3 Days in Tokyo: A Day-by-Day Itinerary for First Visits

Three days in Tokyo is enough to see the city's old and new sides without rushing, as long as each day stays in one part of town. The best 3-day Tokyo itinerary spends day one in Asakusa and Ueno, day two in Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku, and day three around Tsukiji, Ginza and the Imperial Palace, with a day trip as an alternative.

Day 1: Asakusa, Ueno and the old city

Start early at Senso-ji in Asakusa, Tokyo's oldest temple, before the tour groups arrive, and walk Nakamise-dori, the shopping street that leads to it. Cross to Ueno for the park, its museums and the Ameyoko market street. In the evening, go up the Tokyo Skytree for the view over the city, or eat in the small restaurants around Asakusa.

Day 2: Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku

Begin at Meiji Jingu, a forested shrine that feels far from the city, then walk through Harajuku and down Omotesando. In the afternoon, cross the Shibuya scramble crossing and explore the shopping streets around it. End the day in Shinjuku: the free observation decks of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, then dinner in the narrow lanes of Omoide Yokocho.

Day 3: Tsukiji, Ginza and the Imperial Palace

Have breakfast at the Tsukiji Outer Market, where the food stalls stayed when the wholesale market moved to Toyosu. Walk to Ginza for department stores and their food halls, then to the Imperial Palace East Gardens; check the opening days before you go. In the afternoon, choose between a digital art museum, the waterfront at Odaiba, or a quieter neighbourhood such as Yanaka.

Or swap day 3 for a day trip

If Tokyo's crowds are enough after two days, a day trip gives a different view of Japan:

• Kamakura — the Great Buddha, temples and a beach town, about an hour by train.
• Nikko — ornate shrines and mountain scenery, about two hours away.
• Hakone or Mt Fuji — lakes, hot springs and, on a clear day, views of Fuji.

Getting around Tokyo

Tokyo's trains and subway reach everything above. A rechargeable IC card such as Suica or PASMO pays for every ride and for convenience stores, so you never need to buy individual tickets. The JR Yamanote line loops around the centre and connects most of these neighbourhoods. Avoid the morning and evening rush hours with luggage.

Where to stay

For a short stay, choose a hotel near a major station on the Yamanote line: Shinjuku and Shibuya for nightlife and shopping, Ginza or Tokyo Station for easy shinkansen departures, or Asakusa and Ueno for a quieter, more traditional base. Our Tokyo destination guide has more detail, and the 7-day itinerary shows how Tokyo fits into a longer trip.