The capital, the famous Asakusa district, the most traditional district in Tokyo. Stroll through the Nanamise shopping street, where you can buy beautiful gifts and souvenirs. At the end of the street, Sensoji Temple will appear before you, where you can buy a fortune telling or lucky charm. You can then explore the other small shrines that are nearby and the following places in and around Tokyo itself:

Tsukiji market - a fish market. Here you can get the freshest sushi in Japan and the world.

Akihabara - a neighborhood full of electronics and popular manga and anime, shop here for everything a true fan needs, and then maybe stop by Maid cafe where you'll be served by cute ladies in decent costumes.

Shibuya - a much livelier shopping and food district. There's the famous Shibuya crossing, where over 2,500 people pass through at a single green light. Meeting point here is the statue of Hachiko the dog, who really did wait here every day for his late owner until his own death. Now other people are waiting here along with the dog statue.

Shinjuku - comes alive especially in the evening, there are lots of karaoke bars, guest clubs and famous mini-restaurants and bars that can only fit a few people. In Japan, and especially in Tokyo, it's quite normal to wait in line for a free seat at a restaurant.

Harajuku - a place of fashion, you can buy just about everything you can think of here, and the prices are often very reasonable. Japan has very cheap clothes and cosmetics unlike Europe. Be sure to try the famous pancakes in Harajuku, there are hundreds of different kinds to choose from. These are cone pancakes with ice cream of your choice and other goodies. Not far from Harajuku is Meiji Park, named after the emperor of the same name.

Yokohama - located half an hour from the capital. It is famous for its Chinese community, which lives in its own neighborhood "Chinatown", where you can find traditional Chinese products and enjoy Chinese specialties.

Yokohama

Ramen Museum - You can also visit theRamen Museum in Yokohama, it takes you back to 1958, when the Ramen was gaining in popularity. The whole museum is styled in the 1950s and of course you can sample ramen just like in post-war Japan.

One of Yokohama's quieter spots is the large Japanese Sankeien Garden, where you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Nikko - The town of Nikko is about an hour from Tokyo and is a beautiful trip to the countryside, but also to see the sights. There is a beautiful mausoleum built by Tokugavi Ieyasu, the shogun and warlord who unified Japan, and several other temples that are UNESCO listed.

Nikko

Kamakura - The city is close to Tokyo, making it an ideal day trip and cultural destination. Kamakura became the political center of Japan in the 12th century, when the shogun Minamoto Yoritomo chose the city as his residence. The shogunate at the time promoted Buddhism, which is why one of the biggest sights is the 13.35-metre bronze Buddha statue that is part of Kotouin Temple, making it the second largest Buddha statue.

Kamakura

The Meietsuin Temple is the ideal place for rainy June when the chrysanthemums are in bloom, as the entire temple is completely surrounded by them, and for this reason the kham is also called the "chrysanthemum temple".

Hokokuji Zen Buddhist Temple is famous for its bamboo forest, where you can enjoy traditional powdered matcha green tea in the unmistakable view of the bamboo grove.

On hot days, you can visit Yuigahama Beach near the city, which is open to all visitors, which is why it also tends to get quite crowded.

Hakone is another excursion you can take while staying in Tokyo. Hakone is famous for its hot springs and spas, such as Tenzan, Hakone Kamon, Hakone Yurio,where you can enjoy the spa from as little as 1,300 yen.

Hakone

From Lake Ashioko, you can get a beautiful view of the nearby sacred Mount Fuji. Thanks to this beautiful view, which is the symbol of Hakone, it is possible to take boat tours on that lake. The price is around 1,000 yen for a 30-minute cruise, for which you can use the Hakone Free Pass.

You can also take a beautiful ride on the Hakone Tezan Densha, the oldest mountain railway in Japan, which attracts many train and railway fans. In mid-June and July, the train ride is at its most beautiful, with hydrangeas and other flowers blooming along the way.

In Hakone, you can visit two more art galleries, Hakone Bijutsukan, focusing on Edo period ceramics, and there is also a beautiful Japanese garden around it. The Narukawa Art Museum specializes in Japanese nihonga style painting along with western paintings and drawings. The museum is located near Lake Ashiko with a beautiful view of Fuji.