Tokyo

Tokyo Guides

From Shinjuku to Asakusa, from family trips to Mt. Fuji day excursions. (27 in-depth guides)

Tokyo 5-day itinerary 2026

A clear 5-day plan: Shinjuku base, two zones per day, honest budget.

Ghibli Museum Tickets 2026: The Rules Sit on Three Sites

Tickets are ¥1,000, but the binding rules sit across three sites and the English page omits seven of them — including the entry slots, the one-hour window, and no re-entry.

Tokyo

Edo-Tokyo Museum 2026: Your ¥800 Ticket Misses the Best Bit

Reopened March 31, 2026 with admission up from ¥600 to ¥800 — but the headline 4,000 sqm ceiling projection starts at 18:40, seventy minutes after your ticket stops working.

Tokyo · No Pandas Left

Are There Any Pandas Left in Japan? No — Here Is What to Do Instead

Zero giant pandas in Japan, stated on all three zoos own sites. Ueno lost its last two in January 2026 — the third of three departures in 22 months. Includes the per-exhibit closing timetable.

Tokyo · Mt. Fuji

Mt. Fuji Climbing Fee 2026: Two Prefectures, Two Different ¥4,000

Both sides charge ¥4,000 with opposite refund rules — and the daily cap has never once been reached.

Tokyo · Edo Festival

Kanda Matsuri: No Paid Seats, Only a Timetable

Held every second year, with 2027 a main-festival year — yet there are no seats, no sign-ups and no tickets. And the 2027 dates cannot be derived: 15 May falls on a Saturday, a layout last seen in the cancelled 2021 edition.

Tokyo

Toyosu Fish Market 2026: Skip the Tuna Auction Lottery

Both viewing decks are free — the official site says so twice. What actually wrecks your morning is three timetables that disagree, leaving a dead window between 6:30 and 10:00.

Tokyo · Kabuki

Kabukiza Guide 2026: Two Single-Act Systems, Opposite Rules

Reserved single-act seats go online at noon the day before; same-day seats are cash-only at the window, one per person. Under-30s pay half.

Tokyo · New Year

New Year's Eve in Tokyo 2026-27: Countdown & Sunrise

Shibuya has cancelled its street countdown six years running, the city’s own event needs a November ballot, and the subways stop at their usual hour.

Tokyo · Meiji Shrine

Meiji Shrine 2026: Hours by Month, Goshuin & Kiyomasa's Well

Free to enter, with gates that track the sunrise — the monthly hours table, goshuin at the Nagadono, the ¥500 Inner Garden and Kiyomasa's Well.

Tokyo · Mt. Fuji

Fuji-Q Highland: tickets, priority passes & is it worth it?

Free entry, three ticket layers — dynamic 1-day pass pricing, the priority-ticket system, and the big four coasters after Do-Dodonpa retired.

Tokyo · Mt. Fuji

Kawaguchiko Music Forest: tickets, closures & Titanic organ

Weekday vs weekend pricing, the Tue-Wed closure trap, the real Titanic organ story, and when the rose garden peaks on Lake Kawaguchiko.

Tokyo · Mt. Fuji

Kachi Kachi Ropeway: fares, passes & is it worth it?

3 minutes up Mt. Tenjo for the lake-and-Fuji frame — fares, four official passes, the ¥500 swing, and the 40-min hike down.

Tokyo · Mt. Fuji

Oishi Park: lavender & kokia calendar, access guide

The free Fuji-and-flowers spot on Kawaguchiko — official bloom calendar, lavender and kokia timing, and access.

Tokyo · Mt. Fuji

Chureito Pagoda: is the 398-step climb worth it?

The pagoda-and-Fuji postcard after 398 steps — 2026 festival cancellation, timing, and access.

Tokyo · Disney

Tokyo Disney Halloween 2026: Dates, Costume Rules & Prices

Disney Halloween 2026 runs Sept 16–Oct 31 at both parks. Full costume is limited to two windows, peak Saturdays hit ¥12,400, and the villains parade DPA is ¥3,500 — pick the right date and park.

Tokyo · Winter

Tokyo Winter Illuminations: 5 Venues, Free vs Paid

Marunouchi, Roppongi, Midtown and Omotesando are free; only Yomiuriland charges. Dates, vibe, and a one-night route compared.

Tokyo · Winter

Tokyo Winter Day Trips: 6 Escapes Compared

Six winter escapes within a day of Tokyo — Nikko snow, Chichibu ice pillars, GALA ski, Hakone onsen, Kawagoe and Kamakura, compared by time and highlight.

Tokyo · Trains

Tokyo Train & Subway Guide 2026: JR, Metro & Toei

Tokyo's rail map looks terrifying, but a single Suica solves 90% of it. The Yamanote loop as your backbone, JR vs Metro vs Toei, whether the Tokyo Subway Ticket pays, and which rush-hour direction to dodge — demystified.

Tokyo · Observation

Tokyo Tower vs Skytree 2026: Which Is Worth It?

Tokyo Tower (333m) or Skytree (634m)? For the classic red-tower night skyline one wins; to stand at Japan's highest deck, the other. Deck height, tickets, views and crowds compared, with a verdict.

Tokyo · teamLab

teamLab Planets vs Borderless 2026: Which to Pick?

Only doing one teamLab? Planets in Toyosu wins for barefoot, knee-deep immersion. A full breakdown of concept, tickets, access, what to wear, who each suits, and whether to do both in a day.

Tokyo · Observation

Shibuya Sky vs Tokyo Observatories 2026: Worth It?

Which Tokyo observatory for the best night view? Shibuya Sky's open-air 230m rooftop vs Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Roppongi and the free 202m Tocho deck — price, height and timing compared, with a verdict.

Tokyo · Disney

Tokyo Disneyland vs DisneySea 2026: Which Park to Pick?

Disneyland for young kids, DisneySea for adults, couples and the new Fantasy Springs. Tickets, DPA and a side-by-side Land vs Sea table to pick your park.

Tokyo · Rainy Day