Sushi at dawn, temples by day, neon alleys after dark
Five days that move neighbourhood by neighbourhood, pairing Tokyo's great food markets and old-town temples with its sharpest shopping districts, from Ginza department-store food halls to Harajuku's backstreets. Day 1 is gentle for jet lag, the middle days are full, and the final day stays flexible for last-minute shopping and packing. It suits two curious eaters who want culture and retail therapy in equal measure without paying luxury prices.
From
YOU
To
TOK
Weather
Spring (late March to April, cherry blossom) and autumn (October to November, crisp and clear) are the best seasons at roughly 12-22C. Summer is hot and humid at 30-35C with a June-July rainy season, and winter is cold but dry and sunny at 2-10C.
Arriving
From Narita, the Keisei Skyliner reaches Ueno in about 41 minutes for around $18, and the Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station or Shinjuku in 55-90 minutes for about $21. From Haneda, the Keikyu Line or Tokyo Monorail gets you into the city in 20-30 minutes for $3-5. Taxis from Haneda cost $40-70. From Narita they run $150-200, so take the train. Buy a Suica or PASMO card, or add one to your phone's wallet, at the airport for all trains.
Money & power
Japanese Yen (JPY). Plugs: Type A and B (two flat pins), 100V. Most phone and laptop chargers work fine, but bring an adapter for UK or EU plugs..
Trip checklist
The four things worth sorting before you fly. Tick them off as you go.
Book your stay in Shinjuku
Central, walkable and the best base for this itinerary. Free cancellation on most rooms.
Check hotel pricesReserve the must-book experiences
4 of your picks regularly sell out — secure your time slots early.
See tours & ticketsGet a Japan eSIM
Land with data for maps, rides and translations — about 10 GB fits this trip.
Get eSIMCover the trip with travel insurance
Medical, lost bags and delays covered — it takes a couple of minutes.
Get insuranceDay by day
Each day is grouped by neighbourhood so you spend time exploring, not commuting.
Asakusa and Ueno
Morning
Senso-ji and Nakamise-dori
Arrive early, ideally before 9am, to see Tokyo's oldest temple and its Kaminarimon gate before the tour groups. Snack along Nakamise-dori on ningyo-yaki cakes and freshly fried age-manju. The temple grounds are open 24 hours and free.
Afternoon
Kappabashi Kitchen Street and Ameyoko Market
Walk 10 minutes to Kappabashi-dori for Japanese knives, ceramics and the plastic food samples restaurants display. Then hop over to Ameyoko under the Ueno tracks for street food and bargain shopping. Kamata Hakensha and Kama-asa are the knife shops to visit.
Evening
Izakaya dinner on Hoppy Street
Hoppy-dori near Senso-ji is lined with open-front izakaya serving beef-stew nikomi and cold beer on outdoor stools. Afterwards, stroll to the riverside for the lit-up Tokyo Skytree view across the Sumida. It is an easy, low-key first night for jet-lagged travellers.
Tsukiji, Ginza and Nihonbashi
Morning
Breakfast crawl at Tsukiji Outer Market
Go around 8am for tamagoyaki from Yamacho, grilled scallops and a sushi breakfast while the stalls are busiest. Many shops close by early afternoon, and lots of them also close on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Afternoon
Ginza depachika and flagship shopping
Graze the basement food halls at Mitsukoshi Ginza and Ginza Six, then browse Itoya's 12 floors of stationery and the Uniqlo Ginza flagship. Chuo-dori becomes pedestrian-only on weekend afternoons. Spend at least ¥5,000 in one store to get tax-free shopping with your passport.
Evening
Yurakucho yakitori under the tracks
Under the railway arches at Yurakucho, smoky little counters grill chicken skewers as trains rumble overhead. Order a mix of tare and shio skewers with highballs. Just walk in; it is liveliest from 7pm.
Harajuku, Omotesando and Shinjuku
Morning
Meiji Jingu forest shrine
Walk the gravel paths through a 70-hectare forest to Tokyo's most important Shinto shrine. On weekends you may see a traditional wedding procession. Entry is free and the gates open at sunrise.
Afternoon
Takeshita-dori to Omotesando and Cat Street
Push through Takeshita-dori for crepes and youth fashion, then exhale on tree-lined Omotesando with its architect-designed flagships. Finish in the vintage and streetwear boutiques of Cat Street. Kiddy Land is good for character goods.
Evening
Shinjuku food and bar tour
Let a guide steer you through Omoide Yokocho's skewer stalls and Golden Gai's six-seat bars, many of which turn away walk-in tourists or charge cover fees. Then finish with the free night view from the 45th-floor observatory of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
Toyosu and Shibuya
Morning
teamLab Planets
Wade barefoot through water and mirrored flower rooms in this immersive digital art museum. Book a timed slot online in advance, as weekends sell out, and wear shorts or trousers that roll up.
Afternoon
Shibuya Scramble and shopping
Watch the famous crossing from the Starbucks or Magnet rooftop, then shop Loft, Tokyu Hands, Parco (with its Nintendo and Pokemon stores) and the Shibuya Sky gift floors. Shibuya Sky's open-air rooftop is magic at sunset, and tickets for that slot sell out.
Evening
Shibuya Sky sunset, then Nonbei Yokocho
Catch golden hour 230m above the crossing, then duck into Nonbei Yokocho ('Drunkard's Alley'), a lantern-lit lane of tiny bars by the tracks. It makes a perfect nightcap.
Nakameguro, Daikanyama and Akihabara
Morning
Daikanyama T-Site and Nakameguro
Browse the beautiful Tsutaya bookstore in Daikanyama, then walk downhill to Nakameguro's canal-side boutiques and the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. In early April this canal is one of Tokyo's best cherry-blossom walks.
Afternoon
Akihabara electronics and anime
Spend an hour or two on Yodobashi Akiba's gadgets, Mandarake's vintage manga and the retro-game floors of Super Potato. Keep it light if you fly out today, and handle tax-free purchases at the counters with your passport.
Evening
Farewell tonkatsu or depachika picnic
Close the trip with a crisp pork cutlet near Ueno, or assemble a bento feast from a Tokyo Station depachika if you have a late flight. Ueno also connects directly to the Skyliner for Narita.
Where to stay
Chosen for your mid-range budget and this itinerary's route.
Shinjuku
Top pickA neon-lit transport hub with izakaya alleys like Omoide Yokocho, big department stores and quiet Shinjuku Gyoen garden all within walking distance.
Best for: First-timers who want easy train links to the airports and Kyoto, late-night food and big-name shopping
See hotels here
Ginza
Polished, walkable and central, with flagship stores, depachika food halls and Tsukiji Outer Market a short stroll away.
Best for: Food lovers and shoppers who prefer a calmer, upscale base close to Tokyo Station
See hotels here
Asakusa
Old-Tokyo atmosphere around Senso-ji, with craft shops, traditional sweets and riverside views of the Skytree.
Best for: Culture seekers who want a more traditional feel and slightly lower hotel prices
See hotels here
Shinjuku · Mid-range
Compact but well-designed rooms right by Kabukicho and the Omoide Yokocho izakaya lanes, so great food is steps from your door. The Godzilla head on the terrace is a fun bonus.
Free cancellation on many rooms
Shinjuku · Mid-range
Calmer south side of Shinjuku with more generous rooms than most Tokyo mid-range hotels and a direct walk to the Narita Express and airport buses at Shinjuku Station.
Free cancellation on many rooms
Ginza · Mid-range
High-floor rooms with city views put you in walking distance of Ginza depachika, Tsukiji Outer Market breakfasts and the Ginza Six and Itoya shopping streets.
Free cancellation on many rooms
Asakusa · Mid-range
Excellent value a few minutes from Senso-ji and Kappabashi kitchen street, with Skytree views from many rooms; ideal if you want early-morning temple visits before the crowds.
Free cancellation on many rooms
Book ahead
Skip-the-line tickets and tours that genuinely improve the trip — the ones that sell out are flagged.
A guide leads you to the best tamagoyaki, tuna and wagyu skewers and explains the market's history. It removes the language barrier at counters that rarely have English menus.
Eat and drink through Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai with a local who gets you into bars that often refuse walk-in tourists.
Pre-booked timed tickets for Tokyo's most popular immersive art space, which avoid disappointment on weekends and holidays.
An open-air rooftop with 360-degree views over the Scramble Crossing and, on clear days, Mount Fuji. Sunset slots go weeks ahead.
Learn to shape nigiri and roll maki from a sushi chef, then eat your work. It is a hands-on food souvenir you will repeat at home.
Travel essentials
Google Maps is essential for navigating Tokyo's station exits and transfers, and you will use translation apps for menus and shop signs. A 10GB eSIM costs far less than home roaming, and free Wi-Fi in Tokyo is patchy outside hotels and chain cafés.
Healthcare in Japan is excellent but expensive for visitors, and some hospitals ask for payment or proof of cover before treatment. Insurance also covers typhoon-season flight disruptions (August to October), lost luggage full of shopping, and theft of phones or cards, which is rare but does happen in crowded nightlife areas.
Honest numbers
Estimated total · 2 travelers · 5 days
$2,590
Per person / day
$259
accommodation
About 190 USD per night x 4 nights x 1 room for 2 travellers
$760
29%
food
About 120 USD per day for two: konbini or market breakfasts, ramen or sushi lunches, izakaya or omakase-lite dinners
$600
23%
activities
Evening food tour (~250 for two), teamLab Planets (~55), Shibuya Sky (~50), tea ceremony or cooking class (~125)
$480
19%
transport
Narita Express or Limousine Bus round trip (~110 for two) plus about 10 USD per person per day on Suica
$210
8%
connectivity & insurance
Two 10GB eSIMs (~30) and two travel insurance policies (~80 each)
$190
7%
extras
Souvenirs, Kappabashi knives, Don Quijote snacks, depachika gifts and coin lockers
$350
14%
Smart saving
Eat your main sit-down meal at lunch: many sushi, tempura and kaiseki restaurants offer set lunches at 30 to 50 percent of their dinner prices, and depachika food halls discount bento heavily after 7pm.
Good to know
Estimates exclude flights. Hotel prices move with demand — booking 4–8 weeks ahead usually gets the best rates in central areas.
Local know-how
Load Suica onto your phone
Add a Suica card to Apple Wallet (or buy a Welcome Suica at the airport) and tap through every train, subway and bus. Skip the JR Pass for a Tokyo-only trip; it will not pay off.
Watch the last train
Most lines stop between midnight and 12:30am, and taxis across town can cost 40 to 60 USD. Avoid the 8 to 9am commuter rush when travelling with luggage.
Carry some cash and use 7-Eleven ATMs
Cards are widely accepted, but small ramen shops, shrines and market stalls are often cash only. 7-Eleven and Japan Post ATMs reliably accept foreign cards.
Shop tax-free with your passport
Spend over 5,000 yen in one store on the same day and you can get the 10 percent consumption tax back at the counter; bring your physical passport. There is no tipping in Japan, and trying can cause confusion.
Pre-book the sell-out spots
Shibuya Sky sunset slots, teamLab Planets and the Ghibli Museum sell out days or weeks ahead, so book them as soon as your dates are set. Popular sushi counters often open reservations a month in advance.
Pick your season
Late March to early April (cherry blossoms) and October to late November (mild, clear, autumn leaves) are best. June is rainy season, July to August is hot and humid above 30C, and winter is cold but crisp and sunny.
Ignore Kabukicho touts
Tokyo is very safe, but avoid bar touts in Kabukicho and Roppongi who steer visitors into clubs with huge hidden charges. Choose restaurants yourself.
Mind local etiquette
Keep quiet on trains, do not eat while walking in busy streets, and carry rubbish with you since public bins are rare. Remove shoes where you see a raised floor or slippers at the entrance.
Pack this
Say it like a local
Prices for the best-located rooms rise as dates fill up. Lock in your stay now — most rooms can be cancelled for free.
PlanVoya may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you (how this works). Prices are estimates — always confirm details with the provider.
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