🇯🇵 Japan · Travel Guide
Tokyo Travel Guide
Neon nights, ancient temples, and the safest megacity on earth.
Tokyo fuses hyper-modern districts with centuries-old shrines, world-class food at every price point, and famously spotless, punctual public transport. It is one of the easiest and safest big cities anywhere — a dream first solo trip, family adventure, or culture-packed city break.
Plan my free Tokyo itinerary📅 Best time
March–May for cherry blossoms and October–November for crisp autumn colour. Skip the humid, rainy June–August stretch if you can.
💷 Daily budget
$80–150 mid-range; hostels and convenience-store meals can comfortably halve that.
🗓️ Ideal length
4–5 days for the city, plus a day trip to Hakone or Nikko.
💱 Currency
Japanese Yen (¥)
🗣️ Language
Japanese. English is limited, but clear signage and translation apps make navigating simple.
Is Tokyo safe?
General safety
One of the safest large cities in the world — extremely low crime, even after midnight. Lost wallets and phones are routinely handed in to police boxes.
Solo female travellers
Exceptional for solo female travellers. Walking alone at night is generally safe, and women-only train carriages run during rush hour. Ordinary big-city awareness is more than enough.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Legal and broadly tolerant, with a lively scene in Shinjuku Ni-chōme. Attitudes lean private rather than hostile; same-sex marriage is not yet recognised nationally.
Safety guidance is general and can change — always check your government’s latest travel advice before you go.
Top things to do in Tokyo
- Sensō-ji temple and old-town Asakusa
- Shibuya Crossing, Harajuku and Shinjuku nightlife
- Day trip to Mt. Fuji and the Hakone hot springs
- teamLab digital art museum
- Tsukiji outer market food crawl
Getting around & essentials
World-class trains and metro — grab a Suica or Pasmo IC card and tap through. From Narita or Haneda, the airport express or a pre-booked private transfer beats an expensive taxi.
Flight to Tokyo delayed or cancelled? You could be owed up to €600 — check free →
Get a free, personalised Tokyo itinerary
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Plan my trip — freeTokyo FAQs
Is Tokyo safe for solo female travellers?
Yes — it is one of the safest cities in the world for women travelling alone, day or night. Use normal city sense and you will be completely fine.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
No. English is limited, but trains, signage and translation apps cover the gaps. A pocket eSIM keeps Google Translate live the moment you land.
How many days do you need in Tokyo?
Four to five days for the city itself, plus a day trip to Hakone or Nikko if time allows.
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