I think we can agree that Tokyo is one of the greatest cities in the world, and many would want to visit Tokyo at some point in their lives. However, most wouldn’t know much about Tokyo. With so many differences, including language, culture, and systems, preparing and planning in advance before visiting Tokyo is a must.
If you are visiting Tokyo and you don’t know much. Don’t worry. With the readily available information on the internet about Tokyo including this article, it only takes a few minutes to get to know Tokyo and make your trip to Tokyo smoother!
In this article, I’m going to share with you some travel tips in Tokyo, hiring a guide can make enhance your trip, where to hire local guides and more recommendations.
Things to know before you travel to Tokyo
If it’s your first time in Tokyo, it can be confusing and overwhelming. That’s why research and planning beforehand are needed if you want to have a smooth trip while in Tokyo. Some of which include the weather, culture, the best places to go, and the language.
Weather in Tokyo
It’s important to search for the weather ahead so you know what clothes you should take with you and if the places you want to visit are available or not.
Here’s a general outlook of Tokyo’s weather.
(Seasons)
Spring→ March to May
Summer→ June to August
Autumn/Fall→ September to November
Winter→ December to February
Cultural tips
It can be easy to accidentally disrespect a culture in Tokyo because it’s different from yours. That’s why it’s important to research a little of the culture in Japan to remain respectful.
Here are some basic tips for your travel in Tokyo:
→ You don't neeed to tip. Tipping in Japan is not common, so no one will be expecting it. You can tip if you want, but the person may be surprised.
→ If you are on the escalator in Tokyo, stay on the left.
→ If you are using chopsticks in Japan, there are many things you should be careful about, including to not stick the chopsticks in the food and not pointing to people with your chopsticks.
Basic phrases
Although this isn’t necessary, you can learn the basic phrases so you don’t totally feel clueless, and Japanese would appreciate knowing that you had learned some of the phrases when talking to them. You can learn a few basic words like yes, which is hai in Japanese; no, which is is iie; and thank you, which is arigatou. For more, you can see the image below.
Is there anything else you could do to make your trip in Tokyo better? Yes.
If you don’t want to trouble yourself with the demanding tasks of planning and researching, one way to make your trip more convenient, smoother and yet also enhanced is by hiring a guide.
Hiring a private tour guide can provide you many advantages, including helping make the most out of your trip, saving your time, and so much more.
Recommended tour guides
Here's the thing:
There are many places on the web where you can hire one. However, it is difficult to determine whether it’s a good and trustworthy website or not.
My recommendation to find a great tour guide is the GoWithGuide website. The website offers many local tour guides options in Tokyo from which you can choose according to your needs and preferences. The website allows you to use the trip plan provided by each of the tour guides, and customize it according to your preferences.
The local guides are knowledgeable, the can give you insights and context about Tokyo and the spots you visit. They know much about the details of Tokyo, so if you had any questions, you can ask them and the guides will answer them for you.
Thought that’s all? Nope. Here are more useful tips for your trip to Tokyo:
Some of the best places to go in Tokyo
If it’s your first time in Tokyo, you might not know where are the best places to go and what to do in Tokyo. So, I’ll list some of the best places to go in Tokyo for you to visit.
→ Asakusa- if you want to experience both old and new Japan by visiting Sensoji Temple and Edo Tokyo Museum.
→ Akihabara- a must visit if you love anime, manga, figurines, and electronics.
→ Shibuya- if you visit Tokyo, it’s inevitable to visit Shibuya. Shopping, food, entertainment, and the renowned Hachiko statue and Shibuya Crossing.
→ Odaiba- get a feel of modern Tokyo in Odaiba. It has everything from theme parks, shopping malls, beaches, and many more.
→ Harajuku- experience the ‘kawaii’ side of Tokyo in Takeshita Street, the Yoyogi park, and also the Meiji-jingu shrine.
A useful guidebook
If you want to learn a little more about Tokyo, it is always a good idea to get a good guidebook. My recommendation for a free, great-quality guidebook is the Tokyo PDF Guidebook for first timers by Planetyze, called “Don’t Get Lost in Tokyo”.
The guidebook contains useful materials and information for your trip in Tokyo. It includes the best places to go in Tokyo, useful Japanese phrases to use, some useful Japanese culture tips, things you should know before traveling to Tokyo, itinerary ideas, city and subway maps, and more, ensuring you a better understanding of Tokyo and a smooth trip in Tokyo!
Is it easy to travel around Tokyo?
Look:
Even though Tokyo is a sprawling city, the transport system is very efficient and convenient. To travel around places with trains, you can buy tickets in the train stations, but for more convenience, you can purchase a prepaid card, called Pasmo or Suica.
There are also taxis with the starting fee of ¥430 (US$ 4), but taking the train is cheaper, especially if you are traveling a far distance. Buses are also available if you are traveling within an area.
Is Tokyo safe for travelers?
Japan is generally very safe. The crime rate is very low and people are generally honest, but it's always good to be a little careful if you are traveling anywhere.
Also...
There are many koban (mini police stations) all over Tokyo. So, if anything happens, which I'm sure is very rare, the police are available to help. Japanese people are also helpful, so don't worry.
So should you hire a tour guide?
Not necessarily. But, like mentioned above, hiring a guide can be really advantageous. A good research beforehand and a good guidebook alone can be enough. Extras like google maps and the ability to speak Japanese are definitely helpful. But, nothing beats having the insights of a local tour guide to show you around and give you the context of the destinations you visit in Tokyo.
Hiring a guide can really enhance your trip, adding more value and depth. Guides can also make your trip so much more convenient.
Where to hire a guide in Tokyo?
If you decide that hiring a guide is the best option for you, here's where. To help you find the right guide, here is a list of great tour guides in Tokyo. You can choose according to your preferences and needs.
If you want to hire a guide in Kyoto, you can click here, And if you are looking for guides in other areas of Japan, you may want to click here.
If what you are looking for are private tours with set itineraries that you can customize when you book, here are recommendations for Tokyo and also the tour recommendations for Kyoto and other areas of Japan.
Here are some more useful links for your Tokyo trip
Cars, vans tours, and transfers in Tokyo
I hope this article gives you some useful tips for your trip to Tokyo including why and where to hire a guide, answers some of the questions you have about Tokyo, and helps you understand a little bit more of Tokyo. I hope you have a great time in Tokyo!
