Tokyo Neighborhood Guide: Where to Go and Why

Pick Tokyo neighbourhoods by what you want to do in them, and do two in a day, three at most. Any more and you'll spend the day on trains.

For where to sleep, see where to stay in Tokyo; for a day-by-day plan, the 5-day Tokyo itinerary.

Shinjuku

Department stores and offices on the east side, the Metropolitan Government Building to the west, Kabukicho to the northeast and Omoide Yokocho's yakitori alley by the tracks on the west side. It's a good base and at its best after dark. For a drink in the tiny bars, see the Golden Gai guide.

Shibuya

Always partly under construction. The scramble crossing looks best after dark, and Shibuya Sky is the place to see it from above. The backstreets of Dogenzaka and Udagawa-cho have the bars, clubs and the record shops that are left (see Tokyo record shops).

Shimokitazawa

More than 100 vintage shops, basement live houses and small theatres. New shops now line the old railway land, but the narrow streets north and south of the station haven't changed much. See the Shimokitazawa guide.

Koenji

Cheaper and rougher than Shimokitazawa, with a punk streak: secondhand clothes, furniture and records, and dark little bars. Don't expect polish. See the Koenji guide.

Nakameguro

Cafes and shops along the Meguro River canal. In cherry blossom season the riverbank is packed; come another time of year if you want to walk it.

Daikanyama

Quiet, grown-up and expensive, built around the Tsutaya bookstore complex. It's a short walk from Nakameguro, so the two fit into one afternoon.

Harajuku and Omotesando

Meiji Shrine's forest on one side of the station, Takeshita Street's crêpes and teenage fashion on the other, and the wide, expensive avenue of Omotesando running down to Aoyama. The interesting shops are in the back lanes and along Cat Street. Go to the shrine early, before the crowds. See Harajuku street fashion.

Asakusa

The old east side: Senso-ji temple, the Nakamise shopping street leading up to it, and low streets of small restaurants. It is packed by late morning, so arrive before 8am, when the temple grounds are almost empty. Kappabashi, the kitchenware street, is a 10-minute walk west. See the Asakusa guide.

Ueno and Yanaka

Ueno Park holds the Tokyo National Museum, the science museum, the zoo and Shinobazu Pond, with the Ameyoko market street under the railway tracks. Walk north to Yanaka for wooden houses, temples and the Yanaka Ginza shopping street, one of the few parts of the city that still feels pre-war.

Akihabara

Electronics, anime, manga and retro games, with maid cafés on the side streets. The main road, Chuo-dori, is closed to cars on Sunday afternoons. Allow half a day. See the Akihabara guide.

Ginza and Marunouchi

Department stores, flagship shops and expensive restaurants in Ginza; office towers and Tokyo Station's restored brick building in Marunouchi. Go for the depachika food halls, a good sushi lunch and the Imperial Palace gardens next door. It is quiet after 9pm.

Ikebukuro

A big, busy hub in the north-west: Sunshine City, the Pokémon Center, anime shops on Otome Road, and cheaper hotels than Shinjuku or Shibuya. Practical rather than pretty.

Kichijoji

A relaxed suburb 15 minutes west of Shinjuku on the JR Chuo Line, with Inokashira Park, the Harmonica Yokocho alleys and the Ghibli Museum at the edge of the park (advance tickets only). A good half day when the centre feels like too much.

Which to pair

For a comparison of the quieter districts for a second trip, see Tokyo neighbourhoods compared.

FAQ

How many neighbourhoods can I do in a day? Two, or three if you're efficient.

Where should a first-timer start? Shibuya and Harajuku, Asakusa, Shinjuku at night, and a day in Shimokitazawa or Nakameguro. More in what to do in Tokyo.