Five days is the sweet spot for a first Tokyo trip — enough to cover the essential neighbourhoods, fit in a day trip, eat your way across the city and still have time to get genuinely lost somewhere interesting. This itinerary is designed for first-time visitors and clusters days by area to minimise commuting. Every stop earns its place.
⚡ Before you start — two things to sort first
Suica IC card: Get one at the airport vending machines on arrival. Tap in and out on every train, metro, bus and convenience store. No buying individual tickets ever again.
eSIM or SIM card: Buy online before you fly (Saily works well, code JUHOUT5251 for discount) or pick up at the airport. Maps, Google Translate, navigation — none of it works without data.
Day 1 — Asakusa & East Tokyo
Start where Tokyo began. Asakusa is the city's oldest district and the best introduction — traditional temples, street food, the Sumida River and a pace slower than anywhere else in central Tokyo. It eases you in without overwhelming you on day one jet lag.
Day 1
Asakusa, Ueno & Akihabara
8:00
Senso-ji Temple, AsakusaBefore the crowds. Walk through Kaminarimon gate and Nakamise shopping street when it's quiet. The temple grounds are free and open 24 hours.
9:30
Breakfast on Nakamise-doriNingyo-yaki (small cakes filled with red bean paste), freshly grilled senbei (rice crackers), matcha soft serve. All under ¥500 total.
11:00
Sumida River walkWalk south along the river towards Azuma Bridge. Views of Tokyo Skytree from the bank are excellent. Cross the bridge and explore Nakamise back alleys.
13:00
Lunch — ramen or tempura in AsakusaAsakusa has some of the city's best traditional restaurants. Tempura Daikokuya (since 1887) is a short walk from Senso-ji. Queue expected at peak time.
14:30
Ueno Park & MuseumsWalk or take one stop on the metro to Ueno. The park is free; the Tokyo National Museum (¥1,000) houses Japan's largest collection of art and artefacts. Or simply walk the park.
17:00
Akihabara — Electric TownOne stop from Ueno on the Yamanote line. Multi-storey electronics shops, retro game stores, anime merchandise. Overwhelming in the best possible way. Even if electronics aren't your thing, one hour here is worth it.
19:30
Dinner — izakaya near Akihabara or back in AsakusaYakitori skewers, cold Asahi, edamame. Budget ¥2,000–3,500 per person at a standard izakaya.
Senso-ji temple in Asakusa — best visited at 8am before the crowds arrive
Day 2 — Harajuku, Omotesando & Shibuya
The west side of central Tokyo is where fashion, youth culture, luxury and green space collide. This day clusters four very different experiences within easy walking distance of each other.
Day 2
Harajuku, Meiji Shrine & Shibuya
9:00
Meiji Jingu ShrineThe most important Shinto shrine in Tokyo. 100,000 trees form a forest in the middle of the city. Free entry. Walk the gravel path slowly — it takes 10 minutes to reach the main hall and feels nothing like central Tokyo.
10:30
Takeshita Street, Harajuku150m of teenage fashion chaos — crêpe shops, vintage stores, fast fashion at low prices. Either delightful or sensory overload depending on your disposition. Worth 30 minutes regardless.
11:30
Omotesando & Ura-HarajukuWalk south on Omotesando — Tokyo's answer to the Champs-Élysées, lined with flagship stores (Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dior). Then duck into the backstreets of Ura-Harajuku for independent boutiques, coffee and a calmer atmosphere.
13:00
Lunch — Omotesando or AoyamaScores of restaurants across every price range. The basement food hall at Omotesando Hills has excellent options under ¥1,500. Or find a café with outside seating on the Omotesando boulevard.
15:00
Shibuya — the crossing and beyondWalk to Shibuya (20 min) or take one metro stop. The Scramble Crossing is best viewed from the Starbucks overlooking it (second floor) or from the Mag's Park rooftop on the Q-Front building. Then explore Shibuya's department stores, record shops and side streets.
17:00
Daikanyama & NakameguroWalk 15 minutes south from Shibuya to Daikanyama — low-rise, tree-lined streets, independent bookshops and Japan's best coffee culture. Tsutaya Books is unmissable. Continue to Nakameguro canal for early evening drinks.
19:30
Dinner in Ebisu or NakameguroBoth neighbourhoods have Tokyo's best mid-range restaurants. Natural wine bars, Japanese-French bistros, excellent sushi counters. Budget ¥3,000–6,000 per person.
Meiji Jingu — 100,000 trees in the middle of Tokyo. Go early to have the path to yourself.
Day 3 — Shinjuku
Shinjuku is Tokyo at its most concentrated — the world's busiest train station, a government observatory, the finest department stores in Japan, the Omoide Yokocho alley and Kabukicho entertainment district all within 30 minutes' walk of each other. Give it a full day.
Day 3
Shinjuku — day & night
9:00
Shinjuku Gyoen National GardenOne of Japan's finest gardens — 144 acres with over 1,000 trees. Entry ¥500. Peaceful contrast to the surrounding city. Spend 1–2 hours before the city wakes up fully.
11:00
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building — free observatoryTwo observation floors at 202m, completely free. One of the best skyline views in the city without paying the Tokyo Skytree price. Go on a clear day for Mount Fuji views to the west.
12:30
Lunch — Shinjuku Takashimaya basement food hallThe depachika (department store basement) food floors are a Tokyo institution. Shinjuku Takashimaya's basement has hundreds of food stalls — ready-made bento, fresh sushi, pastries, dumplings. Budget ¥800–1,500.
14:00
East Shinjuku — shopping and explorationIsetan department store (the best in Japan), Yodobashi Camera (electronics), Disk Union (used vinyl records), the covered shopping arcades. This part of Shinjuku rewards slow walking.
17:00
Omoide Yokocho — Memory LaneA narrow alley of tiny yakitori bars, open kitchen cooking, smoke and noise dating from the 1940s. Get there just as it gets dark. Order chicken skewers and beer. Sit at the counter and watch the cooks work.
20:00
Kabukicho & Golden GaiWalk through Kabukicho (Tokyo's entertainment district) to reach Golden Gai — a cluster of around 200 tiny bars, each seating 5–8 people. Cover charges are typically ¥500–1,000. Spend the rest of the evening exploring.
Kabukicho, Shinjuku — Tokyo's entertainment district at its most neon-lit
Day 4 — Day trip: Hakone or Kamakura
Day four is for leaving the city. Tokyo's two best day trips are equally worthwhile — choose based on what you're after: Hakone for mountains, onsen and Mount Fuji views; Kamakura for coastal temples, the giant Buddha and a slower pace.
Day 4 — Option A
Hakone — mountains & onsen
7:30
Depart Shinjuku → Hakone-YumotoOdakyu Romance Car express (reserved seats, ¥1,290 + fare). 85 minutes. Book tickets at Shinjuku Odakyu station the day before.
9:30
Hakone Open Air MuseumSculptures in mountain landscapes, with views of the surrounding hills. Entry ¥1,600. One of Japan's finest outdoor museums and unlike anything in the city.
12:00
Lunch near Chokoku-no-Mori stationSeveral good restaurants around the station. Fresh soba and local mountain cuisine are the specialities.
13:30
Hakone Ropeway → OwakudaniCable car to the volcanic area — sulfur steam vents, black eggs cooked in the volcanic springs (¥500, said to add 7 years to your life). On clear days, Mount Fuji is visible across Lake Ashi.
15:30
Lake Ashi — boat crossingPirate ship ferry across the lake (¥1,200, included in Hakone Free Pass). Views of Mount Fuji from the water when skies are clear.
17:30
Return to TokyoFrom Hakone-Yumoto, direct train back. Or stay the night at a ryokan with onsen — highly recommended if time allows.
🎫 Hakone Free Pass
Buy the Hakone Free Pass (¥6,500 from Shinjuku, includes return train) to cover unlimited travel on all Hakone transport: the mountain railway, cable cars, ropeway, buses and boat. It pays for itself within two stops. Book through Klook for convenient pickup: Hakone Free Pass on Klook →
Day 4 — Option B
Kamakura — coastal temples & the Great Buddha
8:00
Depart Tokyo → KamakuraJR Yokosuka line from Tokyo or Shimbashi, ~55 minutes, covered by Suica (¥940). Arrive at Kamakura station.
9:30
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu ShrineThe spiritual heart of Kamakura. Large grounds with a dramatic stepped approach. Free entry to the main shrine.
11:00
Kotoku-in — The Great Buddha13-metre bronze Buddha cast in 1252. Entry ¥300. One of Japan's most iconic images and genuinely impressive in person. You can go inside for an extra ¥20.
13:00
Lunch in Kamakura townShirasu (whitebait) is Kamakura's local speciality — served on rice bowls, pasta and pizza throughout town. Komachi-dori shopping street has restaurants on either side.
14:30
Zeniarai Benten Shrine & bamboo pathHidden shrine in a cave where washing money supposedly multiplies it. Then walk the wooded trail back through the hills. Alternatively, take the Enoden tram line along the coast to Enoshima island.
17:00
Return to TokyoDirect from Kamakura station. ~55 minutes back to central Tokyo.
Day 5 — Ginza, Tsukiji & Tokyo Bay
Save the east side of central Tokyo for your last full day. Tsukiji outer market for breakfast, Ginza for shopping and architecture, the bay area for views. A relaxed final day that doesn't require rushing.
Day 5
Tsukiji, Ginza & Tokyo Bay
8:00
Tsukiji Outer Market — breakfastThe inner tuna auction market moved to Toyosu, but the outer market remains — dozens of stalls selling fresh sushi, tamagoyaki (rolled omelette), grilled shellfish and street food. Go hungry. Budget ¥1,500–2,500 for a full spread.
10:00
Ginza — gallery and architecture walkTokyo's most elegant shopping district. Even without buying anything, the architecture rewards walking: the Hermès building (Renzo Piano), the Chanel building, the Itoya stationery store (9 floors, free to browse). The street-level galleries often have free exhibitions.
13:00
Lunch in Ginza or HibiyaThe Hibiya Okuroji arcade under the railway tracks has excellent affordable restaurants in a beautifully restored space. Or try the Ginza Six basement food hall.
15:00
Odaiba — Tokyo BayYurikamome monorail from Shimbashi (16 minutes). Views of Rainbow Bridge, the city skyline and Tokyo Bay. TeamLab Planets is here (book tickets ahead, ¥3,200). Or simply walk the waterfront and enjoy the perspective on the city you've spent five days exploring.
18:00
Final dinner — your neighbourhoodReturn to wherever you've been staying and eat at a place you noticed earlier in the week but didn't have time for. Tokyo rewards returning to things.
Shibuya Crossing at night — the most photographed intersection in the world
Practical notes for this itinerary
💡 Making this itinerary work
Order flexibility: Days 1 and 2 can be swapped based on jet lag — if you're exhausted on arrival, Asakusa (Day 1) is lower intensity than Harajuku/Shibuya. Day 3 (Shinjuku) works well mid-week.
Day trip timing: Do the day trip on Day 3 or 4, not the last day. Arriving back tired at 7pm with luggage to sort is unpleasant. Give yourself a buffer day after.
Walking distances: Days 2 and 3 involve 12–18km of walking. Wear comfortable shoes. Not trainers — proper walking shoes with support.
Booking ahead: Teamlab Planets (Day 5), the Hakone Romance Car (Day 4) and popular dinner restaurants all require advance booking. Don't wing it.
Card vs cash: Most restaurants outside the major tourist areas are cash-only. Withdraw ¥30,000–50,000 at the airport 7-Eleven ATM on arrival and top up as needed.
🏨 Where to stay for this itinerary
Best base: Shinjuku covers all five days best — central station, direct trains everywhere, every budget level. Asakusa is more atmospheric but adds 10–15 minutes to westbound journeys. Shibuya works well for Days 2 and 3 but is inconvenient for Asakusa.
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