At first glance, Tokyo is an uncompromisingly modern city, the streets below its slick skyscrapers teeming with affluent people impeccably dressed in Western designer garb. Duck around a corner from the tower blocks, though, and there will be elaborately coiffured ladies shuffling along in traditional kimonos, neatly uniformed workers slurping noodles at a hole-in-the-wall diner and a shrine where ancient traditions are followed.

  • Perfect for
    Families | Art Lovers | Intellectuals | Style Mavens | Foodies
  • When to go
    March-May | September-November | December-February
  • Ideal length of stay
    3-5 Nights

Designing Your Journey

Work with Indagare to design the perfect itinerary for an immersive journey. Our travel experts know the destination inside and out, and they can make recommendations based on your travel needs and preferences.

  • 3Days:EssentialTokyo-LP

    3 Days: Essential Tokyo

    A special access itinerary for this capital makes the difference between a run-of-the-mill tour and an authentic adventure. Here is just one example of what our destination experts can create for you.

    • Day 1: Intro to Tokyo

      After settling in to your hotel and meeting your host, take a walking tour around the Imperial Palace and gardens before stopping into the beautiful Yasukuni Shrine. Next, ride up to the viewing platform of Tokyo Sky Tree, the world’s tallest freestanding tower. After lunch at a local noodle shop, enjoy a restorative spa treatment at your hotel before dinner at one of Indagare’s favorite foodie-approved restaurants for sushi or noodles.

    • Day 2: Culinary Tokyo

      This morning, visit the famous Tsukiji Fish Market for a sushi breakfast or to shop for ingredients for a sushi-making class, after which you will enjoy your creations. Later, visit Sensoji Temple, one of Tokyo’s most famous temples, where you can view the vividly painted paper lanterns that adorn the gate. Next, enjoy a guided tour of the Akihabara, the electronics district and center of otaku culture (manga and anime) before dinner at a local hotspot.

    • Day 3: Cultural Exploration

      This morning, visit a sumo stable with your guide to see a training session and learn about the ancient sport. After a casual lunch of ramen or soba noodles, visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine, one of the most iconic temples in Japan. Finish your afternoon with a guided walk through Harajuku, the epicenter of youth culture in Tokyo, and along Omotesando Avenue, home to luxury shops. For dinner, try one of Tokyo’s Michelin-starred French restaurants or head to a century-old tempura house.

Where To Stay

We only feature hotels that we can vouch for first-hand. At many of them, Indagare members receive special amenities, including upgrades, early check-in, breakfast, spa credits and more. Look for the Indagare Plus logo in the reviews.

  • Member Stories

    "Our room at the Aman Tokyo was incredible. Indagare made sure we were well taken care of in an upgraded suite, which was one of the most well-designed and meticulously appointed rooms we've ever seen."
    D.H., member since 2017
  • Member Stories

    “We had an amazing time in Tokyo. The Aman was heaven. We would never have known we were in the center of such a large and buzzing metropolis. It was our sanctuary and we left feeling rested.”
    Fernando Bustillo, member since 2012
Indagare's Janine Yu
“In one day in Tokyo, I witnessed sumo wrestlers training in their sumo stable; had the best sushi of my life;  attended an origami demonstration by the country’s top origami artist; saw a robot perform human tasks at the Honda Center; and went to a nightclub where a famous DJ was spinning. The breadth of experiences, from traditional to modern, is extraordinary.”

What To See & Do

Ready to go and in need of expert trip planning? Contact us today.
Pico Iyer, Travel Writer
“Japan is an ideal home for me because I’ll never get to the bottom of it, and I can’t begin to bring my linear ideas and preconceptions to its merry, promiscuous sprawl.”

What To Read

Everything we recommend is sourced first-hand by our well-traveled team and incredible network of insiders and resources around the world. Here are some the latest articles, interviews, and book and film recommendations not to be missed.

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