David Ho gives you recommendations on how to best experience Tokyo via Booking.com
Japan is a true mix of modern and traditional and no city exemplifies that better than its capital – Tokyo. Shrines and temples co-exist harmoniously next to skyscrapers and busy malls, salarymen in suits rush along colourful Harajuku trendsetters as women in kimonos glide by. Suffice to say, the city is a melting pot and a mecca for shopping, eating, and experiences.
Tokyo’s popularity is evident in recent rankings. Booking.com identified the top trending destinations for different types of travellers, based on search data and global traveller surveys. Tokyo ranked third on their list of Top Trending Global Destinations for Summer 2025 overall, second on Top Trending Global Destinations for Couples, and is in the top five of the Top Trending Summer Destinations for Families.
Getting there
Booking your trip to Tokyo is easy enough on Booking.com. The digital travel platform offers competitive rates on flights and hotels alike. We appreciate the options for round trip, direct flights and even multi-city bookings should you wish to do a bigger tour.
Furthermore, Booking.com’s Connected Trip offers an all-in-one service, including flights, accommodation, transport options, and personalized attraction recommendations, providing travellers with an enjoyable, stress-free trip. Savvy travellers will also recognise the value in Booking.com’s Genius loyalty program that provides members with lifetime discounts and travel rewards on hundreds of thousands of stays and rental cars worldwide.
Now, early spring (March to April) is typically the most popular time for visitors to head to Tokyo due to the cherry blossoms season. However, we head to Tokyo in September, an underrated time as it is still sunny but cool enough to wander around.
Both airports of Tokyo, Narita and Haneda, are a distance from the city centre. Getting to town via train is convenient, but if you are coming as a group or carrying lots of luggage, we recommend booking an airport taxi, which you can easily do so via Booking.com.
Views
Tokyo can be enjoyed from many angles but it’s hard to beat the view from a height.
The Tokyo Skytree is the world’s tallest freestanding tower at 634m or 2,080 feet. Purchase an admission ticket via Booking.com and head to the Tembo Deck on floor 350 at 1,148 feet for 360-degree panoramas of the city, Tokyo Bay, and even Mount Fuji on clear days. For an extra thrill, opt for the spiralling Tembo Galleria skywalk from floor 445 to floor 450 to get to the highest point, Sorakara Point, located 451.2 m above ground. We recommend doing this at night for the city lights.
Nearby, the Tokyo Tower offers a classic alternative. This 332.9m (1,092-foot) icon’s design was inspired by the Eiffel Tower. It features a main deck with panoramic city views and the famous skywalk windows offer a dizzying look straight down for those with a daredevil streak. This is another place that offers excellent photo opportunities of Tokyo’s districts and even distant Mount Fuji. We recommend coming here in the late afternoon so you can get some gorgeous sunset shots.
Explore
While the train is usually how people get around within Tokyo, the city is best explored through a myriad of ways – on foot, on wheels, and even on water. Whether it’s your first time or one of multiple visits to the city, there are bound to be new sights and spots to surprise you when you try new ways of getting around.
If you are keen to explore at your own pace, you can purchase PDF maps via Booking.com for self-guided tours, which cover everything from popular tourist recommendations to hidden secrets. Some of these even come with access to an audio guide so you can educated as you walk around.
If you are feeling more social, we recommend booking yourself on a group tour. There are plenty of special interest tours you can find on Booking.com but our pick is to try one of the many food tours or bar crawls on there. It’s a great way to uncover local favourites, try new things, and even meet fellow travellers to hang with. Nothing beats bonding with new friends over great bites that you may not have encountered or tried otherwise.
If zooming around on wheels is more your thing, there are cycling tours to be found on Booking.com that include bicycle rental and a guide. This is especially great if you pick a tour that includes parks during sakura season as you can even ride under the cherry blossoms for a breezy afternoon out and about. Just remember to adhere to Japanese cycling rules, like riding on the left side of the road.
On the subject of wheels, you can do Mario Kart in real life around Shibuya. Expect a lot of eyes on you as you drive around the iconic ward in your go-kart for a one-of-a-kind adrenaline rush. Best of all, these services come with professional guides to take photos for you as keepsakes. Please do note that this activity requires the hardcopy of your International Driving Permit so make sure you pack yours with you.
If you prefer being driven around and are a car enthusiast, then maybe something that recalls the Fast and Furious movie franchise (the Tokyo Drift instalment in particular) might be up your alley. Book a ride in a JDM (Japanese domestic market) sports car and blaze through Japan’s stunning open roads and feel the thrill of Tokyo’s tunnels. While you can’t pick a particular sports car, you can count on the high performance vehicles being visually stunning with the specs to match.
Experience…
The traditional
From samurais and ninjas to sumo wrestlers and geishas, much of Japan’s culture has captured imaginations worldwide. When in Tokyo, take the opportunity to view and even experience some of these traditions hands-on. The samurai sword-handling experience allows you don a traditional iaido gi uniform and learn basic sword techniques under a trained instructor. They will have you warm up with swings, then slash a tatami mat makiwara using actual swords. A 90-minute session ends with a commemorative photo. Held at Samurai Theater Tokyo in Shinjuku, it’s suitable for ages 15 and above. Think of it as your Demon Slayer hashira training.
Another highlight is the Asakusa Sumo Club sumo show, where you’ll witness former wrestlers demonstrate techniques in a dedicated venue. The show comes with a meal and English commentary, plus a souvenir and photo op. Three shows daily make it easy for anyone to find a slot that fits their schedule.
The modern
The flipside of Japan is its modern pop culture, with anime goods and collectible toys galore. If you are new to shopping in Tokyo, Akihabara is considered the hub for otaku culture where games, anime, manga, electronics and all related geeky goodies can be found. If you find this dizzying district of shops and maid cafés a little intimidating to navigate, consider hopping on Booking.com and reserving a walking tour. These tours can be tailored to your specifications, be it a general tour or helping you search for limited edition items. It also comes with a photography service so you can get snaps of yourself on the go in this hundred-mile-a-minute hub of all things kawaii, nerdy, and cool.
If Japanese pop culture is not your cup of matcha, then perhaps the magic of Disney is for you, especially for those travelling as a family. There’s fun for all ages to be found at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, both located around Maihama station on the Keiyo/Musashino JR Line, where one can find many of the beloved characters from the house of mouse here. Ideally, one would spend a couple of days just to fully experience the myriad of rides, shows, dining, and shopping that exist here. Tokyo DisneySea is considered by many Disney fans around the world as one of the best Disney parks. So if a Disney visit was ever on your bucket list, this is the place to go. We recommend you study the list of attractions and make a game plan of what you want to do, in order to make good use of your time here.
The artistic and educational
Artistic escapes from the city’s hustle and bustle can be found at Tokyo’s museums. The Art Aquarium Museum Tour in Ginza combines art, design and entertainment in illuminated goldfish tank sculptures spread across nine exhibition spaces. Watch rare goldfish swim in multi-coloured, projected lights within uniquely works of art. Oh, kids under 13 enter free, and it’s wheelchair-friendly to boot so we love the inclusivity. Reserve your tickets on Booking.com and make your way to the ninth floor of the Ginza Mitsukoshi New Building.
For science enthusiasts, the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno Park contains over 10,000 artifacts. Head to the Japan Gallery for insights into the nation’s history and tech contributions, then the Global Gallery for Earth’s evolution, from dinosaurs to space. It’s free entry for under-18s and seniors. For everyone else, a voucher valid for 180 days from booking is available via Booking.com.
These recommendations are merely the tip of the iceberg for what there is to do within the urban heart of Tokyo itself. The ever changing range of attractions on Booking.com offering diverse, hassle-free ways to explore and create unforgettable memories in the dynamic capital of Japan.
All pics from Booking.com
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