THE JAPAN BTO JOURNAL

Tokyo, beyond the obvious.

Local advice for discovering Tokyo, by day and by night.

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23 articles

Renaud and two guests smiling together in front of Meiji Jingu in Tokyo

Private Guide or Self Guided: Which Fits Tokyo?

Explore Tokyo on your own or with a friendly private guide? Compare both, from enjoying the day together to transport tips and advice for the rest of your trip.

By RenaudOct 30, 2026

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Lanterns and colourful signs in a Shinjuku-sanchōme alley at night, beside Donzoko

NightlifeBars & cocktails

Shinjuku Bars vs Izakayas: Where to Eat and Drink

Bars or izakayas in Shinjuku? Compare the atmosphere, food and practical costs, with Renaud’s fox tip: explore the little restaurants and drinking spots of Shinjuku-sanchōme.

By RenaudOct 28, 2026

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Watercolour illustration of a Tokyo travel notebook, a route map, a wristwatch and a pencil on a wooden table

Practical tips

Tokyo Private Tours: How Many Hours Do You Need?

Compare our 4-, 5-, 6- and 7-hour Tokyo private tours, see the main places on each route, and choose optional stops to suit your interests and pace.

By RenaudOct 26, 2026

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Nightlife

Are Tokyo Nightclubs Foreigner Friendly, Really?

Are Tokyo nightclubs foreigner friendly? Learn where international guests usually feel comfortable, why entry varies, and how to plan a relaxed night out.

By RenaudOct 24, 2026

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Hōzōmon gate and the five-story pagoda at Sensō-ji, with visitors beneath a blue sky in Asakusa

Practical tips

First Day in Tokyo - Where to Start and What to Skip

Start Tokyo at your own pace: a short arrival-day outing or a first full day around Asakusa and Ueno, with Renaud’s practical advice on what to leave for later.

By RenaudOct 23, 2026

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Renaud and a group raising their glasses in a lounge with red curtains

Nightlife

Tokyo Nightlife Concierge: How to Choose the Right Local Host

Renaud’s advice on choosing a Tokyo nightlife host: useful guest reviews, clear costs, advance reservations and an evening shaped around your group.

By RenaudOct 22, 2026

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Red shrine building and rows of torii above a pond, surrounded by greenery in the grounds of Nezu-jinja

Practical tips

Yanaka, Nezu & Sendagi: A Walking Guide to Old Tokyo

Plan Yanaka, Nezu & Sendagi: a walking guide to old Tokyo, with temple lanes, local snacks, practical pacing, and the quiet details worth noticing on foot.

By RenaudOct 21, 2026

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Three smiling people beside the Sumida River, with a bridge and Tokyo buildings in the background

Practical tipsItineraries

Accessible Tokyo Private Tour: Explore at Your Own Pace

Explore Tokyo at your own pace with Renaud: a private route shaped around your mobility needs, manageable distances, seated breaks and practical access checks.

By RenaudOct 20, 2026

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Illustration of a Tokyo street with pumpkin lanterns, autumn leaves and Tokyo Tower at night

NightlifePractical tipsItineraries

The Best Halloween Nightlife Scene in Tokyo

Renaud’s tips for Halloween in Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi, advance restaurant and VIP table bookings, costumes and the rules for 2026.

By RenaudOct 17, 2026

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Illustration of elegantly dressed people on a lantern-lit street at night

NightlifePractical tips

Tokyo Nightlife Dress Code for a Night Out

Official dress codes for nine Tokyo clubs, plus Renaud’s advice on shoes, tattoos, VIP bookings and emergency shopping at Don Quijote.

By RenaudOct 16, 2026

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Photo collage of a cake celebration, a group dining at a Japanese sushi counter and a white limousine in Tokyo at night

NightlifePractical tipsItineraries

A Birthday Night in Tokyo, Planned Just for You

Plan a birthday in Tokyo with Renaud: dinner, VIP celebrations and optional limousine transport handled by an independent professional transport company.

By RenaudOct 14, 2026

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Watercolour illustration contrasting a Buddhist temple with a tree-lined path of red torii gates at a Shinto shrine

CulturePractical tips

Tokyo Temple Shrine Differences, Explained

Understand Tokyo temple shrine differences, from bells and incense to torii gates, respectful etiquette, and how to plan a more meaningful day in the city.

By RenaudOct 12, 2026

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Photo montage of three people posing together beside a lively dance floor under red and violet lights

NightlifeBars & cocktailsPractical tips

Tokyo Nightlife: Clubs & Guest Lists with a Local Promoter

Explore Tokyo nightlife with Renaud: personal guest lists at T2, WARP, ZEROTOKYO, CÉ LA VI and 1 OAK, plus advice on clubs, cocktails and VIP tables.

By RenaudOct 12, 2026

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Photo-based montage of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Tokyo Skytree and the Asahi buildings with their golden flame

Metropolitan © Guilhem Vellut

Practical tipsItineraries

Tokyo Observation Decks: Which View Fits You?

Choose a Tokyo view that fits your day: the Metropolitan Government Building, Tokyo Skytree or the Asahi riverside skyline, with an honest look at Shibuya Sky.

By RenaudOct 10, 2026

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JR IC-only ticket gates at Ueno Station, with green flaps and IC card readers

Practical tips

How to Use the Tokyo Subway Without Getting Lost.

A calm, practical guide to Tokyo’s subway: IC cards, signs, transfers, exits and an easy first journey from Ueno to Asakusa.

By RenaudOct 6, 2026

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Grand piano at New York Bar, Park Hyatt Tokyo, overlooking the city at sunset

NightlifeBars & cocktailsPractical tips

Tokyo Jazz Bars & Cocktails: An Elegant Night Out

Discover Maduro, New York Bar and Bar High Five with Renaud’s tips for live jazz, whisky and cocktails, from an elegant first drink to a livelier night.

By RenaudOct 4, 2026

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The red Kabukicho Ichibangai arch and illuminated streets in Shinjuku at night

NightlifePractical tipsBars & cocktails

Shinjuku After Dark: A Local Insider’s Nightlife Guide

Explore Shinjuku after dark with Renaud’s insider tips on Kabukicho, Golden Gai, bar charges and planning a private evening at your own pace.

By RenaudOct 2, 2026

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Illuminated buildings and pedestrians at Shibuya Crossing at night

NightlifeNeighborhoods

Tokyo Nightlife: Shinjuku, Shibuya or Roppongi?

Choose your Tokyo nightlife district with Renaud’s local advice on Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi: bars, music, group size and evening plans.

By RenaudOct 1, 2026

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NeighborhoodsPractical tips

Tokyo Neighborhoods: Where Should You Stay?

Choose Tokyo neighborhoods that fit your trip, from temple mornings in Asakusa to Shinjuku after dark, with useful notes on pace, transit, and local atmosphere.

By RenaudSep 29, 2026

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ItinerariesCouplesCulture

A Relaxed 3-Day Tokyo Itinerary for Couples

Plan three relaxed days in Tokyo together, from temple streets and local food to design stops and evenings that suit your pace.

By RenaudSep 27, 2026

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A narrow lane in Golden Gai at dusk, with tiny bars, glowing signs and hanging lanterns

NightlifeBars & cocktailsPractical tips

Hidden Bars in Tokyo for a Better Night Out

Find hidden bars in Tokyo with practical advice on neighborhoods, door policies, group size, costs, and choosing an evening that suits your own pace.

By RenaudSep 25, 2026

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BudgetPractical tips

Tokyo Private Tour Cost: What You Actually Pay

Tokyo private tour cost depends on tour length, group size, and plans. Learn what may be included, what costs extra, and how to budget wisely in advance.

By RenaudSep 23, 2026

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CultureNeighborhoods

Tokyo Cultural Tour: Temples, Neighborhoods and Everyday Life

Plan a Tokyo cultural tour that pairs landmark temples with ordinary streets, food, and contemporary life, at a pace that leaves room to notice the city.

By RenaudSep 21, 2026

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Featured stories

Tokyo Nightlife: Clubs & Guest Lists with a Local Promoter

Tokyo Cultural Tour: Temples, Neighborhoods and Everyday Life

All articles

Private Guide or Self Guided: Which Fits Tokyo?

Shinjuku Bars vs Izakayas: Where to Eat and Drink

Tokyo Private Tours: How Many Hours Do You Need?

Are Tokyo Nightclubs Foreigner Friendly, Really?

First Day in Tokyo - Where to Start and What to Skip

Tokyo Nightlife Concierge: How to Choose the Right Local Host

Yanaka, Nezu & Sendagi: A Walking Guide to Old Tokyo

Accessible Tokyo Private Tour: Explore at Your Own Pace

The Best Halloween Nightlife Scene in Tokyo

Tokyo Nightlife Dress Code for a Night Out

A Birthday Night in Tokyo, Planned Just for You

Tokyo Temple Shrine Differences, Explained

Tokyo Nightlife: Clubs & Guest Lists with a Local Promoter

Tokyo Observation Decks: Which View Fits You?

How to Use the Tokyo Subway Without Getting Lost.

Tokyo Jazz Bars & Cocktails: An Elegant Night Out

Shinjuku After Dark: A Local Insider’s Nightlife Guide

Tokyo Nightlife: Shinjuku, Shibuya or Roppongi?

Tokyo Neighborhoods: Where Should You Stay?

A Relaxed 3-Day Tokyo Itinerary for Couples

Hidden Bars in Tokyo for a Better Night Out

Tokyo Private Tour Cost: What You Actually Pay

Tokyo Cultural Tour: Temples, Neighborhoods and Everyday Life