May 24, 2024
6 min read
The Best Neighborhoods to Visit in Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan and one of the world's largest cities, is equal parts zen gardens and vibrant nightlife. There's a lot of information out there, so we've pulled together everything you need to know about Tokyo's best neighborhoods from the travel aficionados we all know and trust.
Shinjuku
Shinjuku is one of Tokyo's gayborhoods with shopping areas nearby.
"Shinjuku works neatly as a day-to-night destination. Start with the skyscraper district of Nishi-Shinjuku – you'll have the streets to yourself if you come after 10am to avoid the morning rush." -
Lonely Planet"The area around Shinjuku station is well-known for its department stores and nightlife. If you want to go on a shopping spree, bring your passport for tax exemptions at select stores...The nightlife options in this area are endless. Take a walk down the densely packed Omoide Yokocho, see the neon signs in the Kabukicho entertainment district, and go bar hopping in Golden Gai." -
Rakuten Travel"The centre of the metro government, a department store hub, Godzilla’s home, the site of Asia’s largest gay district and one of the most vibrant collections of bars and restaurants in the country: good old Shinjuku boasts many faces. It’s also one of the most ethnically diverse areas in Tokyo, with Koreatown, the Burmese community, a plethora of Chinese enclaves and many more squashed between its borders." -
Time Out
Shibuya
Shibuya is a hip area known for its youthful nightlife.
"Shibuya is a neighborhood that warrants a late start. Come for lunch or later – it is, above all, an entertainment district and it really comes alive at night. There are dance clubs, live music venues and movie theaters galore." -
Lonely Planet"More subdued than Shinjuku, more down-to-earth than Harajuku, and less cosmopolitan than Roppongi, it caters to bustling throngs of students and young office workers with its many shops and thriving nightlife, including more than a dozen department stores specializing in everything from designer clothing to housewares." -
Frommers"Shibuya: it's the 'hood with everything. Cutting-edge fashion boutiques, world-class nightclubs, unbeatable record shops, hip bars, dining options ranging from fancy washoku eateries to dirt-cheap diners – if you want it, you can probably find it here." -
Time Out 
Roppongi
Roppongi is a hip area that seems to have it all with top spots for foodies and access to great shopping.
"Legendary for its nightlife, Roppongi is anchored by the chic Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown complexes, where you'll find several excellent art museums, including the prestigious Mori Art Museum." -
Lonely Planet"Known for being a mix of the party scene and upscale establishments, the Roppongi area is worth a trip for those who are looking for a night out or for those who might want to enjoy the museums during the day-time." -
Rakuten Travel"...Roppongi has more bars and nightclubs than any other district outside Shinjuku, as well as a multitude of restaurants serving international cuisine. The action continues until dawn." -
Frommers
Asakusa
Asakusa is a foodie area situated near some of Tokyo's most iconic landmarks.
"Seeing the big red gate is a good sign that you've found yourself in Asakusa's most iconic destinations and one of Tokyo's major landmarks, Sensoji Temple. While a lot of West Tokyo offers modern attractions, east Tokyo offers more traditional locations such as Asakusa." -
Rakuten Travel"Asakusa offers an abundance of street food stalls selling unpretentious Japanese dishes, generally at modest prices. You'll also find some of the city's longest-running and most traditional restaurants here." -
Lonely Planet"When Tokyoites talk about shitamachi (old downtown), they are referring to the traditional homes and tiny narrow streets of the Asakusa [and Ueno areas]." -
Frommers
Ginza
Ginza is an upscale neighborhood with great restaurants for foodies and all of the shopping you could ever need.
"Proudly ranking alongside Fifth Avenue and the Champs-Élysées, Ginza is one of the most famous shopping strips in the world. It's a compact area, but you could easily spend a day here sashaying from Mikimoto and Louis Vuitton to Uniqlo." -
Lonely Planet" Ginza is where you'll find a multitude of department stores, international brand-name boutiques, exclusive restaurants, hotels, art galleries, hostess clubs, and drinking establishments. Although Tokyo's younger generation favors less staid districts such as Harajuku, Shibuya, and Shinjuku, the Ginza is still a good place to window-shop and dine, especially on Sunday, when its major thoroughfare, Chuo-Dori, is closed to vehicular traffic, giving it a festive atmosphere." -
Frommers"[Home to] spots like the café where John and Yoko once sat down for tea, the birthplace of katsu curry, a vintage apartment building turned into a collection of galleries, and the luckiest (possibly) lottery stand in town." -
Time Out
Ueno
Ueno is located near some of the main landmarks and historical sites of Tokyo.
"Located just west of Asakusa, on the northern edge of the JR Yamanote Line loop, Ueno retains some of the city's old shitamachi atmosphere, especially at its spirited Ameya Yokocho street market, which began life as a black market after World War II and is spread underneath the Yamanote train tracks." -
Frommers"Its central park, Ueno-kōen, has the city's greatest concentration of museums, including the Tokyo National Museum.With the exception of the area immediately around Ueno Station, these districts are pretty quiet at night, though Yanaka has a few hip hangouts." -
Lonely Planet"Aside from the traditional crafts and foods, Asakusa is also a popular drinking area, with Hoppy Street housing dozens of izakayas where one can enjoy a nice cold beer." -
Rakuten Travel 
Harajuku
Harajuku is known for its trendy vibe and seemingly endless shopping.
"If you're looking for the heart of Tokyo's distinctive kawaii fashion culture, Harajuku is the place to go. Harajuku is the district that gave us Lolita girls, decora, the pancake boom and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu." -
Time Out"It's also Tokyo's real-life catwalk, a world-renowned fashion destination where the ultra-chic (and chic in training) come to browse and be seen. Neighboring Aoyama, meanwhile, is a shopping and dining district for the city's fashionable elite." -
Lonely Planet"After a busy day of weaving through crowds and shopping, taking a breather at Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu Shrine is a great way to relax. If you're lucky enough, you might catch a wedding procession in the heart of the shrine." -
Rakuten Travel
Kichijoji
Kichijoi maintains a lively nightlife scene despite being a primarily residential area of Tokyo.
"If you’re looking to explore further into the Tokyo suburbs, Kichijoji is a great place to start. This chic district in the west of Tokyo may only be 15 minutes by express train from Shibuya or Shinjuku, but it feels far enough out of the city for some peace and quiet." -
Time Out"There are some good jazz bars here too – use them as an inspiration before perusing the record collection at Disk Union Kichijoji Jazz Hall." -
Lonely Planet
Shimokitazawa
Shimokitazawa is a hip, foodie area with plenty of shopping options.
"Shimokitazawa, which is located a few stops from both Shibuya and Shinjuku Stations, should be on your list if you like second-hand shopping, cafes, and live music. The area also has things to do for those who aren't going with a specialty interest in mind, with two new shopping areas opening near the station, reload, and Mikan." -
Rakuten Travel"In particular, there's an influx of new shopping and dining complexes including Mikan Shimokita, Reload, Tefu Lounge and Bonus Track, which are now hailed as some of the hottest eating and drinking destinations in Tokyo. Moreover, you don't have to break the bank to enjoy a great meal as these facilities are home to many affordable cafés and restaurants." -
Time Out
Aoyama
Aoyama is a hip, upscale shopping area.
"On top of having innumerable designer boutiques, Aoyama boasts a surprising number of galleries and art museums, including some offbeat gems. And while the bustling farmers market is a good reason to get there in the early part of the day on weekends, the district isn’t just for daytime fun." -
Time Out"It's located on the eastern end of Omotesando Dori (and an easy walk from Harajuku), centered on Aoyama Dori. The upscale Omotesando Hills shopping center on Omotesando Dori stretches from Harajuku to Aoyama." -
Frommers"Japanese fashion brands in Aoyama and edgier looks can be found in the boutiques among the winding side streets on either side of Omote-sandō." -
Lonely Planet 
