"More Michelin stars than any city on earth. A transport system that makes every other city's look embarrassing. And a culture of craft and hospitality that is simply without equal."
Tokyo is the world's most extraordinary city — and the one that most consistently exceeds expectations. It has more Michelin-starred restaurants than Paris, London, and New York combined. Its public transport system is the finest ever built. Its neighbourhoods — from the ancient streets of Asakusa to the neon canyons of Shinjuku to the quiet galleries of Yanaka — are endlessly varied and endlessly rewarding. And its culture of omotenashi — the Japanese art of hospitality — means that every interaction, from a convenience store purchase to a three-Michelin-star dinner, is conducted with a care and attention that is simply not found anywhere else on earth.
At a Glance
Where to Stay
The Best Hotels in Tokyo
Aman Tokyo
The finest hotel in Japan — and arguably in Asia. Occupying the top six floors of the Otemachi Tower, Aman Tokyo combines the minimalist aesthetic of traditional Japanese architecture with the brand's signature sense of space and calm. The rooms are among the largest in the city; the onsen is extraordinary; and the views of the Imperial Palace gardens are unmatched. Book the corner suites for the full panorama.
The Peninsula Tokyo
The Peninsula's Tokyo outpost is the most polished luxury hotel in the city — impeccable service, beautifully appointed rooms, and a location on the edge of Hibiya Park that puts you within walking distance of Ginza, the Imperial Palace, and Marunouchi. The Peter restaurant on the 24th floor is one of the great hotel dining rooms in Asia.
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Immortalised by Lost in Translation, the Park Hyatt Tokyo remains one of the great urban hotels. The New York Bar on the 52nd floor — with its floor-to-ceiling views of the Tokyo skyline and Mount Fuji on clear days — is still the finest hotel bar in the city. The rooms are beautifully designed, the pool is exceptional, and the Kozue restaurant serves some of the best kaiseki in Tokyo.
Where to Eat
Tokyo's Essential Tables
Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten
The most famous sushi restaurant on earth — three Michelin stars, ten seats, and a twenty-course omakase that has defined the global understanding of what sushi can be. Reservations require a hotel concierge connection months in advance. Worth every effort.
Ryugin
Chef Seiji Yamamoto's three-Michelin-star kaiseki restaurant in Roppongi is the finest expression of contemporary Japanese cuisine in Tokyo. The seasonal tasting menu — which changes entirely with each season — is a masterclass in technique, restraint, and the Japanese reverence for ingredients.
Narisawa
Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa's "Innovative Satoyama Cuisine" — rooted in the Japanese countryside and expressed through a French fine-dining lens — has made Narisawa one of the most influential restaurants in the world. Two Michelin stars and a place on every serious list of the world's best restaurants.
Tsukiji Outer Market
The inner market has moved to Toyosu, but the outer market remains the finest place in the world to eat breakfast. Arrive by 7am for the freshest tuna sashimi, tamagoyaki, and grilled scallops you will ever taste. The experience is irreplaceable.
What to Do
Essential Tokyo Experiences
Shibuya Crossing at Rush Hour
The world's busiest pedestrian crossing — and one of the great urban spectacles. Watch from the Starbucks or the Mag's Park observation deck above the crossing, then descend into the organised chaos below. The surrounding neighbourhood of Shibuya is the beating heart of contemporary Tokyo culture.
Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa
Tokyo's oldest and most visited temple, in the city's most atmospheric old neighbourhood. Arrive before 7am to experience the temple in near-solitude; the Nakamise shopping street that leads to the main gate is the finest place in Tokyo to buy traditional crafts and souvenirs.
teamLab Borderless
The world's most visited digital art museum — an immersive, borderless world of art that dissolves the boundary between the work and the viewer. The new Azabudai Hills location is even more extraordinary than the original. Book well in advance.
Yanaka & Nezu — Old Tokyo
The neighbourhood that survived the 1923 earthquake and the 1945 firebombing — and therefore the only place in Tokyo where you can still walk streets that look as they did a century ago. The Yanaka Cemetery, the shotengai shopping street, and the Nezu Shrine are essential.
"Tokyo rewards the curious traveller more than any other city on earth. Come once and you will spend the rest of your life planning your return."
Alyssa Ross · TastesOf