 Tokyo Budget Travel Guide
Tokyo, Japan
Author: Ichtrinken (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)
Introducing Tokyo
Tokyo Budget Travel Guide is created to provide budget travelers with useful information for planning a visit to Tokyo. Although Tokyo is one of the most expensive destinations in Asia, it is still possible to explore it economically, if one exercise a bit of prudence in one's spending, and rely on public transportation.
In this travel guide, I am describing all the tourist attractions in Tokyo, and providing details on how to can visit them, preferably using public transport such as the subway or bus. Only if these seem impractical do I recommend taxi. At times I may also recommend taking a local tour if this is the most convenient (and cheap) way to visit.
About Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is a metropolis of 8 million people. The term "metropolis" as I use here refers to the 23 special wards that form Tokyo. The 23 special wards are part of Tokyo prefecture, which has a population of 12 million people, and that in turn is within the Greater Tokyo metropolitan area, with a population of between 35 to 39 million people. It is the world's most populous metropolitan area as well as one with the largest metropolitan economy.
Tokyo began as a small fishing village named Edo. In 1457, the samurai Ota Dokan built Edo Castle. Then in 1590 Tokugawa Ieyasu made Edo his base. When he became shogun, Edo became his military center. By the 18th century, Edo has become one of the biggest cities in the world, with a population reaching one million.
Tokyo became the de facto capital of Japan, even as the Emperor continued to reside in Kyoto. However in 1869, 17-year-old Emperor Meiji moved to Edo, and with his presence, Edo became the de facto imperial capital. The city of Tokyo was established on 1 May 1889 until it was merged with Tokyo Prefecture on 1 July, 1943.
The 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake followed by World War II bombings destroyed much of Tokyo, but it was swiftly rebuilt after the war, enabling it to host the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Budget Travel to Tokyo
By Plane
Narita Airport (NRT) is the main international gateway for Tokyo. It is about 70 kilometers from downtown Tokyo.
There are several options to leave the airport for Tokyo.
- The most convenient is the limousine bus which goes to all major hotels in Tokyo. The fare is ¥3000 and the journey takes roughly 2 hours.
- The cheapest option is to take the Keisei Limited Express train. It goes to Nippori/Ueno station, and costs only ¥1000 for the 80-minute ride.
- The fastest option is to take the Narita Express. It reaches Tokyo Station in the heart of the metropolis, in 55 minutes, and costs ¥2940.
- Without a doubt the most expensive option is to take a taxi. You can go airport-to-door anywhere in Tokyo, but the privilege will cost you ¥30,000.
By Train
The Shinkansen bullet train connects Tokyo Station in Chiyoda to other cities in Japan including Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka.
Budget Travel within Tokyo
The easiest way to explore Tokyo is by taking the subway. The lines converge on the Subway Map like a mass of spaghetti, but once you get used to it, it is certainly the easiest way to move about in Tokyo.
If you are going to use the subway frequently, I recommend you get the stored-value cards. There are in fact two types, Suico and PASMO, but they are functionally interchangeable. You pay a ¥500 deposit plus a stored value of up to ¥20,000.
In addition to the stored value cards, you can also buy special subway tickets that allow unlimited rides. However most of these are not worth getting unless you expect to spend much of your time on the train.
Photos of Tokyo
Hozomon Gate, Sensoji Temple, Tokyo
Author: Luis Villa del Campo (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Roppongi Hills, Tokyo
Author: Sailko (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Sights in Western Tokyo
- East Shinjuku
Center of nightlife in Tokyo.
- West Shinjuku
Skyscraper district of Tokyo.
- Shinjuku Station
Busiest train station in the world.
- Sword Museum
Museum displaying fine Japanese swords.
- Meiji Shrine
The most important Shinto shrine in Tokyo.
- Yoyogi Park
Park famous for its weekend street performers.
- Olympic Stadiums
Stadiums for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
- Harajuku District
Area noted for fashion in Tokyo.
- Takeshita-dori
Alley to view the hottest teen fashion in Tokyo.
- Togo Shrine
Shrine dedicated to Admiral Togo, who defeated the Russians.
- Rock and Roll Museum
Shop selling Rock & Roll memorabilia.
- Omote-sando
Street with top fashion boutiques.
- Ota Memorial Museum of Art
Museum with one of the best collections of ukiyo-e prints.
- Shibuya
Party town for Tokyo's youth.
- Statue of Hachiko
Statue of dog awaiting his master, now a favourite meeting place in Shibuya.
- Minami-Aoyama District
District favored by artists, writers and young entrepreneurs.
- Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum with exhibits by international and Japanese artists.
- Nezu Art Museum
Museum exhibiting Japanese, Chinese and Korean art.
- Roppongi District
The music and clubbing center of Tokyo.
- Asakasa District
Watering hole for politicians to socialize.
- Suntory Museum of Art
Museum in Asakasa with one of the best collections of Edo-era screens.
- Toyokawa Inari Shrine
Shinto shrine in Asakasa.
- Hie Jinja
Shinto shrine moved here by Shogun Ietsuna in the 17th century.
More Photos of Tokyo
Cherry blossoms at Ueno Park, Tokyo
Author: Bernard Gagnon (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Akihabara district, Tokyo
Author: Chris 73 (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo
Author: Ellywa (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)
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Places of Interest in Tokyo
Sights in Central Tokyo
- Ginza
This is a famous shopping district in Tokyo.
- Matsuya
Major department store in the Ginza district.
- Matsuzakaya
Major department store in the Ginza district.
- Mitsukoshi
Major department store in the Ginza district.
- Wako
Department store housed in a landmark 19th century building in Ginza.
- Kabuki-za Theater
This is the main Kabuki theater in Tokyo.
- Tsukiji Fish Market
The main fish market for Tokyo is also the biggest such market in the world.
- Hama Detached Palace Garden
Garden by the Sumida River built in 1654 as a retreat for the shogun's family.
- Sumida River
The main river that flows through Tokyo.
- Sumida Tiver Trip
Pleasure cruise down the Sumida River.
- Tsukuda Island
Area in Tokyo that escaped bombing in World War II, and now a center of old Edo culture.
- Shiba Park
Park that was once the Tokugawa family's graveyard.
- Zojoji Temple
Family temple of the Tokugawa shogun.
- Tokyo Tower
Telecommunications tower and tallest structure in Tokyo.
- Nihonbashi District
District in Tokyo that used to be the mercantile district during Edo period.
- Marunouchi District
District to the south and west of Tokyo Station.
- Tokyo International Forum
One of the most distinctive structure in downtown Tokyo.
- Hibiya District
Location of Japan's Diet Building.
- Diet Building
Parliament building houseing the legislature of the Japanese government.
- Imperial Palace
Residence of the Emperor and his family in Tokyo.
- Kitanomaru Park
Park to the north of the Imperial Palace.
- Yasukuni Shrine
Shrine to the Japanese soldiers and civilians who died in wars since the Meiji Restoration.
- Jinbocho Booksellers' District
Major book-publishing district and home to Meiji University.
- Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
This is one of the best traditional gardens in Tokyo, a pocket of serenity in a bustling city.
- Kanda Myojin Shrine
Shrine that dates back 1,200 years. The present structure was erected in 1923.
- Akihabara Electronics Districts
The place to browse at shops with the latest electronic devices.
Sights in Northern Tokyo
- Ueno Park
Public park famous for viewing of cherry blossoms.
- Tokyo National Museum
Museum housing the best collection of Japanese art in the world.
- Shitamachi Museum
Museum for the Shitamachi part of Tokyo, with interesting recreations of Edo-era shops.
- Yanaka District
District of Tokyo that survives the 1923 earthquake and World War II bombing, preserving the period look that has disappeared elsewhere.
- Ameyoko Market
A crowded bazaar under the elevated train tracks.
- Inaricho District
District specialising is religious paraphernalia.
- Kappabashi-dori
Area in Tokyo specialising in kitchenware and plastic display foods.
- Sensoji Temple (Asakusa Kannon)
The oldest and most sacred temple in Tokyo.
Sights in the outer vicinity of Tokyo
- Goto Art Museum
Museum showcasing the private collection of the late Goto Keita, chairman of Tokyu Corporation.
- Mingeikan (Japan Folk Craft Museum)
A small, beautiful museum founded by art historian Yanagi Muneyoshi.
- Tokyo Opera City
Tokyo's newest music and theater complex.
- Arakawa Tram Line
The only tram line that survives in Tokyo.
- Ikebukuro District
District with the second busiest train station after Shinjuku.
- Sunshine City
Mixed development complex in Ikebukuro.
- Rikugi-en Garden
Garden established by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, the grand chamberlain of the fifth shogun, in 1695.
- Ryogoku District
Entertainment and commerce center for Shitamachi during the Edo period.
- National Sumo Stadium
Stadium where sumo tournaments are held.
- Edo-Tokyo Museum
One of the most imaginative museums tracing life in Edo and then Tokyo.
- Odaiba
An artificial island in Tokyo Bay where the Tokyo Waterfront Secondary City Center is located.
- Daisan Daiba Historic Park
Park with remains of the fortifications constructed by the shoguns to keep foreign ships out.
- Tokyo Decks
Mall in Odaiba.
- Joypolis
Sega electronic games center at Odaiba.
- Museum of Maritime Sciences
Museum in the form of a boat.
- Sengaku-ji Temple
Site of the grave of Lord Asano, who was sentenced to death by seppuku, and his 47 followers, who also committed seppuku.
- Ebisu District
A commercial and residential center in Tokyo.
- Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
Museum in Ebisu District exhibitng works by Japanese and international photographers.
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