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Tokyo, Japan · Free itinerary
3-Day Tokyo Itinerary: Best Things to Do
Tokyo blends ancient temples, neon-lit districts, and cutting-edge art into one electric metropolis. This busy three-day plan threads the historic Asakusa-Ueno east, the youthful Harajuku-Shibuya-Shinjuku west, and the waterfront Tsukiji-Ginza-Odaiba south. Expect serene shrines at dawn, soaring observation decks, and some of the world's best sushi, tempura, and ramen along the way.
3 days18 sights + 9 food & drink stopsTokyo, Japan
✅ Complete your trip to Tokyo
Book the essentials and keep this itinerary handy on the road.
1
Old Tokyo: Asakusa & Ueno
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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45mBreakfast at Asakusa GYUUNA Yadoki 🍴 Food8:00 AM – 8:45 AM📍 Asakusa, TokyoStart the day with a hearty wagyu beef breakfast set just steps from Senso-ji.
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8:54 AM – 9:00 AM· Walk to Kaminarimon Gate ·0.4 km ·6m
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30mKaminarimon Gate 🏛️ Landmark9:00 AM – 9:30 AM📍 Asakusa, TokyoPose beneath the giant red lantern of Asakusa's iconic Thunder Gate, the symbolic entrance to Senso-ji.
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9:30 AM – 9:35 AM· Walk to Nakamise Shopping Street ·0.2 km ·5m
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40mNakamise Shopping Street 🛍️ Shopping9:35 AM – 10:15 AM📍 Asakusa, TokyoStroll the centuries-old approach lined with stalls selling traditional snacks and souvenirs.
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10:15 AM – 10:20 AM· Walk to Senso-ji Temple ·0.2 km ·5m
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1hSenso-ji Temple ⛪ Religious site10:20 AM – 11:20 AM📍 Asakusa, TokyoExplore Tokyo's oldest and most famous Buddhist temple, founded in 645 AD.
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11:24 AM – 11:30 AM· Walk to Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center Observation Deck ·0.4 km ·6m
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30mAsakusa Culture Tourist Information Center Observation Deck 🌄 Viewpoint11:30 AM – 12:00 PM📍 Asakusa, TokyoRide to the free 8th-floor terrace for a sweeping view over Senso-ji and the Skytree.
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12:09 PM – 12:15 PM· Walk to Lunch at Asakusa Okonomiyaki Sometaro ·0.4 km ·6m
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1h 15mLunch at Asakusa Okonomiyaki Sometaro 🍴 Food12:15 PM – 1:30 PM📍 Asakusa, TokyoCook your own okonomiyaki at a charmingly retro 1930s family-run spot.
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1:53 PM – 2:00 PM· Travel to Ueno Park ·2.2 km ·7m
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1h 15mUeno Park 🌳 Park2:00 PM – 3:15 PM📍 Ueno, TokyoWander Tokyo's grand cultural park dotted with ponds, shrines, and museums.
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3:21 PM – 3:30 PM· Walk to Tokyo National Museum ·0.7 km ·9m
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2hTokyo National Museum 🖼️ Museum3:30 PM – 5:30 PM📍 Ueno, TokyoJapan's oldest and largest museum, home to an unrivaled collection of samurai swords, Buddhist art, and national treasures.
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6:23 PM – 6:30 PM· Travel to Dinner at Daikokuya Tempura ·2.3 km ·7m
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1h 15mDinner at Daikokuya Tempura 🍴 Food6:30 PM – 7:45 PM📍 Asakusa, TokyoSavor crispy Edo-style tempura over rice at this beloved Asakusa institution dating to 1887.
2
Youthful Tokyo: Harajuku, Shibuya & Shinjuku
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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1hBreakfast at Eggs 'n Things Harajuku 🍴 Food8:00 AM – 9:00 AM📍 Harajuku, TokyoFuel up with towering whipped-cream pancakes at this perennially popular Harajuku cafe.
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9:04 AM – 9:15 AM· Walk to Meiji Jingu Shrine ·0.8 km ·11m
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1h 15mMeiji Jingu Shrine ⛪ Religious site9:15 AM – 10:30 AM📍 Harajuku, TokyoWalk through towering torii gates and a tranquil forest to Tokyo's most important Shinto shrine.
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10:35 AM – 10:45 AM· Walk to Takeshita Street ·0.7 km ·10m
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1hTakeshita Street 🛍️ Shopping10:45 AM – 11:45 AM📍 Harajuku, TokyoDive into the colorful epicenter of Tokyo youth and kawaii fashion culture.
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11:45 AM – 12:00 PM· Walk to Lunch at Ichiran Ramen Shibuya ·1.1 km ·15m
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1hLunch at Ichiran Ramen Shibuya 🍴 Food12:00 PM – 1:00 PM📍 Shibuya, TokyoSlurp customizable tonkotsu ramen in a solo focus booth at this famous chain's Shibuya branch.
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1:10 PM – 1:15 PM· Walk to Shibuya Sky ·0.4 km ·5m
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1h 15mShibuya Sky 🌄 Viewpoint1:15 PM – 2:30 PM📍 Shibuya, TokyoAscend to the open-air rooftop deck 230m above the city for a 360-degree panorama over the Shibuya scramble.
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2:40 PM – 2:45 PM· Walk to Shibuya Scramble Crossing ·0.1 km ·5m
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45mShibuya Scramble Crossing 🏛️ Landmark2:45 PM – 3:30 PM📍 Shibuya, TokyoExperience the world's busiest pedestrian crossing where thousands surge across at once.
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3:51 PM – 4:00 PM· Travel to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden ·3.0 km ·9m
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1h 30mShinjuku Gyoen National Garden 🌳 Park4:00 PM – 5:30 PM📍 Shinjuku, TokyoRelax in one of Tokyo's finest gardens blending Japanese, English, and French landscaping.
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5:40 PM – 5:45 PM· Travel to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck ·1.6 km ·5m
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1hTokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck 🌄 Viewpoint5:45 PM – 6:45 PM📍 Shinjuku, TokyoCatch sunset over the skyline from the free 202m observatory in Nishi-Shinjuku.
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7:00 PM – 7:15 PM· Walk to Dinner at Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi Sohonten ·1.1 km ·15m
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1h 30mDinner at Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi Sohonten 🍴 Food7:15 PM – 8:45 PM📍 Shinjuku, TokyoEnjoy expertly fried tempura at the original branch of this revered restaurant founded in 1923.
3
Waterfront Tokyo: Tsukiji, Ginza & Odaiba
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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1hBreakfast at Sushi Zanmai Honten 🍴 Food8:00 AM – 9:00 AM📍 Tsukiji, TokyoBegin with fresh-cut sushi at the 24-hour flagship in the heart of Tsukiji's outer market.
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9:05 AM – 9:10 AM· Walk to Tsukiji Outer Market ·0.0 km ·5m
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1h 10mTsukiji Outer Market 🛍️ Shopping9:10 AM – 10:20 AM📍 Tsukiji, TokyoGraze through bustling lanes of seafood stalls, knife shops, and street food in Tokyo's legendary food market.
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10:37 AM – 10:45 AM· Travel to teamLab Borderless ·2.8 km ·8m
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2hteamLab Borderless 🎭 Entertainment10:45 AM – 12:45 PM📍 Azabudai, TokyoLose yourself in a boundary-less world of immersive, interactive digital art at Azabudai Hills.
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12:55 PM – 1:00 PM· Travel to Lunch at Ginza Kyubey Honten ·1.8 km ·5m
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1h 15mLunch at Ginza Kyubey Honten 🍴 Food1:00 PM – 2:15 PM📍 Ginza, TokyoIndulge in masterful Edomae sushi at this celebrated Ginza institution founded in 1935.
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Walk to Tokyo Tower ·1.4 km ·19m
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1h 15mTokyo Tower 🌄 Viewpoint2:30 PM – 3:45 PM📍 Minato, TokyoRide up the 333m Eiffel-inspired tower for classic views across central Tokyo and Mt. Fuji on clear days.
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4:01 PM – 4:15 PM· Travel to DiverCity Tokyo Plaza & Unicorn Gundam Statue ·4.6 km ·14m
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1h 15mDiverCity Tokyo Plaza & Unicorn Gundam Statue 🎭 Entertainment4:15 PM – 5:30 PM📍 Odaiba, TokyoMarvel at the life-size 19.7m Unicorn Gundam statue and browse the waterfront shopping mall.
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5:37 PM – 5:45 PM· Walk to Odaiba Seaside Park ·0.6 km ·8m
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1h 15mOdaiba Seaside Park 🌳 Park5:45 PM – 7:00 PM📍 Odaiba, TokyoStroll the bayfront promenade for sunset views of the Rainbow Bridge and the Statue of Liberty replica.
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7:00 PM – 7:15 PM· Walk to Rainbow Bridge Night View ·1.1 km ·15m
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30mRainbow Bridge Night View 🌄 Viewpoint7:15 PM – 7:45 PM📍 Odaiba, TokyoWatch the illuminated suspension bridge light up the Tokyo Bay skyline after dark.
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Walk to Dinner at Gonpachi Odaiba ·1.2 km ·16m
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1h 30mDinner at Gonpachi Odaiba 🍴 Food8:00 PM – 9:30 PM📍 Odaiba, TokyoCap the trip with soba and izakaya fare overlooking Rainbow Bridge at the restaurant that inspired Kill Bill.
🏨 Where to stay
Real, vetted stays near your route — check the reviews, then book.
Khaosan Tokyo Origami
Asakusa
A clean, friendly hostel steps from Senso-ji with private and dorm rooms and a rooftop overlooking the temple.
Dormy Inn Akihabara Hot Spring★★★
Akihabara
A comfortable mid-range hotel with natural hot-spring baths and complimentary late-night ramen in geeky Akihabara.
Shinjuku Granbell Hotel★★★★
Kabukicho
A stylish boutique design hotel in the heart of Shinjuku's nightlife with a chic rooftop bar.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Tokyo?
3 days are a great amount of time to explore Tokyo. This itinerary covers 18 sights and 9 food & drink stops across 3 days, giving you a thorough introduction to the city.
What are the best things to do in Tokyo?
Some of the best things to do in Tokyo include Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise Shopping Street, Senso-ji Temple. Tokyo blends ancient temples, neon-lit districts, and cutting-edge art into one electric metropolis. This busy three-day plan threads the historic Asakusa-Ueno east, the youthful Harajuku-Shibuya-Shinjuku west, and the waterfront Tsukiji-Ginza-Odaiba south. Expect serene shrines at dawn, soaring observation decks, and some of the world's best sushi, tempura, and ramen along the way.
Where should I stay in Tokyo?
Popular options in Tokyo include Khaosan Tokyo Origami and Dormy Inn Akihabara Hot Spring. The city centre also has a range of hotels for every budget — book in advance for the best rates.
What's the best time to visit Tokyo?
This itinerary leans outdoors — 8 of its 18 sights are parks, viewpoints, or beaches — so Tokyo rewards dry, mild weather. Check the seasonal climate for Japan when picking dates; shoulder months usually mean smaller crowds at the outdoor stops.