Practical Information for visiting Tokyo

The rail network is the city. JR lines, the two subway systems and several private railways together carry more passengers than anywhere else on earth, run to the minute, and reach almost everything. Get an IC card — Suica or Pasmo, or the version on a phone — and tap in and out.

The Yamanote line loops around the central wards and connects most of the districts a visitor wants, which makes it the easiest thing to orient by.

Stations are enormous. Shinjuku has over 200 exits, and picking the right one matters more than picking the right train. Follow the exit numbers rather than the compass.

Trains stop around midnight and restart around five. Missing the last train is a genuine planning problem and is why the city has capsule hotels and all-night bars.

Taxis are clean, safe and expensive; doors open automatically.

Walking is how you actually see it.

Coverage for mobile networks is excellent everywhere including underground, with widespread 5G.

Prepaid data SIMs and eSIMs for visitors are sold at the airports and in electronics shops, and pocket Wi-Fi rental is a common alternative; either is worth arranging, because navigating Tokyo without a map app is unnecessarily hard.

Free Wi-Fi is available at stations, convenience stores and cafes, though it often requires a registration step.

Cash still matters. Japan has moved substantially toward contactless and IC-card payment, but small restaurants, shrines and older shops remain cash-only. Withdraw at convenience stores or post offices, whose machines reliably accept foreign cards.

Power is 100 volts on flat two-pin sockets.

Tokyo is among the safest large cities in the world. Violent crime against visitors is very rare and lost wallets are routinely returned with the cash in them. The real risks are natural and logistical.

• Earthquakes are frequent and mostly minor. In a strong one, stay inside, get away from windows and under something solid, and follow staff instructions. Hotels provide guidance; phones receive an automatic early warning alarm.
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• Typhoons between August and October shut transport with a day’s notice.
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• Summer heat causes thousands of hospital admissions nationally each year.
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• Touts in Kabukicho and Roppongi lead to bars with extraordinary bills and occasional drink spiking. Do not follow anyone who approaches you on the street.
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• Cyclists ride on pavements, quietly and fast.
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• Missing the last train.

Japanese healthcare is excellent. Visitors pay in full at the time, and the amounts can be substantial, so travel insurance matters. Not all hospitals accept foreign patients readily, and English is not guaranteed.

No vaccinations are required beyond routine cover.

Heat is the main seasonal health risk; the government issues heatstroke alerts and public buildings open as cooling shelters.

Medication: Japan prohibits some drugs that are ordinary elsewhere, including certain decongestants and stimulants, and controls others. Check before bringing anything, including over-the-counter remedies, and carry a prescription.

Tap water is safe and good.

Pollen: cedar allergy from February to April affects a large share of the population and catches visitors out.

Pharmacies are widespread but sell a narrower range than many countries.

Emergency numbers: 110 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. English support is available but not guaranteed; the Japan Visitor Hotline on 050-3816-2787 runs 24 hours in several languages.

Medical. Ask your hotel to call ahead, as not every hospital takes foreign patients. Payment is expected at the time and insurance is claimed afterwards.

Earthquake alerts arrive automatically on any phone on a Japanese network, seconds before shaking. Get under a table, stay away from glass, and do not run outside.

Typhoon and flood warnings are issued well ahead by the meteorological agency; when trains announce a planned suspension, believe them.

Lost property has an extraordinarily high recovery rate — report it to the station office or the nearest police box.

Embassies are concentrated in Minato ward.