Tours

Considering that Tokyo covers some 1,813-square-kilometers/700-square-miles and is home to over 12 million people (the daytime population greatly exceeds that), it is all the more remarkable that the city's public transportation system is second to none. This can be attributed to planning (construction was concomitant with the post-war rebuilding of the city), timing (there was a certain urgency in showcasing the capital at the 1964 Olympics), and the fact that the Japanese are sticklers for order and discipline.

The centerpiece of Tokyo's train system is the overland Yamanote Line, begun in 1885 and completed in 1925. The Yamanote (sometimes shortened to Yamate) comprises some 30 stops in a loop linking most of the city's major centers: Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shibuya. Fast, clean, efficient, safe, and invariably on time, the Yamanote is part of Japan Railways (JR) East, a vast network of tracks spread out over eastern Japan. Because the transit system is so easy for outsiders to navigate, touring the entire city is no problem.

Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku is a district with a flavor all its own, with much more to offer than just Shinjuku Station, the world's busiest train station, though this is where most any tour of the area will begin. Apart from such modern sights, however, the most remarkable of this district's features is the variety of Buddhist temples and shrines that can be found throughout the area. One example of the plentiful shrines in the area is the Hanazono Jinja Shrine. This Inari shrine is located in the middle of a bustling commercial district and is known for its role as the site of the annual Festival of the Fowls. One temple of note in Shinjuku is the Taisoji Temple, known for its two statues of the Buddha: one to protect good children and one to scare away naughty children. But the one stop not to be missed in this district is the Shinjuku Gyoen, a former Imperial garden, now famous for its 1500 cherry blossoms trees, which paint quite the pretty picture each spring when they bloom in a dazzling array of colors. And if you're hungry after all this touring, not to worry because Shinjuku is filled with some of the best restaurants Tokyo has to offer. Just to name a couple, New York Grill offers a high-class Manhattan-chic atmosphere and menu that will put a pleasant finish on any day, while Kuwaranka serves up local specialties for those who want to experience authentic Tokyo flavors.

Ueno Park

Another district that is both easy to get to on Tokyo's metro system and a great pleasure to visit is the Ueno district. There are so many things to see here that it's hard to choose just a handful. A district within a district, Ameyoko is a great place to walk through because many people believe it's one way to get a real taste of Tokyo. Being at the terminus of the Ueno metro line, it's the jumping off point for those that come in from outlying areas. Another world-class sight to see is Sogakudo, Japan's only, and one of the world's only, concert hall pipe organs, which operates by a special compressed air mechanism, can be found. The one place in Ueno that both locals and foreigners alike come to see, however, is Ueno Park, which is home to numerous museums, shrines, and historical monuments, including the Tokyo Natinoal Museum, National Science Museum, and National Museum of Western Art, as well as a Shinobazu Pond and hundreds of beautiful cherry bloosom trees.  While there, you won't want to miss the Ueno Zoo, which houses three famous pandas, a handful of Siberian Tiger kittens, and many other animals, as well as a children's petting zoo.

Shinagawa Jinja Shrine

Every district in Tokyo has its fair share of temples, some new and some old. If you want to immerse yourself in Japanese culture, paying a visit to each neighborhood's favorite shrines and temples is a good way to start, and Shinagawa is no exception, with three such locations, as well as two other popular places of interest. The Ebara Jinja Shrine is noteworthy as being the possible cause of the Meiji Emperor taking up residence in Tokyo, as he visited the shrine just before doing so. Another Meiji period shrine in this district is the Shinagawa Jinja Shrine, which sits atop ancient lava flows from Mount Fuji and is more heavily adorned than most other Jinja shrines. Next, for history and culture visit the Tokaiji Temple. Built by a Tokugawa shogun in the 16th or 17th Century, this was a major Buddhist complex until the mid-19th Century.

Apart from temples and shrines, however, Shinagawa, like the rest of Tokyo, has much more to offer. Your first stop in this respect should be the Shinagawa Aquarium, which features an underwater glass tunnel that gives visitors a true marine experience, as well as over 300 species of marine life and multiple deep sea and shallow sea aquariums. After all that, you'll need to relax, and the perfect place to do that in Shinagawa is at Kaisuiyu, a Roman-style bath house. Kaisuiyu offers three different bathing options and provides everything you'll need for your visit there.

Yoyogi Hachimangu Shrine

The ideal place to start a tour of Shibuya is at a statue that is considered the meeting place for the neighborhood, the Hachiko Statue, which depicts the loyal Akita of the famous Professor Ueno, who once taught at the University of Tokyo. The story is that Hachiko walked to work with his master every day, and when his master died, he continued to wait for him. From here, you can continue on to see Shibuya's two main shrines, both of which are especially of interest to fans of history and lore. The Yoyogi Hachimangu Shrine is the site of an unearthed hut believed to have been built around 8000 BCE. A model of the hut and actual pieces of the original are still on view there. The second shrine is the Konno Hachimangu Shrine, which is notable for its cherry tree, which is reputed to be at least 900 years old, and which sprouts different numbers of petals on its blossoms.

In addition, the Shibuya district has two museums, one devoted to the arts and one devoted to riches. The Koga Memorial Museum is devoted to Masao Koga, who was a composer known for blending Western and Japanese melodies. The gardens at the Koga Museum alone are worth a visit. The other museum in Shibuya, the Meiji Jingu Treasure Museum, is devoted to treasures of the past, and is a great place to learn about Japanese Imperial history. The museum contains many artifacts from Japan's Meiji Period, such as the Imperial Carriage and several items of clothing that are worn by the Emperor and Empress on special occasions.

Finally, top off your day in Shibuya with a romantic dinner at Tokyo's most popular French restaurant, Kinoshita, but be prepared because reservations generally need to be made literally months in advance. Didn't plan that far ahead?  The stylish Grand Blue is another great option.

Guided Tours

Viator (+1 866 648 5873/ http://www.partner.viator.com/en/1584/)
H.I.S. Experience Japan (http://hisexperience.jp/)
Sunrise Tours (+81 35 796 5454/ http://www.jtb-sunrisetours.jp/)

Self-Guided Tours

Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (+81 35 840 8890/ http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/guide/area01.html)
Tokyo Realtime (http://www.tokyorealtime.com/)

Bus Tours

Sky Bus Tokyo (+1 81 33 215 0008/ http://www.skybus.jp/English/index.html)
Hato Bus (+1 81 33 435 6081/ http://www.hatobus.com/en/index.html)
Nippon Travel Agency (+1 310 768 0017/ http://www.ntainbound.com/domestic/bustour/index.htm)

Helicopter Tours

Excel Air Service (+1 81 47 380 1111/ http://www.excel-air.com/english/cruising/index.html)
Asahi Heli (+1 81 35 569 7255/ http://www.asahi-heli.co.jp/)