What to see and do in Tokyo: itineraries for 3, 5 and 7 days

If you're planning your trip, you're probably asking yourself: how many days do you need to see Tokyo?

• 3 days is the minimum to see the essentials.
• 5 days is ideal for exploring at a slower pace and discovering alternative neighborhoods.
• 7 days lets you take day trips to nearby places like Nikko, Kamakura or Mount Fuji.

Before we start, a tip: if you can choose your airport, Haneda is the best option: it's much closer to the city center and getting there is easier. If you land at Narita, pay attention to your arrival time, because there's no public transit in the early hours of the morning. For more info, see our complete guide on how to get from Narita or Haneda to Tokyo.

• Day 1: Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya
• Day 2: Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara
• Day 3: Ginza and Chiyoda (Imperial Palace)
• Day 4: Zojoji Temple, Roppongi and Odaiba (teamLab Planets)
• Day 5: Shimokitazawa
• Day 6: Trip to Mount Fuji (a 1-day tour or an overnight stay in Kawaguchiko)
• Day 7: Nikko, Kamakura or the Tokyo neighborhoods you haven't gotten to yet

👉 If you'd rather plan your trip by area, don't miss our complete guide to Tokyo, neighborhood by neighborhood, with recommendations on what to do, where to eat and the viewpoints in each district.

Day 1: Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku

Start your trip in Shibuya, the vibrant heart of Tokyo. You can't miss the Hachiko statue or the famous Shibuya Crossing, and if you want a spectacular view of the whole area, book your ticket to Shibuya Sky.

🎫 Book your Shibuya Sky ticket. The best time to go is at sunset.

From Shibuya you can walk to Harajuku and wander down the famous Takeshita Street, a mix of pop fashion and themed cafés. Don't miss Meiji Jingu Shrine, a green oasis in the middle of the city. Afterward, stroll along Omotesando Hills, an avenue with designer stores and modern architecture.

End the day in Shinjuku, going up to the free observation deck at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building or joining a free walking tour of Shinjuku to discover its alleys and secret corners. At night, enjoy Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai, streets full of tiny bars and plenty of local atmosphere.

🔗 Free walking tour in Shinjuku.

Day 2: Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara

Start in Asakusa, visiting Sensoji Temple early and walking along Nakamise-dori. It's one of Tokyo's busiest temples, so we recommend getting up early. Then you can head over to Sumida Park to enjoy the views of the Tokyo Skytree.

On this day you can also visit Ueno, a neighborhood that's ideal for museums and parks.

In the afternoon you can explore Akihabara, the otaku neighborhood. Don't miss Radio Kaikan and Super Potato, and if you're there on a Sunday, enjoy the pedestrian street full of cosplayers and themed stores. If you're a tech or anime fan, you can't skip this neighborhood.

Day 3: Ginza and Chiyoda

Start the morning in Ginza, Tokyo's most elegant neighborhood. Stroll its streets full of luxury boutiques, art galleries and avant-garde architecture.

Don't miss the Itoya stationery store, a 12-story icon full of design objects, or the Uniqlo store, the brand's biggest in Japan. For lunch you can try a traditional izakaya in the alley under the Yurakucho train tracks.

In the afternoon, walk over to Chiyoda, Tokyo's historic and political district. Visit the gardens of the Imperial Palace, where Japan's imperial family still lives, and enjoy the calm of the place right in the heart of the city.

If you're traveling in spring, Chidorigafuchi Park is one of the best places to see the cherry blossoms.

🔗 You can book a free walking tour of the Imperial Palace gardens.

If you have more time, add a couple of days to explore alternative neighborhoods and Odaiba.

Day 4: Zojoji Temple, Roppongi and Odaiba

Start the day at Zojoji Temple, a Buddhist temple in a prime location: its gardens have one of the most iconic views of Tokyo Tower. Very close by is Momiji-dani Park, which turns pink with sakura in spring and shades of red and gold in the fall.

Then continue to Roppongi, a modern neighborhood that combines art, shopping and nightlife. You can go up to the Roppongi Hills Observatory and visit the Mori Art Museum, two ideal stops for culture and city views. If you go in the afternoon, stay for the sunset with Tokyo Tower lit up in the background.

👉 Get your ticket to the Roppongi Hills Observatory.

Otherwise, you can end the day in Odaiba, Tokyo's futuristic island. The big attraction is the interactive museum teamLab Planets, a one-of-a-kind immersive experience that we recommend booking online in advance. You can also walk along the waterfront, see the replica of the Statue of Liberty and go shopping at one of its giant malls.

Book your ticket for teamLab Planets TOKYO now (no lines and a guaranteed time slot):

👉 teamLab Planets TOKYO tickets

Day 5: Neighborhoods you missed and Shimokitazawa

Leave the morning free to go back to one of the neighborhoods you liked most: Harajuku, Shibuya or Shinjuku. You can use the time for anything you haven't gotten to yet, like Meiji Jingu, the Shibuya Sky observation deck or Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

After noon, you can head to Shimokitazawa, Tokyo's bohemian neighborhood. Its quiet streets are full of vintage shops, secondhand bookstores, charming cafés and small bars. It's a perfect place to spend the afternoon at a more relaxed pace, away from the bustle of the city center.

Day 6: Trip to Mount Fuji

Spend this day at Mount Fuji, one of Japan's most iconic landscapes and one of our favorite places in the country. Ideally you'd stay overnight in Kawaguchiko, since the trip takes time and the area deserves at least a couple of days to explore at an easy pace. If you can do that, take the chance to enjoy Lake Kawaguchi, the viewpoints and the peace and quiet of the area.

👉 If you only have one day, there's also a day trip to Mount Fuji from Tokyo, which includes transportation and a guide in Spanish.

One thing to keep in mind: Fuji isn't always visible. In fact, it's covered by clouds 50% of the time. That's why we recommend staying flexible and checking visibility before you pick the day for your visit.

👉 We'll soon publish a full post on Mount Fuji, with information on how to get there, what to do and the best viewpoints.

Day 7: Nikko, Kamakura or an extra day in Tokyo

If you stayed overnight in Kawaguchiko, you can use this day to keep exploring the Mount Fuji area:

• Visit one of its lakes.
• Climb up to Chureito Pagoda, one of the most famous viewpoints.
• Relax in an onsen with views of the volcano.

If you went to Mount Fuji on a day trip, you can use day 7 for another getaway:

• Nikko has World Heritage temples surrounded by nature. You can get there by train or book an organized tour to Nikko.

• Kamakura is closer to Tokyo and has the famous bronze Great Buddha and Zen temples. You also have the option of going on a tour to Kamakura.

Another option is to stay in Tokyo and spend the day sightseeing or doing some last-minute shopping.

👉 If you still want more ideas, in this post we cover everything you can do in Tokyo, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Choosing the right area to stay in Tokyo is key to making the most of your trip. The city is enormous and each neighborhood has its own personality:

• Shinjuku: ideal if you want nightlife, skyscrapers with observation decks and good transit connections.
• Shibuya: perfect for anyone after a young vibe, shopping and being close to the famous Shibuya Crossing.
• Asakusa: a more traditional neighborhood, with temples and historic streets, plus some cheaper places to stay.
• Ueno: a good alternative if you're looking for peace and quiet, museums and quick access to Narita Airport.

👉 In our complete guide on where to stay in Tokyo we go into detail on the best neighborhoods, recommended hotels and options for every budget.

Tokyo's transit can seem complicated at first, but it's actually very easy to get around if you know which card or pass to use:

• IC cards (Suica and Pasmo): the most practical option. You load them with money and they work on almost all trains, subways and buses. You can also add one to your phone's wallet and top it up from there.
• JR Pass: if you're going to travel all over Japan, this pass covers several lines within Tokyo, like the famous Yamanote Line, which connects the main neighborhoods.
• Tokyo subway: very efficient, with trains every few minutes.

👉 We'll soon launch our guide on how to get around Tokyo with all the practical information.