10 of the best · Tokyo, Japan
Haneda and Narita, the airport trains, Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway, the Yamanote loop, IC cards, the Shinkansen and the water buses on the Sumida.
Our 10 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
Browse by type
Three Tokyo moments we keep going back to: Sensō-ji before the shops open, a bowl of soba in Kagurazaka, and the Shibuya crossing from the rooftop at dusk.
The back story
The Yamanote loop, thirteen metro lines, IC cards that pay for everything, two airports and the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station: Tokyo’s transport, made simple.
The city airport
Tokyo International Airport, close to the city, with international flights at Terminal 3.
To Kyoto and Osaka
The bullet train from Tokyo and Shinagawa to Kyoto, Osaka and beyond.
The loop, thirteen metro lines and the bullet train.
The back story
The Yamanote loop, thirteen metro lines, IC cards that pay for everything, two airports and the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station: Tokyo’s transport, made simple.
Arriving in Tokyo.
The city airport
Tokyo International Airport, close to the city, with international flights at Terminal 3.
Narita to Tokyo Station
JR East’s airport express to Tokyo Station, Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku.
The long-haul gateway
Narita, east of the city in Chiba, with fast trains to Ueno, Tokyo Station and Shinjuku.
Haneda to the Yamanote Line
The monorail from Haneda to Hamamatsuchō on the Yamanote Line.
Metro and the loop.
The loop
JR East’s loop line through Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Ueno.
Out of the city.
To Kyoto and Osaka
The bullet train from Tokyo and Shinagawa to Kyoto, Osaka and beyond.
Water buses.
Down the Sumida
Water buses down the Sumida River from Asakusa to Hama-rikyu and Odaiba.
