Tokyo Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay & 3–5 Day Itinerary
Planning a trip to Tokyo? Here’s my guide to the city—from iconic sights and neighbourhoods to cafés, practical tips, where to stay, and a simple 3–5 day itinerary.
This page may contain affiliate links. Check out my Disclosure & Privacy Policy for more information.
Tokyo Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay & 3–5 Day Itinerary
In a world where some destinations can feel a little flat once you’ve seen them online a million times, Tokyo is one of those rare cities that genuinely lives up to its reputation.
I spent a few weeks in Tokyo intentionally exploring different parts of the city while curating this guide—moving between major landmarks, quieter districts, local cafés, museums, and neighbourhoods and local tours that each revealed a completely different side of Tokyo.
As one of the world’s largest cities, Tokyo does ask you to accept quite quickly that you’ll never fully know it. Even after spending a few weeks here, it didn’t take long to realise that, much like London, this is a city that constantly leaves more to uncover.
With that said, this guide brings together the places and experiences I think are genuinely worth prioritising for a short trip—from iconic sights and neighbourhoods to practical tips, food spots, and an itinerary to structure your days while you’re here.
In This Guide, I’ll Cover:
- Where to stay in Tokyo
- Landmarks worth prioritising
- Tokyo neighbourhoods to explore
- Practical tips for visiting
- Japanese foods to try & restaurant recommendations
- The best Tokyo tours (tried and tested)
- A simple 3–5 day itinerary to help structure your trip
Shall we?
About the Author
Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel writer and content creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.
On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.
P.S. – For more trip inspiration, travel videos, and behind-the-scenes adventures, be sure to follow along (and say hello, if you fancy) on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.
🗞️📺 As featured on the BBC, USA Today & Recipe.TV.
Tokyo Travel Map: Plan Your Trip with 100+ Curated Places
Planning a trip to Tokyo?
To make planning easier, I’ve created a curated Tokyo Travel Map with my favourite places already pinned across the city, so you can easily navigate your way around while you’re there—from cafés and restaurants to museums, neighbourhoods, bars, street food and more.
Inside the map you’ll find:
✔ 100+ recommendations organised by category (from landmarks to neighbourhoods, restaurants, cafés, bars, parks/gardens and viewpoints)
✔ pre-saved in Google Maps
✔ easy to use live on your phone while travelling
✔ hidden gems not included in this blog
🇯🇵 Practical Tips for Visiting Tokyo
🚆 Getting around: Tokyo’s public transport is excellent and the easiest way to explore the city. I’d recommend setting up a Suica card on your phone before you arrive (or as soon as you land), which you can use across trains, metros, buses and even convenience stores. Google Maps works extremely well in Tokyo too.
✈️ Airports: Tokyo’s two main airports are Haneda and Narita. If you have the choice, Haneda is much easier as it’s far closer to the city centre. From Haneda, you can usually be in central Tokyo in around 30 minutes depending on where you’re staying.
💳 Money & Cards: Cards are widely accepted, but some smaller local places still prefer cash. I’d suggest taking out some yen (¥) at the airport ATM. There’s also lots of 7-Eleven ATMs across the city, these are usually the easiest for international cards.
🤳🏽 Data: If you don’t have roaming, I’d recommend setting up an Airalo eSIM before your flight so you have data as soon as you land—especially helpful for maps, translations and train directions around Tokyo.
🌷 Best time to visit: In my opinion, spring and autumn are the loveliest times to visit Tokyo, for cherry blossom season or shoulder season crowds.
🤝 Etiquette: A few small things go a long way in Tokyo—don’t tip, keep your voice low on public transport, stand on the left on escalators, and remove your shoes in traditional spaces where needed.
🌙 Evening Safety: Tokyo is very safe overall, but if you’re out late in areas like Roppongi or parts of Shinjuku, just use normal city awareness as you would anywhere.
🗣️ English: English is not spoken everywhere in Tokyo, especially outside tourist-heavy areas, so having Google Translate downloaded offline makes a real difference. A few simple Japanese words also go a long way, like arigatou gozaimasu (thank you), sumimasen (excuse me / sorry), and konnichiwa (hello).
Which Area of Tokyo Should You Stay In?
Tokyo is enormous (much like London), so where you stay really does shape your trip. Here are some of the areas I recommend.
Shibuya
If it’s your first time in Tokyo, this is one of the easiest places to base yourself. You’re well connected in Shibuya, there’s plenty happening day and night, and it gives you that immediate Tokyo energy people often imagine before arriving.
Asakusa
A lovely option if you want something calmer and slightly more traditional is Asakusa (there’s a fabulous ryokan here too). This area feels slower in the evenings and works especially well if you like the idea of staying near temples like the famed Sensoji Temple and older Tokyo streets.
Ginza
A very polished part of the city with excellent shopping, easy transport links, and a slightly more refined feel. A good choice if you want something central but less hectic than Shibuya.
Shinjuku
Very convenient for transport and nightlife, with endless food options nearby. It can feel intense, but if you want easy access to everything, it works very well.
Overall, for a first trip, I’d usually suggest staying fairly central and close to a major station—Tokyo is easy to navigate, but distances can be much larger than they seem.
The Best Hotels in Tokyo for Your Trip
Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyo (££)
If it’s your first time in Tokyo, I’d highly recommend Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyo.
It’s where I stayed at the beginning of my trip and it’s directly connected to Shibuya Station, which makes getting around Tokyo very easy and straightforward.
You’re also right by Shibuya Scramble Crossing, so that classic first-Tokyo feeling is right outside your door. Quite literally.
The rooms are comfortable and big by Tokyo standards, many have excellent city views, the breakfast is lovely, and if you can, it’s worth choosing a higher floor to see Shibuya lit up at night.
Cyashitsu Ryokan Asakusa (££)
People often say it’s hard to find a proper ryokan feel in Tokyo, but you just need to know where to look.
A ryokan is a traditional Japanese style of stay, usually with futon bedding, simple interiors, and a much calmer atmosphere than a standard hotel.
If you’d like a ryokan experience in Tokyo, Cyashitsu Ryokan Asakusa is an absolute delight.
It’s quiet, thoughtfully designed, and the open-air bath makes a very lovely end to a full day exploring (essentially a private onsen). You’ll also be walking distance from Sensō-ji temple.
How to Spend 3 Days in Tokyo: Tokyo 3 Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Tokyo Icons & First Impressions
For your first day in Tokyo, I’d suggest leaning into some of Tokyo’s most iconic sights—it’s the easiest way to understand the city before moving into quieter neighbourhoods and local experiences later in the trip.
Shibuya Crossing
Home to the world’s busiest scramble crossing and a very easy and iconic place to begin your first day in Tokyo. Right outside Shibuya Station, you’ll feel an immediate big-city energy to start your trip.
Practical tips:
• Cost: Free
• Best time to visit: Morning or early evening
• How to get there: Arrive by metro to Shibuya Station, it’s right outside the Hachiko exit (and you can see it from Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyo).
Yoyogi Park
From Shibuya, I’d head next to Yoyogi Park. It’s one of Tokyo’s best-known green spaces and a very easy way to pause before continuing with more of the city (and perhaps see a cherry blossom or two).
You’ll also be right next to Meiji Shrine for your next stop.
Practical tips:
• Cost: Free
• Best time to visit: Late morning or early afternoon
• Best paired with: Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine
Dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, this is one of Tokyo’s most important shrines, originally built in 1920.
The walk goes through a divine forested path and it’s a very memorable and peaceful way to start your Tokyo trip.
Practical tips:
• Cost: Free
• Time to spend: Around 45 minutes to 1 hour
• Travel tip: The path to the actual shrine is about 10-15 minutes
Tokyo National Museum
If you want to understand Japan a little better beyond Tokyo’s modern pace, this is one of the best museums to include early in your trip.
It’s Japan’s oldest national museum and covers everything from samurai armour and ceramics to centuries of Japanese art and cultural objects. Plus there’s a lovely tea room in the back for a post-museum sit down.
Practical tips:
• Cost: ¥1,000 (available to purchase on the day at the ticket counter)
• Time to Spend: 1–2 hours
Sensō-ji and Nakamise Shopping Street
I’d finish the sightseeing side of the day in Asakusa, where Tokyo’s oldest temple and one of its best-known traditional shopping streets sit side by side.
Nakamise-dori is part of the experience, with small snacks, souvenirs and a much livelier feel as you walk toward the temple itself.
Practical tips:
• Cost: Free
• Best time to visit: Late afternoon or early evening
• Nearest station: Asakusa (close to Cyashitsu Ryokan Asakusa)
Ramen Dinner in Tokyo
And of course, your first day should end with a hearty bowl of ramen.
There are so many excellent places across Tokyo that I wouldn’t over-plan this too much—just look for somewhere with lots of locals and a short queue, which is usually a very good sign.
If you want a specific style to try, a rich Sapporo Ramen Haruka is a very good place to start.
Day 2 — Food, Views and Modern Tokyo
For your second day, it’s time to lean into Tokyo’s food markets, skyline views and some of the city’s more modern experiences.
Tsukiji Outer Market
Tsukiji Outer Market is a fabulous place to start your day 2 and sample Tokyo’s world-renowned food scene.
Although the main wholesale fish market moved to Toyosu Market in 2018, Tsukiji remains one of Tokyo’s best places for casual food browsing, with small stalls, seafood counters and long-standing family-run shops.
It’s also ideal as you can try several Japanese foods at once without needing a full sit-down meal. I recommend scouting for fresh tuna or fatty tuna sushi, grilled scallops, tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette), wagyu skewers, matcha and strawberry daifuku (popular Japanese sweet) while you’re here.
Practical tips:
• Cost: Free to enter
• Best time to visit: Morning
• Travel tip: Bring cash (yen)
teamLab Planets TOKYO
If you want one experience in Tokyo that feels completely unlike anywhere else in the city, teamLab is worth experiencing once.
The exhibition is built around immersive digital rooms where you walk through water, mirrored spaces and shifting light installations, so it feels like stepping inside artwork itself.
Practical tips:
• Book your tickets in advance (ideally pre-trip)
• Time to spend: Around 1–1.5 hours
Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree
For breathtaking views over Tokyo, I’d suggest choosing either Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree depending on which side of the city you’re already on.
Tokyo Tower first opened in 1958 during Japan’s post-war rebuilding period and remains one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks (with 333 metres worth of views), while Tokyo Skytree is much newer and gives you an even higher perspective over the city at 634 metres.
Practical tips:
• For both Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree I recommend booking in advance
• Best time to visit: Late afternoon or sunset
Dinner at Wagyu Ginza Kobau
Closeby wagyu dinner is a beautiful fit to your itinerary and a lovely way to spend an evening in Tokyo.
Japan’s wagyu grading system is taken seriously, and at Kobau you can try beautifully prepared cuts in one of Tokyo’s best-known districts for dinner.
Practical tips:
• Cost: ££ – £££
• Travel Tip: Worth booking ahead, especially for evening tables
Rooftop views at Ginza Six Rooftop Garden or Shibuya Sky
Then finish the evening above the city with a rooftop and cocktail visit to Ginza Six, Shibuya Sky or 86 in Shinjuku.
Each lovely for a drink and evening end before your last day in Tokyo.
Day 3 — Quieter Tokyo Neighbourhoods & Tokyo’s Local Charm
For your final day, I’d lean into a quieter side of Tokyo, this route is slower, more local, and very different from the major landmarks of your first two days.
Yanaka
Yanaka is one of the few parts of the city that still gives a sense of older everyday Tokyo, largely because it survived much of the destruction of the Second World War and later large-scale redevelopment.
The area is known for small streets, traditional shops, local temples and a much calmer rhythm than central Tokyo.
Practical tips:
• Time to spend: 1–2 hours
• Best time to visit: Morning
• Travel tip: Don’t leave without grabbing a sweet potato from Mitsu-imo Kenkyujo
P.S. – For vintage shopping, I also recommend the neighbourhood Shimokitazawa, with a brunch stop at Flipper’s.
Jimbocho
From Yanaka, I’d continue to the beloved neighbourhood of Jimbocho—Tokyo’s well-known book district, long associated with publishing houses, universities and second-hand bookshops.
Even if you’re not specifically looking for books, it’s one of those parts of Tokyo that’s worth visiting for the potter alone, I’ve never visited an area quite like it.
There’s also a few English bookshops here like Kitazawa Bookstore or Komiyama Book Store.
Practical tips:
• Time to spend: 1-2 hours
• Best paired with: A coffee stop at Kanda Coffee
• Travel tip: Visit the nearby Udon Maruka before or after your Jimbocho exploring for the best udon you’ll try in your life.
If you’d like to stay in Jimbocho during your Tokyo stay, I recommend the unique Book Hotel, right in the heart of the neighbourhood.
Local Kimono Tour & Photo Walk
To finish your three days in Tokyo, I’d recommend adding one local experience rather than another major landmark.
A kimono dressing and walking experience is a great way to give you a deeper connection to the city—you’ll learn how kimonos are worn, small elements of etiquette, and visit quieter shrine areas that many visitors might otherwise miss.
When I did one, it ended up being one of the most memorable parts of my time in Tokyo. Not to mention you’ll leave with dozens of beautiful photographs to remember your time. Make sure you book ahead.
Note: The woman I originally did my tour with has stopped running hers but I’ve attached a recommendation for a similar tour.
Easy Places to Visit Outside Tokyo
If you have extra time in Japan, Tokyo works very well as a base for a few excellent day trips or short overnights too.
Kyoto
Kyoto is not a day trip in the strictest sense (I wouldn’t recommend one), but it is very realistic as an overnight stop or onward part of your trip.
The train from Tokyo to Kyoto takes a little over two hours, which means you can be in Kyoto surprisingly quick if you want to experience a very different side of Japan—with temples, historic streets, traditional tea houses and a much slower rhythm than Tokyo.
🚆 Check Kyoto train options here →
Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is the most classic trip to take from Tokyo, but what many people don’t realise is that the best Fuji viewpoints are spread out, which is why a guided day trip often make life much easier than trying to piece everything together independently.
Stops such as Oishi Park, Arakurayama Sengen Park, Oshino Hakkai and the Mount Fuji 5th Station all give very different perspectives of the mountain and it’s an absolutely beautiful day out from Tokyo, especially on a clear day.
🗻 Here’s the Mount Fuji day trip tour I took from Tokyo →
Kamakura
Kamakura is one of the easiest day trips from Tokyo, a historic seaside city, home to the Great Buddha of Kamakura.
It’s around one hour by train and a very easy extension to your Tokyo trip.
🚆Check Tokyo to Kamakura trains here →
Japanese Foods to Try in Tokyo
Tokyo is one of the easiest cities in the world to eat well. Here’s a few foods to add to your bucket list while you’re exploring.
- Ramen — every district has strong options, and styles vary hugely. A rich Sapporo-style bowl is a very good first choice.
- Tuna or fatty tuna sushi — especially worth trying in Tsukiji Outer Market
- Udon — thick wheat noodles served either hot or cold
- Cold soba noodles — especially good if you visit in warmer weather. Served chilled with dipping sauce, very light and refreshing
- Tamagoyaki — a lightly sweet Japanese omelette, often served warm from market stalls and very easy to try while walking around Tsukiji.
- Grilled scallops — one of the nicest quick seafood stops if you want something simple but very distinctly Japanese.
- Wagyu beef — worth trying once in Tokyo, especially in Ginza, with lots of excellent restaurants specialising in beautifully prepared cuts.
- Daifuku — soft rice cake with sweet filling; strawberry versions are especially popular and easy to find around markets.
- Matcha sweets — a very easy thing to try while walking through older shopping streets like Nakamise Shopping Street
Top Tokyo Tours to Try
I’m a big fan of tours in Tokyo, especially if you’re travelling solo. In fact, many of the tours I took became some of the most memorable parts of my trip. It’s a chance to learn about a destination directly from locals, support small businesses, and experience the city beyond just ticking off landmarks. Here’s I few I’ve personally tested and recommend. 🇯🇵
#1
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ramen Tasting Tour with 6 Mini Bowls of Ramen
✔️ Try 6 different delicious Ramen spots
✔️ Learn about the history of Ramen
#2
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shinjuku Local Bar and Izakaya Guided Walking Tour
✔️ Explore the local bar scene in Shinjuku with a friendly group
✔️ Solo-traveller friendly
#3
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kimono Dressing, Walking, and Photography Session
✔️ Support a local, independent, woman-owned business
✔️Learn how to walk in a Kimono, Kimono traditions and get gorgeous Kimono pictures taken by the host
Note: The woman I originally did my tour with has stopped running hers but I’ve attached a recommendation for a similar tour.
#4
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
From Tokyo: Mt. Fuji Full-Day Sightseeing Trip
✔️ Visit 3 Mt. Fuji viewpoints
✔️ Transport to and from Tokyo
#5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let’s Shodo (Japanese calligraphy class)
✔️ Private calligraphy class
✔️ Local Experience
#6
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Personal Photographer & Guide in Tokyo in Shibuya & Shinjuku
✔️ Photography walk with local photographer
✔️ Small group & great for solo travelers
Tokyo Travel Map: Plan Your Trip with 100+ Curated Places
Planning a trip to Tokyo?
To make planning easier, I’ve created a curated Tokyo Travel Map with my favourite places already pinned across the city, so you can easily navigate your way around while you’re there—from cafés and restaurants to museums, neighbourhoods, bars, street food and more.
Inside the map you’ll find:
✔ 100+ recommendations organised by category (from landmarks to neighbourhoods, restaurants, cafés, bars, parks/gardens and viewpoints)
✔ pre-saved in Google Maps
✔ easy to use live on your phone while travelling
✔ hidden gems not included in this blog
Final Thoughts on a 3-Day Trip to Tokyo
Tokyo is a city that you truly can only ever scratch the surface through one visit, but it is a very beautiful surface to begin with.
What makes Tokyo so special to me is how many things it manages to be at all at once, it’s deeply historic, it’s futuristic, it’s peaceful, it’s bustling and larger-than-life, all at the same time. Not to mention it holds some of the best Japanese food you’ll eat in your lifetime. And fantastic local tours too.
More than anything, Tokyo leaves you with the feeling that there is still so much more to return for, which I think is part of why so many people (including me) end up wanting to come back from the moment they leave.
I hope this guide helps you enjoy your own time here—and experience a little of what makes Tokyo so undeniably iconic.
I hope this guide helps you plan your own trip to Tokyo. If you end up visiting the city, I’d love to hear how your trip went—feel free to say hello over on Instagram.
CHECK OUT MORE worldwide TRAVEL GUIDES:
- How to Do a Solo Trip to Thailand
- Mumbai Travel Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do & My 3-Day Itinerary
- Tanzania Safari Guide: First-Hand Safari Itinerary, Top Tips & Must-Sees
- Zanzibar Travel Guide (Detailed Guide + My Personal Recommendations)
- Visiting the White Temple, Chiang Rai Thailand
- 5 Exotic Destinations You Can Reach In Less Than 5 Hours From London
- 20 Amazing Living Abroad Quotes
Happy travels,
