Did you know that the city of Tokyo is actually a cluster of small towns run individually, but grouped together to form one city? Each community has its own history and culture, and each tells its own story. But Tokyo is also one of the largest cities in world – step off your flight to Tokyo and you're welcomed by nearly 12 million people. As Japan’s capital, it’s no wonder Tokyo continues to grow at rapid pace.
There’s something unique about each Tokyo neighborhood. From visiting small villages lined with fruit stands to a tour of the tofu factory, you won’t go bored in Tokyo. Carefully crafted bonsai trees line the sidewalks and wooden homes remain surprisingly upright on narrow streets. The “downtown” neighborhoods of Asakusa or Yanaka are worlds apart from the trendy neighborhoods of Harajuku and Shinjuku.
The cheap flight to Tokyo might be the last discount you get, though. As Japan’s financial center, new designs and developments are being crafted and produced every day. Business moguls pay top dollar for Tokyo’s inventions including computers, cars and gadgets that have become common staples in many American households. If you’re a gadget-guru, you've hit the jackpot in Tokyo. Just look around your flight to Tokyo – it’s likely the person sitting next to you is using the newest gadget for communicating with the Western world. Take a moment and let it sink it – you’ve just gotten a glimpse of the future and it starts in Tokyo.
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Winter is cold in Tokyo and the temperature occasionally drops below freezing. Spring has pleasant warm days. Summer is hot and muggy. It gets cool again in the fall, with temperatures in the 60-70s. August is the warmest month with high humidity and temperatures in the mid-80s, and January is the coldest with temperatures in the mid-30s. The monsoon season lasts about a month starting around mid-June. Typhoons are widespread in Japan in September.
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Peak Seasons:
Spring and fall are the most temperate seasons. Despite the heat and humidity of the summer, Tokyo flights and hotel rates in the summer are going up. Many local festivals are celebrated in Tokyo in July, and the school summer vacation runs from the end of July through August. Peak travel times for Tokyo flights and hotel rooms tend to fall around Japanese holidays when reservations need to be booked far in advance.
Off Season:
The New Year’s celebration is January 1 through 3, which is a busy travel time. But the rest of January, February, and March are quiet and sightseeing attractions are not very busy, making it a good time to find cheap flights to Tokyo. Plus, skies tend to be clear and sunny and the weather is chilly but dry.
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Narita International Airport (NRT)
Distance: 40 miles from Tokyo
Drive time: 1 hour
The fastest way to get to town is the JR Narita Express (NEX) train to Tokyo Station. The train ride takes about an hour. However, if you have a lot of luggage or want to go directly to your hotel, the limousine bus would be a better choice.
Haneda Airport (HND)
Distance: 10 miles southwest of Tokyo
Drive time: varies
The fastest and cheapest way is to take the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho Station. From Hamamatsucho Station, change to a JR train or take a taxi to your destination.
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Tokyo’s public transportation system is clean, safe and one of the most efficient in the world. There are 13 subway lines. The trains run from about 5am to midnight, and it’s a good idea to avoid rush hour. Visitors usually find the subway or Japan Railways (JR) the best way to get around. The Tokyo Combination Ticket (Tokyo Free Kippu) is a day travel pass that allows unlimited use of the trains, subway, and bus lines within the city. Taxis are another option; however, Tokyo taxi fares are among the highest in the world. Taxis are clean and comfortable, and the doors open automatically. The drivers usually speak little English so have the destination written out in Japanese.
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- Tokyo is the largest city in the world. The city is made up of a series of small towns and neighborhoods, each with its own history, flavor, and atmosphere, organized into 23 wards. Depending on how you like to explore a city, you may want to make a plan as to which districts/wards you want to visit and sites you want to see before arriving.
- Experiencing the best of what Tokyo has to offer is inexpensive and often free, such as a walk through Shitamachi around Asakusa, the Buddhist temple Sensoji, the Meiji-jingu Shinto shrine, the Harajuku shopping area, and the Tsukiji fish market. Get a good guide book to both check out which sites are free and to plan your visit to Tokyo.
- The Tokyo Tourism Info Web site lists the top attractions in Tokyo, with links to information on festivals, shopping, eating, and entertainment in Tokyo.
- In Tokyo it’s very easy to eat on a budget. Two options are a set lunch and obento. A set lunch is a fixed-price meal that usually includes an appetizer or soup, main dish with one or two side dishes, and sometimes dessert. Set lunches are called teishoku,seto coursu, or coursu in Japanese. Some restaurants also offer set dinners although they cost a bit more than a set lunch. Getting an obento (box lunch) is a “must do.” A typical obento contains fish or chicken, side dishes, rice, and pickled vegetables. But the best part is the presentation—it should be beautiful enough to “eat with the eyes.”
- For nightlife and entertainment, Tokyo has Kabuki, No, Bunraku puppet drama, music, dance, classical and popular music, strip joints, massage parlors, peep shows, bars, restaurants, and so on. But even as the night wears on and the revelers become more and more inebriated, the city remains fairly safe. You will get lost in Tokyo—everyone does, even Tokyo cab drivers. Always go out armed with street and subway maps. They are readily available in Tokyo, and the Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau gives out free maps. When you do get lost, ask for help and directions. Unless you’re fluent in Japanese or the person you asked is fluent in English, misinterpretation of the directions is a possibility. You may also want to buy a phrase book that has English transliterations of Japanese (romaji), and Japanese characters (kanji and kana). Then you can also point to the Japanese words to get help.
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