Tokyo Travel Guide: Art, Culture, Cuisine and Unique Stays
Tokyo, Japan's sprawling capital, offers a mesmerising blend of futuristic innovation and deep-rooted tradition. This comprehensive guide highlights the city's must-see attractions, from dazzling art installations to serene historical sites, alongside exceptional dining and accommodation options.
Immersive Art and Futuristic Views
The Teamlab Borderless art installation provides an extraordinary experience where digital imagery flows seamlessly across ceilings, walls, and floors, creating an immersive environment. Entry costs £18. The journey to its original site on Odaiba island via an elevated rail line showcases Tokyo's futuristic urban sprawl and eccentric high-tech architecture.
For more sci-fi-style panoramas, visit the 634 metre-high Tokyo Skytree, with entry starting from £10. Our personal favourite is the Tokyo City View skydeck on the 52nd floor of Roppongi's Mori Tower, offering breathtaking vistas from £9.50.
Cultural Heritage and Serene Spaces
Ueno Park houses prestigious institutions including the Tokyo National Museum, which chronicles Japan's rich history for £5 entry. Nearby, Yanaka Cemetery offers a peaceful retreat before experiencing the bustling Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple dating from 628 AD, where tourists in rented kimonos gather for photographs and prayers.
For a more tranquil experience, the Meiji Jingu Shinto shrine in Yoyogi Park provides an island of calm within the city, free to enter.
Exceptional Dining Experiences
With nearly 200 Michelin-starred restaurants and outstanding street food, Tokyo makes it difficult to have a bad meal. We discovered Tempura Asakusa Sakura, a hidden gem with only ten seats in a windowless room on the seventh floor of an unassuming commercial building. Here, gossamer-light, gluten-free batter envelops delicate slices of vegetable, Wagyu beef, and fresh prawns.
Our generous tasting menu cost less than £50 per person, including local black lager and sake.
Unique Accommodation in Otsuka
The OMO5 Tokyo Otsuka by Hoshino Resorts is situated in the quiet Otsuka district, served by the city's last remaining trams with tracks lined with roses. The area is renowned for its sake and Kushikoma, an izakaya that inspired an entire local scene.
The OMO5 features chic rooms with elevated sleeping platforms and a fantastic free local tour led by staff, visiting the 88-year-old Sennari Monaka Honpo sweetshop and various yakitori, beer, and sake spots. Rooms start from £118 per night.
Foodie Paradise at Tsukiji Outer Market
The Tsukiji Outer Market is a food lover's paradise with an aquatic focus, reflecting its former role as a commercial seafood hub. Stalls pack its narrow streets and covered corridors, displaying tanks of live lobsters and crabs, ice beds overflowing with plump oysters, and packets of dried shrimp and octopus.
You can purchase almost anything for your kitchen here, from pickled cucumbers to Wagyu beef to highly-priced chef's knives.
Shopping Districts and Eclectic Finds
Ginza in the city centre resembles a toy-town tower-block version of New York's Fifth Avenue, though it may feel somewhat underwhelming. Omotesando offers more engaging people-watching, where renowned architects have designed boutiques for Dior, Prada, and Louis Vuitton.
The surrounding Harajuku streets are filled with stores selling streetwear and rare vintage items. For something truly eclectic, Flower Miffy in Asakusa is a florist brimming with representations of Japan's beloved rabbit character.
