2 days in Tokyo

Day by day

1. Day 1: Senso-ji Temple and Meiji Jingu Shrine

   Senso-ji Temple, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Shibuya Crossing and Tokyo Skytree, then Tokyo Tower in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Senso-ji Temple

      In front of the main hall, visitors waft incense smoke over themselves for good health and draw omikuji paper fortunes.

   2. Late morning

      Meiji Jingu Shrine

      Huge wooden torii gates lead along gravel paths to the main hall, where traditional wedding processions often pass on weekends.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sushi

      Conveyor-belt chains for value, Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast, and reservation-only counters in Ginza for omakase.

   4. Afternoon

      Shibuya Crossing

      The bronze statue of Hachiko, the loyal dog who waited here for his late owner, is the classic meeting point outside the station.

   5. Late afternoon

      Tokyo Skytree

      On clear days the view stretches to Mount Fuji, and the Solamachi shopping complex, an aquarium and a planetarium sit at its base.

   6. Evening

      Tokyo Tower

      Photograph it from the grounds of Zojo-ji temple, or from the Shiba Park lawns at dusk.

2. Day 2: Shibuya Sky and Tsukiji Outer Market

   Shibuya Sky, Tsukiji Outer Market, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Tokyo National Museum, then Akihabara in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Shibuya Sky

      Glass corners and a rooftop lounge make it a popular sunset spot.

   2. Late morning

      Tsukiji Outer Market

      The wholesale fish market moved to Toyosu in 2018, but the outer market's hundreds of shops and stalls still sell knives, tea, dried goods and street food: tamagoyaki omelette on a stick, grilled scallops and bowls of fresh sashimi on rice for breakfast.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ramen

      Ramen shops near every major station, often ordered by ticket machine; Tokyo Station has a dedicated Ramen Street.

   4. Afternoon

      Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

      A small entry fee and a ban on alcohol keep it calmer than other parks in blossom season.

   5. Late afternoon

      Tokyo National Museum

      The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, a minimalist building by Yoshio Taniguchi, holds 7th- and 8th-century Buddhist artefacts.

   6. Evening

      Akihabara

      Explore the side streets west of Chuo-dori for second-hand games and figures; on some Sunday afternoons the main street is closed to traffic.

Before you go

• Tokyo Skytree: Timed tickets bought online save queuing at weekends and holidays.
• Shibuya Sky: Sunset time slots sell out well in advance; book online.

If it rains

• Swap in teamLab Planets (Toyosu): Wear shorts or trousers that roll above the knee, as you will wade through water, and avoid skirts in the mirrored rooms.
• Swap in Ghibli Museum (Mitaka): Walk to the museum through Inokashira Park from Kichijoji Station, about 15 minutes.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–18 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.8 hours in December to 14.6 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Train. The JR Yamanote line loops around central Tokyo, linking Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Tokyo Station, Akihabara and Ueno in about an hour for the full circle, with trains every few minutes.

More or fewer days

• One day in Tokyo
• 3 days in Tokyo
• 4 days in Tokyo
• 5 days in Tokyo
• 7 days in Tokyo

Questions travellers ask