First time in Tokyo: five days, neighborhood by neighborhood
, 6 min read
A neighborhood-based five-day plan for first-time visitors to Tokyo, with practical transport tips and what to sort out in advance.
Tokyo isn’t one city. It’s dozens of neighborhoods side by side. On a first visit, giving each day one or two neighboring areas instead of trying to see everything cuts down time on trains and helps you actually get to know the city. The plan below is a starting point. Stretch or shorten it to your own pace.
Before you arrive
- Book ahead: Ghibli Museum tickets are only sold in advance for a set time. You can’t buy them at the door. Popular restaurants and observation decks are worth checking for reservations too.
- Transit card: An IC card like Suica or Pasmo works on the subway, trains and buses, and you can pay with it at most convenience stores.
- Cash: Card payments are common now, but some small businesses and temples still want cash. Keep a little on you.
Day 1: Shibuya and Harajuku
Start on the forested path of Meiji Jingu. A quiet morning in the middle of the city is a good way in. In the afternoon wander the back streets of Harajuku, then head down to Shibuya in the early evening. Walking through the famous crossing and watching it from above are two different experiences.
Day 2: Asakusa and Ueno
Sensō-ji in Asakusa is much calmer early in the morning. After snacks along Nakamise street, walk along the Sumida River. Save the afternoon for Ueno Park and the museums around it.
Day 3: Tsukiji, Ginza and Shinjuku
Tsukiji Outer Market is ideal for breakfast. The main wholesale fish market moved to Toyosu, but the shops and stalls of the outer market are still there. Walk around Ginza at midday and leave the evening for Shinjuku: tiny bars on narrow lanes and the night lights show another side of the city.
Day 4: Mitaka and Kichijōji
If you got Ghibli Museum tickets, give this day to the west side. After the museum, walk through Inokashira Park and take a break in Kichijōji’s cafés. A day away from the center’s pace does you good.
Day 5: a day trip
There are two classic options:
- Kamakura: The Great Buddha, temples and the seaside. An easy return trip by train.
- Hakone: Hot springs and lake views. Seeing Mount Fuji depends on the weather, so check the forecast at the last minute to catch a clear day.
Build your to-do list
Five days go by fast. Writing down what you want to see beforehand makes the “should we also do this?” decisions easier on the road. On Waykin your list becomes tickable once the trip starts, and when you’re back it stays as it was: what you did and what you saved for next time.
Getting lost in Tokyo is easy and getting bored is impossible. On your first trip, go to fewer places and walk more.
