7-Day Tokyo Itinerary 🗼
Itinerary Planning
When planning a 7-day itinerary in Tokyo, it's important to be flexible and not rush to see everything at all costs [1]. It's recommended to limit the itinerary to 2-3 things per day to allow for more exploration and discovery [2]. Plan to visit nearby locations together and limit to no more than two locations per day [3].
Sightseeing and Attractions
Some popular attractions include the Ghibli Museum, Senso-ji, Tokyo Tower, and Skytree [2]. It's recommended to limit the number of high view points visited to avoid repetition [2]. Onsen visits were recommended to reduce fatigue [1]. The Imperial Palace tour may be boring for some, but it can be combined with a visit to Akihabara [3]. The Roppongi tower offers a great view of Tokyo from a height [3].
Transportation and Internet Access
Taking cabs constantly may allow for more sightseeing, but the cost may be high [1]. There is a debate about whether to use an eSim or pocket wifi for internet access [1].
Food and Drink
There are many great dining options in Tokyo, including ramen, matcha, and coffee shops. Yokohama Iekei Ramen Ichikakuya Nishi-Shinjuku Main Store is a delicious option for ramen lovers [1]. Cafe Tinalente is recommended for good coffee and desserts [5]. Okon is a recommended dinner spot in Osaka [5].
Day Trips
There is a debate about whether to visit Kyoto or stick to Tokyo due to the G7 summit in Hiroshima during the same weekend [1]. Kyoto is generally considered a more relaxed and chill place compared to Tokyo [4]. Consider taking a day trip to Naoshima Art Island or Uji for matcha [5].
Additional Considerations
Wearing masks is common in Japan, and it's recommended to wear one out of consideration for others [4]. Leave some time for wandering and random activities [3]. Tipping is expected for free walking tours in Kyoto [4].
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Hi, r/JapanTravel!
I've been lurking around this subreddit for quite a bit, and after some perusing and watching several YouTube videos, I think I have a first draft for a travel itinerary ready to present. Like the title says, I (22M) plan on traveling to and staying in Tokyo f...
- The itinerary includes a 7-day trip to Tokyo from May 19-28, 2023.
- There is a debate about whether to visit Kyoto or stick to Tokyo due to the G7 summit in Hiroshima during the same weekend.
- Some suggestions were made to adjust the itinerary, such as choosing a different area for Day 3 and combining Harajuku and Shibuya on Day 4.
- Onsen visits were recommended to reduce fatigue.
- It is important to be flexible and not rush to see everything at all costs.
- There is a debate about whether to use an eSim or pocket wifi for internet access.
- Taking cabs constantly may allow for more sightseeing, but the cost may be high.
Unpopular opinion, but go to Kyoto. Yes it’s not cheap, but when do you plan on being in Japan again? It’s like taking a day trip from Madison,WI to Chicago. Take the bullet train there in the morning and take it back later. Totally worth it.
Very worth it but it's a looooong day.. you can see about 1/2 the city and dividing into north / south or east / west. This is because the traveling in Kyoto eat so much of your day. Shinkansen alone is 5 hours round trip.
Might be able to see more if you did Cabs constantly, bit I don't even want to know the bill.
I’d usually agree because Kyoto is worth a visit but this time I’d say stick to Tokyo and if possible do side trips within Kanto. May 19-21 weekend is the G7 summit in Hiroshima, while Tokyo can handle the road blocks or sudden on-the-spot itinerary adjustments. Kyoto for sure will be packed even more if some world leader decides that they want to go see Kyoto after the summit.
Day3 : afternoon. Maybe choose a different area if you already have seen most of Akihabara and since you'll be in Shibuya later.
Day 4, you can definitely do Shibuya on this day. Harajuku and Shibuya are so much neighbours that it's basically the same area. Meiji jingu and yoyogi are pretty quick visit, then Harajuku for late morning/lunch time/early afternoon, then Shibuya for afternoon/Evening.
Then you have freed up half a day on Day 5 and/or 3 to shuffle around some other stuff and can do a full day in Akihabara and perhaps visit the Imperial palace. Or just do a longer day in Asakusa/Ueno
Day 7. Kamakura is a great choice. Nice vibes and easy to get to. Can easily be combined with Enoshima.
IC card is good throughout Japan as far as I know. I know it’s good in Kamakura though for sure. Also Kamakura is definitely a good substitute for Kyoto.
I just want to say that I love the four quadrants in the map 😆😍👏😁 and also how you read a lot of itineraries comments to not put too many activities in a day 👏
Thank you! Yeah, another thing I’ve learned from reading travel reports on this subreddit is the amount of walking I’ll be doing, so reducing the area in which I’ll be in for each day should help reduce fatigue and tiredness
Yassss and visit onsen too with your family while you're there 😄😄 there are a lot of public onsen around 😍 Can definitely reduce the fatigue.
I'll be coming into Japan on the 28th of May, when you leave. I'll continue on your adventure 😆😆
- yes, that is a common thing, but still try to be flexible, don't rush to see everything at all cost, it's all right to take time and enjoy what you are doing, don't rush to see everything at all cost.
- eSim yes, but check price of pocket wifi, it's usually more expensive, so it you have a good deal on eSim, you might just decide to skip the pocket wifi, then the question is also to know how much everybody need to have internet at all time. Of course everybody with their sim allow for splitting and being able to communicate or the question is, do everybody have to have access to internet on their phone during the day?
- Yes, possible, but there is discount tickets to Kawagoe, so you should check that if you decide to go to Kawagoe.
Hi everyone, visiting Tokyo for the first time with my girlfriend and we want to see as much as possible in the little time we are there, we are 21 years old if that matters ( we don't mind a lot of walking ).
How is this itinerary? I know it may seem like a lot but i'm not stri...
- The Ghibli Museum is worth visiting if you or your girlfriend are big fans of Totoro/Miyazaki.
- It's recommended to limit your itinerary to 2-3 things per day to allow for more exploration and discovery.
- Some suggested rearrangements to the itinerary include: rearranging stops on Day 2, skipping Senso-ji twice, and potentially skipping one of the high view points (Tokyo Tower or Skytree).
- Akihabara can take more than 2.5 hours to fully explore, depending on your interests.
Ghibli museum is not especially far, it's about 15 min by train from Shinjuku, then some walking or bus, depending on what you prefer. So this can fit well in the Shinjuku day, but you might want to skip something else, like shin-okubo on that day.
It does not really make sense to do Senso-ji twice on day 2. Also does not make sense to do go to Kanda Myojin right next to Akihabara, then to Ueno to return to Akihabara.
I would probably start by Nezu Shrine, Ueno park, Akihabara with detour to Kanda Myojin, Asakusa, Senso-ji and end by Tokyo Skytree.
Any specific plan for Ginza ? The big appeal is high end shopping.
Day 4 is a bit heavy, I can understand Chidorigafuchi for cherry blossom, Imperial palace is not especially a must, depend on what you are interested to see, but there is better gardens in my opinion. Tokyo Tower is also skipable, I would rather walk by and go to Roppongi Hills Mori tower, that have a nice observation deck with roof access, art museum and view on Tokyo Tower.
Then, it can be a bit heavy to do it all in the morning/early afternoon. It is possible that you will not have that much time for the last part of the day.
In general, I feel it's a bit full, so the extra day can be used to do what you could not in the previous days.
By Mout Fuji day trip, should I assume Kawaguchiko ? The other option is to stop for a night by Hakone on the way to Kyoto/Osaka, so you can enjoy a onsen and hope for a Mount Fuji view if the weather is good.
Rearranged my schedule, and no specific plans for any place just want to walk around, eat, etc.
and thank you when people say Mt Fuji day trip I didn't understand but I have looked up Kawaguchiko and that's exactly what I was looking for !
Thanks for all your advice !!
If she is a big Totoro / Miyazaki fan then I highly recommend it. It’s a very small museum but well done with lots of little details to enjoy throughout.
You have a lot going on for your itinerary. I suggest picking just 2 to 3 things max to do and explore each day. You’ll definitely wander and find little hidden gems and spots that you will want to spend more time at.
I’m not sure where you are traveling from but don’t forget to factor in jet lag too.
Yeah I was thinking the same thing about having alot on each day but there is so much to see in so little time, but that's why I tried giving more than enough time for each place just so we have a bit of time to explore
Day 2 you'll probably want to rearrange your stops a bit. Not sure the reason to visit sensoji twice is tho. I'd probably do Sensogi -> Ueno Park -> Nezu Shrine -> Kanda Shrine -> Akihabara -> Sensoji/Asakusa -> Skytree
The Ghibili Museum is worth it if you're a big fan, it's not that far from Shinjuku station. You will probably need half a day though you can probably do it on your Day 5. Shinjuku is probably more interesting at night so it would make sense to do: Gardens -> Ghibili Museum -> Shin Okubo -> Shinjuku/Kabukicho/Omoide Yokocho
By Tokyo Skytower, I'm assuming you mean Skytree. I also see Tokyo Tower on the 26th. I personally wouldn't go to both since it's basically the same thing (a high view of the city), but maybe your goal is to see the view during day time and night time which might be worth it for you. The Skytree is much higher than Tokyo Tower and is quite impressive to look at even from the base. If you do decide to go to both, I would recommend going to Tokyo Tower first, because I have a hunch if you go to Skytree first, Tokyo Tower will be a bit of a letdown. I think you would appreciate both of them if you did the shorter one first.
Yes, that's what I meant. I want to go to Tokyo Tower to have a picnic on the bottom, I wasn't planning on going to the top. Maybe if I do have time i'll check out tokyo tower aswell. Thanks!
You only allocate 2.5 hours for Akihabara.
Depending on how big an otaku / gamer / anime type you are this will be not nearly enough time.
The area is very dense with shops. You can spend a full day and not get through all of them depending on how you shop.
My first time in Super Potato I was in there over 30 minutes and that is just one albeit famous, shop!
If you like anime and games, and plan to shop , give your self more time!
Not a big gamer but thanks for the advice ! I only gave myself a couple of hours each place so I can check it out and if I feel like I need more time there I have an extra day to return.. The only anime I really watch is Hunter x Hunter so hopefully I can find some cool stuff there ;p
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Your the best, thank you so much.. Will def check that out.
and the reason I didn't start at Tokyo tower in day 4 is because I read online during Sakura season Chidorigafuchi Park can be filled with people and I wanted to ride a boat with my s/o. ( gotta be a little romantic sometimes), So my plan was to start there first thing in the morning to try and get in the line early.
I'm going to be in Tokyo for seven full days (not counting arrival/departure days and a planned day trip to Mt.Fuji via Japanican) in early March. I'd like to avoid trying to cram too much into those days, having spoiled a few previous holidays by being too hectic, but all of the...
- Plan to visit nearby locations together and limit to no more than two locations per day.
- Consider visiting the Imperial Palace and Akihabara on the same day.
- Tokyo from a height can be seen from the Roppongi tower.
- The Imperial Palace tour may be boring for some.
- City View at Mori Building is recommended over the Government Building at night.
- Tsutaya bookstore in Daikanyama is a beautiful bookstore in a nice neighborhood.
- Leave some time for wandering and random activities.
- A fellow Redditor is interested in meeting up for a drink.
I'm leaving for Tokyo on Monday and I'm planning on spending about two weeks there (in part because I've already been to a few places in Japan, in part because I have a friend living there and in part because my style of holidaying is "wander around everywhere and then read a book in a park).
I'll check back in once I've returned home and let you know how I got on with my super-relaxed itinerary. ��
Instead of reading in a park, I highly recommend the Tsutaya (蔦屋) book store in Daikanyama. Beautiful bookstore in a nice neighborhood.
Never heard of this place, but I'm definitely putting it on my itinerary.
I'll be there during the same time. If you want to meet a fellow Redditor and have a drink, let's hang.
You're too early in planning for specific suggestions (day three is too tight, or something like that). At this stage the best you can do is pin down every location you're looking to visit on a map, and group those nearby together. Don't do more than two locations in a day.
So far your itinerary is very loose, perhaps doable quite easily in 4 days. Consider other locations, or perhaps add day trips to say, Kamakura.
> See Tokyo from a height (once in the day, once at night)
Night time would certainly be Tokyo Tocho (the metropolitan government building), while daytime would probably be either Tokyo Tower, Sky Tree, or Roppongi Hills, each in a very different corner of Tokyo. That said, Tokyo is quite bland from above for the most part, being relatively homogeneous and flat. Only if you're lucky enough to see Mt. Fuji waaaaay off in the distance.
> At least one large temple
Sensoji in Asakusa (buddist) or Meiji shrine (shinto) would be the temple, but both are so cheesy and touristy compared to the "real" ones in Kyoto, or Tokyo's far suburbs.
> Imperial Palace and Nakano Broadway as all-day affairs
There's technically nothing to see at the Imperial palace, because it's off limits. All you can see is the "entrance" and some of the surrounding gardens open to public. It can take as little as 15 minutes (just the bridge and the entrance), or 2~3 hours if you want to walk all the way through the gardens to the north side. That said, Tokyo station, Ginza and Yurakucho are all within walking distance, if you're the shopping type.
Nakano Broadway... depends. It might be the Mecca of your dreams, and a whole day will only scratch the surface, or you'll be very disappointed, and be done with it in 2 hrs.
Well OP could book the Imperial Palace tour but it's pretty boring so...
I would recmonned City View (Mori building I think?) instead of the Government Building at night.
Can you tell me more about the Imperial Palace tour? I actually booked it for my own trip because, well, we like history.
Imperial Palace was great but not an all-day thing. Two-three hours or so should be enough unless you're really into gardens. I think you'll get fed up with Akihabara fairly quickly unless you have a specific interest in something there. The palace and Akihabara are pretty close to eachother, so I guess you could do those two in one day. You'd even have time for something in the evening, Golden Gai maybe.
You could walk from Harajuku to Shibuya (15 minutes or so). To see the big crossing if nothing else :) You could take a walk through Yoyogi Park and/or Meiji shrine too, it's on the route.
Sounds like a good relaxed itinerary all in all!
Tokyo from a height:
I highly recommend seeing it from the roof of the Roppongi tower! It was a little expensive (25$) but it was one of my most memorable experiences in Tokyo.
Here's a picture I took: https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/12239319_10207852826858557_3360451210673655290_o.jpg
You get to stand on top of this massive tower on a helipad: https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/11958063_10207852827178565_3160415633018226498_o.jpg
Highly recommend!
That will leave plenty of time to wander & do random things. Most of these things will only take a few hours unless you have a big interest in something e.g. you love arcades, then you could spend days in Akihabara.
You could probably do all of that easily in 3-4 days.
My husband and I had an opportunity to travel to Japan in February with my in-laws who were there for work and we had 1.5 months to plan our trip. It was my first time and my husband had been to Tokyo 2 times previously. We had a lot of airline points so used those to book our fl...
- The itinerary includes Tokyo and Kyoto, with a focus on culture, history, food, and walking.
- Some users suggest not taking the train directly to Kyoto after a long flight due to jet lag and the potential for exhaustion.
- Kyoto is generally considered a more relaxed and chill place compared to Tokyo.
- The poster used Kyoto Localized for a free walking tour in Kyoto, but notes that tipping is expected.
- The weather in February can be cold and snowy, and jet lag can make travelers more susceptible to the cold.
- Wearing masks is common in Japan, and the poster and their husband wore masks out of consideration for others.
My wife and I are going later this year for 2 weeks. Due to the jet lag (from US) you mention I’m considering training straight to Kyoto at the beginning then making our way back to Tokyo for the end (gonna do Shizuoka as well). Would you say Kyoto was a more “chill”, relaxing place to get settled in before the craziness of Tokyo? How was the train experience?
This is my plan in July. But flight to Osaka and then work my way back to Tokyo. I've already been to Tokyo and expect Kyoto to be a slower paced Tokyo.
Obviously, your millage may vary, but taking the train for a few hours right after being on a plane for 12+ seems really rough. Especially because to adjust to the timezone you want to stay awake and moving until bedtime.
Also, while Tokyo may be seem hectic if you aren't used to big cities, Kyoto itself is often packed with tourists and has pretty terrible public transit for Japan. I would not say it is necessarily a more chill experience.
Similar to what another poster mentioned, I would consider it a lot and pretty tiring to go directly to Kyoto from Tokyo when your flight arrived. Although Kyoto had a different vibe and it felt like most places closed down by 6pm, it definitely still had busy areas with lots of tourists. Although Tokyo is a busy and densely populated city, I didn’t find it exhausting or overwhelming because I consider it to be such an orderly place - people are waiting respectively in lines and I didn’t experience any pushing or shoving. ‘Tokyo busy’ felt like it was because of the sheer number of people living and commuting there whereas ‘Kyoto busy’ felr like it was because of tourists (Japanese and non-Japanese) which can sometimes make areas feel busier. However I’m sure that would drastically change depending on the time of year you visited. It was nice to have spent a day in Tokyo and get a sense of the city before leaving to Kyoto.
How did you score the free tour in Kyoto? I’m copying a lot of your recommendations/events
I used Kyoto localized as we had done a walking tour with the same company in Tokyo and enjoyed it. Full disclosure though that even though they are marketed as ‘free’ walking tours and you don’t pay anything upfront, there is an expectation for you to tip/pay what you want at the end. I’ve always experienced the tour guide to be very discrete on what you provide, so I’ve never felt guilty on what I’ve offered. Aside from our Airbnb food tour, this was the only service we ever tipped for in Japan.
Back in 2019 my husband and I went for a 5 week honeymoon around Europe and took advantage of ‘free’ walking tours in every city. We highly enjoy them.
I’m happy to answer any other questions you may have as well!!
I heard it snowed in Tokyo in February and looks liks it might have been a cold spell for a while. I was in Tokyo in january and i thought the weather was really mild coming from ny.
Yeah, while it didn't settle in Tokyo there was light snow when I was there. Even Osaka it snowed for a few miunutes around midnight on the 15th :p
Yep I was there in January and out of the 4 times I’ve been in Jan that was the mildest. Same as Europe where the resorts had no snow.
Yes I heard about that snow a few weeks before our trip. I think the other factor is that I find I’m very susceptible to the cold when I am jet lagged. I’ve run into the same issue when travelling to Taiwan and Poland in the past.
I’m having issues with updating my post but wanted to also mention we wore our masks pretty much 24/7 out of consideration, except in our hotel rooms, as most Japanese people were wearing masks everywhere
Hey! I am going with three other girls for a graduation trip. Another girl and I have been to Japan before. It will be the first time for the other two. I would love your opinions and any advice on the current itinerary.
We are going later this month. We have an Airbnb in Donton...
- Arrival day includes lunch (recommendations requested) and a visit to Osaka Castle, with dinner at Okon.
- Day 1 includes a suggestion to visit Naoshima Art Island, which is a 2-hour trip from Osaka.
- Another suggestion for Day 1 is to visit Uji for matcha or Omi-hachiman and Hikone near Biwako.
- No specific plans listed for Days 2-4.
- Day 5 includes exploring the areas of Harajuku, Shibuya, and Shinjuku in Tokyo.
- Cafe Tinalente is recommended for good coffee and desserts, located in a district with small hipster stores.
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Day 1 - it’s a little over 2h, but Naoshima Art Island is an absolutely stunning place with a ton of great art as well as nature. The ferry ride there is so pretty, the beaches are amazing, and the museums really are fantastic if you’re into art. We rented electric bikes for the whole day when we were there. Did it as a day trip form Osaka but you to need to get up quite early to have enough time there.
Day 1 - Uji is a nice half day trip if you like matcha. Otherwise you can check out Omi-hachiman and Hikone near Biwako.
Day 5 - yes that's how I usually explore those areas.
Cafe tinalente is really good, and in a district with small hipster stores and Instagram dessert/ice cream that not many travellers know about
I'm traveling to Tokyo for a seven day stay in late January / Early February and doing my absolute best to fill the itinerary with the things I truly love about the city. Specifically: traditional shopping streets (shotengai), Shinto shrines, drinking alleys (yokocho), quirky nei...
Some recommendations for a 7-day off the beaten path itinerary in Tokyo include exploring traditional shopping streets (shotengai), Shinto shrines, drinking alleys (yokocho), quirky neighborhoods, and remnants of pre-war and Showa era culture. Some specific suggestions include Hatonomachi for a local shotengai, Tamanoi/hiromi street for a more modern shopping experience, and Sankaku Chitai or Higashi Koji/Heiwa Koji/Suzuran Dori for Showa era vibes. Tateishi is also recommended for a more hardcore Showa style experience. It's important to note that some of the suggested locations may still be touristy, but they are still worth visiting.
I’ll be going on my 3rd visit to Tokyo around your dates-very curious about some of these places and looking forward to the recs that you get!
Best of luck on your trip plan! I'm pretty excited to check out some new areas this time around myself =)
Just a reminder that our FAQ is being updated with more information and you can start here with regards to trip planning if you need tips, or have questions about planning your travel to Japan.
Thank you!
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Interesting selection you have here, mixing some super major ultra-touristic spots (Nakamise or Sensoji) with way less known areas (Hatonomachi).
Anyway....
> >Sun. 1/29 (Evening Only) > >* Arrive at Narita in the afternoon >* Check into hotel in Asakusa >* Asakusa Jinja >* Tokyo skytree >
This is what I meant, those are major tourist attractions, Asakusa Jinja is just behind Sensoji, but if "evening" I guess Nakamise will be closed.
>Mon. 1/30 > >* Sensoji >* Nakamise Dori >* Ushijima Shrine >* Hato no machi Shotengai >* Shibamata Taishakuten >* Shibamata Shotengai >
See above reg. Nakamise.
So, Hatonomachi would be your first local shotengai. I'd suggest you walk and try and explore Tamanoi/higashi-mukojima, a bit more to the North. There are some (a few only) euphemistically called "cafes", renovated into houses, which were actually small bordellos in early Showa (=prewar). Look for round walls and tiles. Get lost inside the Higashi-mukojima shotengai, worth it for a 'local' experience.
Also, in Mukojima, there are a dozen or so active ryotei with geishas, way, way, way less bothered by tourists than the poor Geikos of Gion in Kyoto. Requires a bit legwork to check where to look but you may be lucky.
Shibamata is quite major and the shotengai is fun.
>Tues. 1/31 > >* Hie Jinja >* Atago Jinja >* Tsukishima Monja Street >* Tomioka Hachimangu >* Monzen Nakacho >* Tatsumi Shindo >
Also semi-major attractions, but Tatsumi shindo is a good authentic drinking yokocho.
>Wed. 2/01 > >* Kamakura All Day >* Asakusa Yokocho > >I've been to Kamakura once and absolutely loved it. If you have any specific lesser-known gems to recommend, I'd love to hear them!
Will leave that to people more knowledgeable than me.
> >Thurs. 2/02 > >* Sugamo jizo dori >* Arai Kannon Temple >* Yanaka Ginza >* Nezu jinja shrine >* Ueno Toshogu Jinja >* Ame Yokocho >* Jimbocho booktown > >This is the one day I feel like I might just be packing too full. Too many subway rides and too much walking. Should I skip something here? >
That's doable if you wake up quite early. Sugamo is active in the morning anyway.
>Fri. 2/03 > >* Meiji Jingu Shrine >* Harajuku/Takeshita >* Shinjuku Gyoen >* Golden Gai >* Omoide Yokocho >
Major stuff, some are super touristy, but ok.
>Sat. 2/04 > >* Jiyugoaka Kumano Jinja >* Jiyugoaka / Green Street >* Nihon Minka En Folk Museum >
Hum, that's quite specific, what attracts you to Jiyugaoka?
>Sun. 2/05 > >* Shimokitazawa >* Sangenjaya >* Sangenjaya Sankaku Chitai >* Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho > >So, I've seen recommendations to visit Sangenjaya as a cool, classic neighborhood but no actual to-do's other than the Yokocho. Is it worth the trip out there? >
Classic? Shimokitazawa? Not really, it has become quite touristy, and gentrified heavily in the last decade or so. It's still very fun to visit, but very busy. Any large stop along the Chuo line (Koenji, Nakano, Kichijoji, hell, even Asagaya) will have more authentic 'classic' drinking spots. Not that Shimokitazawa is bad, it's just different from the rest.
This is killer stuff, big thanks for taking the time to reply! You're right of course; there's an awful lot of big, touristy stuff for an "off the beaten path" post. I suppose those are just the ones I remember fondly enough to revisit.
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>So, Hatonomachi would be your first local shotengai. I'd suggest you walk and try and explore Tamanoi/higashi-mukojima, a bit more to the North. There are some (a few only) euphemistically called "cafes", renovated into houses, which were actually small bordellos in early Showa (=prewar). Look for round walls and tiles. Get lost inside the Higashi-mukojima shotengai, worth it for a 'local' experience.
Perfect! Higashi Mukojima shotengai and the Mukojima area at large is a perfect fit for what I'm looking for =)
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>Hum, that's quite specific, what attracts you to Jiyugaoka?
Good question! Really only that it looks like an interesting and rather out-of-place neighborhood due to the architecture. Is it not worth the visit? I'm not married to the idea of seeing it.
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>Classic? Shimokitazawa? Not really, it has become quite touristy, and gentrified heavily in the last decade or so. It's still very fun to visit, but very busy. Any large stop along the Chuo line (Koenji, Nakano, Kichijoji, hell, even Asagaya) will have more authentic 'classic' drinking spots. Not that Shimokitazawa is bad, it's just different from the rest.
"Classic neighborhood" was in reference to Sangenjaya. I'm totally unfamiliar with the area and can't find much about it other than that the local yokocho (Sankaku Chitai) looks fun.
Sankaku Chitai is fun, not really near Shimokitazawa, it's kind of a smaller version of Golden gai. I'd also recommend Higashi Koji / Heiwa Koji / Suzuran Dori area near Oimachi for some good old showa vibes, around here.
If you're looking for more hardcore showa style, you can try Tateishi. South of the station, you'll have 2 arcades that are deep into showa. North of the station, there is an old postwar black market area converted into a couple drinking places. Nonbei Yokocho. It has been partially destroyed with the widening of the station, but there are some remnants that look like this. It's more... intense... than anywhere else in Tokyo imho.
Hatsune Koji near Yanaka Ginza, also quite deep down there.
Hi all, this will be my first time in Japan!! I have decided to keep as open a schedule as possible so I can enjoy and explore Tokyo peacefully, avoiding all time constraints. I have listed places where I plan to go which have multiple 'points of interest', I may or may not see a...
- The itinerary seems to be well-planned, but some commenters suggest adjusting the order of some activities to optimize time and avoid crowds.
- Recommendations for Akihabara include Radio Kaikan, Akiba Culture Zone, Animate, Kotobukiya, Surugaya, GiGO Akihabara, TAITO Station, and Super Potato.
- Some commenters suggest visiting Ikebukuro and Sumida for additional activities.
- Maid cafes are mentioned as an option, but the poster does not plan to visit them.
- One commenter recommends visiting Popeyes in Sumida for craft beer.
For Thursday, I recommend you start with Meiji shrine and Yoyogi in the morning. Drop by Little Nap for coffee while you’re in the area.
After the park and shrine, you can already walk over to Takeshita Street in Harajuku as the shops there open around 11am onwards.
Popeyes, in Sumida, next to the train station has been one of the best craft beer locations in Tokyo..
Thanks for the info! I had a quick look at the website and this looks great so thank you this is the personalised insight I need
>**Any Akihabara tourist recommendations?**
- Radio Kaikan, Akiba Culture Zone, Animate, Kotobukiya, Surugaya (multiple shops) for mainstream ACG stuff.
- GiGO Akihabara (multiple shops), TAITO Station for latest arcade games.
- Super Potato for retro games.
- And any maid cafe if you're into that thing...
You may also consider adding Ikebukuro and Nakano Broadway into your itinerary if you're an ACG fan.
Hi, thank you for this. I don't plan to patron any maid cafes ahaha but the rest sounds like my thing. I think I'll mainly stick to comic books, manga, modern tech etc. The retro side is mostly before my time
I'm visiting around the same time so I'll be interested to see how other people respond!! Good luck on your trip!
Hi! thank you, the nerves and excitement are consuming me. I have been looking through every other Tokyo related post myself. I hope you have a great time
Shibuya crossing is right outside of Shibuya station, why is it with Harajuku.
Also, Meiji Shrine is right next to Yoyogi Park which is right next to Harajuku station, which right next to Takeshita street. Omotesando will connect you to Shibuya station, because Harajuku and Omotesando are part of Shibuya.
Also, you do not need to go to Mejiro to see illuminations, Shibuya is full of them.
Also, Team Lab Planets is right next to Odaiba.
Hi, thank you for the comment!
Initially due to the proximity, Shibuya and Harajuku were one day, but as I found more I wanted to see and do through research and this reddit, I felt it was a little full. I have corrected the placement of Shibuya crossing. There will likely be a crossover of these as its my first time I am unsure of where things are and connect to.
With Teamlab Planets, I booked the ticket in advance for that day and saw it can be a three hour activity. Given that, I gave Odaiba its own separate day instead of Akihabara, which I have found a little less to do and see others who put this in as a halfday visit.
For the time of year there will be many illuminations and I checked some of the most notable which is how I came across Mejiro Garden. Is this not worth the trip then given the rest of Tokyo's illuminations I should come across anyway?
If you really want a smaller garden like that, it could be nice, but it could also be REALLY crowded since it's an enclosed space. Yoyogi park has a very famous illumination and so does Ometesando.
Shibuya can be split up, but if you're mostly going to department stores, you may find yourself going through it faster than expected, for example 109 caters very specifically to teenage Japanese girl fashion, you could easily finish it in 30 minutes.
Same with Odaiba. The malls are big, but a lot of stores can easily be skipped.
A little bit last minute, but I was wondering if the itinerary that I've cooked up seems feasible/reasonable.
A couple of things about the trip: Staying north of Shinjuku, and traveling as a family
Day 1 (Thursday) – Shinjuku area
Shinjuku Goyen
isetan Shinjuku
Toky...
- Some suggestions were made to adjust the itinerary, such as visiting the new location of Tsukiji Market and being more specific about plans for Shibuya Crossing.
- Some recommendations for cafes and restaurants were requested but not provided.
- There are multiple museums at Ueno Park, with the Tokyo National Museum being the most famous.
- The underground walkway from Shinjuku station to Shinjuku Gyoen station is recommended in case of bad weather.
- It may be worth splitting day 3 into two days to avoid rushing through Ueno Park, Zoo, and Museum.
Hey! some suggestions.
- Meiji shrine has a biiiiiig park around it but the shrine itself is ratter small
- if you are going at night to shinjuku checkout golden gai district
- day 3 is too packed, you will spend most of the day on ueno park + zoo + museum, if not super rushed out, the zoo itself will take you 3-4 hours the see all, the museum too and the park is beutyfull you can spend 2 to 5 hours there just chilling or strooling its BIG
dont you plan to go to the tokyo tower? at night top deck has a little of a show and the views are sublime
Now that you mentioned it, I seem to be visiting quite a few parks. Im not sure if i'd be wasting my time with so many of them..
Hmm.. my priority for day 3 would mainly be the geisha show, unfortunately. My mum would like to see their performance at the cultural centre. I considered finding a tea house or smthmg, but she refused it. Regarding ueno park, would a single day in Ueno be a bit too much?
Hmm.. regarding tokyo tower, do we need to book in advance? And where do you think I should slot that tokyo tower trip in?
Hey! look, parks are amazing, ueno has one of the biggest but its full with stands, sighseeing places, beutifull trees and all. the meiji park (to go to the shrine) is more like a little forest, its super calm and with the noices of alot of birds and insects, they are both two kind of beutyfull parks none the less complete different.
i got tired of temples after my 23th temple i could not get tired of parks hahaha :p
if you plan to visit the zoo the museum and the park, and stroll around! you have alot of things super near by ueno like, the korean town, ameya-yokocho street (super good for lunch or breakfast), the bamboo garden and its close to ther destinations, like 10 minutes away in train. so "spending a day in ueno" could be enough if you include side visits, but trustme, the zoo and the museums will take easily 6hs of your daylight EASILY.
regarding the tokyo tower, yes you can buy the tickets online! i reserved that tour for the last day and i left it in tears. no spoilers. but damn.
here you have a full english web to get the tickets: https://tdt.tokyotower.co.jp/en/index.html
Hey there! Only thing that stands out is Tsukiji Market - if you're going there to see the fish market, it's recently moved to Toyosu ( 豊洲市場). There's still some stalls and shops near Tsukiji that might be interested to see if you're in the area, but you won't find the big fish sellers there.
To get to Toyosu, you can take Tokyo Station to Yurakucho, and then Yurakucho Subway to Toyosu. Then Yurikamome to Shijo-mae Station (which puts you in the center of the market.) It's about a 15 minute trip to get there, a little longer counting in connection times.
I was debating if it is still worth going. Was thinking Toyosu in the morn before walking over to Tsukiji.
There’s a couple of small stops after the Shinjuku station that are a lot closer to the park. They are so much easier to get in and out of. Definitely use them. When we stayed near there it was a lot easier to use the Shinjuku sanchome station. Shinjuku station itself I think is the busiest station in the world. It’s huge and really really busy.
The itinerary looks good. Give yourself some downtime or chill out in a cafe or park mid day. It’s tempting to pack in a lot but rest up too. We tend to go out in the morning from 10-4 then back to our room for awhile and back out at night. Have fun !
Cool! That explains it! I was wondering why we'd take a station after shinjuku, come out then walk back up! I see! Thanks a bunch! Do you have any cafes etc to recommend?
There is an entire underground walkway from Shinjuku station to the Shinjuku Gyoen (spelling) station that is great if the weather is bad :). We didn’t really plan any places to eat. Most have a menu or sample dishes on display. We didn’t have a bad meal anywhere. We did like choco cro for breakfast.
A couple of things:
- It's unclear how much time you're going to want to spend at Shibuya Crossing itself. It's certainly something worth seeing, but I don't know if it's something I would devote the night to. I would recommend being a bit more specific regarding what you will do once you get to that area. One recommendation I have is the VR arcade. Also, if you drink there's a good pub near there "Aldgate Pub", where you may be able to meet fellow travelers.
- Perhaps I missed it but it does not appear that there is time allotted for either an onsen or a sento. If you're new to the whole communal bath thing, I would recommend a visit to a sento-- they're ubiquitous enough to the point where you can fit them in any given day and not disrupt the existing schedule.
- Not sure how Don Quijote got on this list.
Ah, probably gonna spend like 30 min at Shibuya crossing itself.
The people I'm traveling with are not interested in an onsen, unfortunately.
Why not for Don Quijote?
What are your goals for Akihabara? I found some good insight in this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/72dzi8/worth_it_to_go_to_akihabara/
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Ah! Are there many museums near to the park? I thought it was just a park! Alright.i'll maybe split that into two days! Do you happen to know if it's ok to eat in the park? Like a picnic?
There are 6 museums at the park I believe. The Tokyo National Museum is the most famous though.
7-day tokyo itinerary
Here are some key considerations for planning a 7-day itinerary in Tokyo:
Explore the Different Neighborhoods: Tokyo is a city of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and attractions. Plan to visit popular areas like Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Harajuku, as well as lesser-known neighborhoods like Yanaka and Shimokitazawa.
Visit Iconic Landmarks: Tokyo is home to many iconic landmarks, such as the Tokyo Tower, the Meiji Shrine, and the Sensoji Temple. Make sure to include some of these landmarks in your itinerary to get a sense of Tokyo's history and culture.
Try the Local Cuisine: Tokyo is a food lover's paradise, with a wide variety of local and international cuisine. Make sure to try some of the city's famous dishes, such as sushi, ramen, and tempura, as well as street food like takoyaki and yakitori.
Experience Japanese Culture: Tokyo offers many opportunities to experience traditional Japanese culture, such as tea ceremonies, kabuki theater, and sumo wrestling. Consider adding some of these cultural experiences to your itinerary to get a deeper understanding of Japan's rich history and traditions.
Take Advantage of Public Transportation: Tokyo has an extensive and efficient public transportation system, including trains, subways, and buses. Make sure to plan your itinerary around the city's transportation network to save time and money.
Here's a sample 7-day itinerary:
- Day 1: Explore Shibuya and Harajuku, including the famous Shibuya Crossing and Meiji Shrine.
- Day 2: Visit the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa and explore the nearby streets and shops.
- Day 3: Take a day trip to the nearby city of Kamakura to see the Great Buddha and other historic sites.
- Day 4: Visit the Tsukiji Fish Market and try some fresh sushi for breakfast, then explore the nearby Ginza shopping district.
- Day 5: Spend the day at Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea.
- Day 6: Visit the Tokyo Tower and nearby Zojoji Temple, then explore the Roppongi Hills shopping and entertainment complex.
- Day 7: Visit the Imperial Palace and nearby East Gardens, then take a relaxing stroll through the nearby Chidorigafuchi Park.
Note that this itinerary is just a suggestion, and you can adjust it based on your interests and preferences. Also, make sure to book accommodations in advance