Your 5-day Tokyo Itinerary for First-Timers

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Couple consisting of a man wearing a chambray top, brown pants, and white sneakers, and a woman wearing a black dress and white kitten heels. They are holding each other and gazing into each others' eyes on Shinjuku in Tokyo, Japan, taken at night. There is a line of pedestrians walking behind them

If you’re visiting Japan for the first time, I’d recommend staying at least 5 days in Tokyo. As a first-timer, you’d also probably want to visit other parts of Japan like Kyoto and Osaka within the limited time you have (especially in the US, where vacation days are scarce).

In this case, this 5-day Tokyo itinerary is for you!

I curated this itinerary based on when Cecilio and I recently went to Japan. I made some adjustments to ensure that everything goes smoothly for you!

Staying longer than 5 days means spending more money on accommodations, food, transportation, and souvenirs. At the same time, if you only have less than 4-5 days, you’d rush through everything and tire yourself out. That’s no fun!

5 days in Tokyo is the sweet spot for experiencing the culture, history, and out-of-this-world food.

In this guide, you will visit the following districts in Tokyo:

Feel free to adjust as needed!

Disclaimer: This post uses affiliate links, which means I make a commission if you book through this post. If you do decide to book using my links, thank you so much for your support!

Table of Contents

Your 5-Day Tokyo Itinerary

Day 1: Shinjuku

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Shinjuku is the heart of Tokyo, filled with restaurants, cafes, shops, and nightlife. It’s Tokyo’s most eclectic area. While it’s so much fun to be a part of the crowd, sometimes you want to get away for a bit and see some greenery.

At 144 acres, the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a gorgeous park to stroll through and a relaxing getaway from bustling city life. There are over 20,000 trees such as Himalayan cedar, tulip trees, and cypress. The garden also has over 1,500 cherry trees that bloom during the Sakura season in the springtime. There are also benches where you can sit and relax and watch the world go by.

My favorite area in the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden was the Shinjuku Gyoen Greenhouse. It’s a large nursery housing over 1,700 colorful plants, flowers, and cacti. Don’t forget to check out the large, thick lily pads on the first floor! The greenhouse has walkable (and wheelchair-accessible) ramps where you can stroll and enjoy the flora.

Entering Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden comes at a [low] cost, and that is 500 yen. You can see more of the pricing for seniors, groups, students, and children here.

Colorful flowers, plants, and trees in the foreground on a sunny day. At a distance, there's a glass building of the Shinjuku Gyoen Greenhouse, a nursery with thousands of plants. It's inside the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo, Japan.
Plants, greenery, and pond with large lily pads. These are all indoor, inside Shinjuku Gyoen Greenhouse in Tokyo, Japan

Cat Cafe Mocha Lounge – Shinjuku location

Japan (especially Tokyo) is known for its cute, whimsical cat cafes. Yes, they are exactly what they sound like: cafes where cats live and roam around, and you (the human) hang out to pet, feed, and cuddle with them. There are cat toys all around, and seats for you to make yourself at home.

Cat Cafe Mocha Lounge is a popular cat cafe in locations all around Tokyo. Cecilio and I went to the Shinjuku location since it was just a few blocks away from our hotel and we were killing time before checking in.

The cafe has beds you to hang out on while watching the cats, and take a nap. There’s a side table between the two beds that provides phone chargers (gotta juice up to take more photos and videos of the kitties!).

There’s another room in the cafe where you can play board games or video games, and the cats sneak up behind or in front of you!

To hang out in Cat Cafe Mocha, you are charged in 30-minute increments. You don’t get charged until you’re ready to leave as you’ll be timed during your stay. If you want drinks (coffee, tea, milk, etc.), you will need to pay a drink fee of 385 yen.

Below is the pricing for Cat Cafe Mocha Lounge’s Shinjuku location:

  • 30 minutes: 600 yen
  • 1 hour: 1,200 yen
  • All day, after 2 hours: 2,400 yen
  • Drink fee: 385 yen
White and brown cat on top of a bookcase. At a distance, there is a circular brown couch with pillows and side tables. On top of the couch, there is a large lamp and another cat standing, and some large windows. This is taken at Cat Cafe Mocha Lounge in Tokyo, Japan, a cafe where people can hang out with cats.

Lunchtime at Soba-Ju

For lunch, and before checking in at your hotel, have a delicious lunch at Soba-Ju, a small soba restaurant in the heart of Shinjuku. They serve insanely delicious cold soba noodles with spicy, thick dipping sauce.

There’s a machine where you punch in the kind of meat you want; you have the choice of beef, pork, or duck. There, you pay the machine with cash, get your receipt, and show it to the bartender. Then, you wait until you get your food prepared.

I got my noodles with a side of pork, and man it was one of the most tender pieces of pork I’ve had. It was juicy, the perfect amount of fat giving it the flavor. Coupled with the noodles and the dipping sauce, your tastebuds are about to have an umami party 🙂

A white bowl of pork belly with shredded seaweed and soba noodles. Next to it is a smaller blue and white bowl of spicy dipping sauce for the noodles and pork. These bowls are served on a wooden tray with a wet towel wrapped in plastic. You can see a bar of alcohol at a distance. This is in a restaurant called Soba-Ju, located in Tokyo, Japan.

7/11 for Dinner and Rest

I don’t know about you, but after a long flight abroad, jet lag kills me. It’s so hard to stay awake after landing! It was a miracle that Cecilio and I were able to explore for a few hours before we were able to check into our hotel, especially after arriving at 5 am.

You’re going to want to rest up because you will have long explorations ahead of you during your 5-day Tokyo itinerary!

So instead of eating out on your first night, I recommend getting dinner at 7/11. Don’t worry, you won’t find stale hot dogs here! Japan is popular for its konbini, convenience stores (like 7/11, Family Mart, and Lawson) where you can buy snacks and freshly prepared meals.

My favorite dish was the onigiri, a rice ball wrapped in seaweed with meat or seafood filling. Cecilio loved the tamago sando, a Japanese egg sandwich with milk bread filled with eggs and Japanese kewpie mayo.

There are also full-sized bowls or plates that you can microwave in your hotel room!

An aisle of refrigerated and prepared foods in 7/11 in Tokyo.
A woman's hand holding onigiri, a triangle-shaped Japanese rice ball wrapped with seaweed. The label on the onigiri (which isn't open and is still wrapped in plastic) has the 7/11 logo and says that it is 175 yen, and has red salmon and salt filling. Right behind her is her bed and tv in a hotel in Tokyo, Japan.

Day 2: Shibuya

Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu

Start your 2nd day in Tokyo Shibuya, by visiting Yoyogi Park. At 134 acres, Yoyogi Park is large with different pathways, historical attractions, and foliage. Yoyogi Park is also home to Meiji Jingu, a Shinto Shrine dedicated to the late Emporer Meiji and Empress Shōken.

Emporer Meiji played an important role in the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which shaped political, economic, and social change in Japan as we now know it. Since then, Japan has transitioned from a feudal system to a more democratic government, adopting better infrastructure, education, and trade. All of these have turned Japan into a major world power today.

Yoyogi Park feels like a secluded forest tucked away in the middle of a bustling megacity. You’re surrounded by over 120,000 trees, and from the entrance, there’s a long pathway to Meiji Jingu. You might come across a Shinto ceremony in Meiji Jingu; if you do, be quiet, be respectful, and don’t take any photos.

Beyond Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi Park is filled with easy walking trails, plants, ponds, and birds. It makes for a peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of the rest of Tokyo.

A large Japanese style gate in Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, Japan, taking on a sunny day with tons of shade in the foreground. There are crowds of people behind the gate and large trees. The pathway leads to Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine.
A crowd of visitors on a staircase of Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine in Tokyo, nestled in Yoyogi Park. This was on a sunny day with shade on the foreground and trees surrounding the temple.
Yellow flowers and plants in Yoyogi Park in Tokyo. Behind the flowers is a large pond with patches of moss and large trees on a bright, sunny day.

Harajuku

You’ve probably recognized Harajuku by Gwen Stefani’s song “Harajuku Girls” and her Japanese backup dancers dressed up in funky Lolita-style outfits. Those are inspired by the outfits teenagers wear down Harajuku, the most trendy and hip district in Shibuya.

Harajuku is also across the street from Yoyogi Park. You’ll see young people dressed in outlandish clothing in black or pastel colors, with miniskirts and combat boots.

Harajuku also has so many trendy Japanese clothing stores along with familiar big-name shops like Uniqlo, Zara, and H&M.

If you are into makeup, check out Cosme, a chain beauty store (the Sephora of Japan). The Cosme in Harajuku is the flagship store and the largest one in the country! You’ll go crazy over the skincare products and makeup. Along with Japanese products, Cosme also has Korean and Chinese brands!

Lunch at Kyushu Jangara Ramen in Harajuku

Hungry? Grab a bowl of piping hot ramen in Kyushu Jangara down Harajuku!

Kyushu Jangara is a chain ramen restaurant, but that doesn’t make the food more or less better than the hole-in-the-wall eateries.

I had the best ramen in my entire life here, the tonkotsu pork ramen, which also happens to be their most popular dish. The broth has a base of pork, chicken, and vegetables. It comes with pork belly, bamboo shoots, and sesame. I HIGHLY recommend ordering it with half-boiled eggs, which adds richness to the soup.

If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you’ll be happy to know that Kyushu Jangara offers three vegan ramen bowls with soy-based broth. You can choose to top your soup with tofu or soy meat.

A bowl of tonkotsu ramen soup in Kyushu Jangara Ramen, a popular ramen restaurant in Tokyo. In the soup, there are boiled eggs in half, seaweed, pork belly, scallions, and broth. Behind the bowl are some toppings and spices you can add on.

Shibuya Crossing

No trip to Tokyo is complete without walking down Shibuya Crossing (officially named Shibuya Scamble Crossing), the biggest and busiest street in the world. As many as 3,000 people are crossing the intersection per green light (and 200,000-300,000 pedestrians per day!).

Not only do salarymen (and salarywomen) cross the street on the way to work, but it’s also a popular spot for tourists to take photos and videos of themselves crossing. I saw another tourist with a 20-foot tripod (which kinda mimics a drone).

There’s nothing more thrilling than seeing crowds of other people walk down the street. Shibuya Crossing is one of the first things people think about when it comes to Tokyo.

I wouldn’t recommend staying near Shibuya Crossing during your time in Tokyo though, as it has serious Times Square vibes (as in, it’s a bit cheesy).

Woman wearing a brown cardigan, floral dress, and white sneakers on the streets of Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, with a crowd walking next to her and behind her, taken on a sunny day with some clouds.
Couple consisting of a man wearing a chambray top, brown pants, and white sneakers, and a woman wearing a black dress and white kitten heels. They are holding each other and gazing into each others' eyes on Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan, taken at night. There is a line of pedestrians walking behind them

Day 3: Ginza and Shinjuku

Tsukiji Fish Market

Tsukiji Fish Market is every foodie’s dream when visiting Japan. It’s the largest seafood wholesale market in the world, providing the freshest fish for restaurants and retail shops.

But it’s also a major tourist attraction, with food stalls and food courts lining the streets. Whether you’re craving marbly wagyu beef skewers, melt-in-your-mouth tuna sashimi, or a powdery strawberry mochi, Tsukiji Fish Market gives you a taste of (no pun intended!) Japan’s food scene.

I recommend coming as early as possible. By 9 am, it starts to get crowded with tourists and restaurateurs. I also recommend booking a Tsukiji Fish Market food tour, where your guide will provide the best eats. If you go on your own, you could get stuck with decision paralysis with the amount of food choices there are 😉

The food tour I booked started at 7:15 am, and the crowds were already starting to pick up. Our guide gave us a walking tour of the outer and inner markets, providing a breakfast of sashimi, onigiri (with beef, salmon meat, and salmon roe fillings), and chicken. We also did a bit more walking, trying samples of broth and matcha green tea. Our final stop included a small food court with wagyu beef and skewers with scallops and squid.

BOOK A FOOD TOUR!
Japanese snacks and dishes on top of a table, with napkins, chopsticks, and soy sauce dishes scattered. These include chicken, onigiri, and sashimi. These dishes were provided in a food tour at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo
Market inside selling seafood. This is in Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan
Large crowds of people covering and walking by the streets of Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan
Japanese skewer with shrimp, scallop, fish, and squid. This was provided for at a food tour in Tsukiji Fish Market in Japan

Hamarikyu Gardens

Hamarikyu Gardens is not as large or as crowded as Yoyogi Park, Ueno Park, or Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens. But it should be included in your 5-day Tokyo itinerary, especially because it’s only a few miles away from Tsukiji Fish Market.

It’s a gorgeous garden with a bed of bright orange and yellow sulfur cosmos flowers that bloom in October (when Cecilio and I went). You’ll also see some butterflies hovering over the flowers!

Hamarikyu Gardens has a moat filled with seawater from Tokyo Bay. There is also a pond called the Shiori-no-ike with a teahouse at the center.

Entrance to Hamarikyu Gardens is 300 yen and 150 yen for senior citizens.

Woman kneeling behind bright orange sulphur cosmos flowers at Hamarikyu Gardens in Tokyo, Japan on a bright and sunny day. Behind her are some grass, trees, and buildings.
Black and blue butterfly on top of a bright orange flower with yellow pollen. In the background are more flowers and grass. This is located at Hamarikyu Gardens in Tokyo, Japan.

Ginza Six

If you’re visiting Tokyo for all the shopping, you have to visit Ginza Six, a luxury shopping complex in the Ginza area.

The name came from its address, Ginza 6-chome along with wanting to provide a 6-star shopping experience.

You’ll find stores from familiar names like Valentino, Givenchy, and Jimmy Choo. There are also some high-end Japanese restaurants scattered across the mall.

Night out at Shinjuku

You can never have too many things to do in Shinjuku at night, especially because that’s when the district wakes up. It’s energetic, with restaurants and alleys buzzing with people, shops still open, and colorful neon lights flashing.

After dinner, Cecilio and I just strolled around Shinjuku, in awe of the sights, sounds, and smells (of delicious food). We also went to a few arcades that stayed open late at night, and he played the claw machines nonstop. I tried to convince him to give up since it’s impossible to win something, but in the end, he got me a Pochacco plushie 🙂

Skyscraper buildings with lights flashing and pedestrian street filled with tourists in Shinjuku in Tokyo, Japan, at night.
Man wearing khaki jacket playing a claw machine game to win a stuffed animal. This is located in an arcade in Tokyo

Day 4: Asakusa and TeamLab Planets

Sensoji Temple

Sensoji Temple is Tokyo’s oldest temple and one of the most visited religious sites in the world, attracting more than 30 million visitors a year. It’s a sight to behold, taking you back to ancient Tokyo.

The path to Sensoji Temple starts with Kaminarimon, the intricate gate with the giant red lantern (called a chōchin) that weighs up to 1,500 pounds.

After you enter through Kaminarimon, you’ll walk by Nakamise-dori, a street lined with gift shops and food stalls. Then you pass by another gate, the Hozomon, before seeing the main hall of Sensoji Temple in all its glory.

Sensoji Temple has a staircase leading to the main hall. Sometimes there will be religious services taking place. Other than that, you can walk around and take in the sculptures and smells of incense.

In addition to the main Hall, Sensoji Temple has a five-story pagoda, a Shinto shrine, and a garden with a small bridge and koi pond.

Woman wearing a beige trench coat, black and white striped shirt, black crossover bag, black pants, and brown boats, holding an clear umbrella on a rainy day. Behind her is the Sensoji Temple, a Buddhist temple in Tokyo. There are other people walking behind her holding umbrellas.
A view of crowds holding umbrellas from Sensoji Temple near the Hozomon Gate in Tokyo on a rainy day

Rent a kimono

When you’re in Asakusa, consider renting a kimono in Kyoto. It’s a fun experience immersing yourself in Japan’s culture, and you can take epic photos in front of Sensoji Temple and other alleys and streets. Out of all the areas in Tokyo, Asakusa is most similar to Kyoto with its historic charm; it’s the total opposite of Shinjuku and Shibuya 😉

Cecilio and I rented our kimonos through Kimono Rental Wargo, a small rental shop located on the top floor of the mall Tokyo Rakutenchi Asakusa.

If it’s something you’re feeling shy about, don’t worry; there are many other tourists and locals donning kimonos all around Asakusa!

Woman gazing into the distance wearing a floral pink kimono and a wide red belt, in front of a large gate in Tokyo, Japan on a rainy day. There are people walking behind her holding umbrellas.

Lunch at Hoppy Street

Hungry yet? Stop at Hoppy Street, Asakusa’s prime spot for lunch or dinner. Hoppy Street is lined with restaurants and izakayas (Japanese bars with small bites).

Cecilio and I ate at Kanoya, a popular restaurant specializing in okonomiyaki (deep-fried savory Japanese pancake). Now okonomiyaki is more local to Osaka and the surrounding Kansai region. But Tokyo and the Kantō region have its own version called the monjayaki, which is more liquidy.

Kanoya has both, and each table has a griddle where you order what you want, and the waiter will bring out the mixture for you. You let the mixture grill until it starts to form, then you flip it around to cook the other side.

Once it’s done, you’re ready to eat some hot, fresh okonomiyaki that sizzles off the griddle!

okonomiyaki, a deep-fried savory pancake dish. This was freshly cooked off the griddle, with a silver spatula on the side

Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center

Instead of paying for tickets and waiting in line to see views from the Tokyo Skytree (which is also in Asakusa), go to the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center. There is an open-air observation deck on the 8th floor, and it’s free to visit. You can get epic views of Tokyo Skytree on one side and Sensoji Temple on the other.

Right next to the observation deck, there is a cafe where you can order drinks and snacks.

The bottom floor has staff and brochures to help you during your visit to Tokyo, with information regarding tours, sights, and activities.

Skyscrapers of Tokyo taken from the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, with a freeway and Sumida River. At a distance, you can see Tokyo Skytree, a 2080 foot tower with an observation deck. Taken on a cloudy, rainy day with some blue skies peeking through.
View of Tokyo buildings, and Sensoji temple, a Buddhist temple. This photo was taken from Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, before sunset
Building of Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center in Tokyo, Japan with glass and wooden panels, taken on a cloudy day

teamLab Planets

For an awe-inspiring experience, I can’t recommend teamLab Planets during your 5-day Tokyo itinerary. teamLab Planets is an immersive art museum where you physically experience yourself with the works. You will even need to go barefoot during your time (there are lockers for you to store your shoes).

I almost didn’t want to go because I thought it would be another cheesy exhibition for Instagram. But upon entering, Cecilio and I were blown away by every single area we walked across. I was SO glad we ended up going.

From a room full of hanging crystal lights that change color to a floating flower garden to neon orbs in the garden, all your senses will go wild.

My favorite parts were there was water involved, which soothed my feet from hours of walking.

I don’t want to spoil it too much, you’ll just have to experience it for yourself 😉

RESERVE YOUR SPOT AT TEAMLAB PLANETS!
Woman wearing brown sweater, floral mini skirt, and barefoot. She is standing on top of a mirror glass floor, with strings of pink crystal lights behind her. She is is teamlab planets in Tokyo, Japan, an immersive art museum
Woman wearing black sweater, light blue shorts, and is barefoot. he is standing on top of a mirror glass floor, with strings of white crystal lights behind him. He is is teamlab planets in Tokyo, Japan, an immersive art museum
Woman taking a mirror selfie photo from the floor, with her phone since it's a mirror glass floor. You can see crowds of people surrounding her with strings of blue crystals all around. This is in teamlab planets in Tokyo, Japan, an immersive art museu

Day 5: Ueno and Shinjuku

Ueno Park

Ueno Park is about the same size as Yoyogi Park, but both couldn’t be any more different. While there are beautiful foliage and walkable paths, it doesn’t feel secluded in the middle of the city.

There are a few well-known museums in Ueno Park like Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, and National Museum of Western Art.

Make sure to visit Ueno Zoo, Japan’s largest zoo! You’ll see 2 giant pandas, tigers, polar bears, and more. Right next to Ueno Park, there’s a Starbucks where you can have a nice little coffee break!

I’d recommend spending a few hours in Ueno Park, especially if you want to visit some of the museums.

large pond in front of the Tokyo National Museum located in Ueno Park, taken on a sunny day during fall with trees on both sides. The sky is sunny with clouds just before the sun is setting

Sushi dinner at Matsuki Sushi

You can’t spend your 5-day Tokyo itinerary without some sushi, and I recommend going to Matsuki Sushi!

It’s a hole-in-the-wall eatery with solid rolls. Cecilio and I shared an assorted platter of sushi with a side of miso soup and chawanmushi (steamed egg custard with mushrooms). Everything was delicious and tasted like it was fresh from the sea.

Most importantly, the staff and the regulars (the salarymen) were so nice! I wasn’t expecting it, but when Cecilio and I finished our food and walked out, they all smiled and waved at us, saying “Arigato!” (thank you in Japanese).

a platter of sushi and horseradish on a table in Matsuki Sushi in Tokyo, Japan

Other Things to Do in Tokyo

This guide is very fluid, so if anything I mentioned above doesn’t interest you, here are a few other popular attractions and activities in Tokyo:

How to get to Tokyo

By Airport:

By Shinkansen (Bullet Train)

If you are traveling to Tokyo from anywhere else in Japan on the Shinkansen, you can either stop at the Tokyo Station in Chiyoda or Shin Yokohama Station in Yokohama.

If you’re going to use the Shinkansen to get around Japan, you need to purchase a Japan Rail Pass weeks before your trip. You will not be able to purchase one there. You can get a 7-, 14-, or 21-day pass.

BUY YOUR JAPAN RAIL PASS!

Where to Stay in Tokyo

I recommend staying in Shinjuku or Shibuya for first-timers in Tokyo. Both areas are close to major attractions and have an abundance of shops, restaurants, and nightlife. There are also train stations on every corner, making it easy to explore other parts of Tokyo!

Here are some hotel recommendations:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 5 days enough to visit Tokyo?

Oh 5 days is the perfect amount of days to visit Tokyo, especially if it’s your first time! You can see, eat, and do everything to your heart’s desire without rushing.

Is 6 days in Tokyo too long?

6 days in Tokyo is not too long. If you have the time or money for an extra day, why not?! You can add extra activities and restaurants in your itinerary.

Should I go to Osaka or Tokyo?

Why not both? If you are already in Japan, I recommend exploring beyond Tokyo! Osaka is a foodie haven and makes a great base for day trips. But if I had to choose between them both, I recommend staying in Tokyo for your first time in Japan.

Wrapping up your 5-day Tokyo itinerary

I know that planning a trip to Tokyo can be intimidating due to culture shocks, navigating the language barrier, and being somewhere completely new and different.

But it doesn’t have to be, especially because locals in Tokyo expect lots of tourists and because there are a lot of English-friendly signs.

Also, this guide will help you navigate Tokyo seamlessly. Happy travels!

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Hannah Padilla
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Hannah is a travel writer, graphic designer, and the founder/editor of Hannah on Horizon. She is based in Sacramento, California, living with her husband and two adorable dogs. She shares tips on how to experience luxury travel on any budget, and how to maximize time at each trip or destination, no matter what your budget or amount of vacation time at work. She enjoys making you feel like you have visited each destination with her through her storytelling and informative writing style.

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