Tips & tricks

Fair prices

What locals pay. If you are asked for much more, you are probably being overcharged.

Tickets

Official prices and the only places to buy. Anyone else selling on the street is a reseller.

• Tokyo Skytree

  Tembo Deck (350 m) from JPY 1,800; Tembo Deck + Tembo Galleria (450 m) combo from JPY 3,000; Galleria add-on JPY 1,400 (adults 15+). Prices vary by date.

  Buy at: https://en.tokyo-skytree.jp/ticket/

  Buy on the official site or at Japanese convenience stores. Buying at the 4th-floor counter or ticket machines on the day adds a JPY 500 per-ticket fee.

  Children 6-14 about half price; 5 and under free. Morning and night tickets with a drink exist.

• Tokyo Tower

  Main Deck (150 m) JPY 1,500 adults; Top Deck Tour (150 m + 250 m) JPY 3,300 online, JPY 3,500 at the counter; Tokyo Diamond Tour JPY 7,000

  Buy at: https://www.tokyotower.co.jp/ticket/

  Main Deck 9:00-23:00, last entry 22:30. Top Deck Tour may stop in bad weather. The open-air outdoor stairs can be climbed 9:00-16:00 on weekends and holidays, not in rain.

• Shibuya Scramble Crossing

  Adults: JPY 2,700 online / JPY 3,000 at the counter for entry before 15:00; JPY 3,400 online / JPY 3,700 from 15:00

  Buy at: https://www.shibuya-scramble-square.com/sky/ticket/

  Book on the official site: same-day tickets for sunset slots often sell out.

  Timed entry. Children's tickets (JPY 2,000 secondary school, JPY 1,200 primary) are sold only at the counter on the day. Prices from Savor Japan (June 2026); the official ticket page loads by script and could not be read directly.

• Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

  JPY 1,000 adults (regular fee quoted by japan-guide)

  Buy at: https://l-tike.com/st1/ghibli-en/Tt/Ttg010agreement/index

  Tickets are sold only in advance with a fixed date and entry time: no tickets at the museum, and resale is not allowed. From abroad there are only two official routes: Lawson Ticket online, or a JTB Sunrise Tours bus tour that includes the museum. Anything else is a reseller.

  Lawson Ticket sales open at 10:00 Japan time on the 10th of each month for the whole following month (e.g. February tickets on 10 January). Weekend and school-holiday slots sell out fast; weekdays are easier. Open 10:00-18:00.

• teamLab Planets TOKYO (Toyosu)

  Adults JPY 3,800, secondary-school students JPY 2,800, children 4-12 JPY 1,500 (dynamic pricing); Premium Pass JPY 12,000

  Buy at: https://www.teamlab.art/e/planets/

  teamLab warns of fake websites copying the official site; the domain teamlpnlat.org was named. Tickets from fake sites may be invalid and card details may be stolen. Buy only from the official ticket store or authorised outlets (Lawson Ticket, Seven Ticket).

  No tickets sold on site. Timed entry; official-store tickets can be changed up to 3 times, until 2 hours before entry. No cancellations or refunds.

• Tokyo National Museum (Ueno)

  Collection galleries JPY 1,000 adults, JPY 500 university students; under 18 and over 70 free. Special exhibitions cost extra (their ticket includes the collection galleries the same day).

  Buy at: https://www.tnm.jp/modules/r_free_page/index.php?id=113&lang=en

  Queues at the main-gate ticket counters can pass 30 minutes at busy times; online tickets are valid for two months.

  Closed Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) and 26-31 December 2026. 9:30-17:00, to 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Bag checks with metal detectors at the main gate; no suitcases. Free on 3 November 2026.

• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

  Adults JPY 500; over-65s and students 16+ JPY 250; 15 and under free

  Buy at: https://policies.env.go.jp/national-garden/shinjukugyoen/english/guide/information/

  Alcohol is banned in the garden. Closed Mondays (next weekday if a holiday) and 29 December-3 January, but open daily 25 March-24 April (cherry blossom) and 1-15 November (chrysanthemums). Weekend entry in sakura season may need advance booking. E-tickets skip the counter queue.

• Hama-rikyu Gardens

  JPY 300; over-65s JPY 150; primary-school children free

  Buy at: on site

  9:00-17:00, last entry 16:30. Closed 29 December-1 January.

• Edo-Tokyo Museum (Ryogoku)

  Permanent exhibition JPY 800 adults, JPY 400 over-65s, JPY 480 university students, JPY 300 high-school students; junior high and younger free

  Buy at: https://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/en/information/guide/

  Reopened after renovation. 9:30-17:30, last entry 30 minutes before closing; closed Mondays (next weekday if Monday is a holiday). Special exhibitions cost extra. Online tickets cannot be refunded or changed. Over-65s free on the third Wednesday of the month (permanent exhibition).

• Kabukiza single-act seat (hitomakumi)

  4th-floor single-act seat JPY 1,500-4,000 per act; upgraded 2nd-floor single act JPY 5,400-13,800 (October 2026 programme)

  Buy at: https://www.kabukiweb.net/about/ticket/

  Shochiku's multilingual online ticket service shows 'sold out' when its own allocation is gone; the theatre may still have seats (call +81 3 6745-0888 or go to the box office).

  Watch just one act instead of the whole 4-5 hour programme. Reserved single-act seats are sold online in advance; unreserved 4th-floor seats are also sold at the single-act box office on the day. Rent the English or Chinese subtitle guide.

• Grand Sumo Tournament, Ryogoku Kokugikan

  Arena chair seats about JPY 3,500-5,500; four-person masu boxes about JPY 34,000-42,000 (weekday/weekend, approximate)

  Buy at: https://sumo.pia.jp/en/

  The Japan Sumo Association warns about an unofficial website; its official sales site is 'Ticket Oosumo'. The November 2026 tournament (in Fukuoka) is already sold out.

  Tokyo tournaments are in January, May and September at the Kokugikan in Ryogoku (March is Osaka, November Fukuoka). Masu boxes seat four on floor cushions. Bags are inspected.

• Imperial Palace grounds tour

  No fee is listed by the Imperial Household Agency

  Buy at: https://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/guide/koukyo.html

  Apply directly with the Imperial Household Agency; you do not need an agency.

  Two tours a day (morning and afternoon), max 200 people each; none on Sundays, Mondays, most national holidays, 28 December-4 January, or in the afternoons of July-September. Online applications open at 5:00 Japan time on the 1st of the previous month and close 4 days before. Same-day numbered tickets at Kikyo-mon Gate. Bring the original passport (no photocopies). About 2.2 km on foot with little shade; no buildings are entered.

• Toyosu Market

  Market entry free

  Buy at: Lottery via the official Toyosu Market website (applications in the previous month)

  Auctions run about 5:30-6:30. The upper-floor windows need no booking; the lower deck behind a single pane of glass needs a lottery place. Market closed Sundays, national holidays and some Wednesdays.

• State Guest House, Akasaka Palace

  Garden only JPY 300; Western-style palace JPY 1,500; Japanese-style annex guided tour JPY 1,500 (booking required)

  Buy at: https://www.geihinkan.go.jp/en/akasaka/

  Open only on days without state functions; the calendar changes at short notice, even for booked visitors.

Traps

• Watch outStreet touts in nightlife districts

  Touts (kyakuhiki) approach foreigners in English in Kabukicho, Roppongi, Shibuya and Ikebukuro, which Japanese police call high-risk zones. Never follow a tout into a bar: street touting is illegal and the bars they feed are where most problems start.

  Source: gov.uk
• Watch outDrink spiking and card fraud

  The UK government reports more cases of drinks being spiked in Tokyo nightlife districts, with victims waking with no memory and huge sums charged to their cards (from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds). Most British victims were in Kabukicho. Never leave a drink, do not accept drinks from strangers, and leave spare cards at the hotel.

  Source: gov.uk
• Watch out'Free drink, just have a look'

  Do not enter a bar or club on the promise of a free drink or a quick look: you may be charged an entry fee and not be free to leave.

  Source: gov.uk
• Watch outBill disputes end at the police station

  British visitors have been arrested after arguing with staff and doormen over huge bar bills. See a menu with prices before you sit down, track what you order and confirm any entry charge at the door.

  Source: gov.uk
• Watch outFake monks at Ueno

  Fake 'monks' in robes hand tourists an amulet or prayer beads at Ueno Toshogu Shrine and then demand money, in one reported case JPY 10,000. Real monks and shrine staff never approach visitors to sell things: refuse the item before you take it.

  Source: soranews24.com
• Watch outFake ticket websites

  teamLab Planets warns of copycat sites selling invalid tickets and stealing card details (it named teamlpnlat.org). The Sumo Association also warns of an unofficial site. Buy from the official sites or Japanese konbini ticket terminals.

  Source: teamlab.art, sumo.or.jp
• Watch outNo Ghibli Museum tickets at the door or from resellers

  Ghibli Museum tickets are sold only in advance (Lawson Ticket, or a JTB Sunrise Tours package) and resale is not allowed. Anyone else selling them is a reseller.

  Source: ghibli-museum.jp
• TipGolden Gai cover charges are real, not a scam

  Many of the tiny bars of Shinjuku Golden Gai add a seat charge of a few hundred to about a thousand yen on top of drinks; some charge none. It is usually posted at the door: read it before you go in, and bring cash.

  Source: metropolisjapan.com, gogonihon.com
• TipThe otoshi is not a scam either

  The small dish that arrives unordered at an izakaya is the otoshi, charged at a few hundred yen per person instead of a seat charge.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipTaxis are honest

  Licensed Tokyo taxis run on the meter and drivers do not cheat. Licensed cabs have green number plates; avoid the rare unlicensed drivers at Narita airport.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• Watch outChoose izakaya with care in Kabukicho

  Kabukicho has many normal restaurants and izakaya, but japan-guide advises sticking to large, well-known chains there and ignoring touts.

  Source: japan-guide.com

Local life

• TipThe konbini is everyone's corner shop

  Tokyoites use the 24-hour convenience store (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) for breakfast onigiri, a bento, coffee, a can of beer and the umbrella they forgot. Staff can heat an onigiri for you at the till.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipKonbini errands, not just snacks

  Locals pay bills, buy concert and bus tickets at the multi-purpose terminal, and send or collect parcels at the konbini. Every 7-Eleven ATM takes foreign cards.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipWinter oden from the pot by the till

  From autumn the konbini sells oden (fish cakes, egg, daikon) simmering by the register. Point at what you want or name it in English; you get a bowl and chopsticks to take away.

  Source: gotokyo.org
• RuleBuy a ticket from the machine first

  At most ramen and gyudon counters you buy a meal ticket (shokken) from the vending machine by the door, then hand it to the staff. Do not sit down and wait for a menu.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleThe otoshi is a seat charge, not a mistake

  At an izakaya a small dish you did not order arrives with your first drink. It is the otoshi, served instead of a seating charge, and costs a few hundred yen per person. It is normal, not a scam.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipNo need to answer 'irasshaimase'

  Staff call out 'irasshaimase' (welcome) when you walk in. Customers are not expected to reply: a nod is enough.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• RuleUse the money tray

  At the till put your cash or card on the small tray, not into the cashier's hand; your change comes back the same way.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleThe oshibori is for your hands

  Restaurants give you a wet hand towel (oshibori) when you sit down. It is for your hands before eating, not for your face or the table.

  Source: japan-guide.com, ja.wikipedia.org
• TipWater and tea are free

  A glass of water or tea is served free in most restaurants; if not, there is usually a self-service jug. You never need to buy bottled water with a meal.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RulePay at the till by the door

  The bill comes face down. Take it to the cashier near the exit when you leave: in most places you do not pay at the table.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipPress the button or say 'sumimasen'

  To order, press the call button on the table if there is one, or say 'sumimasen' (excuse me). Many places now take orders by tablet or by a QR code on the table, often in English.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleLine up on the platform marks

  Painted marks on the platform show where the doors stop. Locals queue behind them and let everyone get off before boarding.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleSilence on the train

  Commuters keep their voices down, never take phone calls on local trains and set phones to silent. On long-distance trains, take calls in the space between cars.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleStand left on the escalator

  In Tokyo people stand on the left on escalators (in Osaka it is the right). Walking up is officially discouraged but still happens at rush hour.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleCommuter trains are not for eating

  Do not eat on Yamanote Line or subway trains. On the shinkansen and other long-distance trains, a meal at your seat is normal: take your rubbish with you.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipThe ekiben is part of the trip

  Before a shinkansen ride locals buy an ekiben, a boxed meal sold at railway stations, and eat it at their seat. Avoid very smelly food.

  Source: ja.wikipedia.org, japan-guide.com
• RuleCarry your rubbish home

  Public bins are rare: you will find them at some stations, at a shrinking number of konbini, and next to vending machines (bottles and cans only). Locals carry their rubbish until they get home.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• RuleSort it like a resident

  Bins come split into burnable, non-burnable and recyclables (cans, bottles, PET). Rules differ by ward, and wrong sorting is one of the top causes of neighbour complaints.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleDo not eat while walking

  Eating as you walk is seen as bad manners. Stand to one side of the pavement, or sit, to finish your snack.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipSupermarket and depachika mark-downs

  Supermarkets start discounting lunch boxes around 14:00 and other ready meals around 19:00; discounts grow from 10-20% to as much as 50-70% near closing. Department-store food halls (depachika) put yellow discount stickers on sushi and bento in the evening too.

  Source: japan-guide.com, tokyocheapo.com
• TipDepachika: the basement food floor

  Almost every department store has its food hall in the basement, with sweets, prepared dishes and gift boxes, and a restaurant floor at the top. Stores usually open 10:00-20:00.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipKissaten 'morning service'

  Old-style coffee shops serve a 'morning': toast, an egg, sometimes a salad with your coffee, usually from opening until about 11:00. The custom started in 1950s Aichi and spread from Nagoya across Japan.

  Source: tokyoweekender.com
• RuleThe sento ritual

  Pay at the counter (bandai or front desk), leave your shoes in the shoe locker and keep the wooden key. Wash and rinse fully at the taps before getting in; the bath is only for soaking, and soap never goes in the water.

  Source: 1010.or.jp, japan-guide.com
• TipYou can turn up at a sento with nothing

  Regulars bring towel, soap and shampoo, but almost every sento sells mini soap, shampoo and towels, so you can go straight from work. Sauna often costs extra.

  Source: 1010.or.jp
• TipOne price for every sento

  Adult entry to Tokyo's public sento rose to JPY 600 on 1 August 2026 (children JPY 200, under 6 JPY 100).

  Source: 1010.or.jp
• Watch outTattoos and public baths

  Some baths, pools and gyms still refuse people with tattoos, and others ask you to cover them. Check before you go.

  Source: gov.uk
• Watch outMind the last train

  Trains and buses stop around midnight. On Friday and Saturday nights the taxi queues at stations get long, and fares rise 20% from 22:00 to 5:00.

  Source: japan-guide.com, taxi-tokyo.or.jp
• TipMissed it? Manga café or capsule

  People who miss the last train rent a booth for the night at a manga café (some have showers and flat booths; some chains need a membership) or take a capsule hotel bed for about JPY 3,000-5,000.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleHanami: the blue tarp

  At cherry-blossom time people claim a spot under the trees with a blue plastic sheet, often from early morning. Do not take more space than you need, someone must stay with it (guards may remove unattended sheets), and never drive pegs into tree roots.

  Source: matcha-jp.com
• RuleHanami: where you can and cannot picnic

  Ueno and Yoyogi parks allow sheets and food. Shinjuku Gyoen bans alcohol, Koishikawa Korakuen bans parties, and Nakameguro's riverside is for walking, not sitting.

  Source: policies.env.go.jp, matcha-jp.com, sp.jorudan.co.jp
• RuleHanami bins are sorted

  Big hanami parks put out extra bins split into burnable, non-burnable and bottles, cans and PET. Sort as the signs say.

  Source: matcha-jp.com
• RuleWait for 'kanpai'

  Nobody drinks until everyone has a glass and it is raised for the toast, usually 'kanpai'.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RulePour for others, not yourself

  At a shared table people refill each other's glasses, not their own. If someone offers to pour, drink a little and hold your glass towards them.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipNomihodai: all you can drink

  Izakaya offer all-you-can-drink plans from about JPY 2,000 for 90-120 minutes, the backbone of office parties. Busy weekend izakaya often limit tables to two hours.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipDecember is bonenkai season

  Year-end 'forget-the-year' parties (bonenkai) fill izakaya in December: book ahead or eat early.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipAvoid the 12:00-13:00 crush

  On weekdays office workers flood restaurants from noon to 1 pm. Eat before noon or after 1 pm.

  Source: frommers.com
• TipLunch is the cheap meal

  Many restaurants serve set lunches (teishoku) for about JPY 1,000, and expensive places do cheaper lunch menus. Dinner at the same place costs more.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• TipThe shokudo and the teishoku

  Neighbourhood diners (shokudo) serve set meals of a main dish with rice, miso soup and pickles for JPY 800-1,500. Menus are often handwritten on the wall, in Japanese only.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipStanding bars

  Tachinomi (standing bars) let you drink without a table. A kakuuchi is a liquor shop where you drink at a corner counter at shop prices, with no service.

  Source: ja.wikipedia.org, ja.wikipedia.org
• TipYurakucho under the tracks

  The izakaya and yakitori places under the railway arches at Yurakucho ('gado-shita') are where office workers drink with trains rumbling overhead.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• Watch outGolden Week: the city empties, the trains fill

  Four national holidays in seven days (29 April to 5 May) make one of Japan's three busiest travel periods. Book rooms and trains early.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipObon in mid-August

  Obon, when families honour their ancestors, is mainly 13-16 August. It is one of the three big travel weeks; Tokyo neighbourhoods hold bon-odori dances through July and August.

  Source: japan-guide.com, gotokyo.org
• Watch outNew Year closures

  Most businesses close from 1 to 3 January. Many stores close on 1 January, and museums take a year-end break (the Tokyo National Museum closes 26-31 December 2026).

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com, tnm.jp
• TipThe big matsuri calendar

  Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa: usually the third full weekend of May. Kanda Matsuri: the full version only in odd years, on the weekend closest to 15 May (next 2027). Sanno Matsuri at Hie Shrine: the full parade only in even years, mid-June (next expected June 2028).

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• TipCoin lockers

  Station lockers cost about JPY 400-1,000 per calendar day; many take only 100-yen coins, some take Suica. Large lockers are scarce, and lockers are emptied after three days.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipSend the suitcase ahead

  Locals and hotels use takuhaibin (door-to-door delivery) to send luggage to the next hotel or the airport, usually next day, for about JPY 2,000-2,500 a suitcase.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleWash at the shrine fountain

  At the chozuya, rinse your left hand, then your right, pour water into your cupped hand to rinse your mouth and spit beside the basin. Never drink from the ladle.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleBow twice, clap twice, bow once

  At a shrine's offering hall: coin in the box, two bows, two claps, a short prayer, one bow. Walk at the side of the approach: the centre is for the gods.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipGoshuin: the shrine stamp book

  Collectors carry a goshuincho (about JPY 1,500) and ask for a hand-brushed seal after praying. The fee is usually JPY 300-500; bring coins, not large notes.

  Source: tokyoweekender.com
• TipCash is fading, but not gone

  Cashless payment reached 58% of consumer spending in 2025 (METI). Small restaurants, shrines, lockers and old shops still often want cash.

  Source: meti.go.jp, japan-guide.com
• TipIC card as a wallet

  A Suica or PASMO card pays for trains and buses and also works at konbini, many chain restaurants, vending machines and lockers.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RulePriority seats

  Leave priority seats for those who need them, do not spread your bags across seats, and wear a mask if you have a cold.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleEarthquake alert on your phone

  A loud tone on every phone, TV and radio is an Earthquake Early Warning (kinkyu jishin sokuho): strong shaking is seconds away. Protect your head, keep away from glass, and do not run outside.

  Source: jma.go.jp, jnto.go.jp, japan-guide.com
• Watch outHeat-stroke alerts

  From late April to late October the Environment Ministry and JMA issue a Heat Stroke Alert when the WBGT heat index is forecast at 33 or more. Locals stay indoors at midday, drink water and replace salt.

  Source: wbgt.env.go.jp, japan-guide.com
• Watch outTyphoon days

  Typhoons peak in August and September. Trains and flights may stop; transport companies and hotels usually rebook or cancel affected reservations free.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleTipping is not done

  Do not tip in restaurants, taxis or bars: staff may run after you to return the money. Say 'gochisosama deshita' when you leave instead.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• RuleNo smoking on the street

  Smoking on Tokyo streets is banned outside designated smoking areas; smokers carry portable ashtrays.

  Source: gov.uk, japan-guide.com
• TipKeep left on the pavement

  Cars drive on the left, and most pedestrians walk on the left without thinking. Keep left and you bump into fewer people.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipSlurp your noodles

  Slurping noodles is not rude: it shows you are enjoying them. Lift the bowl to drink the soup if there is no spoon.

  Source: japan-guide.com

Money

• RuleNo tipping, ever

  Tipping is not customary in restaurants, taxis or bars, and staff will try to return the money.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• TipPrices include tax

  Shop price tags must include the 10% consumption tax (8% for food and non-alcoholic drinks to take away); some tags also show the pre-tax price, so you may see two numbers.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleTax-free shopping changes on 1 November 2026

  From 1 November 2026 you pay the full price in tax-free shops and claim the tax back when you leave Japan: scan your passport at a customs kiosk at the airport before check-in, within 90 days of purchase, with all goods in hand. Minimum JPY 5,000 per shop per day. If one item from a receipt is missing, the whole receipt is refused.

  Source: japan.travel, japan-guide.com
• TipCards work, cash still matters

  Credit cards are widely accepted in big shops, hotels and chain restaurants, but many small places do not take contactless cards, so carry the physical card. Small entry fees, small restaurants and coin lockers are often cash only.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipUse 7-Eleven ATMs

  Many Japanese ATMs reject foreign cards, but every 7-Eleven ATM accepts them. Some ATMs shut at night or at weekends.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• TipSmall notes for shrines and taxis

  Big notes are accepted almost everywhere, but use smaller ones in taxis, small shops, temples and shrines. Buses may not take notes above JPY 1,000.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• Watch outHospitals expect payment

  Treatment is excellent but expensive and you pay the full cost; clinics generally take cash only, and only major hospitals take cards. Travel insurance with cashless service saves the hassle.

  Source: gov.uk, jnto.go.jp

Transport

• TipSuica or PASMO first

  An IC card pays every train, subway and bus in Tokyo and is cheaper than paper tickets (e.g. Tokyo Metro JPY 178 by IC vs JPY 180 by ticket).

  Source: tokyometro.jp, japan-guide.com
• Watch outCredit-card tap works on the subway, not on JR

  You can tap a contactless card at Tokyo Metro, Toei, Odakyu, Keio, Tokyu and Keikyu gates, but not on JR (Yamanote Line), Keisei or the Tokyo Monorail. Use the same card at both ends of the trip.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• Watch outThrough-trains can catch you out

  Many subway trains run on into another company's tracks. If that company does not take card taps, you cannot exit with your card and must pay at a staffed gate.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipTokyo Subway Ticket

  Visitors can buy 24, 48 or 72 hours of unlimited Tokyo Metro and Toei rides for JPY 1,000, 1,500 or 2,000. It does not cover JR.

  Source: tokyometro.jp
• TipJR fares went up in March 2026

  JR East's first big fare rise in about 40 years took effect on 14 March 2026: the minimum is now JPY 155 by IC card and JPY 160 by ticket.

  Source: travel.watch.impress.co.jp, coki.jp
• Watch outAvoid the morning rush

  Rush hour peaks 8:00-9:00 and shortly after 17:00 on weekdays; morning trains can be so full you cannot move. Travel with luggage or children outside these times.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipLeave the taxi door alone

  The left rear door of a taxi opens and closes automatically: let the driver work it. Show the address on a map; GO, Uber and DiDi apps hail ordinary taxis.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleBig suitcases and the shinkansen

  On the Tokaido Shinkansen, bags with dimensions over 160 cm in total need a reserved oversized-luggage seat, or you pay a JPY 1,000 surcharge.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipWater bus on the Sumida River

  Boats link Asakusa, Ryogoku, Odaiba and Toyosu along the Sumida River and the bay. Services are reduced since the pandemic: check the timetable.

  Source: japan-guide.com

Etiquette

• RuleShoes off on tatami

  In restaurants with zashiki (floor seating) take your shoes off at the entrance or before you step up; some places give you a shoe-locker key.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• RuleToilet slippers stay in the toilet

  Many izakaya and homes provide slippers for the toilet. Do not walk back into the room wearing them.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleDo not block the flow

  Do not stop right after the ticket gates or at the top of escalators, and keep suitcases close. Wait for friends at the side, never in the middle of a passage.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• RuleTake off your backpack

  On crowded trains wear your backpack on the front or put it on the rack.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleFaces need permission

  Japan's privacy rules are strict: do not publish photos with recognisable faces without permission, and never stand on benches for a better shot. Drones are not allowed in big cities without a permit.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleKeep public affection low-key

  Holding hands is common, but kissing in public is still frowned on. Loud, boisterous behaviour attracts negative attention.

  Source: japan-guide.com, gov.uk
• RuleTemple manners

  Take your hat off and your shoes off when entering temple halls, and check for no-photo signs inside buildings. Wave out the incense flame, do not blow on it.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleChopstick and soy-sauce manners

  Use the other end of your chopsticks or serving chopsticks for shared dishes, pour only as much soy sauce as you need and never pour it on plain rice.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipThank the cook

  When you leave a restaurant say 'gochisosama deshita' (thank you for the meal) and put the lids back on bowls and the chopsticks on their rest.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com

Food

• TipOrder from the plastic display

  The plastic or wax food models in restaurant windows show the dishes and prices accurately. If nothing else works, bring staff outside and point.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipIzakaya: order in rounds

  Start with a round of drinks, then order a few dishes at a time; many people finish with rice or noodles. A typical evening costs JPY 2,000-5,000 a head.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipHighball and chuhai

  Japan's everyday bar drinks are the whisky highball (whisky and soda, 5-10%) and the chuhai (shochu with soda and fruit flavour, 3-8%), also sold in cans at every konbini.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• RuleEat sushi in one bite

  A piece of nigiri goes in whole. For gunkan rolls, pour a little soy sauce on top instead of dipping.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipAsk for osusume or omakase

  Cannot read the menu? Ask for the 'osusume' (recommendation) or 'omakase' (chef's choice). Omakase is often a set course and rarely cheap.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipKonbini food is good

  Fierce competition keeps konbini onigiri, sandwiches, bento and sweets surprisingly good, and the shops are open 24 hours.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• TipGyudon and set-meal chains

  Gyudon chains such as Yoshinoya, Sukiya and Matsuya rarely charge more than JPY 1,000 a meal; Yoshinoya's regular gyudon is JPY 498 eaten in.

  Source: japan-guide.com, yoshinoya.com
• TipTsukiji for a fish breakfast

  Tsukiji Outer Market still thrives after the wholesale market moved to Toyosu. Its restaurants open around 7:00 and close by early afternoon; many shops shut on Sundays, holidays and some Wednesdays.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipSeasonal food is the point

  Menus change with the season: bamboo shoots and clams in spring, kakigori (shaved ice) and cold noodles in summer, chestnuts and sweet potatoes in autumn, nabe hot pots and oden in winter.

  Source: gotokyo.org, gotokyo.org, gotokyo.org

Safety

• RuleCarry your passport

  You must carry your passport (or residence card) at all times; police can arrest you if you cannot show it.

  Source: gov.uk
• Watch outSome cold medicines are illegal

  Vicks inhalers, many allergy and sinus medicines, cold remedies with pseudoephedrine and some codeine painkillers are banned under Japan's stimulant laws. Foreigners have been detained and deported. Check with a Japanese embassy before you pack.

  Source: gov.uk
• Watch outZero tolerance on drugs

  Even a positive test can lead to charges, refusing a police test can lead to arrest, and you can be held up to 23 days without charge, even for minor offences.

  Source: gov.uk
• Watch outGroping on trains

  Women have been groped or photographed up their skirts on commuter trains. Police advise shouting at the offender and asking another passenger to call station staff.

  Source: gov.uk
• RuleIn an earthquake

  Get under a table, protect yourself from falling objects and glass, and do not run outside. Shaking of shindo 5 or more makes things fall; 6 and 7 cause serious damage.

  Source: japan-guide.com, jma.go.jp
• TipInstall the Safety tips app

  The Japan Tourism Agency's 'Safety tips' app pushes earthquake early warnings, tsunami warnings and weather alerts in English.

  Source: gotokyo.org, jnto.go.jp
• Watch outHeatstroke is a real risk

  From mid-July through August heat and humidity can be dangerous, with nights often above 25 C, and the heat now lasts well into autumn. Drink water, replace salt, rest in air-conditioned places and watch for dizziness or confusion.

  Source: japan-guide.com, gotokyo.org
• TipTap water is safe

  Tokyo's tap water is safe to drink, and the city runs public water-drinking stations.

  Source: gotokyo.org, gotokyo.org

Free

• TipFree views from the Metropolitan Government Building

  The observation decks of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku are free (south deck 9:30-22:00). After dark a projection-mapping show plays on the building every 30 minutes.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipImperial Palace East Gardens

  The old Edo Castle grounds, with moats, gates and the base of the castle keep, are free. Closed Mondays, Fridays and 28 December-3 January.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipSensoji and Meiji Jingu cost nothing

  Tokyo's best-known temple and shrine are free to enter; Sensoji's grounds never close and Meiji Jingu opens sunrise to sunset.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• TipWatch the tuna auction from the gallery

  Toyosu Market is free: from about 5:30 to 6:30 you can watch the tuna auction through the upper-floor windows, then browse Uogashi Yokocho and the rooftop garden.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipFree museum and garden days

  The Tokyo National Museum's collection galleries are free on 3 November 2026. On Greenery Day (4 May) many gardens waive entry, including Shinjuku Gyoen, Rikugien and Hama-rikyu.

  Source: tnm.jp, gotokyo.org
• TipThe Shibuya Scramble

  Watching the crossing costs nothing; walk it from the station side towards Center Gai.

  Source: gotokyo.org
• TipShopping-street snacks

  On Yanaka Ginza, Tokyo's best-known old-town shopping street, some stalls sell snacks for under JPY 50.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• Tip100-yen shops

  100-yen shops sell most things for JPY 100 plus tax: good for travel gear, snacks and souvenirs.

  Source: japan-guide.com

Fun

• FunWatch one act of kabuki

  At the Kabukiza in Ginza you can buy a 4th-floor ticket for a single act (JPY 1,500-4,000 in October 2026) instead of a whole day's programme; unreserved seats are sold on the day.

  Source: kabukiweb.net, kabukiweb.net
• FunSumo morning practice

  Many sumo stables are in Ryogoku, and some let visitors watch early-morning training; most need a phone booking and some want a Japanese speaker with you.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• FunClimb Tokyo Tower

  On weekends and holidays you can climb the open-air outdoor stairs to the Main Deck (9:00-16:00, not in rain).

  Source: tokyotower.co.jp
• FunSugamo, the 'old ladies' Harajuku'

  Sugamo's Jizo-dori is an 800 m shopping street for older Tokyoites, famous for lucky red underwear and salted daifuku. At Koganji, people wash the Arai Kannon statue and press the cloth to their aching body part. It is liveliest on the 4th, 14th and 24th of each month.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• FunKappabashi, the kitchen street

  Between Ueno and Asakusa, dozens of shops sell everything restaurants need, including the plastic food models from shop windows.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• FunNakano Broadway

  A 1960s-style mall with more than a dozen small Mandarake collector shops upstairs and a local food market in the basement.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• FunShibamata and Tora-san

  Shibamata, on Tokyo's eastern edge, is the home town of the film character Tora-san; walk the old shopping street, lined with dango shops, to Taishakuten temple.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• FunMikoshi in Asakusa

  During the Sanja Matsuri nearly 100 neighbourhood portable shrines are carried through Asakusa on the Saturday; on Sunday from 7:00 the three main ones leave Asakusa Shrine.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• FunHorseback archery in Asakusa

  In April Asakusa hosts yabusame, archers in medieval costume shooting from galloping horses.

  Source: gotokyo.org
• FunThe bush-clover tunnel

  At Mukojima-Hyakkaen, the only surviving Edo-period flower garden, a 30 m bamboo tunnel is covered in bush clover for the Hagi Matsuri in early autumn.

  Source: gotokyo.org
• FunFireflies in Tokyo

  In June, Yuyake Koyake Fureai no Sato in Hachioji holds 'Firefly Nights'.

  Source: gotokyo.org
• Fun3,000 hydrangeas

  The Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival at Hakusan Shrine in June has about 3,000 plants.

  Source: gotokyo.org
• FunPeonies at Ueno Toshogu

  Ueno Toshogu's peony garden opens January to mid-February and mid-April to early May (JPY 1,000).

  Source: japan-guide.com
• FunComiket

  The huge fan-comic market runs at Tokyo Big Sight on 29-31 December 2026 (C109) and 14-15 August 2027 (C110). Check the official site for entry tickets and wristbands.

  Source: comiket.co.jp

When to go

• TipCherry blossoms: late March to early April

  In 2026 Tokyo's Somei Yoshino trees opened around 19 March, reached full bloom by 30 March and were past their peak by 7 April. Normally peak is the last days of March to the first week of April.

  Source: japan-guide.com, gotokyo.org, matcha-jp.com
• Watch outGolden Week

  29 April to 5 May: trains, airports and sights are packed and rooms sell out.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipRainy season

  Tokyo's rainy season (tsuyu) runs on average from about 7 June to 19 July: persistent light rain, high humidity and blooming hydrangeas and irises.

  Source: ja.wikipedia.org, gotokyo.org
• Watch outSummer heat

  July and August are hot and humid; heat-stroke alerts are issued when the WBGT index is forecast at 33 or more. Plan outdoor sightseeing for early morning or late afternoon.

  Source: japan-guide.com, wbgt.env.go.jp, gotokyo.org
• FunFireworks and summer festivals

  The Sumida River Fireworks, Tokyo's oldest, are held on the last Saturday of July. Also: the Tanabata festival in Taito (early July), Mitama Matsuri at Yasukuni Shrine (mid-July) and Koenji Awa-odori (late August).

  Source: gotokyo.org
• TipBeer-garden season

  From June, beer gardens open on department-store rooftops, in Meiji Jingu's outer garden and at Odaiba; most offer all-you-can-eat-and-drink plans.

  Source: gotokyo.org, gotokyo.org
• Watch outObon week

  13-16 August is a major holiday week: expect full trains out of Tokyo.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• Watch outTyphoon season

  Typhoons hit Japan between May and October, most often in August and September, and can halt trains and flights.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipOctober is one of the best months

  By mid-October the air is dry and mild: ideal walking weather.

  Source: gotokyo.org
• TipAutumn leaves in late November

  Tokyo's colours peak from mid-November to early December: Rikugien from late November, and the ginkgo avenue of Icho Namiki in Meiji Jingu Gaien turns yellow.

  Source: gotokyo.org, japan-guide.com
• TipWinter: clear skies and illuminations

  December to February averages 6-9 C, with dry, sunny days and the clearest views. Omotesando, Marunouchi and Nakameguro have Christmas illuminations.

  Source: gotokyo.org
• TipNew Year and hatsumode

  Most businesses close 1-3 January. Meiji Jingu draws over 3 million people for the first shrine visit of the year (hatsumode) in the first three days. On 2 January the Imperial Family greets the public at the Imperial Palace.

  Source: japan-guide.com, gotokyo.org, japan-guide.com
• FunSetsubun

  On 3 February temples and shrines hold bean-throwing ceremonies to drive out demons.

  Source: gotokyo.org

Words

• TipSumimasen (すみません)

  'Excuse me': the word to call staff in a restaurant.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipIrasshaimase (いらっしゃいませ)

  'Welcome': what staff shout when you enter. You do not need to reply.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipOsusume (おすすめ)

  'Recommendation': ask for it when you cannot read the menu.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipOmakase (おまかせ)

  'Chef's choice': often a fixed course, and rarely cheap.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipKanpai (乾杯)

  'Cheers': wait for it before your first sip.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipGochisosama deshita (ごちそうさまでした)

  'Thank you for the meal': say it when you leave.

  Source: japan-guide.com, japan-guide.com
• TipOtoshi (お通し)

  The small starter at an izakaya that replaces a seat charge.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipShokken (食券)

  Meal ticket bought from a machine before you eat at ramen or gyudon counters.

  Source: japan-guide.com, ja.wikipedia.org
• TipTeishoku (定食)

  Set meal: main dish with rice, miso soup and pickles.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipToire / tearai (トイレ / 手洗い)

  Toilet. Signs may also say keshoshitsu (化粧室).

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipKyukyusha o yonde kudasai (救急車を呼んでください)

  'Please call an ambulance.' Show it to someone nearby.

  Source: jnto.go.jp
• Watch outKinkyu jishin sokuho (緊急地震速報)

  Earthquake Early Warning: the alarm on phones and TV seconds before strong shaking.

  Source: jma.go.jp
• TipHatsumode (初詣)

  The first shrine or temple visit of the New Year.

  Source: japan-guide.com
• TipHanami (花見)

  Cherry-blossom viewing, usually a picnic under the trees.

  Source: japan-guide.com

Checked October 2026. Every item links to where it came from.