Tips for a holiday in Tokyo
A holiday in Tokyo is spent in the largest city in the world. Including all suburbs and outlying municipalities, the capital of Japan had a whopping 37 million inhabitants in 2018. That's twice as many as in the whole of the Netherlands. So Tokyo is a hectic city, where you will find during a holiday that many clichés turn out to be true. It is indeed a place wrapped in neon lights in the evening and at night, where the subways always run on time, where there is a vending machine on every street corner and where Hello Kitty is a deity. Tokyo has a centuries-old history competing with popular pop culture for the visitor's favour. The Japanese capital has an insatiable thirst for innovation, which means Tokyo is always a few steps ahead of your imagination.
Tokyo is the centre of Japan's politics, economy and culture, but is also still proud of the Edo era, which is more than four centuries old. You'll find glittering skyscrapers, including the Sky Tree, the second tallest building in the world. Traditional Japanese culture revives in one of the city's many remaining temples. Set your alarm early to eat the best sushi of your life at the Tsukiji Market, the largest fish market in the world.
Take a deep breath as you take the metro to districts like Ginza and Shinjuku, Tokyo's entertainment and shopping districts. The crowds and cacophony of sounds are overwhelming and bright advertisements will cloud your view a little, but soon you will be impressed by the city's hospitality and dynamism.
In fact, you should take a quick holiday to Tokyo in the coming years, before the Japanese capital will welcome masses of tourists for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Go there now to see why Tokyo is one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
Sights in Tokyo
Tokyo is the world's largest metropolis, Japan's economic, political and cultural power centre. You will find modern architecture as well as the Imperial Palace and centuries-old buildings from the Edo period. The city has outstanding museums and the world's largest fish market.
Major museums in Tokyo
Tokyo is the largest city in the world, so it's no surprise that you'll find many museums. Japan's capital is also home to some renowned world-class museums, with rich collections in art, culture, nature and history.
Flying to Tokyo
From the Netherlands, you can easily fly to Tokyo. KLM flies once or twice a day directly from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Japan's capital. The flight time is about 11 hours. You can also fly to Tokyo with a change of plane, in which case you will spend at least 13 hours on the road.
Public transport in Tokyo
Tokyo has an extensive and intense public transport network with subways, trains and buses operated by a dozen different transport companies. At first glance, seeing all the lines on a map dizzies you. Soon you will get used to Tokyo's public transport system.
Places to stay in Tokyo
Choosing where to stay in Tokyo is hard: there are endless accommodation options in Japan's capital city. You can stay in luxury hotels, cheaper business hotels, homely ryokans, hostels and capsule hotels during your holiday.
Visiting Mount Fuji
From Tokyo, you can easily visit Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain that has inspired painters, writers, and poets for centuries. You can even see the 3776-metre-high volcano from the Japanese capital on clear days.
Practical information for a holiday in Tokyo
During a holiday in Tokyo, you can't do without a smartphone and internet, even if only to find your way around on Google Maps. The Japanese government and communications companies try to make it easier for tourists by offering free wifi in many places. Wi-Fi hotspots can be found at airports, train stations, cafes, hotels, buses, museums and countless attractions. With the arrival of the 2020 Olympics, more and more wifi hotspots will be added. Before that, look out for a sticker with a logo and the text 'Japan. Free W-Fi'.
If you're looking for accommodation with good amenities and free wifi, consider staying in some of the 5-star hotels in Tokyo. These establishments not only provide high standards of service but also ensure that you stay connected throughout your trip.
It is handy to rent a wifi router for your stay in Tokyo and the rest of Japan. With this pocket wifi, you have unlimited internet anytime, anywhere, all over Japan. You can it connect to multiple devices simultaneously and you have it for around €20 a month. You can rent this wifi box from a kiosk at Tokyo airport, but the pocket wifi is not always available. However, you can order the wifi router before you travel to Tokyo. The device will be delivered to your hotel. It is also often cheaper because you don't have to pay airport taxes. For more hotel options where your device can be delivered, explore the range of hotels at tophotels.com.
In addition, you can turn on roaming on your smartphone and use a foreign bundle with your own provider, but this can cost quite a bit. If you want to use the internet and make a lot of calls, you can buy a Japanese SIM card from a local provider in Japan. Prepaid SIM cards can be bought at kiosks and vending machines at Tokyo airports and at phone shops and electronics shops in the city. You might also consider staying at properties such as the Bayside Hotel Azur Takeshiba, which offer comfort and are strategically located near shops and airports.
Eating and drinking in Tokyo
Tokyo is a foodie's paradise; there are few cities in the world where you can eat and drink so superbly. Tokyo already has some 230 Michelin-starred restaurants, more than London and Paris put together. Half of these are sushi restaurants. The Japanese capital has more than 160,000 registered eateries, from fancy and overpriced Michelin-starred restaurants to simple eateries for ordinary hard-working Japanese.
Tokyo has been Japan's political centre for centuries, so the city has always had a lot of influence on Japanese cuisine. It is the sushi capital of the world, as you can get fresh and excellent sushi almost literally everywhere. Tokyo is also a good place to enjoy regional specialities from other parts of Japan. In addition, international cuisines are becoming increasingly sought after in Tokyo and many Chinese, Korean, Indian, French and Italian restaurants can also be found. Moreover, the perfect place to score delicious street food, which comes in handy if you are holidaying on a tight budget.
