Tokyo is too big to see in three days, and most itineraries make it worse by sending you across the city four times a day. This one keeps each half day to a single area, so you spend your time walking around instead of changing trains.
Day one: the old east side
Start in Asakusa at Senso-ji, the city's oldest temple, then walk along the river to the Skytree for the view. After lunch, take the Ginza line to Ueno for the park, the national museum and the market street under the railway tracks.
Day two: the modern west side
Begin at Meiji Shrine, a forest in the middle of the city, and walk down through Harajuku to Omotesando. Have lunch there, then continue on foot to Shibuya for the crossing and the rooftop view from Shibuya Sky. Book the sunset slot a week ahead.
Day three: your choice
Keep the last day flexible. Three good options:
- Tsukiji and Ginza for a seafood breakfast and an afternoon of department-store food halls.
- Shimokitazawa and Kichijoji for second-hand shops, coffee and Inokashira Park.
- A day trip to Nikko, Kamakura or Mount Fuji, each about two hours away.
Buy a Suica or Pasmo card on arrival. It works on every train, subway and bus in the city, and in most convenience stores.
Where to stay
For a first visit, stay near a station on the Yamanote loop line. Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo Station and Ueno all put you within thirty minutes of everything in this plan.
Kenji Mori
Kenji plans rail itineraries from our Tokyo office and has ridden every Shinkansen line at least twice.
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