Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

Bunkyō is known for its many universities, including the prestigious University of Tokyo, all of which give the neighborhood a young vibe, with students walking down the slopes, and families enjoying the lush parks and gardens. The “Capital of Culture”, Bunkyō doesn’t disappoint in terms of entertainment: this is the site of the Tokyo Dome, with its mall, amusement park, bowling alley, and off-track betting center. And if you want history, there’s plenty to see as well.

The site of the Imperial Palace, Japan’s seat of power, Chiyoda is the epitome of Tokyo’s beauty and appeal. The Imperial Gardens invite travelers from all over the world with their impeccable landscape, and free entrance. The Yasukuni Shrine, another free attraction, gets crowded in the cherry blossom season, and the National Theatre of Japan performs traditional arts. There’s still room for shopping and fine dining here, and you can spend days exploring the wonders of the small Chiyoda.

Chūō is the shopping mecca for both travelers and residents. Ginza is synonymous with wealth, glamor and all things premium, with numerous department stores, and boutiques selling the finest of anything. The neighborhood is home to restaurants that serve the very best Japanese food. Some of the city’s great culture with the leading kabuki theater, and countless art galleries can be found here as well. And let’s not forget Asia’s largest fish market, Tuskiji.

Minato is where most of the foreign travelers go for a wild night out. The ward’s Roppongi districts boasts a number of nightclubs, entertainment complexes, baths and spas, as well as high-end hotels, some of the city’s best art museums, and some of its finest restaurants. ‘Cities-within-a-city’ Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown both offer stylish, sophisticated experiences, while the rest of the area goes about its debauchery undeterred.

Shibuya boasts the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, a giant shopping center, with gargantuan video screens playing pop music, and the youngest of the Tokyo crowds looking for the hippest fashion accessories. Shibuya has it all: shops, bars, restaurants, clubs, karaoke boxes, cinemas and plenty more – all of it cheap, cheerful, gaudy and fun. Leave your pretensions in the hotel room and dive into the youthful heart of the city.

For travelers, Taitō is the ideal spot to experience Tokyo at its most authentic. A neighborhood where old temples harmonize with new high rises, Taitō has something for everyone. Young crowds hang around Bunkyō’s University of Tokyo, while shoppers stroll down Yanaka Ginza, a shopping street full of traditional, quirky little shops. Romantics and artists can be found in Ueno, Tokyo’s best-known cherry blossom viewing spot, while history buffs take in the temples of Asakusa.