Trip Summary
Duration
5 days / 4 nights
Best for
First-timers + culture
Best time
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
Tokyo is the most overwhelming city on earth — in the best possible way. There are 13 million people in the city limits and 37 million in Greater Tokyo, yet it somehow feels safe, clean, and navigable. It is simultaneously the most futuristic and most traditionally Japanese place you can visit.
Five days is enough to scratch the surface and form a genuine attachment to the city — enough to understand why almost everyone who visits Tokyo immediately starts planning how to come back.
Day 1
Shinjuku & Kabukicho
Arrive, orient, get lost
Check in to your hotel in Shinjuku — the ideal base for a 5-day Tokyo trip due to its central JR connections.
Walk east toward Kabukicho, Tokyo's neon-soaked entertainment district. Dinner at a standing ramen bar on Memory Lane (Omoide Yokocho) — try the yakitori and cold Sapporo.
Ascend the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck (free, open until 10:30pm) for your first panoramic view of the city.
Best base for this itinerary
Park Hyatt Tokyo
★★★★★ · Shinjuku · Lost in Translation vibes
$320/night
View on ExpediaDay 2
Harajuku, Meiji Shrine & Shibuya
High culture meets high fashion
Start at Meiji Shrine in Harajuku — arrive before 9am to avoid crowds. Walk the forested path in near silence.
Walk south along Omotesando — Tokyo's answer to the Champs-Élysées. Browse the flagship stores. Lunch at Afuri Ramen on Omotesando (yuzu shio ramen — one of the best bowls in Japan).
Shibuya Crossing at dusk — find a window seat at the Starbucks above the crossing, order a coffee, and watch the spectacle below. Then dinner in Shibuya or Daikanyama.
Day 3
Asakusa, Akihabara & Ueno
Old Tokyo meets the future
Take the subway to Asakusa. Arrive at Senso-ji Temple before 8am while the incense smoke is thick and the crowds are thin. Browse Nakamise-dori for breakfast snacks.
Walk or cycle to Akihabara (Electric Town) — anime, manga, retro electronics, and Japanese pop culture at overwhelming density. Visit a multi-floor arcade and play the claw machines.
Ueno Park for a sunset walk, then dinner in Ameyoko Market — a covered street market selling everything from fresh tuna to sneakers.
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Day 4
Yanaka & Shimokitazawa
Tokyo for locals
Yanaka Cemetery at 9am — one of Tokyo's most atmospheric neighbourhoods, a rare survivor of the 1923 earthquake and WWII bombing. Wooden temples, old shotengai shopping streets, cats everywhere.
Take the Keio line west to Shimokitazawa — the city's bohemian neighbourhood. Vintage clothing shops, independent bookstores, tiny live music venues, and some of the best curry in Tokyo.
Stay in Shimokitazawa for dinner and drinks at one of the tiny basement bars on Honda-za. This is what real Tokyo nightlife looks like.
Day 5
Tsukiji, teamLab & Odaiba
Markets, art & the bay
Tsukiji Outer Market — arrive by 7am for the freshest breakfast in Japan. Eat sea urchin, grilled scallop, tamagoyaki, and tuna sashimi straight from the stalls.
teamLab Planets in Toyosu — the most extraordinary digital art experience you've ever seen. Book tickets weeks in advance. Give yourself 2+ hours.
Cross Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba for a last view of the Tokyo skyline at night. Dinner at DiverCity shopping mall — yes, really.
Essential Tokyo tips
Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card at the airport — it works on every train, subway, and bus in Tokyo. Top it up at any station.
If visiting March–April, cherry blossom timing varies by year. Check the JMA forecast before booking exact dates.
Japan is still largely cash-based. Always carry ¥10,000 in cash — many restaurants, temples, and small shops don't accept cards.
Get a pocket Wi-Fi or SIM card at the airport. Google Maps works perfectly for navigating Tokyo's complex train network.
You will walk 20,000+ steps per day. Pack comfortable shoes. This is non-negotiable.
