Tokyo in 5 Days: A Complete Itinerary

Five days in Tokyo is enough to do the city justice without rushing. Stay in one neighbourhood, use the trains, and treat each day as a single anchor location with optional add-ons. This itinerary assumes you're comfortable walking 8 - 10 km per day and happy to let the trains do the heavy lifting. Tokyo is large, but it's surprisingly manageable once you understand the Yamanote loop and the handful of private lines that branch off it.

Where to stay

Pick a station on the Yamanote line. Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Tokyo Station all give you fast access to everything. First-timers tend to enjoy Shinjuku for the energy; couples often prefer the Tokyo Station / Marunouchi area for calmer evenings.

Shinjuku puts you within 20 minutes of most major sights and keeps you near the city's best late-night food options. The west exit has the big hotels and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building | North Observation Deck (4.5★, free); the east exit has the izakaya lanes and department store basements. Trains run every few minutes in all directions, and you're one stop from Harajuku, three from Shibuya.

Tokyo Station and the Marunouchi district offer a quieter alternative with equally good connections. You'll pay slightly more for hotels here, but the neighbourhood feels more residential after dark, and you're a short walk from the Imperial Palace East National Gardens (4.4★). Nihonbashi, one station east, is another solid option if you want proximity to traditional shops and easy airport access via the Narita Express.

Shibuya is louder and younger. It's excellent if you want to be in the thick of things, but it can feel relentless after a long day. Ikebukuro, further north on the Yamanote, is a practical middle ground with lower accommodation costs and direct train access to Kawagoe for a half-day side trip.

Wherever you choose, confirm the hotel is within five minutes' walk of a station. Tokyo's trains stop running around midnight, and taxis add up quickly if you miss the last service.

Day 1 - East: temples and old streets

Start in Asakusa at Sensō-ji before the crowds. Walk down Nakamise-dōri, then take a slow boat along the Sumida river to Hamarikyū Gardens for tea overlooking the bay. Finish in Ginza for window-shopping and an early dinner.

The eastern wards represent old Tokyo, and Asakusa is the easiest entry point. Take the Ginza Line to Asakusa Station and arrive before 09:00 if you want to see Sensō-ji without the tour groups. The temple itself is free to enter, and the incense smoke, red lanterns, and rows of omikuji fortune stalls give you the visual shorthand for traditional Japan in one compact precinct. Nakamise-dōri, the shopping street leading to the main gate, is relentlessly commercial, but it's also where you'll find ningyo-yaki (small filled cakes) and hand fans if you want an inexpensive souvenir.

From Asakusa, walk east along the river to the water bus terminal near Azumabashi bridge. The Sumida River Line runs to Hamarikyu Gardens and takes roughly 40 minutes, costing around ¥1,000. It's a slow boat, and the views are industrial for the first half, but it's a pleasant way to cover ground without backtracking on the metro. The gardens themselves (entrance typically around ¥300) are a former shogunate retreat with tidal ponds, a teahouse serving matcha and wagashi (around ¥500 for the set), and a striking backdrop of Shiodome's high-rises. The contrast is deliberate and photogenic.

Ginza is a 15-minute walk north from the garden exit, or one stop on the Toei Ōedo Line from Shiodome Station. Ginza is not a budget district, but window-shopping is free, and the architecture along Chūō-dōri is worth the stroll. Uniqlo's flagship, the Ginza Six mall, and the old Wako department store clock tower anchor the main strip. For dinner, explore the side streets west of the main avenue where smaller restaurants serve tonkatsu, tempura, and soba at midrange prices (budget ¥2,000 - ¥4,000 per person). If you're jetlagged, this is a forgiving first day with minimal transfers and a clear narrative arc from historic to modern.

Day 2 - Central: museums and the Imperial Palace

Spend the morning at the Imperial Palace East National Gardens, then walk to teamLab Borderless: MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM depending on your mood. End the day in Roppongi or Akasaka for dinner.

The Imperial Palace East National Gardens (4.4★) open at 09:00 (closed Mondays and Fridays; check before travelling) and are free to enter. The gardens occupy the former site of Edo Castle's innermost defences, and while the main palace is off-limits, the stone walls, moats, and restored guardhouses provide enough context. Budget 60 - 90 minutes, and bring water in summer when the grounds bake under full sun. The gardens close at 16:30 in winter, 17:00 in most other months, so a morning visit makes sense.

From Tokyo Station, the garden entrance at Ōte-mon gate is a 10-minute walk north. After your visit, teamLab Borderless: MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM (4.6★) offers immersive, colourful digital art installations that are popular with visitors seeking photo opportunities. Tickets must be booked online with a time slot. The venue is in Roppongi and easily accessible via the Hibiya Line from Ginza or a direct connection from Tokyo Station via the Marunouchi Line to Roppongi Station.

The National Art Center, Tokyo (4.4★) offers a more traditional curatorial approach with rotating exhibitions of Japanese and international art in a large, modern venue. It's also in Roppongi, a 15-minute ride on the Hibiya Line from Ginza or a direct connection from Tokyo Station via the Marunouchi Line to Roppongi Station.

Roppongi and Akasaka both offer strong dinner options. Roppongi skews international with good Italian, French, and fusion restaurants clustered around the Midtown and Hills complexes. Akasaka feels more business-oriented with a higher density of traditional izakaya and yakitori specialists in the backstreets near the TBS broadcast centre. If you want robatayaki (charcoal-grilled skewers), Akasaka is the better bet. Expect to spend ¥4,000 - ¥6,000 per person for a full meal with a few drinks.

Day 3 - West: Shibuya and Harajuku

Cross Shibuya Crossing, climb up to Shibuya Sky for one of the best skyline views in Tokyo, then walk to Harajuku via Cat Street. Save the evening for Shimokitazawa, the city's best low-key neighbourhood for vintage shopping and small bars.

Shibuya works best if you start mid-morning and lean into the chaos. Shibuya Crossing (4.5★) is obligatory, best viewed from the Starbucks on the second floor of the Tsutaya building if you want the elevated perspective. Shibuya Sky (4.6★), the 360° open-air observation deck on the rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square, costs around ¥2,000 and requires a timed ticket booked in advance. The deck sits 230 metres up with panoramic views and, on clear days, a distant sightline to Mt. Fuji. Go before 11:00 or after 16:00 to avoid the midday tour groups.

From Shibuya Station, walk north through the backstreets towards Harajuku. Cat Street, a pedestrian shopping lane parallel to Omotesandō, is lined with boutiques, sneaker shops, and small cafés. It's quieter than Takeshita-dōri, Harajuku's main tourist strip, and more representative of how younger Tokyoites actually dress. Takeshita-dōri itself is worth a quick walk-through for the crepe stands and chaotic energy, but it's narrow, crowded, and exhausting if you linger.

Meiji Jingu (4.6★), Tokyo's most visited Shinto shrine surrounded by forest, is a five-minute walk west from Harajuku Station through a forested approach that feels removed from the city. The shrine is free, and the gravel courtyard and towering torii gates offer a stark tonal shift from the shopping streets. Budget 30 - 45 minutes unless you want to explore the seasonal iris garden (separate entrance, around ¥500).

Shimokitazawa is two stops west from Shibuya on the Keio Inokashira Line and deserves your evening. The neighbourhood is a tangle of narrow lanes filled with second-hand clothing stores, record shops, small theatre spaces, and izakaya that don't bother with English menus. It's where you'll find students, musicians, and the kind of unpretentious Tokyo that doesn't make it into guidebooks. Dinner might be yakitori under a railway arch, curry rice in a six-seat counter restaurant, or standing bar snacks with highballs. The atmosphere is the point, not any single venue.

Day 4 - A day trip

Pick one: Kamakura for temples and the Great Buddha; Nikkō for the Toshogu shrine and waterfalls; Hakone for onsen and a Mt. Fuji view (book the Hakone Free Pass). All three are 1 - 2 hours from Tokyo by train.

Kamakura is the easiest logistically. Take the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station to Kita-Kamakura (around 55 minutes, roughly ¥920). Start at Engaku-ji or Kenchō-ji, two large Zen temple complexes with forested grounds, then walk south into central Kamakura for lunch on Komachi-dōri, the town's main shopping street. The Great Buddha at Kotoku-in (4.4★, around ¥300 entry) is a 15-minute bus or train ride west; the tranquil temple is known for its monumental, outdoor bronze statue of the Buddha in the seated position. Hase Temple (4.5★), nearby, is a Buddhist temple and gardens dating from the 8th century with a huge wooden statue of the god Kannon, plus hillside views worth the additional entry fee (around ¥400). The round trip, including temple time and a meal, fits comfortably into six or seven hours.

Nikkō demands an earlier start and a full day. The limited express train from Asakusa on the Tobu Line takes just under two hours (around ¥2,800 each way, or consider a day pass if you plan multiple temples). Nikkō Tōshōgū (4.5★) is the main draw, an opulent 17th-century shrine complex honouring the first shogun and featuring colourful buildings and art. Entry is around ¥1,300. Rinnō-ji and Taiyūin-byō are both nearby and included on combination tickets. If you have time, Shinkyō Bridge (4.2★), a black-and-red bridge with a storied past framed by dense forest known for its striking autumn colours, is worth a brief stop. The Kegon Falls and Lake Chūzenji are a 40-minute bus ride west, though this adds significant time to an already long day. Nikkō is busiest during autumn foliage season (late October to early November) when crowds and accommodation prices peak.

Hakone offers onsen, mountain scenery, and the best chance of a clear Mt. Fuji view, though weather is never guaranteed. The Hakone Free Pass (around ¥6,100 from Shinjuku, valid for two or three days) covers the return train, local buses, the ropeway, and the pirate ship across Lake Ashi. Leave Shinjuku by 08:00 on the Odakyu Romance Car (seat reservation required, around ¥1,300 extra) and ride to Hakone-Yumoto in 90 minutes. From there, use the pass to ride the switchback train to Gōra, the cable car to Sōunzan, and the ropeway to Owakudani Information Center (4.2★), the active volcanic valley where visitors can enjoy Mt. Fuji views and eat black eggs boiled in hot springs. Hakone Shrine (4.4★), a historic Shinto shrine in a verdant lakefront setting, is further along the loop at Moto-Hakone. A day trip is feasible but tight; staying overnight lets you try a ryokan and a proper onsen soak.

All three destinations are worthwhile, but choose based on your interests. Kamakura suits temple enthusiasts and those wary of long train rides. Nikkō appeals to history and craft aficionados willing to start early. Hakone is for landscape, onsen culture, and anyone who wants that postcard shot of a torii gate framing Mt. Fuji across the water.

Day 5 - Slow morning, themed afternoon

Coffee in Daikanyama, then commit to one obsession: anime in Akihabara, design in Aoyama, kitchenware in Kappabashi, or food halls under Tokyo Station (look for "Ekibenya"). Pack the evening with one nice dinner, sushi or tempura, to mark the end of the trip.

Daikanyama, one stop south of Shibuya on the Tokyu Toyoko Line, is Tokyo's most self-consciously stylish neighbourhood. Tsutaya Books anchors the area with a three-building complex of curated shelves, a gallery space, and a café that spills onto a terrace. It's the sort of place where locals read magazines for two hours over a single espresso. The surrounding streets are quiet, tree-lined, and filled with small boutiques selling homewares, stationery, and clothing at prices that confirm you're not in a tourist district.

Your afternoon should indulge a specific interest. Akihabara is the anime and electronics district, centred on Chūō-dōri where multi-storey shops sell figures, manga, retro video games, and maid café flyers. Mandarake and Super Potato are the anchor stores for collectors. If this isn't your subculture, it's still worth a quick walk-through for the sheer density of visual stimuli. Akihabara is two stops from Tokyo Station on the JR Yamanote or Chūō-Sōbu lines.

Aoyama, accessible via Omotesandō Station on the Ginza, Chiyoda, or Hanzōmon lines, is where Japanese and international design studios maintain flagship stores. Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, and the Prada building by Herzog & de Meuron line Omotesandō avenue. Smaller galleries and concept stores occupy the side streets south towards Gaienmae. It's browsing territory, and most visitors leave empty-handed but visually satisfied.

Kappabashi, Tokyo's kitchenware district, sits between Asakusa and Ueno on the Ginza Line (Tawaramachi Station). The street stretches for nearly a kilometre with shops selling knives, ceramics, plastic food samples, and commercial kitchen equipment. If you want a Japanese chef's knife or a set of rice bowls, this is where you'll find the best selection and knowledgeable staff. Most shops close by 17:00, so plan accordingly.

The food halls and depachika (department store basements) under Tokyo Station and the adjoining Daimaru department store are a sensory overload of bento, sweets, and prepared foods. Ekibenya Matsuri, on the first basement floor near the Yaesu exit, specialises in ekiben (train bento boxes) from across Japan. It's an affordable way to sample regional cooking (most boxes cost ¥1,000 - ¥1,500) and doubles as a practical dinner option if you're catching an evening train.

For your final dinner, choose something traditional and book ahead if possible. Conveyor belt sushi chains like Uobei or Kura Sushi are reliable and inexpensive (around ¥2,000 - ¥3,000 per person), but if you want a composed experience, look for a mid-tier sushi counter in Ginza or Tsukiji Outer Market where the chef prepares nigiri in front of you. Tempura specialists in neighbourhoods like Nihonbashi or Kanda serve multi-course meals (around ¥5,000 - ¥8,000) with precise frying technique and seasonal ingredients. Both formats give you a clear endpoint to the trip and a meal worth remembering.

Practical transport tips

Tokyo's train network is famously complex, but five days is enough time to internalise the basics. The JR Yamanote Line is your reference loop, circling central Tokyo in roughly 60 minutes with stops at all the major districts. Most of your trips will involve one or two transfers, and platforms are well-signposted in English.

Buy a prepaid Suica or Pasmo card at any station and load it with ¥2,000 - ¥3,000 to start. Tap in and out at the gates, and the system calculates the fare automatically. Both cards work on JR lines, private railways, buses, and most convenience stores. If you're staying near a single line and not planning multiple day trips, a card is cheaper and more flexible than a multi-day pass.

The JR Pass is not cost-effective for Tokyo alone unless you're also travelling to Kyoto, Osaka, or another distant city within the same week. A seven-day ordinary pass costs around ¥29,000, and you'd need at least two long-distance shinkansen trips to break even. For the day trips listed here, individual tickets or regional passes are better value.

Download Google Maps or the Japan Transit Planner app for real-time train directions. Both account for delays, platform numbers, and transfer times. Trains run until around midnight, with the last services departing major stations between 23:30 and 00:30. If you're out later, night buses run along key routes, or budget ¥3,000 - ¥5,000 for a taxi to your hotel.

Booking notes

Reserve any high-end restaurant six weeks ahead through your hotel concierge or a service like TableCheck. teamLab Borderless: MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM and Shibuya Sky should be booked online before you fly; both sell out on weekends and Japanese holidays. The shinkansen seat for your day trip can be booked the morning of at a JR Midori no Madoguchi ticket office if you're happy with unreserved seating, though reserved seats are worth the small extra fee (around ¥500 - ¥1,000) for comfort.

If you're visiting during cherry blossom season (late March to early April) or autumn foliage (November), book accommodation three months in advance, particularly for Hakone or Nikko. Popular ryokan and hotels fill quickly, and prices rise accordingly. Golden Week (late April to early May) and the Obon holiday (mid-August) are similarly busy and best avoided unless you've pre-booked everything.

SIM cards or pocket Wi-Fi rentals are available at both Narita and Haneda airports. Pocket Wi-Fi devices cost around ¥1,000 - ¥1,500 per day and support multiple devices, making them practical if you're travelling as a pair or group. Data-only SIM cards are cheaper but require an unlocked phone.