Tokyo Hotels

With a metro population of over 35 million people, the Greater Tokyo Area can intimidate the most fearless tourist. A cursory tour of Tokyo however, should focus on the cluster of special wards that form the urban schematic of the city. From historic Arakawa and vibrant Chuo, to the parks of Kita, Tokyo is first and foremost, a regional prefecture. Swallow the city one bite at a time, in order to appreciate Tokyo as a whole.

Attractions

With more attractions than you can shake a samurai sword at, where to start? For many, the Ginza quarter in Chuo City is the first line item on the Tokyo itinerary. A famous neon skyline soars above electronic shops, department stores and myriad restaurants and bars.

For shrines and Imperial landmarks, Itabashi, Nakano, Katsushika and Ota are the best areas within Tokyo, where millions visit extraordinary temples like Narihira, Arai Yakushi and Ikegami Honmon-ji every year.

The Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park has over 100,000 works on display and remains the facility of record for the preservation and edification of Japanese culture. Other world class museums include the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art and Miraikan Science and Innovation Museum.

Despite a false reputation as a cold hub of steel and glass, Tokyo has an endowment of beautiful park space. The best and most prominent parks are Ueno, Shakujii and Yoyogi, popular oases where people relax, picnic, exercise and marvel at the cherry blossoms in spring.

The ward of Chiyoda contains Edo Castle, a premier historical site that dates back to the Imperial period of the same name. Built in 1457, the castle and complex landmarks hail from a bygone era in Japan that, apart from film and manga, seldom few see traces of in the West.

Events

A colossal city like Tokyo is bound to offer a legion of festivals throughout the year. Celebrations in the city center on spiritual heritage, the arts and culture.

Sanja Matsuri, one of three landmark Shinto festivals in Tokyo, is held at the Asakusa Shrine, honors the foundation of a vital Buddhist shrine. Held over three days in late May, the delirious and wild celebration draws up to 2 million people.

For a venerable taste of Japanese culture, a sumo basho is the cardinal event. The sacred competitions crown the best sumo in Japan, with capacity crowds at Ryogoku Kokugikan stadium in Tokyo.

Traditional kabuki theater is a rare spectacle you can only witness in authentic form in Japan. The Kabuki-za in Ginza is a historic and architecturally relevant venue in which to do just that.

On the other side of the cultural divide, a Yomiuri Giants baseball game at the Tokyo Dome is a strange and wonderful experience for anyone unfamiliar with Japanese fan rituals.

Tokyo Climate

The city of Tokyo has a subtropical climate, with intense humidity as a result of the urban landscape and considerable population. Tokyo summers bring rain, while winters, despite occasional snowfall, are dry.

• Winter (November to February) -2-16°C

• Spring (March to May) 2-22°C

• Summer (June to August) 17-30°C

• Fall (September to October) 13-26°C