How to Spend THREE DAYS in Tokyo: The Best 3-Day Itinerary

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Tokyo is a city of endless contrasts, where centuries-old shrines sit beside gleaming skyscrapers, and quiet gardens are just a few steps away from neon-lit streets. With three days here, you’ll have just enough time to experience both sides of this incredible city without feeling rushed.

After spending plenty of time exploring Tokyo, we’ve crafted a three-day itinerary that balances famous highlights with local favorites, plus a couple of unforgettable day trips beyond the city. From sushi and street food to temples, nightlife, and even mountain views near Mt. Fuji and Nikko, this plan covers it all. Let’s get started!

Itinerary Overview

Getting around Tokyo is surprisingly easy once you get the hang of it! The city’s public transportation system is one of the best in the world, with trains and subways connecting every neighborhood and major attraction. We recommend buying a Suica or Pasmo card to make hopping on and off trains effortless—it’s the key to exploring like a local. 

While Tokyo can seem huge at first, each district feels like its own little city, filled with food, culture, and energy. In three days, you’ll see the best of Tokyo and beyond—from ancient temples and bustling markets to neon nightlife, Mt. Fuji day trips, and peaceful mountain scenery in Nikko.

Here’s how to make the most of three incredible days in Japan’s capital:

Day 1: Spend the morning exploring Asakusa’s Sensō-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori Street, then enjoy a traditional sumo show and hot pot lunch. Continue to Shibuya to visit Meiji Jingu Shrine, admire the views from Shibuya Sky, and grab ramen at Ichiran near the famous crossing.

Day 2: Take a full-day tour to Mount Fuji and Hakone to see Japan’s most iconic peak, ride the ropeway over Owakudani Valley, and cruise Lake Ashinoko before returning to Tokyo for sushi at Tsukiji Sushiko Nagomi.

Day 3: Taste your way through the Tsukiji Fish Market on a morning food tour, then choose your own afternoon adventure—revisit the Imperial Palace, explore Ginza’s Art Aquarium Museum, or unwind at the Ginza Six Rooftop Garden. In the evening, head to Shinjuku for shopping and a guided bar-hopping tour or street food in Omoide Yokocho.

Day 1

Breakfast – Fuglen Asakusa

Okay, you’ve got two options for your first morning. You’ll need to take the train to Asakusa for sightseeing, so you can either grab breakfast near your hotel before you head out, or wait until you arrive in Asakusa and go to this sweet little cafe for Norwegian-style waffles. These heart-shaped treats are pretty light, which is perfect because the tour at noon today provides a substantial lunch, so you don’t want to eat too much beforehand.

Morning – Check out the Senso-Ji Temple and Nakamise-dori Street

Senso-ji Temple is Tokyo’s oldest and most famous Buddhist temple, so of course it’s a must-see while you’re here! We loved witnessing its striking five-story pagoda for ourselves, and the incense cauldron and intricate wooden eaves inside really took us back in time! The main hall opens at 6 am daily, and entry is free, although you can make a small donation to the temple if you wish. 

And of course, you can’t overlook Nakamise-dori Street, which leads right up to the temple. We love this bustling shopping arcade because it offers a glimpse into old Tokyo with all of the traditional snacks, souvenirs, and crafts on offer. Vendors first set up shop here during the 17th century, and many stalls have been passed down through multiple generations of the same family. How cool is that?

Lunch –  Asakusa Sumo Show with hot pot lunch

Sumo wrestling is world famous, so catching a show is a must while you’re in Tokyo! Book this show for 12 pm, and make sure to do so at least two weeks in advance because it ALWAYS sells out. The show takes place in a wrestling arena in Asakusa, less than 10 minutes’ walk from Nakamise-dori Street. 

The experience began with a huge meal that a sumo wrestler would typically eat, and it was so yummy! For starters, we got fried chicken and inari sushi, followed by a bowl of chanko nabe for the main. This is the hot pot that sumo wrestlers famously eat to bulk up! And as if all of that weren’t enough, we got pancakes for dessert, so it’s safe to say that we were stuffed.

But of course, the highlight of the tour was watching sumos take to the ring and wrestle. We loved that there was commentary in English, so we learned a lot about the sport! There was a bit of cheeky humor with the commentary and performance, so it was more theatrical than an actual sumo show, which made it even more entertaining!

It finished off with an audience participation session, where some brave members of the public got in the ring to practice some moves with the pros. 

After the match, we had the chance to snap some photos alongside the wrestlers, who were so friendly. We also got a cute souvenir set and photos from the experience emailed to us, which was a nice touch. This is a true once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you don’t just have to take our word for it, because you can read hundreds of rave reviews here!

Afternoon – Explore Shibuya

Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s most vibrant and energetic districts, which is filled with so many neon billboards that it makes Times Square look understated. The area is most famous for the iconic Shibuya Crossing, but more on that to come! 

Beyond the crossing, there’s plenty to do in Shibuya. It’s a shopping paradise, and we love people-watching in this high-fashion district. The vintage stores here are filled with amazing finds, and don’t forget to visit the Hachikō Memorial Statue, a beloved tribute to Japan’s most loyal dog. Meanwhile, the serene Meiji Jingu shrine is roughly 15 minutes’ walk from the famous crossing, although it feels a whole world away! 

Related Read: If you’d like to stay in the middle of the action, check out our guide on where to stay in Shibuya!

Sunset – Shibuya Sky and Shibuya Crossing

At sunset, we highly recommend heading to the Shibuya Sky observation deck to take in the beauty of Tokyo when it’s at its very best. We were so impressed by the views from up here – in fact, we think that they’re the best in Tokyo! However, you MUST pre-book tickets well in advance, because this place is incredibly popular. Unless you happen to have a Japanese credit card, the easiest way to do this is online, and the official website has a link to approved ticket vendors.

Then, after the sunset, go and see the Shibuya Crossing after dark. This is the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, with around 2,500 people crossing every 80 seconds. That’s around 2.4 million people per day – how crazy is that? 

Nighttime is the best way to see the Scramble Square, because then you get the full effect of the neon lights. So even if you’ve glimpsed it during the daytime, it’s definitely worth heading back for a second look after sunset.

Dinner – Ichiran Shibuya 

We can never get enough of Tokyo’s delicious ramen, and Ichiran Shibuya is one of our favorite spots. It serves tonkatsu ramen, and you get a card to customize your order exactly to your liking. This spot is right near the Shibuya Crossing, so it gets busy, and you’ll usually have to wait for a seat. We just grabbed a ticket, wrote our names down, and came back a while later so that we didn’t have to queue for long. 

Related Read: For even more ideas, plan your own adventure with our list of all the best things to do in Tokyo!

Day 2

Breakfast – Grab some snacks

Today we have an early pickup, so instead of going out for breakfast, I highly recommend heading to one of the local convenience stores and grabbing some snacks. I know it sounds a little weird, but Lawson, Family Mart, and 7/11 are everywhere in Tokyo. They’re usually open 24/7, and they’re really popular with locals thanks to their fantastic food. I always love the dorayaki pancakes for breakfast, and be sure to try an onigiri! 

Full-day tour to Mt Fuji and Hakone

Visiting Japan’s iconic Mt Fuji is an absolute must while you’re in Tokyo, but it can be tricky to organize independently. However, the good news is that you can book this full-day tour and make visiting Mt Fuji an absolute breeze! 

You can choose to be picked up from either Matsuya Ginza at 7:20 am or the Love Sculpture outside Nishi-Shinjuku Station at 7:50 am. Either way, be sure to book the option with lunch included because it was delicious and we got so much food!

And trust us, once you get going, the itinerary is absolutely first class. We rode on a comfy coach out to Mt Fuji, and our first stop of the day was the 5th line station for views of the snow-capped summit. We also had lunch here, which was an all-you-can-eat buffet that WAY exceeded our expectations.

Things got even better in the afternoon when we headed to Hakone for a ride on the scenic ropeway. We had the most incredible views of Mt Fuji, as well as the sulfur vents and hot springs in the Owakudani Valley. We also got to stop and try one of the famous black eggs that are cooked in the sulfur hot springs!

We then headed to Lake Ashinoko for a relaxing cruise on a huge replica pirate ship, with more gorgeous views of Mt Fuji. Finally, we caught the bullet train back to Tokyo, which was an adventure in itself because these bullet trains are iconic! They’re aptly named because we were back in the city within an hour – how crazy is that?

We honestly loved everything about this tour – it’s really no wonder that it has over 22,000 5-star reviews! Booking it meant we didn’t have to plan anything, and we really couldn’t have done it any cheaper on our own.

Prices for this tour fluctuate slightly with the exchange rate (check them here!), but we genuinely couldn’t believe what a steal this tour was, given that it included all activities, lunch, and bullet train tickets. You really don’t find this kind of value every day (especially not in Tokyo), so don’t hesitate to book this tour before it sells out! 

Dinner – Tsukiji Sushiko Nagomi

The Mt. Fuji tour should get you back to Tokyo Station between 6 and 6:30 pm, and there are tons of great restaurants in and around the station, so why not grab dinner here? Tsukiji Sushiko Nagomi has some of the best sushi we’ve had in Tokyo, and you can even eat at the standing-only counter if you just want a quick bite. We chose to sit in, though, because we were pretty hungry after that full day of exploring!

Related Read: Still need a place to stay? Our blogs on the best hotels in Tokyo and where to stay in Shinjuku break down the best spots!

Day 3

Morning – Visit the Tsukiji Fish Market

The Tsukiji fish market is Tokyo’s most iconic street food haven, so book this tasting tour for 8:30 am and have breakfast like a local! In fact, it lasts for around 3 hours, so you get breakfast AND lunch this way. 

This market is big and bustling, and it can be overwhelming at first, so we definitely think it’s worth going with a local guide who knows it well. We loved learning about its history, and we even found out that lots of the city’s most notable chefs come here to find the freshest seafood and ingredients! Our guide, Ash, was so friendly, and he definitely got our group excited about exploring this famous market and trying lots of different foods. 

Speaking of which, we got to try a fantastic variety of foods. For me, the highlight was definitely the wagyu skewers, which were just out of this world! However, I also really enjoyed trying rolled omelets and fish cakes, and we all got to make our own sushi bowls at the final stop, which was a really fun note to end on. 

The tour costs $120 USD, although you can book it at a reduced rate of $95 USD on Wednesdays and Sundays, when the Tsukiji Uogashi wholesale mini mart is closed, since you’ll get a slightly shorter tour. 

All in all, we think that this tour is an amazing choice for anyone who wants to sample Tokyo’s best street foods. And we’re clearly not the only ones, since the tour has over 2,900 5-star reviews!

Afternoon – Your choice

After finishing your market tour around midday, you’ll have a few hours to explore more of the city at your own pace. The Imperial Palace was included in the day one tour, but if you’d like to revisit or see more of the surrounding area, this is a great opportunity. Otherwise, here are a few fantastic nearby options to round out your afternoon:

• Imperial Palace – The walk from Tsukiji Market to the palace takes about 30 minutes, and the route passes through the elegant Ginza district, known for its luxury shops, restaurants, and polished atmosphere. Entry to the palace grounds is free, and you’ll need around 1–1.5 hours to explore the gardens and moats.

• Art Aquarium Museum Ginza – This one-of-a-kind museum features dazzling goldfish-and-light installations that are both artistic and hypnotic. It’s a visual feast that blends traditional Japanese culture with modern design. You can book a specific time slot on their official website here, and tickets cost about $16.50 USD (2,500 yen) per person.

• Enjoy Rooftop Views – For something more low-key, head to the Ginza Six Rooftop Garden, a tranquil green space perched atop one of Tokyo’s most stylish shopping complexes. It’s free to access, peaceful, and filled with plants—a perfect spot to relax and take in the skyline views after a busy morning of eating and exploring.

Evening – Explore Shinjuku

Shinjuku is a buzzing entertainment district and truly the beating heart of Tokyo. To get here from Ginza, take the Marunouchi Line metro westbound toward Local Ogikubo and hop off at Shinjuku Station—the busiest train station in the world! This area is often visited for its nightlife, but there’s plenty to enjoy during the daytime, too.

We had a lot of fun simply wandering around the district, seeing the neon signs, massive malls, and unique specialty stores. There’s lots of shopping and big, bright buildings here, and the atmosphere is electric. 

Don’t miss Omoide Yokocho, a network of narrow alleyways packed with tiny eateries, or the Golden Gai bar area, which really comes alive around 8 pm. If you’re a shopper, this is the place to be—there’s a plethora of department stores selling pretty much everything you can imagine. You can also find ninja or anime stores all around Shinjuku!

For a more laid-back experience, we stopped by the Hanazono-jinja Shrine, which is just a 10-minute walk from the station. Another famous and serene part of Shinjuku is the Shinjuku Gyo-en National Garden. As much as we love the hustle and bustle of Shinjuku Station, we were happy to spend time in this stunning and calm garden to take a little mental break!

Shinjuku is famous for its Red Light District and lively bars that come out after dark. Luckily, our next activity is a bar-hopping tour in Shinjuku, so when you finish up, you can explore any parts of this district that you missed!

Dinner – Food tour or Street food

Option 1: Food and bar tour

We absolutely LOVED this bar-hopping tour in Shinjuku. It was so much fun, and it makes it super easy to explore Omoide Yokocho Alley and Golden Gai, both of which can be pretty intimidating for a first-timer. We really appreciated having a guide to show us all the best spots!

There is a flexible range of start times between 5 and 7 pm. This gives you plenty of time to explore Shinjuku after checking out the Imperial Palace, so book whichever slot you’d prefer. We went for an earlier time slot so that we could carry on bar hopping afterward once we’d gotten the lay of the land! 

Our guide, Fuji, was lovely and made the evening enjoyable for everyone! He took us to different izakayas, which were true local hotspots, not tourist traps. We started off at an old-timey bar in the nostalgic Omoide Yokocho alley, which we absolutely loved. The second bar we visited was all-you-can-drink, and naturally, we took full advantage. 

Fortunately, we soaked up some of the booze with a bunch of different small plates and bar snacks, which definitely amounted to a full dinner over the course of the evening. The final bar of the night was in Golden Gai – a spot famous for its tiny, old-school bars. This place is a real hub for celebrities, and it’s basically THE place to be on a night out in Tokyo! 

Option 2: Find street food in Omoide Yokocho 

Omoide Yokocho is a maze of old-school alleyways in Shinjuku, and it’s filled with street food and hole-in-the-wall restaurants. We love spending nights izakaya-hopping here, and there are tons of them, so you won’t struggle to find a great spot. Many of these informal restaurants have their own specialties, such as yakitori skewers, ramen, or sashimi, alongside local beers and sake, of course. So just pick one that looks good, and settle in! 

After, you are free to explore Shinjuku on your own! This is definitely a late-night scene and such a fun way to end your time in Tokyo.

Where to Stay in Tokyo

Accommodation in Tokyo can be expensive – there’s no simple way to put it! However, there are a lot of great options in terms of quality, location, and amenities. To help narrow down your choices, I’ve picked out three fantastic stays for those looking for a luxury, mid-range, or budget place to stay.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Premier – $$$

Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Premier is a luxury stay featuring rooms with balconies and city views. It’s conveniently located in the heart of Tokyo, so you’re close to the trains and top sights, but it’s still a relaxing and quiet stay. The rooms are modern and spacious, and you can enjoy the on-site restaurant and gorgeous garden area.

Prices start around ¥37,500 ($250 USD) per night and can be booked online here.

OMO3 Tokyo Akasaka – $$

OMO3 Tokyo Akasaka has a fabulous location in the Minato area, and is close to the trains, so you can get anywhere in the city easily. The hotel itself is very comfortable for a moderate price point, offering double or twin rooms with cozy sitting nooks in each room. There are plenty of restaurants and convenience stores around the hotel, and you can walk to some of Tokyo’s top sights.

Rooms start around ¥22,500 ($150 USD) on average. You can check prices and reserve this stay online in advance. 

Plat Hostel Keikyu Asakusa Karin – $

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly stay, the Plat Hostel Keikyu Asakusa Karin is your best bet. Located in the Asakusa area of Tokyo, you’ll be near the top temples and activities, and a short walk to the train station. The rooms are basic, but clean, and provide a comfortable place to rest, and you can get a private room or a dorm room.

Private rooms start around ¥7,500 ($50 USD), and a dorm is about ¥3,000 ($20 USD)—not bad for Tokyo! Check availability and book this budget stay on Booking.com.

For more options, check out all of the hotels in Tokyo here!

Related Read: Have more time? Our list of the top tours and day trips in Tokyo has all the best activities to add to your trip!

Thanks for reading!

While Tokyo is a massive city with so much going on, we think three days is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights! We had so much fun visiting historic shrines, iconic bustling neighborhoods, and eating our way through the city – seriously, I’m convinced eating is the best thing to do in Tokyo!

Before you take off, check out our other Tokyo blogs here! We list our favorite tours and extra activities to add to this itinerary, as well as other areas in Japan that you can visit next.

The 4 BEST Night Tours in Tokyo, Japan: Which One To Book 

Where to Stay in Ginza, Tokyo: 5 Best Areas & Hotels

3 BEST Tsukiji Market Tours in Tokyo: Which One To Book 

5 Best Cooking Classes in Tokyo, Japan: Which One To Book