Going to Tokyo? Well, I certainly have some suggestions for you! Tokyo is a vast city, and it’s impossible to see it all, from neon lights and quiet shrines to perfect sushi and convenience stores on every corner. In just four days, we tried to see as much as we could without breaking the bank, from Shibuya crossing to neighborhood cafes. If you want to know how to spend 4 days in Tokyo, Japan, below are some ways to maximize your time there.
This is just one post of my larger 12-day itinerary for a trip to Japan. If you need tips for crafting a longer trip with stops in Kyoto, Osaka and Okinawa, it’s a great resource to help you get started. On our trip, we started and ended in Tokyo thanks to the flight selection, so collectively we spent four days there.
How to get to Tokyo, Japan
By plane – Many cities in America offer direct flights to Japan, including Chicago (where I am from). It’s about thirteen hours on the way there and eleven and a half on the way back. There are two airports that you could fly into: Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT). Haneda is only about 20-30 minutes from downtown Tokyo, but it usually has fewer flight options. Narita will have a wider selection but it is much farther away from the city, about an hour and a half away.
We did fly to Narita and then you can go to the basement of the Narita Airport (there are a lot of signs) to get to the train station. From there, you have two options: take a standard train ride for 1.5 to 2 hours and pay with a Suica card (reference my wider Japan guide for details on that), or buy a special ticket at a kiosk for the Narita Express, which is only about an hour train ride. Usually there are train attendants who can help you buy the tickets and reserve your seat. I recommend the Narita Express, because after all that travel, it’s nice to have a guaranteed seat and a place to stow your luggage. It also has stops for key areas where you might be staying, like Shinjuku or Shibuya.
I’ve seen other bloggers recommend buying your ticket in advance to guarantee your seat, but we didn’t do this. The Express train runs around every 30 minutes, and what if your flight is delayed? By the time we got to the train station, one was departing in 15 minutes and there were many seats available.
By Train – If you are already in Japan, you can book tickets for certain bullet trains. Japanโs high-speed rail system is one of the fastest, cleanest, and most punctual in the world. Several major Shinkansen lines connect Tokyo with every region of the country.
There are bullet trains that connect Tokyo to Osaka, Kyoto, and other tourist stops. You can book those tickets in advance here, or you can buy them at the train stations (go to a JR ticket office). They also have self-service kiosks but we found it easier to just ask an expert to print the tickets (they stand nearby and are friendly). If you book online, you should get a QR code on your phone to scan.
Which part of Tokyo should I stay in?
Tokyo has many neighborhoods and regions, so it can be confusing to know where to stay. Here are a couple suggestions:
Shinjuku – Shinjuku station has tons of train lines, making it a great hub for your stay. It’s late-night friendly with tons of places to eat. The Tokyo Hyatt Regency is in Shinjuku and it’s very nice. We stayed there and enjoyed the large amount of space, stunning bathroom and morning coffee. We also had a drink at the nice restaurant before dinner.
Shibuya – this is the main hub of Tokyo, full of tons of shopping and restaurants. You can hop quickly to Harajuku, Shinjuku, Roppongi, Daikanyama, Ebisu and more, but it is more busy, bright and noisy.
Roppongi – this area is a bit quieter during the day and has really neat architecture and luxury shopping. We were able to find hotels that were covered by our Chase points.
Day 1 – Enjoy a classic Tokyo Day
Start early at Tsukiji Market
Tsukiji Market is the king of all food markets, full of street vendors serving up fresh sushi, oysters, dango, strawberries and more. Be sure to bring cash with you and try to go early before the crowds start to file in, around 7 to 8 am. Walk around, try some of the fresh fish and grab a beverage.
Stroll over to Cloud Club Matcha
This is a specialty cafe in Ginza, only about a fifteen-minute walk from the Tsukiji Market. You have to try matcha while you are in Japan, and this is a great place to do it! It’s premium matcha that can be prepared hot or iced and you can even buy some matcha to bring home with you. It’s delicious! My order: the iced premium matcha with oat milk.
Train over to Meiji Jingu Shrine
Head towards Harajuku and walk through Meiji Jingu Shrine, one of Tokyo’s most iconic shrines, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, the emperor and empress who helped modernize Japan in the late 1800s.
The journey to the shrine is very peaceful, filled with giant trees and lots of shade. Be sure to see the sake barrel wall, which makes a great photo spot. Itโs lined with colorful barrels donated by sake brewers from all over Japan.
Traipse through Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park is adjacent to Meiji Jingu shrine, featuring wide lawns, flowers and ponds. It’s a nice way to finish a morning of walking.
See Shibuya Scramble
It’s time to walk to Shibuya! It’s worth going to see the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, with as many as 3,000 people crossing at once (allegedly).
Want to get a better vantage point? Enter the Starbucks right by the scramble and try one of the special Japan menu items. My order: an almond milk iced latte. (Tastes way better than America!) Or check out Shibuya Sky.
Drinks and Dinner at Piss Alley + Golden Gai
Golden Gai and Piss Alley are two food and drink areas in Shinjuku, featuring networks of narrow alleys of bars and minuscule restaurants. Start the evening exploring Golden Gai for drinks and then make your way to Piss Alley for some food. If one small place is full, just move on to the next one! Just be careful that some places are “members only,” which means no tourists. Just look for the signage!
Day 2 – Asakusa + TeamLab Planets
Asakusa is one of Tokyo’s famous neighborhoods, filled with plenty of snacks, sights and photo opportunities.
Start early at Hoshino Coffee
Once you make it over to Asakusa (just take a quick train), grab a quick coffee or light breakfast at Hoshino Coffee. A lot of businesses aren’t open until ten or later, but the coffee is good and it’s a nice place to sit.
Snack and shop at Nakamise Dori
One of the oldest market streets in Tokyo, this is a fun place to shop for souvenirs and food. Get some mochi, strawberries, dango, matcha soft serve or other treats. Grab a postcard for a friend and scan the artwork.
Visit Senso-ji Temple
At the edge of Nakamise Dori is Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple and a must-see. Structures in the temple include the main hall, a five-story pagoda and large gates. Snap a picture, cleanse your hands and take your time. It may be crowded!
Tour teamLab Planets
Take the train from Asakusa and head to Toyosu ahead of your tour with teamLab Planets, an immersive museum where you walk through water, millions of lights and various obstacle courses. You can see the whole exhibit in about one hour. While this is known for being a tourist attraction, we agreed this was a fun and easy way to spend an afternoon. Definitely book tickets here weeks ahead of time to get a preferred time.
Stock up on Convenience Store Snacks
Head back to the hotel for a break, but stop by a 7-Eleven, Lawson, or another convenience store for some fun snacks. The food is restocked multiple times a day, so no need to worry about grabbing some egg salad sandwiches (a personal favorite), onigiri rice balls or ice cream-filled mochi. It’s normal in Japanese culture to get food from convenience stores as kitchens are small and commutes are long, so it’s worth taking a look.
Enjoy a Sushi Dinner
You have to eat sushi while in Tokyo. Many places are delicious, so hop around and find some favorites. If you are “sushi shy,” try salmon, tuna and yellowtail to start. You’ll find that it’s all much more affordable than getting it in America!
Finish at a Cocktail Bar
If you have a shred of energy left, enjoy a nightcap at a cocktail bar. Depending on where you are, options like SG Club, By and By or Triad are known for great drinks. We also went to a place called Tir Na Nog (in Ginza) and loved the cozy, dark ambiance. Or opt for a record bar like Analog Record Bar or Bar Record – both options for some music. Or hit up karaoke!
Day 3 – Harajuku and Omakase
Get your walking shoes back on – we are eating our way through the city!
Start the Day with a Head Spa Treatment
Visiting a Japanese head spa was one of the highlights of my trip. If you like getting your scalp rubbed, you’ll love this relaxing activity! We booked ours at Maris Gina, a spa that has a location right in Shibuya (this location specifically has the head spa services!) and we booked the 60-minute standard head spa for 14,000 yen, which is a pretty good price in my opinion. There are many other luxury choices that are much more expensive and you’ll need to book much farther in advance.
Our treatment included a shampoo massage, steam therapy, and a custom hair treatment. It’s great to do in the morning since many other businesses are still closed, and then your hair is all done and blow-dried for the day!
Get a 3D latte at Cafe Reissue
If you like coffee, Cafe Reissue (in Shibuya/Harajuku area) is a great little spot for a fun novelty. No reservation needed, the cafe offers lattes and hot chocolates with foamy images of your choosing! We had so much fun getting lattes with our dog’s face on them. They also have a small food menu.
Stroll through Takeshita Street
Takeshita Street is a vibrant lane in Harajuku, famous for quirky fashion boutiques and themed cafes. It’s worth taking a quick stroll through, seeing some of the shops and grabbing some fun snacks.
Get Lunch at Udon Shin
Take a train back to Shinjuku and get one of the best meals I had in Japan: Udon Shin. This place is a very small udon restaurant with a lot of hype – but it’s warranted. The noodles are made, cut and boiled on site and they are severely good. You can and should make a reservation weeks before you go, but you can also show up, grab a ticket and be prepared to wait a while. Luckily, you can easily do some shopping in the meantime.
You also have to order while you are still in line, as the place only seats about a dozen customers. I think the carbonara is the most popular but I highly recommend getting an order of the buttery noodles with beef and egg.
Experience an Omakase Dinner
Omakase is a Japanese dining tradition where the chef curates a multi-course meal, typically spanning seafood, sushi, appetizers and desserts. Most omakase experiences are for small groups of people at a time, and it’s fun to get a front seat as the chef prepares the food for you.
We went to Ebisu Sushi Hatsume and cannot emphasize how good this meal was! Fresh bites of tuna, salmon, mackerel, amberjack, and more. We also signed up for the sake pairing which was so fun. Book this ahead of your trip!
Day 4 – Ginza Shopping
Ginza is Tokyo’s upscale district, famous for luxury shopping with flagship department stores, high-end boutiques and more. It’s the perfect way to get memorabilia and souvenirs before departing!
Start the day with Happy Pancake
Japan specializes in big, fluffy pancakes that are worth trying (they are whipped with meringue). The Happy Pancake is a popular spot in Ginza and a great place for breakfast. Make reservations two weeks in advance.
Explore the secondhand luxury shops + thrift stores
Ginza has an abundance of secondhand luxury stores, carrying clothes, bags and jewelry. If you’re looking for a marked down item, this is the place to look! I found the prettiest Akoya pearl earrings at a place called Mohlong Luxury. The best souvenir!
Visit the Uniqlo Flagship
UNIQLO is a Japanese clothing brand known for simple, high quality basics, with stores all over the world. The flagship store in Ginza has twelve floors and is quite the spectacle. My husband likes the brand so we stopped to shop.
Check out Don Quijote
Don Quijote (also sometimes called “donki”) is a discount retail chain in Japan with floors upon floors of cosmetics, beauty products, Japanese snacks and souvenirs. Transparently, it’s a bit overwhelming in there, but a couple of things I recommend:
- SPF – I LOVE the sunscreen they had there. I got a few different spray sunscreens to put on after makeup.
- Shiseido eyelash curler – super cheap in Japan, more expensive in America
- KitKats – they have all the fun flavors stocked. I liked the strawberry and matcha latte the most.
Onitsuka Tiger
Onitsuka Tiger is a Japanese footwear and clothing brand known especially for its classic sneakers. It started as a sports shoe company in 1949 and has since become a popular global retro-inspired fashion label under the Asics Corporation. Many people line up to get a pair of the shoes from one of the many flagship stores!
Gear up for your departure
Depening on when you need to leave, get one last bite of sushi or load up on snacks at 7/11 one last time!
What to wear in Tokyo
I was there in October – some days were extremely hot and humid. Other days were rainy and colder. Bring a light jacket, jeans, a few light dresses, a long sleeve option, short sleeves or tank tops, skirts and shorts. Basically, bring some layers and an umbrella because things fluctuate!
Where should Tokyo go in my wider Japan itinerary?
Since it’s easy to fly to Tokyo, I recommend actually starting and ending in Tokyo so that you can go home with ease. You can easily split the above plan and you’ll be able to fit it all in. It’s also kind of fun knowing that you still have one last stop in Tokyo to cram in anything left on your bucket list. Here’s how our trip netted out:
- 2.5 days in Tokyo
- 4 days in Kyoto (including day trips to Osaka and Nara)
- 2.5 days in Okinawa
- 1.5 days in Tokyo again
- 2 days dedicated to travel – there and back
Have questions?
Now you know how to spend 4 days in Tokyo, Japan! If you have more questions about it, feel free to leave a comment below or DM me on Instagram: @caroline_hoffman.
Other travel guides
Going elsewhere in Japan and beyond? Check out these other guides I have on the blog.
12-Day Japan Itinerary: Explore Tokyo, Kyoto Okinawa and more
14-Day France Itinerary: Explore Paris, Bordeaux, and More
How to spend 10 days in Europe: Dublin, Paris and London
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