Tokyo

Two peak windows: late March to early May (mild, sakura, gardens) and October to November (dry, autumn leaves, crisp). Cherry blossom peaks approximately March 25 – April 5 — the most crowded and expensive dates. Autumn leaves (koyo) peak in late November to early December. Avoid Golden Week (Apr 29–May 5) and Obon (mid-August) — Japanese domestic travel surges prices 2–3x. Winter (Dec–Feb) is cold but crisp, sunny, cheap, and has the clearest Mt. Fuji views.

Five days is the minimum: two for central Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Imperial Palace), one for old Tokyo (Asakusa, Senso-ji, Skytree), one for a neighbourhood day (Harajuku, Meiji, Shimokitazawa, Akihabara depending on mood), and one for a day trip (Hakone, Kamakura, or Nikko). Seven days lets you add teamLab Planets, Ghibli Museum, and Kyoto via Shinkansen. Two weeks in Japan ideally splits as 7 Tokyo + 4 Kyoto + 3 Osaka/Hiroshima/elsewhere.

It's less expensive than you'd expect. Mid-range travelers spend ¥22,000–30,000 per day (~USD 150–200) including a business hotel in Shinjuku, three meals (including one nice izakaya), transport, and one paid attraction. Budget travelers can stay under ¥12,000 (~USD 80) with hostels and konbini food. Tokyo is cheaper than London, Paris, New York, or Sydney for daily costs. What's expensive: A5 wagyu, high-end sushi omakase, taxis after midnight, and airport shuttles.

No — but it helps more than in Europe. Major attractions, JR stations, tourist-oriented restaurants and hotels have English signage and English-speaking staff. Smaller local restaurants, izakayas, convenience store clerks, and taxi drivers often speak little English. Google Translate's camera mode reads Japanese menus and signs reliably. Learning "sumimasen" (excuse me / sorry), "arigatō gozaimasu" (thank you), and "eigo hanasemasu ka" (do you speak English) will get you through 95% of interactions.

Always prefer Haneda (HND) if you have the choice. Haneda is just 15 km south of central Tokyo (30 min by Keikyu Line or Monorail, ¥500-660); Narita (NRT) is 68 km east (55–90 min transit, ¥1,270–3,600). Haneda has better 24-hour flight options and is much closer to Shibuya/Ginza hotels. Narita is the legacy main airport for many US/Europe long-hauls. Both are fully accessible by public transit; just factor the extra 30-45 minutes for Narita.

Usually no, for a Tokyo-only trip. After the October 2023 price hike (¥50,000 for 7 days), the pass only pays off if you do 2+ Shinkansen round trips (e.g., Tokyo↔Kyoto is ¥28,000 round-trip; one trip alone doesn't cover the pass). For Tokyo-only: buy an IC card (Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport) at the airport and top up — single fares are ¥150–300 per ride, far cheaper than the JR Pass. For 2-city trips (Tokyo + Kyoto + Osaka + Hiroshima), the pass makes sense.

Tokyo is one of the world's safest major cities for solo women. Violent crime is extremely rare. The two caveats: (1) train groping (chikan) on crowded commuter lines exists — use women-only carriages 07:00–09:30 on major JR lines if needed, (2) Kabukicho red-light district in Shinjuku has scam bars targeting tourists (never follow touts offering "free drinks"). Solo dining is culturally normal — ramen counters, sushi bars, and Ichiran's solo booths are designed for single diners.

Mostly cards, some cash needed. Major hotels, department stores, chain restaurants, and tourist attractions accept Visa/Mastercard. Traditional izakayas, ramen shops, mom-and-pop cafés, street stalls, and some temples are cash only. Carry ¥10,000–15,000 daily as backup. ATMs at 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Japan Post Bank reliably accept foreign cards; regular bank ATMs often don't. IC cards (Suica/Pasmo) can pay at many konbinis for small purchases.

Trains stop 00:30–01:00 — plan accordingly. If you're in Shinjuku or Shibuya past midnight, expect ¥2,500–6,000 taxi home. Night buses exist but cover limited routes. Some travelers simply stay out until the 05:00 first train (izakayas often close 23:00 but karaoke and some late-night bars run until 05:00). Tokyo has the world's highest density of capsule hotels if you genuinely get stranded — First Cabin and 9hours run ¥3,500–6,000 walk-in.

Yes — Tokyo tap water is among the world's safest and is served free at every restaurant. You can fill reusable bottles from any tap. Many public fountains and shrines also serve drinking water. Bottled water is widely available (¥100–150) but entirely unnecessary for safety.

If you only have 5–7 days in Japan: do Tokyo. If you have 10+ days: do Tokyo first (4–5 days), then Kyoto (3–4 days), then home from Osaka (KIX airport). Kyoto is older, quieter, temple-centric, and can feel slow after Tokyo's energy. Doing them in the reverse order (Kyoto first) often leaves travelers feeling Tokyo is overwhelming. The Shinkansen between them takes 2 hours 15 minutes.

Omakase sushi at a counter (the experience is the point, not just the food); Japan-only dishes like unagi (freshwater eel over rice), okonomiyaki (savory pancake), yakitori (all the less-common chicken parts — tail, heart, cartilage), tonkatsu Ikura-don, fresh wasabi (grated from the root at the table), and A5 wagyu yakiniku. Skip the sushi-chain tuna and go for chef's choice; skip the "best ramen in Tokyo" TikTok spots and find a smaller shop with a local queue.

Yes — Tokyo is excellent for families. Hits: Tokyo Disneyland/DisneySea (1 h train from central), Ghibli Museum (Mitaka, advance booking), Ueno Zoo (pandas), teamLab Planets (digital art + barefoot water rooms, ages 3+), Odaiba (waterfront with giant Unicorn Gundam), Tokyo National Museum, Kidzania Tokyo. Trains are stroller-friendly (lifts at every station), baby-changing rooms are in every major department store, and restaurants are universally kid-tolerant.

Yes — the OUTER Tsukiji market (food stalls, sushi spots, knife shops) never moved. The INNER wholesale fish market relocated to Toyosu in 2018 and is less fun to visit as a tourist. Go to Tsukiji Outer Market 07:00–09:00 for tamago skewers, sushi breakfast, and knife shopping. For a bigger fish-market experience, Toyosu has a tuna auction viewing deck (pre-booked, 05:30 AM, free).

Avoid: Kabukicho touts offering "free drinks" (scam bars with ¥30,000+ bills); buying Ghibli Museum tickets from resellers (often fake); tipping anyone, anywhere; photographing private homes in old neighbourhoods like Yanaka; showing tattoos at traditional onsen without checking first; visiting during Golden Week or Obon if you can avoid it; airports with taxi queues when trains are right there; overpaying for the JR Pass if you're Tokyo-only.

70+ nationalities (US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand) enter visa-free for 90 days. Indian, Chinese, and Russian passport holders need a tourist visa via the Japanese embassy/consulate (typically 5–7 business days). Japan introduced an electronic JESTA system (similar to US ESTA) being rolled out through 2026 — check the latest at mofa.go.jp before booking. All arrivals complete Visit Japan Web digital customs + immigration forms pre-arrival.

Both are excellent; they differ on what they're best at. Tokyo: food scene is world-leading (more Michelin stars than any city); cleaner, quieter, more organised; older + more traditional (shrines, temples, kabuki). Seoul: more affordable (hotels 40% cheaper, food 30% cheaper); better nightlife; younger, more energetic vibe; K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty shopping. If you have one trip: Tokyo for depth and culinary focus; Seoul for energy and value. Both deserve 5–7 days.

Winter in Tokyo is cold, dry, and sunny — not snowy like Hokkaido. Daily highs in December–February run 8–12°C, lows 1–4°C. Tokyo sees snow perhaps 2–3 days a winter, usually melting by afternoon. Pack a warm coat, scarf, thermal layer, but no snow boots. The trade-off: clearest weather of the year (best Mt. Fuji views in January), fewest tourists, hotel prices 30–40% below peak, illuminations lit across the city late Nov – late Feb.

Yes — the classic routes are via Hakone (onsen resort with Fuji views, 90 min by Odakyu Romancecar) or Lake Kawaguchiko (closer, clearer views, 2h by bus from Shinjuku). Clearest Fuji views are December–February (dry air, snow-capped peak). Climbing Fuji itself is only possible July–early September; the rest of the year the summit route is closed. For a one-day Fuji experience, Kawaguchiko gives the iconic reflection shot; Hakone pairs Fuji with onsen + open-air museums + pirate-ship lake cruises.