Tokyo, Japan

Regional Population: 8,336,599

Elevation: 26 meters

Time Zone: Asia/Tokyo

Local Currency: JPY

Latitude: 35.685

Longitude: 139.7513889

Nearby Airports: OKO, NRT, HND

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and the core of the most populated urban area in the world, Greater Tokyo, which has a population of 35 million people. This massive, wealthy and fascinating metropolis places high-tech visions of the future side by side with glimpses of old Japan, and has something for every type of visitor.

Huge and varied in its geography, with over 770 square miles to explore, the Tokyo area spans not just the city, but also rugged mountains to the west and subtropical islands to the south.

Tokyo is so vast, it is best thought of not as a single city, but a constellation of cities that have grown together. Tokyo's districts vary wildly in character, from the electronic blare of Akihabara to the Imperial gardens and shrines of Chiyoda. If you don't like what you see, hop on the train and head to the next one, and you will find something entirely different.

The sheer size and frenetic pace of Tokyo can intimidate the first-time visitor. Don't get too hung up on ticking tourist sights off your list: for most visitors, the biggest part of the Tokyo experience is just wandering around at random and absorbing the vibe.