A Beginner's Guide to Tokyo's Districts (2024) | Alex Lau

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1 The Largest City in Japan

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The Largest City in Japan

The first time we visited Tokyo for our honeymoon, we knew we had to go back again one day. I didn’t anticipate that one day being a year later already!

Thanks to the new Zipair route in Vancouver, direct flights to Tokyo have never been cheaper and more convenient. A direct flight roundtrip only costed us $980/ea, including luggage, in the middle of the summer hot season (both hot in terms of tourism demand, and the temperature). We chose to stay in Tokyo for almost 3 weeks this time, and still found that there was plenty left to explore in the city’s many districts, and also nearby towns.

The below is a summary of most of the popular district destinations in Tokyo, and my recommendations for each one (ie. places to eat, visit, stay, etc.). Enjoy!

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Ginza

Ginza is a dynamic neighbourhood in Tokyo, seamlessly blending luxury shopping with deep-rooted cultural heritage. Its sleek storefronts and fine dining establishments contrast with historic tea houses and galleries, offering a unique experience with each turn. One minute you’re shopping at flagship locations for Nissan, Uniqlo, Itoya, and the next you’re thrifting at high-end luxury stores like Ragtag and Kindal. The area thrives on contrasts, making it a must-visit spot for both modern allure and traditional Japanese charm.

Places to eat: Torigin Izakaya, Ippudo, Lion Beer Hall

Places to visit: MUJI Flagship, Grand Seiko Museum (free), Tsutaya Books in Ginza Six, 3Coins Plus, Ginza Graphic Gallery (ggg) (free), Itoya

Overall recommendation: Ginza is a great location to spend a day shopping, there are plenty of flagship locations here for major brands such as MUJI, Uniqlo, Itoya, Louis Vuitton, and more. Nightlife-wise, many izakayas are located here and offer traditional Japanese skewers and beer, as well as more high-end cocktail bars for those seeking that vibe. Ginza is a great location to stay and is a relatively more tame and quiet neighbourhood at night versus other touristy neighbourhoods.

Asakusa

Asakusa is a vibrant district where Tokyo’s traditional heart beats strongest. Famous for Senso-ji Temple, it offers visitors a chance to experience ancient Japan with its historic streets, bustling markets, and classic festivals. Home chefs can enjoy shopping for hours on Kappabashi Kitchen Street. Stroll through the lively Nakamise shopping street or enjoy a rickshaw ride—Asakusa beautifully captures the spirit of old Tokyo in a modern city.

Places to eat: Suzukien, Koji (Hoppy Street), Kura Flagship, Yoroiya Ramen

Places to visit: Roof of Tourist Information Center (free), Nakamise-dori, Senso-ji, Hoppy Street, Kappabashi Kitchen Street

Overall recommendation: Asakusa is a very busy neighbourhood, but is one that’s highly dense in terms of tourist attractions, and can make for a great place to stay. The area is safe and suitable for families. There isn’t much nightlife in the area, so it’s relatively quieter here (for a major tourist hub).

Ryogoku

Ryogoku, is mostly known as Tokyo’s sumo wrestling hub, featuring museums, and restaurants steeped in sumo culture. The area hosts the main sumo stadium that hosts Japan’s feature sumo tournaments. Ryogoku is just 2 stops away from Akihabara and is a considerably quieter neighbourhood.

Places to visit: Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena

Places to stay: APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower

Overall recommendation: Ryogoku is a quiet neighbourhood but is a mere 1-2 stops away from more central locations. The sumo arena, when there are tournaments, is a must-see event.

Toyosu

Toyosu is located a few train stops south of Ginza and Tsukiji, and is largely known for replacing the former Tsukiji bluefin fish market auction. Known for the Toyosu Fish Market, it’s where you can catch a glimpse of live tuna auctions (albeit behind a window).

Places to visit: Toyosu Manyo Club Onsen

Overall recommendation: Beyond the market, Toyosu also offers parks, shopping complexes, and stunning views of Tokyo Bay, which can be viewed from an all-day onsen at the top of Toyosu Manyo building – which I would highly recommend. There’s also teamLab Planets, but we weren’t interested in that.

Akihabara

Akihabara is Tokyo’s center for electronics, anime, and gaming enthusiasts. Emphasis on the anime enthusiasts. Full of otaku culture, browse through multi-story shops packed with tech gadgets, manga, and collectibles. It’s one of Tokyo’s most unique neighbourhoods, but also one that won’t necessarily offer too much to non-anime/otaku fans.

Places to eat: Unatoto, Hakata Furyu, Nikuya Yokocho

Places to visit: Super Potato, GiGO, Kitamura Camera, Animate

Places to stay: Glansit Capsule

Overall recommendation: Akihabara is a pretty unique neighbourhood in Tokyo, especially coming from Western culture. That being said, I don’t think the area was altogether that interesting at night. There are a lot of maid cafes in the area as well, which can be interesting, but wasn’t really for us as we didn’t speak Japanese.

Ueno

Ueno is a vibrant neighborhood known for its expansive Ueno Park and cultural institutions like the Tokyo National Museum and Ueno Zoo. It’s located just a 15-minute walk away from Akihabara, making a trip to both neighbourhoods very viable in one day – if that’s required. Akihabara tends to die down at night, while Ueno picks up at night, so a combo day is totally viable. Ameya-Yokocho offers a plethora of shops to visit during the day, and izakayas during the night.

Places to eat: Sushiro, Gyukatsu Motomura, Tamatoya, Ramen Kamo to Negi

Places to visit: Ueno Ameyoko

Shinjuku

Shinjuku is one of Tokyo’s busiest districts, and likely a spot for first-time visitors. Known for its skyscrapers, neon lights, and bustling nightlife, it’s a hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment. It’s an incredibly unique portion of Tokyo, and a great slice of Japan for tourists of all types, but perhaps a little less so for families.

Places to eat: Gyukatsu Motomura, Ko Sushi, Sakeland, Ichiran

Places to visit: Omoide Yokocho, Seisho-en, Zerotokyo, Kabukicho Tower, Golden Gai, Hanazono Shrine

Places to avoid: Samurai Restaurant Time

Shinjuku changes at night, and it’s proximity to Tokyo’s red light district (Kabuki-cho) makes this neighbourhood known as one of the less safe neighbourhoods. However, this is Japan we’re talking about so it’s still incredibly safe (just don’t follow anybody to their promoted bars, clubs, girl cafes, etc.)

Shibuya

Shibuya is famous for the iconic Shibuya Crossing and its trendy shopping streets, but the nightlife in Shibuya is a true highlight. It’s a district that thrives on youth culture, where fashion, food, and nightlife come together. From the scramble to the shops, Shibuya offers non-stop action and a taste of Tokyo’s modern vibrancy.

Places to eat: UobeiGoulabe, Ikushika

Places to visit: Dogenzaka Church (Club), MEGA Don Quijote, Lost Bar (Chris Abroad), Miyashita Park

Harajuku

Harajuku is Tokyo’s trendsetting neighborhood, known for its unique fashion and youthful energy. Takeshita Street is the heart of the area but is mostly a tourist trap nowadays. I’d venture just further out from that street to visit Cat St. and embrace the thrift shopping culture. The Meiji Shrine offers a quiet contrast to everything, making Harajuku a place where fashion and tradition collide.

Places to eat: Torigin Izakaya, Lattest, Oreryu Shio-Ramen

Places to visit: RAGTAG, kindal 2nd hand store, Kiddy Land, Bazzstore, ringram, Laforet