Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo travel guide

The world's biggest city, effortlessly polite

Find flights to Tokyo See fares from $455

Airports: HND Tokyo Haneda Airport · NRT Narita International Airport
Region: Asia
Best time to visit: Late March–April (cherry blossoms) and October–November (fall color) are the best and busiest.
Shortest flight: 10h 20m from Seattle
Round trips from: $455 (live)
Time zone: Asia/Tokyo

About Tokyo

Tokyo is a cluster of cities: Shinjuku's skyscrapers and nightlife, Shibuya's crossing and youth culture, Asakusa's Senso-ji temple and old-town lanes, Ginza's department stores, Harajuku and Omotesando's fashion, Akihabara's electronics and anime. The Tsukiji outer market, teamLab's digital art and Meiji Shrine's forest fill the gaps; Kyoto is 2 hours 15 minutes by shinkansen.

Getting in: Haneda (HND) is 30 minutes from central Tokyo by Keikyu train or Tokyo Monorail (¥500–¥700); Narita (NRT) is 60 minutes by Narita Express (¥3,070) or Keisei Skyliner (¥2,570). Fly into Haneda if the fare is close. Taxis from Narita cost ¥25,000+; from Haneda ¥7,000–¥10,000.

US citizens need a valid passport; no visa for stays up to 90 days. Fill out Visit Japan Web before arrival to speed up immigration and customs. Cash still matters at small restaurants and shrines, though IC cards (Suica/Pasmo, now in Apple Wallet) and credit cards work in most places. Tipping is not practiced. A bowl of ramen costs ¥1,000–¥1,500; conveyor-belt sushi ¥150–¥300 a plate.

Best time to visit

Late March–April (cherry blossoms) and October–November (fall color) are the best and busiest. May and September are pleasant; summer is hot and humid with typhoons possible; winter is dry, clear and cheap.

Where to stay

Neighborhoods our travelers like: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ginza, Nakameguro / Daikanyama.

Flights to Tokyo: typical round-trip fares

What economy round trips to HND usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.

From	Flight time	Typical fare	Lowest live fare	Actions
Los Angeles (LAX)	11h 40m	$798	$474 · Tue, Oct 13	Search dates →
San Francisco (SFO)	11h	$818	$480 · Wed, Nov 18	Search dates →
Seattle (SEA)	10h 20m	$848	$455 · Tue, Dec 1	Search dates →
New York (JFK)	14h	$1,048	$627 · Tue, Dec 1	Search dates →
Chicago (ORD)	13h 10m	$998	$479 · Tue, Dec 1	Search dates →
Dallas (DFW)	13h 40m	$1,098	$495 · Tue, Dec 1	Search dates →

Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.

Airports in Tokyo

What to do in Tokyo

The places our editors send first-time visitors.

1
Senso-ji and Asakusa
Tokyo's oldest temple, reached through the Kaminarimon gate and Nakamise's snack stalls; visit at dawn or after dark when the crowds go.
2
Shibuya Crossing and Shinjuku
The world's busiest intersection, then Golden Gai's tiny bars and the free observation deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
3
Tsukiji Outer Market and sushi
Breakfast on tamagoyaki and tuna bowls; the wholesale market moved to Toyosu, where auctions can be watched from a gallery.
4
Meiji Shrine and Harajuku
A forested shrine minutes from Takeshita Street's teen fashion and Omotesando's architecture.
5
Day trips
Kamakura's Great Buddha, Nikko's shrines, Hakone's hot springs with Mount Fuji views, or Kyoto by bullet train.

Tokyo weather by season

Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.

Winter

50° / 36°

Dry, sunny, cold; cheapest fares.

Spring

64° / 49°

Cherry blossoms late March–early April.

Summer

86° / 74°

Hot and humid; rainy season in June.

Fall

68° / 54°

Clear and mild; foliage in late November.

Travel tips for Tokyo

Fly into Haneda when the price is close — it's 30 minutes from the city versus 60–90 from Narita.
Register on Visit Japan Web before your flight and add a Suica card to your phone's wallet on arrival.
Buy shinkansen tickets at the station a day ahead; the Japan Rail Pass rarely pays off for a Tokyo–Kyoto trip since the 2023 price rise.
Carry ¥10,000–¥20,000 in cash for small restaurants, shrines and markets.
Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) are excellent for cheap meals and ATMs that accept US cards.

Tokyo flights: frequently asked questions

Haneda or Narita — which airport should I choose?

Haneda (HND) is about 30 minutes from central Tokyo and has grown to serve most US routes; Narita (NRT) is 60–90 minutes away but sometimes cheaper. Choose Haneda unless the saving is $100 or more.

Do Americans need a visa for Japan?

No — US citizens can visit for up to 90 days with a valid passport. Complete Visit Japan Web before arrival for faster immigration and customs processing.

How long is the flight to Tokyo?

About 11–12 hours from Los Angeles or San Francisco, 10–10.5 from Seattle, 13–14 from Chicago or Dallas and around 14 from New York. Return flights are 1–2 hours shorter.