Tokyo for the first time: 4 days

Day-by-day

1. Day 1

   Old Tokyo: Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara

   Morning

   Sensō-ji at opening (around 06:00 — the temple grounds never close, but the shops on Nakamise open at 09:30). Walk through the Hōzōmon gate while it's still empty. Climb to the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center observation deck (free, 8th floor) for the best top-down view of Sensō-ji you'll get without paying.

   Afternoon

   Walk or train one stop to Ueno. Ueno Park is the city's largest, with the Tokyo National Museum, Ueno Zoo, and Shinobazu Pond all clustered. Pick one museum (the Tokyo National is the right answer if you have to choose) and spend 90 minutes. Lunch at a tonkatsu shop near Ameyoko market.

   Evening

   Akihabara Electric Town. Yodobashi-Akiba is a 9-floor electronics megastore — go even if you don't intend to buy anything. Dinner at one of the standing-bar tachinomi under the JR tracks. Be on the train back to your hotel by 21:30; tomorrow is heavy.

   TipAsakusa is one of the few Tokyo neighborhoods where a yukata rental for the day looks appropriate rather than costume-y. Several shops on Orange Street offer them for ¥3,500–5,000 with hair-styling included.

   Recommended stops

   • Sensō-ji
   • Ueno Park
   • Akihabara Electric Town
   • Naritaya Asakusa

2. Day 2

   West Tokyo: Shibuya, Harajuku, Meiji, Shinjuku

   Morning

   Meiji Shrine first thing (08:30). The forest path is the actual destination; the shrine takes 15 minutes. Walk south through Yoyogi Park if you have spare time — Sunday mornings have the best people-watching in the city.

   Afternoon

   Harajuku → Omotesandō → Shibuya. Takeshita-dōri is loud and touristy; one pass-through is plenty. Omotesandō is the architecture walk (Tadao Ando's Omotesandō Hills, the Prada flagship). Cross Shibuya Scramble in daylight to see it; come back tonight to actually feel it.

   Evening

   Sunset at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck — yes, the free one in Shinjuku. North tower closes at 22:00. Dinner at Menya Musashi for tsukemen, then walk to Omoide Yokochō ("Memory Lane," the alley of yakitori counters next to Shinjuku station). Twelve seats per shop, point at what you want, ¥3,000 covers a meal and beer.

   TipShibuya Scramble looks best from above, after dark. The Starbucks at the Q-Front is the famous spot; the (free) viewing platform inside the new Magnet department store is better and less crowded.

   Recommended stops

   • Shibuya Crossing
   • Meiji Shrine
   • Menya Musashi Shinjuku
   • AIN SOPH. Shinjuku

3. Day 3

   Center: Tsukiji morning, Ginza afternoon, your-pick night

   Morning

   Tsukiji Outer Market by 07:30. The inner wholesale market moved to Toyosu — most of what tourists want (fresh sushi, tamagoyaki, knife shops) is still in the outer market. Eat your way through six stalls.

   Afternoon

   Walk to Ginza (15 min). Ginza is for window-shopping the flagships — Itoya stationery (9 floors), Uniqlo Ginza (12 floors), and the Apple Store designed by Foster + Partners. On Saturdays and Sundays Chuo-dōri closes to traffic between 12:00 and 17:00 — Hokōsha Tengoku, "pedestrian heaven."

   Evening

   Pick one: Tokyo Skytree observation deck for the panorama (350m and 450m levels, ¥3,100–4,300, book a timed entry slot), OR Roppongi for nightlife with a higher-end skew, OR Yanaka for a slow shitamachi (old-town) wander. They are three different cities. Skytree if you want the postcard; Yanaka if you want the soul.

   Recommended stops

   • Tsukiji Outer Market
   • Tokyo Skytree
   • Kyubey Ginza
   • Ramen Jirō Mita

4. Day 4

   Day trip to Kamakura

   Morning

   JR Yokosuka line from Tokyo Station to Kamakura (60 min, ¥940 each way; covered by JR Pass). Tsurugaoka Hachimangū first — the main approach is a 2 km cherry-tree avenue and the shrine itself sits at the top of a flight of stone steps.

   Afternoon

   Lunch on Komachi-dōri (the souvenir/snack street parallel to the main shrine approach) — try shirasu-don (white-bait rice bowl) at any restaurant with a queue under 10 people. Walk or take the Enoden tram to Hase to see the Great Buddha of Kamakura (¥300, you can pay an extra ¥50 to climb inside the bronze statue).

   Evening

   Optional: continue on the Enoden line to Enoshima for a sunset over the Pacific. Otherwise: catch the JR back to Tokyo by 18:00 and have a quiet last dinner near your hotel. Pack tonight; mornings in Tokyo are unforgiving.

   Recommended stops

   • Great Buddha of Kamakura
   • Tsurugaoka Hachimangū

   →Train Tokyo → Kamakura (60 min)JR Yokosuka line; JR Pass eligible.

FAQ

Is the Tokyo Subway 24/48/72-Hour Pass worth it?

Sometimes. ¥800 for 24 hours covers Tokyo Metro and Toei lines (not JR). If you'll take 4+ subway rides in a day, yes. If most of your travel is on JR (e.g., Yamanote line), no — your Suica is enough.

Should I stay in Shinjuku, Shibuya, or somewhere else?

Shinjuku for nightlife and the largest train hub. Shibuya for shopping and a younger feel. Asakusa for old-Tokyo atmosphere and (usually) cheaper hotels. Tokyo Station / Marunouchi for business-traveler convenience and the easiest shinkansen day-trips. Skip Roppongi unless you specifically want clubs.

Can I do Tokyo without speaking Japanese?

Yes. Train signage and ticket machines are bilingual, most ramen shops have picture menus or vending-machine ordering, and Google Translate's camera mode handles the rest. Knowing how to say 'sumimasen' (excuse me) and 'arigatō gozaimasu' (thank you) is enough.

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