Itineraries for Your Trip to Tokyo
3 Days in Tokyo for First Timers
You’ll never forget your first visit to Tokyo. For me, I was still a teenager making my first stop on what was meant to be a round-the-world trip. I’d done my research and thought I knew what to expect, but nothing could have prepared me for the way the city jolted me to life with its energy, density, and contrasts—so different from sleepy small-town Scotland where I’d grown up. I was so captivated that I abandoned my onward ticket.
Many years and trips later, arriving in Tokyo remains a thrill. Here are some tips for approaching the sprawling city.
Rainfall is common, and summers in Tokyo can be unbearably humid.
If you only have time for one thing, make it Shibuya Crossing after dark.
The renowned Tsukiji Wholesale Market](https://www.viator.com/Tokyo-attractions/Tsukiji-Fish-Market/overview/d334-a231#overview) has moved to a new location, but the Tsukiji Outer Market remains a top spot for experiencing Japanese cuisine. Soak up the atmosphere and sample some of Tokyo’s freshest seafood on a morning tour of the sprawling market.
From Tsukiji, you can easily walk to a couple of top attractions, including the Hama Rikyu gardens, Imperial Palace, and upscale shopping district of Ginza. Spend the afternoon people-watching or shopping at the high-end department stores or seeing a Kabuki show at Kabukiza Theater. Stick around and eat your way through Ginza, Yurakucho, and Shimbashi on a food tour.
On your second day, experience the different energies within Shibuya and Shinjuku. Start by visiting the towering Shinto Meiji Jingu shrine, then take a stroll around youthful Harajuku and sample some colorful, kawaii-themed dishes.
Afterward, walk over to beautiful Shinjuku Gyo-en park for a break. Having worked up an appetite, indulge in some local dishes and drinks while hopping around Shinjuku’s tiny back-alley bars—a guided tour is key to unlocking the mysteries of these hard-to-find and tricky-to-navigate bars. If you’re still standing, hop on the Fukutoshin Line to Shibuya to experience Shibuya Crossing after dark.
Afterward, hop on the Metro Ginza Line to Ueno Park, the cultural heart of Tokyo and home of the Tokyo National Museum. Stick around and refuel with some delicious ramen or take the JR Yamanote Line to Nippori Station and admire the historic Yanaka District’s temples and cemeteries.
End the day back in Shinjuku with sweeping city views (and, if you’re lucky, a glimpse of Mount Fuji) from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building’s observation deck.
