Tokyo is the easiest megacity to travel in. Direct flights leave Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Cairns, the trains run to the second, crime is negligible and a superb meal costs A$15. Five days is the minimum; pair it with Kyoto by Shinkansen for a two-week trip.
Why go
Tokyo is thirteen distinct cities pretending to be one: Shinjuku''s neon canyons, Shibuya''s crossing, the shrines and old shops of Yanaka, teenage Harajuku, staid Marunouchi, the food halls of Ginza department stores. It holds more Michelin stars than any other city and its best food is often in a six-seat basement with no English sign.
Best time to visit
- Late March to April — cherry blossom, mild days. Busiest and dearest.
- May — the most comfortable weather of the year and no blossom crowds.
- June to August — hot and humid, 33C with 80 percent humidity; fireworks festivals compensate.
- October and November — clear skies, autumn colour into early December. The best month is November.
- December to February — cold, dry, very clear, cheapest.
Avoid Golden Week (late April to early May) and New Year, when domestic travel peaks.
Getting there from Australia
Direct to Haneda or Narita from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Cairns — roughly 9.5 to 11 hours. Choose Haneda where possible: it is 30 minutes from central Tokyo versus 60 to 90 from Narita. Australians travel visa-free for up to 90 days. Pre-register at Visit Japan Web before departure to speed up immigration and customs.
Where to stay
- Shinjuku — best transport hub, nightlife, dense and loud.
- Shibuya — young, central, walkable to Harajuku and Omotesando.
- Ginza and Tokyo Station — refined, best for Shinkansen days and department store food.
- Asakusa — traditional, cheapest, further out but on good lines.
- Ebisu and Nakameguro — where Tokyoites eat; low key and excellent value.
What it costs
| Item | Typical cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Business hotel, per night | 140 - 230 |
| Ramen or gyudon | 9 - 16 |
| Convenience store breakfast | 6 |
| Izakaya dinner with drinks | 35 - 60 |
| Sushi counter omakase | 120 - 400 |
| Subway single ride | 2 - 3 |
| Haneda to Shinjuku | 7 |
| Shinkansen to Kyoto, one way | 145 |
Getting around
Get a Suica or Pasmo card (or add Suica to your phone) and tap through everything. The subway and JR Yamanote line cover nearly all of it; taxis are excellent but expensive. A JR Pass is only worth buying if you are making at least two long intercity trips. Trains stop around midnight and restart at 5am — plan the last train or plan to stay out.
What to do
Senso-ji early morning, the Meiji Jingu forest, teamLab, the Shibuya crossing from above, a sumo practice or tournament in January, May or September, Tsukiji outer market for breakfast, Shimokitazawa vintage shopping, a Yanaka walking loop, and one splurge dinner booked a month out. Day trips: Nikko, Kamakura, Hakone for Fuji views.
Safety and practicalities
| Need | Detail |
|---|---|
| Emergency number | 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance |
| Currency | Japanese yen (JPY) |
| Power | Type A, 100V |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Cash | Cards are now widely accepted, but carry yen for small restaurants |
| Luggage | Use station lockers and takkyubin luggage forwarding |
| Visa (Australians) | Visa-free up to 90 days |
| Main risk | Summer heat, and earthquakes — know your hotel''s exits |
Tokyo is one of the safest large cities in the world. The genuine hazards are heat in August and typhoons in September, both of which are well signposted in advance.
Common questions
How many days do you need in Tokyo?
Five days at minimum for the main districts and one day trip. Seven is comfortable.
Is Tokyo expensive?
Less than Sydney for food and transport, similar for hotels. Two people can travel well on A$300 to A$400 a day including a mid-range hotel.
Do Australians need a visa for Japan?
No. Visa-free entry for tourism up to 90 days. Register on Visit Japan Web before you fly.
Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?
Only for multi-city itineraries. A Tokyo-only trip is far cheaper with an IC card, and even Tokyo plus Kyoto return is roughly break-even.
Haneda or Narita?
Haneda, whenever the fare is close. It saves an hour of transfer time in each direction and its late-night arrivals still connect to the city.