# Tokyo itinerary: 3, 5 or 7 days, planned by area

A good Tokyo itinerary groups the city by area, so each day stays in one corner instead of zigzagging across it. Here are plans for three, five and seven days built that way, with the day trips that fit a longer stay, the swaps to make in sakura, fireworks or illumination season, and what to do when it rains. Each day leaves room for one event from our listings, because what is on during your dates is often the best part of a trip.

## How to plan Tokyo: one area per half day

Tokyo is huge, but its sights come in clusters. Trains between them are fast, yet every change of line costs time in long station corridors, so the rule is simple: one area for the morning, a nearby one for the afternoon, and only one long ride a day. The JR Yamanote Line loops through most of the clusters, so its stations (Tokyo, Ueno, Akihabara, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku) make good anchors.

Put the booked things in first. Timed tickets such as teamLab, [Shibuya Sky](https://www.shibuya-scramble-square.com/sky/ticket/) at sunset or the [Ghibli Museum](https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/tickets/) fix the day they fall on, and the rest of that day should stay in the same part of town. Check closing days too: many museums close on Mondays, the Imperial Palace East Gardens on Mondays and Fridays, the Ghibli Museum on Tuesdays, and Toyosu Market on Sundays, holidays and some Wednesdays.

- Stay near a Yamanote Line station, or on a line that reaches one directly, to keep mornings short.
- Keep the arrival day and the last day light, for jet lag and packing.
- Big sights are calmest in the morning. Save shopping and night views for later in the day.

- → [First time in Tokyo: what to know before you go](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/first-time.md)
- → [Where to stay in Tokyo: the best areas and how to choose](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/where-to-stay.md)
- → [Getting around Tokyo: trains, Suica and taxis](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/getting-around.md)

## Three days: the classic Tokyo

Day one, old Tokyo in the east. Start early at [Senso-ji](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%B5%85%E8%8D%89%E5%AF%BA%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E6%B5%85%E8%8D%892-3-1) in Asakusa, before the shopping street fills, then walk about 20 minutes across the Sumida River to [Tokyo Skytree](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AB%E3%82%A4%E3%83%84%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%A2%A8%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA%E6%8A%BC%E4%B8%8A1-1-1). In the afternoon, head back through Asakusa and take the Ginza Line to Ueno for the park, a museum such as the [Tokyo National Museum](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E5%9B%BD%E7%AB%8B%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E4%B8%8A%E9%87%8E%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%9213-9), and the market street of [Ameyoko](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E3%82%A2%E3%83%A1%E6%A8%AA%E5%95%86%E5%BA%97%E8%A1%97%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E4%B8%8A%E9%87%8E6%E4%B8%81%E7%9B%AE).

Day two, the west side. [Meiji Jingu](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%98%8E%E6%B2%BB%E7%A5%9E%E5%AE%AE%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%8B%E8%B0%B7%E5%8C%BA%E4%BB%A3%E3%80%85%E6%9C%A8%E7%A5%9E%E5%9C%92%E7%94%BA1-1) in the morning, then Harajuku's [Takeshita-dori](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E7%AB%B9%E4%B8%8B%E9%80%9A%E3%82%8A%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%8B%E8%B0%B7%E5%8C%BA%E7%A5%9E%E5%AE%AE%E5%89%8D1%E4%B8%81%E7%9B%AE) and the side streets of Omotesando, and Shibuya for the crossing, the shops and Shibuya Sky at sunset. Spend the evening in Shinjuku: the free observation decks of the [Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%BA%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%80%E6%9C%AC%E5%BA%81%E8%88%8E%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF%E5%8C%BA%E8%A5%BF%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF2-8-1), then dinner around [Omoide Yokocho](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%80%9D%E3%81%84%E5%87%BA%E6%A8%AA%E4%B8%81%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF%E5%8C%BA%E8%A5%BF%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF1%E4%B8%81%E7%9B%AE) or a drink in the tiny bars of [Golden Gai](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF%E3%82%B4%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB%E3%83%87%E3%83%B3%E8%A1%97%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF%E5%8C%BA%E6%AD%8C%E8%88%9E%E4%BC%8E%E7%94%BA1%E4%B8%81%E7%9B%AE).

Day three, the centre. Breakfast on seafood at [Tsukiji Outer Market](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E7%AF%89%E5%9C%B0%E5%A0%B4%E5%A4%96%E5%B8%82%E5%A0%B4%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E4%B8%AD%E5%A4%AE%E5%8C%BA%E7%AF%89%E5%9C%B04%E4%B8%81%E7%9B%AE), walk on to Ginza for its department stores and food halls, and continue to Tokyo Station and the [Imperial Palace East Gardens](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E7%9A%87%E5%B1%85%E6%9D%B1%E5%BE%A1%E8%8B%91%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B01-1). On weekend afternoons Ginza's main street, Chuo-dori, closes to cars. End the day under the lights of Marunouchi, or at [Tokyo Tower](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E3%82%BF%E3%83%AF%E3%83%BC%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%AF%E5%8C%BA%E8%8A%9D%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%924-2-8).

- Tsukiji Outer Market is best before mid-morning, and many shops close on Sundays and holidays.
- Harajuku and Shibuya are packed by noon at weekends. If day two is a Saturday, start early or swap it with day three.

- → [Asakusa: temple fairs, festivals and old Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/asakusa.md)
- → [Ueno and Yanaka: museums, parks and old streets](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/ueno.md)
- → [Harajuku and Omotesando: pop-ups, shrine and park](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/harajuku.md)
- → [Things to do in Shibuya: the crossing, views and nights out](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/shibuya.md)
- → [Things to do in Shinjuku: bars, Kabukicho and free views](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/shinjuku.md)
- → [Ginza, Yurakucho and Hibiya: events and tips](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/ginza.md)
- → [Events in Taito](https://eventstokyo.com/en/taito.md)
- → [Events in Shibuya](https://eventstokyo.com/en/shibuya.md)
- → [Events in Chuo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/chuo.md)

## Five days: the bay, Akihabara and a slower neighbourhood

Day four, the bay. Book [teamLab Planets](https://www.teamlab.art/e/planets/) in Toyosu, see [Toyosu Market](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E8%B1%8A%E6%B4%B2%E5%B8%82%E5%A0%B4%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B1%9F%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E8%B1%8A%E6%B4%B26-6-1) in the morning if you like markets (the tuna auction starts around 5:30am), and ride the Yurikamome to Odaiba for the seaside, the malls and the view of Rainbow Bridge at sunset. If you would rather see [teamLab Borderless](https://www.teamlab.art/e/tokyo/), it is at [Azabudai Hills](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E9%BA%BB%E5%B8%83%E5%8F%B0%E3%83%92%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BA%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%AF%E5%8C%BA%E9%BA%BB%E5%B8%83%E5%8F%B01-3-1) near Tokyo Tower and pairs better with an afternoon in Roppongi.

Day five, pop culture or old streets. Akihabara has anime, figures, retro games and arcades, with [Kanda Myojin](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E7%A5%9E%E7%94%B0%E6%98%8E%E7%A5%9E%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA%E5%A4%96%E7%A5%9E%E7%94%B02-16-2) about ten minutes' walk away, and on Sunday afternoons the main street usually closes to cars. For something quieter, walk Yanaka's temples and shopping street. Kichijoji, with [Inokashira Park](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E4%BA%95%E3%81%AE%E9%A0%AD%E6%81%A9%E8%B3%9C%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%AD%A6%E8%94%B5%E9%87%8E%E5%B8%82%E5%BE%A1%E6%AE%BF%E5%B1%B11-18-31) and the [Ghibli Museum](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E4%B8%89%E9%B7%B9%E3%81%AE%E6%A3%AE%E3%82%B8%E3%83%96%E3%83%AA%E7%BE%8E%E8%A1%93%E9%A4%A8%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E4%B8%89%E9%B7%B9%E5%B8%82%E4%B8%8B%E9%80%A3%E9%9B%801-1-83), or Shimokitazawa, with vintage shops by day and live music at night, are other good choices.

- Check [Toyosu Market's calendar](https://www.shijou.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/calendar/) before an early start. It closes on Sundays, holidays and some Wednesdays.
- Akihabara shops do not open until late morning, but arcades stay open into the night, so it works as an evening too.

- → [Odaiba, Ariake and Toyosu: events on the bay](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/odaiba.md)
- → [Toyosu Market: tuna auction, sushi and visiting tips](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/toyosu-market.md)
- → [teamLab in Tokyo: Planets and Borderless](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/teamlab.md)
- → [Akihabara: anime, games and events](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/akihabara.md)
- → [Yanaka: temples, cats and old Tokyo streets](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/yanaka.md)
- → [Kichijoji: Inokashira Park, live music and yokocho](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/kichijoji.md)
- → [Events in Koto](https://eventstokyo.com/en/koto.md)
- → [Events in Chiyoda](https://eventstokyo.com/en/chiyoda.md)

## Seven days: where day trips fit

With a week, add one or two days out of the city, ideally on weekdays in the middle of the trip, when trains and sights are calmer. Kamakura, about an hour from Tokyo Station on the JR Yokosuka Line, has the [Great Buddha](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E9%AB%98%E5%BE%B3%E9%99%A2%20%E9%8E%8C%E5%80%89%E5%A4%A7%E4%BB%8F%20%E7%A5%9E%E5%A5%88%E5%B7%9D%E7%9C%8C%E9%8E%8C%E5%80%89%E5%B8%82%E9%95%B7%E8%B0%B74-2-28), old temples and the sea, and makes an easy day. Hakone, about an hour and a half from Shinjuku on the Odakyu Romancecar, is the hot spring trip, and better with a night at an inn. Nikko, about two hours from Asakusa on Tobu trains, is a full day of carved shrines and mountain scenery. The Mount Fuji Five Lakes area is around two hours from Shinjuku by highway bus.

Use the other spare days for depth rather than more sights: sumo in a tournament month, a day at a theme park, a tea ceremony or cooking class, or a second visit to the neighbourhood you liked most. Five Tokyo days, two of them loose, plus two day trips feels relaxed rather than rushed.

- Fuji hides in cloud on many days, especially in summer. Keep that day flexible and check the forecast the evening before.
- Reserved seats on limited express trains to Hakone and Nikko sell out at weekends. Book a day or two ahead.

- → [Festival day trips from Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/day-trips.md)
- → [Kamakura and Enoshima: a day trip from Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/kamakura.md)
- → [Hakone day trip from Tokyo: the loop, onsen and views](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/hakone.md)
- → [Nikko day trip from Tokyo: Toshogu, Kegon Falls, Chuzenji](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/nikko.md)
- → [Mt Fuji from Tokyo: views, Kawaguchiko and climbing rules](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/mt-fuji.md)

## Seasonal swaps, events and rainy days

Let the season change a day or two. In late March and early April, swap a museum for a cherry blossom walk in [Ueno Park](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E4%B8%8A%E9%87%8E%E6%81%A9%E8%B3%9C%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8F%B0%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E4%B8%8A%E9%87%8E%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%927-47), at [Chidorigafuchi](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E5%8D%83%E9%B3%A5%E3%83%B6%E6%B7%B5%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA%E4%B8%89%E7%95%AA%E7%94%BA2) or along the Meguro River. From late July through August, give an evening to a fireworks show or a bon odori. From mid-November into early December, the [ginkgo avenue of Jingu Gaien](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E7%A5%9E%E5%AE%AE%E5%A4%96%E8%8B%91%E3%81%84%E3%81%A1%E3%82%87%E3%81%86%E4%B8%A6%E6%9C%A8%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%AF%E5%8C%BA%E5%8C%97%E9%9D%92%E5%B1%B11%E4%B8%81%E7%9B%AE) and the maples of [Rikugien](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E5%85%AD%E7%BE%A9%E5%9C%92%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%96%87%E4%BA%AC%E5%8C%BA%E6%9C%AC%E9%A7%92%E8%BE%BC6-16-3) are worth a morning, and from November to February the illuminations of Marunouchi and Roppongi make easy evenings.

To add an event from our list, open it, check the area and the times, and put it on the day you are already spending nearby. A shrine festival or a flea market suits a morning, an exhibition the afternoon, a concert or a live house the evening. Save it with the heart and add it to your calendar so it sits in your plan. If it rains, move museums, teamLab, department store food halls and indoor events to that day, and keep the outdoor plans for when the sky clears.

- Golden Week in early May, Obon in mid-August and New Year are the busiest travel times. Book earlier.
- 雨天中止 means an outdoor event is cancelled in rain. Check the event page that morning.

- → [Cherry blossom season in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/sakura.md)
- → [Fireworks festivals in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/fireworks.md)
- → [Autumn leaves in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/autumn-leaves.md)
- → [Winter illuminations in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/winter-illuminations.md)
- → [What to do in Tokyo when it rains](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/rainy-day.md)
- → [This week in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/this-week.md)
- → [This weekend in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/this-weekend.md)

## Questions people ask

**How many days in Tokyo is enough?**
Three days cover the classic areas at a comfortable pace. Five let you add the bay, Akihabara or a slower neighbourhood, and seven leave room for one or two day trips.

**What is the best order to see Tokyo?**
Group by area: Asakusa, Skytree and Ueno together; Meiji Jingu, Harajuku and Shibuya together, with Shinjuku in the evening; and Tsukiji, Ginza, Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace on one day.

**Where should I stay for a Tokyo itinerary?**
Near a station on the JR Yamanote Line, or on a line that reaches one directly. Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo Station, Ginza and Ueno are all easy bases.

**Which day trips fit into a week in Tokyo?**
Kamakura and Hakone are the easiest. Nikko needs a full day, and the Mount Fuji area needs a full day and a clear forecast.

**What should I do in Tokyo on a rainy day?**
Museums in Ueno and Roppongi, teamLab, department store food halls and indoor events. Move outdoor plans to the next dry day.

**Do I need a JR Pass for a Tokyo itinerary?**
Not for Tokyo itself. An IC card such as Suica covers city trains, and the pass only pays off with long Shinkansen trips.

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Tokyo Events: https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/itinerary