Tokyo Itinerary 3 Days — A Realistic Day-by-Day Plan for First-Time Visitors
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Three days in Tokyo is enough to see the city's essential character — if the days are organized by geography rather than by attraction list. Tokyo is large enough that moving between distant neighborhoods wastes significant time. This itinerary clusters each day around connected areas, uses the Yamanote Line as the backbone, and builds in enough flexibility for the unexpected without trying to cover everything. It's designed for first-time visitors who want a clear structure rather than a list of 40 things to see.
Before you start
Base: anywhere on the Yamanote Line works. Shinjuku is the most central for this itinerary — Day 1 starts and ends there, Day 2 departs from Shibuya (one stop), Day 3 departs from Ueno (20 minutes by Yamanote). Asakusa is better for atmosphere but adds transit on Day 2 and 3.
IC card: a Suica or PASMO IC card covers all subway, JR, and bus fares in Tokyo without buying individual tickets. Options: Welcome Suica or PASMO Passport (available at Narita and Haneda airports — no deposit, valid 28 days, recommended for most visitors), or Mobile Suica/PASMO via Apple Wallet (set up before departure for the most seamless experience). Load ¥3,000 on arrival. Tap in and tap out at every gate.
What to book in advance: teamLab Planets (sells out — book before departure). Shibuya Sky observation deck (timed entry — book online or use the 14-days-ahead midnight JST release). Specific restaurants if you have targets — general dining in Tokyo requires no advance booking.
Looking for accommodation in Tokyo?
Hotels near the Yamanote Line give the best access for this itinerary — Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Asakusa are the three best first-timer bases. Book early for weekends and peak seasons. Browse Tokyo hotels on Booking.com →
Day 1 — Shinjuku and West Tokyo
Morning — Shinjuku Gyoen (9:00 AM)
Start at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (新宿御苑, ¥500) — one of Tokyo's largest and most varied parks, combining Japanese, French, and English garden styles across 58 hectares. Open from 9 AM. A 45-minute walk through the park before the city fully activates is a good way to orient after arrival or a jet-lagged first morning. The garden is at its best in cherry blossom season (late March to early April) and autumn foliage (November), but genuinely pleasant year-round.
Late morning — Shinjuku station area (10:30 AM)
Exit the garden and navigate Shinjuku Station — Tokyo's busiest station and the world's busiest train station by passenger volume. The station has 200 exits. For this itinerary: use the East Exit for Kabukicho and the department store area; West Exit for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Walking through Shinjuku Station confidently takes two or three attempts — the first time, follow the signs to the specific exit and don't try to memorize the layout.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁, free) — the South Observatory on the 45th floor (202 meters) is the main free observation deck currently in regular operation; check the official website before visiting as hours and availability vary. Clearest views are on dry, clear days; Mt. Fuji is visible to the west on very clear winter and spring mornings. Open until 10 PM (last entry 9:30 PM) on most evenings. 10 to 15 minute walk from the West Exit of Shinjuku Station.
Afternoon — Harajuku and Omotesando (1:00 PM)
Take the Yamanote Line two stops south from Shinjuku to Harajuku. Takeshita Street (竹下通り) — the pedestrian shopping street immediately outside the station's Takeshita Exit — is Tokyo's most concentrated youth fashion and street food environment. Crepes (¥400–700), cotton candy, and the specific aesthetic of Japanese youth fashion all converge here in approximately 400 meters. Best before 2 PM when crowds thin slightly.
Walk south 10 minutes to Omotesando — the broad zelkova-lined avenue with flagship stores, concept cafes, and the Omotesando Hills complex. The contrast between Takeshita's controlled chaos and Omotesando's restrained luxury is specifically Tokyo. Browse and lunch — Omotesando has every price point from standing ramen to Japanese fine dining.
Meiji Jingu (明治神宮) — 5 minutes walk from Harajuku Station toward the northwest. The forested Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji is one of Tokyo's most significant religious sites and the largest forested area in central Tokyo. Free entry. The approach through the 100,000-tree forest takes 10 minutes and transitions the atmosphere completely from the Harajuku streets. Allow 45 minutes.
Evening — Omoide Yokocho and Shinjuku (6:00 PM)
Return to Shinjuku for dinner. Omoide Yokocho (思い出横丁, Memory Lane) — the cluster of 20 tiny yakitori stalls immediately west of Shinjuku Station West Exit — is the most atmospheric evening eating environment in this part of Tokyo. Arrive before 6:30 PM to secure a seat. Budget ¥1,500–2,500 per person for skewers and beer. Afterward, walk through Kabukicho — Tokyo's entertainment district — to see the neon before returning to the hotel.
Day 2 — Shibuya, Shimokitazawa, and Nakameguro
Morning — Shibuya Crossing and surrounding area (9:30 AM)
Take the Yamanote Line to Shibuya. The Shibuya Scramble Crossing (渋谷スクランブル交差点) is busiest between 9 and 10 AM on weekday mornings — the mass of pedestrians crossing simultaneously from all directions is a specifically Tokyo phenomenon worth experiencing from street level first. For the overhead view, Shibuya Sky observation deck (渋谷スカイ, ¥2,200) is on the roof of Shibuya Scramble Square — book timed entry in advance.
Shibuya Center-gai (センター街) — the pedestrian shopping street immediately north of the crossing — covers streetwear, electronics, food, and the general retail character of Shibuya in 200 meters. Browse and use as a navigation anchor before moving into the surrounding streets.
Late morning — Daikanyama and T-Site (11:00 AM)
Walk 15 minutes south from Shibuya or take the Tokyu Toyoko Line one stop to Daikanyama (代官山). Daikanyama T-Site — a design-forward bookshop and lifestyle complex — is the anchor of the neighborhood. Browse the bookshop (strong English section, architecture, photography, and design), then walk the surrounding streets of independent boutiques and cafes. Daikanyama is Tokyo's most polished residential-commercial neighborhood — unhurried, well-designed, and genuinely pleasant for a late morning walk. Lunch in the area: budget ¥1,200–2,000 for a cafe or restaurant set lunch.
Afternoon — Shimokitazawa (2:00 PM)
Take the Tokyu Toyoko Line back to Shibuya, then the Keio Inokashira Line to Shimokitazawa (下北沢) — 10 minutes from Shibuya. Tokyo's most concentrated neighborhood for vintage clothing, independent music venues, small theater, and independent cafes. Unlike Daikanyama's polish, Shimokitazawa is deliberately rougher-edged — the vintage shops, live music bars, and curry restaurants give it a character that hasn't been gentrified away. Spend 2 hours browsing the streets around the station.
Evening — Nakameguro (5:30 PM)
Take the Keio Inokashira Line back to Shibuya, then walk or take the Tokyu Toyoko Line one stop to Nakameguro (中目黒). The canal-side area along the Meguro River — small restaurants and bars facing the water, upscale but informal. The best evening neighborhood in Tokyo for a relaxed dinner walk. In late March, the cherry trees lining the canal are illuminated for yozakura (night blossom viewing). Budget ¥3,000–6,000 for dinner depending on restaurant choice.
Day 3 — Asakusa, Ueno, and Akihabara
Morning — Asakusa (8:00 AM)
Take the Ginza Line or Asakusa Line to Asakusa — 20 to 30 minutes from Shinjuku. Arrive by 8 AM. Senso-ji temple (浅草寺, free) is at its best before 9 AM — the Nakamise-dori approach lane and the main hall area are walkable and quiet before the day's visitors arrive. Senso-ji is Tokyo's oldest temple and the city's most visited site — early morning access is the version worth having.
Nakamise-dori (仲見世通り) — the 250-meter approach lane lined with souvenir stalls — opens from 9 AM. Traditional souvenirs: ningyo-yaki cakes, kaminari okoshi rice crackers, and handmade craft items at lower prices than in most tourist areas. The lane is crowded by 10 AM; early morning browsing before shops open gives a cleaner view of the architecture.
Walk east to Kappabashi Kitchen Town (合羽橋道具街) — the wholesale kitchen and restaurant supply street, 10 minutes from Senso-ji. The famous plastic food sample shops, professional kitchen equipment, and specialty cooking tools are available at near-wholesale prices. A uniquely Tokyo experience with no equivalent elsewhere. Allow 45 minutes.
Late morning — Ueno (10:30 AM)
Walk 20 minutes south or take the subway one stop to Ueno. Ueno Park (上野公園) contains Tokyo's highest concentration of major museums — the Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館, ¥1,000), the National Museum of Nature and Science (¥630), and the National Museum of Western Art (free for permanent collection). Choose one based on interest. The Tokyo National Museum's main building holds Japan's largest collection of Japanese art and archaeology — the best single museum in Tokyo for understanding Japanese history.
Ueno Ameyoko Market (アメ横) — the covered market street under the Yamanote Line tracks between Ueno and Okachimachi stations. Fresh seafood, nuts, snacks, clothing, and the general atmosphere of a market that has operated here since the post-war period. Good for a lunch of grazing and browsing (11 AM to noon).
Afternoon — Akihabara and teamLab Planets (1:30 PM)
Walk 15 minutes south or take the JR Yamanote Line one stop to Akihabara (秋葉原). Tokyo's electronics and anime district — multi-story electronics shops (Yodobashi Camera is the largest), dedicated anime and manga stores, figure collectors' shops, and game centers. Allow 1.5 hours.
From Akihabara, take the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line to Tsukiji (10 minutes), then the Yurakucho Line to Shin-Toyosu or walk from Tsukiji to reach teamLab Planets (チームラボプラネッツ) in Toyosu — approximately 25 to 30 minutes total from Akihabara. The immersive digital art installation is one of the most photographed experiences in Tokyo — rooms of projected light, a water room, and garden installations. Entry ¥3,200, timed entry required (book well in advance — sells out weeks ahead). Allow 90 minutes. This east Tokyo location (Toyosu) makes Day 3 the natural fit for teamLab — close to Akihabara and Ginza on the same east side of the city.
Evening — Ginza (5:30 PM)
Take the Hibiya Line from Akihabara to Ginza (10 minutes). Ginza's department stores are best in the late afternoon when the premium food halls (basement floors) are at full operation. Dinner options: the restaurant floors of Ginza Six or Matsuya department store cover every Japanese cuisine type at mid-to-high price points; Ginza's back streets have smaller restaurants at more accessible prices. The Tsukiji Outer Market is a 10-minute walk southeast — good for a late afternoon snack or early dinner.
Day 1: Shinjuku Gyoen → Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building → Harajuku/Takeshita → Omotesando → Meiji Jingu → Omoide Yokocho dinner
Day 2: Shibuya Crossing/Sky → Daikanyama T-Site → Shimokitazawa → Nakameguro dinner
Day 3: Asakusa/Senso-ji → Kappabashi → Ueno museums → Ameyoko → Akihabara → teamLab Planets (Toyosu) → Ginza dinner
What's not covered: Roppongi (Hills and Midtown), Odaiba, Ikebukuro, Yanaka, Daikanyama — all worth time on a longer visit
Related Guides
→ Tokyo Travel Guide — Complete First-Timer's Guide to the City
→ 5-Day Tokyo Itinerary — A Realistic Day-by-Day Plan for First-Time Visitors
→ Where to Stay in Tokyo — Shinjuku vs Asakusa vs Ginza for First-Time Visitors
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