Tokyo: Overview

An adrenaline-pumping bullet-train ride to a place of deep calm.

The sheer level of energy is the most striking aspect of Japan's capital city. Tokyo is a place where the urgent rhythms of consumer culture collide with the quieter moments that linger from older traditions. It's hectic madness leavened by the most Zen-like of calms.

While it's true the exciting vibe has a somewhat depressing flip side - shoebox housing estates and office blocks traversed by overhead expressways crowded with traffic - Tokyo remains a glittering example of the 'miracle' of post-WWII Japan.

Fast Facts

Population

12,000,000

Currency

Name: Japanese yen
Code: JPY
Symbol: ¥

Electrical Plugs

Japanese-style plug with two parallel flat blades
100V 50Hz

Languages Spoken

Official: Japanese

Time Zones

GMT/UTC +9 (Standard Time)

Country Dialing Code

+81

Weights & Measures

Metric

Tokyo - Free Guidebook Chapter

Tokyo -  Pick & Mix Chapters

Download the free Getting Started chapter or buy individual chapters from our Tokyo guide, in our online Shop.
› Go to the Tokyo download page.

Traveller Tips & Discussion

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