Tokyo 3-Day Itinerary

How this 3-day Tokyo plan works

Three days in Tokyo works if each day takes one side of the Yamanote loop. Day one covers the eastern old city, day two the western fashion and nightlife districts, day three the centre and bay. You will use the train constantly but never for more than 25 minutes at a stretch.

Tokyo in a long weekend (first-time)

Where to base yourself for this plan

Shinjuku or Shibuya on the western loop, or Ueno if budget matters more than nightlife. All three keep every day to a single train ride.

Day 1: Old Tokyo: Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara

Focus: Eastern Tokyo

• Morning

  Senso-ji before 08:00 while Nakamise is still shuttered and the temple courtyard is empty, then breakfast in the backstreets of Kappabashi.

• Afternoon

  Ueno Park for the Tokyo National Museum, then the Ameyoko market lanes under the railway tracks.

• Evening

  Akihabara after dark for the electric-town neon, or a river cruise from Asakusa down to Hamarikyu Gardens.

• Getting between them

  Ginza subway line links Asakusa and Ueno in five minutes; Yamanote covers the rest.

Day 2: West side: Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku

Focus: Western Tokyo

• Morning

  Meiji Jingu through the forest path, then Takeshita Street and Omotesando's architecture on the walk south.

• Afternoon

  Shibuya — the crossing, Shibuya Sky on a booked slot, and the department-store food halls beneath the station.

• Evening

  Shinjuku: Omoide Yokocho or Golden Gai for yakitori and tiny bars, with the free Metropolitan Building deck first if the sky is clear.

• Getting between them

  Yamanote line between all three; the Harajuku-to-Shibuya leg is a pleasant 20-minute walk.

Day 3: Centre and bay: Tsukiji, Ginza and teamLab

Focus: Central Tokyo and the waterfront

• Morning

  Tsukiji outer market at opening for the street-food breakfast, then a walk through Hamarikyu Gardens.

• Afternoon

  Ginza's flagship stores and the Imperial Palace East Gardens, both free and easily walked.

• Evening

  teamLab on a booked evening slot, then dinner on the bay.

• Getting between them

  Subway throughout; the Yurikamome line out to the bay is an attraction in its own right.

Adapting this plan

If it is your first morning after a long-haul flight, start with day one — the eastern districts are far more forgiving on jet lag than a timed Shibuya Sky slot. Cherry blossom season shifts the priority: swap the Ginza afternoon for Ueno Park or the Meguro River. Museums close on Mondays, so move day one's Tokyo National Museum if your trip includes one.

Best time to run this itinerary

Late March–April brings cherry blossom (and higher rates); October–November delivers clear skies and autumn colour. June is rainy season; July–August are hot and humid.

Before you go

• Buy a Suica or Pasmo IC card at the airport — works on all trains, buses and convenience stores.

• Carry some cash for small restaurants and shrines.

• Trash bins are rare — carry rubbish until you find a convenience store.