The library
All 54 Tokyo guides
Everything written so far: where to stay neighbourhood by neighbourhood, what to eat, day trips worth the train fare, and the practical details that make a first visit smoother.
Sept guides existent aussi en français : les guides en français.
First-hand guides By Daniel
Sasazuka How to Get an Apartment in Tokyo as a Foreigner A first-hand guide to renting an apartment in Tokyo as a foreigner: the sites to use, how to dodge key money and deposits, and why looking one neighbourhood out saves you a fortune. 13 June 2026 
Essentials What Nobody Tells You About Staying in Tokyo Practical insider knowledge for first-time Tokyo visitors, the stuff that takes months of living there to figure out. 6 June 2026 
Shimokitazawa Living in Shimokitazawa: An Insider's Tokyo Guide Real insider knowledge on Tokyo's most creative neighbourhood, from someone who actually lived there. Where to stay, eat, and what makes Shimokita special. 5 June 2026 Start here
Essentials 40 Things to Do in Tokyo, Beyond the Obvious (2026) The best things to do in Tokyo: free skyline views, shrine forests, izakaya alleys, day trips, and the spots tourists walk past. Updated 24 September 2026 
Essentials Where to Eat in Tokyo: A Neighbourhood-by-Neighbourhood Guide Where to eat in Tokyo, by neighbourhood, the way locals think about it. Ramen, tsukemen, izakaya alleys, depachika, etiquette and the rules that matter. Updated 24 September 2026 
Day trip 7 Best Day Trips from Tokyo (2026) and How to Choose The 7 best day trips from Tokyo: Kamakura, Nikko, Hakone, Mt Takao, Kawagoe, Yokohama and Enoshima, with travel times, pass prices and which one to pick. Updated 14 October 2026 
Essentials Tokyo Travel Tips: 30 Things to Know Before You Go Practical Tokyo travel tips: IC cards, cash, the November 2026 tax-free change, etiquette that matters, jet lag, packing, and the mistakes first-timers make. Updated 24 September 2026 Where to stay 18
Ryogoku Where to Stay in Ryogoku (2026): Hotels by the Sumo Hall Ryogoku hotels by the sumo hall: APA's station tower, Ryogoku View and Dai-ichi Hotel Ryogoku, who the area suits, tournament booking and the weekly median. Updated 1 October 2026 
Akihabara Akihabara Apartments (2026): Monthly Rentals, Costs Akihabara apartments and monthly rentals: where the stock really is, what monthly mansions and serviced apartments cost in yen, and how to skip key money. Updated 24 September 2026 
Where to stay Asakusa vs Ueno: Which to Stay In? Verdicts by Trip Type (2026) Asakusa for temples, a ryokan night and the cheapest hostel beds. Ueno for museums, the Narita Skyliner and the Shinkansen. Verdicts and live hotel medians. Updated 3 October 2026 
Where to stay Capsule Hotels in Tokyo: Cost, Etiquette, Worth It? Tokyo capsule hotels: a night step by step, what a pod costs next to a hotel room, the etiquette, luggage and couples rules, and who should skip one. Updated 24 September 2026 
Where to stay Ryokan in Tokyo: The Real Ones, and When to Book Hakone Instead Tokyo has surprisingly few true ryokan. Where the real ones are, what a stay involves, and why the best ryokan night of your trip is probably in Hakone instead. Updated 24 September 2026 
Where to stay Shinjuku vs Shibuya: Which to Stay In? Verdicts by Trip Type Shinjuku for a first trip, day trips, bars or a tight budget. Shibuya for food, shopping, nights out and Harajuku. Six verdicts and this week's hotel medians. Updated 3 October 2026 
Where to stay 10 Best Neighbourhoods in Tokyo and Who Each Suits The 10 best neighbourhoods in Tokyo, from Shinjuku and Shibuya to Yanaka, Koenji and Kagurazaka: what each is like, who it suits, and which to stay in. Updated 24 September 2026 
Where to stay Where to Stay in Tokyo: Shinjuku, Asakusa or Shibuya? (2026) Short answer: Shinjuku's west side for a first trip, Asakusa for atmosphere, Shibuya for short stays. 10 areas compared on this week's median hotel rates. Updated 24 September 2026 
Shibuya Best Hotels in Shibuya, Tokyo: Where to Stay Near the Crossing The best hotels in Shibuya by price tier: luxury with crossing views, mid-range value picks, capsules, plus which blocks stay quiet and when to book. Updated 24 September 2026 
Where to stay First Time in Tokyo: Best Area to Stay (2026) First time in Tokyo? Stay on Shinjuku's west side, or Asakusa for atmosphere and Shibuya for short trips. Live median rates and a 60-second decision table. Updated 24 September 2026 
Akihabara Akihabara Hotels and Apartments: Is It a Good Place to Stay? Where to stay in Akihabara: named hotels by the station, quieter blocks near Suehirocho, monthly apartments from 120,000 yen, and the weekly median rate. Updated 15 October 2026 
Asakusa Where to Stay in Asakusa (2026): Best Hotels, Ryokan and Hostels Book near Senso-ji for the temple at dawn, or Kuramae for calm. Ryokan Asakusa Shigetsu, Richmond Hotel Premier, Asakusa View, hostels and this week's rates. Updated 24 September 2026 
Ginza Where to Stay in Ginza, Tokyo: Hotels by Tier (2026) Where to stay in Ginza: the luxury, design, and business hotels by tier, the Haneda no-transfer advantage, transit times, and whether to stay here at all. Updated 24 September 2026 
Ikebukuro Where to Stay in Ikebukuro (2026): Best Hotels, East or West Exit West Exit for Hotel Metropolitan and the izakaya blocks, East Exit for Sunshine City Prince and families. Picks by exit and budget, and the live median rate. Updated 3 October 2026 
Shinjuku Where to Stay in Shinjuku: Best Side, Hotels and Exits (2026) Where to stay in Shinjuku: why the west side wins, the hotels by exit from Keio Plaza to Nine Hours, quieter bases one stop out, and live median rates. Updated 24 September 2026 
Nakameguro Where to Stay in Nakameguro, Tokyo (and Where to Book Instead) Nakameguro has almost no hotels. What exists by the canal, when a rental makes sense, and why Ebisu, Daikanyama, or Shibuya is usually the better booking. Updated 24 September 2026 
Ueno Where to Stay in Ueno, Tokyo: Best Areas and Hotels (2026) Where to stay in Ueno: which side of the station to book, the hotels by the station, the Skyliner and Shinkansen case for Ueno, and live median rates. Updated 3 October 2026 
Yanaka Where to Stay Near Yanaka, Tokyo: Old Town Guide Where to stay in Yanaka, Tokyo's old-town quarter: the ryokan, the town-as-hotel, guesthouses, and Nippori hotels, with the stations and airport links. Updated 24 September 2026 Itineraries 4
Itinerary Tokyo Itinerary: 3 Days Done Properly (Not a Checklist Sprint) A realistic 3-day Tokyo itinerary: the old east side, the west side from Meiji Shrine to Golden Gai, then a market and one neighbourhood done slowly. Updated 24 September 2026 
Itinerary Tokyo Itinerary: 4 Days That Add the One Thing 3 Days Misses A 4-day Tokyo itinerary: the east side, the west side spine, a market and neighbourhood day, then Kamakura or Kichijoji and Ghibli, with trains that add up. Updated 24 September 2026 
Itinerary Tokyo Itinerary: 5 Days at a Local Pace A 5-day Tokyo itinerary that keeps the icons, adds a Kamakura day and a Roppongi art crawl ending in old Yanaka, and never crosses the city twice in a day. Updated 24 September 2026 
Itinerary One Week in Tokyo: A 7-Day Itinerary That Actually Works A day-by-day Tokyo itinerary for 7 days: the icons done properly, the neighbourhoods locals love, one day trip to Kamakura, and room to breathe. Updated 24 September 2026 Day trips 5
Day trip Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo: The Loop, Fuji Views, Staying Over The Hakone loop in the right direction for Fuji views, the Romancecar and Hakone Free Pass explained, black eggs at Owakudani, and why one night beats a day. Updated 24 September 2026 
Day trip Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo: Route, Trains, and What to Skip A Kamakura day trip planned hour by hour: the JR line down, Zen temples at Kita-Kamakura, the Great Buddha, Hase-dera, shirasu for lunch, and the Enoden to Enoshima. Updated 24 September 2026 
Day trip Kawagoe Day Trip from Tokyo: Little Edo in Half a Day How to do Kawagoe from Tokyo in half a day: the Tobu Tojo train from Ikebukuro, the warehouse street, the candy alley, Kitain's 500 rakan, and what to eat. Updated 24 September 2026 
Day trip Mount Takao from Tokyo: The Easiest Mountain Day in Japan Mount Takao from Tokyo: the Keio train from Shinjuku, which trail to take up and down, Yakuoin temple, Fuji from the summit, the beer garden, and when to go. Updated 24 September 2026 
Day trip Nikko Day Trip from Tokyo: Toshogu, the Falls, and How to Time It How to do Nikko in a day from Tokyo: Tobu from Asakusa versus JR, Toshogu before the tour buses, yuba for lunch, and whether Kegon Falls fits the same day. Updated 24 September 2026 Tokyo by season 4
Seasonal Tokyo in Winter: Illuminations, Clear Skies and Empty Streets Tokyo in winter: December illuminations, New Year traditions and closures, the best Mount Fuji visibility of the year, and why late January is underrated. Updated 6 October 2026 
Seasonal Tokyo in Autumn 2026: Leaf Forecast, Light-ups and When to Go Tokyo in autumn 2026: the leaf forecast (maples around 29 November), Rikugien and Koishikawa Korakuen light-up dates, October vs November, food and hotels. Updated 29 September 2026 
Seasonal Tokyo in Spring: Cherry Blossoms, Crowds and When to Go Tokyo in spring: when cherry blossoms peak, the best hanami spots by crowd level, the flowers that follow, Golden Week 2027 dates and where to stay. Updated 10 October 2026 
Seasonal Tokyo in Summer: Festivals, Fireworks, and How to Handle the Heat What Tokyo in summer is really like: matsuri season, riverside fireworks, beer gardens, and the local tricks for surviving July and August humidity. Updated 24 September 2026 Neighbourhoods 1
More essentials 15
Essentials Tokyo Gardens: Hours, Entry Fees and Which to Visit The Japanese gardens in Tokyo worth your time: Hama-rikyu, Koishikawa Korakuen, Rikugien, Kiyosumi and more, with hours, fees, closing days and how to pair them. 20 October 2026 Essentials Tokyo Flea and Antique Markets: Dates and Hours, 2026-27 Which Tokyo flea and antique markets run when: Oedo, Shibuya, Akasaka, Heiwajima and Boro-ichi, with hours, entry and the dates from now to March 2027. 18 October 2026 Essentials Tokyo Weather by Month: Temperatures, Rain and What to Pack Tokyo weather month by month from the Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991 to 2020 normals: highs, lows, rainfall and rainy days, plus when the weather suits a trip. 18 October 2026 Essentials Christmas Markets in Tokyo 2026: Dates, Hours and Entry Tokyo's Christmas markets for 2026: Shin-Toyosu and Shiba Park dates, hours and ticket prices, plus Roppongi Hills, Azabudai Hills, Marunouchi, Ebisu and Shibuya. Updated 12 October 2026 
Essentials Sento and Onsen in Tokyo: Where to Bathe and How How a Tokyo sento works, what it costs, which baths take tattoos, the best sento and onsen by neighbourhood, and how onsen complexes differ. Updated 2 October 2026 
Asakusa Asakusa Samba Carnival 2027: Date, Parade Route, Where to Watch Asakusa Samba Carnival guide: the expected 2027 date, the parade route along Umamichi-dori and Kaminarimon-dori, where to stand, when to arrive, heat and rain, food, and where to stay in Asakusa. Updated 24 September 2026 
Kanda Kanda Matsuri 2027: Dates, Procession Route, and How to Watch Kanda Matsuri returns as a main festival in May 2027. Expected dates, the Shinkosai procession and mikoshi day, where to watch around Akihabara and Kanda Myojin, stations, and where to stay. Updated 24 September 2026 
Koenji Koenji Awa Odori 2027: Dates, Where to Watch, and Trains Koenji Awa Odori guide: the expected August 2027 dates, how the street stages work, where to stand, when to arrive, the weekend train trap, food, and where to stay near Koenji. Updated 24 September 2026 
Chiyoda Mitama Matsuri 2027: Yasukuni's Lantern Festival, 13 to 16 July Mitama Matsuri guide: the fixed 13 to 16 July dates, what to see among 30,000 lanterns at Yasukuni Shrine, the best time to go, food, stations, the shrine's history, and where to stay nearby. Updated 24 September 2026 
Essentials New Year in Tokyo: Hatsumode, Joya no Kane, and What's Open How to spend New Year in Tokyo: where to hear the joya no kane bells, where to go for hatsumode, crowds at Meiji Jingu, all-night trains, what closes from 1 to 3 January, and where to stay. Updated 24 September 2026 
Asakusa Sanja Matsuri 2027: Dates, Schedule and How to Watch in Asakusa Sanja Matsuri guide: the expected May 2027 dates, what happens on each of the three days, where to stand for the mikoshi, crowds, stations, food, and where to stay in Asakusa. Updated 24 September 2026 
Asakusa Sumida River Fireworks 2027: Dates, Where to Watch, Getting Home Sumida River Fireworks guide: the expected 2027 date, the two launch sites, where to stand, when to arrive, which stations to use and avoid, rain policy, and where to stay. Updated 24 September 2026 
Ryogoku Sumo in Tokyo: 2027 Tournament Dates, Tickets, and How to Watch How to see sumo in Tokyo: the 2027 Ryogoku Kokugikan tournament dates, how tickets and same-day seats work, how a tournament day runs, what to eat, and where to stay in Ryogoku. Updated 24 September 2026 
Essentials Tokyo Winter Illuminations 2026 to 2027: Best Light-Ups and Dates The best Tokyo winter illuminations for the 2026 to 2027 season: Marunouchi, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown, Ebisu's Baccarat chandelier, Shibuya's Blue Cave, Meguro River and Yomiuriland, with dates, routes, and where to stay. Updated 6 October 2026 
Asakusa Tori-no-ichi 2026: November 7 and 19 at Asakusa's Otori Shrine Tori-no-ichi guide: the 2026 rooster days (7 and 19 November), what the kumade rake fair is, when to go, how to buy a kumade, getting to Otori Shrine, Hanazono Shrine's fair, and where to stay. Updated 24 September 2026
Essentials Sento and Onsen in Tokyo: Where to Bathe and How How a Tokyo sento works, what it costs, which baths take tattoos, the best sento and onsen by neighbourhood, and how onsen complexes differ. Updated 2 October 2026 Asakusa Asakusa Samba Carnival 2027: Date, Parade Route, Where to Watch Asakusa Samba Carnival guide: the expected 2027 date, the parade route along Umamichi-dori and Kaminarimon-dori, where to stand, when to arrive, heat and rain, food, and where to stay in Asakusa. Updated 24 September 2026 Kanda Kanda Matsuri 2027: Dates, Procession Route, and How to Watch Kanda Matsuri returns as a main festival in May 2027. Expected dates, the Shinkosai procession and mikoshi day, where to watch around Akihabara and Kanda Myojin, stations, and where to stay. Updated 24 September 2026 Koenji Koenji Awa Odori 2027: Dates, Where to Watch, and Trains Koenji Awa Odori guide: the expected August 2027 dates, how the street stages work, where to stand, when to arrive, the weekend train trap, food, and where to stay near Koenji. Updated 24 September 2026 Chiyoda Mitama Matsuri 2027: Yasukuni's Lantern Festival, 13 to 16 July Mitama Matsuri guide: the fixed 13 to 16 July dates, what to see among 30,000 lanterns at Yasukuni Shrine, the best time to go, food, stations, the shrine's history, and where to stay nearby. Updated 24 September 2026 Essentials New Year in Tokyo: Hatsumode, Joya no Kane, and What's Open How to spend New Year in Tokyo: where to hear the joya no kane bells, where to go for hatsumode, crowds at Meiji Jingu, all-night trains, what closes from 1 to 3 January, and where to stay. Updated 24 September 2026 Asakusa Sanja Matsuri 2027: Dates, Schedule and How to Watch in Asakusa Sanja Matsuri guide: the expected May 2027 dates, what happens on each of the three days, where to stand for the mikoshi, crowds, stations, food, and where to stay in Asakusa. Updated 24 September 2026 Asakusa Sumida River Fireworks 2027: Dates, Where to Watch, Getting Home Sumida River Fireworks guide: the expected 2027 date, the two launch sites, where to stand, when to arrive, which stations to use and avoid, rain policy, and where to stay. Updated 24 September 2026 Ryogoku Sumo in Tokyo: 2027 Tournament Dates, Tickets, and How to Watch How to see sumo in Tokyo: the 2027 Ryogoku Kokugikan tournament dates, how tickets and same-day seats work, how a tournament day runs, what to eat, and where to stay in Ryogoku. Updated 24 September 2026 Essentials Tokyo Winter Illuminations 2026 to 2027: Best Light-Ups and Dates The best Tokyo winter illuminations for the 2026 to 2027 season: Marunouchi, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown, Ebisu's Baccarat chandelier, Shibuya's Blue Cave, Meguro River and Yomiuriland, with dates, routes, and where to stay. Updated 6 October 2026 Asakusa Tori-no-ichi 2026: November 7 and 19 at Asakusa's Otori Shrine Tori-no-ichi guide: the 2026 rooster days (7 and 19 November), what the kumade rake fair is, when to go, how to buy a kumade, getting to Otori Shrine, Hanazono Shrine's fair, and where to stay. Updated 24 September 2026