Tokyo Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus

Tokyo Skytree and Asakusa on Route 1

Route 1 heads east to the Tokyo Skytree, the 634-metre broadcasting tower that dominates the skyline and offers observation decks high above the city. Its base is a large shopping and dining complex, which makes it an easy stop for a break. Anyone searching for a Tokyo Skytree tour or how to get to Tokyo Skytree will find that the bus is a relaxed way to arrive, with the tower visible long before you reach it.

Nearby Asakusa is the old-town face of Tokyo. Senso-ji, the city's oldest temple, sits behind the Kaminarimon Gate and its giant red lantern, and the Nakamise shopping street leads up to the main hall. The same route passes Ryogoku, the heart of sumo, and Akihabara, famous for electronics and anime culture. Give Asakusa at least two hours, and try to visit early or late when the crowds are thinner.

Tokyo Tower, Zojo-ji Temple, Tsukiji and Ginza on Route 2

Route 2 runs to Tokyo Tower, the 333-metre red-and-white landmark completed in 1958 and modelled on the Eiffel Tower. Directly in front of it stands Zojo-ji, a Buddhist temple that once served the Tokugawa shoguns, and the view of the temple gate framed by the tower is one of Tokyo's classic photographs. If you are wondering whether Tokyo Tower is worth visiting, the answer is yes, especially at dusk when the lights come on.

The line then continues towards Tokyo Teleport and Tsukiji Ginza. Tsukiji's outer market district still buzzes even though the wholesale market moved to Toyosu, and Ginza is Tokyo's elegant shopping boulevard, packed with department stores and gallery windows. Hop off here for a walk, then rejoin the bus when you have seen enough.

Shinjuku, Shibuya and Meiji Jingu on Route 3

Route 3 shows the modern, neon-lit side of the capital. In Shinjuku the bus threads between glass skyscrapers, and the twin towers of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building have public observation decks that are a popular way to see the city from above. Further on, the line reaches Shibuya, where the famous scramble crossing sends thousands of people across at once.

The same route calls near Harajuku and Meiji Jingu, the shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji, set inside a forest of roughly one hundred thousand trees planted when it was founded in 1920. It is a calm contrast to the crowds in Shibuya. Many visitors use this route for an evening ride, but check the last-bus times shown on your ticket map.

How the Tokyo hop-on hop-off ticket works

Buses start from the Marunouchi Mitsubishi Building near Tokyo Station, and one ticket covers all routes for its validity period. Seats are on the upper deck, which is open-air and has no air conditioning, so dress for the weather. Raincoats are handed out when needed, but umbrellas are not allowed on board, and services may be suspended in severe weather such as typhoons.

Audio commentary is played through your own smartphone, so bring earphones and remember that mobile data charges may apply. Buses run on a timetable, but a ticket is not a seat reservation, so if a bus is full you simply board the next one. Anyone planning the best time to visit Tokyo should note that spring blossom and autumn colour make the open-top ride especially rewarding.