Tokyo for first-timers: when to go, costs and tips
5 min read · Updated 29 June 2026 · Wayfare Travels
Tokyo rewards first-timers like nowhere else — hyper-modern and deeply traditional at once, spotlessly organised, and endlessly fun to eat your way around.
Best time to visit
Spring (late March–April) for cherry blossom and autumn (October–November) for crisp air and colour are the most popular times — book well ahead for blossom season.
Summer is hot and humid; winter is cold but clear and quieter, with lower prices.
Getting there from the UK
Tokyo (Haneda, HND, or Narita, NRT) is roughly 12–14 hours from London, with direct and one-stop options. Return fares can start from around £612 in quieter months.
Tips for first-timers
Get a transport IC card (Suica/Pasmo) for the metro, stay central (Shinjuku or Shibuya are great bases), and don't try to see everything — Tokyo is huge.
Mix the highlights (Senso-ji temple, Shibuya crossing, the views from the Metropolitan Government Building) with simply wandering and eating in the back streets.
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