Tokyo, Japan
Plan a trip to Tokyo
A city of distinct centers rather than one downtown. Pick two neighborhoods a day, and let the trains do the work.
- First-timers
- Food trips
- Couples
- Weekend getaways
Free to run, and you keep editing after. Add who's coming or a pace like “slow mornings” to shape the result.
Tokyo at a glance
Most trips run 4 to 7 days. This page covers the 4 stops worth anchoring a plan around, 3 neighborhoods to base yourself in, and what the timing looks like across the year — then you can turn any of it into a mapped Tokyo itinerary you can edit and share.
- How long
- 4–7 days
- When to go
- Late March to early April for cherry blossoms, and October to November for clear skies and autumn color. June is the rainy season, and August is hot and humid.
- Getting around
- Get a Suica or Pasmo card and tap through everything. JR and Metro lines cover the city, and the last trains run around midnight. A Japan Rail Pass only pays off if you're leaving Tokyo.
What to build the plan around
- 1
Senso-ji, Asakusa
Tokyo's oldest temple. Arrive before 8am and the approach street is empty.
- 2
Tsukiji Outer Market
The inner market moved to Toyosu, but the outer stalls still serve the best breakfast in the city.
- 3
Shibuya and Shinjuku
The crossing, the Shibuya Sky deck, and Omoide Yokochō's yakitori alley after dark.
- 4
teamLab
Digital art installations with strict timed entry. Book before you fly.
Where to stay in Tokyo
- Shinjuku
- Best transport hub in the city, endless food, loud and bright.
- Shibuya
- Central, young, walkable to Harajuku and Omotesandō.
- Yanaka / Ueno
- Old-Tokyo streets, quiet at night, cheaper, near the museums.
A ready-made Tokyo itinerary
Neon crossings, dawn temples, tiny izakayas, and a skyline that never quits.
Tokyo Weekend Getaway: 3-Day Itinerary13 mapped places across 3 days, free to read and copy.Tokyo planning questions
- How many days do you need in Tokyo?
- 4 to 7 days. Four days covers four neighborhoods at a decent pace. A week lets you add Nikkō or a Hakone night without losing city time.
- What is the best time to visit Tokyo?
- Late March to early April for cherry blossoms, and October to November for clear skies and autumn color. June is the rainy season, and August is hot and humid.
- Where should I stay in Tokyo?
- Three areas cover most trips — Shinjuku (best transport hub in the city, endless food, loud and bright); Shibuya (central, young, walkable to harajuku and omotesandō); Yanaka / Ueno (old-tokyo streets, quiet at night, cheaper, near the museums). Pick based on whether you'd rather walk to dinner or pay less per night.
- How do you get around Tokyo?
- Get a Suica or Pasmo card and tap through everything. JR and Metro lines cover the city, and the last trains run around midnight. A Japan Rail Pass only pays off if you're leaving Tokyo.
- What should I see first in Tokyo?
- Start with Senso-ji, Asakusa, Tsukiji Outer Market, Shibuya and Shinjuku. Senso-ji, Asakusa is the one to schedule first: tokyo's oldest temple. Arrive before 8am and the approach street is empty.
- Is there a free Tokyo itinerary I can copy?
- Yes. Arriv has a curated Tokyo itinerary with every stop mapped and a suggested day-by-day order. Reading it is free, and you can duplicate it into your own trip to change dates, swap places, and share it with whoever you're going with.