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Tokyo: A 5-Day Itinerary to Enjoy the Best of the City
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It takes under a week to hit the highlights of Tokyo with a well-planned schedule. Enjoy a balance of nature, pop-culture, shopping and history with our recommended 5-day Tokyo Itinerary.
Written by
Tokyo, Japan
Professional food journalist and part-time PR writer. Also operates private company Japan-Writer, which offers localization services to Japanese chefs and restaurants to create a more symbiotic relationship between travelers and operators. Sydney believes that mindfulness and an open attitude on both sides are the keys to a more sustainably integrated world.
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See All of Tokyo in 5 Days
When travelers commit to spending hours on a plane, slogging through layovers, and fighting off Jetlag, they deserve the best Tokyo vacation they can get.
Packing it all into just five days takes careful planning and time management. We've combed the archives to organize the perfect five-day Tokyo itinerary.
5 Day Tokyo Itenerary
Day 1 - Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree
Day 2 - Tsukiji, Ginza, and Tokyo Station
Day 3 - Ueno Park, Azabudai Hills, Tokyo Tower
Day 4 - Western Tokyo and Shinjuku Nightlife
Day 5 - Shibuya and Yoyogi Park
Day 1 - Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree
Many first-time visitors awake to Tokyo’s shockingly early sunrises with a sense of disbelief. For much of the year, the city enjoys sunrises as early as 4:30 AM, which makes it an ideal city for getting a head-start on visiting all-hours outdoor tourist locations.
An absolute must-see is Asakusa’s Sensoji Temple. This iconic view of Tokyo looks best when it’s mostly empty.
The impressive pagoda, expansive main temple complex, and huge gateway lantern shouldn’t be overlooked during any trip to Tokyo. Take care to be respectful during photo ops, as local security keeps a close eye on tourists.
Nearby, the Richmond Hotel Premier Tokyo Schole offers charming suites and comfortable accommodations that will likely satisfy many foreign guests better than a Japanese business hotel.
The 30-minute walk from the hotel to Sensoji gets the blood flowing after a long trip, but an early-morning preview of Tokyo’s reliable train system can shuttle guests to the temple in under 15 minutes.
Aim to arrive at Sensoji by 10:00 for unobscured views, just as the vendors start to open.
After strolling around the street markets around Sensoji, take lunch at Tempura Akimitsu to enjoy one of Asakusa’s neighborhood specialties.
Towering bowls of crisp tempura fuel travelers after a day walking around the temple, while outdoor seating and all-you-can-drink plans make it easy to rest until the afternoon.
While in Asakusa, visitors owe it to themselves to take the quick jaunt to Tokyo Skytree for a bird' s-eye view of Tokyo. The tower lights up nightly, with shops and restaurants on the lower levers. A high-speed elevator takes guests to the observation deck, located 350 meters above ground.
Hotels near Tokyo Sky Tree
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Day 2 - Tsukiji, Ginza, and Tokyo Station
Although Tokyo’s main wholesale market has shifted to Toyosu, Tsukiji’s outer retail market still begins operations at the crack of dawn. Travelers and locals make 5 AM pilgrimages for the chance to have an extremely fresh and reasonably priced fisherman’s breakfast at one of the kaisendon (sashimi and seafood over a bowl of sushi rice) shops in the area.
Marukita is a kaisendon specialty store with three locations around Tsukiji, each opening at 6 AM. Its menu, which includes daily specials, has options to accommodate many dietary needs, including Halal, and is fully pescatarian.
After breakfast and wandering around the vendors at Tsukiji’s outer market, guests can easily explore nearby areas, which offer a good selection of cultural activities and shopping. Ginza is the nearest station, a perfect place to spend the afternoon shopping or enjoying some luxury pampering.
Ginza’s towering malls, department stores, and signature luxury brand storefronts are excellent for browsing.
For guests who prefer less walking, ANCL’s multistory Ginza facility offers an aesthetic salon and spa services, including a health-conscious cafe.
Ginza is also home to Kabukiza, one of Tokyo’s most recognized Kabuki theaters. Stop here for a taste of the arts before moving towards Tokyo Station. Visit the in-station museum and photograph its stunning facade.
Hotels near Kabukiza
For a travel base that’s accessible from Ginza, Tsukiji, and Tokyo Station, choose a stylish but international business hotel like the Hotel Gracery Ginza. This hotel features sizeable beds, free amenities, and a breakfast buffet.
For dinner that offers a sense of classic luxury without breaking the bank, Ginza’s Rengatei satisfies with nostalgic Western cuisine. Serving rib-sticking fuel after a long day of walking, Rengatei is also the birthplace of karaage, Japan’s famous, home-grown fried chicken.
For those with a broader budget, stick around Tokyo Station and enjoy a luxurious course menu at Maison Marunouchi, overseen by World's 50 Best-selected chef, Daniel Calvert of Sezanne, located in the Four Seasons Hotel.
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Day 3 - Ueno Park, Azabudai Hills, Tokyo Tower
Ueno’s greenspace offers peace and quiet coupled with natural beauty to those who head out in the early hours. For those looking for a later start, Ueno’s park facilities are home to many museums and cultural centers, including a concert hall, zoo, art museum, and anthropology and history museums.
Trying to visit all of them could easily take a whole trip, but the Museum of Western Art, Tokyo National Museum, and Ueno Zoo are fan favorites.
Hotels near Ueno park
After enjoying some culture, enjoy a traditional Japanese lunch at Ueno Yabusoba. While ramen may be Japan’s most internationally famous noodles, soba holds a special place in the hearts of the Japanese people.
These buckwheat noodles are served hot or cold with a variety of authentic toppings, such as seaweed, grated radish, and fried tofu. The rustic taste of soba encapsulates much of the Japanese culinary philosophy in a simple dish.
During the afternoon, travelers are recommended to visit the newly reopened teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills. The experience requires ticket reservations, so make a point to book ahead to secure a space.
This digital art museum is an immersive walk-through projection mapping experience. It’s also close to the Mitsui Garden Hotel Tokyo Premier, a gorgeous hotel with easy access to the Hibiya line, and Tokyo Tower.
Hotels near Azabudai Hills
Tokyo Tower visitors have the option of winding their way up the tower staircase or taking a direct elevator to the observation deck.
Hotels near Tokyo Tower
Its souvenir shops are charmingly kitsch, the food is junky and addictive, and the overall ambiance embodies a televised interpretation of Japan. While you’re here, don’t be afraid to nerd out a little.
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Day 4 - Western Tokyo and Shinjuku Nightlife
On day four, drop off the luggage and strap on your walking shoesfor a trip into Tokyo’s less-traveled West. The JR Chuo rapid line offers the best access from central Tokyo, shuttling visitors from Shinjuku to Takao in about an hour.
Mount Takao’s main hiking trail features a steep vertical incline and a paved path. While the first stretch of the hike is strenuous for some, a cable car service carries visitors past the most challenging part of the hike while offering beautiful views of the mountain’s scenery. From the cable car station, most groups can reach the top in under an hour.
After summiting, briefly visit the mountain’s monkey sanctuary and grab some local dried goods before taking the JR Chuo line back to Nakano, where another rare Tokyo experience awaits.
Nakano is a best-kept secret for its eclectic culture and lively dining scene. For lunch, try the Japanese pork specialty restaurant Tonkatsunori or one of Nakano’s famous tsuke-men dipping ramen shops.
Nakano is full of small shops, bars, and restaurants, but its quirky reputation comes from the mysterious, winding halls of Nakano Broadway.
Nakano Broadway’s maze is a collector’s trove of books, movies, valuable retro figures, and even animation cels. It’s also secretly a good place to hunt for luxury watches and is home to the famous Coffee Zingaro, a coffee curated by artist Takashi Murakami and full of his iconic rainbow flowers.
For Chuo line lodgings, splurge on a luxurious room at the Kimpton Hotel and take a nap before enjoying Tokyo’s lights to the fullest.
The world’s largest permanent projection mapping show plays on Shinjuku’s Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building nightly, starting at 19:00.
After the show, spend a night exploring Kabukicho, with the Kimpton’s respite just blocks away. The Kabukicho nightlife district is home to LGBTQ district 2-chome and Golden Gai’s tight streets of themed bars, many of which offer another serving of playful weirdness on top of their drink menus.
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Day 5 - Shibuya and Yoyogi Park
Finish the trip on a high note with a morning visit to Shibuya, where visitors can watch the black and white parade of salarymen rush across Scramble Crossing.
Shibuya SKY and the newly renovated Starbucks both offer exciting views of the crossing. Be sure to visit Hachiko’s statue as well, which has long been used as a meet-up point for friends and couples.
Shibuya offers more shopping at trend-setting Shibuya 109, the definitive source of young women’s fashion in Tokyo. For a more mature crowd, visit the luxurious Shibuya Parco and indoor-outdoor shopping and dining complex, Miyashita Park.
From Shibuya, take the JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku and spend the afternoon visiting the Meiji Jingu Shrine, an important historical site that honors Emperor Meiji, the father of modern Japan. The park offers several museums and cafes and is a good place to unwind after an exciting trip.
Hotels near Meiji Jingu
In Harajuku, young people will enjoy the poppy streets of Takeshita Dori and La Foret building, where alternative fashion takes center stage. The now well-known I’m Donut? Brand has a popular storefront here, as well.
For the evening, end your Tokyo trip in style with a stay at one of Tokyo’s first Michelin-key awarded hotels, the Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park.
This elegant venue combines the most memorable parts of elegant Japanese aesthetics with world-class amenities. Overlook Yoyogi Park for a picturesque view that embodies Tokyo itself—a marriage of the new and old, green and glass, human and natural.
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Enjoy Exploring Tokyo
This five-day itinerary offers a dose of everything Tokyo has to offer, from history and nature to nightlife and pop culture. We’ve selected can’t miss tourist spots as well as a few areas loved by locals.
Customize to suit your budget and preferences with one of our recommended hotels, which range from efficient to opulent. A visitor’s first time in Tokyo is often a life-changing visit; using this guide as a jumping-off point, explore MATCHA’s library of activities, restaurants, and accommodations to craft your perfect 5-day Tokyo itinerary.
All pictures by Pixta
Professional food journalist and part-time PR writer. Also operates private company Japan-Writer, which offers localization services to Japanese chefs and restaurants to create a more symbiotic relationship between travelers and operators. Sydney believes that mindfulness and an open attitude on both sides are the keys to a more sustainably integrated world.
more
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