Tokyo Travel Guide: See, Do, Costs, & Ways to Save (Updated 2022)

Tokyo is a crazy, frenetic, and astounding city. Here you can visit the imperial palace, the morning fish market, see the beautiful cherry blossoms, party in Tokyo’s trendy nightlife district, sing karaoke, and eat lots of amazing food (it is Japan after all.)

I love Tokyo. It’s one of my favorite cities in the world and I can’t visit it enough! I love the fast-paced modern city that still embraces its traditional roots. I love the orderly crowds when you expect chaos.

Tokyo is a city like none other. Where else can you be in a city of ten million people but hear a pin drop? It’s rare a person visits and doesn’t enjoy their time here.

This travel guide to Tokyo can help you navigate the city on a budget to make the most out of your visit (and hopefully fall in love with it too!).

Ueno Park is covered in cherry blossom trees so the best time to come is when the trees blossom in April. The Tokyo National Museum is also located here and houses one of the world’s largest collections of art and artifacts from Asia. Tosho-gu Shrine, which dates back to the 17th century, can be found in the park, as can the oldest zoo in Japan.

The Imperial Palace is the home of the Emperor of Japan. Formerly Edo Castle, the palace was built in the 15th century. When the Emperor moved the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1869, he took Edo Castle for his new palace. While you can’t go inside, the palace and its grounds are a peaceful place to wander.

In 2018, the world-famous Tsukiji fish market moved to Toyosu and is now twice the size. The daily fish auction here powers much of the world’s sushi supply, and it is truly a sight to see. I have never seen more seafood I couldn’t identify. In the old outer market, you can still find food and shops.

Built in 1957 and resembling the Eiffel Tower, the Tokyo Tower is made entirely out of steel. You can pay to go all the way to the top floor to take in the view, though the main observation deck offers a view that’s just as stunning. Admission is 900 JPY for the main deck or 1,600 JPY for the top.

The original temple was built in the 7th century. The resurrected temple is beautifully painted and sits in a scenic spot near a five-story pagoda and the famous Kaminari Gate. There’s a huge statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, inside the main hall . The grounds are open 24/7. The temple itself is open daily 6am-5pm.

Other Things to See and Do in Tokyo

1. Watch a sumo match

Kokugikan, Japan’s most famous sumo wrestling arena, hosts tournaments three times each year. The sumo wrestling that we see today dates back to the 17th century, though its origins date back even further. Even to this day, it’s still one of the most popular traditions in the country. If you’re in town at the right time, this is a must-do. Tickets sell out quickly so book early. To learn more about the sport, visit to one of the sumo stables (called “heya”). Here you’ll get to see where the wrestlers train and live (visits must be arranged well in advance). Ticket prices vary but expect to pay around 2,200 JPY for a sumo match.

2. Gaze at Mount Fuji from Hakone

Hakone is a picturesque place to take in the view of Mount Fuji. Located just over an hour from Tokyo, Hakone is one of the best places to get away from the city, relax for a few days, and take in the view of Fuji-san, one of Japan’s three holy mountains. There are numerous guesthouses in the area, many with their own private onsen (hot springs). It’s a great romantic getaway spot if you’re traveling as a couple. For a unique view of the region, grab a seat on the Hakone Ropeway ( tickets are 400 JPY).

3. See the Hachiko Statue

The Hachiko Statue is a life-sized statue of a dog from 1925. When the dog’s owner died, Hachiko still went to the train station to wait for him to return from work. And he did so for over 10 years. The dog is a national hero in Japan and his story is well known as it highlights characteristics of loyalty and devotion (which the Japanese value highly). The statue stands in front of the Shibuya Station.

4. Shop at Akihabara Electric Town

This is the Tsukiji Market of the electronics world. You can find pretty much anything you’ve ever imagined, as well as all the things you’ve never even dreamed of. Many up-and-coming electronics are tested here. The area has a very futuristic feel to it, with tons of bright lights and huge billboards. It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. There are also lots of local artists selling their music here too.

5. Wander Roppongi Hills

There are various buildings to see, all of which have been designed by leading architects, as well as various public art displays. A visit here is free — all you have to do is catch a ride up the hill. You’ll find Mori Tower here, one of the tallest buildings in the city, as well as the Tokyo City View, which offers one of the best views in the city. Admission to the viewpoint is 1,800 JPY.

6. Drink in Golden Gai

This little alleyway of back-street bars is a lively place to drink at night. There isn’t much going on during the day here, but come sundown, these zigzagging hallways and closet-sized beer rooms are filled with interesting people and cheap drinks. It has a bit of a red-light district feel to it as it lacks the polish of the rest of the city. But it is not to be missed.

7. Get on a suijo-bus

For centuries, Tokyo has been centralized around its rivers. One of the traditional ways to get around has always been via water-bus. This is a fun alternative to the subway and offers a different perspective of the bustling city. There are even floating restaurants, known as yakata-bune as well as lunch and dinner cruises that you can book. Expect to pay at least 6,000 JPY for a cruise with a meal, while the regular ferry costs as little as 600 JPY.

8. Visit the Great Buddha

Make a day trip to the small city of Kamakura to see a 13m bronze statue of Buddha. Built in 1252, the statue was initially constructed within a temple, but the temple was washed away on several occasions by storms so the statue now sits in the open air. You can even go inside the statue as well (there’s nothing to really see inside but it’s neat to be able to step inside a centuries-old work of art). The journey to Kamakura takes around an hour and is free with a Japan Rail Pass. Admission to see the Buddha is 200 JPY.

9. Check out a sento

A sento is a traditional Japanese public bathhouse. While they were originally built to accommodate those that did not have such facilities in-house, they are now a great place to go for some peace and relaxation. They are typically separated by gender. The Japanese are not shy in these places so you need to be comfortable with nudity! A budget-friendly sento costs just under 1,000 JPY. If you have tattoos you may not be allowed to enter (or you may have to cover them) so keep that in mind.

10. Get touristy at Tokyo Disneyland

I’ll be honest, I’m a sucker for Disney attractions and Tokyo Disneyland doesn’t disappoint. It’s a fun choice for anyone traveling with children, but also for any adults who just love amusement parks (like me!). Opened in 1983, it has seven themed areas to explore and is the third most visited theme park in the world! You’ll find many of the same classic rides from Disneyworld here, like Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, and everyone’s favorite teacup ride, The Mad Tea Party. Admission is 7,400 JPY for adults and 4,800-6,400 JPY for children, depending on their age.

11. Have Dinner with Ninjas

For a unique dining experience, head to Ninja Akasaka. It’s a ninja-themed restaurant designed like an Edo-era building from medieval Japan. The wait staff are clothed in stereotypical all-black “ninja” garb and trained in all sorts of tricks and simple illusions. You’ll order your meal off of old scrolls while being entertained by the skillful tricks of your server. It’s super fun and unlike any other restaurant I’ve ever been to!

12. Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

Built in 1933, this small museum used to be the official residence of the Prince and Princess Asaka. The prince had studied in Paris and wanted to bring the art deco style to Japan, which explains the building’s style and decorations. In 1983, the residence became a museum and is now home to a rotating series of modern art exhibitions. Admission is 200 JPY.

13. Try Superhero Go-Karting

Want to speed around the busy streets of Tokyo in a go-kart while wearing a costume? Of course, you do! MariCar (a play on Mario Kart) is a real-life Mario Bros. go-kart company that lets you dress up and race around the city in go-karts. As long as you have an International Driving Permit (which you can get if you have a valid driver’s license before you leave home) you can take part. The course takes 1-2 hours and costs 9,000 JPY per person. There are multiple locations around the city too.

14. Visit a Quirky Café

Unsurprisingly, Tokyo has all sorts of amazing, weird, and wonderful cafés. Monster cafés, owl cafés, cat cafés, vampire cafés, dog cafés, religious-themed cafés, and much more! If you’re looking for something unusual to do, see what weird and quirky cafés are near you (they’re all around the city so you never have to go far to find one!). Some of the better cafes are Kawaii Monster Café, Vampire Café (vampire/goth-themed café), Christon Café (Christian-themed café), Dog Heart (dog café), and Cat Café Calico (cat café).

15. Eat at the Robot Restaurant

This restaurant is an absolute sensory overload. Lasers, robots, monsters, singing, dancing — it has it all! It may be a tourist trap (aka it’s not cheap), but it is epic and unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s incredibly lively and rambunctious and worth the price if you want to do something completely out of the ordinary. There are three performances a day on weekdays starting at 4:45pm, with afternoon matinees on weekends.