Tokyo

Weather-wise, spring (late March-May) and autumn (October/November) both have lots of warm sunny days and are the most attractive – especially with the cherry blossom at the start of spring.

June’s rainy season doesn’t have heavy rains, but it’s damp and sticky, while July and August are very hot and humid – avoid if you can.

Major holidays are Golden Week (April 29-May 5), Obon (mid-August) and New Years (Dec 29-Jan 4) – prices rise and some attractions will close, especially over New Year.

International flights arrive at either Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) airports. The latter receives less flights but is much more convenient – it’s actually in Tokyo, while Narita is 60 kilometres east.

From Haneda, Airport Limousine buses connect to many major Tokyo stations in around 30 minutes. There are also train options, but not direct to key accommodation areas.

Airport Limousine buses also run from Narita to key accommodation areas in Tokyo (one hour minimum), while for comfort, the Narita Express and Keisei Skyliner express trains are best – though you’ll probably need to transfer onwards.

Tokyo has an extensive public transportation network, with multiple companies running trains (JR is the main one) and subways (like Tokyo Metro and TOEI) that crisscross the city and surrounding areas.

To save fare adjustment hassle when transferring from one rail service to another, get a chargeable PASMO or SUICA card which automatically pay fares when scanned on ticket gates.

Buses are great for airport access, but within Tokyo they can be very confusing to use – give them a miss. Taxis can be found by many stations and hailed in busy areas, and are great for short trips.

If you want to explore Tokyo’s nightlife, opt for Shibuya – there are plenty of hip hotels aimed at millennials in the area.

For luxury international brands, look to central areas like Nihonbashi, Ginza, Otemachi and Tokyo Station – all also have great access to business districts, shopping and dining, and good transportation links to other parts of the city.

Anyone after a more everyday Tokyo location should look to northeastern areas like Ueno, Yanaka and Asakusa, where you can find friendly, inexpensive ryokan.

For simple Western-style accommodation, look for budget business hotel chains like Toyoko Inn and Super Hotel – they have properties all over.

Skip the safe surrounds of hotel dining and venture out. But where? Ginza is the place for Michelin-starred restaurants, the best sushi and old-school cocktails, while nearby Yurakucho and Shinbashi (and further afield Ebisu) are great hunting grounds for izakaya.

For bars with character, try Golden Gai in Shinjuku. Shibuya has clubs, karaoke, izakaya and all sorts else, although Roppongi is the biggest mishmash – it has clubs, Michelin-starred restaurants, dive bars, grim pick-up joints and swanky cocktails bars.

Head to Ginza for glitzy boutiques and department stores or the Harajuku-Shibuya-Omotesando triangle for a mix of youth trends, street fashion and sleek contemporary styles.

Akihabara is the place for anime goods and home electronics, while Kappabashi-dori has traditional kitchenware covered.

Roppongi delivers two mega retail and leisure complexes; Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown, while Shinjuku has a bit of everything.

What to buy

Crafts by traditional artisans, kitchenware, and drinks like green teas as well as sake and whisky are all standouts. There are plenty of colourful (sometimes eccentric) youth fashions and fun t-shirts to be had too.

Japan has a reputation for low crime rates, and that holds true in Tokyo, but you should still take sensible precautions. There are high levels of medical care, with some medical institutions able to use English, but bring an ample supply of any medications you need – they might be hard to find.

Also, watch out for the heat and humidity in summer – it sends thousands to ER every year. And take five minutes to read up on earthquake awareness – Japan has them daily.