A sprawling capital of 14 million people, Tokyo blends Shinto shrines, neon skyscrapers, otaku districts and some of the world's best food. Here's how to enjoy it in 3 days or 1 week.
Tokyo at a glance
Population
14 M
Airports
NRT · HND
Ideal stay
4 to 6 days
Budget / day
€60-250
Flight Paris
~12h direct
Time diff
+7h / +8h
Current climate
Best season
In brief
A city that takes several days
Count minimum 4 days for the main districts without rushing. 6 days to add a day trip (Nikko, Hakone, Kamakura).
Your base district changes everything
Shinjuku to have everything a train ride away, Shibuya for the energy, Asakusa for the traditional feel.
Everything runs on rail
The JR Yamanote loop links the big districts, the metro covers the rest. A Suica or Pasmo card makes every trip easy.
Cash still helps
Cards work almost everywhere, but keep some yen for small izakaya and shrines.
The city comes alive at night too
Shinjuku neon, the skewer alleys of Golden Gai, free observatories: Tokyo takes on another dimension after 6pm.
Must-see
The world's busiest pedestrian crossing. Free overview from the Starbucks in the Tsutaya building.
Tokyo's oldest temple, its giant red lantern and Nakamise street for souvenirs.
Major Shinto shrine inside a forest of 100,000 trees, right downtown. Rare calm steps from Harajuku.
Neon, the world's busiest station, and alleys of tiny bars at Golden Gai after dark.
Immersive digital art museum, walked barefoot in water. Online booking practically required.
The district of electronics, video games and otaku culture. Multi-floor arcades.
The huge fish market that replaced Tsukiji. Tuna auction visible early morning, ultra-fresh sushi.
Street fashion, crepes and kawaii shops on Takeshita-dori, then the upscale stores of Omotesando.
Large park, national museums and zoo. Prime cherry-blossom spot late March to early April.
Panorama 202m up, and free. On clear days, Mount Fuji stands out on the horizon.
Choose your district
The most practical base. Giant station, JR and metro lines everywhere, hotels for every budget, nightlife. From €45/night.
★ Recommended
The young, lively heart of the city. Shops, restaurants and bars galore. From €55/night.
Lively
Traditional Tokyo around Senso-ji. Quieter, affordable ryokan and guesthouses. From €30/night.
Traditional
The upscale district, department stores and fine dining. High-end hotels. From €130/night.
Luxury
Central and handy for the Shinkansen and airport. Quiet business area at night. From €90/night.
Business
Getting around
JR Yamanote & metro
The Yamanote loop links the big districts, the Tokyo metro fills in the rest. The most efficient network.
Suica / Pasmo card
Rechargeable tap card for the gates. Works on all trains, metros, buses and convenience stores.
Narita Express / Skyliner
From Narita: N'EX (~1h, JR) or Keisei Skyliner (~40 min to Ueno). From Haneda: monorail or Keikyu (~30 min).
Taxi
Clean and reliable but pricey. Useful at night when trains stop (around midnight-1am).
Climate & crowds
01
Jan
02
Feb
03
Mar
04
Apr
05
May
06
Jun
07
Jul
08
Aug
09
Sep
10
Oct
11
Nov
12
Dec
Spring
March to May · 12-22°C, cherry blossom late March-April · Ideal — sakura late March-April, but very busy
Autumn
Oct to Nov · 13-22°C, red maples in Nov · Ideal — clear skies, autumn colors, comfortable
Summer / Winter
June-Sept / Dec-Feb · Summer 30-35°C humid + typhoons; winter 2-10°C dry · Fair — heavy summer, dry sunny winter
How much
Backpacker
€60
per day
Comfort
€140
per day
Premium
€350
per day
Our tested itinerary
Day-by-day program.
Around
📍 2h15 by Shinkansen · Sister city, temples and geishas
1h30 away · Onsen and Mount Fuji views
1h away · Great Buddha and seaside temples
2h away · UNESCO mountain shrines
FAQ
Marie Laurent ✓
·Southeast Asia specialist
Last updated: June 6, 2026.