Tokyo is 13 cities in one. Each neighborhood has a distinct personality, demographic, and purpose. Here's a practical guide to the main ones — what they're good for and who should base themselves there.
Shinjuku
Tokyo's busiest district — department stores, Kabukicho nightlife, Golden Gai (tiny jazz bars), Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane yakitori). Best transport hub in the city. Stay here if: you want maximum convenience and don't mind tourist-heavy surroundings. Highlights: Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo Metropolitan Building (free views), Isetan department store.
Shibuya
Youth culture epicenter — the crossing, 109 shopping complex, Shibuya Scramble Square (rooftop observatory). Loud, fast, commercial. Stay here if: you want to be in the social center of young Tokyo. Highlights: Shibuya Crossing at night, Yoyogi Park on weekends, Daikanyama (quiet canal streets 10 min walk away).
Asakusa
Old Tokyo — Senso-ji Temple, rickshaws, traditional crafts, kimono rentals. The most "historical" feel in central Tokyo. Stay here if: you want to feel old Edo atmosphere and are visiting Tokyo Skytree. Highlights: Senso-ji before 8 AM, Nakamise shopping street, Sumida River walk.
Harajuku & Omotesando
Dual personality: Takeshita Street (teen fashion, cosplay, crepe shops) and Omotesando (luxury brands, architecture, tree-lined boulevard). Great for a half-day. Stay here if: fashion is your main interest.
Ginza
Tokyo's upscale shopping district — Chanel, Hermes, Mitsukoshi flagship. Also excellent galleries and the Tsukiji Outer Market nearby. Stay here if: budget is not a concern and premium dining matters. Highlights: Teamlab Planets (Toyosu), free art galleries.
Shimokitazawa
The alternative Tokyo — vintage clothing, live music venues, indie coffee shops, tiny theaters. Tokyo's most bohemian neighborhood. Not central but worth an afternoon. Stay here if: you prefer local, off-tourist-trail Tokyo.
Akihabara
Electronics, anime, retro games, maid cafés. Intense and specific. Good for a half-day visit; less suited as a base unless you have very particular interests.
Ueno & Yanaka
Ueno has the best cluster of museums (Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science). Adjacent Yanaka is a preserved Shitamachi neighborhood with a cemetery walk and old shops. Good base for museum enthusiasts.
Roppongi
Expat bars, nightclubs, and three world-class art museums (Mori, National Art Center, Suntory Museum of Art). Lively late nights, quieter days. Stay here if: art and nightlife are priorities.