INTRODUCTION

Imagine visiting Tokyo with a friendly expert who can show you the city’s hippest new venues as well as its centuries-old hidden gems, and is just as passionate as you about finding the most amazing places to eat, shop, sightsee and stay.  Know Tokyo is that companion, written by me, Nikki Hall—a former Lonely Planet […]

Imagine visiting Tokyo with a friendly expert who can show you the city’s hippest new venues as well as its centuries-old hidden gems, and is just as passionate as you about finding the most amazing places to eat, shop, sightsee and stay. 

Know Tokyo is that companion, written by me, Nikki Hall—a former Lonely Planet travel guide author—who’s visited Tokyo over seventy times! I’m excited to introduce you to a city that I know deeply and am totally obsessed with, to give you the inside running on how to feel like a well-informed local and fall in love with Tokyo too.

I’ve created a curated, suburb-by-suburb guide that’s packed with meticulously researched and up-to-date reviews of hundreds of venues, from revered sushi restaurants to just-opened fashion boutiques, as well as bespoke bars and innovative galleries. 

WHY DID I WRITE THE GUIDE?

I realised that you need a system to really get the best out of your trip to Tokyo and I’ve devised a unique way to unlock the city.

Over the years I worked out that trying to visit multiple areas in one day is too mentally and physically gruelling, so I created chapters that do a deep dive into one particular neighbourhood, which are cities unto themselves. 

The Know Tokyo guide gathers everything you need for your Tokyo experience into one neat package, with easy-to-follow transport advice, independent reviews, great maps as well as insider tips on the city’s newest venues.

WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR THIS GUIDE WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY FREE ONLINE RESOURCES ?

Once you decide to visit Tokyo you may start cobbling together tips from various online sources. 

ChatGPT will send you to countless neighbourhoods in a day (because it’s AI without feet that get blisters), and influencers (who are most likely time first visitors to Tokyo) will give you tips they’ve gleaned from other social media accounts.

In complete contrast, my Know Tokyo guide offers you firsthand knowledge on how to navigate the city and its amazing establishments by a traveller who has done on-the-ground research over many years.

HOW DOES THE GUIDE WORK?

Each chapter covers one precinct across six categories, with reviews on food and drinks, shopping, galleries, sightseeing, nightlife and hotels. There are also easy-to-navigate maps and the ability to create your own itinerary.

Every review gives you the scoop on what makes the place worth visiting, and also links to the venue’s website, its location on Google Maps and crucially, the closest train station and exit gates.

Included in your purchase is the Tokyo Basics guide, so you can feel like an insider from the moment you land. 

You’ll find airport arrival information, quick and easy transport options, etiquette tips and essential Japanese phrases, making it a breeze for you to really know Tokyo.