Tokyo

Tokyo has something for everyone, more Michelin stars than any other city in the world, bars and cafes galore, parks, a cosmopolitan nightlife, and is a beacon for pop-culture and fashion. Navigate through Tokyo and find out how to get the most out of your stay.

Shinagawa Station Travel Guide

Shinagawa Station is among the oldest train stations in Japan, having opened its doors in 1872. Interestingly, the station became operational four months prior to the inauguration of the first railway in Japan.

While none of the original structure remains, Shinagawa Station continues to play a role in the rail history of Japan. The introduction of the Shinkansen bullet trains to Shinagawa helped alleviate the congestion of other busy Tokyo stations. In less than a decade, Shinagawa will be among the first stations in the world to host the innovative, gravity-defying maglev train.

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Shinjuku Station Travel Guide

Shinjuku is one of the 23 wards of Tokyo, and it is home to a large shopping and entertainment district surrounding Shinjuku Station. Shinjuku is the busiest rail station in the world, with more than two million passengers gracing its corridors each day.

Shinjuku is a station with a long history. It first opened in 1885 on what is now the Yamanote line. Additional lines brought an influx of commuter traffic, urging the city’s growth.

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Tokyo Station Travel Guide

Tokyo Station is the largest and busiest train terminal in Japan. More than 3,000 trains depart the station each day, providing transportation for over 400,000 passengers. It is located in the Marunouchi business district, not far from the Imperial Palace. During the Edo Period, this area was located within the outer moats of the castle.

Tokyo itself is a bustling metropolis, often the first part of Japan that international travelers experience. Learning how to utilize Tokyo Station as a transportation hub will help make your vacation enjoyable and worry-free.

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Yokohama travel guide: Access from Tokyo and attractions

Japan’s second-largest city after Tokyo, Yokohama is located half an hour south of Tokyo. One of the first Japanese ports to open to foreign trade, in 1859, Yokohama has a reputation as a truly multicultural city and draws a large number of both Japanese and international visitors.

Its range of diverse attractions includes one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, a range of gastronomic experiences such as a Ramen Museum and brewery tours, and a large zoo and sea-themed amusement park.

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Getting around Tokyo with the JR Pass: Metro, trains and more

Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, is the most densely populated metropolitan city in the world, home to nearly 40 million people. The Tokyo Metropolis, as the area is officially known, spans nearly 850 square miles (nearly 2,200 square kilometers). Tokyo enjoys a rich cultural history, as it has been the seat of government in Japan since the year 1603.  Tokyo is comprised of twenty-three wards, each operated as an individual city.

Getting around in a city of this size – especially as an international traveler – may at first seem intimidating. However, Tokyo’s public transportation system, which includes airports, trains, buses, taxies, and pedestrian traffic – has been designed operate smoothly.

Your Japan Rail Pass covers all of the major JR train lines in Tokyo. With your Pass in hand and with the help of this travel guide, you will soon be navigating the streets and stations of Tokyo like a pro.

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Tokyo to Nikko by train: Access and itinerary

Nikko is a historic and scenic retreat in the heart of Japan, nestled in the mountains north of Tokyo. Located at the entrance to Nikko National Park, the town offers beautiful mountain vistas, waterfalls, and hot springs.

Boasting a range of hiking opportunities, the Nikko area has also been sacred to the religions of Buddhism and Shinto for many centuries. The town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and is perhaps most famous for Toshogu, one of the most intricately decorated shrines in Japan.

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