User:콩가루/작업장 3

신주쿠에 위치한 마천루

도쿄 (東京 Tōkyō, 동경) [1]은 일본의 수도이다. 1200만명의 사람들이 공식적인 도쿄 대도시권에 살고 있는데 도쿄는 세계에서 가장 인구가 많은 대도시권이다. 이 거대하고 부유하고 매혹적인 대도시권은 옛 일본의 일견을 가진 측면에서 미래의 고기술의 비전을 가지고 있고 모두를 위한 누군가를 가지고 있다.

지구s

지역이 2000평방킬로미터를 넘을 만큼 거대하고 다양하기 위해 도쿄 도는 단지 도시만이 아니라 서쪽의 울퉁불퉁한 산부터 남쪽의 아열대 섬까지 포함한다. 이 문서는 도쿄 만 주위의 23개 구에 집중하고 섬에 대해서는 도쿄 도문서에서 설명한다.

중앙도쿄의 지리는 JR 야마노테 선에 의해 정의된다.(돌아다니기를 보세요). 도쿄의 중앙은 이전에 쇼군을 위해 예약된 공간이었으며 그의 사무라이는 고리 내에 살았는데 에도 시대 시내(下町, 시타마치)는 북동쪽이다.

중앙도쿄

도쿄의 지도

지요다 (아키바하라) The seat of Japanese power (both political and economic) that includes the Imperial Palace, the Ministries near Kasumigaseki, the Parliament in Nagatacho, the corporate headquarters of Marunouchi, and the electronics mecca of Akihabara.

Chuo (Ginza) Also includes the famed department stores of the Ginza and the fish markets of Tsukiji.

Minato (Akasaka, Shinbashi, Roppongi, Odaiba, Shiodome) Including the business centers of Akasaka and Shinbashi and the neighbouring nightclub district of Roppongi, the port district (at least in name) which includes the artificial island of Odaiba, the skyscrapers of Shiodome.

Shinjuku Home to luxury hotels, giant camera stores, futuristic skyscrapers, hundreds of shops and restaurants, and Kabukicho, Tokyo's wildest nightlife and red-light district.

Shibuya (Harajuku, Ebisu) The fashionable shopping district which also encompasses the teenybopper haven of Harajuku (also home to the Meiji Shrine) and the nightlife of Ebisu

Shinagawa (Gotanda) A major train hub and business center, including Gotanda.

Toshima (Ikebukuro) Including Ikebukuro, another giant train hub.

Meguro A residential area with a few nice parks and museums.

Old Tokyo (Shitamachi)

Map of Old Tokyo

Sumida (Ryogoku) Now graced with the presence of the modern Tokyo SkyTree, this ward is home to the Edo-Tokyo Museum and Tokyo's main sumo arena (Ryogoku Kokugikan), both in Ryogoku.

Taito (Asakusa, Ueno) The heart of Old Tokyo featuring the temples of Asakusa and National Museums in Ueno.

Bunkyo Home to Tokyo Dome and the University of Tokyo.

Koto Famous for Kameido Tenjin and former woodland in Kiba, but now known for its many new public apartment complexes.

Arakawa Home to Tokyo's last original tram line.

Suburbs

Map of Tokyo

East Many suburban wards, including Adachi, where one can visit one of Kanto's Three Great Temples: Nishi-arai Daishi, Katsushika, known for the charming Showa-era atmosphere of Shibamata and Edogawa, a quiet eastern suburb.

North Includes the suburban wards of Kita, Itabashi and the quieter northern Nerima, which contains some of the 23 wards' last remaining farmland.

Nakano Home to the otaku paradise known as Nakano Broadway.

Ota Half industrial complex, half upscale residential area.

Setagaya An upscale residential area that houses the student drinking spot of Shimokitazawa as well as the newly revitalized shopping centers of Futako-Tamagawa.

Suginami Typical Tokyo suburb stretching along the Chuo Line.

Understand

Over 500 years old, the city of Tokyo grew from the modest fishing village of Edo (江戸). The city only truly began to grow when it became the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603. While the emperor ruled in name from Kyoto, the true power was concentrated in the hands of the Tokugawa shogun in Edo. After the Meiji restoration in 1868, during which the Tokugawa family lost its influence, the emperor and the imperial family moved here from Kyoto, and the city was renamed to its current name, Tokyo. The metropolitan center of the country, Tokyo is the destination for business, education, modern culture, and government. (That's not to say that rivals such as Osaka won't dispute those claims.)

Culture

Shinjuku at night

Tokyo is vast: it's best thought of not as a single city, but a constellation of cities that have grown together. Tokyo's districts vary wildly by character, from the electronic blare of Akihabara to the Imperial gardens and shrines of Chiyoda, from the hyperactive youth culture mecca of Shibuya to the pottery shops and temple markets of Asakusa. If you don't like what you see, hop on the train and head to the next station, and you will find something entirely different.

The sheer size and frenetic pace of Tokyo can intimidate the first-time visitor. Much of the city is a jungle of concrete and wires, with a mass of neon and blaring loudspeakers. At rush hour, crowds jostle in packed trains and masses of humanity sweep through enormous and bewilderingly complex stations. Don't get too hung up on ticking tourist sights off your list: for most visitors, the biggest part of the Tokyo experience is just wandering around at random and absorbing the vibe, poking your head into shops selling weird and wonderful things, sampling restaurants where you can't recognize a single thing on the menu (or on your plate), and finding unexpected oases of calm in the tranquil grounds of a neighbourhood Shinto shrine. It's all perfectly safe, and the locals will go to sometimes extraordinary lengths to help you if you just ask.

Expenses

The cost of living in Tokyo is not as astronomical as it once was. Deflation and market pressures have helped to make costs in Tokyo comparable to most other large cities. Visitors from San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, London, Paris, Sydney, Toronto and Dublin will not find it any more expensive than back home. Travelers should budget a similar amount of money for their stay in Tokyo as they would for any other great city in Europe, North America or Australia. Locals will know the bargains, but experienced cheapskates from anywhere in the world can get by with a little ingenuity. Tokyo is one of the most popular places to live in Japan. It is also rated the fifth most expensive city to live in, in the world. Rent for a single's apartment could range from $US500 to $US1,000 a month. Tokyo is so overwhelmingly crowded that many people live in apartments no bigger than 16 square meters (175 square feet).

Climate

Cherry blossom picnic at Tamagawadai Park in Tokyo's Ota ward

Tokyo is classified as lying in the humid subtropical climate zone and has four distinct seasons. Summers are usually hot and humid with a temperature range of about 20-30 °C, though it can sometimes climb into the high thirties. Winters are usually mild, with temperatures generally ranging from 0-10 °C, though occasional cold spells can send temperatures plummeting below zero at night. Snow is rare, but on those rare occasions (once every few years) when Tokyo is hit by a snowstorm, much of the train network grinds to a halt. The famous cherry blossoms bloom in March–April and parks, most famously Ueno, fill up with blue tarps and sozzled salarymen.

Get in

In Japan, all roads, rails, shipping lanes and planes lead to Tokyo.

By plane

Tokyo has two large airports: Narita for international flights, and Haneda for (mostly) domestic flights.

Note that if you are traveling from Seoul, Beijing or Shanghai then direct flights to Haneda are much more convenient for getting into Tokyo.

Narita Airport

Main article: Tokyo Narita Airport

Tokyo's main international gateway is Narita Airport (成田空港) (Template:IATA) [2], located in the town of Narita nearly 70 kilometers northeast of Tokyo and covered in a separate article. A brief summary of options for getting there and away:

• Easiest: Limousine bus direct to major hotels, ~120 minutes (subject to traffic), ¥3,500
• Fastest: Skyliner to Nippori and Ueno Stations, under 45 minutes, ¥2,400; Narita Express to Tokyo Station, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Yokohama, 55 minutes and ¥2,940 to Tokyo Station (Japan Rail Pass valid)
• Cheapest: Keisei Limited Express/Access Tokkyu trains to Nippori/Ueno, 60–80 minutes, ¥1,000-1,200 (Access Tokkyu trains also serve some subway stations)
• Most expensive: Taxi to the city, ~¥25,000+; flat-fare cabs approximately ¥17,000-19,000

Haneda Airport

Haneda Airport (羽田空港 Template:IATA) [3], officially known as Tokyo International Airport, in Ota is the busiest airport in all Asia despite a majority of flights being domestic.

Domestic Terminal 1 houses the JAL group including Skymark and Skynet, while Domestic Terminal 2 is home to ANA and affiliate Air Do. On October 21, 2010, Haneda opened a brand new International Terminal Building along with a new runway. International flights operate into Haneda from 18 cities, with a number of these flights landing and departing during the late evening hours. Free shuttle buses run every 6 minutes between 05:00 and 24:00, connecting the International terminal with both Domestic terminals.

The easiest and most scenic way from Haneda to the city is the Tokyo Monorail running to Hamamatsucho for ¥470, from where you can connect to almost anywhere in Tokyo on the JR Yamanote line. The monorail has a station at each of Haneda's three terminals. From the International Terminal, trains reach Hamamatsucho in as little as 14 minutes on the nonstop services; the domestic terminals are about 5 minutes farther down the line. JR East maintains a Travel Service Center for foreigners in the International Terminal (open daily 11:00 to 18:30) where vouchers can be exchanged for the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Rail Pass. The Tokyo Monorail is fully covered with either pass.

JR East sells a special Suica fare package, called "Suica & Monorail", exclusively to foreign visitors. The cost includes a discounted fare on the Tokyo Monorail (one-way or round-trip), ¥1500 to use on rail travel in Tokyo or on purchases at locations that accept the Suica card, and a ¥500 deposit. The "Suica & Monorail" ticket is sold only from the JR East Service Center at the international terminal, and can be purchased using cash or credit card. It can also be recharged with additional funds, but only by paying cash. The one-way ticket is ¥2400, and the round-trip ticket costs ¥2700; the return trip to Haneda must be taken within 10 days.

The other alternative is the private Keikyu (京急) line, which has two train stations at Haneda: one for the International Terminal and one serving both Domestic terminals. Keikyu trains run to Shinagawa (15 min, ¥400) and Yokohama (30-35 min via Airport Express [エアポート急行], ¥440-470). Some Keikyu trains from Haneda continue on to the Toei Asakusa Line, providing one-seat rides to Nihonbashi (30-35 min, ¥550-590) and Asakusa (40-45 min, ¥600-640).

JR Passes are not valid on Keikyu Trains. If your final destination is somewhere along the Tokaido Shinkansen (i.e. Odawara, Atami, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka) then it will be easier to take the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa to pick up the shinkansen, even if you have a Japan Rail Pass. Using the Tokyo Monorail will require you to take an additional train, the Yamanote Line, to either Tokyo station or Shinagawa.

Limousine Buses connect Haneda Airport with Narita Airport (90 minutes, ¥3,000). Most Airport Rapid Express [エアポート快特] trains on the Keikyu Line also run all the way to Narita Airport's terminals; these services are much cheaper than the bus (105 minutes, ¥1,740), but buses operate more frequently. Note that the "Airport Terminal 2" station that pops up in some route search engines refers to terminal 2 at Narita Airport, not Haneda!

Normal metered taxis to central Tokyo will cost anywhere from ¥4,000 to ¥10,000, plus a 20% surcharge between 22:00 and 05:00. An alternative is Anzen Taxi's [4] fixed fare service for ¥6,000 (¥8,000 at night) to most of central Tokyo, including Shinjuku and Shibuya.

If you arrive on a late flight or need to catch an early flight, beware that there are no trains between 00:00 and 05:00 on either the monorail or the Keikyu line. Some limousine buses do operate after midnight, but such trips incur an additional "night surcharge".

Ibaraki Airport

Ibaraki Airport (茨城空港 Template:IATA) [5] in Omitama, Ibaraki, some 85 km north of Tokyo, is an upstart aimed squarely at low-cost carriers. Skymark currently operates domestic flights to Sapporo, Kobe and Okinawa, and Spring Airlines operates daily service to Shanghai.

The best way to travel between Ibaraki Airport and Tokyo is by bus service, operated by Kantetsu Bus several times a day. The trip takes about 2 1/2 hours and costs ¥500 for air passengers and ¥1000 for non-air passengers. Reservations are required, and free English reservations [6] are available online. The fare is payable when boarding the bus.

Even if you intend to use a Japan Rail Pass, there are no exchange offices in the immediate vicinity. It will be best to take the bus to Tokyo Station and visit the exchange office there.

Chōfu Airfield

Chōfu Airfield (調布飛行場 Chōfu hikōjō) serves only some turboprop flights to the Izu Islands south of Tokyo. The nearest railway station is Nishi-Chōfu on the Keiō Line, a 15-minute walk away. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Chofu or Mitaka stations.

By train

The restored exterior on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station

Tokyo is the nerve centre of railways in Japan, highspeed Shinkansen services arrives at Tokyo Station (東京駅 Tōkyō-eki) which is located in the Chiyoda ward. For all trains on the northern route, you can get off at Ueno, while trains on the western route calls at Shinagawa. Most non-Shinkansen services usually stops at Shibuya and Shinjuku stations as well. Ueno and Ikebukuro stations connect you to the northern suburbs and neighboring prefectures.

On the western route there are departures every 10–15 minutes from Kyoto and Osaka with two types of shinkansen trains, Nozomi is the fastest cutting the journey time down to 2:20 hours while the slightly slower Hikari trains adds an extra twenty minutes.

The northern route connects with Aomori, Fukushima and Sendai, the fastest services are with the Hayabusa and Hayate trains.

Although Japan is dominated by fast shinkansen trains there are still a few sleeper trains left. Sunrise Izumo (サンライズ出雲) runs daily to Tokyo from Izumo while Sunrise Seto (サンライズ瀬戸) connects with Takamatsu, the largest city on the Shikoku island. From nearby Ueno station, the luxurious Cassiopeia (カシオペア) overnight train offers an direct route from the northern city of Sapporo three times a week. Fares starts at ¥27,000 with a journey time of 16½ hours. For those on a smaller budget, the Hokutosei (北斗星) leavs daily from Ueno and has a more reasonable price of just over ¥9,000.

By car or thumb

While you can drive into the city, it's really not recommended as the city can be congested, signs may be confusing and parking fees are astronomical.

Hitchhiking into Tokyo is pretty easy, but hitchhiking out is considerably more difficult. It's definitely possible for determined cheapskates though, see Hitchhiking in Japan for a detailed list of tested escape routes from the city.

By bus

Highway bus services link Tokyo to other cities, resort areas and the surrounding prefectures. There are JR and private bus companies. Bus service may be cheaper, but the train is probably more convenient. If you have a JR pass, then you should generally stick with the trains.

Long-distance buses use a number of terminals scattered throughout the city, but the main JR depot is at Tokyo Station's Yaesu-minamiguchi (八重洲南口) exit, while Keio and some other private companies use the Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal (新宿高速バスターミナル), opposite Yodobashi Camera near the West Exit. JR Bus also uses the Shinjuku Station JR Highway Bus Terminal (新宿駅JR高速バスターミナル), which is actually located closer to Yoyogi station on the Yamanote Line than it is to Shinjuku station.

• The JR Bus Group. A major operator of bus services to and from Tokyo. Seat reservations for JR Buses can be made at JR Bus counters in Tokyo and Shinjuku stations, and in JR train stations at the same "Midori-no-Madoguchi" ticket windows used to reserve seats on trains.

• Willer Express. A company that has nightly bus services to and from Tokyo. Its bus services link many cities in Japan. Online booking available in English.

• Kokusai Kogyo Bus (Japanese Website).
• Keisei Bus (Japanese Website).
• Keikyu Bus (Japanese Website).
• Keio Bus (Japanese Website).
• Kanto Bus (Japanese Website).
• Nishi Tokyo Bus (Japanese Website).
• Odakyu Bus (Japanese Website).
• Odakyu Hakone Bus.
• Seibu Bus (Japanese Website).
• Tobu Bus (Japanese Website).
• Tohoku Kyuko Bus (Japanese Website).

By boat

One of the great ports of the world, Tokyo also has domestic ferry services to other points in Japan. However, none of the regular international ferries to Japan call at Tokyo.

The main long-distance ferry terminal is Ariake Ferry Terminal, located on an artificial island adjacent to Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. The nearest station is Kokusai-Tenjijo-Seimon on the Yurikamome line, but it's still a bit of a hike. You can also take a direct bus from Shin-Kiba station on the Metro Yurakucho line. The main services from this terminal are:

• Tokyo-Tomakomai (Hokkaido): Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen, 03-3528-0718. This ferry has no passenger facilities, so it can only be used if you have a car; fares for a car and driver start at ¥25,820.
• Tokyo-Tokushima-Kitakyushu: Ocean Tokyu Ferry, 03-5148-0109. Tokyo-Kitakyushu passenger fares are ¥14,000 for second class, ¥26,600 for first class.

Ferries to the Izu and Ogasawara Islands leave from Takeshiba Terminal (竹芝客船ターミナル), adjacent to Takeshiba station on the Yurikamome line. Cruise liners tend to use the Harumi Terminal (晴海客船ターミナル), best accessible on bus 都05 (To-05) from Tokyo station Marunouchi South Exit or 東12(Tou-12) from Tokyo station Yaesu exit. International ferries and cargo ferries that also take passengers can leave from other terminals too, enquire with your shipping company.

돌아다니기

환승역이 표시된 지하철 노선도

철도

도쿄의 대중교통 시스템은 세계에서 가장 발달되었으며, 이 시스템은 세계에서 가장 많이 사용되는 지하철 체계이다. 깨끗하고 안전하고 효과적이며 혼란스럽다. 혼란은 JR 동일본, 두개의 지하철 회사와 다양한 사철들이 도쿄 내에서 여러 철도 시스템을 운행하기 때문에 일어난다. 그리고 다른 경로 지도가 다른 체계를 보여준다. 가능하면 첨두시간대를 피하라. 기차는 매우 쉽게 혼잡해진다.

도쿄의 특징적인 철도 노선은 야마노테 선(山手線 Yamanote-sen)인데 이 노선은 도쿄 중심부를 순환한다. 야마노테 선 내부는 도쿄의 핵심부와 동일한 말이다. 거의 모든 시내 JR선과 사철들은 야마노테 선의 역에서 시작한다. 야마노테 선은 초록색 노선색을 가지고 있다. JR 주오 선 (주황, 中央線 Chūō-sen) and 소부선 (노랑, 総武線 Sōbu-sen) 선은 나란히 달리는데, 서쪽의 신주쿠부터 동쪽의 도쿄역을 지나면서 야마노테선을 양분한다. JR의 다른 통근노선인 샤이코 선과 게이힌 도호쿠 선은 야마노테 선의 가장자리를 남북으로 달린다. JR동일본의 인포메이션 센터는 한국어로 대응하는데, 050-2016-1603 or 03-3423-0111로 전화하면 된다.

도쿄는 광대한 지하철이 자주 오는 지하철 체계를 가지고 있다. 이 지하철은 야마노테 선 내부를 돌아다니는데 주로 유용하다. 도쿄 메트로는 긴자선, 마루노우치 선, 히비야 선, 도자이 선, 지요다 선, 유라쿠초 선, 한조몬 선, 난보쿠 선과 후쿠토신 선을 운행한다. 도쿄 도 교통국(도에이)은 아사쿠사 선, 미타 선, 신주쿠 선, 오에도 선을 운행한다. 야마노테 선은 지하철은 아니지만 도쿄 도심에서 중요한 교통수단이기 때문에 주로 지하철 노선도에 표시된다. 덧붙여서, 도쿄임해고속철도 [7](일어), TWR에 의해 운행되는 린카이 선도 있는데 이 노선은 오다이바 섬을 통과한다.

안내와 표지판은 주로 영어와 일본어 둘로 쓰여 있으며 몇몇 유명한 관광지 지역에는 한국어와 중국어도 보인다.

많은 사철은 야마노테 선에서 출발하여 교외로 향하는데 대부분의 노선은 순환선 내부의 지하철과 직결 운행한다. 사철은 시 밖으로의 여행에서 유용하고 JR보다 살짝 싸다. 이 중에서 방문객에게 가장 중요한 사철은 유리카모메인데 오다이바 섬으로 가는 도중 엄청난 경치를 제공한다.

요금과 시간

야마노테 선 E231계 전동차

대부분의 승차권은 자동판매기에서 판매된다. JR선은 재팬 레일 패스로 무료로 이용이 가능하다는 것을 명심하라.

교통카드는 편리하고 가장 추천되는 방법이다. 왜냐하면 요금을 결정하기 위해 일본어로만 되어 있는 지도를 읽을 필요 없이 기차를 탈 수 있게 해 주기 때문이다. 두 가지 상표의 교통카드가 있는데, JR 동일본의 스이카와 사철의 파스모가 있다. 기능적으로 그 두개는 완전히 동일하며 어떠한 지하철, 철도, 버스 노선에서 사용이 가능하다.(예외는 JR의 신칸센과 특급열차).

이 카드는 재충전 가능한 스마트 카드이다. 간단히 카드를 터치 패드에 대서 개찰구를 통과하면 된다. 구매시에 보증금으로 500엔을 지불해야 한며, 한 카드에는 20,000엔까지 충전이 가능하다.

여기에는 철도 1일권이 있지만 하루의 절반을 철도로 이용할 생각이 있지 않는 한 여행자에게 별로 쓸모있지 않다.

• 도쿠나이 패스는 야마노테 선과 내부의 선로, 즉 도쿄 23구 내의 JR선을 이용하는데 좋은 1일권이다. 가격은 730엔이며 하루에 다섯 번 이상 기차를 탈 계획이 있으면 경제적이다. 도쿠나이 프리 깃푸는 주위의 도도부현에서 도쿄와의 왕복권이 포함되어 있다. 모노레일 & 도쿠나이 프리 깃푸는 2일동안 좋으며 하네다 공항에서 도쿄와의 왕복권이 포함되어 있다. 가격은 2000엔이다.
• 도쿄 프리 깃푸는 도쿄 23구 내의 모든 JR, 지하철과 시내버스를 이용할 수 있다. 가격은 1일에 1,580엔이다. 그리고 롯폰기와 오다이바 같은 JR선이 닿지 않는 곳에서도 사용 가능하다.
• 홀리데이 패스는 지바, 가나가와, 사이타마와 서부 도쿄를 포함한 도쿄 광역권의 모든 JR선에 적용된다. 1일에 2300엔이다. 주말이나 공휴일, 여름방학 기간(6월 20일부터 8월 31일까지)에만 사용 가능하다.

누가 영어로 안내방송을 하나요? 도쿄에서 철도를 이용할 때, 주로 JR동일본, 도쿄 메트로, 도에이 지하철, 도부 철도, 세이부 철도, 오다큐 전철, 게이세이 전철을 이용할 때 비슷한 목소리의 안내 방송을 들을 것이다. 사실, 그들은 같은 성우인 Christelle Ciari[8]가 방송한다. 일본어 인터뷰에서, "내가 일한 대부분의 철도 회사에서 나에게 역 이름을 영어로 발음하는 데에 어떠한 안내도 주지 않았습니다. 그래서 나는 역명을 원래 일본 억양으로 읽기로 했는데 그 이유는 나는 개인적으로 영어가 모국어가 아닌 화자가 더 자연스럽고 쉽게 알아차릴 수 있을 것이라 생각했기 때문입니다. 유일한 예외는 JR 동일본인데, 이 회사는 나에게 역 이름을 미국 억양으로 읽도록 안내했지요." 그래서, 도쿄 메트로에서 "시부야(渋谷駅, しぶやえき)"를 들을 것이고 JR선 열차에서 "시부야(Sheebooyah)"를 들을 것이다.

만약 요금을 d여름호에 따라 낸다면 지하철 요금은 거리에 따라서 도쿄 23구 나가면 110엔에서 310엔 사이에 있다. 대략적으로, 도쿄 메트로가 가장 싸고 도에이 지하철이 가장 비싸다. JR은 중간 정도 가격으로 어디든지 갈 수 있다.(하지만 단거리의 경우 싸다. 예시로 4정거장 이내) 많은 사철들은 지하철과 직결 운행을 하는데 같은 열차를 타고 있더라도 다른 노선과 환승을 한 것이 되고, 다른 요금 체계를 이용하기 때문에 이상하게 요금이 비쌀 수도 있다. 예를 들어, 도쿄 메트로와 도큐 사철선의 요금을 따져보자. 도쿄 메트로 기본요금 160엔 + 도큐 전철 기본요금 120엔 해서 최소 280엔이다. 게다가, 환승의 몇몇 경우는 "환승할인"이 적용되는데, 가장 유명한 것은 도쿄 메트로와 도영 지하철 간 환승을 할 때 70엔이 할인되는 것이다. 스이카나 파스모를 이용할때, 모든 환승할인은 자동적으로 처리된다. 몇몇 환승역에서, 표를 이용하든지 파스모/스이카를 이용하든지 오렌지 색을 가진 특별한 환승게이트를 통해 나가야 할 필요가 있다. 일반적인 파란 게이트를 통해 나가면 환승할인을 받지 못하고, 종이표를 가지고 있었다면 남은 운임을 되돌려받지 못한다. 몇몇 환승역에서는(아사쿠사 역 등) 두 역간 환승을 할 때 지상으로 나와 환승을 할 필요가 있다.(도쿄 메트로 긴자선, 도영 아사쿠사 선) 물리적으로 연결되어 있지 않고 약 한 블럭 거리를 걸아야 한다.

길을 나서기 전에 경로를 확인하는 것이 좋다. 도쿄 메트로와 도에이 지하철에 의해 운영되는 도쿄 환승 안내(영어)는 시간, 요금, 환승에 기반하여 한 지점에서 다른 지점으로의 지하철이나 철도 경로를 계획하게 해 주는 온라인 서비스이다. 이 안내는 도쿄 정보만 제공하며, 일본 전체 안내가 필요할 경우 일본 항목을 참조하라. 몇몇 주요역은 도쿄 환승 안내와 비슷하게 정보를 제공하는 터미널을 가지고 있다.

만약 목적지까지의 요금을 모르겠다면 일단 가장 싼 승차권을 구매한 뒤에 도착지에서 정산기("norikoshi")를 이용해 차액을 낼 수 있다. 대부분의 자동판매기는 목적지까지의 모든 경로를 포함하는, JR과 지하철, 사철 승차권이 하나로 통합된 "연락승차권"을 구매할 수도 있다. 하지만 도쿄 철도 체계에 익숙하지 않다면 이것은 도전이 될 수 있다. 만약 회사간 환승을 한다면, 승차권을 이용하든지 교통카드를 이용하든지 간에 "주황색 환승게이트"를 이용해 나가야 한다. 그렇지 않으면 환승할인요금 대신에 각각의 여정에 따른 전체 요금을 내야 한다.

도쿄 내의 철도는 오전 5시부터 오후 1시까지 운행한다. 첨두시간대에는 매 3분마다 기차가 도착하며, 비첨두시간이라 할지라도 배차간격이 10분 이내이다. 특정한 노선에 대해서는 신정에 종일운전을 실시한다.

더 많은 정보를 위해서는 일본의 철도항목을 참조하라.

By taxi

A typical Tokyo taxi

Taxis are very pricey, but may be a value for groups of three or more. Also, if you miss your last train, you may not have another choice.

Fares generally start at ¥710 for the first two kilometers and can add up rapidly. A 20% night surcharge is tacked on from 22:00-05:00. As a rule of thumb, a daytime trip across the city from Tokyo station to Shinjuku station will cost approximately ¥3000, while a daytime trip from Tokyo station to Haneda Airport costs around ¥6200. These examples are based on standard routing and traffic conditions, so your actual fare may vary in relation to the estimated fare.

Taxi rear left passenger doors are operated by the driver and open and close automatically. Don't open or close them yourself.

Do not count on your taxi driver speaking English—or knowing more than the best-known locations, though most taxis have GPS "car navi" systems installed. The best and easiest thing to do is to prepare a map marked with where you want to go, and point it out on the map to the taxi driver. If you are staying at a hotel, they will provide a map. If possible, get a business card, or print out the address in Japanese of any specific places you wish to go. However, because in Japan streets are often unmarked, if the taxi driver does not have GPS he may not be able to do more than take you to the general vicinity of where you want to go. Also, note that taxis can get caught in traffic jams. No tips are expected or given.

Nihon Kotsu[9], which operates a good number of cabs around the country, does have a 24-hour English telephone number, 03-5755-2336, to call for a taxi within Tokyo.

By car

Tokyo is a gigantic warren of narrow streets with no names, with slow-moving traffic and extremely limited and expensive parking. In this city with such an excellent mass transit system, you would need a good reason to want to drive around instead. While renting a car can make sense in Japan in some contexts (e.g., visiting a rural onsen resort), in general it is neither convenient nor economical to rent a car to get around metro Tokyo. Taxis are much more convenient if your budget allows it; walking or public transportation is much less expensive and given the difficulties of navigation and finding parking in popular areas, probably easier too.

If you do decide to plunge in and drive around by car, the main expressway serving Tokyo is the Shuto Expressway, abbreviated to Shutoko (首都高) [10]. The C1 Loop Line forms a circle around central Tokyo, similar in fashion to how the Yamanote Line does it by rail. But whereas the Yamanote Line charges ¥130-250 for a single trip, driving a car onto the Shutoko in Tokyo entitles you to pay a nominal entry fee of ¥700 every time you enter the system, with additional tolls (¥300 or ¥500) collected at various other locations.

Driving on the Tokyo Expressway at night can be a pleasant and beautiful experience as you whiz through and around the Tokyo nightlife. When driving at night you should exercise caution and obey speed limits: Street racing over the Shutoko at night became popular in the 80's and 90's and still happens today, albeit on a less frequent basis. Street racers often concentrate their driving on the C1 Loop Line and the Bayshore (more popularly known as the Wangan) Line. "Competitors" sometimes hang out at parking and service areas on the Shutoko, especially the large Daikoku Parking Area at the intersection of the Bayshore Line and the K5 Daikoku Line in Yokohama.

By bus

Toei buses like this operate most of Tokyo's local bus routes

The few areas within Tokyo that aren't easily accessible by train are served by various bus companies. Buses operating within 23 wards of Tokyo have a fixed fare regardless of distance (¥200 on Toei buses [11] and ¥210 on other private bus companies), which is paid upon boarding from the front door. The fares are not transferable; however most buses do accept Suica or PASMO fare cards (see above). If you use a "Suica" or "PASMO" card to board a Toei Bus, you will receive a ¥100 discount on your next Toei Bus ride as long as it is within 90 minutes of the previous ride. Compared to the trains, the buses run much less frequently, carry fewer passengers, and are much slower. This makes them amenable to the elderly residents of Tokyo, but rather inconvenient for travelers, who will also have to deal with lack of information in English and sometimes very well hidden bus stops. Bus routes can be fairly complicated and are often not listed in detail at the bus stops; signs on the buses themselves often list only two or three main stops in addition to the origin and destination. Inside the bus the next stop is usually announced several times, sometimes by a taped voice and sometimes by a mumbling driver. Recently taped announcements in English are used on some lines, but are still rare. Nevertheless, north-south routes are useful in the western side of the city since train lines (Odakyu, Keio, Chuo, and Seibu) tend to run east-west.

In an attempt to provide some information about their buses to foreign visitors/residents, Toei Bus now has a web site that shows some of the main bus routes used to go to certain destinations in Tokyo. This information is provided in English and several other languages.

Sky Hop Bus

Willer Express operates a hop-on, hop-off bus service called the Sky Hop Bus, which bills itself as "the first open-top double decker bus in Japan." At a charge of ¥1800 for a 24-hour pass and ¥2500 for a 48-hour pass (children half price), you can ride these buses and hop on and off as often as you wish. There are three bus routes that operate, all from the Marunouchi Building next to Tokyo Station: One route serves Asakusa and Tokyo SkyTree, the second runs to Roppongi and Tokyo Tower, and the third runs to Odaiba. Service only runs hourly, with departures from the Marunouchi Building between 10:20 and 18:30.

By ferry

The Leiji Matsumoto-designed Himiko ferry

The Tokyo Cruise Ship Company operates a series of Water Bus [12] ferries along the Sumida River and in Tokyo Bay, connecting Asakusa, Hinode, Harumi and Odaiba. The ferries feature a recorded tour announced in English as well as Japanese and a trip on one makes for a relaxing, leisurely way to see the waterfront areas of Tokyo. Of particular note is the super-futuristic Himiko ferry [13] designed by anime and manga creator Leiji Matsumoto, which runs on the Asakusa-Odaiba Direct Line. You might want to arrive well before the departure time just in case tickets on the Himiko sell out!

By bicycle

Bicycles are very commonly used for local transport, but amenities like bicycle lanes are rare, drivers pay little heed to bikes and traffic can be very heavy on weekdays, so if you use a bicycle, do not be afraid to cycle on the sidewalk (everyone does). Keep in mind, however, that parts of Tokyo are surprisingly hilly, and it's a sweaty job pedaling around in the summer heat. Central Tokyo can still be covered fairly comfortably by bike on the weekends. Tokyo Great Cycling Tour [14] offers a one day guided tour for biking around major tourist spots in Tokyo, like Marunouchi, Nihonbashi, Tsukiji, Odaiba, Tokyo tower, Imperial palace and so on.

Renting a bike is possible from some youth hostels, particularly around Asakusa, although it's not common. However, buying a simple single-speed roadster is fairly cheap, and comes complete with a built-in bicycle wheel lock system (this is what most Tokyoites use). An imported multiple-geared bike will be much more expensive so get a good lock, as bike theft is a common threat, although the problem is nowhere near as serious as in other countries.

By foot

In this large city with such an efficient public transportation system, walking to get from point A to point B would seem a bit stupid at first glance. However, as the city is extremely safe even at night, walking in Tokyo can be a very pleasant experience. In some areas, walking can be much shorter than taking the subway and walking the transit (the whole Akasaka/Nagatacho/Roppongi area in the center is for instance very easily covered on foot). If you have the time, Shinjuku to Shibuya via Omotesando takes roughly one hour, Tokyo Station to Shinjuku would be a half a day walk, and the whole Yamanote line Grand Tour takes a long day.

Talk

It's possible for English speakers to navigate their way around Tokyo without speaking any Japanese. Signs at subway and train stations include the station names in romaji (Romanized characters), and larger stations often have signs in Chinese and Korean as well. Though most people under the age of 40 have learnt English in school, proficiency is generally poor, and most locals would not know more than a few basic words and phrases. Some restaurants may have English menus, but it does not necessarily mean that the staff will speak much English. Reading and writing comes much better though, and many people can understand a great deal of written English without actually knowing how to speak it. That being said, staff at the main hotels and tourist attractions generally speak an acceptable level of English. While it is possible to get by with only English, it will nevertheless make your trip much smoother if you can learn some basic Japanese.

See

Sensoji Temple, Asakusa

Koishikawa Korakuen Park, Bunkyo

Tokyo has a vast array of sights, but the first items on the agenda of most visitors are the temples of Asakusa, the gardens of the Imperial Palace (in Chiyoda) and the Meiji Shrine (明治神宮 Meiji-jingū, in Harajuku).

Tokyo has many commercial centres for shopping, eating and simply wandering around for experiencing the modern Japanese urban phenomenon. Each of these areas have unique characteristics, such as dazzling Shinjuku, youthful Shibuya and upmarket Ginza. These areas are bustling throughout the day, but they really come into life in the evenings.

If you're looking for a viewing platform, Tokyo has plenty of options:

• The Tokyo SkyTree is Tokyo's latest attraction, not to mention it's also the second-tallest structure in the world.
• The more familiar Tokyo Tower is still around, though not as expensive as its newest rival.
• For a view that's light on your wallet, head to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government buildings (in effect, Tokyo's City Hall) in Shinjuku. Its twin towers have viewing platforms that are absolutely free, and offer a great view over Tokyo and beyond.
• The World Trade Center Building (10:00-20:00, or 21:00 in July and August, ¥620) at JR Hamamatsucho station offers stunning views of Tokyo Tower and the waterfront due to its excellent location, especially at dusk.
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• The Rainbow Bridge linking Tokyo to Odaiba is another good option, if you don't mind traffic noise and smell. The bridge's pedestrian walkways (open until 20:00 at night) are free, and the night-time view across Tokyo Bay is impressive.
• The Bunkyo Civic Center next to the Tokyo Dome, dubbed by one newspaper as a "colossal Pez candy dispenser", has a free observation deck on the 25th floor offering an iconic view of Shinjuku against Mt. Fuji on a clear day.

The city is dotted with museums, large and small, which center on every possible interest from pens to antique clocks to traditional and modern arts. Many of the largest museums are clustered around Ueno. At ¥500 to ¥1,000 or more, entrance fees can add up quickly.

Riding Sky Bus Tokyo, an open-top double-decker operated by Hinomaru Limousine (every hour between 10:00 and 18:00), is a good option to take a quick tour around the city center. The 45 minutes bus ride on the "T-01 course" will take you around the Imperial Palace via Ginza and Marunouchi district, showing the highlight of Tokyo's shopping and business center. The fare is ¥1,500 for adults of 12 years old and over, and ¥700 for children between 4 and 11 years old. You can borrow a multi-language voice guide system free of charge upon purchasing a ticket, subject to stock availability. Four other bus courses are offered, including a night trip to Odaiba, but those trips are conducted in Japanese with no foreign language guidance.

Other tour companies catering to foreign tourists offer bus tours with English guidance – JTB is an excellent example.

Itineraries

• Classic Tokyo, Modern Tokyo — a one-day tour of the old and the new
• One day in Tokyo — a hectic whirlwind tour of the many faces of the city

Do

• Eat a sushi breakfast at the Tsukiji Fish Market.
• Take a boat ride on the Sumida River from Asakusa.
• Lose yourself in the dazzling neon jungle outside major train stations in the evenings. Shibuya and east Shinjuku at night can make Times Square or Piccadilly Circus look rural in comparison — it has to be seen to be believed.
• Enjoy a soak in a local "sento" or public bath. Or one of the onsen theme parks such as LaQua at the Tokyo Dome (Bunkyo) or Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba.
• Go to an amusement park such as Tokyo Disney Resort, which consists of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea which are Asia's most visited and second most visited theme parks respectively, or the more Japanese Sanrio Puroland (in Tama), home to more Hello Kitties than you can imagine.
• Join and bar hop or pub crawl along with events groups in Roppongi,
• Check out the hip and young crowd at Harajuku's Takeshita-Dori (Takeshita Street) or the more grown up Omotesando.
• In the spring, take a boatride in Kichijoji's lovely Inokashira Park, and afterwards visit the Ghibli Studios Museum (well known for their amazing movies, like Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke), but you will need to buy tickets for these in advance at a Lawson convenience store.
• Take the Yurikamome elevated train across the bay bridge from Shimbashi station to the bayside Odaiba district, and go on the giant ferris wheel — the largest in the world until recently.
• Watch a baseball game, namely the Yomiuri Giants at the Tokyo Dome, or the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Jingu Stadium. Nearby Chiba hosts the Chiba Lotte Marines.
• Take a stroll through the Imperial Palace's East Gardens (open to the public daily at 09:00, except Fridays and Mondays).
• Have a picnic in a park during the cherry blossom (Sakura). Unfortunately Sakura only lasts for about a week in Spring. But be warned, parks are usually very crowded during this time.
• Join a local for a short lunch or dinner homestay with Nagomi Visit's [15] home visit program or participate in their cooking classes.

Learn

The curious can study traditional culture such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, or martial arts such as Karate, Judo, Aikido and Kendo. There are also many language schools to help you work on your Japanese. Several universities in Tokyo cater to international students at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Universities

• Keio University (慶應義塾大学 Keiō Gijuku Daigaku), [16]. Japan's top private university (unless you ask a Waseda student). Established in the samurai days of yore and has a stuffier rep than Waseda, with alumni including former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi. Main campus in Mita.

• Sophia University (上智大学 Jōchi Daigaku), [17]. A prestigious private, Jesuit university well known for its foreign language curriculae and large foreign student population. Main campus in Yotsuya.

• Tokyo Institute of Technology (東京工業大学 Tōkyō Kōgyo Daigaku), [18]. Tokyo's top technical university. Main campus in Ookayama.

• University of Tokyo (東京大学 Tōkyō Daigaku), [19]. Japan's uncontested number one university, especially strong in law, medicine and literature. For locals, passing the entrance exams is fiendishly difficult, but exchange students can enter much more easily. Five campuses are scattered around the city, but the main campus is in Hongo.

• Waseda University (早稲田大学 Waseda Daigaku), [20]. Japan's top private university (unless you ask a Keio student), famous as a den of artists and partiers. Former prime minister Yasuo Fukuda is an alum. Main campus in Waseda.

Work

Teaching English (or to a lesser extent, other foreign languages) is still the easiest way to work in Tokyo, but the city also offers more work options than other areas of the country: everything from restaurant work to IT. Certain nationalities are eligible for working holiday visas: for others, work permits can be very hard to come by without a job offer from a Japanese company. Consult your local Japanese consulate/embassy as far in advance as possible.

Buy

Kitsch-o-rama at the Nakamise arcade, Asakusa

If it is for sale anywhere in the world, you can probably buy it in Tokyo. Tokyo is one of the fashion and cosmetic centers in the Eastern world. Items to look for include electronics, funky fashions, antique furniture and kimono, as well as specialty items like Hello Kitty goods, anime and comics and their associated paraphernalia. Tokyo has some of the largest electronic industries in the world, such as Sony, Panasonic, and Toshiba etc.

Cash payment is the norm. Most Japanese ATMs do not accept foreign cards, but post office, 7-Eleven and Citibank ones do and usually have English menus as well (more recently, Mitsubishi-UFJ has opened its ATMs to UnionPay and Discover card users, while Mitsui-Sumitomo allows the use of UnionPay cards for a ¥75 surcharge regardless of time of day). Although credit cards are more and more widely accepted, they are far less widespread than in most other developed countries. The crime rate is very low, so don't be afraid of carrying around wads of cash as the Japanese do. The average Japanese citizen will carry a month's worth of expenses on them (around ¥40,000 give or take). See Buy under Japan. for general caveats regarding electronics and media compatibility.

There are numerous convenience stores throughout Tokyo, which are open around the clock and sell not only food and magazines, but also daily necessities such as underwear and toiletries. Supermarkets are usually open until 22:00, while drugstores and department stores usually close at 21:00.

Anime and manga

Akihabara, Tokyo's Electric Town, is now also the unquestioned center of its otaku community, and the stores along Chuo-dori are packed to the rafters with anime (animation) and manga (comics). Another popular district for all things manga/anime is the Nakano ward and its Broadway Shopping arkade. Check out the mandarake shop for loads of used and rare mangas.

In recent years there has been an "otaku boom" in Akihabara. A lot of attention in particular was paid to the town thanks to the popular Japanese drama "Densha Otoko", a love story about an otaku who saves a woman from a train and their subsequent courtship.

Akihabara was previously known for its many live performances and cosplayers, some of which had drawn negative attention due to extremist performers. These have become increasingly scarce following the Akihabara massacre in 2008, although girls in various maid costumes can still be seen standing along the streets handing out advertisement fliers to passers by for Maid Cafes.

Antiques

Serious collectors should head for the Antique Mall in Ginza or the Antique Market in Omotesando, which despite the rustic names are collections of small very specialist shops (samurai armor, ukiyo-e prints, etc.) with head-spinning prices. Mere mortals can venture over to Nishi-Ogikubo, where you can pick up scrolls of calligraphy and such for a few thousand yen.

The Antique Festival (全国古民具骨董祭り) [21] is held over the weekend about 5-6 times a year at the Tokyo Ryutsu Center, on the Tokyo Monorail line, and is well worth a visit.

Books

Jinbocho is to used books what Akihabara is to electronics. It's clustered around the Jinbocho subway stop. The Blue Parrot is another shop located at Takadanobaba on the Yamanote line, just two stops north of Shinjuku.

Cameras and electronics

Ever since Sony and Nikon became synonymous with high-tech quality, Tokyo has been a favored place for buying electronics and cameras. Though the lines have blurred since the PC revolution, each has its traditional territory and stores: Akihabara has the electronics stores, including a large number of duty-free shops specializing in export models, and Shinjuku has the camera stores. Unfortunately, local model electronics are not cheap, but the export models are similar to what you'll pay back home. you can sometimes find cheap local models if you avoid big shops and check smaller retailers. It's also surprisingly difficult to find certain things e.g. games machines.

Fashion

Shibuya and neighboring Harajuku are the best-known shopping areas for funky, youthful clothes and accessories. Note that, almost without exception, clothes are sized for the petite Japanese frame.

Department stores and exclusive boutiques stock every fashion label imaginable, but for global labels prices in Tokyo are typically higher than anywhere else in the world. The famous Ginza and Ikebukuro's giant Seibu and Tobu department stores (the largest in the world) are good hunting grounds. Recently, Roppongi Hills has emerged as a popular area for high-end shopping, with many major global brands. Other department stores in Tokyo are Mitsukoshi, Sogo, Marui (OIOI), and Takashimaya. Mitsukoshi is Japan's biggest department store chain. Its anchor store is in Nihonbashi. Marui Men store in Shinjuku has eight floors of high-end fashion for men only.

Kitchenware

The district for this is Kappabashi Street near Asakusa, also known as “Kitchen Town.” The street is lined with stores selling all kinds of kitchen wares — this is where the restaurants of Tokyo get their supplies. It's also a great place to find cheap Japanese ceramics, not to mention plastic food!

Music

Ochanomizu is to the guitar what Jinbocho is to used books. There, you’ll find what must be the world’s densest collection of guitar shops. Plenty of other musical instruments (though not traditional Japanese ones) are also available.

Souvenirs

For touristy Japanese knickknacks, the best places to shop are Nakamise in Asakusa and the Oriental Bazaar in Omotesando, which stock all the kitschy things like kanji-emblazoned T-shirts, foreigner-sized kimonos, ninja outfits for kids and ersatz samurai swords that can be surprisingly difficult to find elsewhere. Both also have a selection of serious antiques for the connoisseur, but see also Antiques above.

Street markets

Bustling open-air bazaars in the Asian style are rare in Tokyo, except for Ueno's Ameyoko, a legacy of the postwar occupation. Yanaka Ginza in the Shitamachi Taito district, a very nice example of a neighborhood shopping street, makes for an interesting afternoon browse.

There are often small flea and antique markets in operation on the weekend at major (and minor) shrines in and around Tokyo.

Eat

Red lanterns beckoning customers in Tsukishima

The sheer quantity and variety of food in Tokyo will amaze you. Department stores have food halls, typically in the basement, with food which surpasses top delicatessans in other world cities. Some basements of train stations have supermarkets with free taste testers. It's a great way to sample some of the strange dishes they have for free. Tokyo has a large number of restaurants, so see the main Japan guide for the types of food you will encounter and some popular chains. Menus are often posted outside, so you can check the prices. Some shops have the famous plastic food in their front windows. Don't hesitate to drag the waiting staff out to the front to point at what you want. Always carry cash. Many restaurants will not accept credit cards.

Tokyo has literally tens of thousands of restaurants representing more or less every cuisine in the world, but it also offers a few unique local specialties. Nigirizushi (fish pressed onto rice), known around the world around simply as "sushi," in fact originates from Tokyo. Another is monjayaki (もんじゃ焼き), a gooey, cabbage-filled version of okonomiyaki that uses a very thin batter to achieve a sticky, caramelized consistency. It is originally from the Tsukishima area of Chuo and today there are many restaurants near Asakusa offering monjayaki.

• Hot Pepper Available in various editions, by region, around Tokyo, this free magazine offers a guide to local restaurants in Japanese but provides pictures and maps to the restaurants. Some restaurants even offer coupons. Most restaurants within this magazine are on the mid-range to high end scale.

Budget

Stand-and-eat (tachigui) noodle shop with ticket vending machine

Go to a convenience store (konbini), there is one on every second corner. Really, the options may surprise you. You can get rice balls (onigiri), bread-rolls, salads, prepared foods (like nikuman and oden), and drinks (both hot and cold) for ¥100-150, bentō lunch boxes for around ¥500 and sandwiches for ¥250-350. At most convenience stores, microwaves are available to heat up your food for no additional cost. Supermarkets (sūpā) are usually cheaper and offer a wider choice, but more difficult to find. (Try Asakusa and the sidestreets of Ueno's Ameyoko market for local—not big chain—supermarkets.) Also, ¥100 shops (hyaku-en shoppu) have become very common, and most have a selection convenient, ready to eat items. There are ¥100 shops near most minor train stations, and usually tucked away somewhere within two or three blocks of the big stations. In particular, look for the "99" and "Lawson 100" signs these chains are essentially small grocery stores.

Also, look for bentō shops like Hokka-Hokka-Tei which sell take-out lunch boxes. They range in quality and cost, but most offer good, basic food at a reasonable price. This is what students and office workers often eat.

Noodle shops, curry shops, and bakeries are often the best option for people eating on the cheap. They are everywhere. The noodle bars on every corner are great for filling up and are very cheap at ¥200-1000. You buy your meal ticket from a vending machine at the door with pictures of the dishes and hand it to the serving staff. The one question you will typically have to answer for the counterman is whether you want soba (thin brown buckwheat) or udon (thick white wheat) noodles. Some offer standing room only with a counter to place your bowl, while others have limited counter seating. During peak times, you need to be quick as others will be waiting.

Fast food is available just about everywhere, including many American chains like McDonald's and KFC. But if you are visiting Japan from overseas, and wish to sample Japanese fast food, why not try MOS Burger, Freshness Burger, Lotteria, or First Kitchen? If you're looking for something more Japanese, try one of the local fast food giants, Matsuya, Yoshinoya or Ootoya. For under ¥500, you can get a giant bowl of meat, rice, and vegetables, sometimes with egg thrown in for good measure. Drinking water or hot ocha (Japanese green tea) is usually available at no extra cost.

Raw fish enthusiasts are urged to try kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi), where the prices are very reasonable. Prices are depending on the color of the plate, so be sure to check before they start to pile up.

Many of the larger train and subway stations have fast, cheap eateries. Around most stations, there will be ample choices of places to eat, including chain coffeeshops (which often serve sandwiches, baked goods, and pasta dishes), yakitori places, and even Italian restaurants.

Mid-range

By tradition the basement of almost any department store, including Mitsukoshi, Matsuzakaya, or Isetan, is devoted to the depachika (デパ地下), a huge array of small shops selling all kinds of prepared take-out food. You can assemble a delicious if slightly pricey picnic here — or, if you're feeling really cheap, just go around eating free samples! The very largest department stores are Tobu and Seibu in Ikebukuro, but Shibuya, Ginza and in fact any major Tokyo district will have their fair share. Shinjuku Station is home to several famous department stores, such as the Keio and Odakyu department stores. Many stores begin discounting their selections at about 19:00 each night. Look for signs and stickers indicating specific yen value or percentage discounts. You will often see half-price stickers which read 半値　(hanne). This discounting is also common at supermarkets located at the smaller stations, although the quality may be a notch or two down from the department stores, it's still perfectly edible.

The ubiquitous izakaya, a cross between a pub and a casual restaurant, invariably serve a good range of Japanese dishes and can be good places to fill up without breaking the bank: in most, an evening of eating and drinking won't cost more than around ¥3000 per person. See Drink for details.

Splurge

Tokyo has the world's highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants priced to match, but one splurge is worthwhile even if you're on a limited budget: the best sushi in town, if not the world, can be found in Tsukiji, fresh from the famous fish market. Figure on ¥3000 for a set meal, which is a bargain compared to how much sushi of similar caliber would cost elsewhere, even in Tokyo. A sushi breakfast in Tsukiji, after exploring the fish market, is a great option for the jet-lagged traveler's first morning in Tokyo.

For upmarket Japanese eats, Ginza is guaranteed to burn a hole in your wallet, with Akasaka and Roppongi Hills close behind. You can limit the damage considerably by eating fixed lunch sets instead of dinner, as this is when restaurants cater to people paying their own meals instead of using the company expense account.

Drink

Roppongi at night, with Tokyo Tower in the distance

The party never stops in Tokyo (at least in the karaoke bars), and you will find good little bars and restaurants everywhere.

The most Japanese way to spend a night out would be at Japanese-style watering holes called izakaya (居酒屋), which offer food and drink in a convivial, pub-like atmosphere (see Japan for details). Cheaper chain izakaya like Tsubohachi (つぼ八) and Shirokiya (白木屋) usually have picture menus, so ordering is simple, even if you don't know Japanese – but don't be surprised if some places have Japanese only touchscreen ordering systems.

Visiting clubs and western-style night spots can get expensive, with clubs and live houses enforcing weekend cover charges in the ¥2000-5000 bracket (usually including a drink coupon or two). For a splurge on a beverage or two, Western Shinjuku's Park Hyatt Tokyo houses the New York Bar on level 52. Providing stunning views day and night across Tokyo, it was also the setting for the movie Lost in Translation. Cocktails here start around ¥1400 – single malt whiskies are upwards of ¥2000.

If you're new in town, Roppongi has establishments which specialize in serving foreigners – but it's also overflowing with foreigners, hostesses, and 'patrons' who will continually hassle you to visit their gentlemen's clubs, where drinks cost ¥5000 and up. Many Japanese and foreigners avoid this area, preferring the clubs and bars in Shibuya instead, or trendy Ginza, Ebisu, or Shinjuku.

The Hub, a chain of British-style pubs, has branches in Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Roppongi (as well as near most major stations) and is reasonably priced and popular among foreigners and Japanese alike. Other British/Irish pubs can be found in Roppongi, Shinjuku and Shibuya. Expect to pay around ¥1000 a pint, although happy hours can reduce this by a few hundred yen.

In Shibuya, the bar area behind 109 (not 109-2) and next to Dogenzaka ("Love Hotel Hill") has a large number of clubs. Unlike those in Roppongi and Shibuya's Gas Panic, these clubs have entrance fees, but clubs without entrance fees often hassle you all night to buy drinks which ends up just as expensive and without people who are actually there to enjoy the music. Shinjuku is home to Kabukicho, Japan's largest red-light district. Also in Shinjuku is the gay bar district of Shinjuku-nichome. A little further from the city center are Shimokitazawa, Koenji and Nakano, full of good bars, restaurants and "live houses" offering underground/indie music popular with students and 20/30-somethings.

Sleep

There are thousands of hotels in the Tokyo area, ranging from cheap to very expensive. They are distributed throughout the city, with some of the high end and the low end almost everywhere. Many Western-style hotels, especially those affiliated with American hotel chains, have English-speaking staff.

Budget

Much of Tokyo's budget accommodation can be found in the Taito area, especially Asakusa and Ueno. But if you are not afraid of being a little bit off-center, you may have a look to the surroundings: Yokohama, etc.

Do note that most of the cheap accommodations in the Taito area (near JR Minami-senjuu) have curfew times around 22:00 to 23:00, so be sure to check that in advance if it bothers you. One hotel that does not have a curfew is Kangaroo Hotel [22], rooms starting at ¥3200. There's also Economy Hotel Hoteiya [23], rooms starting at ¥2500. A list of economy hotels in Tokyo is [24].

Capsule hotels are generally the cheapest option. They may be reluctant to play host to foreigners as there are quite a few rules of behavior which may be difficult to explain; see the Japan article for the full scoop. Most capsule hotels are men-only. Asakusa Riverside and Akihabara Capsule Inn are among the very few to have women-only floors.

24-hour comic book library/internet cafes known as manga kisa, have become common around Tokyo. This is one of the cheapest ways to crash if you miss your last train and need to wait for the early morning transit service to get started. No bed, but you have a comfy chair and a PC and/or DVDs if you can't sleep. Later in the evening, karaoke boxes often offer discounted prices for the whole night, they usually have a couch you can sleep on. Most of these cyber cafes charge ¥1500–2500 for 8 hours.

One of the cheapest ways to stay can be also a youth hostel, prices start at ¥1200, e.g. in the Shinjuku area.

If you are truly on a budget, it is possible to go homeless and camp in public parks, for free. You can do this with a tent, if you want to carry one, and you can also sleep on benches, as exhausted salarymen and students do. It is also possible to do this all over Japan ; by doing nojuku (as the Japanese call it) and eating in convenience stores or making your own sandwiches from the food you buy in supermarkets, you can stay in Tokyo for around the same price as it would cost you in Kathmandu, Nepal !

Mid-range

There is a wide range of choices in hotels while at Tokyo, most of the hotels are rated 3 stars or more. Tokyo is among most of the other cities when it comes to hotels because their services and hotel locations are the best of the best.

Keep an eye out for what is called a business hotel. The rooms are usually tiny, but they are conveniently located near stations and rates start from around ¥6000. Staff may speak minimal English, but it's not too hard to figure out. These are the best options for solo travelers. Affordable chains found throughout Tokyo include Tokyu Stay, which offers free internet access and breakfast, Chisun and Sunroute.

Tokyo has some self-proclaimed ryokan (Japanese inns) that cater largely to foreign tourists, mostly concentrated around Ueno and Asakusa. While not as opulent as the real thing, they offer a sample of Japanese home life at affordable rates.

Japan's infamous love hotels can be a reasonable (and interesting) option in Tokyo. Shibuya's Dogenzaka ("Love Hotel Hill") offers the widest selection in the city. If you're really going to spend the night, be sure to check in for a "stay" rather than a "rest". Be warned that some love hotels (at least around Shinjuku) have a 'No Japanese, no stay' policy, presumably to avoid confusion over billing; others lock you into your room until you pay into a slot by the door to leave.

If you plan to stay more than one week, you can try Weekly-Mansion Tokyo [25]. These are flats you can rent for short periods of time for affordable prices. Rates are around ¥5000 per day for one person or a little more for two people. Sometimes you can find deals for as low as ¥4000 per day (Various promotional deals are available for online reservations). You can also make online reservations in English.

Splurge

You can spend a fortune on accommodation in Tokyo. Most of the high-end international chains are well represented. Particular concentrations of luxury hotels can be found in western Shinjuku (including the Park Hyatt Tokyo, featured in Lost in Translation), around Tokyo station (best here are Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo,[26]. Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula Hotel, Imperial Hotel Tokyo, Seiyo Ginza and Four Seasons Marunouchi), and in Akasaka.

Beware of hotels marketing themselves as being located at "Tokyo Bay". At best, this means you'll be in or near the Odaiba district, built on reclaimed land half an hour away from the city center; at worst, you'll end up somewhere on the coast of the adjacent prefecture of Chiba, which is handy for visiting Tokyo Disneyland but quite inconvenient for touring Tokyo itself.

Connect

Free Wifi

• 7 SPOT (Japanese Website) Seven-Eleven convenience stores and Dennys restaurants offer Free Wifi service. "7SPOT" to take advantage of member registration (free) can be used for up to 60 minutes per one login is required, you can access up to three times a day. Registration Page(Japanese)

• FreeSpot FreeSpot offering free wireless Internet access, check out their maps of service areas

Paid Wifi

• HOTSPOT NTT Communications WiFi Service. ¥500/24h

Internet cafe

Good connections are available at Internet cafes everywhere. Expect to pay ¥400-¥500 per hour. "Gera Gera" is a popular chain. Paid WiFi service is also taking off in Tokyo with reasonable coverage – at a price. WiFi services are probably not convenient for those just visiting.

If you bring your own computer with a WLAN card, it is possible to find wireless connections in fast food outlets like McDonald's or Mos Burger. You also have a good chance to find a connection in one of the numerous coffee shops. Just look for a wireless connection sign in the front window or computers within the shop. Note that free wireless is not nearly as prevalent in Japan as it is in the West.

Stay safe

Tokyo is probably one of the safest big cities you will ever visit, and Japan in general is one of the safest places to visit in the world. Most people, including single female travellers, would not encounter any problems walking along the streets alone at night. Street crime is extremely rare, even late at night, and continues to decrease. However, "little crime" does not mean "no crime", and common sense should still be applied as anywhere in the world. Often the biggest risk is travellers taking Japan's visibly apparent lack of crime too close to heart and doing things they would never do back home.

The most common crime is sexual harassment on crowded trains, pressed up against each other, hands wander. This is more of a local problem as westerners are considered more aggressive and would stick up for themselves. The best way to deal with any wandering hands is to yell "Chikan!" which is the Japanese term for "pervert".

Small police stations, or kōban (交番), can be found every few blocks. If you get lost or need assistance, by all means go to them; it's their job to help you! They have great maps of the surrounding area, and are happy to give directions. They may, however, have difficulties with English, so some knowledge of the Japanese language helps.

Take the usual precautions against pickpockets in crowded areas and trains. Also be aware that theft is more likely to occur in hangouts and bars popular with travellers and non-residents.

The red-light and nightlife districts can be a bit seedy, but are rarely dangerous. Note some small, back-street drinking establishments in red-light districts have been known to charge extortionate prices. Similar problems exist in the seedier upscale clubs in Roppongi, where it may be wise to check cover charges and drink prices in advance.

Still in a jam? Call Tokyo English Life Line, tel. 03-5774-0992, daily 09:00-23:00.

If you make it as far out as the Izu Islands, note that visitors to Miyakejima Island are currently required to carry a gas mask, due to volcanic gases. Those in poor health are advised against travelling to the island.

Cope

Healthcare centres

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Babysitting

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Embassies

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Go next

From Tokyo, the entire surrounding Kanto region is your oyster. Particularly popular destinations nearby include:

• Hakone — for hot springs and views of Mount Fuji
• Kamakura — home to dozens of small temples and one Big Buddha
• Nikko — grandiose shrine and burial site of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu
• Odawara — houses the only Japanese castle in greater Tokyo area
• Tokyo Disney Resort — with Tokyo Disneyland (just like the ones everywhere else) and Tokyo Disney Sea (an only-in-Japan theme park which includes some unique rides and some imported rides from Disney parks outside of Japan)
• Yokohama — Japan's second-largest city and a suburb of Tokyo

The Tokyo area also has some less-famous destinations that are easy day trips from central Tokyo:

• Ashikaga — historical hometown of a famous shogun clan
• Hachioji — a refreshing climb up Mt. Takao through a forest to a shrine and beer garden
• Kawasaki — home to the Nihon Minka-En park with 24 ancient farmhouses (more interesting than it sounds), not to mention the annual Festival of the Iron Penis (Kanamara Matsuri)
• Kinugawa — home to Edo Wonderland, a kitschy theme park recreating 1800's Japan
• Fujino — a small town popular with locals and foreigners alike interested in the arts. Beautiful scenery and very refreshing after the bustle of Tokyo.

And don't forget the islands to the south of Tokyo:

• Izu Islands — easily accessible seaside and hotspring getaways
• Ogasawara Islands — 1000 km away from big-city bustle, for whale watching, diving and those who want to get away from it all