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Tokyo is simultaneously the largest city on earth and one of the easiest to navigate. The combination of an impeccable rail network, comprehensive English-language signage, and a universal culture of helpfulness means that first-time visitors who arrive worried about the language barrier almost invariably leave wondering what they were worried about. The city's sheer scale — 14 million people in the city proper, 37 million in the greater metropolitan area — does not translate into chaos; Tokyo is obsessively organised, quiet on the streets, and functions with an efficiency that consistently astonishes visitors from other major world cities. Three days is enough to see the essential Tokyo — its ancient spiritual core, its hypermodern entertainment districts, and its extraordinary food culture — while only beginning to scratch the surface. The itinerary organises the city's diverse neighbourhoods geographically: day one anchors in the historic east around Asakusa; day two moves west to the shrines of Harajuku and the crossing at Shibuya; day three covers the food heart at Tsukiji and the technology district of Akihabara before ascending Tokyo Tower for the panorama that pulls it all together.
Tokyo
Welcome to the interactive itinerary for Tokyo. Explore the map and daily schedule below.
Begin at Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest and most visited temple, in the Asakusa district — arrive before 8 am and you will experience it largely in the company of worshippers rather than tour groups. The Kaminarimon gate with its great red lantern leads through the Nakamise shopping street (a 250-metre covered arcade of traditional craft stalls) to the main temple hall, where the incense smoke from the giant cauldron drifts across the approaching steps. The temple complex is free and open 24 hours. From Senso-ji, it's a short walk to the Tokyo Skytree: at 634 metres, the world's second-tallest structure has two observation decks giving views of the city, Mount Fuji (on clear days), and the Kanto Plain. Book tickets in advance at tokyo-skytree.jp. For lunch, Asakusa Imahan for sukiyaki — the restaurant has been one of Tokyo's best traditional beef hotpot destinations since 1895. In the evening, Omoide Yokocho ('Memory Lane') in Shinjuku is a narrow alley of tiny yakitori bars from the postwar reconstruction era, dense with smoke and the smell of grilled chicken. End the evening at teamLab Planets TOKYO in Toyosu, a digital art immersive experience that is among the most extraordinary sensory spaces anywhere in the world.
Asakusa Imahan for lunch — traditional sukiyaki in a beautifully preserved dining room; book ahead. Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku for dinner — arrive at 6 pm and occupy a stool at one of the tiny yakitori bars; no reservations. teamLab Planets must be booked well ahead at teamlab.art.
Get a Suica or Pasmo card from any JR East machine at the airport — it covers all trains, buses, and many convenience store purchases. Tokyo Skytree advance tickets are cheaper online; the queue without a ticket on weekends can exceed one hour. teamLab Planets TOKYO sells out weeks ahead.
Getting around: Senso-ji to Tokyo Skytree is a 15-minute walk. Skytree to Asakusa Imahan is a 10-minute walk. Asakusa to Shinjuku (Omoide Yokocho) is 35 minutes by Toei Asakusa Line. Shinjuku to teamLab Planets TOKYO (Toyosu) is 25 minutes by Yurikamome line.
Meiji Shrine sits inside a 70-hectare forested park in central Tokyo, a remarkable pocket of quiet woodland only a few minutes from the most frenetic shopping districts in the world. The 1920 shrine honouring Emperor Meiji is approached along a wide gravel path through 100,000 trees donated from across Japan; the contrast between the forest and the Harajuku neighbourhood immediately adjacent is one of the defining Tokyo juxtapositions. Visit the shrine before 9 am for the morning ceremony and near-silence. From the shrine, walk south to Takeshita Street in Harajuku: the famous youth fashion street is a narrow pedestrian lane of costume shops, crepe stands, and candy boutiques. For lunch, Sushi Ro in Shibuya is a high-quality kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi chain. Shibuya Crossing, immediately outside Shibuya station, is the world's busiest pedestrian intersection and worth spending time at. In the evening, Shinjuku Golden Gai — a network of tiny bars in the east of Shinjuku — continues the theme of extraordinary intimate drinking spaces that Tokyo does better than anywhere.
Ready to plan your own Tokyo trip? Use our free collaborative travel itinerary planner to build a fully customised day-by-day plan — drag and drop your schedule, add walking routes between stops, and share it with your travel group in real time. Packing for the trip? See our tokyo packing list for a season-specific checklist you can import directly into your trip.
Sushi Ro in Shibuya for lunch — budget ¥2,000–3,000 per person for a full sushi meal. For dinner in Golden Gai, choose a bar with an English menu posted outside; the food at most bars is snacks rather than meals. Ichiran Ramen in Shibuya for a solo-booth tonkotsu ramen experience.
Meiji Shrine is free and open from sunrise. Takeshita Street is at its most extreme on weekend afternoons — visit on a weekday morning for a calmer experience. Shibuya Crossing is most impressive at rush hour (5–7 pm). Most Golden Gai bars have a cover charge (¥300–500).
Getting around: Previous hotel area to Meiji Shrine is 40 minutes by metro on the Ginza line. Meiji Shrine to Takeshita Street is a 10-minute walk. Takeshita to Sushi Ro (Shibuya) is 10 minutes on foot. Shibuya to Shinjuku Golden Gai is 10 minutes by Yamanote line.
The Tsukiji Outer Market — the public market surrounding the former wholesale fish auction site — is one of Tokyo's most sensory experiences. Arrive before 9 am to see the vendors at full activity: rows of stalls selling tamagoyaki (rolled omelette), freshly grilled seafood, high-grade tuna sashimi, and every variety of Japanese pickled and dried food. From Tsukiji, walk five minutes to Ginza, Tokyo's luxury shopping district. Itoya stationery store (nine floors of Japanese paper goods) is worth an hour regardless of shopping intention. Akihabara Electric Town in the east of the city is the world's most concentrated district of electronics, anime merchandise, and gaming arcades. Kobe Beef Teppanyaki Hakushu near Tokyo Station is an excellent lunch or dinner option — the Japanese Wagyu beef, cooked tableside on cast iron, represents a genuine culinary experience. End the day at Tokyo Tower: the 1958-built red-and-white communications tower is best visited at night, when the illuminated view of the megalopolis in every direction is overwhelming in the best sense.
Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast — the tamagoyaki stalls open earliest, followed by fresh seafood vendors. Budget ¥1,500–3,000 for a market breakfast. Kobe Beef Teppanyaki Hakushu near Tokyo Station for lunch or dinner — book in advance, budget ¥15,000+ per person for the full Wagyu experience.
Tsukiji Outer Market vendors begin closing around 1 pm — arrive before 9 am for the full selection. Tokyo Tower observation deck tickets can be purchased on-site without booking; go late evening (9–11 pm) for uncrowded viewing and the best night panorama.
Getting around: Hotel area (Shinjuku/Shibuya) to Tsukiji Outer Market is 20–30 minutes by metro. Tsukiji to Ginza is a 10-minute walk. Ginza to Akihabara is 20 minutes by metro on the Ginza line. Akihabara to Tokyo Station is 5 minutes by Yamanote line. Tokyo Station to Tokyo Tower is 15 minutes by metro on the Oedo line.
IC card (Suica or Pasmo) covers all train, metro, bus, and many convenience store purchases — load ¥5,000–10,000 for a 3-day visit.
Cash is still king at many restaurants, small shops, and markets in Tokyo — carry ¥10,000–20,000 per day. ATMs in 7-Eleven and Japan Post offices reliably accept foreign cards.
Google Maps is excellent in Tokyo for public transport directions — it gives specific platform numbers and transfer instructions accurate to the minute.
Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) sell genuinely good hot food and drinks at very low prices — they are not a compromise but a feature of Tokyo food culture.
Shoes that slip on and off easily are important in Tokyo — many traditional restaurants and sites require removal of shoes before entry.
Noise discipline on public transport is an absolute social norm — phones on silent, no calls, voices low. Eating on the train (except Shinkansen) is generally frowned upon.
Spring cherry blossom season (late March to mid-April) and autumn foliage (late October to mid-November) are the most popular and visually spectacular periods. Cherry blossom timing varies — check the Japan Meteorological Corporation forecast in January to plan your dates. Summer (July–August) is hot (30°C+), very humid, and busy with domestic tourism. Winter (December–February) is cold but dry, with clear visibility for Mount Fuji views and significantly lower hotel rates. January is one of the best months for budget travellers — museum queues are short and the city is in a post-New Year calm.