Japan: short breaks in Tokyo That said, depending on how comfortable you feel about braving Tokyo on your own, an additional helping hand in the form of a guide can go a long way on your tight time schedule. If you do opt for a guide, I'd recommend booking in advance. One of the best companies offering tours is Inside Japan (insidejapantours.com). It offers an expert range of interesting activities and sightseeing tours, including tailor-made eight-hour Tokyo itineraries with private guides. If you decide to explore on your own, recommended spots to make a beeline for include Senso-ji, the city's oldest temple, with its lively market selling trinkets and rice crackers and, not far away, on foot or by train, the shiny new Tokyo SkyTree. It's the world's tallest broadcast tower, worth visiting for its views over the city. For history and culture buffs, Ueno Park is another good one-stop-shop area, with a raft of museums, galleries and shrines among the cherry trees and lotus ponds (look out for lingering blossoms: you might just catch the tail end of springtime hanami season). A stroll around the Omotesando area is recommended for those keen to glimpse the city's fashion culture, from high-end designer flagships to the edgy street stores of Harajuku (don't miss Meiji Jingu, a beautiful and tranquil forest-shrouded shrine, surprisingly located behind Harajuku station). One final tip: whatever you decide, it's worth staying at a central hotel (don't stay near Narita airport: it's a long way from Tokyo). About Danielle Demetriou Danielle Demetriou moved to Tokyo in 2007. She lives on a quiet leafy lane, a surprisingly short stroll from the neon blare of Shibuya's renowned crossing, and has endlessly explored the capital's winding back streets and high-tech towers for guidebooks, magazines and newspapers. Cherry blossoms, skyscraper hotels, sushi and karaoke are among her favourite areas of expertise. Read Danielle's expert guide to Tokyo