Tokyo Guide

A Local-Feeling Guide by Jesús Rivero
Ultimate Photo Travel Guide to Tokyo

Tokyo Unscripted: A Local-Feeling Guide by Jesús Rivero

I’m Jesús Rivero — 40, incurably in love with Japan, and the kind of nerd who can argue Edo vs. Heian etiquette while slurping tsukemen. This is the Tokyo I show my friends: the city’s famous heartbeats and the quieter rhythms where locals breathe. It’s a guide you can follow on your first trip, then reuse when you crave deeper layers.

Quick Planner (save this)

Essentials for a smooth first trip

  • 🌸
    Best time: late Mar–Apr (sakura), late Oct–Nov (autumn leaves).
  • 🛬
    Airport to city: Narita Express / Keisei Skyliner; Haneda Monorail or Keikyu.
  • 📶
    Connectivity: eSIM or SIM; groups: Pocket Wi-Fi.
  • 🚅
    Trains: Doing Tokyo ⇄ Kyoto/Osaka? The JR Pass still wins for long hops.
  • 💳
    Local transit: Load Suica/PASMO (see IC cards guide).
  • 🛏️
    Hotels: Stay near JR/Metro hubs — handpicked ideas.
  • 🍵
    Tours: Food walks, tea rituals & Fuji trips — browse here.
  • 🚗
    Car days: Hakone / Fuji Five Lakes — rent here.
  • 🩺
    Insurance: Choose cashless treatment — compare policies.
Why Tokyo hooks you

Thunder to hush: finding the city’s rhythm

The first time Tokyo clicked for me wasn’t at Shibuya Crossing. It was a quiet hour in Kitanomaru Park, a paperback in hand, the moat whispering under maples — then a smoky yakitori counter where the master handed me ginkgo nuts like I was a regular. This guide balances both sides.
Where to stay

Neighborhoods by vibe

  • 🗼
    Shinjuku / Shibuya (first-timers): maximal convenience, late food, easy trains.
  • 🖼️
    Ginza / Shiodome (design + calm): sky-lobbies, art hotels, walk to Tsukiji Outer.
  • ⛩️
    Asakusa / Ueno (classic): arcades, shrines, museums.
  • ☕
    Nakameguro / Daikanyama (slow coffee): riverside walks, bookstores, tiny roasters.
Browse Tokyo Hotels See Itineraries
Itineraries

Three ways to spend perfect days

A) First-Timers’ Tokyo (2–3 days)

Day 1 – Icons with breathing room

  • Meiji Shrine → Yoyogi Park walk
  • Harajuku crepes → Omotesando architecture
  • Shibuya Sky at sunset
  • Yakitori alley (Omoide Yokocho / Ebisu Yokocho)

Day 2 – Old meets new

  • Senso-ji at opening time
  • Sumida riverside → Hamarikyu Gardens tea house
  • Ginza art/bookstores → Ramen night (Rokurinsha at Tokyo Ramen Street)

Day 3 (optional)

  • teamLab (Borderless/Azabudai) morning slot
  • Nezu Shrine → Yanaka kissaten crawl
  • Craft beer or sake tasting in Kanda
Need a host? Handpicked options: Best tours in Japan.

B) Hidden-Gems Tokyo (my personal loop)

  • 🍢
    Kichijoji Harmonica Yokocho: post-war lanes, yakitori by 6 pm.
  • 🪱
    Meguro Parasitological Museum: delightfully odd, 30–45 min.
  • 📚
    Nakano Broadway: manga, retro toys, soft-serve towers.
  • 🏮
    Kagurazaka at dusk: lantern alleys, little-Paris cafés.
  • 📖
    Daikanyama Tsutaya T-Site: get lost in the stacks with a flat white.
  • 🌿
    Todoroki Valley: a green thread stitched through the city.

C) Day Trips that Feel Like Films

  • Kamakura & Enoshima: giant Buddha, hydrangeas, sea breeze.
  • Hakone loop: ropeway, pirate ship cruise, onsen — smoother by car.
  • Fuji Five Lakes: panoramic drives, museums, caves — rent a car.
Eat & Drink

The short, honest list

  • 🔥
    Yakitori counters: order “omakase 5 sticks” + seasonal veg; add smoked cheese if you see it.
  • 🥩
    Tonkatsu pilgrimage: choose a spot that lists pork breeds; try a fattier cut once.
  • 🍜
    Ramen trio: rich tsukemen (Rokurinsha), yuzu-shio (AFURI), pork bomb (Jiro Mita Honten).
  • 🥢
    Okonomiyaki you grill: rainy-day comfort; share a “mix”.
  • ☕
    Coffee I cross town for: Onibus (Nakameguro), Coffee Supreme (Yoyogi).
Curated Tastings & Crawls
Practical Tokyo

No-drama essentials

Connectivity & Payments

  • Install an eSIM, or pick a SIM card. Families & laptops: Pocket Wi-Fi.
  • Cards are common; keep coins for shrines, ramen, retro shops.

Transit Like a Local

  • Grab Suica/PASMO (Apple/Google Wallet works). Explained: IC cards.
  • For shinkansen & big hops: JR Pass.
  • Shinjuku–Shibuya is walkable — allow yourself to wander.
Clinics may ask upfront payment. Pick a policy with cashless treatment & 24/7 hotline: Travel insurance Japan.
The “Why” Spots

Places that explain the city

  • 🎋
    Nezu Museum (Aoyama): bamboo approach, hidden strolling garden that swallows noise.
  • 🌇
    Tokyo City View Sky Deck: open-air 360°; go at blue hour to watch the switch-on.
  • 🥃
    Omoide Yokocho: handful of seats per bar; order a highball and absorb the smoke-and-stories.
  • 🧧
    Jizo-dori (Sugamo): grandma’s Harajuku — red underwear for luck and the kindest smiles.
  • 🧵
    Bingoya: five floors of crafts; learn a technique from an artisan without a tour.
  • 🍮
    Shirohige’s Cream Puffs: Totoro pastry, and a neighborhood worth an afternoon crawl.
Mini FAQ

Quick answers

How many days do I need?

3 full days covers icons + one deep neighborhood. 5 nights is ideal.

Should I base only in Tokyo?

For 7–10 days, split Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka. The JR Pass keeps it smooth.

Cash or card?

Both. 7-Eleven ATMs accept foreign cards; small eateries often prefer cash.

Best internet options?

Solo/newer phones: eSIM. Older: SIM. Families: Pocket Wi-Fi.

Where should I stay?

Near a major JR/Metro hub (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Asakusa). Start here: Hotels.

Suggested bookings

One-click, no overwhelm

JR Pass eSIM SIM card Pocket Wi-Fi Tours Hotels Car Rental IC Cards Travel Insurance
Final word

Find your corners

Let the big sights orient you — then go get “lost” on purpose: a lane where lanterns buzz, a park where ginkgo leaves fall like coins, a bookstore whose staff picks change your reading year. If this guide helps you find your Tokyo, I’ve done my job. I’ll be at the counter ordering ginkgo nuts and a second highball.