Articles — tokyo.how

Narita & Haneda to Central Tokyo: 2026 Airport Access Guide

Compare Narita and Haneda routes to central Tokyo by fare, time, and destination: Skyliner, N'EX, Keikyu, monorail, buses, and taxis.

ExploreTourists

Tokyo Tickets to Book Early: teamLab, Ghibli & Shibuya Sky

Book Tokyo tickets early in 2026: official teamLab, Ghibli Museum, Shibuya Sky, re-entry rules, release dates and sold-out backup plans.

Explore

Cheap Sushi in Tokyo: Best Spots from ¥110/Plate

Best cheap sushi in Tokyo from ¥110/plate. Top kaiten-zushi chains, standing bars, Tsukiji & supermarket picks — compared by price, quality & budget.

Living

Tokyo Convenience Store Guide: ATMs, Payments, Printing & Shipping

Use Tokyo konbini for foreign-card ATMs, bill payments, printing, shipping, and ticket pickup. Compare 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson.

MoneyResidents

Credit Card in Japan for Foreigners: From Zero Credit History (2026)

How foreigners can get a credit card in Japan: build credit history, compare Rakuten, Epos, and GTN, and avoid the 6-month rejection trap.

Living

Cycling in Tokyo — Bike-Share Apps, Rules & Best Routes (2026)

Tokyo cycling basics: bike-share apps, rules, parking, insurance, and safe routes for tourists and residents riding around the city.

LivingResidents

Daycare and Kindergarten in Tokyo for Foreign Families

Licensed daycare (hoikuen) in Tokyo is free for ages 0–5. A foreign parent's guide to the application timeline, points system, and documents needed.

Living

English-Speaking Doctors & Hospitals in Tokyo (2026 List)

Find English-speaking doctors in Tokyo: when to use clinics, hospitals, interpreters, insurance, and emergency options.

ExploreTourists

Tokyo Etiquette — Manners for Trains, Restaurants, Shrines & Onsen

No calls on trains, no swimsuits in onsen, no tipping. A scene-by-scene guide to Tokyo manners for trains, dining, shrines, and hot springs.

LivingExperienceResidents

My First Solo Move in Tokyo — From Apartment Hunt to Move-In Day

First solo move in Tokyo: paperwork, utilities, internet, furniture, trash rules, and the first-week setup checklist for new residents.

Explore

Free Tokyo Night Views: Skyline Spots Open Late (2026)

Free Tokyo night views: city halls, station decks, bridges, and rooftop spots with hours, access tips, and nearby stations.

Explore

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building & Free Observation Decks (2026)

Free Tokyo views in 2026: TMG Building hours, Caretta Shiodome, Yebisu, Takanawa, late-night decks, Fuji visibility and crowd tips.

ExploreTourists

Free Things to Do in Tokyo on a Rainy Day

Tokyo rainy day, ¥0 budget: 5 free routes — Intermediatheque, Ginza galleries, National Art Center, Nakano Broadway, Musashi-Koyama Palm.

LivingResidents

Tokyo Garbage Sorting & Collection Rules

Tokyo garbage sorting guide for foreigners: burnable, plastic, bottles, cans, oversized trash, pickup days, and local rule checks.

Explore

Golden Week 2026 in Tokyo: Why the City Empties Out (and How to Use It)

Golden Week in Tokyo: what closes, when crowds peak, how to book trains and restaurants, and where to go during Japan's busiest holiday.

AdminResidents

Japan Health Insurance & Pension for Foreigners — Premiums, Coverage & Lump-Sum Withdrawal

Shakai Hoken vs. National Health Insurance, monthly premium estimates, how to claim lump-sum withdrawal when leaving, and the 2027 visa renewal change.

LivingResidents

How to Rent an Apartment in Tokyo as a Foreigner [Costs, Guarantor, UR]

Rent an apartment in Tokyo as a foreigner: upfront costs, guarantor companies, UR housing, documents, timelines, and no-foreigners policies.

LivingExperience

English-Speaking Clinics in Tokyo — How to Find One Today

How to find a clinic in Tokyo: English-speaking options, insurance cards, appointment rules, costs, and what to say at reception.

Explore

3 Hydrangea Day Trip Routes from Tokyo

Tokyo hydrangea 2026: 3 day-trips from Tokyo. City (free), Kamakura (Meigetsuin vs Hasedera), or Hakone's hydrangea train. Peak: 2nd–3rd week of June.

WorkExperienceResidents

How I Landed an IT Engineering Job in Japan as a New Grad — International Student's Guide

A graduate's journey through Japan's new-grad IT hiring — summer internships, coding tests, student communities, and the path to a job offer.

WorkResidents

Japan's Job Hunting System for Foreigners (Shinsotsu, Visa, SPI)

Japan employment system explained: seishain, contracts, bonuses, overtime, job changes, and workplace rules for foreign workers.

ExploreTourists

Japan Travel eSIM Guide 2026 — SIM, eSIM & WiFi Compared With Prices

Japan travel SIM and eSIM guide: compare Airalo, Ubigi, Sakura Mobile, airport pickup, data limits, coverage, and setup before arrival.

Explore

Last Train Tokyo: Time & Schedule for JR, Metro, Oedo (2026)

Tokyo last train time and schedule for JR, Tokyo Metro, and Oedo Line — all around midnight. Plus taxi, capsule hotel, and karaoke if you miss it.

ExploreTourists

Luggage Storage in Tokyo: Lockers, Apps & Delivery (2026 Prices)

Luggage storage in Tokyo: station lockers, luggage counters, hotel delivery, coin locker sizes, prices, and what to do when lockers are full.

LivingResidents

How to Actually Make Friends in Tokyo as a Foreigner

How to make friends in Tokyo as an expat: language exchanges, hobby groups, coworking, local events, and realistic first steps.

LivingResidents

Tokyo Housing Without a Guarantor: 3 Routes for Foreigners

Rent Tokyo without a guarantor: share houses from ¥30k, monthly mansions, and standard rentals via guarantor company — 3 routes compared.

Explore

Tokyo Onsen & Sento Guide — Prices, Etiquette & Tattoo Policies

Tokyo onsen and sento guide: tattoo rules, etiquette, prices, what to bring, and beginner-friendly bathhouses near the city.

LivingResidents

How to Receive Packages and Request Redelivery in Tokyo

Receive packages in Tokyo: scan missed-delivery slips, request redelivery, compare Japan Post, Yamato, and Sagawa, and avoid returns.

MoneyTourists

Is the JR Pass Worth It in 2026? Cost Breakdown by Itinerary

JR Pass guide for Japan travel: prices, coverage, seat reservations, Nozomi rules, and when the pass is still worth buying.

Money

Japan Payment Guide: PayPay, Suica & Cards — What Should You Carry?

PayPay, credit cards, Suica, Apple Pay — what works where, what doesn't, and what foreigners should carry in Tokyo. Cash-only spots and contactless tips.

MoneyResidents

No Phone, No Bank Account? How to Break Japan's Catch-22

You need a bank account to get a phone, and a phone number to open a bank account. Here's how foreigners in Japan solve this catch-22, step by step.

ExploreTourists

Tokyo Rainy Season 2026: Dates, Packing & Rainy-Day Routes

Tokyo rainy season 2026: likely June to mid-July. Pack for humidity, find hydrangeas, cheaper hotels and 3 practical rainy-day routes.

ExploreTourists

Tokyo Restaurant Booking: TableCheck vs Tabelog vs OMAKASE

Compare Tokyo's reservation platforms by fees, English support, and card payment. Plus how to book phone-only spots like Den, and no-show rules.

ExploreTourists

Shinkansen Guide: Booking, Fares & How to Ride

Book and ride the shinkansen: SmartEX, fares, seat types, JR Pass rules, oversized baggage, and first-time boarding steps.

ExploreExperience

8 Cherry Blossom Walks in Tokyo — Routes, Crowds & Picnic Tips (2026)

Tokyo cherry blossom guide: best sakura spots, peak timing, crowd tips, evening views, and how to plan hanami without stress.

ExploreTourists

How to Navigate Tokyo's 4 Biggest Stations — Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo & Ikebukuro

Navigate Tokyo stations: exits, transfers, platform signs, IC cards, luggage tips, and how to avoid getting lost in major hubs.

MoneyTourists

Suica Card 2026: Physical, Welcome Suica & Mobile Guide

How to get a Suica card in 2026: regular physical cards, Welcome Suica, iPhone Mobile Suica, Android limits, top-ups, refunds and max balance.

LivingResidents

Tokyo Rainy Season Mold Prevention — Room-by-Room Guide for Apartment Residents

Tokyo rainy season survival guide for residents: mold prevention, laundry, commuting, gear, and apartment humidity control.

Living

Tokyo 23 Special Wards: Population, Area & Density (2026)

Compare all 23 Tokyo special wards (特別区) by 2026 population, area in km², and density. Official ward data with rent ranges, in one reference table.

ExploreTourists

Tokyo Fireworks Festivals 2026 Complete Guide | Sumida River Tickets & Exit Crowds

Compare Tokyo's major 2026 fireworks festivals — Sumida River (7/25), Katsushika (7/28), Edogawa (8/1), and more — by date, shell count, and crowd level. Covers the paid-seat booking flow (TicketPay, Lawson, Klook) through to 3 exit strategies for beating the crowds.

Money

How to Eat in Tokyo on Less Than ¥2,000 a Day

Eat cheaply in Tokyo: konbini meals, gyudon, ramen, set meals, supermarkets, and budget restaurants for travelers and residents.

ExploreTourists

How to Plan Your Tokyo Itinerary Without Burning Out

Plan a Tokyo itinerary: choose neighborhoods, group sights by train line, avoid overpacking days, and build a realistic first trip.

Explore

Table Charge in Japan: Otoshi & Tokyo Service Fees

What table charge means in Japan: otoshi, seat fees, service charge and tax at Tokyo restaurants, with typical prices and how to check your bill.

Living

Where to Live in Tokyo as a Foreigner — 23 Wards Area Guide (2026)

Rent from ¥70K to ¥150K, commute times to Shinjuku/Shibuya, foreign resident communities, English-friendly services — all 23 wards compared with official data so you can pick the right neighborhood.

Living

Living in Tokyo's Tama Region — 26 Cities with Lower Rent and More Space

26 cities west of the 23 wards with lower rent and more nature. Rent, childcare, and commute data compared city by city.

Explore

Anime & Subculture DJ Events in Tokyo — Venues, Costs & Beginner Guide

Anime, Vocaloid, and game music DJ events every weekend in Tokyo. Venues like Akihabara MOGRA, entry costs, and tips for first-timers.

ExploreTourists

11 Tokyo Travel Mistakes First-Timers Make — And How to Avoid Them (2026)

Wrong trains, cash shortage, no SIM, overloaded suitcase — the 11 most common Tokyo travel mistakes and exactly what to do before you leave home.

AdminResidents

Moving to Tokyo as a Foreigner — Ward Office Checklist (14-Day Deadline)

Residence registration, address change, health insurance, My Number — the full ward office checklist for foreigners with required documents.