Four days in Tokyo gives you enough time to see the city and make one day trip out of the city. My four-day Tokyo itinerary is the best way to make use of four days in this incredible city.
Sensoji Temple
Tokyo 4-Day Itinerary Summary
- Four days allows you to see Tokyo and one nearby place.
- Base yourself somewhere central to save time.
- On Day 1, visit modern Tokyo on the west side.
- On Day 2, visit traditional Tokyo on the east side.
- On Day 3, take a day trip outside of Tokyo to Nikko, Kamakura or Mt Fuji.
- On Day 4, visit the Imperial Palace Area and Shinjuku.
Tokyo 4-Day Full Itinerary
Day 1: Modern Tokyo/West Side
- 8:30am: Take the train or subway to Harajuku.
- 9:00am: Arrive in Harajuku and visit Meiji-jingu Shrine, Omotesando, and Nezu Museum (don't miss the garden!).
- 11:00am: Take the train or subway to Shibuya.
- 11:15am: Arrive in Shibuya and explore this retail paradise.
- 1:00pm: Eat lunch in Shibuya. For some picks, see the Shibuya district page Places to Eat section.
- 2.30pm: Take the train and subway to Roppongi.
- 3:00pm: Arrive in Roppongi and visit the Roppongi Hills complex to get a view over the city.
- 6:00pm: Eat dinner in Roppongi. See the Roppongi district page Places to Eat section for some ideas.
- 8:00pm: Have a drink in one of Roppongi's many bars. See the Roppongi district Nightlife section for some recommendations.
Recommended Luxury Hotels In Tokyo
Day 2: Traditional Tokyo/East Side
- 9:00am: Take the subway to Asakusa. Visit Senso-ji Temple and nearby Asakusa-jinja Shrine.
- 10:30am: Take the Ginza subway line to Ueno.
- 11:00am: Arrive in Ueno and visit the park and the museums.
- 1:00pm: Take the train to Tokyo Station. Eat lunch in or around Tokyo Station. See the Tokyo Station Area Places to Eat section for some picks.
- 2:00: Visit the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum or the Bridgestone Museum of Art. Consider a nice stroll in nearby Hibiya-koen Park afterward.
- 3:30pm: Return to your hotel for a nap and a shower.
- 6:00pm: Eat dinner in Shinjuku, Ginza, Marunouchi or someplace close to your hotel. See the relevant district pages for recommendations.
- 8:00pm: If you've still got the energy, go out for a drink in a place like Roppongi, Shinjuku or Shibuya. See the relevant district pages for recommendations.
Recommended Mid Range Tokyo Hotels
Day 3: Day Trip Outside of Tokyo
- Take a break from the big city by heading to one of the interesting places in the countryside around Tokyo. The best places for a day trip outside of Tokyo are Nikko, with its wonderful shrines and temples, Kamakura, with a Great Buddha statue and fine Zen temples, and Mt Fuji (you don't have to climb it – you can take a bus to the base or partway up the mountain to enjoy the views). See my Best Day Trips Out of Tokyo page for details.
Day 4: Imperial Palace Area and Shinjuku
- 9:00am: Get yourself to Tokyo Station by train or subway. Walk east from Tokyo Station to the Imperial Palace East Garden. Visit the East Garden and exit via the Kitahanebashi-mon. For details on this area, see the Tokyo Imperial Palace Area page.
- 11:00am: Walk north through Kitanomaru-koen Park and then visit Yasukuni-jinja Shrine. Do not miss the controversial and interesting Yushukan Museum at the shrine. For details on this area, see the Tokyo Imperial Palace Area page.
- Noon: Take the Shinjuku Line subway west to Shinjuku. Eat lunch somewhere in Shinjuku. See the Shinjuku page for some suggested places to eat. You might want to hold off on eating lunch until 1:00pm to avoid the lunch rush.
- 1:00pm: First, go up to the observation deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices to see the view of the city (and maybe even Mt Fuji) from the observation decks. Then, walk over to the East Side and check out the bustling shopping and entertainment district around the station. See the Shinjuku page for details on this area.
- 4:00pm: Return to your hotel for a rest and shower.
- 6:00pm: Eat dinner in the district of your choosing. Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza and Roppongi all have lots of great restaurants to choose from.
- 8:00pm: After dinner, head to Roppongi for a stroll and a drink or two. See the Roppongi district page for some recommended bars.
Recommended Budget Tokyo Hotels
Hints, Comments and Variations
- If you're only going to be in the city for three days, you should try to base yourself in a central location so you don't waste time moving around. I'd suggest Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza or the Tokyo Station area. For more on where to say, check out my Where to Stay in Tokyo page.
- On Day 2, another good option for the afternoon is the Edo-Tokyo Museum. It's easy to reach from Asakusa, Ueno or Tokyo Station.
If you don't want to take a trip outside of the city on Day 3, consider visiting a place like Ebisu, Meguro or Odaiba instead. See my 5-Day Tokyo Itinerary for details.
- On Day 4, if it's very hot or you don't feel like walking much, cut out the Imperial Palace Area and head over to the Edo-Tokyo Museum (if you haven't already visited it).
- Try not to plan too much or pack too much into your time in Tokyo. Keep in mind that Tokyo is a huge and somewhat confusing city. And you'll probably be jetlagged. Less is almost always more!
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on the Truly Tokyo Google map:
- Open the Tokyo map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals. Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport.
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
Tokyo District Map
Click a Tokyo District for detailed info on attractions, places to eat and accommodation
Day 1: Modern Tokyo/West Side
- 8:30am: Take the train or subway to Harajuku.
- 9:00am: Arrive in Harajuku and visit Meiji-jingu Shrine, Omotesando, and Nezu Museum (don't miss the garden!).
- 11:00am: Take the train or subway to Shibuya.
- 11:15am: Arrive in Shibuya and explore this retail paradise.
- 1:00pm: Eat lunch in Shibuya. For some picks, see the Shibuya district page Places to Eat section.
- 2.30pm: Take the train and subway to Roppongi.
- 3:00pm: Arrive in Roppongi and visit the Roppongi Hills complex to get a view over the city.
- 6:00pm: Eat dinner in Roppongi. See the Roppongi district page Places to Eat section for some ideas.
- 8:00pm: Have a drink in one of Roppongi's many bars. See the Roppongi district Nightlife section for some recommendations.
Recommended Luxury Hotels In Tokyo
Day 2: Traditional Tokyo/East Side
- 9:00am: Take the subway to Asakusa. Visit Senso-ji Temple and nearby Asakusa-jinja Shrine.
- 10:30am: Take the Ginza subway line to Ueno.
- 11:00am: Arrive in Ueno and visit the park and the museums.
- 1:00pm: Take the train to Tokyo Station. Eat lunch in or around Tokyo Station. See the Tokyo Station Area Places to Eat section for some picks.
- 2:00: Visit the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum or the Bridgestone Museum of Art. Consider a nice stroll in nearby Hibiya-koen Park afterward.
- 3:30pm: Return to your hotel for a nap and a shower.
- 6:00pm: Eat dinner in Shinjuku, Ginza, Marunouchi or someplace close to your hotel. See the relevant district pages for recommendations.
- 8:00pm: If you've still got the energy, go out for a drink in a place like Roppongi, Shinjuku or Shibuya. See the relevant district pages for recommendations.
Recommended Mid Range Tokyo Hotels
Day 3: Day Trip Outside of Tokyo
- Take a break from the big city by heading to one of the interesting places in the countryside around Tokyo. The best places for a day trip outside of Tokyo are Nikko, with its wonderful shrines and temples, Kamakura, with a Great Buddha statue and fine Zen temples, and Mt Fuji (you don't have to climb it – you can take a bus to the base or partway up the mountain to enjoy the views). See my Best Day Trips Out of Tokyo page for details.
Day 4: Imperial Palace Area and Shinjuku
- 9:00am: Get yourself to Tokyo Station by train or subway. Walk east from Tokyo Station to the Imperial Palace East Garden. Visit the East Garden and exit via the Kitahanebashi-mon. For details on this area, see the Tokyo Imperial Palace Area page.
- 11:00am: Walk north through Kitanomaru-koen Park and then visit Yasukuni-jinja Shrine. Do not miss the controversial and interesting Yushukan Museum at the shrine. For details on this area, see the Tokyo Imperial Palace Area page.
- Noon: Take the Shinjuku Line subway west to Shinjuku. Eat lunch somewhere in Shinjuku. See the Shinjuku page for some suggested places to eat. You might want to hold off on eating lunch until 1:00pm to avoid the lunch rush.
- 1:00pm: First, go up to the observation deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices to see the view of the city (and maybe even Mt Fuji) from the observation decks. Then, walk over to the East Side and check out the bustling shopping and entertainment district around the station. See the Shinjuku page for details on this area.
- 4:00pm: Return to your hotel for a rest and shower.
- 6:00pm: Eat dinner in the district of your choosing. Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza and Roppongi all have lots of great restaurants to choose from.
- 8:00pm: After dinner, head to Roppongi for a stroll and a drink or two. See the Roppongi district page for some recommended bars.
Recommended Budget Tokyo Hotels
Hints, Comments and Variations
- If you're only going to be in the city for three days, you should try to base yourself in a central location so you don't waste time moving around. I'd suggest Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza or the Tokyo Station area. For more on where to say, check out my Where to Stay in Tokyo page.
- On Day 2, another good option for the afternoon is the Edo-Tokyo Museum. It's easy to reach from Asakusa, Ueno or Tokyo Station.
If you don't want to take a trip outside of the city on Day 3, consider visiting a place like Ebisu, Meguro or Odaiba instead. See my 5-Day Tokyo Itinerary for details.
- On Day 4, if it's very hot or you don't feel like walking much, cut out the Imperial Palace Area and head over to the Edo-Tokyo Museum (if you haven't already visited it).
- Try not to plan too much or pack too much into your time in Tokyo. Keep in mind that Tokyo is a huge and somewhat confusing city. And you'll probably be jetlagged. Less is almost always more!
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on the Truly Tokyo Google map:- Open the Tokyo map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals. Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport.
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
