Japan is undoubtedly one of my favorite countries to visit. Tokyo is such a massive city with so much to do, eat, and see, so it makes sense to feel a bit overwhelmed while planning your trip. This Tokyo itinerary covers it all — what to eat, where to go, and how to get there.
I visited the attractions and restaurants picked out by an actual local, so this Tokyo itinerary has the perfect combination of tourist attractions and hidden local spots around the city.
Read til the end for other important Japan travel info like the city’s best restaurants, where to stay, etc.
Traveling outside Tokyo, too? Check out my other travel guides:
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Last Updated: November 21st, 2023
General Tips for Your Tokyo Itinerary
Here are some important things to know for any first trip to Tokyo:
- With so many restaurants across the city, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when deciding where to eat. I’ve listed this in my other itineraries, but Tabelog was a lifesaver! It’s Japan’s version of Tripadvisor/Yelp.
- This Tokyo itinerary covers a LOT of ground, and so will you. Wear good sneakers!
- Tokyo has over 18 million inhabitants. Each neighborhood is HUGE, so don’t feel bad if you only hit one or two areas within a day.
Day 1 of the Tokyo Itinerary
Visit Shibuya
Start off your day in Tokyo by getting right into the action in Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s most famous hubs! It’s a must for everything related to shopping, restaurants, and even nature. You can easily spend the majority of your day there.
Hachiko Dog Statue
Snap a picture with the Hachiko dog statue right outside the Shibuya station. It pays tribute to the loyalty of a dog named Hachiko, which had been adopted in the 1920s by Professor Eizaburo Ueno. The dog would meet the professor daily at the station in the afternoon. Even after the professor’s death, Hachiko continued to go to the station every day for 10 years until his own death!
Shibuya Crossing
Just past the Hachiko dog statue is the famous Shibuya Crossing. The multi-crosswalk is one of the busiest intersections in the entire world and can have up to 3,000 people walking it at once. For anyone who HATES crowds, don’t worry – I crossed it mid-morning when it was emptier and didn’t feel overwhelmed at all.
Eat Conveyer Belt Sushi
Before a day full of sightseeing, shopping, and walking, get fueled up at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant in the area. The concept is very popular in Japan. You’re seated at a table or bar, and a conveyor belt rotates around the restaurant. You place your sushi order on your table’s iPad, and a plate with the sushi will travel to you on the conveyor belt.
There are two conveyor belt sushi spots in the area that I highly recommend. First is Katsumidori Seibu, which is extremely well-regarded among both locals and tourists. You simply can’t beat the high-quality taste for low prices! It’s located inside the Shibuya Seibu Department Store a floor up.
We opted for the prime fatty tuna, eel, shrimp, and beef rolls. The fatty tuna was my favorite (I’m craving it so much as I type this). The fish was melt-in-your-mouth soft and had a slight sweetness from the fat. At the end of the meal, they scan your plates to calculate the total. I don’t understand the technology behind it, but it was pretty cool the first time I saw it.
The second sushi option, which I found to be more friendly to international palettes and non-seafood eaters, is Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka (aka Genki Ya). The inside only has bar seating, so it’s perfect for solo travelers. There’s also a greater variety of non-seafood items. I loved their corn and mayo sushi and french fries. It’s the more touristy option of the two, but still has decent sushi. The prices are also even cheaper than the other shop.
Shop Through Shibuya
Once you’ve filled up on food, take some time to shop around the neighborhood. For women’s fashion shopping, Shibuya 109 is a great place to start. It has over 10 floors and 120 stores, so it’s easy to spend HOURS inside! Many of the stores cater to the younger crowd, with styles like Lolita fashion, streetwear, and Sanrio.
Another entertainment option is Parco, which has plenty of anime/pop culture and fashion stores.
Other fantastic shopping and entertainment options:
- Don Quixote → Also called “Donki” by locals, this giant department store chain is your one-stop-shop for EVERYTHING. From food to cosmetics to clothes to kitchenware, Don Quixote has got it. Tip to tourists: They have a duty-free counter on the top floor where you can save money on taxes!
- Tokyu Hands → an 8-floor building dedicated to DIY and arts and crafts
- Tower Records → A huge record & CD shop
- GU → An affordable and trendy Japanese clothing brand chain, under the same parent company as Uniqlo
- Taito Station → This isn’t a shop, but a bright-colored gaming center lined with claw machines and other Japanese arcade games.
These are a few suggestions. There are SO many options that you’ll likely find yourself popping into every other store.
Yoyogi Park
Get into nature by stopping at Yoyogi Park. The whole park takes about 3 hours to walk through, but I enjoyed even a quick stroll.
A must-do activity here is visiting the Meiji Shrine. The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his consort Empress Shoken.
Like everywhere else in the city, expect to do a lot of walking. It’s about a 10-15-minute walk to the shrine from the entrance near Harajuku Station.
Harajuku
Right across from Yoyogi Park is the Harajuku District! You’ve likely seen pictures of Takeshita Street, Harajuku’s most popular shopping street. The neighborhood is known for its distinct trendy fashion and kawaii culture. What sets Harajuku fashion apart is the bright-colored clothing and a conglomerate of accessories.
While you’re in the area, there are two foodie activities that I recommend. First is to grab a crepe from one of their many crepe stands. They’re all decent, but I got mine from Marion Crepes on the main strip. It has over 70 flavors and comes in a cone shape. I ordered the strawberry and cream crepe.
Second, Harajuku has plenty of fun-themed cafes worth checking out!
- Reissue → a cafe specializing in cute 3D latte art
- An animal Cafe → Head to Mipig cafe to enjoy coffee and snacks while surrounded by cute baby pigs.
- A Happy Pancake → The BEST Japanese souffle pancakes I’ve ever had! Each one is super fluffy, airy, and not too sweet. We ordered ours with whipped cream and fruit, which made it a light and refreshing dessert to end the night.
Day 2 of the Tokyo Itinerary
Begin day two of your Tokyo itinerary by immersing yourself in the traditional look and feel of Japan in the Asakusa neighborhood. You can easily get there by the JR line or by the Tokyo waterbus. The entrance known as the Kaminarimon Gate is nearly impossible to miss.
Eat Sukiyaki at Asakusa Imahan
One of the top meals in the area is the sukiyaki at Asakusa Imahan. The iconic sukiyaki and shabu shabu restaurant has been standing since 1895. It’s a super famous restaurant, so make a reservation in advance.
The restaurant is traditional, where you need to take off your shoes and sit on mats. The beef is beautifully marbled wagyu beef slices, which they cook in a sweet-salty sukiyaki sauce. The waitstaff cooks the beef in front of you, along with veggies.
Sensoji Temple
After lunch, sightsee Asakusa’s historic neighborhood on foot. The main attraction is the Senso-ji Temple. It’s Tokyo’s oldest temple, completed in 645! It also has a grand 5-story pagoda right next to it.
The rest of the Asakusa neighborhood has plenty of shopping streets with traditional Japanese souvenirs and local street foods. It feels like you’ve time-traveled back while still in the heart of the bustling city.
Tokyo Skytree
Located merely two stops away from Asakusa is the Tokyo Skytree in Sumida City. The Tokyo Skytree is a television broadcasting tower that extends 634 meters high, making it a major Tokyo landmark.
You have the option to go up the tower — I recommend booking tickets ahead to get your tickets for a discounted price of $12.
You can also just hang around its base at the Tokyo Solamachi. The mall has over 300 stores, restaurants, and entertainment options. They even have a planetarium and a Sumida aquarium!
Optional: Go-Karting Through Tokyo
You can’t argue that this isn’t super touristy, but where else can you go-kart through the real streets of Tokyo in a custom-built car?
The hour-long Tokyo Go-Kart Tour and Photoshoot goes through Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku. As you drive through, a photographer takes pictures of you that you can take home later!
Shinjuku
Shinjuku is an iconic entertainment district. It’s similar to Shibuya but has an older, rougher feel. It’s a great place to explore the izakaya and food scene.
Dinner at Udon Shin
One of the most notable neighborhood restaurants (which I’ve also been seeing everywhere online), is the udon shop called Udon Shin. The small eatery is always busy but also only has 10-12 seats, so expect to wait in line. At peak hours for lunch and dinner, I’ve seen counts of people who waited 4+ hours!
The udon is fresh and handmade. Order their signature “Zaru Udon” for the full experience. The udon is served cold with a side of rich, soy sauce-based sauce for dipping.
Izakaya Hopping at Shouben Yokochou (aka Piss Alley)
Spend the rest of the night enjoying Shinjuku’s nightlife by hopping between izakayas! Izakayas are small bars that also serve food. Common izakaya foods include yakitori (grilled meat skewers), chicken karaage, and yakisoba noodles. It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in the local drinking culture.
One of the most frequented izakaya areas is Golden Gai. It has rows of alleys with around 300 small bars.
Another izakaya street is the narrow alleyway Omoide Yokochou, AKA Piss Alley.
I know what you’re thinking – why is it called Piss Alley? The alley got its name a long time ago when drinkers used to pee in the streets since there were no bathrooms in the bars.
For the adventurous foodie, you’re in luck. Asadachi Restaurant sells frog sashimi, frog hearts that are still beating, and soft shell turtles, to name a few dishes.
Note: If you easily get claustrophobic, it might be best to not go. Each bar is extremely cramped.
Day 3 of the Tokyo Itinerary
TeamLAB Borderless or Planet
I want to preface this by saying that as of November 2023, TeamLAB Borderless is closed until January 2024. But, don’t worry as TeamLab Planet is still open!
TeamLAB Planet (priced at $25 USD on GetYourGuide) is a super immersive and beautiful museum. You walk through the water barefoot, into a digitally displayed “garden”, and other light shows.
When Borderless reopens, it’ll have groups of artwork that are intended to be “borderless”, where each digital art piece is supposed to flow from room to room.
Optional: Ramen Street
No Tokyo itinerary is complete without some ramen! Ramen Street in Tokyo Station has plenty of stalls. Out of the 100 stores within the station, there’s a row of ramen stalls. For most of them, you place your order on a vending machine and it would print a ticket. Then, you can sit down and hand it to the staff.
Don’t be surprised if you see long lines for some stalls! The ramen here is top-notch and is typically 800-1000 yen (just under $8 USD).
Ginza + Kabuki Experience
Just minutes away from Ramen Street is Ginza, an upscale shopping destination with Michelin-starred restaurants to match. The area also has a sophisticated arts scene. It’s home to cultivated arts centers like the Kabukiza Theater, where you can watch a traditional Japanese dance-drama called Kabuki.
The entire show lasts multiple acts and can go as long as 4 hours with breaks in between. However, you can purchase a single-act seat if you’re short on time. LiveJapan wrote a helpful guide for your first Kabuki experience.
Akihabara
For anyone interested in anime, games, electronics, and other pop culture, Akihabara Electric Town is a non-negotiable visit for you. The neighborhood is essentially a mecca for otakus (someone who is obsessed with said pop culture). The streets have anime merch stores, discount electronics, and arcades.
Game at an Arcade
I love gaming, so the plethora of arcades quickly drew me in. They have everything from rows of claw machines with cute prizes to rhythm games to competitive fighting games. Whatever game you’re looking for, they probably have it.
There’s the GiGo/SEGA arcade right outside Akihabara station for fun SEGA games. Super Potato is a 3-level arcade for vintage gamers. My favorite games were the claw machine and Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun. Each game was about 100 yen. You can also find gachapon here, which are machines with surprise prizes!
Lunch at Gyukatsu Motomura
After a long afternoon of shopping and gaming, step into Gyukatsu Motomura for lunch. They specialize in one dish, beef katsu. The beef comes in a light breading and is cooked medium rare. They serve it on a stone plate, so you can cook it more to your preference. Paired with wasabi and salt, it’s melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Optional: Maid Cafes
It’s a strange concept to foreigners, but maid cafes are common in otaku areas of Japan. Maiddreamin’ is one of the most popular ones. At these cafes, the waitresses dress as maids and treat you like a servant in a home rather than a waitress at a restaurant. It was originally geared towards otakus but is now also a huge tourist attraction.
Day 4 of Tokyo Itinerary: Day Trip
On Day 4, I recommend a day trip out of the inner city. I prefer taking a day trip on the second to last day instead of the last day, just in case something goes wrong. My favorite day trip is Tokyo DisneySea! The amusement park is the only one of its kind in the world.
You can get to the parks via the JR line. It’s about 1.5 hours from Shinjuku station. Once you arrive at the parks, you’ll need to take another (rather cute) Mickey-Mouse-themed train that will bring you directly to the Tokyo DisneySea entrance.
The tickets are cheaper than typical prices overseas, at around $55 USD on average. Tokyo DisneySea-exclusive rides include Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Pooh’s Honey Hunt.
Another reason that so many people love DisneySea is for their fun Disney-themed foods. There are over 9 different popcorn flavor carts with Asian flavors like curry and soy sauce. You can also find Asian-inspired snacks like a gyoza meat bun. Honestly, I found these foods overhyped and a bit underwhelming.
What IS worth the hype, though, is the alien mochi. They come in a set of three flavors: strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla. Not only are they super cute, but the mochi is perfectly chewy and the fillings taste fresh.
For a more classic Disney experience (and one more geared towards children), head to Tokyo Disneyland for around $55 USD.
Tokyo DisneySea Day Trip Tips
- Go early. People in Japan take their Disney trips seriously. I arrived at the park at 9 a.m., only to find the gift shop with the Disney-themed ears had been RAIDED. I’ve never seen a Disney park so packed.
- Download the Tokyo Disney App beforehand. The BIGGEST rookie mistake I made on my trip was not! It has important information like ride wait times, a handy map of the park with your location, and eateries’ hours. I felt so lost for most of the day, which definitely affected my park experience.
Other Day Trips for Your Tokyo Itinerary
Of course, Disney isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. These are a few other day trip options:
- Mount Fuji → Take a full-day tour by bus to one of the world’s most famous mountains! The picturesque mountain is also a UNESCO World Heritage sight. It’s about a 2-hour drive from Tokyo.
- Hakone → A town that’s famous for its views of Lake Ashi, hot springs, and natural beauty. By bullet train, it takes about 1.5 hours from Tokyo.
Day 5 of the Tokyo Itinerary
This is the last day of your Tokyo itinerary — so sad! Personally, I like to take the last day of any trip to go at a bit of a slower pace and revisit any attractions and shopping that’s incomplete.
Shimokitazawa
This neighborhood is a vintage shopper’s paradise. It’s lined with vintage clothing shops, records, furniture, and other rare items. Some shops to check out include:
- Florida
- New York Joe
- BIG Time Shimokitazawa
Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory
Located in a residential area of Shitomatize is Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory, a must-try bakery for any Studio Ghibli Fan. Fun Fact: The Totoro-themed bakery is the only one that has been formally approved by the Studio Ghibli founder’s family.
You’ll likely find vanilla, chocolate, and seasonal flavors like hazelnut and pumpkin. The bakery also has plenty of cute Totoro memorabilia.
The cream puffs’ outer shell is solid but slightly brittle, and the inside is fluffy and dense. The cream itself is buttery and light. It’s a tasty and cute snack that’s not too heavy.
There’s also an upstairs cafe with lunch, but make a reservation in advance if you plan to add this to your Tokyo itinerary. It gets busy!
Cat Street
After shopping through the vintage neighborhood, I would make time in my Tokyo itinerary to return to Shibuya one last time. The hot spot has so much to see and do that I still feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of the neighborhood. Also, with its Mega Don Quixote, it’s the ideal place to get your souvenirs.
A less-traveled area of Harajuku is Cat Street. The hipster area has the opposite atmosphere as the bustling Takeshati Street. It’s definitely more lowkey, with the upper area mostly residential. As you walk further down the street, there are alternative boutiques, bars, and restaurants.
Fun Fact: It’s NOT called Cat Street because there are plenty of cats (I know, I was disappointed, too). It got its name from its location between the fashionable Shibuya and Harajuku areas. It serves as a “catwalk” for models and fashionistas.
Omotesando
As you continue down Cat Street, you’ll come across the Ometesando. Along with Ginza, it’s one of the luxury shopping destinations of Tokyo. Even if you don’t shop, many of the buildings have cool architecture that’s fun to walk by and admire!
You can also explore art galleries in the area. Two notable ones include the Ota Memorial Museum of Art and the free Espace Gallery at the top of the Louis Vuitton store. The Espace Gallery also has fantastic views of Tokyo.
More Activities to Add to Your Tokyo Itinerary
There’s SO much to do in Tokyo that this Tokyo itinerary 5 days isn’t enough to cover it all. Listed are other top-rated activities that I recommend – feel free to mix and match these into your travel plans.
- Ghibli Museum → This is the perfect activity for Studio Ghibli enthusiasts!
- Free Observation Deck at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building → Yes, you read that right, free! Located in Shinjuku, you can take an elevator up to the 45th floor.
- Yayoi Kusama Museum → This Shinjuku museum focuses on the work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.
- Tsukji Outer Market → a busy seafood market with a mix of fresh seafood, eateries, and food stalls.
- Stay at ryokan → These are traditional Japanese-style inns.
Wrapping Up: Tokyo Itinerary 5 Days
That wraps up my Tokyo Itinerary 5 days! Hopefully, this guide was helpful. Check out my Japan travel page for itineraries for other Japanese cities.
Also, if you have any questions about this Tokyo itinerary, leave a comment below!
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