What currency is used in Tokyo?

Tokyo uses the Japanese yen (JPY).

What is the emergency number in Tokyo?

In Tokyo, call 110 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance.

How much does a day in Tokyo cost?

Roughly $50-80 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $130-220 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Tokyo?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Tokyo without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Tokyo travel guide

Japan

A vast city that works as a cluster of villages, each with its own shopping streets, shrines and late-night counters. Pick two or three areas and explore them properly rather than racing between landmarks.

Essentials

Language: Japanese; English signage is good on trains, but less English is spoken away from hotels
Currency: Japanese yen (JPY)
Plugs: Type A and B, 100 V
Emergency number: 110 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance
Tipping: Tipping is not part of the culture and can cause confusion; good service is simply expected.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $50-80, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $130-220, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Tokyo

Shinjuku: a major rail hub with skyscraper views, Shinjuku Gyoen garden and the tiny bars of Golden Gai.
Yanaka: low-rise old Tokyo of temples, wooden houses and a relaxed shopping street.
Shimokitazawa: vintage clothing, small live-music venues and cafés a short ride from Shibuya.

Getting around Tokyo

A Suica or PASMO card covers trains, subways and most buses with a tap. Avoid the weekday morning rush between about 8 and 9.30 if you are carrying luggage.

Best time to visit Tokyo

Late March to May and October to November, outside the humid summer.

Top things to do in Tokyo

Walk the forested approach to Meiji Jingu shrine beside Harajuku
Visit Senso-ji in Asakusa early in the morning, before the Nakamise shopping street fills up
Graze through the stalls of Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast
Take the lift to the free observation decks of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku
Spend an afternoon among the museums and ponds of Ueno Park, starting with the Tokyo National Museum

What to eat in Tokyo

Ramen: wheat noodles in broth, from light shoyu to rich pork-bone tonkotsu
Edomae sushi: Tokyo-style nigiri, originally made with fish cured or simmered to keep
Monjayaki: a loose batter cooked on a tabletop griddle and eaten straight off it, a Tsukishima speciality
Tonkatsu: a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet served with shredded cabbage and a thick sauce

Day trips from Tokyo

Kamakura: the Great Buddha, hillside temples and a beach, about an hour by train
Nikko: ornate shrines set in cedar forest, around two hours by train
Hakone: hot springs, a lake and Mount Fuji views on clear days, about 90 minutes away

Local etiquette

Keep phone calls off trains and talk quietly on board. Take your shoes off where you see a step up or a row of slippers, and carry your rubbish with you, as public bins are scarce.

Staying connected

Data-only SIMs and eSIMs are easy to buy at the airports or online, and free Wi-Fi is common in stations and convenience stores.

Staying safe

Crime is low, but touts in nightlife areas such as Kabukicho and Roppongi steer people into bars that run up very large bills. Japan has frequent earthquakes, so note the evacuation information where you stay.

A local tip

Eat lunch at a standing soba counter near any station; it is quick, filling and how many commuters eat.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Tokyo on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Tokyo for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Tokyo, you could be one of the first hosts.

Join free

Questions about Tokyo

What currency is used in Tokyo?: Tokyo uses the Japanese yen (JPY).
What is the emergency number in Tokyo?: In Tokyo, call 110 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance.
When is the best time to visit Tokyo?: Late March to May and October to November, outside the humid summer.
How much does a day in Tokyo cost?: Roughly $50-80 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $130-220 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Tokyo?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Tokyo without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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