How many days in Tokyo? 5 days, one district cluster at a time
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Tokyo is not one centre but a dozen, each the size of a small city, so give it five days and plan by train line. Group Asakusa with Ueno, Harajuku with Shibuya, and Ginza with Tsukiji, and you will spend 15-20 minutes on the train between clusters instead of an hour. Day five leaves the city: Kamakura's Great Buddha or the shrines of Nikko.
Short answer
Three days covers the classic sights in a rush. Five lets you add a day trip and the evenings Tokyo is best at: izakaya alleys, rooftop views and late-night ramen.
The 5-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara
Morning. Arrive at Senso-ji in Asakusa before 8:00, when the temple is free and nearly empty; the Nakamise shopping street opens around 9:00-10:00. Walk 15 minutes across the Sumida River for the view of the Tokyo Skytree.
Afternoon. Take the Ginza line 5 minutes to Ueno. The Tokyo National Museum (about ¥1,000, closed most Mondays) holds the world's largest collection of Japanese art. Then walk through Ameyoko, the market street under the railway tracks, for street snacks.
Evening. Two stops on the JR Yamanote line bring you to Akihabara for electronics, retro game shops and arcades, open until about 22:00-23:00.
Load a Suica or Pasmo card on your phone (Apple Wallet, or Google Wallet on some Android phones) and tap through every train, bus and most convenience stores.
Day 2: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku and Shibuya
Morning. Meiji Jingu, the forest shrine next to Harajuku station, is free and opens at sunrise; the gravel path to the main hall takes 10 minutes through 100,000 trees. Then cross into Takeshita Street for Harajuku fashion before the crowds peak at noon.
Afternoon. Walk 15 minutes down Omotesando, Tokyo's architectural avenue, and into Shibuya. Book Shibuya Sky, the open-air rooftop 230 metres up, for sunset (about ¥2,500-3,000; slots sell out days ahead).
Evening. Watch the Shibuya Scramble Crossing from above at the Starbucks or the Magnet building's rooftop, then eat at Nonbei Yokocho, a lane of tiny bars beside the tracks. A ramen bowl costs ¥1,000-1,500 across the city.
Many small bars in Tokyo charge a table fee (otoshi) of ¥300-800 with a small snack. It is normal, not a scam.
Day 3: Tsukiji, Ginza and teamLab
Morning. Breakfast at the Tsukiji Outer Market: grilled scallops, tamagoyaki on sticks and sushi counters from 7:00. The wholesale market moved to Toyosu in 2018; its tuna auction can be watched from a gallery from about 5:30.
Afternoon. Walk 15 minutes to Ginza for department-store food halls (depachika) at Mitsukoshi and the Kabuki-za theatre, where single-act tickets are sold on the day. Then take the Yurikamome line to teamLab Planets in Toyosu (about ¥4,000, timed tickets; you walk barefoot through water).
Evening. Cross the Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba for the night view of the bay, or return to Yurakucho for the yakitori stalls under the railway arches.
Book teamLab Planets 1-2 weeks ahead for weekends; weekday mornings are calmest.
Day 4: Shinjuku and western Tokyo
Morning. Shinjuku Gyoen national garden (¥500, closed Mondays) mixes French, English and Japanese gardens and is the best cherry-blossom spot in spring. Walk 15 minutes to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, whose 45th-floor observatory is free.
Afternoon. Take the JR Chuo line 20 minutes to Kichijoji for Inokashira Park and its boating lake. If you booked months ahead, the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka is a 15-minute walk through the park; tickets are only sold in advance.
Evening. Back in Shinjuku, Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) has yakitori counters with eight seats each, and Golden Gai packs some 200 bars into six alleys. Many bars charge a cover of ¥500-1,500.
Ghibli Museum tickets go on sale on the 10th of the previous month and disappear within hours for weekends.
Day 5: Day trip: Kamakura (or Nikko)
Morning. Take the JR Yokosuka line from Tokyo Station (about 1 hour, roughly ¥950) to Kamakura, Japan's 12th-century capital. Switch to the Enoden tram to Hase for the Great Buddha (Kotoku-in, about ¥300), 13 metres of bronze, and the hillside Hase-dera temple.
Afternoon. Walk the Daibutsu hiking trail (about 1 hour through forest) to Zeniarai Benten, where people wash money in a cave spring, and down to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine and Komachi-dori's snack shops.
Evening. Return to Tokyo for a final dinner. A kaiseki or omakase sushi dinner costs ¥15,000-40,000; a set meal at a chain like Ootoya is about ¥1,200.
For Nikko instead, take the Tobu line from Asakusa (about 2 hours); the gilded Toshogu shrine is worth the longer ride, but leave by 8:00.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, do Days 1 to 3 and put Shinjuku's evening alleys on Day 2 after Shibuya, which is one stop away. You lose the day trip and the western parks.
Got extra days?
Extra days go best to Hakone (90 minutes on the Odakyu Romancecar) for Mount Fuji views, a lake cruise and an onsen night in a ryokan, before or after continuing to Kyoto.
Where to stay in Tokyo
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Asakusa / Ueno | Cheapest beds and capsule hotels, direct trains from Narita. | ¥10,000-16,000 |
| Mid-range | Shinjuku | Biggest station, direct trains everywhere, airport buses, endless food. | ¥18,000-30,000 |
| Mid-range | Shibuya | Younger and livelier, close to Harajuku and Omotesando. | ¥20,000-32,000 |
| Comfort | Ginza / Marunouchi | Quiet, polished, next to Tokyo Station for bullet trains. | ¥40,000-90,000 |
Getting around
The JR Yamanote loop and the metro reach everything; most rides cost ¥180-260. Use a Suica or Pasmo card for every fare. The JR Pass is not worth it for Tokyo alone. From Haneda, the Keikyu line or monorail reaches the city in 20-30 minutes; from Narita, the Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner takes 45-60 minutes for about ¥2,500-3,100. Trains stop around midnight, and taxis start at about ¥500.
Best time to visit
Late March to early April for cherry blossom and mid-October to November for autumn colours, with highs of 15-22°C; both are the most expensive periods. June is the rainy season, and July-August are hot and humid at 30-33°C. Winter is cold and dry with clear Fuji views. Avoid Golden Week (around 29 April-5 May), when all of Japan travels.
Month-by-month weather for Tokyo →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | ¥6,000 | ¥12,000 | ¥30,000 |
| Food & drink | ¥3,500 | ¥7,000 | ¥18,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ¥1,500 | ¥4,000 | ¥7,000 |
| Local transport | ¥800 | ¥1,200 | ¥4,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about ¥12,000 | about ¥24,000 | about ¥59,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Japanese yen. Tokyo adds an accommodation tax of about ¥100-200 per person per night on rooms above ¥10,000.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need cash in Tokyo?
Less than before. Cards and Suica work almost everywhere in central Tokyo, but some small restaurants, temples and shrines are still cash only. Carry ¥10,000-20,000; 7-Eleven ATMs accept foreign cards.
Is 5 days enough for Tokyo and Kyoto?
No. Five days is for Tokyo alone. For both, plan at least 8-10 days: 4-5 in Tokyo and 3-4 in Kyoto, with the 2h15 Shinkansen between them.
What should I book in advance?
The Ghibli Museum (on the 10th of the previous month), Shibuya Sky and teamLab (1-2 weeks), and popular sushi omakase counters (often a month). Most temples and shrines need no booking.
Is Tokyo expensive?
Less than London or Paris at the moment because of the weak yen. Food is especially good value: excellent lunches cost ¥1,000-1,500.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning Japan trips. Prices are approximate for 2026 and in yen; confirm on the official Shibuya Sky, teamLab, Ghibli Museum, JR East and museum websites before booking.
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