Tokyo 3-Day Itinerary

Start early at Senso-ji in Asakusa, Tokyo's oldest temple, ideally before 8am when the Nakamise-dori approach street is still quiet and the temple grounds are near-empty. Walk under the huge red Kaminarimon gate, through the stalls (they open a little later, so plan a return visit for snacks), and up to the main hall and its five-storey pagoda. This is the closest thing central Tokyo has to the atmosphere of Kyoto.

From Asakusa, walk or take a short taxi to the Sumida River and cross for a view back over the temple roofline with the modern Tokyo Skytree rising behind it — the two eras of the city in one frame. Consider going up the Skytree itself for a clear-day view stretching to Mount Fuji, or save the height experience for later in the trip.

Lunch: Asakusa is full of old-school tempura and unagi (eel) restaurants that have operated for generations — a set lunch runs ¥1,500–2,500 and is excellent value.

Afternoon: wander the quieter backstreets north of Senso-ji, where craft shops sell hand-made combs, fans, and woodblock prints, then head to Ueno Park, a short subway ride away, for its museums (Tokyo National Museum if you have time) and, in spring, some of the city's best cherry blossoms.

Evening: dinner in an Ueno or Asakusa izakaya — small plates, grilled skewers, and local beer — is a good, unhurried way to end a day spent mostly on foot.

Morning: ride the Yamanote Line to Shibuya and see the famous crossing from above at Shibuya Sky or from the Starbucks overlooking the intersection, then walk it yourself at street level. Shibuya's backstreets around Cat Street have some of the city's best small cafés and independent boutiques.

Late morning: walk to Harajuku, ten minutes away. Takeshita Street is loud, youth-fashion-driven, and worth twenty minutes even if you don't shop. Immediately adjacent, Meiji Shrine's forested approach is a complete change of pace — a 100,000-tree man-made forest around a major Shinto shrine, and one of the best contrasts in the city.

Lunch: Omotesando, the tree-lined boulevard next to Harajuku, has excellent café and bakery options, many inside striking architect-designed buildings worth a look regardless.

Afternoon: take the train to Shinjuku. Walk through Shinjuku Gyoen, one of Tokyo's finest gardens, if you want a quiet hour, or head straight into the district's scale — the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building has a free observation deck with skyline views comparable to paid options elsewhere.

Evening: Shinjuku after dark is essential. Wander Omoide Yokocho for grilled skewers in a tiny smoky alley, then Golden Gai for a drink in one of its matchbox-sized themed bars — go with cash and low expectations of personal space, and it delivers one of the city's most memorable nights out.

Morning: start at Tsukiji Outer Market before 9am, while the food stalls are still fresh and the crowds manageable. Eat your way along the lane — grilled skewers, fresh tamagoyaki, and a bowl of uni or sashimi from one of the counter stalls. If you're an early riser, the Toyosu Market observation deck (a short ride away) gives a view over the modern tuna auction floor.

Late morning: walk into Ginza, Tokyo's most polished shopping district. Even without buying anything, the flagship department stores are worth a browse for their design and, especially, their depachika basement food halls — an extraordinary spread of bento, sweets, and delicacies.

Lunch: pick something small and excellent from a depachika counter, or sit down at one of Ginza's accessible sushi counters for a mid-range omakase lunch set, generally far better value than the equivalent dinner.

Afternoon: head to teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless (book tickets in advance — both sell out) for an immersive digital art experience unlike anything else in the city, walking barefoot through projected water and mirrored light installations.

Evening: for a final night, take the train to Tokyo Station and walk to the Marunouchi side for a view of the restored red-brick station facade lit up, then choose between a proper sit-down dinner in Marunouchi or one last casual meal back near your hotel — a fitting, unhurried close to a trip that moved fast for three days straight.