Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the world's largest and most precise creative markets. Briefs are detailed; deliverables are on time. International clients come for craft, for trend speed, and for the visual density of the city itself.

Tokyo eats by stall, counter, basement, and high floor. Sushi, soba, udon, tempura, ramen, and yakitori each have specialists across the city, often family-run for generations; tonkatsu, kissaten coffee shops, and the depachika food halls under the major department stores reward an afternoon. Convenience stores are unusually good. Tap water is safe and free; ice is precise; Michelin density is the highest on the planet, but the most loved kitchens often hold ten counter seats. Cash still moves more business than visitors expect, especially in older shops and small restaurants; carry yen. IC cards (Suica, Pasmo) cover trains, buses, vending, and many shops. Tipping is not practiced and can confuse staff; service is included. Trains stop around midnight, restart around 05:00, and missing the last train is a budgeting decision. Filming permits for public areas, particularly Shibuya scramble and the Tokyo Metro stations, need to be arranged in advance through the relevant ward office. Quiet is expected on trains, in elevators, and on residential streets late at night. For the country baseline on visas, business etiquette, and rail passes, see /countries/japan.