Epic 5 Day Tokyo Itinerary
Are you looking to visit Japan? We did too forever and finally, the stars aligned and we were off to Japan! Join us as we give you our ultimate 10-day Japan itinerary filled with traditional and modern highlights and travel adventures from Tokyo's bustling streets to Kyoto's tranquil temples. If you have the luxury of a few more days, this can easily be made into a two-week trip. In addition, one of us is vegetarian so we will be sure to sprinkle in good places to eat. Join us for a whirlwind tour of Japan's enchanting beauty and cultural wonders!
Let’s start with the bright lights and the amazing pulse of Tokyo! Afterward, check out our 5 Days in Kyoto post to compile your ultimate Japan getaway!
Tokyo
As the world’s largest Metropolitan City, Tokyo has so much to offer! It is a very unique city! Neon-lit skyscrapers and historic temples coexist in this bustling metropolis. Some can find this city quite overwhelming being filled with people and things to do, however, amongst the bustle of the city there is a sense of peacefulness and organization that is quite impressive. We love exploring diverse neighborhoods, cuisine, and culture and Tokyo is filled with all of this and more! Let’s get started!
Sneak Preview
Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo, Shinjuku for Dinner and Drinks
Day 2: Traditional Tokyo: Sensoji, Akihabara, and Strolls
Day 3: Mostly Modern Tokyo: Shibuya, Meiji Shrine, and Harajuku
Day 4: Hakone and Mt. Fuji Day
Day 5: Tokyo Double Take and Choose Your Own Adventures
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Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo, Shinjuku for Dinner and Drinks
The flight to Tokyo or Japan can be quite long depending on where you are traveling from. From Los Angeles our flight was about 12 hours. So definitely, give yourself some time to refresh and settle in for today, as we have so much planned for this trip!
Airport to accommodations
There are many options via public transport including Keiku AIrport Line, Oedo line, Monorail to the city, or ride shares.
Check in to Accommodations
Where to stay in Tokyo?
We always recommend staying centrally in any city to maxmize your exploration time and minimize commute. For Tokyo, we highly recommend staying close to a train station, as that will be your main mode of transport for days to come.
Check out the search based on popular neighborhoods:
1) Shinjuku
2) Shibuya
3) Ginza
Shinjuku - Piss Alley
Start your Japan journey with a memorable dinner in bustling Shinjuku! The Neon lights definitely help with the jet lag and the crowds of people will keep you up for a little bit longer today!
Be sure to check out the Omoide Yokocho, commonly known as Piss Alley - with dozens of eateries. Try some ramen or an upscale izakaya. Shinjuku guarantees a delicious first night in Japan!
If you are looking for a vegetarian-friendly Ramen place be sure to check out Afuri Karakurenai Shinjuku Subnade.
Views of Tokyo
After dinner, visit the observation deck on 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
Check online for hours- usually open pretty late to capture amazing views of Tokyo at night. Best of all it’s free!
Drinks
If by now you are more awake and want to check out the nightlife, the best place to go is Golden Gai. Most bars open by 8 pm and often have a cover charge for foreigners (~500-1000 JPY).
Day 2: Traditional Tokyo: Sensoji, Akihabara, and Strolls
Breakfast
A traditional Japanese breakfast ( "Asa-gohan” in Japanese) features a balanced, seasonal spread of rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and pickled veggies, all accompanied by green tea. It's a simple and flavorful start to the day, rich in cultural tradition. Be sure to try at least one traditional experience when in Japan.
Sensoji Temple (Asakusa Kannon Temple)
As Tokyo's oldest and most famous temple, Sensoji welcomes visitors with its majestic Thunder Gate- Kaminarimon.
Shop and Eat at the Historic Nakamise Dori Street
The gate leads to a wonderful stroll along the famous Nakamise Dori street. Check out the stalls offering unique items such as intricate folding fans, beautifully crafted kimono, and traditional Japanese sweets. Don't forget to sample mouthwatering snacks like freshly grilled senbei (rice crackers) and ningyo-yaki (doll-shaped cakes)! Cool spots to check out nearby: grab a snack at Onigri Asakusa Yadoroku or try the 7 levels of matcha ice cream at Suzukien Asakusa.
Asakusa-jinja Shrine
Immerse yourself in the peaceful setting as you explore the temple's main hall, courtyard, stunning architecture, 5 story pagoda, and intricate details. Participate in the ritual of cleansing at the chozuya, making wishes, and don't forget to try your luck with the omikuji!
Akihabara
Time to explore Tokyo's tech and pop culture home! Famous for anime and manga (plenty of stores around here!). There are tons of electronic shops, arcades, and fun-themed cafes.
Walking Tour of Tokyo
After some exploration on your own, it’s time for a walking tour! We love taking these to understand the culture and help us find the pulse of the city. In Tokyo, we did a 3-hour free walking tour linked here, and we really enjoyed it! Of course, free walking tours are not truly free, you pay what you think the worth was at the end of the tour.
Ueno Park
If you choose to do the walking tour, it ends at Uneo Park making our next stop a easy walk.
Tokyo National Museum
In Tokyo's Ueno Park, the Tokyo National Museum is a treasure trove of Japan's cultural history. Explore centuries of art and artifacts, from samurai armor to delicate porcelain. Check online for updated hours and ticket prices.
Evening Plans: Choose your own adventure:
1) Tokyo From Above: Head to Tokyo Skytree to take in views from above. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Fuji too!
2) Ginza Neighborhood: It’s usually closed on Saturday/Sunday to cars making it a great place to explore by foot. Ginza is known for shopping and includes the famous 12-floor UNIQLO experience! It’s a must-visit place. Also, check out Itoya for the ultimate stationery store. Ginza also has great places to eat and drink making it a perfect way to wrap up your evening here.
Day 3: Mostly Modern Tokyo: Shibuya, Meiji Shrine, and Harajuku
Breakfast
Tokyo has so many unique delicacies so you will always find something good to eat! Most days we started our days early morning and found that most breakfast spots and coffee shops opened much later around 10-11 am.
We ended up checking out a lot of local coffee pastry shops and enjoying delicious flavors (and of course all things matcha!). Be sure to check out Japanese Pancakes at least once on your trip! A great spot is Happy Pancakes (located both in Shibuya and Ginza).
Shibuya Neighborhood
This might be our favorite neighborhood, filled with such amazing energy!
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
In the heart of Tokyo, Shibuya's famous crossing is a spectacle, where thousands of pedestrians move in a choreography of chaos and order at the same time. It's a must-see and do on any traveler’s list! After you cross it a few times, check out the view from above in one of the cafes nearby or from the building with Starbucks.
Shibuya Things to Do
After the crossing, explore this fun neighborhood filled with fun cafes, shops, and vibrant energy:
Hachikō Memorial Statue
Located right next to the crossing, be sure to line up to take a picture with this famous loyal dog!
Mega Don Quixote
This is such a fun mega store selling everything you can think of! It's a great place to do some souvenir shopping and best of all THE PLACE to get your fill of flavored Kit-Kats! It’s open 24 hours! You can easily spend hours exploring here.
Nintendo Store and Pokemon Center
Needs no explanation!
Tokyu Hands
A good department store that sells unique souvenirs as well. The shop is filled with everything you can imagine (including pets!)
For a Cool Experience check out Go Kart Tour Shibuya
Lunch
For those traveling with a vegetarian/vegan, we recommend reserving a spot at Tsuta for some amazing Ramen! There are both meaty and vegan options offering choices for all! In general for food, be sure to make reservations ahead of time. Most places only have a few tables and thus peak food times can mean long wait times or no tables. Also if you have diet restrictions, then some research will be needed to make sure you can eat there.
Meiji-jingu Shrine
This dynamic Shinto shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, blends tradition and modernity. Admire the grand Torii gate, architecture, various exhibits, and the greenery. It’s a must-visit oasis in the heart of this busy city and easy to see why it’s so famous.
Harajuku
Our final neighborhood for tonight is Harajuku. The main street is Takeshita Street filled with cafes, fashion, and fun energy. You have to try the famous Harajuku crepes here! You will see them sold on every street corner. Be sure to check out an animal cafe like the Hedgehog Cafe.
Day 4: Hakone and Mt. Fuji Day
We have a fun day trip planned here! We chose to do a guided tour of Mt. Fuji and Hakone linked here that took us through Hakone activities in addition to taking us to the 5th Station of Mt. Fuji- 2300 meters (7545 feet) above sea level. This is the farthest station possible with a car/transport one can arrive. After this, you have to hike the rest of the way to Mt. Fuji! Thus this station has a ton of hikes to the summit, a stop for shops, restaurants, and bathrooms. We were lucky to have a clear day and get some epic views of Mt. Fuji today! We highly recommend this organized tour!
Additional highlights of the day include:
Shinobi No Sato Ninja Village
Owaku-dani Valley
Hakone Ropeway
Lake Ashinoko
Hakone Shrine
There are many different tours offered for Hakone and Mt. Fuji to help guide your day. It is also possible to do the Hakone loop yourself, but combining Mt. Fuji stations is difficult with that. You can still see Mt. Fuji on a clear day from Hakone. Thus, depending on your budget and experience choice there are many options! Just be sure to check the weather before your departure!
Dinner at Tokyo Station
With this tour, we took the bullet train back to Tokyo Station and had a delicious dinner there! We highly recommend the famous vegan railroad Ramen called: T’s Tantan - Gransta Tokyo. Tokyo station is a destination to explore filled with shops, food, and drinks. It’s basically a mega shopping center that happens to have trains. You can spend hours here checking out the various delicacies, bento boxes, and unique desserts.
Day 5: Tokyo Double Take and Choose Your Own Adventures
You can easily add a few more days to Tokyo to truly appreciate each neighborhood and immerse yourself in the pulse of the city! With only five days though we wanted to give you the highlights of Tokyo and allow you to customize your final day based on your interests at your own pace. Use this any time of the yer including cherry blossom season to see the best of Tokyo!
We would choose your favorite 1-2 neighborhoods from earlier this week and spend more time exploring the place with leisure.
Some Suggestions:
Cool Experiences:
Explore the Tsukiji Fish Market - One of largest fish markets in the world; the inner market has the famous tuna auction but you will need to arrive at 02:00 - 04:00.
Go Kart Tour Shinjuku - Dress up as fun characters and ride the streets of Tokyo!
Museums/History:
Nezu Museum: A fine arts museum and be sure to visit the garden!
Tokyo National Museum: It’s on day 2, but in case you didn’t have enough time or skipped it that day.
Visit the Tokyo Imperial Palace -Be sure to check online for tickets, hours, and tour times. Be sure to check out the Imperial East Garden.
Tokyo from Above
Observation deck - 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
We had this on day one, but totally get it if you didn’t make it after a long flight. It’s free so definitely worth the visit! This would be great to do with a double take in Shinjuku as well and explore the neon lights and streets at night.
Tokyo Skytree
We had this as an option on day 2 evening. This is a paid experience and be sure to check online for tickets and updated information. Head to Tokyo Skytree to take in views from above.
Shopping
Omotesando Hills- Shopping center and also consider visiting Espace Louis Vuitton (glass box on top of building, free exhibits, and views of Harajuku).
Ginza Neighborhood
Shibuya for the unique stores (see above)
More New Neighborhoods:
Odaiba - A man-made island on Tokyo Bay filled with shopping and entertainment. The Rainbow Bridge connects this to the rest of Tokyo offering beautiful views, a pedestrian walkway(check online for times, and updated info), and pretty lights at night.
Roppongi Hills - Head to the Roppongi neighborhood - a great location for restaurants and bars!
The Roppongi Hills Complex has great views of the city. There’s even the Mori Art Museum if you like art.
With that, our 5-day adventure in Tokyo draws to a close, yet it leaves us with a treasure trove of beautiful memories, delightful experiences, and a seamless blend of history and modernity captured in the intricate sights we've encountered. Thank you for reading! What are your favorite parts of Tokyo??
To continue your Japan journey, be sure to check out our post on 5 Days in Kyoto!
