13 best tokyo travel guides

Tokyo travel guides are books or resources designed to provide travelers with valuable information and insights about visiting Tokyo, the capital city of Japan.These guides cover a wide range of topics related to travel, culture, attractions, dining, accommodation, and more to help visitors make the most of their trip to Tokyo. Here are some key aspects typically found in Tokyo travel guides:

  1. Attractions and Landmarks: Tokyo is a city with a rich cultural heritage and modern attractions. Travel guides include detailed information about must-visit landmarks such as the Tokyo Tower, Senso-ji Temple, Meiji Shrine, and the Imperial Palace.

  2. Neighborhoods: Tokyo is made up of diverse neighborhoods, each with its own unique character. Guides often highlight areas like Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, and Harajuku, providing insights into what to do and see in each district.

  3. Cuisine: Japanese cuisine is renowned worldwide, and Tokyo is a food lover's paradise. Guides offer recommendations on where to try sushi, ramen, tempura, and other Japanese dishes. They may also include information about street food, food markets, and fine dining options.

  4. Shopping: Tokyo is known for its shopping opportunities, from luxury boutiques in Ginza to unique finds in trendy districts like Nakameguro and Daikanyama. Travel guides often include shopping tips and recommendations.

  5. Cultural Experiences: Tokyo travel guides often introduce readers to cultural experiences such as tea ceremonies, sumo wrestling tournaments, and traditional festivals happening during their visit.

  6. Transportation: Navigating Tokyo's extensive public transportation system can be challenging for newcomers. Travel guides provide guidance on using the subway, trains, buses, and taxis efficiently.

  7. Accommodation: Tokyo offers a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels and traditional ryokans. Guides help travelers find the best places to stay based on their preferences and budgets.

  8. Language and Etiquette: Understanding basic Japanese phrases and cultural etiquette can enhance the travel experience. Many guides include language tips and advice on respectful behavior.

  9. Maps and Itineraries: Travel guides often provide maps of Tokyo and suggested itineraries for various trip durations, helping visitors plan their days effectively.

  10. Budgeting and Money Matters: Guides may include information on currency exchange, tipping practices, and general budgeting advice to help travelers manage their finances during their stay.

Tokyo travel guides come in various formats, including print books, e-books, and online resources. Travelers can choose a guide that aligns with their interests and preferences, making it easier to explore and enjoy all that Tokyo has to offer.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best tokyo travel guides on the market
  

Fodor's Tokyo: with Side-trips to Mount Fuji (Full-color Travel Guide)

Fodor's Travel

Based on 14 reviews Check latest price

Product features

HELPFUL PLANNING ADVICE

Find what you need faster with color-coded category icons and easier-to-read two-column text.

GORGEOUS COLOR PHOTOS

Beautiful photos packed throughout will fuel your wanderlust.

ITINERARIES AND MAPS

Itineraries, maps, travel tips, and neighborhood guides will acquaint you with your destination and help you maximize your time.

IN-DEPTH FEATURES AND EXPLANATIONS

Learn about history, culture, and more with in-depth spotlight features

DK Eyewitness Tokyo (Travel Guide)

EYEWITNESS

Based on 108 reviews Check latest price

Moon Japan: Plan Your Trip, Avoid the Crowds, and Experience the Real Japan (Travel Guide)

Moon Travel

Based on 56 reviews Check latest price

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Get Inspired

Envision your perfect Japanese adventure with gorgeous full-color photos, flexible itineraries, and recommendations for the best things to see, do, and eat.

Experience Japan Like a Local

Longtime Tokyo local Jonathan DeHart gives his best advice for getting around, interacting with the locals, and creating a trip full of unique experiences.

Travel with Confidence

Know before you go with background information, maps, useful tips, and more.

The Monocle Book of Japan

Thames & Hudson

Based on 131 reviews Check latest price

Lonely Planet Tokyo (City Guide)

Lonely Planet

Based on 109 reviews Check latest price

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Welcome to Tokyo

Yoking past and future, Tokyo dazzles with its traditional culture and passion for everything new.

You can splash out on the best sushi of your life, made by one of the city’s legendary chefs using the freshest, seasonal market ingredients. Come see the latest looks bubbling out of the backstreets of Harajuku, the hottest pop stars projected on the giant video screens in Shibuya, or the newest anime and manga flying off the shelves in Akihabara.

This guide includes:

Fodor's Essential Japan (Full-color Travel Guide)

Fodor's Travel

Based on 244 reviews Check latest price

Product features

HELPFUL PLANNING ADVICE

Find what you need faster with color-coded category icons and easier-to-read two-column text.

GORGEOUS COLOR PHOTOS

Beautiful photos packed throughout will fuel your wanderlust.

ITINERARIES AND MAPS

Itineraries, maps, travel tips, and neighborhood guides will acquaint you with your destination and help you maximize your time.

IN-DEPTH FEATURES AND EXPLANATIONS

Learn about history, culture, and more with in-depth spotlight features

The Independent Guide to Tokyo 2021

Based on 1 reviews Check latest price

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Tokyo (Pocket Travel Guide)

DK Eyewitness Travel

Based on 124 reviews Check latest price

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Top 10 Tokyo Sights

Find out what to see and do at the Imperial Palace Grounds, Senso-ji Temple, Sumida River, Edo-Tokyo museum, Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Meiji Shrine, Yanaka and Odaiba Island.

Make the most of your time in Tokyo

This Top 10 guide also features the best of historic buildings, places of worship, museums, art galleries, modern and contemporary buildings, gardens and parks, pop culture venues, children’s attractions, things to do for free and must-see experiences off the beaten path.

Travel like a local

Discover the best sights, shops, nightlife, cafes, pubs and restaurants on offer in each of Tokyo’s neighborhoods. The pull-out map makes getting around a breeze, whether you are traveling by train, subway, bus, monorail, tram, car, taxi, bicycle or on foot.

A Manga Lover's Tokyo Travel Guide: My Favorite Things to See and Do In Japan

Tuttle Publishing

Based on 74 reviews Check latest price

Super Cheap Japan: Budget Travel in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and Surrounding Areas (1) (Super Cheap Guides)

Super Cheap Japan

Based on 244 reviews Check latest price

Tokyo Maze – 42 Walks in and around the Japanese Capital: A Guide with 108 Photos, 48 Maps, 300 Weblinks and 100 Tips (Japan Travel Guide)

Based on 85 reviews Check latest price

LOST iN Tokyo (LOST iN City Guides)

Based on 6 reviews Check latest price

Lonely Planet Best of Tokyo 2020 (Best of City)

Lonely Planet

Based on 62 reviews Check latest price

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Welcome to Tokyo

Yoking past and future, Tokyo dazzles with its traditional culture and passion for everything new.

Stand atop one of the city’s skyscrapers and look out over the city at night to see it blinking like the control panel of a star-ship, stretching all the way to the horizon. Tokyo is a modern city built on old patterns, and in the shadows of those skyscrapers you can find quiet alleys, raucous traditional festivals and lantern-lit yakitori (grilled chicken) stands.

Including:

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