your phone is out of battery, you can’t use it, so you can prepare a physical card or cash on the day. The balance can be used as small payment at supermarkets and some vending machines.

Tokyo Weather & What to Wear by Season

The following are the common ranges in Tokyo city (approximately, there are differences from year to year); in the morning and evening and at the seaside/highland, it is ±3–5°C, and fine-tuning can be done based on the forecast one week before departure.

Official Travel and Entry Websites

The following are official or semi-official entrances. The link will be changed and the site will prevail. Spend 15 minutes before departure and the airport is less stressful.

• Visit Japan Web: Official web service for entry inspection and customs declaration. It is recommended to register and fill it out before taking off. It will be easier to show the QR at the airport. See explanation Introduction to Digital Hall。
• Japan National Tourism Organization JNTO (Traditional Chinese): Seasonal activities, traffic overview, safety reminders, suitable as a general directory.
• JNTO Japanese/multilingual portal:Official tourist information center.
• airport：Haneda Airport　｜　Narita Airport(Flights, transportation, and facilities are subject to the official website)
• Orbit：JR East (Traditional Chinese)　｜　Tokyo Metro　｜　Toei Transportation
• Meteorology：Japan Meteorological Agency(This is more accurate than the community during typhoons and heavy rains).

Useful Apps for a Japan Trip

No need to fully dress up. I always have: map, translation, traffic search, payment/IC. The iOS/Android link is attached below. The store page is based on your device region.

How Much Does a Tokyo Trip Cost?

Numbers are just "magnitudes". During peak seasons, eating big meals, and buying more park tickets will jump up. 5 days and 4 nights, equally divided double rooms in a general business hotel, including a Disney class ticket (see hot ticket coupons It is recommended to order a list first), many people fall intoroughly US$1,000–1,350 per person(Including air tickets); during the cherry blossom season or Chinese New Year, air tickets and accommodation may be more expensive. Thinking about accommodation and food multiplied by 8 days is more useful than rote memorization of tables.

• air tickets: Low-cost airlines have the opportunity to charge lower prices during the off-season; after adding checked baggage, it is often similar to traditional airlines, and the baggage fee is included before checkout.
• Matsuyama—Haneda: Tickets are often a little more expensive, but the time to enter the city is short, and sometimes it’s a good deal for people who live in the north and have a lot of luggage.
• shopping: For drugstores and electrical appliances, check out Don Quijote, Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sundrug, Bic, etc.; download store coupons if they are available, and calculate the general ledger after tax exemption and full discounts can be used together. Tokyo Station can be purchased as a souvenir or at the airport, so it doesn’t have to be carried while playing.

For information on store coupons and tax exemptions, see:Japan Discount/Coupon Lazy Pack。