Tokyo 3 day itinerary

A 3 day Tokyo plan built from our catalogue. Each stop shows a photo, why to go, the hours it keeps and how to reach the next stop; the hours are checked against the weekday it falls on.

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Day 1 · Fri 4 Dec

Shinjuku Gyoen · Meiji Jingu · Shibuya scramble crossing · Shibuya Sky

Covers Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya. 4 sights and 2 meals. Travel between stops: 5 legs, about 62 min in all (ride times are estimates).

09:00–10:30
Shinjuku GyoenShinjuku
Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0
A 58.3-hectare garden that combines formal, landscape and Japanese styles. Source
Catalogue hours 09:00–16:30 · Last entry 16:00 · Closed Mon
About 27 min to the next stop: walk 9 min to Shinjuku-sanchome, Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line from Shinjuku-sanchome to Kita-sando (1 stop, about 3 min), walk 15 min
10:45–12:15
Meiji JinguHarajuku
Photo: Tokuzo in Edomura, CC BY-SA 4.0
A shrine to Emperor Meiji set in an artificial forest of about 700,000 square metres. Source
Catalogue hours 05:40–16:40
About 20 min to the next stop: walk 12 min to Harajuku, JR Yamanote Line from Harajuku to Shibuya (1 stop, about 2 min), walk 6 min
12:30–13:30
Uobei Shibuya DogenzakaShibuya
Photo: bryansjs, CC BY-SA 2.0
A city-centre conveyor-style sushi restaurant where you order and the plate is brought straight to you, with no lane. Source
Catalogue hours 11:00–23:00
5 min walk to the next stop
13:35–15:05
Shibuya scramble crossingShibuya
Photo: Benh LIEU SONG, CC BY-SA 2.0
A multi-directional crossing presented as one of Tokyo’s signature sights; the official tourism guide says more than 1,000 people cross at a time. Source
No hours in the catalogue
4 min walk to the next stop
15:10–16:40
Shibuya SkyShibuya
Photo: Kakidai, CC BY-SA 4.0
A rooftop about 230 m above the ground with a 360-degree view over Shibuya. Source
Catalogue hours 10:00–22:30 · Last entry 21:20
6 min walk to the next stop
18:00–19:15
Ichiran ShibuyaShibuya
Photo: SkyChen, CC BY 2.0
Natural tonkotsu ramen, open 24 hours near the Scramble Crossing. Source
Open 24 hours

Day 2 · Sat 5 Dec

Tsukiji Outer Market · Ginza Six · Tokyo Station · Imperial Palace East Gardens

Covers Ginza and Tsukiji and Marunouchi. 4 sights and 2 meals. Travel between stops: 5 legs, about 71 min in all (ride times are estimates).

09:00–10:30
Tsukiji Outer MarketGinza and Tsukiji
Photo: Aimaimyi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fresh seafood in a wholesale street where professional traders gather. Source
Catalogue hours 06:00–14:00
13 min walk to the next stop
11:30–12:30
Beer Hall Lion Ginza 7-chomeGinza and Tsukiji
Photo: Kentin, CC BY-SA 4.0
A beer hall in the atmosphere of its 1934 opening, serving draft beer poured in the one-pour style. Source
Catalogue hours 11:30–22:00
3 min walk to the next stop
12:35–14:05
Ginza SixGinza and Tsukiji
Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう, CC BY-SA 4.0
A complex at Ginza 6-chome with shops and restaurants in one place. Source
Catalogue hours 10:30–20:30
About 13 min to the next stop: walk 5 min to Ginza, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line from Ginza to Tokyo (1 stop, about 2 min), walk 6 min
14:20–15:50
Tokyo StationMarunouchi
Photo: MaedaAkihiko, CC BY-SA 4.0
The red-brick exterior of the restored Marunouchi station building is presented as a landmark of Tokyo architecture, standing in contrast to the surrounding glass-and-steel high-rises. Source
No hours in the catalogue
19 min walk to the next stop
16:05–17:35
Imperial Palace East GardensMarunouchi
Photo: Andrea Schaffer, CC BY 2.0
Gardens opened to the public on the site of the main keep and Ninomaru of Edo Castle. Managed by the Imperial Household Agency, you walk past the old stone walls, moats and a lawn plaza. Source
No hours in the catalogue
About 23 min to the next stop: walk 12 min to Otemachi, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line from Otemachi to Ginza (2 stops, about 4 min), walk 7 min
18:00–19:15
Ginza KyubeyGinza and Tsukiji
Photo: Kentin, CC BY-SA 4.0
A well-known sushi house that opened in Ginza in 1935, where you eat sushi at the counter. Source
Catalogue hours 11:30–14:00, 17:00–22:00 · Closed Sun, Mon

Day 3 · Sun 6 Dec

Ueno Tōshō-gū · Tokyo National Museum · Senso-ji · Tokyo Skytree

Covers Ueno and Asakusa. 4 sights and 2 meals. Travel between stops: 5 legs, about 68 min in all (ride times are estimates).

09:00–10:30
Ueno Tōshō-gūUeno
Photo: Unkei6hokusai4, CC BY-SA 3.0
A shrine to Tokugawa Ieyasu whose lavish architecture, including the gold hall, still stands. Source
Catalogue hours 09:00–16:30
11 min walk to the next stop
10:40–12:40
Tokyo National MuseumUeno
Photo: Wiiii, CC BY-SA 3.0
Japan’s largest museum, inside Ueno Park, holding Japanese art and Asian archaeological objects across several galleries. It was founded in 1872. Source
Catalogue hours 09:30–17:00 · Closed Mon
About 26 min to the next stop: walk 15 min to Ueno, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line from Ueno to Tawaramachi (2 stops, about 3 min), walk 8 min
12:55–13:55
Asakusa Imahan Kokusai-dori HontenAsakusa
Photo: 毒島みるく, CC0
The Asakusa main restaurant serving Japanese black wagyu sukiyaki and shabu-shabu as set courses. Source
Catalogue hours 11:30–21:30
6 min walk to the next stop
14:00–15:30
Senso-jiAsakusa
Photo: Redd Angelo reddangelo16, CC0
One of Tokyo’s best-known Buddhist temples in Asakusa, traditionally founded in 628. The basic route is through Kaminarimon and along the Nakamise approach to the main hall. Source
No hours in the catalogue
About 14 min to the next stop: walk 10 min to Asakusa, Tobu Skytree Line from Asakusa to TOKYO SKYTREE (1 stop, about 2 min), walk 2 min
15:45–17:15
Tokyo SkytreeAsakusa
Photo: Akonnchiroll, CC0
A 350 m observation deck from which you look down over Tokyo in a panorama. Source
Catalogue hours 09:00–22:00 · Last entry 21:00
About 11 min to the next stop: walk 2 min to TOKYO SKYTREE, Tobu Skytree Line from TOKYO SKYTREE to Asakusa (1 stop, about 2 min), walk 7 min
18:00–19:15
Komagata DozeuAsakusa
Photo: Aimaimyi, CC BY-SA 3.0
A long-established loach hot-pot restaurant founded in 1801, handed down since the Edo period. Source
Catalogue hours 11:00–20:30

Weekly closing days

The plan runs Friday to Sunday. If you shift it to another weekday, check these first: Day 1: Shinjuku Gyoen (Mon); Day 2: Ginza Kyubey (Sun, Mon); Day 3: Tokyo National Museum (Mon).

Getting around

Tap in and out with a Suica or Pasmo IC card on the trains and metros below (the catalogue lists no fares, so none are quoted here). Walking times follow streets; ride times are estimates. Lines this plan rides: Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, JR Yamanote Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tobu Skytree Line.

Where to stay

Stay within walking distance of a station on one of the lines above: every ride in this plan uses them. The three days cover Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ginza and Tsukiji, Marunouchi, Ueno and Asakusa.

Where you sleep: Fri 4 Dec to Sun 6 Dec, 2 nights

Descriptions are English translations of our catalogue notes, each linked to the page it was taken from.

Walking times follow OpenStreetMap streets. Ride times are estimated from the line length, not a timetable. Line and station names are from OpenStreetMap (ODbL).

Hours are the official times in our catalogue for the weekday each stop falls on. Check the official page before you go.

See the Tokyo travel guide