Northeast Asia: Round-the-World Travel Destinations

Budget Scale: 1-5

1-least expensive; 5-most expensive
5– Tokyo, and pretty much all of Japan for that matter, is expensive. There’s no getting around it, and if you come to Tokyo, plan on spending some money.

Indie Travel Scale: 1-5

1-not a good Indie Travel destination; 5-a great Indie Travel destination
3.5– Even though Tokyo is a teeming city with about 35 million people, and seemingly just as many tourists, there are still plenty of ways to have an indie travel experience.
Indie Travel Tips

• Get out of the city and head to Mount Fuji for a beautiful hike.
• Remain completely anonymous, no matter your race, ethnicity, or height as you stroll through the crowded streets of one of the world’s most populous cities.
• Just wander around or pull up a seat on a bench and people watch. Tokyo is a great place to observe a multitude of cultures blending together.
• Do what the Japanese do – eat sushi, sing karaoke, take in a baseball game, and go see a Sumo match.
• If you’re not digging the area you’re exploring, then get on the train and head to the next stop – it’s sure to be completely different than where you just were.
• Instead of spending all that money to get a view of the city from the Tokyo Tower, head to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku instead. The twin towers have viewing platforms that don’t cost anything.
• You like to shop? What do you want to buy? Chances are you can find whatever your heart desires in Tokyo.

Why you should add Tokyo to your RTW travel list

• Visit Tokyo for an attack on the senses
• Your gateway to Japan
• Neon, traffic, hi-tech, sushi – Think you can handle Tokyo?
• Just wait until you see the shopping in Ginza
• Where else in the world can you ride bullet trains, shop for kimonos, and watch sumo?

Why you should not add Tokyo to your RTW travel list

• The high prices will put a massive dent in your budget.
• If you’re not a big city person, then Tokyo may not be the best place for you.

Are you heading to Tokyo? What do you need to do?

• Buy an international plane ticket to/from Tokyo
• Book a Tokyo hostel
• Book a Tokyo hotel
• Talk to travelers on the Asia message boards
• Check out our Tokyo Travel Guide

Back to RTW Travel Destinations
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