The Ultimate Tokyo 3 Day Itinerary
Tokyo is a thriving metropolis full of juxtapositions in the culture and history. Everywhere you go, new and old can be felt- historic temples and palaces next to high rises and technology. You will quickly fall in love with this city, the people and the food. There are so many things to do in Tokyo and this guide will lay out some of the best things to do in Tokyo in a 3 day itinerary.
(Updated April 2024)
Is 3 days enough to see Tokyo?
You can see a good amount of Tokyo and many different neighborhoods and activities in 3 days. If you are more flexible or have more time, 4 or 5 days would be great to see even more of the incredible sights.
What is the best month to visit Tokyo?
Tokyo is very famous in the Spring for their Sakura season or cherry blossoms, but it’s very busy during this time with lots of people and the prices for hotels go up.
Another incredible time to visit Tokyo is in the Fall. The Fall colors look so beautiful at the temples and the shrines.
What is the cheapest month to travel to Japan?
Japan’s slow season is in the winter time and so the cheapest month to travel to Japan coincides with that and is February. Other cheap months are November, January and March.
Day 1: Tokyo 3 Day Itinerary
Morning-Shibuya Crossing
Start your morning at Shibuya Crossing- the busiest pedestrian crossing street in the world. At peak times, thousands of pedestrians go across this crosswalk. This place is perfect for people watching and some fun photography.
Bring fun props like a red umbrella if you really want to stand out in your photos. If you want a view of the street from above, head to the nearby Starbucks.
Afterwards, take a stroll around the Shibuya area, exploring the trendy shops and cafes that line the streets. Visit the iconic Shibuya 109 department store, and grab a coffee at one of the many coffee shops in the area.
As you wander, keep an eye out for the unique street art and fashion that defines Shibuya’s youth culture. The morning in Shibuya is an unforgettable experience that will set the tone for an exciting day in Tokyo.
Lunch- Conveyor Belt Sushi Bar
Going to a Sushi Conveyor Belt Bar was one of the most fun things to do in Tokyo! You basically sit at your booth as a conveyor belt with countless sushi options goes past you.
You can either pick up the sushi you want from the conveyor belt or you can order a specific kind of sushi or another food/drink from your electronic screen at your booth.
As your order comes close to your table, it starts to ring so you know that it is yours. This is definitely an experience every visitor to Tokyo has to have!
Afternoon- Animal Cafes
Tokyo is famous for all of its themed cafes and you could seriously just spend your entire trip going to different cafes. There are tons of different animal cafes to choose from including cats, owls, rabbits and even raccoons so you definitely need to add one to your Tokyo 3 day itinerary.
I tried out Harry’s Hedgehog Cafe and an owl cafe. When you go to the animal cafes, you pay per hour and you get to interact with the animals and usually this includes one drink as well. At the Owl Cafe, there was even a little tiny owl that sat on my shoulder the whole time!
I fell in love and wanted to take him home. Harry’s Hedgehog Cafe was very popular and there was even a line out the door.
Definitely a must do for any Tokyo 3 day Itinerary.
Evening- Harajuku Street
Harajuku is one of my favorite areas in Tokyo! It’s such a fun, vibrant and busy area full of cool styles, cute shops and tons of cute food. Don’t forget to try a cotton candy bigger than your head at Totti Candy Factory.
Another really cute place is Santa Monica Crepes selling the prettiest looking crepes you’ve ever seen. Try to come on a Sunday if you can so you can witness the Harajuku Parade.
Dinner-Themed Cafes
There are tons of themed cafes in Tokyo which are really fun to visit. I tried the Monster Café and it was so cool and wacky.
There are many different themed rooms you can sit in and then kawaii (cute) characters walking around dressed as “monsters.” There are also little shows that happen through out your dining experience and all of the food is themed.
We got french fries that literally came with rainbow colored sauces- so fun! Some of the other popular themed cafes in Tokyo are the Maid Café, 5 different Alice in Wonderland Cafes, Vampire Café, Samurai Café, Prison Café and of course the Hello Kitty Cafe.
Day 2 in Tokyo
Morning- Robot Show
The Robot Show is truly indescribable and one of the wackiest things to do in Tokyo. However, it can’t be missed. This is Tokyo in a nutshell- fun, zany, weird, out there- all of it.
The Robot Restaurant puts on an eclectic cabaret show with performances full of flashing lights, taiko drums and techno music.
It’s a fun and campy neon-lit show where dancers, dinosaurs, ninjas all collide. The whole time you are watching the show- you’ll be thinking “What the heck is going on?” but it truly was one of my most memorable experiences in Tokyo!
Book a spot at the Robot Show here.
Afternoon-Tokyo Tower
The Tokyo Tower stands 333 meters high in the center of Tokyo and is the world’s tallest, self-supported steel tower. It is even 13 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower- which it was actually modeled after.
It is a very popular tourist spot, but it is also a broadcast antenna. The Tokyo Tower is definitely worth visiting to get incredible views of Tokyo’s skyline. I also loved finding places with incredible viewpoints of the Tower itself because it is quite a lovely feat of architecture.
I booked my tickets for the Tokyo Tower here.
or you can combine Tokyo Tower, Sensoji Temple and the Imperial palace,
Meiji Shrine and Grounds
Meiji Shrine. located in Shibuya, Tokyo near Harajuku Station is a famous Shinto shrine. The shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. Yoyogi Park is adjacent to the shrine and is a large forested area within the busy city.
The grounds offer many walking paths that are beautiful and very peaceful. Harajuku Street is a 10-15 minute walk away so these activities can be easily paired together for a wonderful afternoon in Tokyo.
The tour I took went to Meiji Shrine, Asakusa Temple and Tokyo Tower!
Click here to book the tour I took to Meiji Shrine!
Go Kart Tour of Tokyo
Looking for something really fun and adventurous to do in Tokyo? Check out this Go Kart Tour! You get to explore Akihabara in the most unique and fun way! And you even get to ride in a go kart dressed as a character of your choice! You also don’t need to worry about getting lost because you have a guide that will lead the way. You will visit around Tokyo Station, Ginza and Akihabara.
Stay the night at a Themed Hotel
Tokyo loves a good themed cafe, but it doesn’t stop just there. They also have many themed hotels throughout the city. There is a hotel that is Hello Kitty themed, Godzilla themed, Spaceship themed and more.
I stayed in a themed hotel where part of the hotel has artist themed rooms and every room was painted in a different style and I absolutely loved it! The views over Tokyo here are also absolutely incredible.
Click here to book a stay at The Artist themed hotel
Tokyo 3 Day Travel Itinerary
Evening- Imperial Palace
The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan and is surrounded by parks and gardens offering a getaway from the busy city streets. Surrounding the home of the Emperor, the grounds are immaculate and visiting them is one of the top things to do in Tokyo for many visitors on a 3 day Japan itinerary. I took this walking tour all over the grounds that was very good.
Covering 1.3 square miles, the grounds include cherry blossom viewing spots (in the Spring), art galleries, historical ruins and beautiful gardens—plus a private section reserved for royalty, of course.
Once the site of Edo Castle, the land is now among the most highly valued in Japan, and is a short walk from Tokyo Station. If you’re planning to visit, there are organized tours of inner areas available for free, as well as special days when you can see the Emperor himself! I absolutely loved visiting in the Fall and the grounds were beaming with Fall colors everywhere.
Click here to book a tour of The Imperial Palace
Day 3
Morning- Nezu Museum and Gardens
The Nezu Museum is a private collection of Japanese and Asian art. There are many interesting exhibits including paintings, ceramic, textiles, calligraphy and tea sets.
Nezu Kaichiro was an avid art collector and the site where the museum and gardens are used to be his home. After his death in 1940, his son founded the museum to preserve his collection.
One of my favorite parts of the museum were the gardens. They were absolutely beautiful and especially beautiful in the Spring and the Fall.
Visiting Nezu Gardens in the Fall, is one of the best additions to any Tokyo 3 day itinerary. There are so many beautiful Fall leaves. It is also not as well known as some of the other top places to see Fall leaves so you could even have the gardens all to yourself.
Afternoon-
Explore the Asakusa area and Sensō-ji temple
Sensō-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. It is Tokyo’s oldest temple, and one of its most significant. The grounds are absolutely beautiful and visiting is definitely one of the top things to do in Tokyo.
There is a huge food market outside of Senso-ji so it can be really fun walking around and trying new foods.
There are even fruit stands where you can drink juice right out of the fruit. Admission to this temple is free which is an added bonus. It gets very busy so plan to wake up really early to visit before the crowds start showing up.
I loved the tour I took because it went to Meiji Shrine, Asakusa Temple and Tokyo Tower!
Click here to book the tour I did here!
Evening-
Wander through the Golden Gai district
Golden Gai in Shinjuku is an area comprised of a network of six narrow alleys, connected by even narrower passageways. It is well known for its bars and small food establishments.
Golden Gai retains a lot of its charm and feels like you stepped back into time. Coming here is definitely an adventure and you never know what you will find. It is a great place to try traditional Japanese food and as it is not necessarily a tourist destination, but also for locals, the prices will be a lot lower than other nearby places.
My husband and I found a small noodle restaurant that we decided to try and it was really delicious! Try to be respectful of Japanese customs. These restaurants are tiny- think like 6 spots to eat.
When you are finished eating your food, it is custom to stand up and open up the seat so that someone else can start eating.
Stay in a Ryokan
Traveling is incredible because you get to experience different cultures from all over the world. If experiencing Japanese culture is important to you, then staying in a Ryokan is one of the top things to do while in Tokyo.
A ryokan is a type of traditional Japanese inn/hotel that features traditional style Japanese rooms. Ryokans are an opportunity to truly experience traditional Japanese lifestyle and culture. The rooms often have tatami floors, futon beds and you get to try local cuisine while sitting on the ground on mats with a low table.
There are many different types ranging from budget friendly to luxurious. Many Ryokans also have onsens or hot baths/springs that you can try out. One of my favorite parts was wearing the traditional dress around the hotel. This was definitely an experience to remember and should be a strong consideration for your Tokyo 3 day itinerary.
Click here to book a stay at a top rated Ryokan in Tokyo
Bonus- Try the Vending Machines
Trying the vending machines is one of the top things to do in Tokyo. They have fun and vibrant vending machines lining every street corner. There are so many fun options- why not be adventurous and try something new.
The blue colored items are cold and the red colored items are hot. It’s amazing that they have coffees and different hot drinks in there. Some of the Japanese sodas I tried were really unique and delicious.
More Top Activities in Tokyo
If you have more than 3 days in Tokyo or some of the above activities don’t catch your eye, here are some more top things to do in Tokyo!
- Team Lab Planets
- Sumo Experience
- Shibuya Sky
- Tokyo Disney and Disney Sea
- Japanese traditional Tea ceremony
- Dawn Cafe Tokyo- Avatar Robot Cafe DAWN is a permanent experimental cafe operated by OryLab Inc, where people who have difficulty going out for various reasons remotely operate the avatar robots OriHime and OriHime-D from their homes and hospitals, to provide services.
- Harry Potter Studio Tour, Harry Potter Store and Plaza- Visit the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction in the world and the first Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Asia!
- Hatcoffee– cute puffy cat coffees
- Shinjuku– 3D Bilboards like the Famous 3D Cat and Kabukicho Gate
- Ghibli Museum
Explore the Ghibli Museum, a wonderland of animation and art! Learn about anime history and admire the creations of Studio Ghibli.
- Pokemon Cafe/Pokemon World
- Gotokuji Temple– Lucky Cat Temple walking tour. This is such an unique place
- Tsujuki Fish Market– Stroll through and delight in the tastes, smells, and sights of one of the world’s most famous fish markets. Discover new flavors and learn about the people who work here.
- Hakone Shrine
- Cinnamon Roll Cafe (Sanrio Character)
- Ninja Cafe
- Pepper Parlor Robot Cafe
- Art Aquarium Museum Tokyo
- Unko Museum Tokyo
- Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory
- Sanrio Puroland– Visit Sanrio Puroland for a magical adventure with Hello Kitty and friends. Enjoy fantastic shows, rides, and unique gifts
Day Trips from Tokyo
- Day Trip To Mount Fuji
- Ibaraki, Hitachi Park and Oarai Isosaki Shrine Day Trip –Savor freshly caught seafood at Nakaminato Market, explore the vibrant floral wonderland at Hitachi Seaside Park, and immerse yourself in the beauty of Oarai Isosaki Shrine
So there you have it! The Best Things to do and add into your Tokyo 3 day itinerary!
Planning a trip to Tokyo? Just got back? Let me know in the comments!
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