3 days in Tokyo

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Senso-ji Temple

      Tokyo's oldest temple, founded according to tradition in 628, is approached through the Kaminarimon gate with its giant red lantern and along Nakamise-dori, a 250-metre street of snack and souvenir stalls.

   2. Late morning

      Meiji Jingu Shrine

      Enter from the Harajuku side and leave through the quieter Yoyogi side, or continue into Yoyogi Park next door.

   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

      When the lights change at Shibuya's scramble crossing, pedestrians pour across from every direction at once, in their thousands at busy times.

   5. Evening

      Tokyo Skytree

      Pay for the upper deck only if the sky is clear; on hazy days the lower deck is enough.

2. Day 2: Tokyo Tower and Shibuya Sky

   Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Sky and Tsukiji Outer Market, then Akihabara in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Tokyo Tower

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

   2. Late morning

      Shibuya Sky

      The open-air rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square, about 230 metres up, gives a 360-degree view over the crossing far below, Shinjuku's towers and, on clear days, Mount Fuji.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ramen

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

   4. Afternoon

      Tsukiji Outer Market

      Arrive by mid-morning, as many stalls wind down by early afternoon, and eat standing beside the stall rather than walking through the crowded lanes.

   5. 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.

3. Day 3: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Golden Gai

   Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Golden Gai and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories, then Odaiba in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

      A former imperial garden combining French formal, English landscape and traditional Japanese styles over 58 hectares, with a large greenhouse and around 1,000 cherry trees of many varieties that flower over several weeks.

   2. Late morning

      Golden Gai

      Go after 9pm, check the cover charge posted by the door, and ask before taking photos inside a bar.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tsukemen

      Specialist tsukemen shops around Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Tokyo Station.

   4. Afternoon

      Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories

      Kenzo Tange's twin-towered city hall has free observation rooms 202 metres up on the 45th floor, looking over Shinjuku's skyscrapers and, on clear winter days, Mount Fuji.

   5. Evening

      Odaiba

      Sit at the front of the Yurikamome for the view as it loops onto the Rainbow Bridge, and stay for the illuminated skyline at dusk.

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 Tokyo National Museum (Ueno): Start in the main Honkan building for an overview of Japanese art, then save the dimly lit Horyuji gallery for a quiet finish.
• 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

With 3 nights, Shinjuku keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Ginza and Marunouchi ($$$$) suits luxury, families, shopping and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 16–22 hours of visiting over 3 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.

More or fewer days

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

Questions travellers ask