From tap-and-ride trains to clothes you can rent by the day, a wave of quietly clever services is reshaping how visitors experience Tokyo this year.
Think you know how to travel in Tokyo? Some of the practical advice has quietly changed. From tapping a credit card or smartphone at participating train gates to sending suitcases ahead, having laundry collected from your accommodation and even renting clothes for your stay, a growing range of services is making a Tokyo holiday considerably simpler than it once was.
For travellers planning their next visit, here are seven useful things worth knowing before you go.
1. You can now tap and ride on more Tokyo trains
Getting around Tokyo by train is becoming even simpler. Since March 2026, 11 railway operators in the Kanto region — including Tokyo Metro, Odakyu, Keio and Tobu — have introduced contactless payment at participating ticket gates through the new Tap to Ride Service.
Travellers can simply tap a compatible contactless credit card or smartphone when entering and exiting, without needing to buy a ticket, top up an IC card or register in advance. For visitors already accustomed to tapping a card or phone on public transport at home, it offers a familiar and refreshingly frictionless way to navigate one of the world’s most extensive rail networks.
2. Your suitcase can travel without you
Large suitcases don’t need to accompany you across Tokyo. Luggage delivery services can transport bags from airports and major stations directly to hotels, allowing visitors to explore without hauling luggage through busy stations and onto trains.
Travelling light can be particularly useful for families, groups and visitors combining Tokyo with other destinations around Japan.
3. Your laundry can be collected from your accommodation
For travellers staying a little longer, Wash on Go offers an alternative to spending valuable holiday time at a laundromat. The multilingual service allows travellers to order via smartphone, with a delivery partner collecting laundry from their accommodation. Clothes are washed, dried and folded before being returned, with same-day delivery available at the earliest.
The added bonus? Being able to wash clothes along the way can mean packing less in the first place.
4. You can even rent clothes for your stay
Want to pack even lighter? Laplace closet allows travellers to rent clothing and have it delivered directly to their hotel, then simply return it when they check out. It can be a convenient option for longer stays or travellers wanting to leave more room in their luggage for shopping.
The shared-clothing model is also attracting attention as a more sustainable way to access clothing needed only temporarily.
5. Dietary requirements are getting easier to plan for
Eating is one of the great pleasures of a Tokyo holiday, but dietary restrictions, allergies and religious requirements can make choosing where and what to eat more complicated.
The Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau publishes two useful English-language resources: the TOKYO Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurant Guide 2026–2027 and the TOKYO MUSLIM Travelers’ Guide 2026–2027. Alongside restaurant listings, the guides offer advice on Japanese food culture and practical dining tips.
For travellers with more specific requirements, matoil can prepare customised meals tailored to allergies, religious requirements and individual preferences, which are then frozen and delivered to the traveller’s hotel. Consultation is required approximately one month in advance.
6. You can plan an easier route before leaving the hotel
For older travellers, visitors with disabilities and families with young children, the Tokyo Sightseeing Accessibility Guide can help take some of the uncertainty out of navigating the city.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government resource provides suggested sightseeing routes alongside practical details, including station exits with lifts, ramps and wheelchair-accessible restrooms. It features 35 routes covering Tokyo’s 23 wards and the Tama area, as well as six routes across Tokyo’s islands.
7. There’s an app worth downloading before you leave home
Knowing where to find reliable information in an emergency is one piece of preparation every Japan traveller should consider. The free Safety tips app, supervised by the Japan Tourism Agency, sends push notifications covering earthquake early warnings, tsunami warnings, emergency weather warnings and heatstroke information.
Available in 15 languages, the app also provides illustrated guidance on what to do during an emergency and communication cards with useful phrases in five languages.
Travellers who become ill or injured can also use the Japan National Tourism Organization’s medical facility search service to find hospitals and clinics offering services in foreign languages.
Travel smarter, enjoy Tokyo
Tokyo’s size and pace are part of its appeal, but knowing about a few practical services before arriving can make exploring the city considerably easier. Whether it’s tapping straight onto a train, travelling without a suitcase in tow, packing fewer clothes or knowing where to turn if something unexpected happens, a little preparation can leave more time to simply enjoy the city.
