Planning a visit to Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the easiest cities in the world to land in cold. Even so, a few small decisions made before you arrive will save real friction. Below is what I actually use myself — short list, no filler.

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Mobile data — SIM and eSIM

Wi-Fi in Tokyo is decent in stations, cafés, and convenience stores, but not reliable for navigation while you're walking the alleys this site sends you down. A SIM or eSIM solves that.

My default for visitors is Sakura Mobile (sponsored) — physical SIM and eSIM, English support, ships to your hotel or pickup at major airports.

Full breakdown — what I actually use, the eSIM alternative, and why "I'll just use 7-Eleven Wi-Fi" stops working halfway through your first walk in Yanaka — is on the dedicated guide: Getting a SIM in Tokyo →

Getting around

Tokyo's rail and metro network is the city's circulatory system. Practical notes that don't fit on any spot page:

• Get a Suica or Pasmo at the airport — works on every train, bus, and most convenience stores. Welcome Suica / Pasmo Passport are short-stay versions.
• For day trips outside the metro area (Hakone, Nikko, Kamakura), a regional pass usually beats individual tickets. I'll add direct comparisons here as the editorial calendar covers each region.
• Taxis are clean, metered, and surprisingly affordable late at night when trains stop. Uber and GO both work in Tokyo.

When to come

Cherry blossom (last week of March, first week of April) and autumn leaves (mid-November to early December) are the famous windows. Asakusa Boy's personal preferences:

• Late January — quiet streets, kissaten at their coziest, no tourist crowds.
• Mid-October — t-shirt weather, perfect for the all-day walks this site is designed for.
• Avoid Golden Week (29 April – 5 May) and Obon (mid-August) unless you actively want crowds.

Coming soon to this page

This is the practical-info layer of Tokyo Unseen, and it will grow as the editorial calendar fills in:

• Hotel & ryokan picks by neighborhood (not a generic booking widget)
• JR Pass vs. point-to-point math for typical itineraries
• Travel insurance — the long-stay option I actually use
• Money, cards, ATMs — what works, what doesn't

Each addition will be a brand or product Asakusa Boy uses himself, and any affiliate relationship will be disclosed on this page and on the disclosure page.