Three and a half days in Tokyo: suggested itinerary

: Last Updated: 01 June 2023

Three days and a half in Tokyo: Edo-Tokyo Museum — *Edo-Tokyo Museum*

If your journey to Japan lasts less than two weeks you will often choose to stay in Tokyo for three or four days. As one half-day is spent for the transfer between Tokyo and Osaka (or Kyoto), the effective duration of the stay in Tokyo often amounts to three and a half days.

Having three days and a half to visit Tokyo is not an ideal solution but it is possible to make the most of it without risking to make things too hasty.

Tokyo 3,5-day itinerary

Dedicating three full days to the visit of Tokyo can be a reasonable choice if you are pressed for time. Each day can be dedicated to a relatively small area of the city. This gives plenty of margins for improvisation and makes the organisation of the itineraries easier.

A classic three-day itinerary revolves around three main areas: 1) Ueno and Asakusa, 2) Chiyoda and Bunkyo, 3) Shibuya and Shinjuku. With an additional half-day you may choose to include more sightseeing places in the areas mentioned above or add other neighbourhoods.

Itinerary: Asakusa, Ueno, Chiyoda, Bunkyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Sumida

If you reach Tokyo in the evening, you can get to your hotel, check in and spend some hours taking a walk in the neighbourhood you chose to be based at.

Tokyo 3,5-day itinerary *Asakusa, Ueno, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Chiyoda, Chuo, Sumida* *Evening arrival*
Where to stay	Ueno (Asakusa), Shinjuku Tokyo Station
Day 1	Destinations: Asakusa (Senso-Ji Temple and nearby market) Ueno (Ueno Park, National Museum of Tokyo) Akihabara (electric town) How to get around: Between Ueno and Asakusa: by subway, Ginza Line Between Ueno and Akihabara: on foot or by train, Yamanote Line
Day 2	Destinations: Shibuya (Shibuya Crossing and nearby department stores, Meiji Shrine) Shinjuku (Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho, department stores, Shinjuku-Gyoen National Park, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Towers) How to get around: From Ueno (Akihabara) to Yasukuni-Jinja: by subway, Shinjuku Line Between Ueno and Shibuya: by subway, Ginza Line Between Shibuya and Shinjuku: by subway, Fukutoshin Line Between Shinjuku and Ueno; by subway, Shinjuku Line Between Shinjuku and Tokyo Station: by subway, Marunouchi Line
Day 3	Destinations: Chuo (Tokyo Station, Marunouchi, Ginza) Chiyoda (Yasukuni Shrine) Bunkyo (Koishikawa Koraku-En Garden or Rikugi-En Garden, Kanda-Jinja Shrine, Yushima Seido Temple) How to get around: Between Tokyo Station and Yasukuni-Jinja: by subway, Marunouchi and Tozai Line
Day 4 (morning)	Destinations: Sumida (two or three visits; possibile choices: Edo-Tokyo Museum, Japanese Sword Museum, Yokoamicho Memorial Park, Sumida Park, Tokyo Sky Tree) How to get around: Between Asakusa, the centre of Tokyo and Sumida: by subway, Hanzomon and Asakusa Line

Morning arrival

If you reach Tokyo by noon, we suggest you leave your baggage at the station and begin your journey right away.

With the obvious modifications you can follow the programme described above. The easiest option is to switch the schedules of the first and fourth day.

Take into account of the opening hours of museums, gardens and other sites.

Another option is to spend time for a short visit to Kamakura, ancient capital famous for its outstanding religious architecture.