4 days in Tokyo

Day by day

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

   Senso-ji Temple, Meiji Jingu Shrine and Harajuku and Takeshita Street, then Shibuya Crossing in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Senso-ji Temple

      Allow 1–2 hours (free). Come at dawn or after dark, when the buildings are lit and the crowds have gone; the temple grounds stay accessible after the stalls close.

   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

      Harajuku and Takeshita Street

      Allow 1–2 hours (free). Go on a weekday morning to avoid shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, then explore the quieter backstreets of Ura-Harajuku.

   5. Evening

      Shibuya Crossing

      Watch from above at Shibuya Sky or from the station's upper walkways, then cross it yourself at dusk when the screens light up.

2. Day 2: Shibuya Sky and Tokyo Skytree

   Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower, then Golden Gai in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Shibuya Sky

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

   2. Late morning

      Tokyo Skytree

      Allow 1.5–2 hours (mid-priced). Pay for the upper deck only if the sky is clear; on hazy days the lower deck is enough.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ramen

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

   4. Afternoon

      Tokyo Tower

      Its Main Deck at 150 metres and Top Deck at 250 metres give closer views over central Tokyo than the Skytree, and its illumination makes it the city's classic night landmark.

   5. Evening

      Golden Gai

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

3. Day 3: Tsukiji Outer Market and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

   Tsukiji Outer Market, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories, then Akihabara in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Tsukiji Outer Market

      Allow 1.5–2 hours (free). 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.

   2. Late morning

      Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

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

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tsukemen

      Specialist tsukemen shops around Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Tokyo Station.

   4. Afternoon

      Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories

      Allow 45 minutes (free). Go on a clear winter morning for the best chance of seeing Mount Fuji, and check which tower's observatory is open that day.

   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.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Kamakura

   About 1 hour by train each way. Getting there: JR Yokosuka line from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Kamakura

      About 1 hour by train (JR Yokosuka line from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa); about 50 km.

   2. Day

      Kamakura

      The seaside former capital has the 13-metre bronze Great Buddha at Kotoku-in, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine and dozens of Zen temples in wooded hills. In summer Yuigahama beach is a short walk from town, and the Enoden railway continues along the coast to Enoshima island.

   3. Evening

      Back in Tokyo

      Dinner: try Tempura.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Tokyo Skytree and Shibuya Sky before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 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 14–20 hours of visiting over 4 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
• 3 days in Tokyo
• 5 days in Tokyo
• 7 days in Tokyo

Questions travellers ask