One day 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

      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. Allow 1–2 hours.

   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. Allow 1–1.5 hours.

   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

      Watch from above at Shibuya Sky or from the station's upper walkways, then cross it yourself at dusk when the screens light up. Allow 30 minutes.

   5. Late afternoon

      Tokyo Skytree

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

   6. Evening

      Tokyo Tower

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

Before you go

• Tokyo Skytree: Timed tickets bought online save queuing at weekends and holidays.

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

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 5–7 hours of visiting over one day, 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

• 2 days in Tokyo
• 3 days in Tokyo
• 4 days in Tokyo
• 5 days in Tokyo
• 7 days in Tokyo

Questions travellers ask