51 Tips I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Tokyo, Japan

Digital Suica cards do NOT work on foreign Android devices! Most Android smartphones purchased outside of Japan lack the necessary Osaifu-Keitai (FeliCa) chip configuration required for Japanese transit systems.

And another thing that needs correction:
On escalators in Tokyo and most of Japan, yes, stand on the left and leave the right side open.
But in Osaka and much of the Kansai region, stand on the right!

What if if I want to experience EVERYTHING?!

Just wanna say thank you!

Hi Camden! I enjoy your videos! I disagree a little about visiting and staying in Ueno. I loved it! I was there during cherry blossom season, and it had a great festival feel, so that was likely the difference. I also liked the adjacent Ameyoko shopping street, and the station is well-connected for public transport.

Don’t sleep on ginza , very under rated in my opinion especially for food .

This guide / video / recommendation shoot session is excellent. I love it. Thanks for doing this.

3:10 I'm glad you mentioned the women's only carriage because I've been watching a lot of videos lately about visiting Japan and you're the first one to mention it. I did know it but I had forgotten it (it was a memory in the back of my mind and you reminded me of this 🙂)

My son wants to go to Shibuya for basketball but I want to visit museums, temples and king walks in nature. It's it pissibke to have it all in one trip

Very "on the point". I am in Tokyo right now and thanks to your Tips, i will do a Park tour.

What you definitely forgot is a walk through Kabukicho and See a bit the "host" culture there.

Also the best shopping place for foreigners and locals is "Don Quijote". I highly recommend the "Don Quijote" in Shinjuku. When you weren't there during your trip then you missed something.


Kyoto i will stay in my next Japan visit, because i forgot to book "PokéPark" and I wanna go there with my Kids.

Kyoto is too big, so I want to enjoy it in a separate trip.

すごく研究されている。全て正解です。本当に食べ歩きするには、日本人と一緒に動いたほうが良いだろうね。

For tip 2: Cash, I think having a suica or other IC card with cash on it has become such a common way for small transactions that it has replaced cash payment. That's at least what I've gathered in researching my own japan trip coming up soon. So, the cash advice is dependent on you actually getting the card, and charging that. Otherwise, cash is probably fairly useful.
Tip 11: Trash, konbinis (7/11 and similar shops) have trash cans. Otherwise, have a small plastic bag or such to put things into for later disposal.

I subscribed instantly because you got right to the point of the video and you were very informative.

基本、日本人が居ない飲食店は値段が高くて味は微妙な所です。
例えば
築地市場（テイクアウト系）
アメ横商店街
新宿の日本料理街

I’m Japanese, born and raised in Tokyo. After the COVID pandemic ended, the number of tourists increased dramatically. With Google Maps, it has become easy for visitors to reach even local neighborhoods, so tourists now come to my area as well. As long as people follow good manners and respect the culture, they are always welcome.

One piece of advice: you should bring comfortable walking sneakers. You’ll probably end up walking a lot without even realizing it.

I dont know if i regret because if i dont do it I ill regret to, but if i come back i don t want to do what i did again.... In 12 days I spend 2 days and alf in tokyo then i went to Nagoya to a tour takayama shirakawa kanazawa,, then osaka 2 days going to quioto ( 6 hours in quioto ) then i take a plain to sendai to and stay 2 days see matsushima the big buda and went to ginza onsen and zao onsen. Then one night and 2 days in tokyo. If i could see and understood tokyo, yes, , but if i return maybe i just stay in tokyo why? Because i really loved tokyo and i fell that i have to return because i have to see more. I know that toquio never ends and i never will saw everthing but maybe more calm and not just passing by but relaxing

things i dont regret jimbojo and ryogoku, im so happy that im not the only one that thing that jimbojo is magic and ryogoku was magic ! things i regret not going to simbashi at night and only see odaiba by bus. I liked ueno because i stay in gran custuma ueno and i like the vibe of the streets .I didnt want to go to ueno park or zoo.

I loved akasaka

I have just one request for all international visitors: please do not eat or drink while walking. What would you do if your first drink didn’t suit your taste? There are no trash cans. In that case, you’d probably just toss it on the ground, right? Since there are no dining areas inside the shops, if you really want to try something from a takeout-only shop, please stop right next to the store to eat or drink, and ask the staff to dispose of your trash for you. While Japanese people won’t say anything to you as they watch foreigners eating and drinking on the go, please don’t forget that they’re thinking it’s a bit of a nuisance.

I'm moving to Tokyo soon

I think Ginza is a very good spot to stay for a first timer especially if heading to Osaka and Kyoto as it's close to Tokyo station. easy to navigate and busy, but not hectic like Shibuya and Shinjuku. Ginza Kagari has some very good chicken ramen.

So much to see in Tokyo. No need for day trips. If you are planning on coming back, visit another city next time

Thanks for the reaction - he is usually a good singer, other Sanremo performances were better than this... I'm sure he will do well on the night, it's different to other entries, and Italy are a very popular competitor at Eurovision.

dude! Awesome info and just downloaded that thing!

wondering if you or anyone on this thread has been to Tokyo in summer and how hot and humid was it?

I always watch Camden David before visiting a new place, his video of Lisbon Portugal was super helpful and I followed his food recommendations to a T.

Best Tokyo video I’ve seen by far. Plus, your voice is so soothing to listen to and you’re such a cutie. New follower!

Your video was VERY helpful. I'm looking forward to following your suggestions. And I'd like to send you a thank you gift. Will watch your other videos as well.

I am Japanese. If you absolutely want to leave a tip: In Japan, there is a custom of folding a 1000 yen bill, wrapping it in paper, and handing it over. If you don't say it's a tip, but instead say it's my appreciation and hand it over discreetly, Japanese people will accept it.

This was really helpful and clear , thank you for making it easier for us!

Thanks for the info! Planning to spend 3-4 days in May.

Where can a person go in Tokyo where he can just get rest and healthy food? This is coming from a person who is just trying to escape from America.

im so glad i heard you say the quiet thing out loud. i stayed in Tokyo for 9 days thinking that was enough. even with 1-2 days per part of tokyo like shinjuku, shibuya, akihabara, minato it just simply was not enough time and it was kind of sad to be honest cause all i hear from travel youtubers is that oh well all you need is like 3 or 4 days in tokyo that is all and you will see everything.....it was a lie! lol

Great content. Suggestion /ask can you put the names of the places you were talking about in each rating, and leave them on the screen. I kept having to go back and screenshot specific names and locations. And it’s hard to scroll back-and-forth through the footage because the video is so long. Found myself going back further than I wanted to just to capture the name. But if I could pause it, move over to Maps and see where the location was that would be really helpful.

7:40 まるで科学者みたいなバリスタですね。興味が湧きました☕️

At 5:59...the guy kicks the trash as he walks over it.🤣🤣

Just a few things to add:
- The mobile suica only works on iPhones or japanese android phones. There is no work around as the phones are not compatible with the NFC system used for public transport. There are some stations where you can use QR codes and VISA cards tho, but I'm not sure how wide spread they are yet.
- The women cars are only for rush hour. 95% of the time you will not need to worry about that.
- Usualy you do not need any reservations. There are so many restaurants that you can simply walk around, find something and go in. Maybe very specific ones might need reservations but thats rare.

A very interesting video, Thank You for sharing your experiences 😊👍

I love how respectful you share your thoughts on other countries, and how you still allow people to decide on their own what their priorities would be. Great review

And cover your freaking tattoos.

You, the tourist, might not be confronted for your rudeness,
but the locals DO COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR TATTOOS

Cover your freaking tattoos

I thought you can only upload IC cards on iPhones, not android!

not very interesting. sorry

How long is your code CAMDEN15 valid for?

i loved my trip to Tokyo December 2025. I never expected to fall in love with Japan but, I can't wait to return.

This is the most accurate and useful video I have ever seen on Tokyo tourism.

Virtual Suica doesn't work for androids though. Only iphones. Android users need to get the physical Suica card.

Amazing video! Very detailed and superbly made!! Do recommend walking around Ginza/Marunouchi at night time and doing the 5km circuit around the Imperial Palace Gardens with great views of Hibiya and Otemachi

Sensoji plus asakusa underground plus skytreee is a good 1 day