Tokyo

Tokyo is most travelers’ entry point to Japan and a practical base for day trips across the Kanto region, thanks to its dense rail network. Once a small castle town called Edo, it became Japan’s political center in 1603 and was renamed Tokyo — “Eastern Capital” — in 1868.

Where to go

Central Tokyo holds the Imperial Palace grounds and the Ginza shopping district. Asakusa, in the north, is home to the historic Sensoji Temple and the Tokyo Skytree observation tower. Shibuya and Shinjuku, in the west, anchor the city’s nightlife, shopping, and busiest train stations, alongside Harajuku and the Meiji Shrine. Odaiba, on a man-made island in the bay, adds a more spread-out, modern contrast.

Good to know

Narita and Haneda are the two main airports serving Tokyo, and the train network is the practical way to get around. Staying near a major hub station like Shinjuku, Tokyo, or Shinagawa keeps onward travel simple, whether you’re settling in for a few days or using the city as a base for day trips across the region.