Highlights
Arrival & Shinjuku
Arrive at Narita or Haneda Airport
Take the Keisei Access Express from Narita (¥1,270, 60 min) or Tokyo Monorail from Haneda (¥500, 18 min). Pick up a Suica IC card at the station.
¥1,270Check into hostel in Shinjuku
Budget hostels like Unplan Shinjuku, Imano Tokyo, or Book And Bed run ¥3,000-4,500/night. Central location makes everything accessible by metro.
¥3,500Lunch at Fuunji (tsukemen ramen)
One of Shinjuku's best ramen shops, famous for rich dipping noodles. Expect a short line — worth the wait. Order from the ticket machine outside.
¥1,000Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Three gardens in one — Japanese, French, and English styles. A peaceful escape from the city noise. Entry ¥500, closes 16:30 in winter.
¥500Explore Kabukicho & Golden Gai
Kabukicho is Tokyo's entertainment district. Golden Gai is a cluster of 200+ tiny bars in narrow alleys — most have a cover charge of ¥500-1,000 but are a unique experience.
Dinner at Omoide Yokocho
Atmospheric alley of yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) stalls. Sit at the counter, order a few skewers and a draft beer. Budget ¥1,500 for a full meal.
¥1,500Shibuya, Harajuku & Omotesando
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Walk through the towering torii gate into a forested shrine complex dedicated to Emperor Meiji. Free entry, serene atmosphere. Write a wish on an ema wooden plaque (¥500).
Harajuku & Takeshita Street
Tokyo's youth fashion capital. Browse quirky shops, try a rainbow cotton candy or a Harajuku crêpe (¥400-600). Great for people-watching.
¥500Lunch at Afuri (yuzu ramen)
Light, citrusy ramen that's a refreshing change from heavy tonkotsu. Several locations in Harajuku/Omotesando area. About ¥1,100 per bowl.
¥1,100Omotesando architecture walk
Tokyo's Champs-Élysées lined with stunning flagship stores by top architects — Tadao Ando's Omotesando Hills, the Prada building, and Tokyu Plaza's mirror entrance.
Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky
Watch the famous scramble crossing from above, then optionally visit Shibuya Sky observation deck (¥2,000) for 360° rooftop views. Skip the deck to save — the Starbucks view is free with a coffee.
¥500Dinner at Ichiran Ramen (Shibuya)
Famous solo-dining ramen chain with private booths. Customize your broth, noodle firmness, and spice level on a paper form. A Tokyo must-try at ¥980.
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Asakusa, Ueno & Akihabara
Senso-ji Temple
Visit before 9am to beat crowds. Walk through Kaminarimon gate, browse Nakamise-dori for ningyo-yaki cakes (¥300) and chopstick sets. The temple itself is free.
¥300Sumida River walk & Asahi Beer Tower
Stroll along the river for views of Tokyo Skytree and the golden Asahi Beer flame building. Cross to the east bank for the best Skytree photo angle.
Lunch at Asakusa Hoppy Street
Lively outdoor food street with stewed beef tendon (nikomi), yakitori, and cheap beer. A working-class eating street with tons of character.
¥800Ueno Park & Ameyoko Market
Walk through Ueno Park (free), then duck into Ameyoko — a bustling street market under the train tracks selling everything from fresh seafood to sneakers at bargain prices.
Akihabara (Electric Town)
Multi-floor arcades (try retro games for ¥100/play), anime shops, and electronics. Super Potato for vintage games, Mandarake for manga. Even non-otaku will enjoy the sensory overload.
¥500Dinner at CoCo Ichibanya (curry)
Customizable Japanese curry chain. Pick your protein, spice level (1-10), and rice amount. A filling dinner for ¥700-900.
¥800Day Trip to Kamakura
Train to Kamakura
Take the JR Yokosuka Line from Shinjuku or Tokyo Station (¥950, 55 min). Kamakura is a coastal town with ancient temples, a giant Buddha, and beach vibes.
¥950Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Kamakura's most important shrine, set on a hillside with a long approach boulevard. Free entry. Check the lotus ponds and the small museum (¥200).
Great Buddha (Kotoku-in)
The iconic 13-meter bronze Buddha statue from 1252. ¥300 entry. You can go inside the hollow statue for an extra ¥50 — worth it for the novelty.
¥350Lunch at Komachi-dori Street
Kamakura's main shopping/eating street. Try shirasu-don (whitebait rice bowl, a Kamakura specialty) for ¥800-1,200. Also good for matcha soft serve and senbei crackers.
¥1,000Hokokuji Temple (Bamboo Temple)
Stunning bamboo grove that rivals Kyoto's Arashiyama but without the crowds. ¥300 entry. Have matcha tea in the bamboo garden (¥600 with sweet).
¥900Yuigahama Beach sunset
Walk to the beach for a relaxed sunset over Sagami Bay. Free, peaceful, and a nice contrast to Tokyo's intensity. Grab a can of coffee from a vending machine and sit on the sand.
Return to Tokyo & casual dinner
Train back to Shinjuku (¥950). Grab dinner from a konbini — 7-Eleven's chicken karaage and an onigiri make a solid ¥500 meal.
¥1,450Tsukiji, Ginza & Last Stops
Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast
The best food crawl in Tokyo. Fresh sushi, grilled scallops, tamagoyaki, and uni (sea urchin) at street stalls. Eat standing up like a local. Budget ¥1,500-2,000 to try everything.
¥1,800Hama-rikyu Gardens
Beautiful Edo-era garden with a teahouse on the lake. ¥300 entry. Enjoy matcha with Tokyo's modern skyline as the backdrop — one of the best photo spots in the city.
¥810Walk through Ginza
Window-shop Tokyo's luxury district. Free highlights: the Uniqlo 12-floor flagship, Itoya stationery paradise, and the rooftop garden at Ginza Six mall.
Lunch at Tsurutontan (udon)
Thick, chewy udon noodles served in comically large bowls. Ginza location has great lunch sets from ¥1,000. Share a tempura side if you're with a friend.
¥1,200Tokyo Station & Character Street
Tokyo Station is an attraction itself — the red brick Marunouchi facade is gorgeous. Downstairs, Character Street has official shops for Pokémon, Studio Ghibli, Hello Kitty, and more.
¥500Last-minute souvenir run at Don Quijote
Tax-free shopping for snacks, cosmetics, and quirky Japanese goods. Tokyo Banana, matcha Kit-Kats, and face masks make great gifts. The Shibuya branch is open 24 hours.
¥2,000Travel Tips
- A 72-hour Tokyo Metro pass (¥1,500) covers unlimited rides on 9 metro lines and pays for itself in 6 rides
- Eat at konbini for at least one meal a day — Japanese convenience stores have restaurant-quality food at a fraction of the price
- Most museums are closed on Mondays — plan your Ueno day on a different day of the week
- Carry a small towel — most public restrooms don't have hand dryers or paper towels
- Download the Suica app on your phone to avoid buying a physical card (iPhone only with Japanese Apple ID workaround)
- Free WiFi is available at all Starbucks, 7-Elevens, and metro stations — no pocket WiFi needed if you plan ahead
- Coin lockers at stations (¥300-700) let you explore bag-free on your last day after checkout
- Tipping is not expected and can be considered rude — prices are the prices
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