Everything to Know About Tokyo

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo reflects off the water.

Tokyo delivers everything you've read about and so much more.

This article was adapted from National Geographic Traveller (UK).

Tokyo can feel energetic one moment and calm the next, green then gray, forward-thinking then stubbornly old-fashioned. Harajuku is youthful. Neighboring Omotesando is chic. The Izu Islands are sedate. Like a Noh actor, the city wears many masks, each bringing a new dynamic to the stage.

When to Go

There's no bad time for Tokyo. The city rarely freezes, although in July and August it gets very hot and humid. If you can, go in late March or early April to catch the cherry blossoms or in October and November, when (save for the tail of an occasional typhoon) the weather is mostly clear, warm, and sunny, and autumnal colors are just beginning to repaint parts of the city.

Celebrate

Tokyo's lineup of annual festivals reaches a vibrant fever pitch in the height of summer. At the Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai, 20,000 fireworks decorate the night sky on the final Saturday of July. A month later, the Koenji Awa-odori sees one million spectactors cramming the streets of Koenji to watch troupes of dancers and musicians—10,000 in all—perform traditional Awa dances late into the sultry night.

What to Eat

In one word: everything. Tokyo is one of the great epicurean cities. Don't miss classics like ramen and sushi, but also look for Tokyo specialties such as the sumo staple chanko nabe hotpot (best in the Ryogoku area) and the gloopy, moreish mess that is monjayaki in Tsukishima.

Souvenir to Take Home

Try Japan Traditional Crafts, Aoyama Square for a distinctly Japanese souvenir. The 200 or so products—from lacquerware and ceramics to wooden dolls and textiles—are all government-designated traditional crafts, meaning each has been in production for over a centrury and is predominantly handmade using traditional materials. Or explore the Kappabashi-dori shopping street. The stores here provide Tokyo's restaurant trade with all sorts of hardware, from chopsticks and knives to chef's outfits and the plastic replicas of dishes found in restaurant window displays.

Sustainable Travel Tip

Sushi is high on many people's must-eat list in Tokyo. Just be aware that certain sushi staples are dangerously overfished, and, in particular, consider skipping freshwater eel (unagi) and bluefin tuna (maguro). Japan consumes about 80 percent of the global bluefin tuna catch, the population of which some reports put at less than three percent of its historic high.

Instagram-Worthy View

On one corner of Harajuku Crossing, where sophisticated Omotesando meets the more youthful Harajuku, shoot the multi-mirrored entrance to Tokyu Plaza mall. By day or night, it delivers a kaleidoscopic reflection of the area's fashionistas and color.