Are you thinking about planning a trip outside your country? Do you want to visit some of the best places in the world, so that you may get to know about different cultures? Well, then you should definitely add Tokyo to your bucket list! Sounds like an odd choice? The thing is that Tokyo is one of the emerging tourist destinations of the world, which makes it one of the best places to explore. Yes, so if you are wondering where to plan your next foreign trip to, then you should definitely take Tokyo into account, because not only will you be able to explore one of the lesser known cultures of Asia, but you will also be able to explore a place that is gradually emerging as one of the most celebrated tourist destinations in the world.
So, what are the things that we need to know about Tokyo?
Let’s take a look:- It has been the capital and one of the most thriving cities in Japan since the year 1869.
- Rich in culture and heritage, Tokyo offers a cosmopolitan as well as culturally charged atmosphere, which makes it ideal as a tourist destination.
- The thing about tourism in Tokyo is that you can plan the trip to this place for various purposes – if you want to travel with your family, Tokyo makes a very nice choice; if you are thinking about travelling your friends, then you can definitely select this as your preferred destination; when it comes to going on your honeymoon, then too Tokyo makes for a great choice. Thus overall, whatever type of trip that you might be looking for, Tokyo will have you covered.
- You will actually get quite a lot of hotels in Tokyo, but you will have to make sure that you book the one which is the most centrally located because the city hub has a lot to offer.
Like most Asian countries, Japan too has climatic pattern, which you need to be aware of if you want to make the best of your trip to a capital like Tokyo. The ideal time to visit this city would be between the months of March and May. If you are looking for something towards the end of the year, then you can think of travelling during late October to early December.
So, now that you know about some of the basics that are associated with travelling to Tokyo, let us take a look at some of the places that you can visit here, shall we?
- Sensōji: Being a hub of Buddhism it is but natural that one will come across quite a number of monasteries over here, and this happens to be one of the most celebrated ones. So, if you are interested in monastery architecture and atmosphere, then you should definitely opt for this one.
- Meiji Jingū: The tales of Japanese emperors and their kingdoms are quite interesting ones. If you are looking forward to visiting some shrines, then needs to be one of the top of the list. Known for its architecture, you will have to follow quite a few steps if you are willing to pay respect at this shrine. Try it out; it has a very interesting story.
- Nakamise: A trip is never complete without souvenir shopping and where to head out to when it comes to shopping for gifts in Japan? Well, of course, it’s Nakamise! You have to visit this shopping site once and explore the numerous items that they have on sale here. Find out the opening and closing hours before visiting and keep an eye out for beautiful paper lanterns lighting and lining the entire area.
- Imperial Palace & East Garden: Up for some time with the royalty? Well, if you are, then try and visit this imperial garden in Tokyo, but there are quite a few things that you need to keep in mind here – the palace is only open 2 Jan and 23 Dec. So, if you are planning your trip at this time of the year, then you should surely visit the palace and guess what, you can also get to catch a glimpse of the members of royalty because they make public appearances on these days.
- Tokyo Disneyland & Disney Sea: Well, if you are travelling with kids and you want to them to have a gala time, then you should definitely visit this amusement park. Take a break from touring the city and head out to this fun place for some good old family-style relaxation with your children.
Well, the list of places to explore in Tokyo is quite a long one. When you plan your travel to this place, you will have to keep in mind that you need to be absolutely certain the places that you need to visit. Once you know where you want to go, planning out the entire trip would become so much easier for you. There are two ways to go about it – you can either make a list of the places and things that you want to see when in Tokyo and accordingly decide the duration of your visit, or you can simply have your duration decided from beforehand and then accordingly make a list of the places that you want to visit.
Some Tokyo travel tips
- The Japanese culture is one which is very respectful towards others, and hence, as guests to Tokyo, you need to maintain that dignity and give back the respect as well. There might be some rules and regulations that you will need to follow, but there is no reason to get peeved about it.
- When it comes to booking hotels in Tokyo especially during the peak travel season, you will have to make sure that you do not wait too long to make the booking because this metropolitan is quite in demand and hence you might not get the booking that you are looking for at the last minute.
