Tokyo
Ancient precision, relentless innovation, perfect service
Why Visit Tokyo?
Tokyo holds more Michelin stars than any other city on earth — which tells you something about a place where even convenience store food is exceptional. This is a city of extraordinary contrasts: ancient temples next to neon-lit skyscrapers, monks in robes sharing the subway with office workers, and an obsession with perfection — in service, in craftsmanship, in cuisine — that elevates every experience. For luxury travellers, Tokyo is not just a destination; it is a recalibration.
Best Time to Visit
Recommended
March to May (cherry blossom) and October to November (autumn foliage)
Cherry blossom season (late March to mid-April) is one of the world's great travel experiences — the city turns pink and Tokyoites gather in parks for hanami picnics. Autumn brings red and gold foliage across the city's many parks and temple gardens.
Worth Noting
July and August are extremely hot and humid. The rainy season (tsuyu) runs June to mid-July.
Top Experiences
Michelin-Star Dining
Tokyo has 226 Michelin-starred restaurants — more than Paris, New York, and London combined. Sukiyabashi Jiro (sushi), Quintessence (French-Japanese), and Narisawa (innovative Japanese) are among the world's greatest dining experiences. Many require reservations made weeks or months in advance through a concierge.
Traditional Ryokan Experience
Staying in a ryokan (traditional inn) is among the most refined hospitality experiences in the world. In Tokyo, Hoshinoya Tokyo brings the ryokan experience to a skyscraper in Otemachi. Guests sleep on futons, wear yukata robes, and are served a multi-course kaiseki dinner in their room.
Shinjuku & Shibuya
These twin entertainment districts capture the energy of modern Tokyo — the neon-lit Golden Gai alleyways of Shinjuku, the famous scramble crossing of Shibuya, and the department stores of Isetan and Takashimaya. The Shinjuku Gyoen national garden offers tranquillity amid the energy.
Tsukiji Outer Market & Toyosu
The famous tuna auctions moved to Toyosu Market, where early-morning access tickets allow visitors to witness the spectacle of premium bluefin tuna being sold for thousands of pounds per fish. The outer Tsukiji market remains open daily for the finest sushi breakfast imaginable.
Day Trip to Nikko or Kamakura
Nikko, 90 minutes north by Shinkansen, contains some of Japan's most elaborate shrine and temple complexes set in mountain forests. Kamakura, an hour south of Tokyo, is home to the Great Buddha and a network of Zen temples linked by hiking trails through bamboo groves.
Where to Stay
Ginza
Upscale, international brands, gallery art
Ideal for: Luxury shopping, fine dining, theatre
Aoyama & Omotesando
Chic, architectural, flagship boutiques
Ideal for: Fashion, design, Michelin-starred lunch
Shinjuku
Energetic, neon, diverse
Ideal for: Food, nightlife, Kabukicho exploration
Yanaka
Historic, quiet, old-Tokyo atmosphere
Ideal for: Cultural depth, artisan shops, temples
Getting There
12h 15m · Business Class
Japan Airlines, ANA, British Airways
from £4,200
11h 50m · Business Class
Air France, Japan Airlines
from £4,100
7h 00m · Business Class
Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, ANA
from £2,800
Local Tips
- Get a Suica or Pasmo card from any JR station — it works on all trains, metro, and buses in Tokyo
- Purchase a JR Pass before leaving home if you plan to travel to Kyoto or Osaka — it cannot be bought in Japan at the same price
- Most Tokyo restaurants have plastic food displays or picture menus; pointing is perfectly acceptable
- Tipping is not customary in Japan and can cause embarrassment — do not leave gratuities in restaurants or taxis
- Tokyo is remarkably safe — you can leave belongings at a restaurant table while you step out briefly
- Download Google Translate and enable camera mode — it can read Japanese characters in real time
Ready to go?
Plan your Tokyo trip
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