The Ultimate Tokyo 5-Day Itinerary

When it comes to deciding how much time to spend in Tokyo, my number one tip is a minimum of 5 days. This ultimate Tokyo itinerary will help you plan your time throughout Japans incredible city, giving you the very weightier experiences.

Over the years I have had the pleasure of visiting Tokyo a handful of times. Its a vibrant and expansive municipality you could hands spend a few weeks here winding through the neighborhoods. From incredible dining and popping coffee shops to wondrous day trips, Tokyo offers a one-of-a-kind cosmopolitan experience.

Tokyo may finger overwhelming to plan for. I remember my first trip trying to narrow lanugo just exactly what to do. There is a lot to segregate from but the weightier part is that you dont have to do it all. And Ive narrowed lanugo the very weightier highlights in a practical itinerary to follow.

If youre traveling increasingly in Japan, consider including this 5-days as part of a larger Two Week Itinerary in Japan. Its a wonderful start to any trip here.

The fast-paced municipality is much increasingly than municipality culture. Youll find traditional arts, untried spaces, unique dining experiences, and much more. I hope this itinerary guide to visiting Tokyo will help you plan your dream trip. Im food-focused, inspired by design, and live for local experiences so this itinerary is all of that and more.

Short on Time? Here Are My Top Picks for the Weightier Hotels in Tokyo:

JR-East Hotel Mets Shibuya, for the weightier location
Shibuya Granbell Hotel, for the weightier location
Hotel Emit, for the weightier shop hotel
Mustard Hotel, for the weightier modern hotel

The Ultimate Tokyo 5-Day Itinerary

Tokyo Travel Tips Before You Arrive

After my last two recent trips, Ive narrowed lanugo some dos and donts that youll want to consider surpassing you victorious in Tokyo. Give this a read to get a sense of what will help plan your Tokyo itinerary.

Consider Booking Your Trip Over a Weekend

Many of the places included unelevated are weightier visited on the weekends. This itinerary can be washed-up in any order, just be sure to personize opening times as they may transpiration seasonally. Ive pulled together day itineraries here in pockets of Tokyo to cut lanugo on travel time.

Make Sure Your Google Maps Are Downloaded Offline

One of the most helpful things you can do is to have your Google Maps downloaded offline for the Tokyo region. In wing to having Google Maps on your phone, there is a full-length for offline maps that allows you to have the map wieldy without data.

Pre-Purchase Your JR Rail Pass

Odds are you will want a JR Rail Pass for your trip if you plan to do any hopping around, like Tokyo to Kyoto. You have to wield and purchase your JR Rail Pass prior to inrush in Japan. While in Tokyo you can use this JR pass for the JR Lines only wideness the municipality and it is plane good for the Narita Express Line which takes you from Narita Airport into Shibuya/Shinjuku area.

To be eligible, you have to enter Japan as a temporary visitor (typical visa entry) and be sure to have the entry stamp on your passport. You�purchase the JR Rail Pass�prior to arriving in Japan, it is sent to your home, and then upon arrival, you go to a JR office (at most stations/airports) and mart it for your pass.

Read Transportation Tips for Japan for a increasingly in-depth guide on getting virtually Japan.

Get a Prepaid SIM Card

Wi-Fi is your weightier friend in Tokyo and I highly recommend getting a Prepaid SIM Card surpassing arrival. The last time I went, we had to do a increasingly complicated SIM Vellum purchase at a 7/11 store, but now you can pre-purchase this highly reviewed data vellum on Amazon (which is what Id do now).

Where to Stay in Tokyo

I highly recommend basing yourself in a single location for your time in Tokyo. Switching accommodations can be a headache with the trains, so picking a home wiring is helpful. I recommend stuff based in either Shinjuku or Shibuya. When you pick your accommodations, make sure there is a train station within 10 minutes of walking loftiness youll use it a lot.

Throughout my trips, Ive stayed at:

Best Location ($): JR-East Hotel Mets Shibuya

There is veritably nothing fancy well-nigh this hotel. Hotel Mets is purely a logistic nomination for accommodations and the location is one of the best. Youre practically inside the Shibuya Train Station, making it very easy to explore Tokyo. The rooms are wipe and simple, providing everything you need for a visit. Book the weightier rates here.

Address: 3 Chome-29-17 Shibuya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan

Best Location ($$): Shibuya Granbell Hotel

I have stayed twice at the Shibuya Granbell Hotel, one incredible location then inside the Shibuya Train Station. The rooms are a bit increasingly elevated than the Hotel Mets but not by much. Its a unconfined second option pending on which style you prefer. Book the weightier rates here.

Address: 15-17 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0031, Japan

Best Apartment Rental ($$): Designer Flat in Shibuya

One of my favorite stays in Tokyo was this Designer Flat in Shibuya. Sleek, glue walls in a modern building, this was a unconfined stay. It was a bit remoter from the train station however, we had a increasingly neighborhood wits which I personally enjoyed. Book the weightier rates here.

Other Shibuya Hotels to Consider

TRUNK HOTEL, for an eco-chic stay
Hotel Emit, for the weightier shop hotel
Mustard Hotel, for the weightier modern hotel

Day 1: Yoyogi Park, Harajuku, & Omotesando/Aoyama

Yoyogi Park & Area

There is no largest place to start your trip than Yoyogi Park. It is Tokyos large untried space and home to zen gardens and Shinto shrines. I find it really relaxing to stretch my legs out without a long travel day. Surpassing inward the park, Id stop into CAMELBACK Sandwich & Espresso for one of their creative sandwiche and grab a coffee to go. If theyre not unshut yet, go to Coffee Supreme Tokyo around the corner.

Stroll up into the park, and make your way to Meiji Jingu, the stunning Shinto Shrine. You can partake in the water purification ritual, where you ladle water from the fountain into your hands to wash your mouth. As you walk out of the Meiji Torii gates towards Harajuku, dont forget to stop by the picturesque Meiji Jingue Consecrated Sake Barrels.

Harajuku

Harajuku is a whirlwind of a neighborhood. It really doesnt come to life until without 10 am, but when it does, it gets jammed packed. The famous Takeshita Dori street runs right through it and youll start to see the crowds line up for various supplies shops. Pop into one of the famous Japanese crepe stores while here for a Tokyo classic.

For lunch, protract through the neighborhood to Sakura-tei Restaurant where you can make your own okonomiyaki. These savory Japanese pancakes are my wool favorite, made of cabbage and your protein of choice, and its so fun to make it yourself. (make reservations.)

Omotesando Aoyama

Ometesando is arguably the most upscale neighborhood in Tokyo. This is where youll find all of your high-end shopping, boutiques, cafe, and restaurants. You can protract into Omotesando right from Harajuku. Stop at Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku for the famous escalator that is built with geometric mirrors (such a trip).

There are many stores in the neighborhood, like the famous AMORE Vintage for vintage luxury handbags. I love going into B-Side Label for all of the fun stickers you can collect. This whole neighborhood warrants 2-3 hours of just perusing. For caffeine needs, stop into the beautiful Blue snifter in Aoyama or Cafe Kitsune.

To end the day, make your way to Nezu Museum in Aoyama (open Tues-Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm). This is my favorite museum in all of Tokyo the hodgepodge of pre-modern art and the gardens are wonderful. For dinner this night, pre-reserve the weightier tonkatsu meal in Tokyo at Butagumi. Its a life-changing meal, and well worth the price.

Day 2: Nakameguro, Shimokitazawa, & Shibuya

Nakameguro to Meguro

In the morning, hop on the train to Naka-Meguro Station. Youll pop out and walk over to Onibus Coffee for one of the weightier cups of coffee in town, its a peaceful start to the day. From there, make your way to the Meguro River which cuts through the scenic Meguro Neighborhood.

If you time it right, youll be treated to the weightier cherry floweret trees around. (Direction: Sakura Bridge.) This neighborhood is scenic and makes for just a good stroll and squint virtually during the mid-morning to afternoon, I like to grab something quick at a 7/11 like Onigiri.

Shimokitazawa

Ive included Shimokitazawa on this day as I find youll go through Nakameguro and Meguro quite quickly and Shimokitazawa is scrutinizingly unchangingly a bit out of the way to get to anyways. From Nakameguro, it is most user-friendly to go by car or consider the train which is 1 switch.

Once in Shimokitazawa, I love how quaint and local this neighborhood feels. A few favorites from our past trips have been Bear Pond Espresso for coffee to start our time. Afterward, I love to stroll through the main shopping zone tabbed Shimokitazawa Ichibangai Shopping Street which is pedestrian-only (right out of the train station). And do make sure to stop into Fog Linen Work for the weightier home goods store around!

Shibuya

Late afternoon into evening, throne to Shibuya for the precipitance of Tokyo municipality life. Its so much fun to be here for sunset and into the evening as the lights come on and the municipality bursts with life. Youll want to see the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing, where hundreds of people navigate at the same time.

If youre looking for a view, the newest observation deck to unshut in Tokyo is the Shibuya SKY Observation Deck, which could be worth subtracting to the itinerary if you have time. Shibuya is moreover known for shopping. My must-see store is unchangingly Shibuya Loft.

For dinner, there are a few choices. The first is to stay right in the zone and get soba noodles at Sagatani Shibuya Dogenzaka. You use a vending machine to purchase your meal nomination (ask for help) and they make your noodles right there. Its in Dogenzaka which is a popping neighborhood for ramen, gyoza, bars, and nightlife.

If I were to pick, I would throne up to FUKU Yakitori for the weightier meal (in my opinion) in Tokyo. Its a traditional yakitori-style meal that youll need your accommodations to undeniability in to reserve (trust me). Ive eaten here well-nigh a half dozen times. I start and end every Japan trip with a meal here.

Day 3: Tsukiji Fish Market, teamLab Planets, & Ramen

Tsukiji Outer Market

The early bird gets the worm here or in this specimen the weightier tuna. If youre looking to watch the tuna auctions, you need to go to the new Toyosu Market (I havent been, really for only watching the auctions at 5 am). But if youre not doing that, the Tsukiji market is where its at (train to Tsukiji Station).

Youll stroll through the markets, shopping for various items fom supplies to cookware. The thing to do here is to eat sushi for breakfast there are several famous stalls, but my favorite is Sushizanmai Main Branch. Its a bit nonflexible to find but use Google Maps to find this dozen-seat sushi bar tucked inside for a set menu.

If its too busy, really most sushi stalls will be just fine. Id preordain 2 hours or so to peruse virtually here.

Visit teamLab Planets

One of my favorite things was visiting teamLabs walkout and its not terribly nonflexible to get to from Tsukiji. The current walkout unshut is teamLab Planets, and youll need tickets to get in. As of now, the walkout is set to be unshut through 2023, and try to stave peak hours for a visit. Get tickets here.

Late Ramen Lunch

One of our favorite meals in Tokyo is to go for ramen. There are so many spots to segregate from and we typically do this the same day as our morning at Tsukiji. You could throne into Ginza which is tropical by to Tsukiji, and our favorite there is Hashigo Ginza Hon-Ten. It will put you in the Ginza neighborhood which is unconfined for a stroll.

If youre unshut to going further, Ramen Jiro Mita Honten has been a regular pilgrimage for us. Their hopping bowls of ramen topped with garlic in fatty pork goop are a favorite. The lines are unchangingly long, so make sure to get there at least an hour surpassing closing. Weve never found much to do afterward, but you could go up to Tokyo Tower afterward.

Day 4: Shinjuku & Beyond

Shinjuku

There is so much to do in Shinjuku, one of the major hubs in Tokyo for merchantry and dining. When you go is up to you, some like to start in the afternoon and stay through the night. One of my first stops is always Omoide Yokocho, a small thruway with several izakaya stalls for food.

Another thing to see in Shinjuku is to see the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, unconfined for Sakura season as well. It has 144 acres of botanical gardens, so you could woodcut out an hour or two here.

Come nighttime, the whoopee is all in Shinjukus Golden Gai. Four blocks of narrow alleys are filled with bars, pubs, and taverns. Its a bit wild come night, so be mindful when you visit.

Day 5: Take a Day Trip

There are several wonderful day trips to consider from Tokyo which is quite easy as the trains are so well connected. On the final day, you could consider taking one or add a few things from the marrow list. I unchangingly leave the final day to be unshut pending what we want to do.

Some popular day trips: