4 days in Tokyo

The 4-day plan, day by day

1. 1

   Day 1 · Wednesday — Asakusa, Ueno and Tokyo Station lights

   Historic streets, parkland museums and a polished central-city evening

   5 stops€74 in stops, for two

   Morning

   1. 09:001

      Settle into Ueno and get oriented

      Head into the Ueno area, drop bags if possible and take a few minutes to get your bearings around the station district before sightseeing begins.

      €5 per person

      TIPA reloadable IC card makes local trains and subways much easier through the trip.

   2. 10:302

      Walk through Senso-ji approach and Asakusa backstreets

      Asakusa gives a strong first impression of old Tokyo with a busy temple approach, souvenir stalls and side lanes that still feel rooted in the city's older rhythm. The area is easy to explore on foot, and the contrast between the main street and the quieter backstreets makes it especially rewarding for a first visit.

      Free

      TIPArriving before lunch helps you enjoy the main approach before the biggest crowds gather.

   Afternoon

   1. 13:003

      Lunch around Kappabashi and Asakusa side streets

      This part of eastern Tokyo is a good place for a relaxed midday meal, with casual spots tucked into the streets between Asakusa and the kitchenware district. Expect everything from noodle shops to small set-meal places, with plenty of easy choices for a first day in the city.

      €12 per person

      TIPMany smaller lunch places use ticket machines at the entrance, so keep some cash or a card ready.

   2. 14:454

      Stroll through Ueno Park

      Ueno Park offers a broad, green break between neighborhoods, with tree-lined paths, ponds and major cultural buildings spread across the grounds. Even without committing to a museum visit, it works well as an easy afternoon walk and a feel for one of Tokyo's classic public spaces.

      Free

      TIPThe park is large, so choose one side to focus on rather than trying to cross every section.

   Evening

   1. 17:305

      Evening walk around Marunouchi and Tokyo Station

      Marunouchi brings wide avenues, restored red-brick station architecture and a polished business-district atmosphere that turns elegant after dark. It is a pleasant place for an evening walk, with illuminated facades, small plazas and easy access to dinner nearby.

      Free

      TIPThe station frontage is especially photogenic just after sunset when the lights come on.

   2. 19:306

      Dinner under the tracks in Yurakucho

      The Yurakucho rail-side lanes create a lively evening scene filled with compact eateries, glowing signs and after-work energy. It is an approachable place to sample a casual Tokyo dinner atmosphere, with plenty of choices in a short walkable stretch.

      €20 per person

      TIPGo with a flexible choice in mind, since the most inviting places can fill quickly on a weekday evening.

2. 2

   Day 2 · Thursday — Meiji Shrine, Harajuku and Shibuya

   Shrine calm, fashion streets and big-city Tokyo energy

   6 stops€80 in stops, for two

   Morning

   1. 09:001

      Morning walk through Meiji Jingu forest approach

      This shrine area feels unexpectedly quiet for central Tokyo, with broad gravel paths passing through thick woodland before opening onto the main precincts. It offers a memorable sense of scale and calm, making it one of the city's most satisfying morning starts.

      Free

      TIPMorning is the most peaceful time, with cooler temperatures and fewer tour groups.

   2. 11:152

      Explore Takeshita Street and nearby Harajuku lanes

      Harajuku brings a playful concentration of trend-led shops, snack stands and side streets where youth culture and small independent boutiques sit close together. The main strip is busy and colorful, while the surrounding lanes offer a slower, more browseable version of the neighborhood.

      Free

      TIPDip into the side lanes when the main street feels crowded; they often have the most interesting storefronts.

   Afternoon

   1. 13:153

      Lunch in Omotesando backstreets

      Omotesando's side streets combine stylish cafes, bakeries and relaxed lunch spots in a setting that feels polished without losing its neighborhood character. It is a comfortable midday stop after Harajuku, with good people-watching and plenty of variety.

      €18 per person

      TIPA short walk away from the main avenue usually leads to quieter and better-value lunch options.

   2. 15:004

      Cross through Shibuya Center-gai and the station district

      Shibuya is one of Tokyo's signature urban scenes, full of giant screens, dense pedestrian movement and tightly packed shopping streets. Walking the station area and Center-gai is less about checking off sights and more about absorbing the pace, sound and visual energy of the district.

      Free

      TIPKeep an offline map handy; the streets around the station can feel disorienting at first.

   Evening

   1. 18:005

      Sunset and evening views around Shibuya's upper walkways

      As daylight fades, the upper-level pedestrian routes and surrounding blocks reveal the district's layered cityscape of trains, towers and neon. It is a strong time to linger, take photos and watch the neighborhood shift from shopping hub to evening destination.

      Free

      TIPAim for the period just before and after sunset for the best mix of daylight and city lights.

   2. 19:456

      Dinner in Shibuya's backstreets

      The smaller streets off the busiest junctions hold a wide range of casual dinner options, from grilled dishes to noodle counters and compact izakaya-style spots. The atmosphere is energetic but easy to navigate, making it a strong area for a first Tokyo night out.

      €22 per person

      TIPIf one lane feels too crowded, try the next block over; good options are spread widely through the area.

3. 3

   Day 3 · Friday — Imperial East Gardens, Ginza and Tokyo Bay evening

   Wide avenues, refined shopping streets and a bayfront finish

   6 stops€92 in stops, for two

   Morning

   1. 09:001

      Walk the Imperial Palace East Gardens

      These gardens provide a spacious and orderly introduction to central Tokyo, with stone walls, gates, lawns and seasonal planting spread over historic castle grounds. The atmosphere is quieter than the surrounding business districts, so the visit balances history, open space and city context very well.

      Free

      TIPThe gardens usually open in the morning and are closed on some Mondays and Fridays, so this weekday slot is ideal.

   2. 11:152

      Browse Marunouchi's streets and plaza-lined blocks

      The Marunouchi district is shaped by broad avenues, office towers, station-front heritage architecture and polished shopping arcades at street level. A late-morning wander works well here because the neighborhood feels open, easy to navigate and distinctly different from Tokyo's denser entertainment districts.

      Free

      TIPLook into the side passages and plaza spaces between buildings for quieter routes and short coffee stops.

   Afternoon

   1. 12:453

      Lunch around Ginza side streets

      Ginza's smaller lanes are lined with department-store food halls, basement eateries and compact restaurants that make lunch easy to tailor to your appetite. The district feels refined but still very walkable, with plenty to look at between courses and shops.

      €20 per person

      TIPDepartment store food floors are excellent for takeaway snacks or a quick dessert after lunch.

   2. 14:154

      Afternoon shopping and street wandering in Ginza

      Ginza is one of Tokyo's classic shopping districts, known for flagship stores, elegant storefronts and a more spacious streetscape than many commercial areas. Even casual browsing is enjoyable here because the appeal lies as much in the atmosphere and architecture as in the shops themselves.

      Free

      TIPStep into the larger department stores for rooftop spaces, basement food halls and clean rest facilities.

   Evening

   1. 17:305

      Travel to the Odaiba bayfront

      Make your way out toward the bayfront for an evening in a more open, waterfront part of Tokyo with wide promenades and skyline views.

      €4 per person

      TIPTry to arrive before dusk so you can see the area in both daylight and evening light.

   2. 18:306

      Evening walk along Odaiba waterfront

      Odaiba offers a very different Tokyo mood, with breezy promenades, bridges, water views and a skyline that glows after dark. It is an easy place to slow the pace, take in the bay and enjoy a broad panorama of the city in the evening.

      Free

      TIPA light jacket can be useful on the waterfront if the bay breeze picks up after sunset.

   3. 20:207

      Dinner around Decks and Aqua City area

      The bayfront mall and promenade district has many straightforward dinner options with views and an easygoing evening atmosphere. It works well after a waterfront walk, especially if you want a simple meal without needing another transfer across the city.

      €22 per person

      TIPWindow-side tables can go quickly at dinner, so join a queue early if the view matters to you.

4. 4

   Day 4 · Saturday — Shinjuku gardens, viewpoints and final city night

   Green spaces, skyline views and a vivid west-side Tokyo finale

   5 stops€106 in stops, for two

   Morning

   1. 09:001

      Morning transfer and bag drop before final sightseeing

      Store bags and set up an easy final day around Shinjuku so the afternoon stays flexible before heading out of the city area later.

      €5 per person

      TIPUsing a station locker keeps the day light if your accommodation cannot hold bags.

   2. 10:002

      Stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen approaches and surrounding streets

      The Shinjuku Gyoen area provides a gentler side of one of Tokyo's busiest districts, with broad paths, greenery and calmer streets just beyond the station bustle. It is a pleasing morning contrast that lets you enjoy open space before the city ramps up later in the day.

      €3 per person

      TIPThis area is best enjoyed in the morning, when the light is soft and the paths are quieter.

   Afternoon

   1. 12:303

      Lunch in Shinjuku-sanchome backstreets

      The blocks east of Shinjuku station hold a dense mix of casual restaurants, noodle shops and lunch sets that suit a relaxed midday stop. The area is lively but manageable, with enough variety to choose between quick comfort food and a longer sit-down meal.

      €16 per person

      TIPIf the first few streets are packed, continue one or two blocks deeper for shorter waits.

   2. 14:154

      Explore department store streets and west-side plazas

      Shinjuku's west side mixes towering offices, broad station plazas and major shopping complexes in a way that feels distinctly metropolitan. An afternoon walk here is ideal for browsing, city observation and soaking up one of Tokyo's busiest urban centers from street level.

      Free

      TIPDepartment stores and station malls are useful for last-minute gifts and packaged snacks.

   3. 16:305

      Late-afternoon skyline views around Shinjuku's tower district

      The cluster of tall buildings west of the station creates one of the city's most dramatic urban skylines, especially as the light starts to soften. Walking this area at the end of the afternoon gives you long sightlines, reflective facades and a strong final sense of Tokyo's scale.

      Free

      TIPClearer views often come on drier afternoons, so keep your best photo stop flexible within the district.

   Evening

   1. 18:156

      Dinner and evening wander in Omoide Yokocho and nearby lanes

      This compact pocket of Shinjuku is packed with lantern-lit alleys, tiny eating spaces and a memorable old-Tokyo feel tucked beside huge station blocks. It makes a strong final evening stop because the atmosphere is vivid, walkable and unmistakably urban.

      €24 per person

      TIPSmall places may have limited seating, so splitting into the first good spot you find can save time.

   2. 20:157

      Head out from Shinjuku after dinner

      Make your way onward from the station area with enough buffer for luggage pickup and the final rail connection of the day.

      €5 per person

      TIPLeave extra time on Saturday evening, when stations and train platforms can be especially busy.