modbender When to Use
User asks about Tokyo for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Visitors | |
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) | visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay | visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips & day trips | visitor-tips.md |
| Neighborhoods | |
| Quick comparison | neighborhoods-index.md |
| Central (Minato, Shibuya, Shinjuku) | neighborhoods-central.md |
| Residential (Meguro, Setagaya) | neighborhoods-residential.md |
| East (Asakusa, Ueno, Sumida) | neighborhoods-east.md |
| Outer (Kichijoji, Nerima) | neighborhoods-outer.md |
| Choosing guide | neighborhoods-choosing.md |
| Food | |
| Overview & dining culture | food-overview.md |
| Traditional (sushi, ramen, etc.) | food-traditional.md |
| Markets & depachika | food-markets.md |
| Best areas by cuisine | food-areas.md |
| Etiquette & practical tips | food-practical.md |
| Practical | |
| Moving & settling | resident.md |
| Transport (JR, Metro, IC cards) | transport.md |
| Cost of living | cost.md |
| Safety | safety.md |
| Weather & seasons | climate.md |
| Local services | local.md |
| Culture | |
| Etiquette & customs | culture.md |
| Career | |
| Tech industry | tech.md |
| Students | student.md |
| Startups | startup.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
- Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
- Japanese level: None, basic, conversational, fluent
- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
2. Safety Context
Tokyo is one of the world's safest major cities. Main concerns are minor:
- Petty theft in crowded tourist areas (Shibuya, Asakusa, Akihabara)
- Drink spiking in Roppongi/Kabukicho nightlife districts
- Overcharging scams at some hostess/host clubs
- Natural disasters (earthquakes, typhoons)
See
safety.mdfor detailed guidance.
3. Weather Expectations
- Four distinct seasons
- Summer (Jun-Sep): Hot, humid (30-35°C), rainy season in June
- Winter (Dec-Feb): Cold, dry (5-10°C), rarely snows
- Best months: March-May (cherry blossoms), October-November (autumn leaves)
- Typhoon season: August-October
See
climate.mdfor monthly breakdown.
4. Current Data (Feb 2026)
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| 1K/1R rent (studio) | ¥95,000-130,000 (central), ¥70,000-100,000 (outer) |
| 1LDK rent | ¥140,000-220,000 |
| Senior SWE salary | ¥7M-12M/year |
| Student budget | ¥150,000-200,000/month |
| Suica/Pasmo fare | ¥180-260/ride |
| Monthly transit pass | ¥8,000-15,000 |
5. Tourist Traps
- Skip: Overpriced tourist ramen in Shibuya crossing area
- Do: Standing sushi near Tsukiji/Toyosu, local izakaya in Yurakucho
- Watch: Roppongi "free drink" touts (lead to overcharging scams)
- Free: Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace East Gardens, Senso-ji Temple
- Golden Gai bars welcome foreigners but have ¥500-1000 cover charges
6. Transit System
Tokyo has the most complex transit system in the world:
- JR Lines: Yamanote loop, Chuo, Sobu (green Suica card)
- Tokyo Metro: 9 lines (private, accepts Suica)
- Toei Subway: 4 lines (city-operated, accepts Suica)
- Private railways: Tokyu, Odakyu, Keio, etc.
- IC cards: Suica/Pasmo interchangeable, use everywhere
See
transport.mdfor full guide.
7. Neighborhood Matching
| Profile | Best Areas |
|---|---|
| Young professionals | Shibuya, Nakameguro, Ebisu |
| Families | Setagaya, Meguro, Kichijoji |
| Budget-conscious | Nerima, Adachi, Edogawa |
| Tech workers | Shibuya, Roppongi, Shinagawa |
| Traditional vibes | Asakusa, Yanaka, Kagurazaka |
| Nightlife seekers | Shinjuku, Roppongi, Shibuya |
Language Context
Japanese Language Reality
Unlike many global cities, English proficiency is limited:
| Situation | English Support |
|---|---|
| Tourist attractions | Good signage, staff varies |
| Restaurants | Menus sometimes, conversation rare |
| Train stations | Excellent signage |
| Daily life | Very limited |
| Business | Depends on company |
| Medical | Limited, bring translator |
Practical advice:
- Learn basic Japanese phrases
- Google Translate camera mode works well for menus
- Download offline Japanese in Google Translate
- Major chains (Starbucks, McDonald's) have English menus
- Hospital/clinic visits often need interpreter
Essential Phrases
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry |
| ありがとうございます | Arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you |
| お会計お願いします | Okaikei onegaishimasu | Check please |
| これください | Kore kudasai | This please |
| 英語メニューありますか | Eigo menu arimasu ka | English menu? |
| いくらですか | Ikura desu ka | How much? |
Tokyo-Specific Traps
- Roppongi touts — "Free drinks" lead to ¥50,000+ bills. Never follow strangers.
- Kabukicho host/hostess clubs — Can run ¥100,000+ per visit. Avoid unless invited by locals.
- Fake monks — Aggressive "donation" requests near Asakusa. Real monks don't approach tourists.
- Rush hour (7:30-9:30am) — Trains packed 200%+ capacity. Avoid if possible.
- Airport taxi — ¥20,000+ to central Tokyo. Use Limousine Bus (¥3,200) or train (¥1,200-2,500).
- "No foreigners" signs — Some bars/establishments don't accept non-Japanese. Don't take it personally.
- Cash is king — Many places still don't accept cards. Carry ¥10,000-20,000.
- Tipping — Never tip. It's considered rude.
- Walking while eating — Culturally inappropriate except at festivals.
- Talking on trains — Keep conversations quiet; phone calls are prohibited.
Visa & Residency Quick Reference
| Purpose | Visa Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism | Visa-free (most Western countries) | 90 days |
| Working | Work visa (sponsored) | 1-5 years |
| Tech/Startup | Engineer/HSP visa | 1-5 years |
| Student | Student visa | Duration of program |
| Digital nomad | No specific visa (use tourist) | 90 days max |
Note: Japan has no digital nomad visa. Remote workers typically use tourist visa (no local employment allowed) or need proper work visa sponsorship.