Rebecca Milner - Lonely Planet Discover Tokyo 2019

Yoking past and future, Tokyo dazzles with its traditional culture and passion for everything new.

Tokyos neon-bright streets still look like a sci-fi film set and thats a vision of the city from the 1980s. Tokyo has been building ever since, pushing the boundaries of whats possible on densely populated, earthquake-prone land, adding ever taller, sleeker structures. Stand atop one the skyscrapers and look out over the city at night to see it blinking like the control panel of a starship, stretching all the way to the horizon. However, Tokyo is a modern city built on old patterns, and in the shadows of those skyscrapers you can find quiet alleys, raucous traditional festivals and lantern-lit yakitori (grilled chicken) stands.

Speaking of food, Tokyo is one of the worlds top dining destinations. Here you can splash out on the best sushi of your life, made by one of the citys legendary chefs using the freshest, seasonal market ingredients. Or you can spend 800 on a bowl of noodles made with the same care and exacting attention to detail, from a recipe honed through decades of experience. Tokyo is also Japans pop-culture laboratory, where new trends grow legs. See the newest anime and manga flying off the shelves in Akihabara, shop for your favourite character goods, or just pick up some style inspiration walking down the streets of Harajuku.

From pop-culture events to festivals that have been taking place for centuries, there is always something going on in Tokyo. Like elsewhere in Japan, the seasons have special meaning, with every new bloom a reason for celebration.

Top Festivals & Events

January

April

May

July

August

January

Tokyo is eerily quiet for O-shgatsu (the first three days of the new year), but picks up as the month rolls on. Days are cold, but usually clear; sights are generally uncrowded.

Greeting the Emperor

2 Jan

The emperor makes a brief and rare public appearance in an inner courtyard of the to make a ceremonial greeting.

Sumo Tournament

1327 Jan

The January bash (grand sumo tournament) is the first chance of the year to see Japans top wrestlers have at it. Its held at . Tournaments also take place in May and September.

| J. HENNING BUCHHOLZ / SHUTTERSTOCK

Coming of Age Day

14 Jan

The second Monday of January is seijin-no-hi, the collective birthday for all who have turned 20 (the age of majority) in the past year; young women don gorgeous kimonos for ceremonies at Shint shrines.

Hatsu-mde

1 Jan

Hatsu-mde, the first shrine visit of the new year, starts just after midnight on 1 January and continues through O-shgatsu. is the most popular spot in Tokyo; it can get very, very crowded, but thats part of the experience.