Tokyo

Shibuya Crossing is the image most associate with Tokyo — the world's most famous pedestrian crossing. At each light change, up to 3,000 people simultaneously flow from all sides across the street, surrounded by giant LED screens and neon signs. It is organized chaos in perfection, and despite the crowds, no one collides.

The best view of the crossing is from the Shibuya Sky — the observation deck on the Shibuya Scramble Square (230 m high, ¥2,000/€12.50). Alternatively free: the Starbucks at the crossing (2nd floor Tsutaya Building) or the Mag's Park rooftop of the Shibuya 109 building.

In front of the station stands the bronze statue of Hachikō — the loyal Akita dog who waited daily at the station for his deceased owner for nine years (1925–1935). The story became a film and a symbol of Japanese loyalty. The statue is Tokyo's most popular meeting point.

Behind the crossing stretches a labyrinth of alleys with boutiques, izakayas, karaoke bars, and restaurants. The Shibuya Center-gai is the busiest shopping street, Nonbei Yokocho (Drunkard's Alley) a narrow alley with tiny bars for six guests each — perfect for an evening with sake and yakitori.

Shinjuku is Tokyo's hyperactive heart — the world's busiest train station (3.5 million passengers daily), a skyscraper district, the city's best nightlife, and a surprisingly peaceful Japanese garden, all within a few minutes' walk.

The Western Shinjuku is Tokyo's Manhattan: Dozens of skyscrapers house hotels and offices. On the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, there is a free observation deck with a 360° panorama over Tokyo — on clear days, you can see Mount Fuji. One of the best free viewpoints in Asia.

The Eastern Shinjuku is the entertainment district. Here lies Kabukichō, Tokyo's most notorious entertainment district — neon signs, karaoke, arcades, restaurants, and bars on dozens of floors. The iconic Godzilla Head on the Hotel Gracery watches over the district. Since 2023, the new Kabukichō Tower attracts with entertainment on 48 floors.

For peace: The Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo's most beautiful parks — with a Japanese garden, English landscape garden, and French formal garden. During cherry blossom season, it's one of Tokyo's hotspots (¥500 entrance fee, alcohol prohibited in the park).

For bar-hopping: Golden Gai — a maze of over 200 tiny bars, some with only four seats. Each bar has its own theme: jazz, punk, manga, film classics. Some charge ¥500–1,000 entrance (seating fee), which is then credited towards drinks.

Sensō-ji is Tokyo's oldest and most famous temple — founded in 645 when two fishermen pulled a golden Kannon statue (Goddess of Mercy) from the Sumida River. Whether the story is true is beside the point — the temple is a masterpiece and the spiritual heart of old Tokyo.

The visit begins at the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) with its giant red lantern — Tokyo's most photographed motif. Through the gate leads the Nakamise-dōri, a 250-meter-long shopping street with over 90 stalls that have been selling souvenirs, rice crackers (Senbei), Melon Pan, and traditional crafts for centuries.

At the end of Nakamise stands the second gate (Hōzōmon) and behind it the imposing Main Hall with its curved roof silhouette. In front of the hall is a large incense burner — Japanese people fan the smoke over their bodies to heal illnesses. Next to it are the Omikuji sticks: For ¥100, you draw your fortune. If you get a bad fortune (Kyō), tie it to the wire stand — so the bad luck stays in the temple and doesn't go with you.

The Asakusa district around it has retained the charm of old Shitamachi (downtown Tokyo): small craft businesses, traditional sweet shops, rickshaw drivers in kimono, and the Hoppy-dōri, an alley full of izakayas where locals drink Hoppy (beer-like drink) in the evenings.

Akihabara (秋葉原, short "Akiba") is the epicenter of Japanese otaku culture — an electrifying mix of anime shops, manga stores, retro arcades, maid cafes, and electronics department stores stacked on dozens of floors.

The main street Chuo-dōri becomes a pedestrian zone on Sundays and transforms into a cosplay festival. In the side streets, you'll find Mandarake (eight floors of used manga, anime figures, and rare collectibles), Yodobashi Camera (nine floors of electronics at tax-free prices for tourists), and dozens of small shops for gashapon capsules (toy vending machines from ¥200).

The arcades (Game Centers) are an experience in themselves: Taiko drums, dance mats, UFO catchers, photo booths with manga filters, and retro arcade classics. Many are multi-story and open until midnight. The most famous: Super Potato (retro games) and Sega/GiGO.

Maid cafes are Akihabara's most famous curiosity: waitresses in maid costumes greet you with "Welcome home, Master/Mistress!" and decorate your food with ketchup hearts. Bizarre, but harmless entertainment. ¥1,500–3,000 for a drink plus "show".

Harajuku is Tokyo's melting pot of youth fashion — and at the same time home to the capital's most sacred Shinto shrine. This contrast is typical of Tokyo: From the colorful Takeshita-dōri to the quiet forest of the Meiji-Jingū, it's only a three-minute walk.

The Takeshita-dōri is a 400-meter pedestrian street, packed with fashion boutiques, crepe stands, candy shops, and trend stores. This is where Japan's youth trends are born — from Kawaii fashion to streetwear. On weekends, the street is so crowded that you have to let yourself be carried along.

Right next to it, behind a massive torii gate made of cypress wood, begins the Meiji-Jingū (Meiji Shrine) — Tokyo's most important Shinto shrine, nestled in a 70-hectare forest with 120,000 trees. The forest was artificially created in 1920 and is now a living ecosystem in the middle of the megacity. The path to the shrine leads through the huge torii gate (12 m high, made from 1,500-year-old Taiwanese cypress) and a gravel path under the canopy.

The shrine honors Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken, who modernized Japan in the 19th century. On New Year's Day, over 3 million visitors come — the largest gathering in Japan. At the shrine, you can write Ema (wish plaques) (¥500) and, with a bit of luck, witness a traditional Shinto wedding — the bride and groom in white kimono, a procession with priests and Miko (shrine maidens).

For fashion fans: The Omotesandō (Harajuku's Champs-Élysées) is a wide avenue with flagship stores of international designers in architecturally impressive buildings (Prada, Dior, Tokyu Plaza). The side streets (Cat Street, Ura-Harajuku) offer independent labels and vintage shops.

Although the famous tuna wholesale market moved to Toyosu in 2018, the Tsukiji Outer Market (Tsukiji Jōgai Shijō) remains — and is now Tokyo's best culinary experience. Over 400 stalls and restaurants line up on a few hundred meters, offering fresh seafood, sushi, tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), Wagyu skewers, and sweet specialties.

The market is best early in the morning (7:00–10:00 a.m.). Start with a sushi breakfast at one of the legendary counters — Sushi Dai and Daiwa Sushi (both now in Toyosu) were famous, but there are dozens of excellent alternatives in the Outer Market. An Omakase set (chef's selection) costs ¥2,000–4,000 (~€12–25) — unthinkable for sushi of this quality in Europe.

While strolling, try: freshly grilled scallops (¥500), uni (sea urchin, ¥600–1,000), tamagoyaki (sweet omelet on a stick, ¥100), Wagyu skewers (¥800–1,500), matcha mochi, and fresh oysters (¥400). Eat your way from stall to stall — that's the point of Tsukiji.

For the tuna auction: This now takes place at the new Toyosu Market (visitor area with glass windows, from 5:30 a.m., free). Toyosu is hyper-modern but clinical — Tsukiji has retained its soul.

Two towers, two eras: The Tokyo Tower (1958, 333 m) and the Tokyo Skytree (2012, 634 m) are Tokyo's vertical landmarks — one a nostalgic symbol of the economic miracle, the other a high-tech colossus and the tallest broadcasting tower in the world.

Tokyo Tower

Inspired by the Eiffel Tower, painted red and white, and 333 meters high. Two observation decks: Main Deck (150 m, ¥1,200) and Top Deck (250 m, ¥3,000 with tour). Spectacularly illuminated at night — especially beautiful when viewed from Shiba Park. The tower has more charm than the more modern Skytree and is less crowded.

Tokyo Skytree

At 634 meters, the tallest freestanding broadcasting tower in the world. Two platforms: Tembo Deck (350 m, ¥2,100) and Tembo Galleria (450 m, ¥3,100 combo). On clear days, views extend to Fuji. At its base lies Tokyo Solamachi — a huge shopping mall with over 300 shops and a planetarium.

Which to choose? The Skytree is taller and more modern, but more expensive and often crowded. The Tokyo Tower is more nostalgic, cheaper, and has shorter waiting times. Or save both and go to the free observation deck of the city hall in Shinjuku.

Odaiba is an artificial island in Tokyo Bay — a futuristic entertainment district with shopping malls, museums, and the best view of the Rainbow Bridge and skyline at night.

The journey via the Yurikamome Line (driverless monorail, from Shimbashi) is an experience in itself — the train glides over the Rainbow Bridge with a panoramic view of the bay. On the island: the TeamLab Borderless (since 2024 in Azabudai Hills) was once the most famous digital art museum here, but Odaiba still has much to offer.

For families: Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, ¥630), Legoland Discovery Center, Madame Tussauds. The Oedo Onsen Monogatari was an onsen theme park in Edo style (closed 2021, successor planned).

At the harbor stands a life-sized Unicorn Gundam Statue (19.7 m) in front of the DiverCity shopping center — it "transforms" several times a day with light and sound effects. Next door: Venus Fort (shopping mall in Venetian style) and Palette Town with the Ferris wheel.

In the evening, the view from the Odaiba promenade over the bay to the illuminated Rainbow Bridge and skyline is one of Tokyo's most beautiful city views — free and unrivaled.

Ueno is Tokyo's cultural district — a vast park with Japan's most important museums, a picturesque lotus pond, the country's oldest zoo, and the bustling Ameya-Yokochō market right next to the station.

The Ueno Park (Ueno Kōen) spans 53 hectares and houses:

• Tokyo National Museum (¥1,000) — Japan's largest and oldest museum with over 110,000 exhibits: Samurai armor, Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, Buddha statues, ceramics. The main hall (Honkan) alone takes 2 hours.
• National Museum of Western Art (¥500) — A Le Corbusier building (UNESCO World Heritage!) with Rodin sculptures in the garden and works from Monet to Pollock.
• Ueno Zoo (¥600) — Japan's oldest zoo (since 1882) with pandas as the star attraction.
• Shinobazu-no-Ike — A lotus pond in the middle of the park, covered with giant pink lotus flowers in summer. Pedal boats for rent.

During cherry blossom season, Ueno Park is one of Tokyo's most popular hanami spots — over 1,000 cherry trees, including an avenue forming a pink tunnel. Picnic under the trees with bento and sake.

The Ameya-Yokochō (Ameyoko) is a bustling street market under the train tracks — fresh fish, dried fruits, sweets, streetwear, and sneakers at bargain prices. Loud, chaotic, exciting — the counterpoint to Tokyo's polished surface.

Tokyo has more Michelin stars than any other city in the world — but the special thing is that the best food is often found in the simplest places. A ramen shop with a ticket machine, a sushi counter with six seats, a yakitori stand under the railway line.

Sushi

From conveyor-belt sushi (Kaiten-zushi, from ¥100/plate) to Tsukiji market breakfast (¥2,000–4,000) to the Omakase experience at the Ginza counter (¥15,000–50,000). For the best value: Sushi Zanmai (chain, 24h, from ¥1,000) or the stalls at Tsukiji Outer Market.

Ramen

Tokyo's soul food. Every district has its favorite. The major styles: Shoyu (soy sauce, classic Tokyo), Tonkotsu (pork bone broth, creamy), Miso (hearty), Shio (salt, clear). A bowl costs ¥800–1,200 — one of the best meals you can get for under 10 €. Ordered at the ticket machine in front of the shop (in Japanese, but often with pictures).

Yakitori

Grilled chicken parts on skewers — from breast to thigh to heart and cartilage. The best yakitori alleys: Yurakucho (under the train tracks, full of salarymen after work) and Omoide Yokochō in Shinjuku (Piss Alley — the name says it all, but the skewers are fantastic).

Izakaya

Japan's answer to the pub: cozy places where you drink beer, sake, and highball (whisky soda) and share small dishes — edamame, karaage (fried chicken), gyoza, sashimi. Order with "Toriaezu Nama!" (First a beer!).

Konbini Cuisine

Japan's convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) are culinary wonders: fresh onigiri (¥120–200), bento boxes (¥400–700), sandwiches, oden (stew in winter), nikuman (steamed buns) — all surprisingly good. A complete meal for ¥500 (3 €) is commonplace.