Three days in Tokyo is enough to hit the highlights and get a real feel for the city. Here’s a well-paced 3-day Tokyo itinerary that balances old and new, plus food and downtime.
Day 1: Old Tokyo & the east
- Asakusa — Senso-ji temple and Nakamise street; see our Asakusa guide.
- Tokyo Skytree or a Sumida River cruise.
- Evening in Akihabara for neon and geek culture — see our Akihabara guide.
Day 2: West-side energy
- Meiji Shrine & Harajuku — calm forest then youth fashion (Harajuku guide).
- Shibuya — the scramble crossing and Shibuya Sky (Shibuya guide).
- Evening in Shinjuku — Omoide Yokocho and city views (Shinjuku guide).
Day 3: Your pick
- teamLab digital art (teamLab guide), Ghibli Museum (book ahead), or Tokyo Disney (Disney guide).
- Or a day trip to Kamakura, Yokohama, or Nikko.
- Morning at Tsukiji for a sushi breakfast.
Practical tips
- Get a Suica/Pasmo and an eSIM on arrival.
- Base near a Yamanote line station — see where to stay in Tokyo.
- More time in Japan? See our 7-day itinerary.