Tokyo: Senso-ji, Shibuya & First-Trip Planning

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets visa and entry requirements; check its page for your passport and trip. The Government of Canada’s Japan advice is linked below for safety and entry information. Direct tax-free shopping and baggage questions to Japan Customs, and use the Japan Meteorological Agency for official warnings.

JR East publishes Suica and Welcome Suica options for visitors. Check the format, sales points and top-up conditions of the product you choose before arriving. Do not assume a physical card and a phone app have identical terms.

Identify your airport, terminal and accommodation’s station before choosing a route. Tokyo Metro publishes its lines and services; use the relevant operator for other networks. Check the last departure for the night you need it and any step-free station route you require.

Senso-ji is in Asakusa; the Hachikō statue is near Shibuya Station and the scramble crossing. Treat them as separate stops and check the route between them from your accommodation. The temple’s visitor page and GO TOKYO’s Hachikō listing are linked below.

For Asakusa, leave room in your plan for the temple approaches, a meal break and the return journey. For Shibuya, save your station exit and a meeting point before setting out. With a stroller or mobility aid, check the step-free route instead of assuming every station exit is suitable.

When eating outdoors, stop somewhere that keeps the path clear. Follow posted signs and staff directions in stations and on escalators.

Keep a backup way to pay for smaller shops. Ask your bank about supported cards, withdrawal fees and exchange terms, then confirm payment methods with the establishment.

If you have a particular restaurant in mind, ask whether it needs a reservation and how to make one. For a public bath or onsen, check directly about instructions, tattoos and facilities suitable for your group.

A greeting, a thank-you or a polite way to get someone’s attention can help with everyday exchanges. Save your accommodation address in Japanese and prepare a translation app for specific requests. Follow photography notices and ask before including someone in a close-up.

Compare the accommodation address with your planned outings in Asakusa, Shibuya or elsewhere. The nearest station and the right exit matter as much as the neighborhood name. Check the whole route with your luggage in mind.

For a family or a traveler using a mobility aid, ask about the entrance, lift, bed arrangements and route from the station. Compare the total price and cancellation terms before reserving.

If you add an excursion, leave room for the journey home and breaks. Check the route, fare and last departures with the rail operator, and confirm access arrangements at the place you want to visit.

Read the Government of Canada’s Japan travel advice before departure and official alerts during your stay. Save accommodation contacts and useful emergency information so you can retrieve them offline.