Tokyo layover guide for crew

Sushi, ramen, coffee and walks crew recommend in Tokyo, plus Haneda train times, taxi stands, medicine rules, tap water and the emergency numbers.

Haneda sits close to the city. The airport's own page puts Shinagawa about 15 minutes away by train or monorail, Tokyo Station about 30, Shibuya about 45 and Shinjuku about 50. That makes a short layover workable, and crew pins spread across Tsukiji, Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Meguro.

Food, early and late

Around Tsukiji, crew pinned Mawaru Sushi Zanmai and Miyake Suisan, both on Tsukiji 4, and Miyake Suisan carries a breakfast tag. In Ginza, crew pinned Bills on Ginza 2 for breakfast. Crew pinned Shibuya Sushi Labo on Shibuya 1 and Soushi Menya Musashi on Nishishinjuku 7.

If you land late and hungry, read our guide to late-night food after a late arrival, and check hours in the app before you commit to a train.

Coffee

Glitch Coffee and Roasters is on Tsukiji 1, close to the Tsukiji food pins. FUGLEN SANGŪBASHI is on Yoyogi 4, and Kayaba Coffee is in Yanaka 6, in Taito.

A walk or something to do

Crew pinned Meguro River, near Meguro 2, as a sight, and the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda as a sight and a walk. Smartraveller says smoking on the street is illegal in Tokyo and some other cities.

Gym and wellbeing

LYFT GYM & CAFE is on level B3 of Omotesando Hills, on Jingumae 4. Our guide to staying active on a layover has ideas for the days you cannot get to a gym.

Getting around and staying safe

From the airport. Haneda has its own stations on the Keikyu Line and the Tokyo Monorail. The airport says taxis use separate stands for app-hailed rides at each terminal, and the pick-up spot can change with congestion, so check it in your app before you walk out. The airport lists flat-rate taxis between Haneda, central Tokyo and Kanagawa, approved by the transport ministry, with tolls on top.

Medicine. Smartraveller says Japan has strict rules on bringing medicine into the country, including some ingredients in ADHD, cold and flu medication. Check the rules with Japan's health ministry before you pack, and see our crew medicine kit guide.

Papers. Smartraveller says you must carry your passport at all times in Japan.

Bars and drinks. Smartraveller says dishonest vendors may persuade you to follow them into a bar, which is illegal and can come with drink spiking and overcharging. Watch your drink while it is mixed. Our guide to walking alone at night in a new city has more.

Earthquakes. Smartraveller recommends NHK's smartphone app for disaster alerts, and says the Japan Meteorological Agency publishes all major warnings.

Tap water. The Japan National Tourism Organization says tap water in Japan is safe to drink. Our tap water guide covers other countries.

Emergency. Call police on 110, or 119 for an ambulance or the fire service. Our guide to emergency numbers for crew cities lists the others.

Find more on the map

All the spots crew recommend in Tokyo are on the On Chocks map. Filter by open now to see what is serving while you are up.

On Chocks is in free beta on TestFlight, or you can get one email when it's on the App Store.