text:
Tokyo/Bunkyo

Bunkyō (文京) is in Tokyo, north of the Imperial Palace. The name means roughly "Capital of Culture" and, indeed, it's best known as the home of the sprawling University of Tokyo and a series of aristocratic parks and villas.

Understand
The ward's Tourist Association has a Japanese-only guide site with some downloadable maps in English.

Get in
There are six subway lines running through the district with a total of 20 stations.

 * Chiyoda: Nezu, Yushima, Sendagi
 * Marunouchi: Myogadani, Korakuen, Hongo Sanchome, Ochanomizu
 * Yurakucho: Gokokuji, Edogawabashi
 * Namboku: Korakuen, Todaimae, Honkomagome
 * Oedo: Iidabashi, Kasuga, Hongo Sanchome
 * Mita: Suidobashi, Kasuga, Hakusan, Sengoku

Komagome, while just over the line in neighboring Toshima, has been included in this guide.

Gardens

Do
Bunkyo ward is a nice place to walk, but it can be a tough stroll as this area is famous for a number of slopes. There being 433 slopes in Tokyo, as many as 173 of them are located in this ward. Some are named, and some are not. There stands a plate written its history on each slope. Even if you didn’t know anything about this area, it is fun to know its names. There are many unique names, such as Kaiun-zaka (Good luck slope), Yūrei-zaka (Ghost slope), or Ijin-zaka (Barbarian slope). You can look at these unique names on books, some of which only focus on the slopes.

 * [[Image:Tokyo Dome Inside.JPG|thumb|right|Inside the Tokyo Dome]]

Learn
Bunkyo is known as a seat of learning, with 15 institutions of higher education.

University of Tokyo

The University of Tokyo (東京大学 Tōkyō daigaku), formerly the Imperial University and still Japan's supremely well-funded Harvard, Yale, and MIT all rolled into one, has its main Hongō campus in Bunkyo. Around 2000 foreign students study at the University, but competition for places can be fierce. The University of Tokyo also attracts many travelers as a place to look around and to have some food.

The Red Gate (赤門 Akamon) on the Hongo street was built in 1827, when a daughter of the then Shogun, Ienari Tokugawa, married the Daimyo who lived in the premises. Inside the gate are the General Library and the Graduate Schools of Economics, Literature, and Education. To the left side of the gate is the Communication Center which is actually a souvenir shop, and to the right side, there is the university museum. The grounds are sprinkled liberally with large, stately gingko trees, whose leaf can be found on the seal of the university.

At the center of the campus is the Japanese garden of Ikutoku-en (育徳園) — the Virtue-Teaching Garden — built around 1630 as the garden of Maeda Toshitsune, one of the wealthiest daimyo in the Tokugawa era. At its center is Sanshiro Pond (三四郎池 Sanshiro-ike), in the shape of the Japanese character kokoro (心), meaning "heart" or "spirit". Both garden and pond are, regrettably, rather poorly kept.

To the north of the pond there is the auditorium, Yasuda Kōdō (安田講堂) which became a symbol of the student activism in 1968-69, when the building was occupied by students as a base facility for activities to change the University registration. In the basement floor there is a large-scale student canteen called Chūō Shokudō (central canteen), offering cheap if rather mediocre food, and a University Co-op where you can buy T-shirts and ball-point pens with the university logo.

To the east of the auditorium is the main building of the Graduate School of Science, where one of the largest photomultiplier tubes, which contributed to the Kamioka neutrino experiments, is exhibited.

The campus has around 20 places to eat, including Starbucks, Subway and several student canteens.

Capo Pellicano is on the 13th floor of the main (tallest) building of the Graduate School of Medicine. Lunch menus are for around ¥900. The view of buildings in Shinjuku and Roppongi from the western side of the floor should not be missed.

The university also has the Koishikawa Botanical Garden in Hakusan.

title: Tokyo/Bunkyo


text:
Tokyo/Chiyoda

Chiyoda (千代田) Ward is the center of Tokyo and in many ways the center of all Japan.

Understand
With a mere 12 km², Chiyoda houses the Imperial Palace (皇居, kōkyo), the Diet, the ministries of Kasumigaseki (霞ヶ関), the corporate headquarters of Marunouchi (丸の内), the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, and still has room left over for the shopping districts of Akihabara (秋葉原, separate article) and Kanda (神田) which includes the book town Jinbōchō (神保町).

Tourist Information Site
Visit Chiyoda is the local tourism association's multilingual guide site.

By train

The JR Yamanote line (light green) passes through Tokyo Station in a loop around the center of the city, and the JR Chuo line (orange) and Sobu line (yellow) bisect the loop horizontally. Yurakucho, Akihabara, Kanda (on the Yamanote) and Ochanomizu, Yotsuya (on the Chuo) are among the train stations located within the ward. Narita Express trains from Narita Airport stop at Tokyo (¥2,940, 53 min) on the Sobu platforms. The JR Keiyo Line services Tokyo station, and it transports passengers to destinations such as Kasai Rinkai Park, Tokyo Disney Resort, the Makuhari Messe, and destinations on the Boso peninsula via through services. Trains also frequently run through onto the Musashino Line to Saitama and western Tokyo, although some of these areas are reached faster via other lines. However, the platforms are located south of the main station complex. It was built for a new Shinkansen line, which is why it was built at an equal distance between Tokyo and Yurakucho stations. It can be a long walk to reach the rest of the train lines (even farther than transferring to the Tozai Line at Otemachi!), therefore in some cases it may be easier to walk to Yurakucho station.

Many subway lines crisscross the district. These include the Marunouchi Line (red) (to Shinjuku), the Hanzomon Line (purple) (to Shibuya), the Hibiya Line (gray) (to Roppongi), the Tozai Line (blue) (to Nakano), and the Chiyoda Line (green) (to Harajuku). The nearby Toei Asakusa Line (pink) stops slightly to the east at Kyobashi and Nihonbashi, on which Keikyu Line trains run through to Haneda Airport (¥650, about 35 minutes).

By bus
Airport Limousine buses run from Narita to Tokyo Station every 10–20 minutes via the Tokyo City Air Terminal (1½-2 HR depending on traffic, ¥3,000), and less frequently to area hotels. From Haneda, buses run every 30–40 minutes (about 45 minutes in duration, depending on traffic, ¥900).

See
Japan's administrative center, located around Kasumigaseki and Nagatachō in the southwestern corner of Chiyoda, is full of very un-picturesque buildings. One exception is the Ministry of Justice (exit 5 from Sakuradamon, Yurakuchō Line), a beautiful 1800s-vintage building that would make any European capital proud. The National Diet Building (Kokkai-gijidō-mae, Marunouchi Line) may also be worth a photo, although its architecture is rather uninspiring compared to other national assemblies' -- even the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has cooler-looking accommodation in Shinjuku.

Imperial Palace area

Do

 * Shrines – Visit one of the three major shrines (Kanda Myojin, Hie Jinja or Yasukuni Shrine) during the New Year holiday if you happen to be visiting, or immerse yourself in one of the major festivals which takes place during the year. There are no restrictions on entry regardless of religious belief or background.

 * Cherry blossoms – As mentioned under, they can be viewed in various places around the Imperial Palace gardens. Also, many people take advantage of the fact that no public roads enter the palace grounds (and thus, no red lights for pedestrians) for a little jogging around the garden's outer ring (which may take roughly an hour to walk around). However, since most of central Chiyoda Ward is office buildings, it is virtually lifeless after sundown as most of the population leaves for the suburbs.

Buy
Central Chiyoda doesn't offer much in the way of shopping, but the eastern side has three areas of interest:

 * Akihabara for electronics and anime-related goods of all kinds, covered in a separate article.
 * Jimbōchō (神保町), Metro Hanzomon/Tōei Shinjuku/Tōei Mita Jimbōchō station. A district specializing in new and used books — mostly in Japanese, but some in English and other languages. Scores of used book or antique book shops line the main streets of Hakusan Dōri (白山通り), Yasukuni Dōri (靖国通り), and Kanda Suzuran Dōri (神田すずらん通り), as well the numerous back alleys. Some stores specialize in subjects such as religion, architecture, or screenplays, while others handle a general range of subjects. Some shops specialize in various erotic material, including used pornography.
 * Kanda (神田) and Ochanomizu (お茶の水) Stations. For musical instruments and sports equipment. These districts tend to have their largest stores along major streets. The area close to Ochanomizu stations is full of music shops, at least 30 of them with shiny instruments and music blaring throughout the day.

Some other shopping areas include:

 * The Marunouchi business district hassome high-end boutiques such as Tiffany's, Gaultier, Sergio Rossi etc. lining the street from the Marunouchi building to Yurakuchō, but there is a feeling that it's not quite "there" yet, compared to the repertoires of the Ginza or Omotesando shopping districts.

Eat and drink

 * Among the expensive clubs and restaurants spilling over from the Ginza, an offbeat dining option is the yakitori stalls under the train tracks to the south of JR Yurakucho station. A throwback to old Tokyo, this is where businessmen unwind with yakitori (grilled chicken) on skewers and a couple of nama biiru (draft beers) after a hard day. At least ¥2000 for a few beers and a half dozen skewers. Nearly all the shops are closed on Sundays.
 * As the Jimbocho and Ochanomizu areas house dozens of major colleges and universities, the area is filled with cheap restaurants, fast food joints and cafes of all kinds. There is also a high density of curry restaurants.
 * The Marunouchi Building (Marubiru) and Shin-Marunouchi Building in front of Tokyo station are your best bet for a decent meal in the Marunouchi area, especially on the weekend when most other buildings are closed. Various restaurants from Italian to Hawaiian to Sushi are situated inside, but the bill may be a bit pricy for a casual lunch.
 * Tokyo station itself has many restaurants in underground shopping areas on both sides of its ticket barriers.

Stay safe
On occasion, menacing black vans with fluttering "Rising Sun" flags and Imperial chrysanthemum logos may screech militaristic propaganda around the Yasukuni Shrine and near the Nagatacho/Kasumigaseki areas. With xenophobic right-wing attitudes financed by the yakuza (Japan's mafia) and tacit police cooperation, foreigners may get baleful looks from the sunglassed toughs running the show, but they are not a real danger unless actively provoked.

Smoking on the major streets and sidewalks is prohibited by law in Chiyoda Ward. Although generally not strictly enforced, if you get unlucky, \2,000 fine is imposed (the theoretical limit in the ordinance is ¥20,000). There are smokers' gardens at the end of some main streets and behind some of the skyscrapers where you can light up legally.

Go next
The glitzy stores of the Ginza and the business district of Akasaka (not a bad choice for lunch) are within easy walking distance from southern Chiyoda.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Tokyo/Chiyoda


text:
Tokyo/Chuo

Chuo (中央) is a central ward in Tokyo. It has been the historical commercial heart of Tokyo since the Edo period, and to this day, is filled with offices, banks, and other institutions that drive the Japanese economy.

Understand
While the name literally means "Center", this ward loses out in prestige (if only very slightly) to neighboring Chiyoda, home to the Emperor among others. Ginza, which is located in Chuo ward and is covered in a separate article, is generally reckoned to have the most expensive real estate on earth and there are plenty of bright lights.

Chuo ward was the former home to the world’s largest fish market, Tsukiji, which processed an unparalleled volume and variety of seafood, in addition to vegetables and other products. While the Inner Market has permanently closed and operations moved to Toyosu, the hundreds of stalls in the Outer Market remain open to the public.

Tourist Information Sites

 * The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

 * Multilingual local information from the ward government.

Get in
The western edge of Chuo starts on the Yaesu (east) side of Tokyo Station, and if your legs are feeling up to it, you can get pretty much anywhere worth seeing within a 45-minute walk. Otherwise, take the subway.

See

Do

 * Walk around the Tsukiji area to find the remaining 1920s houses that are among the rare ones to have survived World War II. The World Monuments Fund warns against their ongoing destruction.
 * Walk around the Tsukiji area to find the remaining 1920s houses that are among the rare ones to have survived World War II. The World Monuments Fund warns against their ongoing destruction.

Buy
The Ginza, covered in its own article, is one of the world's most famous (and most expensive) shopping districts.

Budget

Past Tsukiji on Harumi-dori is the island neighborhood of Tsukishima (月島, "Moon Island"), known mainly for its many restaurants serving monja-yaki (もんじゃ焼き). This dish is popular in Eastern Japan (Kantō) and is available throughout Tokyo, but is a particular specialty of Tsukishima. Monja-yaki is like the okonomiyaki of Western Japan (Kansai), but the dough is much more runny and the ingredients are finely chopped, leading to what looks like a puddle of vomit. Just remember the essentials: you form the shredded cabbage into a ring on the griddle and pour the leftover liquid in the middle, and you use the tiny spatulas to press the mixed batter onto the griddle until it sizzles, then eat it right off the spatula. (Most shop staff will be more than happy to assist.) Sounds strange, doesn't it? It is. To get here, take the Yurakucho/O-Edo Line to Tsukishima station, and you'll find "Monja Town" aka Nishinaka-dori (西仲通り) extending out from near exit 7, with no less than 70 restaurants crammed into a couple of city blocks.

The northern section of Tsukishima is named Tsukudajima (佃島), and is the origin of tsukudani (佃煮), a way of preserving food by simmering it in a sticky soy and sugar sauce. Tsukudani is still available throughout Japan, but is less common than before, having fallen out of style in most of Japan; it is still commonly available here. Seafood, seaweed (konbu) and various vegetables are the most common ingredients, but if you're looking for something more interesting, try inago (いなご) tsukudani, made from locusts!

Mid-range
Try a sushi breakfast at Tsukiji, primarily for the experience. The fish is guaranteed to be as fresh as possible and the prices, while not cheap, are reasonable given the high quality–figure on ¥2000–4000 for an omakase set of whatever is good today, more if you order drinks or extra pieces. Prices are comparable to a mid-range sushi lunch, while quality is somewhat higher, and are significantly cheaper than a sushi dinner in Ginza, which can easily cost over ¥10,000.

Also consider the omelette rolls (dashimaki tamago). This is another Tsukiji speciality, and egg sushi (tamago nigiri-zushi) is traditionally served alongside seafood sushi.

There are many sushi places in the outer market. These generally open at 08:00 or 09:00. Some of these are businesses of long-standing, dating to the 19th century and now consisting of large chains, though the main shops are still in Tsukiji.

There are also non-sushi options, most notably omelette rolls (dashimaki tamago).

Splurge
There are a wide variety of expensive and extremely expensive restaurants in Ginza; see Tokyo/Ginza.

Drink
The Ginza has a large array of drinking establishments, most of which are also extremely expensive. This is where the Japanese horror stories of US$100 for a beer originate from. Choose carefully, or head elsewhere.

title: Tokyo/Chuo


text:
Tokyo/East

Eastern Tokyo covers the wards of Adachi (足立), Katsushika (葛飾), Edogawa (江戸川), Kōtō (江東) and Arakawa (荒川). Neighboring Sumida (墨田) is covered in its own article, as is the flashy bayside shopping and entertainment district of Odaiba.

Understand
Eastern Tokyo is largely residential and industrial. The one major attraction here is the new Toyosu Market, the world's largest fish market famed for its tuna auctions, which replaced the old Tsukiji Market in 2018.

Tourist Information Sites
(from north to south)
 * Adachi: Local tourist association, with integrated machine translation.
 * Arakawa: ArakawAmazing! is the ward's official multilingual guide site.
 * Katsushika: Local tourist association, Japanese-only.
 * Edogawa:The ward's official website has a multilingual tourism section.
 * Kōtō: Local tourist association, with integrated machine translation.

By rail
To Adachi: Tobu Skytree Line, Umejima Station or Gotanno Station.

To Koiwa: Chuo-Sobu from Shinjuku and Akihabara in the west or Chiba outside of Tokyo.

See

 * A pamphlet showing the visitors' course outlines the three buildings. The Wholesale Market Building is where fish are auctioned to intermediate brokers. Many of those are located in the Intermediate Wholesale Building, where they peddle to resellers and restaurants (but not the general public). In the Fruits and Vegetables Building, a similar tiered structure sells produce, meat, and flowers. Fish auctions start at 05:00 and run roughly 1 hour, sometimes less; you should arrive early to get a good view. Other auctions follow until around 08:00. Most of the market activity is done by 11:00, after which it becomes a bit of a ghost town until the next morning. Visitors are separated from the market in upstairs viewing galleries, and it's still impressive even though you can't hear or smell anything through the glass. For the tuna auction, 120 people per day can observe from a bottom-floor observation deck, from which you can hear the auctioneers' chant. Tickets are granted by lottery; you must apply online or by phone in the first half of the month that precedes your desired visit (which means between 3-7 weeks in advance).  On the roof, a minimalist grass deck offers good views of Tokyo Bay. While you can't enter the lower markets, there are many dozens of shops and eateries where you can sample some sushi or purchase a persimmon; however, if you want to get face to face with a fish, visit the many shops in Tsukiji's outer market instead.

Do

Eat
"Monja-yaki" (もんじゃ焼き) is a Kanto-area specialty, similar to okonomiyaki. Once people used to draw letters with ingredients on the hot plate for fun before eating because "Monja-yaki" means "letter cake". Monja-yaki's basic batter is made of water, flour and soy sauce. Ingredients can include cabbage, grated yam, crushed tempura, cuttlefish, shrimp, slices of meat, and so on. Although Tsukishima is Tokyo's best-known neighborhood for monjayaki, it's popular here as well.

title: Tokyo/East


text:
Tokyo/Ebisu

Ebisu (恵比寿, archaically also Yebisu) is the southernmost district of Shibuya ward, in Tokyo, Japan.

Get in
Ebisu is a station on the JR Yamanote line, one stop south of Shibuya. The Metro Hibiya subway line from Roppongi also stops in Ebisu. The Saikyo line and the Shonan-Shinjuku Line also stop in JR Ebisu station.

Get around
Ebisu is compact enough to cover on foot. A convenient moving walkway connects to the popular Ebisu Garden Place. Daikanyama, Nakameguro, Hiroo and Shibuya are close to Ebisu. You can walk to those places easily.

See
The neighborhood immediately outside of the metro station has dozens of restaurants and several fun bars. Ebisu offers nightlife without the sleaziness of Shinjuku or Roppongi. Another attraction is the Yebisu Garden Place, a new "city in a city" developed on the site of a former brewery. Access is via the JR station's Garden Place exit, which leads to a moving walkway leading into the district.

Do
Ebisu Ekimae Summer Festival - The festival held at the end of July every year.

Buy

 * There is a large shopping mall and department store right in JR Ebisu station, but this pales compared with the offerings in next-door Shibuya.

Eat
Ebisu has a good selection of places to eat, mostly slightly upmarket. The Garden Place also has a large number of restaurants.

Drink
Ebisu is also a trendy nightlife district, with many slightly quirky bars and clubs.

title: Tokyo/Ebisu


text:
Tokyo/Ginza

The Ginza (銀座) district of Tokyo, literally "Silver Mint", is in the Chuo ward. It is considered the high fashion center of the city and contains many upscale shops and restaurants.

By train
Getting to Ginza is easy - in the heart of the area is Ginza station, connected to the Marunouchi (M16), Ginza (G09), and Hibiya (H08) subway lines. Alternatively you may walk to the area from the JR Shimbashi or Yurakucho stations, Higashi-Ginza station on the Toei Asakusa (A11) or the Ginza Itchome station on the Yurakucho (Y19) subway line.

Connections from Narita Airport can be made either by taking the Keisei line to Ueno, then changing to the Ginza line (¥2,080 and 80 minutes via Keisei's reserved Skyliner service, or ¥1,160 and about 100 minutes via their limited express commuter service), or by JR's Narita Express to Tokyo Station and then the Marunouchi subway (¥2,900, 80 minutes). Both airport services offer numerous additional connections if your destination is closer to another station. Domestic passengers flying into Haneda Airport have it easier - Keikyu trains travel directly from the airport to the Asakusa line's Higashi-Ginza station (¥650, 30 minutes).

By bus
Airport Limousine Buses run from the airport to major hotels in Ginza, taking 80–90 minutes under normal highway traffic and costing ¥3000.

See

 * The side streets of Ginza are full of art galleries featuring paintings, photography, and graphic design. The Nichido Garo (日動画廊) near the B9 exit of the Metro Ginza line is one of the most famous, often frequented by collectors from Europe and the United States.
 * During Christmas, Ginza's streets are illuminated. 126 trees in Ginzanamiki street are decorated with 75 thousand light bulbs, and 76 trees in Hanatsubaki street are decorated 35 thousand light bulbs which are made in the shape of stars. The illuminations are turned on on November 15.
 * The side streets of Ginza are full of art galleries featuring paintings, photography, and graphic design. The Nichido Garo (日動画廊) near the B9 exit of the Metro Ginza line is one of the most famous, often frequented by collectors from Europe and the United States.
 * During Christmas, Ginza's streets are illuminated. 126 trees in Ginzanamiki street are decorated with 75 thousand light bulbs, and 76 trees in Hanatsubaki street are decorated 35 thousand light bulbs which are made in the shape of stars. The illuminations are turned on on November 15.
 * During Christmas, Ginza's streets are illuminated. 126 trees in Ginzanamiki street are decorated with 75 thousand light bulbs, and 76 trees in Hanatsubaki street are decorated 35 thousand light bulbs which are made in the shape of stars. The illuminations are turned on on November 15.

Do

Weekends on are Pedestrians' Paradise (歩行者天国), with the street closed to motor traffic during the day. You can catch street music (nothing too loud) and performance, hawkers selling magical puppets which dance without strings, and thousands of other people to bump into.

 * Movie theaters are plentiful in the Ginza-Yurakucho area, and as many of them are quite old, they're spacious as well.
 * Movie theaters are plentiful in the Ginza-Yurakucho area, and as many of them are quite old, they're spacious as well.

Buy
Ginza is the home of Tokyo's oldest and most prestigious department stores; the most exclusive is probably Wako. And of course Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel and Prada have stores as well, as do most other fashion brands you can think of.

 * For state of art leather bags fit for the imperial family, try Tanizawa (銀座タニザワ) down the same avenue.
 * There are many famous brand shops in Namiki street, such as Gucci or Coach. If you are low on cash, you can enjoy just looking around the street.
 * Yurakuchō has branches of two large discount electronics stores, Bic Camera and Sofmap. The former, right next to the Yamanote tracks, is housed in what was until 2001 the famous Sogo department store, which in 1958 spawned a popular hit song, "Yurakuchō de Aimashō" ("Let's Meet at Yurakuchō"). The big red building housing the latter used to be a theater for the renowned all-female Takarazuka Revue.
 * For state of art leather bags fit for the imperial family, try Tanizawa (銀座タニザワ) down the same avenue.
 * There are many famous brand shops in Namiki street, such as Gucci or Coach. If you are low on cash, you can enjoy just looking around the street.
 * Yurakuchō has branches of two large discount electronics stores, Bic Camera and Sofmap. The former, right next to the Yamanote tracks, is housed in what was until 2001 the famous Sogo department store, which in 1958 spawned a popular hit song, "Yurakuchō de Aimashō" ("Let's Meet at Yurakuchō"). The big red building housing the latter used to be a theater for the renowned all-female Takarazuka Revue.

Eat

Melon-pan (メロンパン meronpan), a fluffy sweet bun with a thick, cookie-like cross-hatched crust, was invented at the nearby Imperial Hotel and is now considered a Ginza icon, with Hotel Okura and Hotel Seiyou famous for their versions. The name comes from the appearance, and the original recipe had no melon at all, but it's often melon-flavored these days and shops like Kimuraya sell melon-pan in special flavors such as coffee or orange.

Budget

 * Several cheap restaurants can be found in the alleys northwest of the main intersection (Ginza Yon-chome). They may be difficult to find as they usually have a plain entrance or they are located in an alley between buildings.
 * Several cheap restaurants can be found in the alleys northwest of the main intersection (Ginza Yon-chome). They may be difficult to find as they usually have a plain entrance or they are located in an alley between buildings.

Walk along the sides of the Ginza station and around, there are many cheap places to eat and small places have vending machines and are happy to give you English menus and help out with the vending machine- you just have to ask. They are good places to eat and offer good variety. ¥350-900 for a good curry or bowl of ramen. Look for the little curtains and the sound of cooking!

Mid-range

 * Ginza is also within walking distance of Yurakucho (for izakaya and cheap Western restaurants) and Tsukiji (for top-grade sushi).
 * Ginza is also within walking distance of Yurakucho (for izakaya and cheap Western restaurants) and Tsukiji (for top-grade sushi).
 * Ginza is also within walking distance of Yurakucho (for izakaya and cheap Western restaurants) and Tsukiji (for top-grade sushi).
 * Ginza is also within walking distance of Yurakucho (for izakaya and cheap Western restaurants) and Tsukiji (for top-grade sushi).

Splurge
Ginza hosts many of Japan's most exclusive (and expensive) ryotei, many of which require not just reservations but introductions before they'll grant you the privilege of paying up to ¥50,000 per person (excluding drinks) for your meal. The following options are somewhat more down to earth and at the very least accept reservations from the general public, provided you have the funds to pay for the meal.

There is another restaurant in Ginza that may stand in a class of its own:

Sleep
Accommodation in Ginza itself is limited and expensive. You can shave a fair bit off the price by heading around the corner to Shinbashi, which is a major train hub and has lots of serviceable mid-range and capsule hotels.

Go next

 * Tokyo Station - the Marunouchi and Yaesu districts around Tokyo Station are a 20-minute walk north of Ginza's center
 * Yurakucho - west of Ginza, this area houses a mix of commercial and reasonable shopping compared to Ginza's high end areas
 * Hama-Rikyu Detached Palace Garden - south of the Ginza, these former Imperial pleasure gardens are an oasis of tranquility in a hectic city. Here you can catch a tour boat which will take you up the Samida River to Asakusa. From the river, much of the Tokyo skyline is visible.
 * Tsukiji - south-east of Ginza, this area is famous for the "outer market" of former wholesale fish market.
 * Hibiya Park - just west of Ginza past the Sony Building and elevated highway, this park contains many different European styles. In May/June, the azaleas are in bloom.
 * Imperial Palace - just north of Hibiya Park, making it an easy walk from Ginza. Enjoy the open parks and venture a little into the public park area.

title: Tokyo/Ginza


text:
Tokyo/Gotanda

Gotanda (五反田) is part of Shinagawa and a Yamanote Line station between Osaki and Meguro. This quiet business district has transformed from a manufacturing district to a residential and business area with several corporate headquarters for international firms in Japan. Though not especially attractive as a destination for sight-seeing, Gotanda does bring in business travelers and can be a convenient base from which to explore the city. The JR Yamanote Line, Toei Asakusa Subway Line, and Tokyu Ikegami Line all serve this neighborhood giving quick access to most parts of central Tokyo. Shinagawa Station and express trains to Haneda Airport is just 5 minutes away. Since Gotanda is less fashionable, it may be cheaper or easier to book accommodation at busy times.

Though not as famous as Kabukichō, Gotanda is host to a compact but very active red-light district. Wander just behind the mainstream business facing the east exit of the JR station on any evening. In comparison with the large chain restaurants clustered around Shinagawa and Osaki Stations, this neighborhood features more small and independent izakaya or international restaurants.

Get in
Served by Gotanda Station on the Yamanote Line, Takanawadai and Gotanda Stations on the Toei Asakusa Line, and Osaki Hirokoji and Gotanda Stations on the Tokyu Ikegami Lines.

 * From Narita: Quick access for international visitors arriving in Tokyo is the Narita Express via Shinagawa Station. The Keisei Express from Narita connects to the Asakusa Line for cheaper and frequent service to Gotanda Station. Change at Aoto Station. There are frequent announcements of the change on the train in English.
 * From Haneda: Take the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa, change to the Yamanote Line—two stops.

Do

 * The Meguro River passes just blocks from Gotanda Station and this section is a less crowded alternative for some quick cherry blossom viewing.

Budget
All of the usual chain restaurants and fast-food surround the station area including MOS Burger, McDonalds, KFC, Subway, and Curry House CoCo Ichibanya.

Embassies

 * 🇧🇾 Belarus
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia
 * 🇲🇰 Macedonia
 * 🇵🇪 Peru

title: Tokyo/Gotanda


text:
Tokyo/Harajuku

For the fashionable teenager, spending time in Harajuku (原宿) on the weekends is practically a necessity. Older folks will want to visit too, to see Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū) and Yoyogi Park.

Understand
The broad, tree-lined avenue leading downhill from the southern end of the JR station is Omote-sandō (表参道), which leads to the upscale Aoyama district. The street is full of cafes and clothing stores. For teenagers, though, the place to be is Takeshita-dori, which is a bustling narrow street several blocks to the north.

Nearby Yoyogi Park (代々木公園 Yoyogi-kōen) was the site of the first successful powered aircraft flight in Japan, on December 19, 1910, by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa, following which it became an army parade ground. During the postwar occupation, it was the site of the Washington Heights residence for U.S. officers. It later was selected as the site for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and the distinctive Olympic buildings designed by Kenzo Tange are still nearby. In 1967, it was made into a city park. Today, the park is a popular hangout, especially on Sundays, when it is used as a gathering place for people to play music, practice martial arts, etc. The park has a bike path, and bicycle rentals are available. As a consequence of Japan's long recession, there are several large, but surprisingly quiet and orderly, homeless camps around the park's periphery.

By train
JR Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line is the obvious way to get to Harajuku. The station is next to the entrance to Meiji Shrine and to the beginning of Omote-sandō.

By subway
Meiji-jingu-mae Station (on the Chiyoda and Fukutoshin subway lines) has exits onto Meiji-dori and right in front of the entrance to Meiji Shrine, next to JR Harajuku Station. The subway is better than JR for getting here from central Tokyo, but the Yamanote Line is easier if you are coming from Tokyo Station. The nearby Omotesando Station (on the Ginza and Hanzomon subway lines) is further down Omote-sandō near the intersection with Aoyama-dori. Omotesando station has a variety of boutiques and restaurants in the underground station complex named Echika Omotesando.

On foot
Harajuku is 15 minutes away from Shibuya by foot, just follow the train tracks along Koen-dori from the scramble crossing. (You should pass Tower Records on your right and the Yoyogi National Gymnasium on your left.) If you have more time, see the suggested walking tour below.

Youth culture

If it's Harajuku's youth culture you want to see, don't even bother unless it's a Sunday. Each group stakes out its territory around Yoyogi Park (代々木公園 Yoyogi-kōen). Keep in mind that Harajuku is well known worldwide, so many tourists show up on Sundays. Best to be a bit early to avoid being stuck between big tourist groups.

 * The bridge across the train tracks sometimes has teenagers dressed up as Gothic Lolita and other extreme Japanese youth fashions. Besides just hanging out with friends, many come here to be snapped by the magazine photographers who mingle. Unfortunately, as of lately, the police seem to be cracking down on loitering, so they are becoming increasingly rare.
 * Over by the entrance to the park, people with greased hair listen to rockabilly music and dance in their vintage jeans. This subculture has been around since the early 1980s.
 * The sidewalks along the south side are usually occupied by junk vendors and loud rock bands. Both of these groups periodically get swept away by police crack-downs, though.
 * The tree-lined area leading from the south end of the park to Shibuya is filled with all sorts of street performers, mostly folk-pop singers, but also including hip-hop dancing and street theater.

Shrines

Walking tour: Harajuku to Shibuya via Omote-sando
An interesting and recommended walk will let you experience Harajuku and Shibuya, and all of the trendy places in between.

Starting from the Takeshita exit (竹下口) of JR Harajuku station, walk straight away from the station down Takeshita-dori (竹下通り), where you will almost certainly run into the mingling pedestrian crowds. When you reach the first major crossroad, Meiji-dori (明治通り), turn right.

When you reach the tree-lined Omote-sandō, turn left. Omote-sandō is home to the highest of high-fashion stores, including Ralph Lauren, Coach, and Yves St. Laurent.

The approximate half-way point is where Omote-sandō meets Aoyama-Dori (青山通り). There is very little of interest beyond this point, so one option is to walk back down Omote-sandō and return to Harajuku. If you elect to go forward then turn right on Aoyama-Dori and you will eventually pass United Nations University on your right, and Aoyama Gakuin University on your left, before continuing down and finishing up at Shibuya's world-famous pedestrian crossing.

Allow yourself approximately two hours for this walk.

Salons
Harajuku and Omote-sandō are home to many upscale beauty salons, with prices to match.

Buy

Harajuku has two major shopping streets, which couldn't be more different to each other: Takeshita-dōri and Omote-sandō.

The (竹下通り) targets teens and preteens. This street is guaranteed to fill any adult's Hello Kitty quota in milliseconds. Lately it's been nudging towards an older age bracket though, and now also caters to angsty teens looking for frilly Victorian "Gothic Lolita" clothing or black lipstick. Runs from just outside the Takeshita exit of JR Harajuku station down to Meiji-dori.

Second is (表参道), a tree-lined upscale shopping street appealing to adult, or at least more expensive, tastes. It is sometimes compared to Champs-Élysées in Paris. Runs from JR Harajuku station towards Aoyoma, with the most expensive stores clustered towards the eastern Aoyama end.

Eat
Omote-sandō has occasionally been dubbed the Champs-Elysées of Tokyo, which is true at least for the general price level of the trendy cafes and eateries along the road.

The must-eat item of Takeshita-dori is the Harajuku crêpe. It's a treat of a fresh-made crêpe rolled into a cone and stuffed mostly with whipped cream and other goodies such as strawberries, chocolate, even whole slices of cheesecake; the more adventurous options including tandoori chicken. Just stroll down the street and you will see four or five different shops. Most flavors cost around ¥500.

In terms of eating a meal in Harajuku, the vast majority of restaurants serve Western or Indian food. If it's Japanese food you're looking for, you're probably best off eating before or after Harajuku.

Drink
Takeshita-dori is full of heavily advertised animal cafes when you can play with increasingly exotic animals, ranging from cats and rabbits to hedgehogs and owls. Yes, they're kawaii, but do your research first: many of the animals are poorly cared for and visibly stressed out by being forced to interact with strangers constantly.

Stay safe
There are lots of touts around Takeshita-dori. Touting is almost always illegal and there are street enforcement teams in Takeshita-dori holding signs to remind visitors not to follow touts. But the enforcement teams have very impact on the touting activity. Simply don't follow any touts despite any promises of free drinks or free shows.

Go next

 * Shibuya is within walking distance if you're still in the mood for more teenybopping.

title: Tokyo/Harajuku


text:
Tokyo/Meguro

Meguro (目黒) ward is a largely residential district in southwest Tokyo.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

Get in
The JR Yamanote, Metro Namboku (N), Toei Mita (I) and Tokyu Meguro lines all pass through Meguro station.

Tokyu Toyoko line from Shibuya has 5 stations in the ward: Nakameguro (中目黒), Yutenji (祐天寺), Gakugei-daigaku (学芸大学), Toritsu-daigaku (都立大学) and Jiyugaoka (自由が丘). Metro Hibiya line (H) starts at Nakameguro.

Komaba-todaimae (駒場東大前) station on Inokashira Line exists in the northernmost part of the ward in front of Tokyo University Komaba campus.

Do
During cherry blossom season, the trees by the normally rather drab Meguro River bloom pink and Japanese congregate to picnic and drink by the riverside.

The local chamber of commerce and neighborhood association is very active here staging more modern and fashionable events and festivals on many weekends. See a beautifully decorated Christmas tree or maybe an opera singer performing arias on the street. During the September festival you can watch people carry a sacred portable shrine or omikoshi.

Eat
Meguro is famous throughout Japan for sanma (さんま), or Pacific saury, a type of ocean fish. It's obviously not fished in the area; rather, its fame comes from an old story. In September, there's a sanma festival where you can try it grilled by local vendors. If you need a cheap snack to sustain you go for a crepe, smoothie, or melon pan from one of the street vendors operating out of small trailers or funky old VWs. For many women in Tokyo, the neighborhood of Jiyugaoka is almost synonymous with sweets; it's impossible to list all of the many tea shops, cake shops, bakeries large and small, cafes, and chocolatiers.

Drink
For anyone looking below budget, exit the south side of the station, pick up a can at any convenience store, go to the tree-lined street one block south and sit on the benches. In the early evening you'll have plenty of company if the weather is good.

title: Tokyo/Meguro


text:
Tokyo/Minato

Minato (港区) is a ward in central Tokyo. Its name means "port", referring to its seaside location, although many areas in the district are quite far from the sea now due to reclamation.

Understand
Minato is a fairly sprawling ward with no single center. It is known as a very wealthy part of Tokyo and home to most of Tokyo's foreign embassies, many of its large multinational corporations and a number of prestigious universities.

The following parts of Minato have their own articles:

 * Akasaka - a business district and nightlife area near the government center
 * Odaiba - the Tokyo of the future built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay
 * Roppongi - Tokyo's hub for contemporary art and nightlife
 * Shinbashi - an older business and commercial district
 * Shiodome - a still-growing cluster of brand new skyscrapers

Tourist Information Site
Visit Minato City is the ward's official multilingual guide site.

By train

 * Hamamatsuchō (浜松町), terminus of the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport; the closest station on the Yamanote to Tokyo Tower (10-min walk) and Roppongi (25-min walk).
 * Daimon (大門), By underground station Asakusa line and Oedo line.

By bus

 * Hamamatsuchō Bus Terminal (浜松町バスターミナル), Exway buses came from Chiba (ex Choshi, Kisarazu) and Tohoku (ex Yamagata, Hirosaki). Closed for re-building, reopen due March 2027.

By boat

 * Takeshiba Passenger Ship Terminal (竹芝桟橋, Takeshiba Sanbashi) by boat from Izu and Ogasawara Islands.

Budget
Lunch boxes from supermarkets is another good option to save some money

title: Tokyo/Minato


text:
Tokyo/Nakano

Nakano (中野) ward (often called Nakano city in English), adjacent to Shinjuku, is the near edge of the endless urban sprawl of western Tokyo.

Tourist Information Site
The ward has an official Japanese-only guide site with integrated machine translation.

Get in
Nakano is well connected by various train lines, both above and under ground.

The most important stop is Nakano on the JR Chuo and JR Chuo-Sobu lines, where JR Chuo rapid (orange) and JR Chuo-Sobu local (yellow) trains stop. Additionally, there are also local trains on the JR-Chuo line during peak hours. Nakano is also the terminal stop for trains on the Tokyo Metro Tozai subway line (sky blue, stop T01). Nevertheless, some trains of the Tozai line will continue on the JR Chuo line as Chuo-Sobu local trains after reaching Nakano. Travelers reach Nakano quickest with JR Chuo line rapid trains which operate on a frequent schedule from Shinjuku station (1 stop, 5 minutes, ¥150) and Tokyo station (5 stops, 20 minutes ¥210). Nakano's main commercial area (i.e. most shops and restaurants, including Nakano Sunmall and Nakano Broadway) are just north of the station.

Please pay attention to the actual service before you board a JR Chuo rapid train. The most frequent service, called rapid (orange), as well as the commuter rapid (purple) and the Ome special rapid (green) are the only ones stopping in Nakano. But the special rapid (pale turquoise), the commuter special rapid (pink), and the Chuo and Ome liners (both pale orange) pass Nakano. Given in parentheses are the signature colors on the service diagrams (not to be confused with the line colors), which can be found on the station platforms and show what service stops/passes what stations.

Also on the JR Chuo line is Higashi Nakano (東中野, meaning "East Nakano") but only just JR Chuo-Sobu local trains stop there.

Further north of the ward Arai Yakushi-mae (新井薬師前), Numabukuro (沼袋), Nogata (野方), Toritsu Kasei (都立家政) and Saginomiya (鷺宮) are stops on the Seibu Shinjuku line, which does not terminate at Shinjuku (as the name might suggest to some) but at Seibushinjuku, i.e. Seibu's own station a bit north of Shinjuku station.

The south of the ward is connected by Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line with trains stopping in Nakano Sakaue (中野坂上) where the line is split and most trains continue to Shin-Nakano (新中野) but some continue on the Honancho branch to Nakano Shimbashi (中野新橋, featured in You Only Live Twice as the entrance to the villain's underground hideout) and Nakano Fujimicho (中野富士見町) instead. Trains run to Shinjuku and Tokyo stations from all these stops.

Additionally to these east-west bound lines, there's one south-north bound line. The Toei Oedo line stops at the already mentioned Nakano Sakaue and Higashi Nakano station as well as at Shin-Egota (新江古田). Once again, trains on this line also stop at Shinjuku station.

Further stations of various (including not previously mentioned) lines stop just outside of the ward, providing additional connections to places close to the ward's border. Ochiai (落合) station on the Tozai line, while situated in neighboring Shinjuku ward, even has exits in Nakano ward.

title: Tokyo/Nakano


text:
Tokyo/North

Nerima (練馬), Itabashi (板橋), and Kita (北) are a trio of suburban wards in north and northwestern Tokyo, bordering Saitama and outer Tokyo's Tama region. All three lie well beyond the central Yamanote line – nearby Ikebukuro is as close as it gets.

Tourist Information Sites

 * Itabashi:The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site, Hanging Out Itabashi.
 * Kita: Tokyo Kita is the ward's official multilingual guide site.
 * Nerima: The ward has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in
Nerima is accessible on the Toei Oedo subway line from many points in the city, and on the Seibu Ikebukuro and Seibu Shinjuku (going to stations in the Southern part of Nerima-ku) Railway lines from Ikebukuro and Seibu Shinjuku stations respectively. The Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line branches in two at Kotake-mukaihara station with some trains going on to Wako-shi in Saitama Prefecture then continuing along the Tobu Tojo line and others continuing to Nerima then running through to the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.

Itabashi is best covered by the Toei Mita line and a small portion of the Tobu Tojo line. Itabashi Station on the JR Saikyo line is at the far southeastern corner of the ward, barely in Itabashi at all.

JR East serves Kita. The Keihin Tohoku JR Line stops at Tabata, Kami-nakazato, Oji, Higashi-Jujo, and Akabane stations, while the Saikyo JR Line stops at Itabashi, Jujo, Akabane, Kita-akabane, and Ukima-funado stations.

See

Eat
A Japanese radish, called Nerima radish.(練馬大根) It is long and the length is about 1 meter. Its taste is spicy so when you eat it, you should eat it for spice. You can buy it at supermarket in Nerima city.

Sleep
Few options. Consider the more plentiful choices near Ikebukuro, or in Bunkyo for closer access to Kita.

title: Tokyo/North


text:
Tokyo/Odaiba

Odaiba (お台場) is a large artificial island in Tokyo, featuring many hypermodern and just plain strange buildings memorably described as the result of an acid-soaked pre-schooler's architecture class. Administratively a part of the Minato, Koto and Shinagawa wards, the area is a very popular shopping and entertainment destination.

Understand
In 1853, the Tokugawa shogunate built a series of 6 fortresses in the Tokyo Bay in order to protect Tokyo from attack by sea, the primary threat being Commodore Matthew Perry's Black Ships, which had arrived in the same year. Daiba in Japanese refers to the cannon batteries placed on the islands.

In 1928, the 3rd daiba was refurbished and opened to the public as a small park, which remains open to this day as the Daiba Park (the small square connected by a narrow causeway in the map below).

The modern development of Odaiba (お台場, with the honorific prefix) started after the success of Expo '85 in Tsukuba. The Japanese economy was riding high, and Odaiba was to be a showcase as futuristic living, built at a cost of over US$10 billion near the historic 3rd daiba. Unfortunately the "bubble economy" burst in 1991, and by 1995 Odaiba was a virtual wasteland, underpopulated and full of vacant lots.

In 1996, the area was rezoned from pure business to allow also commercial and entertainment districts, and the area started coming back to life as Tokyo discovered the seaside it never had. Hotels and shopping malls opened up, several large companies (including Fuji TV) moved their headquarters to the island, and transportation links improved.

Odaiba kicked off another wave of redevelopment in 2022, with the enormous Palette Town complex and many popular attractions in it (VenusFort, Zepp, Toyota Mega Web, ferris wheel, etc) closing for good. A new set of shopping and attractions is set to be unveiled in 2025-26, but in the meantime Odaiba will be quieter than usual.

Tokyo Odaiba Net is a great source of information in English on Odaiba.

Get in
Odaiba is linked to Tokyo proper by many bridges and tunnels, including the scenic Rainbow Bridge.

From Narita Airport
From Narita Airport, take the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno station, then take the Ginza Subway Line (a Tokyo metro line) to Shinbashi where you can transfer to the Yurikamome for service to Odaiba (about 1 hour 45 minutes to Daiba station, ¥2,390).

Regular and potentially-crowded Keisei tokkyu trains to Ueno station in place of the Skyliner increase the journey time slightly, but reduce the fare to ¥1,470. An easier alternative is to change at Aoto for the Toei subway Asakusa line to Shinbashi, where you can pick up the Yurikamome.

Japan Rail Pass holders can take the JR Narita Express to Tokyo Station, then wait on the same platform and take a Yokosuka Line local train one stop to Shinbashi to get the Yurikamome. It takes about 90 minutes to Daiba station, and Rail Pass users only have to pay the Yurikamome fare (¥310 in this case). Non-pass users must pay a total of ¥3,420.

Infrequent Airport Limousine buses (six per day) run from the airport directly to the major hotels on Odaiba (about 70–75 minutes depending on traffic, ¥2,700).

From Haneda Airport
Take the Tokyo Monorail to Tennozu Isle and change to the Rinkai Line for direct access to Odaiba. A transfer to the Yurikamome can be made at Tokyo Teleport or Kokusai-Tenjijo stations (25 minutes to the latter, ¥660).

For the longer but scenic route over the Rainbow Bridge, take a Keikyu line train, running through to the Toei Asakusa subway line, and change at Shinbashi to the Yurikamome (50 minutes to Daiba station, ¥920).

Airport Limousine buses depart once per hour (2-4 times between 14:00 and 16:00) for Tokyo Big Sight (about 25−30 minutes) and the major hotels on Odaiba (about 15–20 minutes, ¥500-600). Departures from 08:00-17:30 depending on location.

By train
Most visitors arrive in Odaiba via the automated Yurikamome "new transit system", a cross between a train and a bus, from Shimbashi on the Yamanote line (or Shiodome station on the Toei Ōedo Line subway). An attraction in itself, the driverless elevated trains cross the Rainbow Bridge with a 270-degree loop for some great views of Tokyo bay. One-way from Shimbashi to Daiba station will set you back ¥330 (any station farther will be ¥390), or you can buy a one-day pass for ¥820. The other option is to take the Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit (Rinkai Line ) from Ōsaki on the JR Yamanote Line or Shin-Kiba on the Metro Yurakucho line. Many of the trains connect directly from Ōsaki to Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Ōmiya, and Kawagoe via the JR-East Saikyō Line. While slightly faster, the train travels mostly underground and doesn't provide much in the way of views.

By bus
Toei city buses provide cheaper (¥210 per ride) if slower access to Odaiba. 海01(KM01) connects to Monzennaka-cho and 東16 connects to Tokyo station from Tokyo Big Sight. A few special bus services to other destinations are available weekends only. The private bus company Keikyu operates buses to Oimachi and Omori stations. Odaiba Rainbow Bus (\220) connects Shinagawa and Tamachi stations to northern areas of Odaiba via the Rainbow Bridge.

By boat

Suijobus Ferries also operate between Hinode Pier (on the Yurikamome line) and several stops in Odaiba. ¥400 one way. Tokyo Mizube Line (Japanese only) offers general transportation and special cruises.

Some of the boats connect to Asakusa along the Sumida river and to Kasai Rinkai Park near Tokyo Disney Resort.

On foot
You can cross the Rainbow Bridge on foot for free, it takes about 30 minutes. If you come by bicycle you will have to walk with it, the guards will actually have you place small wheels on your bicycle so that you don't ride it on the bridge.

The view over the Port of Tokyo is nice especially around sunset, though in winter (Nov to Mar), you have to enter by 17:30 and to exit by 18:00. In other months you can enter the pedestrian part of the road from 09:00-20:30 (30 minutes before you have to exit). Closed on the 3rd Monday every month and 29-31 Dec.

The Shibaura-side entrance can be hard to find, and that you have to choose which side to walk beforehand.

The northern side is recommended if you wish to look at buildings in the city center from above the port. The southern side is recommended for views on Odaiba.

Get around
The central areas of Odaiba can be covered by foot or by bus. The Yurikamome and Rinkai line also has several stations looping through Odaiba. Yurikamome has a one-day pass (Odaiba-Ariake Kaiyu Pass) for 8 stations in Odaiba and Ariake areas at \500.

Do
One of Odaiba's top attractions, the Ōedo Onsen Monogatari hot spring complex, closed permanently in 2021. Try LaQua in Korakuen or Mangekyo in Urayasu instead.

Buy
Odaiba is an unabashed paean to commercialism and features more malls than you can shake a stick at. Prices are somewhat higher than on the mainland.

A large commercial redevelopment kicked off in 2022, closing perhaps Odaiba's most famous mall, the Vegas-meets-Italy VenusFort. Its successor is set to reopen around 2025.

 * For the self-caterers a sufficient number of convenience stores is available. A Maruetsu supermarket (1-5-3 Daiba, Minato-ku, +81 3-5531-0781, 10:00-22:00) is near Odaiba-kaihin-koen station and a 99-yen shop (1-3-5-105 Daiba, Minato-ku, +81 3-3570-0599, 24 hours; food, stationery, etc.) just a few steps farther north. Two 100-yen shops (souvenirs, kitchen supply, stationery, etc.) are available: one in 1F of Aqua City Odaiba and the other in Wanza Ariake Bay Mall. Finally, there is a small shop (The Wholesalers Market Towers Odaiba) with expensive import foods and wines in The Towers Odaiba building (2-2 Daiba, Minato-ku) just east of Odaiba-kaihin-koen station.
 * For the self-caterers a sufficient number of convenience stores is available. A Maruetsu supermarket (1-5-3 Daiba, Minato-ku, +81 3-5531-0781, 10:00-22:00) is near Odaiba-kaihin-koen station and a 99-yen shop (1-3-5-105 Daiba, Minato-ku, +81 3-3570-0599, 24 hours; food, stationery, etc.) just a few steps farther north. Two 100-yen shops (souvenirs, kitchen supply, stationery, etc.) are available: one in 1F of Aqua City Odaiba and the other in Wanza Ariake Bay Mall. Finally, there is a small shop (The Wholesalers Market Towers Odaiba) with expensive import foods and wines in The Towers Odaiba building (2-2 Daiba, Minato-ku) just east of Odaiba-kaihin-koen station.
 * For the self-caterers a sufficient number of convenience stores is available. A Maruetsu supermarket (1-5-3 Daiba, Minato-ku, +81 3-5531-0781, 10:00-22:00) is near Odaiba-kaihin-koen station and a 99-yen shop (1-3-5-105 Daiba, Minato-ku, +81 3-3570-0599, 24 hours; food, stationery, etc.) just a few steps farther north. Two 100-yen shops (souvenirs, kitchen supply, stationery, etc.) are available: one in 1F of Aqua City Odaiba and the other in Wanza Ariake Bay Mall. Finally, there is a small shop (The Wholesalers Market Towers Odaiba) with expensive import foods and wines in The Towers Odaiba building (2-2 Daiba, Minato-ku) just east of Odaiba-kaihin-koen station.
 * For the self-caterers a sufficient number of convenience stores is available. A Maruetsu supermarket (1-5-3 Daiba, Minato-ku, +81 3-5531-0781, 10:00-22:00) is near Odaiba-kaihin-koen station and a 99-yen shop (1-3-5-105 Daiba, Minato-ku, +81 3-3570-0599, 24 hours; food, stationery, etc.) just a few steps farther north. Two 100-yen shops (souvenirs, kitchen supply, stationery, etc.) are available: one in 1F of Aqua City Odaiba and the other in Wanza Ariake Bay Mall. Finally, there is a small shop (The Wholesalers Market Towers Odaiba) with expensive import foods and wines in The Towers Odaiba building (2-2 Daiba, Minato-ku) just east of Odaiba-kaihin-koen station.

Eat
There are plenty of eating options in Odaiba's shopping malls and attractions, although prices are generally a little higher than on the mainland.

Drink
Odaiba's top nightlife spot, Zepp, closed in 2022.

Sleep
There is a cluster of luxury hotels near Yurikakome Daiba station.

title: Tokyo/Odaiba


text:
Tokyo/Ota

Ōta (大田) Ward is a suburban area of Tokyo, between Shinagawa and Kawasaki.

Understand
The name "Ota" is a combination of  O mori (大森) and Kama ta  (蒲田), two former wards which merged to form Ota Ward. Omori and Kamata remain the major urban centers in the ward.

Tourist Information
The ward has an official bilingual information site for visitors, Unique Ota.

By plane
Ota is home to

The Keikyu Airport Line offers a quick connection from Haneda to Keikyu Kamata, with onward connections available to central Tokyo and Yokohama. The train stops running between 00:20 and 05:30, but taxis are still available.

By train
The main train stations in Ota are (JR Keihin-Tohoku),  (JR Keihin-Tohoku, Tokyu Ikegami and Tokyu Tamagawa lines) and  (Keikyu Main Line and Keikyu Airport Line).

The eastern, predominantly industrial side of the ward is served by the Tokyo Monorail, which runs from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho Station in Minato Ward.

Eat
Ota is a good place to try reasonable non-chain restaurants because of proximity to wholesale markets: vegetable and fish market in the ward and meat market in adjacent Shinagawa ward.

Drink
Labeled a "widely known secret", Kamata has transformed itself into an entertainment hub with a ton of drinking establishments clustered around JR Kamata station.

Apart from Kamata, you'll mostly find small bars serving the locals, those having a few beers before going home. If you're looking for a wild night out, then you're in the wrong neighborhood. However, there is a good atmosphere and prices are reasonable.

Sleep
The main reason to stay in Ota is if you have an early flight out from Haneda Airport. There are many hotels designed for this purpose within walking distance of Anamori-inari (穴守稲荷), Ōtorii (大鳥居) and Keikyu-Kamata stations, less than 10 min away from the airport with frequent services on the Keikyu Airport Line. Many of these hotels also operate free shuttle buses, but schedules are limited. Taxis from either to the airport (or vice versa) cost around ¥2,000.

See Haneda Airport for hotels located within the airport itself.

title: Tokyo/Ota


text:
Tokyo/Roppongi

Roppongi (六本木) is an expensive section of Tokyo's Minato ward famous for its nightlife, much of which is geared towards foreigners. It is also a major daytime attraction, with two massive shopping and dining complexes, and various museums.

The area around Roppongi to the south and west is known as Azabu (麻布). Largely residential and home to many diplomats and wealthy locals, Azabu is generally quieter than Roppongi but has also absorbed some of its vibrant commercial activity and nightlife.

Understand
"Roppongi" literally means "six trees", as six very old and large trees used to mark the area centuries ago. Nothing remains from this period, as the area was first destroyed by the great 1923 earthquake, and then again by World War II bombings.

Driven by the presence of the Japanese (and then American) military, nightlife has been thriving since the 19th century. Since 1960, the disco scene has attracted all party-goers, Japanese and foreigners alike. Even though "Roppongi" is still synonym of "clubbing", the area has become the trendy place for large corporations to have their headquarters: Google, Apple, Yahoo, Goldman Sachs, and even The Pokemon Company. To accommodate this growth, three office/entertainment skyscrapers have been built in the last decade.

Roppongi is the most cosmopolitan place in Japan, with the highest concentration of embassies, consulates and foreign residents, making it a must-see multicultural melting-pot like nowhere else in the country. Roppongi is also a modern art hub. Despite the frenzy, Roppongi has many peaceful green areas, and still is home to many local residents, so don't hesitate to explore the back alleys, you will find small parks, temples, and local life going on.

Tourist information site
The local DMO (Destination Management Organization) has a bilingual guide site.

By train
The Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (grey, H04) spans from South-West Tokyo to the North-East, via Ebisu, Ginza, Akihabara and Ueno.

The Toei Ōedo Line (purple, E23) makes a large "6" shape around Tokyo, it is the best way to come from Shinjuku or Yoyogi.

By bus
Until about 21:00, you can catch an eastbound Toei public bus (T01/都01) anywhere along Roppongi-dori (which runs beneath an easy to spot elevated highway), starting at Shibuya station. Mention to the driver you'd like to get off at Roppongi just in case. The other end of the bus route is Shinbashi station.

On foot
From Shibuya, you can walk east to Roppongi in about 40 minutes via Roppongi-dori. The road runs under an elevated highway, which means you're unlikely to get lost, but there's very little in the way of scenery. In the daytime, you can jump on one of the frequent buses that travel along this road.

Perhaps more interesting is the walk west from the Imperial Palace, which takes about twice as long, but features a view of the Diet Building, some nice parks and other interesting architecture.

Alternatively, take a 10-15 minute walk from Tameike-Sannō (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, orange, G06), Roppongi-Itchōme (Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, blue-green, N05), or Nogizaka (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, green, N05). As these stations are all located in different areas, best to check a map before setting out.

A nice idea could be to get off at Azabu-jūban (Namboku Line or Ōedo Line), enjoy tea or dinner in the main shopping area (exit 4, Azabu-jūban station), before walking north to Roppongi at night (10 minutes).

See

Do

Buy

Roppongi's top shopping destination is, directly attached to the Mori Tower, featuring lots of upscale fashion boutiques and restaurants targeted towards the shoppers that frequent them. The other shopping mall in the area is Tokyo Midtown, a few blocks north of the Roppongi crossing and covered in the Akasaka article.

Eat
Not surprisingly, Roppongi has a plethora of international restaurants, and generally some of the best restaurants in Tokyo (though some research is needed to find them.)

Below budget? Lunch boxes can be found in any of the many convenience stores for around ¥400, and there are several supermarkets in the area:

Budget
Turkish and other fast-foods are popular for people getting out of clubs, but there are numerous healthier yet affordable options. Unlike more expensive restaurants, these usually have the same prices for lunch and dinner.

 * Numerous fast-food chains are available, including Subway, McDonald's, and SoupStock.
 * Numerous fast-food chains are available, including Subway, McDonald's, and SoupStock.
 * Numerous fast-food chains are available, including Subway, McDonald's, and SoupStock.
 * Numerous fast-food chains are available, including Subway, McDonald's, and SoupStock.

Mid-range
Around Roppongi Crossing:

Splurge

Drink

Roppongi is the place to be (late) at night, although you might expect to encounter some non-Japanese street promoters, urging you to just take a free look in their strip clubs, and occasionally trying to shake your hand. The scene continues late into the night, and many bars, clubs, and discos are open until 04:00-05:00 when the first trains run in the morning.

There are innumerable watering holes, and generally speaking, first floor and ground floor establishments cater to young adults and foreigners while higher stories feature more exclusive clubs aimed at slightly older Japanese males. An ID is required by many clubs, so bring along your passport. Note that many of the clubs are very small, and leaving and re-entering without paying the entry charge again is often not possible.

Beware of touts inviting you into clip joints, some of which will go so far as to spike your drinks to wring you dry. Avoid going to a bar you've never heard of with someone that you didn't know before your journey. Leave your credit cards at home, since in a bid to combat fraud an increasing number of bars accept only cash anyway.

Bars for drinking
These bars are perfect for those who came to enjoy the taste of beer rather than for dancing.

Bars for partying
These bars are open all night, and dancing is the norm. Usually entrance is free but drinks can be more expensive than in real clubs.

Clubs

Most of the clubs are in the Gaien Higashi street, at the right of subway exit 3.

Sleep
Sleeping is probably the last thing on your mind when here. There are plenty of places to hang out between the last train and the first one in the morning, but not surprisingly, very few of them are inexpensive.

Note that if you are a foreigner, then all hotels will require your actual passport in order to make a photocopy. These are all legitimate hotels, not love hotels. So if you find yourself needing a love hotel, your best bet is to take a cab to Shibuya.

Stay safe
Roppongi has, by Japanese standards, a slightly dangerous reputation and even makes it onto the US Department of State's Consular Information Sheet, probably mostly for lack of anything else to warn about. The main hazard is drunken fights, which should be steered clear of, as standard operating procedure for the police is to grab everybody in the vicinity and lock them up until things are sorted out, which may take some time. Some petty theft also occurs in crowded bars and clubs. In case of problem or for lost/stolen items, a police station can be found easily at the Roppongi Crossing.

While that is the general perception of Roppongi, it is far less dangerous than the other major areas that cater to foreigners in Asia. It is not even the most dangerous place in Tokyo in terms of clubs hustling customers: that distinction goes to Kabukichō and its Yakuza-owned hostess bars. Remember that, even if Roppongi is slightly dangerous by Japanese standards, Japanese crime standards are very different than those in much of the world. Roppongi is very safe, as long as you are not there during an earthquake. Many young women walk on the street alone late at night in complete comfort. The main danger is to your wallet.

Be wary of hustlers on the streets, who will often try to talk foreigners into going to hideously overpriced gentleman's bars or clubs – the extent of the overpricing may not even be apparent until you get the bill at 05:00. They can be quite persistent, especially if they think you might be in the military, but don't get angry or even speak with them: they will leave you alone after 10 seconds if you just keep walking and ignore them completely. Some clip joints send foreign female confederates into other bars to pick up clueless-looking targets, and some have been known to spike your drink and then ravage your credit card while you're out cold. If you want to escape Roppongi with your wallet intact, stick to places with a sizable crowd, and don't bring your credit card, as many places don't accept them anyway. Never go to a gentleman's bar suggested by someone you just met, and as usual, don't leave your drinks unattended.

Go next

 * Walk 15 minutes to Tokyo Tower and the Zojoji temple, described in the Minato article.
 * Complete a night of decadent debauchery with a sushi breakfast at Tsukiji, a few stops down the Oedo Line.
 * Shibuya (3km) and Aoyama (2 km) are within walking distance. (Or, if it's daytime, take a ¥210 bus.)

title: Tokyo/Roppongi


text:
Tokyo/Setagaya

Setagaya (世田谷) is in western Tokyo, and is the most populous and the second largest of the city's 23 wards.

Understand
Setagaya has a reputation as an upscale residential district, and features many areas of greenery. People get to experience the sophisticated yet wild atmosphere in the huge park called Setagaya Park (世田谷公園) which is approximately 15-minute-walk from Sangenjaya (三軒茶屋). The funky shopping and nightlife area of Shimokitazawa (下北沢), which is popular with students and young adults, is also located in the ward. Setagaya is also home to the shopping districts of Sangenjaya (三軒茶屋) and the revitalized Futako-Tamagawa (二子玉川), locally known as Nikotama. Some areas around Jiyūgaoka (自由が丘) also fall within Setagaya.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a [https://www.kanko-setagaya.jp/en/ multilingual guide site, Enjoy! Setagaya].

Get in
Shimokitazawa is on the Odakyū and Keio Inokashira train lines, just a quick hop from Shinjuku and Shibuya respectively. Most of the action is around the South Exit.

Sangenjaya and Futako-Tamagawa are on the Tōkyū Den-en-Toshi train line from Shibuya. Komazawa-Daigaku is also along this line and near Sangenjaya, and the Komazawa University campus is a few minutes from the station.

Jiyūgaoka is a transfer point for the Tōkyū Tōyoko and Ōimachi train lines. The Tōyoko Line is your best bet for getting into the southern sections of Setagaya from Shibuya or Central Yokohama. The Ōimachi Line, which originates in Ōimachi near Shinagawa, continues northward from Jiyūgaoka to Futako-Tamagawa to meet with the Den-en-Toshi line.

By train
The main train lines serving Setagaya are the Odakyu from Shinjuku to Odawara, the Keio line from Shinjuku to Takao-san, and the Keio Inokashira, Tokyu Toyoko, and Tokyu Denentoshi, all originating in Shibuya. Since all of these rail lines run generally westward from hubs on the Yamanote line, it can be difficult to travel north-south without going in to a hub and back out. Many bus lines exist for this purpose.

Also, select Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line trains (generally every thirty minutes) through-run from Ayase in Adachi Ward.

The only major connector line in the ward is the Tokyu Ōimachi line, which primarily serves residential communities to the extreme south located along the Tama River and Tokyo's #8 Ring Road (Kampachi-dori). The line can be used to connect between the Toyoko and Denentoshi lines without going back to Shibuya. Tokyu Triangle Pass allows riding on the three lines (Shibuya-Futakotamagawa-Jiyugaoka-Shibuya) for nearly one day (until 22:30) at only \470.

The Tokyu Setagaya line between Sangenjaya and Shimo-takaido (on Keio Line) is one of only two remaining streetcar lines in Tokyo.

See

Northern Setagaya
Shimokitazawa has many quirky shops:

Central and Southern Setagaya
What Futako-Tamagawa perhaps lost in old-school charm and character it has gained in modernity and selection that rivals other major shopping areas in Tokyo. This revitalized station-front shopping area, which seems to have taken a peculiar design cue from nearby Tama Plaza, is anchored by two main shopping areas:

 * The Main Wing, South Wing, and West Wing along with Hanamizuki Court are across the street from the train station, and are home to numerous upscale brands such as Gucci, Burberry, and Lacoste. There is also a branch of Books Kinokuniya which, like its other locations across Japan, typically carries a decent selection of international publications.
 * The East Wing, Keyaki Court, Garden Island and Marronnier Court are up the street on the same side of the station, and contain stores such as muji and Gap.
 * Rise Shopping Center and Dogwood Mall house many major domestic and international brand name stores, including H&M, Loft, Uniqlo, Oshman's, The North Face, and Francfranc.
 * Oak Mall, Bird's Mall, and Plaza Mall are more local in flavor and are the new, modern homes for many of the businesses that were displaced by the redevelopment.
 * Rise Shopping Center and Dogwood Mall house many major domestic and international brand name stores, including H&M, Loft, Uniqlo, Oshman's, The North Face, and Francfranc.
 * Oak Mall, Bird's Mall, and Plaza Mall are more local in flavor and are the new, modern homes for many of the businesses that were displaced by the redevelopment.

Jiyūgaoka has for a long time carried a somewhat trendy if not upscale caché. Some of its street-front stores include independent and chain apparel stores (most of which cater to women), and various zakka (variety shop) establishments.

Northern Setagaya
Shimokitazawa is your best option for restaurants and bars.

Central and Southern Setagaya
Komazawa and surroundings

Futako-Tamagawa is home to both high-brow and casual cuisine alike, most of it concentrated around the train station's shopping areas. As is the case with many other shopping areas across Japan, the restaurants on the higher floors offer supreme dining experiences with great views, and the prices to match.

Jiyūgaoka is fairly well-known for its mom-and-pop establishments, especially bakeries and pastry shops.

title: Tokyo/Setagaya


text:
Tokyo/Shibuya

Shibuya (渋谷) is a shopping and eating district of Tokyo popular with a lot of young Tokyoites. It deserves a prize for having more two-story televisions than any other area in the world.

Harajuku and Ebisu areas in the ward have separate articles.

(For listings directly connected to Shinjuku station, see Shinjuku article.)

Understand
Most of the action is in the hectic blocks northwest of Shibuya railway station. The best place to get oriented is the Hachikō (ハチ公) exit, which opens onto Shibuya Crossing, the famous five-way pedestrian scramble crossing under the giant video screen. From left to right at the edges of the square are:

 * 1) Keio Inokashira line station
 * 2) Dōgenzaka (道玄坂) slope
 * 3) 109 building
 * 4) Bunkamura-dōri (文化村通り) street
 * 5) Center-gai (センター街 Sentaa-gai) street
 * 6) Q-FRONT building featuring a monstrous video screen
 * 7) Kōen-dōri (公園通り) street
 * 8) Inokashira-dōri (井の頭通り), branching to the left after the Seibu Department Store
 * 9) MAGNET building
 * 10) JR line tracks to Harajuku.

The area to the south of the station is bounded by a highway, so there's not much more than bus terminals (on both sides) and the Tōkyū Plaza department store. Past the highway, some redevelopment is going on, including Shibuya Stream building and Sakura Stage complex (due open 2024). The two major roads heading east from the station continue to Aoyama and Roppongi.

Two large shopping districts in Shibuya have their own articles.
 * Harajuku with Omotesando street, Yoyogi Park and the Meiji Jingu shrine
 * The nightlife district of Ebisu in the south of Shibuya

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site, [https://play-shibuya.com/ Play! Diversity Shibuya], with integrated machine translation.

By plane
One-seat train service is available from Narita Airport to Shibuya on the Narita Express. Trains run every 30-60 minutes and make the run to Shibuya in 70 minutes at a cost of ¥3190. Alternatively you can take the Keisei Skyliner to Nippori station and change to the JR Yamanote Line (approx. 75 minutes, ¥2670).

Budget travelers can take a regular Keisei limited express from Narita Airport to Nippori and change to the Yamanote Line (approx. 110 minutes, ¥1230). In the evenings, faster Access Tokkyu trains from Narita Airport to Nippori shave 20 minutes off the overall travel time against an extra charge of ¥210.

Airport limousine buses run from Narita to the Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu and the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel (90-120 min, ¥3100). Discount bus tickets for foreigners are available to the Tokyo City Air Terminal, or T-CAT (1 hour, ¥1900); from there, the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Subway can bring you to Shibuya Station (20 min, ¥200).

From Haneda Airport, Shibuya can be reached by taking the Keikyu Airport Line to Shinagawa and changing to the JR Yamanote Line (approx. 35 minutes, ¥580). Limousine buses also run from Haneda to the hotels listed above (1 hour, ¥1030).

By train
Shibuya's station is a notoriously convoluted web of passageways. Follow the signage and you should find your way out (or in).

 * JR Yamanote Line, Saikyo Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line
 * Tokyu Tōyoko Line, Den-en-toshi Line
 * Keio Inokashira Line
 * Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Subway TokyoGinza.png(G01), Hanzomon Line Subway TokyoHanzomon.png (Z01), Fukutoshin Line Subway TokyoFukutoshin.png (F16)

You can also walk to Ebisu and Harajuku (where you could catch JR Yamanote Line trains), and Omotesando (where you could catch Tokyo Metro Lines).

The Tōkyū Tōyoko line is the cheapest and most convenient way to visit Yokohama. It is several stories underground where services continue on to the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line for points north.

Do
There are movie theaters and electronics stores nearby.

Buy

Shibuya has lots and lots of interesting shopping opportunities. It's the home of the huge Tokyu conglomerate (railways, department stores, hotels, housing developments), and thus practically every major store in the area has Tokyu in its name (or Seibu the brave challenger). Tokyu department store closed in January 2023 for re-development of the area, though.

Fashion
Shibuya is the center of Japanese youth culture and it shows.

Music
Shibuya has copious music shopping opportunities, but expect some sticker shock as Japanese CDs often clock in at ¥3000+; imports are usually cheaper! In addition to the superstores below, also check out the miniature alternative ghetto (Jinnan 11 and nearby, just past Hands), full of tiny specialist record shops.

 * For musical equipment, there's a good cluster of shops just southwest of the JR station. (Take the pedestrian overpass to cross the highway.)
 * For musical equipment, there's a good cluster of shops just southwest of the JR station. (Take the pedestrian overpass to cross the highway.)
 * For musical equipment, there's a good cluster of shops just southwest of the JR station. (Take the pedestrian overpass to cross the highway.)
 * For musical equipment, there's a good cluster of shops just southwest of the JR station. (Take the pedestrian overpass to cross the highway.)

Eat
You can't turn around without spotting a handful of restaurants here – from one coin (less than ¥500) noodles to top notch gourmet food.

Drink
Shibuya is a major center for nightclubs, music, and dancing. Also, Nonbei-yokochō (のんべい横丁, "drinker alley"), magically shielded from decades of commercial development, is a narrow alley running alongside the east side of the Yamanote tracks just north of the station. It's packed with traditional yakitori taverns as well as some modern, extremely tiny bars. The district was formed in 1955, and a few of the shops have been operating since then.

Izakaya
There are plenty of cheap and cheerful izakaya (Japanese pubs) scattered about Shibuya. The Watami and Outami chains offers good, but not too inspiring, watering holes.

Sleep
Accommodation options in Shibuya are surprisingly limited. The hillside to the left of Dogenzaka is also known as Love Hotel Hill and indeed contains dozens of love hotels, although they're on the expensive side: figure on at least ¥10,000 for an overnight "stay".

Go next

 * Harajuku, reachable within 15 minutes by walking north along Meiji Street.
 * Ebisu, the next stop south on the JR Yamanote Line, is a quieter and more sophisticated version of the Shibuya scene.
 * Shimokitazawa, just two stops down the Keio Inokashira line, offers trendy shops, restaurants and watering holes in a slightly less frenetic atmosphere.
 * Kichijoji, at the other end of the Inokashira Line, has more of the same plus a park famed for its cherry blossoms.

title: Tokyo/Shibuya


text:
Tokyo/Shinagawa

Shinagawa (品川) is one of the 23 wards of central Tokyo, and is also a major railway station in south-central Tokyo. Historically, parts of this ward were known as Shimazuyama. Many feudal lords (daimyo) maintained estates in this area during the Tokugawa Shogunate. This area is the birthplace and former home of Sony.

Today, Shinagawa is an important train hub for Tokyo, connecting the Yamanote Line and the Tokaido Line/Shinkansen as the start of the Golden Route in Japan. It is also a center of "European" style businesses and tourism, so you will see more English than Japanese on signs, and more Italian and American restaurants than Japanese ones.

Oimachi (大井町) and Gotanda (五反田) areas in the ward have their own articles.

Understand

Although Shinagawa is a ward of Tokyo, Shinagawa Station is actually in the ward of Minato: Shinagawa Ward is located to the southwest of Shinagawa Station, in the area surrounding Gotanda and Osaki on the Yamanote Line, surrounding Ōimachi on the Keihin-Tohoku Line.

Shinagawa is not a particular destination, rather a waystation, particularly when traveling to or from western Tokyo, or a place to live or stay, due to the excellent transport connections. However, it has a large number of services, and a few tourist attractions. It is a good place to stay, or to stop for a meal or drink at the start or end of a journey, but otherwise there’s little reason to come here.

The two sides of Shinagawa Station are quite different: the west or "Takanawa" (高輪) side is mainly residential, with the exception of a sizeable hotel zoning immediately around the station. The east side or "Konan" (港南) side ranges from commercial to industrial, although many new modern residential apartments have been developed near the station and along its many water canals. Because of the many railway lines passing through, it is difficult to get from one side of the station to the other without walking through the station, so be sure to exit the station on the correct side for your destination.

Tourist information
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

By train
is served by Japan Railways (JR) and Keikyu Railway. JR runs trains to Shinagawa on the Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, Yokosuka, and Tokaido lines. Most Narita Expresses from Narita Airport travel directly to Shinagawa (75 min, ¥3,110). Shinagawa Station is also served by the Tokaido Shinkansen, making this a convenient jumping-off point for trips to Kyoto, Osaka and other cities along the line.

On the Yamanote line, Ōsaki and Gotanda stations are also in the area.

On the Keihin-Tōhoku line, Tokyu Ōimachi line and Rinkai line, Ōimachi stations are also in the area.

Keikyu Railways trains run south to Haneda Airport, Yokohama and points beyond. Keikyu also has through service with the Asakusa subway line and operates trains going as far north as Narita, making this a cheap, but much slower, alternative to the Narita Express. The trip between Shinagawa and Haneda Airport takes as few as 17 minutes and costs ¥400.

By bus
Several hotels in Shinagawa, as well as Shinagawa Station, are connected to Narita Airport via the "Airport Limousine" bus (85 min, ¥3,000)

 * Shinagawa Bus Terminal (5 minutes walk from JR Shinagawa Station Takanawa Exit)
 * Ticket office windows: 09:00-18:00
 * Keikyu Bus(Japanese Website)
 * Tohoku - Hirosaki, Gosyogawara, Morioka, Miyako
 * Kansai - Fukuchiyama, Ayabe, Maizuru
 * Chugoku - Tsuyama, Okayama, Kurashiki, Tottori, Kurayoshi, Yonago
 * Shikoku - Tokushima, Anan, Yoshinogawa, Niihama, Saijo, Imabari

 * JR Bus Tohoku(Japanese Website)
 * Tohoku - Sendai

 * Hankyu Bus(Japanese Website)
 * Kansai - Kyoto, Osaka(Umeda,Namba)

 * Mie Kotsu(Japanese Website)
 * Chubu - Nabari, Iga, Seki, Yokkaichi

Eat
Shinagawa ward has many yakitori (skewered chicken) and yakiton (skewered pork) joints because it has the largest wholesale meat market in Japan just east of the station.

Budget
You don't even have to leave the station to treat yourself to a wide range of affordable restaurants. Inside the ticket barrier you can find:

Near the West or Takanawa Exit

Near the East or Konan Exit adjacent to the Shinkansen ticket gates

Sleep
With the new Shinkansen service to Shinagawa, the area hotels have become much more convenient (and crowded). Rooms at the hotels near the station sell out very quickly. Try Gotanda Station, 2 stops away on the Yamanote Line, for cheaper business hotels or capsules.

Mid-range

 * Prince Hotels has three towering premises on the Takanawa side.

Go next

 * Ōimachi — At the station next to Keihin Tohoku Line from Shinagawa, there are more shops, hotels and izakaya. It is also close to Odaiba.
 * Ōsaki — At the station next to Yamanote Line from Shinagawa, there are high-speed buses and Tokyu buses connecting other cities, Narita Airport.

title: Tokyo/Shinagawa


text:
Tokyo/Shinbashi

Shinbashi (also romanized as Shimbashi) (新橋) is a district of central Tokyo which is a significant business center and commercial area, although not quite as busy as Shinjuku or Shibuya to the west.

Shinbashi is directly adjacent to Shiodome, and within a slightly longer walking distance of Ginza and Tsukiji.

By train
Shimbashi Station is on the JR Yamanote, Keihin-Tōhoku, Yokosuka, and Tokaido Lines. It is also a connection point to the Toei Asakusa subway line for Haneda Airport (Keikyu through trains, ¥610, 30 min.), plus the Ginza subway line and the Yurikamome line to Odaiba. The multitude of lines makes it easy to reach from Narita Airport via the Keisei Skyliner and Yamanote lines (Yamanote line, change at Nippori, ¥2,080, 75 min.), Keisei limited express and Asakusa lines (Toei Asakusa line, change at Aoto, ¥1,100, 90 min.) or Narita Express and Yokosuka lines (change at Tokyo, ¥2,910, 75 min.).

Nearby Hamamatsucho station connects directly to Haneda Airport (¥470) via the Tokyo Monorail.

Eat
The area around Shinbashi and Yurakucho is, thanks to its hordes of office workers, full of lunchtime bargains. You can easily get a filling teishoku lunch for under ¥700.

Budget

 * The Shinbashi area has outlets of most major fast food chains:
 * Tenya (てんや). Shinbashi 2-15-12 (JR Shimbashi, Karasumori exit). An outlet of everybody's favorite fast-food tempura chain, with tempura bowls starting from ¥500.
 * Yoshinoya, the Japanese fast-food chain has several (at least two) restaurants close to the station, and Matsuya also has two restaurants near Shinbashi; get a bowl of rice and meat for ¥300-500. Very crowded at lunch-time (around 1pm).
 * The New Shinbashi Building, the triangular (and certainly not new-looking) building on the west side of JR Shimbashi station, has a multitude of dark, smoky, cramped izakayas in its basement levels. Not recommended if you don't like the smell of broiled fish.

Drink
A large number of drinking establishments, some distinctly dodged, can be found around JR Shinbashi station.

Go next
Shinbashi is right next to the Shiodome high-rise area, and a short taxi ride (or moderate walk) away from Tsukiji, where you can enjoy some of the best sushi in Tokyo.

title: Tokyo/Shinbashi