Tokyo

When to Use

User asks about Tokyo for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Visitors
Attractions (must-see vs skip)	visitor-attractions.md
Itineraries (1/3/7 days)	visitor-itineraries.md
Where to stay	visitor-lodging.md
Tips & day trips	visitor-tips.md
Neighborhoods
Quick comparison	neighborhoods-index.md
Central (Minato, Shibuya, Shinjuku)	neighborhoods-central.md
Residential (Meguro, Setagaya)	neighborhoods-residential.md
East (Asakusa, Ueno, Sumida)	neighborhoods-east.md
Outer (Kichijoji, Nerima)	neighborhoods-outer.md
Choosing guide	neighborhoods-choosing.md
Food
Overview & dining culture	food-overview.md
Traditional (sushi, ramen, etc.)	food-traditional.md
Markets & depachika	food-markets.md
Best areas by cuisine	food-areas.md
Etiquette & practical tips	food-practical.md
Practical
Moving & settling	resident.md
Transport (JR, Metro, IC cards)	transport.md
Cost of living	cost.md
Safety	safety.md
Weather & seasons	climate.md
Local services	local.md
Culture
Etiquette & customs	culture.md
Career
Tech industry	tech.md
Students	student.md
Startups	startup.md

Core Rules

1. Identify User Context First

• Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
• Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
• Japanese level: None, basic, conversational, fluent
• Load relevant auxiliary file for details

2. Safety Context

Tokyo is one of the world's safest major cities. Main concerns are minor:

• Petty theft in crowded tourist areas (Shibuya, Asakusa, Akihabara)
• Drink spiking in Roppongi/Kabukicho nightlife districts
• Overcharging scams at some hostess/host clubs
• Natural disasters (earthquakes, typhoons) See safety.md for detailed guidance.

3. Weather Expectations

• Four distinct seasons
• Summer (Jun-Sep): Hot, humid (30-35°C), rainy season in June
• Winter (Dec-Feb): Cold, dry (5-10°C), rarely snows
• Best months: March-May (cherry blossoms), October-November (autumn leaves)
• Typhoon season: August-October See climate.md for monthly breakdown.

4. Current Data (Feb 2026)

Item	Range
1K/1R rent (studio)	¥95,000-130,000 (central), ¥70,000-100,000 (outer)
1LDK rent	¥140,000-220,000
Senior SWE salary	¥7M-12M/year
Student budget	¥150,000-200,000/month
Suica/Pasmo fare	¥180-260/ride
Monthly transit pass	¥8,000-15,000

5. Tourist Traps

• Skip: Overpriced tourist ramen in Shibuya crossing area
• Do: Standing sushi near Tsukiji/Toyosu, local izakaya in Yurakucho
• Watch: Roppongi "free drink" touts (lead to overcharging scams)
• Free: Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace East Gardens, Senso-ji Temple
• Golden Gai bars welcome foreigners but have ¥500-1000 cover charges

6. Transit System

Tokyo has the most complex transit system in the world:

• JR Lines: Yamanote loop, Chuo, Sobu (green Suica card)
• Tokyo Metro: 9 lines (private, accepts Suica)
• Toei Subway: 4 lines (city-operated, accepts Suica)
• Private railways: Tokyu, Odakyu, Keio, etc.
• IC cards: Suica/Pasmo interchangeable, use everywhere See transport.md for full guide.

7. Neighborhood Matching

Profile	Best Areas
Young professionals	Shibuya, Nakameguro, Ebisu
Families	Setagaya, Meguro, Kichijoji
Budget-conscious	Nerima, Adachi, Edogawa
Tech workers	Shibuya, Roppongi, Shinagawa
Traditional vibes	Asakusa, Yanaka, Kagurazaka
Nightlife seekers	Shinjuku, Roppongi, Shibuya

Language Context

Japanese Language Reality

Unlike many global cities, English proficiency is limited:

Situation	English Support
Tourist attractions	Good signage, staff varies
Restaurants	Menus sometimes, conversation rare
Train stations	Excellent signage
Daily life	Very limited
Business	Depends on company
Medical	Limited, bring translator

Practical advice:

• Learn basic Japanese phrases
• Google Translate camera mode works well for menus
• Download offline Japanese in Google Translate
• Major chains (Starbucks, McDonald's) have English menus
• Hospital/clinic visits often need interpreter

Essential Phrases

Japanese	Romaji	English
すみません	Sumimasen	Excuse me / Sorry
ありがとうございます	Arigatou gozaimasu	Thank you
お会計お願いします	Okaikei onegaishimasu	Check please
これください	Kore kudasai	This please
英語メニューありますか	Eigo menu arimasu ka	English menu?
いくらですか	Ikura desu ka	How much?

Tokyo-Specific Traps

• Roppongi touts — "Free drinks" lead to ¥50,000+ bills. Never follow strangers.
• Kabukicho host/hostess clubs — Can run ¥100,000+ per visit. Avoid unless invited by locals.
• Fake monks — Aggressive "donation" requests near Asakusa. Real monks don't approach tourists.
• Rush hour (7:30-9:30am) — Trains packed 200%+ capacity. Avoid if possible.
• Airport taxi — ¥20,000+ to central Tokyo. Use Limousine Bus (¥3,200) or train (¥1,200-2,500).
• "No foreigners" signs — Some bars/establishments don't accept non-Japanese. Don't take it personally.
• Cash is king — Many places still don't accept cards. Carry ¥10,000-20,000.
• Tipping — Never tip. It's considered rude.
• Walking while eating — Culturally inappropriate except at festivals.
• Talking on trains — Keep conversations quiet; phone calls are prohibited.

Visa & Residency Quick Reference

Purpose	Visa Type	Duration
Tourism	Visa-free (most Western countries)	90 days
Working	Work visa (sponsored)	1-5 years
Tech/Startup	Engineer/HSP visa	1-5 years
Student	Student visa	Duration of program
Digital nomad	No specific visa (use tourist)	90 days max

Note: Japan has no digital nomad visa. Remote workers typically use tourist visa (no local employment allowed) or need proper work visa sponsorship.