A 5-Day Tokyo Itinerary for Beginners – What to See and Do in Japan’s Capital!

Welcome to this detailed 5-day Tokyo itinerary, designed as the ultimate guide for first-time visitors to Japan. I have updated it as of January 2024 to reflect new attractions and must-do experiences!

My goal is to help you maximize your time in Tokyo without wasting precious hours on unnecessary travel or tourist traps so that you can have the best possible trip! I firmly believe in not packing too much stuff into one day – striking the right balance between organizing popular attractions in advance whilst leaving some time for free exploration. Some of the best experiences are the ones you find by chance!

Unlike many other travel bloggers who have only visited Tokyo once or twice, having lived and worked in Tokyo for several years, you can be assured that the local knowledge and insights I have used to build this itinerary are reliable.

If you are heading to Japan for the first time, then be sure to download my 101 essential Japan travel tips here.

Heading to Kyoto? Then check out my 3-day Kyoto itinerary here. If you are planning to visit Osaka, check out my Osaka itineraries here.

This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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5-Day Tokyo Itinerary Overview:

Day One: Shibuya, Harajuku, Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku

Day Two: Ghibli Museum, Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree, Shimbashi

Day Three: Ueno, Akihabara, Ginza, Roppongi

Day Four: Tsukiji Fish Market and Local Neighborhoods

Day Five: Odaiba, and Tokyo Tower

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Day One – Shibuya, Harajuku, Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku

10 AM – 1 PM Explore Shibuya

Begin your orientation of Tokyo by experiencing one of the city’s most iconic sights – the world-famous Shibuya scramble crossing. There are several points in the area where you can get a good view of the crossing to take photos – we’ll talk about those shortly.

As you exit Shibuya station be sure to stop by the famous Hachiko statue for a selfie before exploring the area further. Shibuya is a shopper’s paradise and there are some unique stores here that you should definitely check out.

Take a Selfie with Hachiko

Hachiko Statue in Shibuya is a beloved and iconic symbol of unwavering loyalty, nestled in the heart of Tokyo. This bronze monument, standing at the bustling intersection just outside Shibuya Station, pays homage to the extraordinary bond between a faithful Akita dog named Hachiko and his owner, Dr. Ueno. The story of Hachiko’s remarkable loyalty has touched the hearts of people around the world and is a testament to the enduring power of friendship and devotion.

To fully appreciate the statue and take photographs without being engulfed by the crowds, consider visiting early in the morning or during less crowded times. Be prepared to wait your turn for a photograph with Hachiko!

Shopping in Shibuya

When in Shibuya, I recommend that you pay a visit to the giant Tower Records store for some old-school browsing for vinyl, CDs, and DVDs. It’s not just music fans that will feel at home, there’s also a cozy cafe and bookstore that stocks a selection of English books and magazines too.

I also recommend visiting the Tokyu Hands store, where you can find almost anything and is the perfect place to pick up souvenirs and gifts, from cute stationery to towels, beauty products, and handmade gifts.

For jaw-dropping views head on up to Shibuya Scramble Square building to the Shibuya Sky viewing platform. This open-air observation deck is the highest point in Shibuya at approximately 230 meters above ground. Tickets are priced at around 2,000 yen per adult, but you can save 200 yen if you order them online in advance.

Another of Shibuya’s latest attractions is Miyashita Park, a shopping mall with a rooftop park offering plenty of unique restaurants, cafes, and stores to discover.

For something a bit quirky – they also have this cafe in Shibuya staffed by robots called Pepper Parlor. They mainly serve waffles, but it’s quite fun if you feel like a sit down for a while! 

3 Of The Best Shibuya Crossing Photo Spots

Aside from the Shibuya Sky observation deck, there are a few other spots around Shibuya where you can get a good view of the Shibuya crossing including:

• L’OCCITANE Café – this Shibuya store by the French beauty brand also features a café with prime views of the Shibuya crossing. Enjoy the views with a light lunch, patisserie item, or herbal tea.
• Shibuya Station – if you don’t want to pay for a good photo spot, there is a place inside Shibuya Station where you can get pretty good views – for free! You’ll find it on the walkthrough to the Mark City shopping complex.
• Magnet by Shibuya 109 – the roof terrace of this commercial building has a unique photo spot where you can snap some selfies or for 1,000 yen you can have photos taken using the remote camera situated on top of the building for 100 seconds.

Once you have finished exploring Shibuya, it’s time for a short walk over to Harajuku!

1 PM – 4 PM Harajuku and Meiji Shrine

It’s quite likely that you will recognize Harajuku as the center of Tokyo’s youth culture and emerging street fashion, although these days it’s much more commercial than it used to be. However, you should definitely still pay a visit to buzzing Takeshita-Dori Street, lined with small clothing boutiques, and dessert and crepe shops just to check it out.

Harajuku is famous for its selection of rainbow-colored street foods. Whilst it may not be the healthiest, it sure makes for a good photo! Highlights include the rainbow-colored grilled cheese sandwiches at Le Shiner, rainbow candy floss at Totti Candy Factory, and rainbow roll ice cream at Rainbow Sweets Harajuku.

In Harajuku, you can also try purikura. Purikura (taken from the English words ‘print club’, are popular photo booths where you can go with friends or family to take fun photos with different themes and backgrounds. In Harajuku you can find Japan’s first store dedicated to purikura – Purikura Land, which has more than 25 different kinds of booths to choose from. 

4 Fun Food Stops to Try in Harajuku

In addition to rainbow-colored cheese toasties and giant candy floss, here are a few of my favorite fun food stops around Harajuku:

• Reissue Café – This rustic independent café is tucked away down one of Harajuku’s side streets and is famous for its 3D lattes! As well as coffee, there’s also a limited lunch menu if you are feeling peckish.
• Gonpachi – Part of this famous chain of Japanese restaurants, this branch of Gonpachi focuses on temaki or hand-rolled sushi. A good healthy alternative amidst Harajuku’s throng of dessert and candy stores.
• Sakuratei – this okonomiyaki (savory pancake) restaurant is very foreigner-friendly and provides diners with a unique atmosphere surrounded by original artworks and murals. 
• Anakuma Café/Bear-in-the-hole cafe – this one has been doing the rounds on social media quite a bit – it’s the cafe where you get the coffee via a bear paw that comes out of a hole in the wall! 

Note on Animal Cafes:

Harajuku is also home to many animal cafés – places where you pay an entrance fee then hang out with cats, dogs, rabbits, owls, hedgehogs, or even pigs. If you do decide to visit one of these establishments, be warned that the quality of life for the animals and their living conditions can be quite depressing as animal welfare is often not a priority.

Harajuku Stores worth visiting:

• Line shop – Line is Japan’s most popular messaging app and this store is dedicated to its cute characters whose faces are featured on a huge array of merchandise from mobile phone covers to stuffed toys.
• Daiso – This 3-level 100-yen store is the perfect place to pick up souvenirs, household items, and snacks! 
• Laforet Harajuku – for fashion and streetwear, this shopping mall has more than 100 stores to discover.
• Cat Street – situated between Harajuku and Shibuya, this winding street is around half a mile long and lined with clothing shops.

Photo Spots in Harajuku:

• Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku – this shopping mall is a popular photo spot thanks to its kaleidoscope of mirrors situated by the entrance.
• Galaxy Harajuku – this Samsung Galaxy store is a popular photo spot for Japanese Instagrammers and has lots of great places for photos including interactive displays by TeamLab and their photogenic escalators.
• Alice on Wednesday – this Alice in Wonderland-themed shop has themed photo spots inside the store and the exterior too with its cute miniature entrance.
• Meiji Shrine Sake Barrels – on the approach to Meiji Shrine many sake barrels and Western wine barrels are displayed as offerings to the shrine and make for great photo backdrops.

Harajuku Tours

If you’d like to do a tour of Harajuku, I recommend Arigato Travel’s Crazy, Cute, Kawaii Food Tour which includes 5 different food stops!

Explore Meiji Shrine

After you have stopped for lunch in Harajuku and perhaps sampled some of the sweet treats on offer, take a stroll to the nearby Meiji shrine and enjoy the peaceful gardens and ponds. After the crowds and sensory overload of Shibuya and Harajuku, this will be a welcome change of pace.

Unlike Sensoji which is a Buddhist temple, this is a well-known Shinto shrine. Shinto is Japan’s ancient religion, so I think it’s interesting to visit both.  The Meiji Jingu website has some useful etiquette tips for tourists in English which I would recommend reading before you go.

Once you have finished exploring the Meiji Shrine, head over to Harajuku Station and jump on the JR Yamanote Line train to Shinjuku.

5 PM Arrival in Shinjuku

Spend your first night in Tokyo in Shinjuku, which doesn’t really come to life until after dark. Wander the lantern-lit streets and discover tiny hidden restaurants and bars with lively atmospheres.

Two of my top recommended spots include the Omoide Yokocho alley packed full of tiny food stalls and restaurants, and the Golden Gai district where you’ll find narrow streets lined with snug counter bars and charismatic owners.

After dinner, there’s a whole heap of entertainment options to choose from including watching movies, gaming arcades, pachinko halls, theme bars, karaoke, and bowling.

When in Tokyo, you should try some karaoke at the end of the night. Even if there are only two of you, you can still rent a small private room for a reasonable price. It’s a classic Tokyo night out like a local!

Top karaoke rooms in Shinjuku include Karaoke no Tetsujin (one of the more reasonably priced places), Karaoke Kan, and Karaoke Uta Hiroba, whose prices also include free soft drinks.

Below are some of my top recommendations for places to check out!

Hobo Shinjuku – A cool development of 10 traditional houses and warehouses that have been converted in izakaya and bars. 

New York Bar at the Park Hyatt – If you’re in Japan on honeymoon or celebrating a special occasion, you might want to go for cocktails at the Park Hyatt’s New York bar, made famous by the Hollywood movie Lost In Translation. It’s on the more expensive side, but totally worth the cost for a really memorable experience. There is a cover charge of 2,750 yen per person which includes live jazz performances and incredible nighttime city views from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Check the website for dress code, opening times, and other important information. 

Themed Bars and Restaurants in Shinjuku

Ninja Shinjuku

The unique Ninja-themed restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine and be entertained at the same time. Ninja Shinjuku serves quality and creative Japanese food including Wagyu beef, served by Ninja. Guests can also enjoy the special magic performances while dining.

2D Cafe

This unusual, themed café, which looks like one big 2D drawing will make you feel like you’re in a real-life manga comic. It’s open every day until 10pm and serves a range of hot drinks, flavored shaved ice, and colorful desserts.

Zauo Fishing Restaurant

Tokyo’s Zauo restaurant is a unique dining experience where you catch your own dinner! Inside the Shinjuku branch, you are welcomed by a boat-shaped seating area, surrounded by a moat filled with a variety of fish. Once seated, you are handed a fishing rod and some bait to catch your dinner, which the staff will then grill and season for you. Restaurant located inside the Shinjuku Washington Hotel.

Neo Shinjuku Atsushi

Just opened in 2023, this dystopian-themed bar and restaurant serves vacuum-packed food and sake with insects in. 

Hidden on the 4th floor of an unassuming building in Shinjuku, you’ll uncover the immersive atmosphere of a cyberpunk universe. The space is bathed in the mesmerizing glow of vivid neon lights, saturating the air with the very essence of cyberpunk, intensifying the exhilaration of your dining experience.

Restaurant information
Neo Shinjyuku Atsushi / NEO新宿アツシ
Address: Tokyo-to, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 3-3-7 Sankei Building 4F
東京都新宿区新宿3-3-7 三慶ビル 4F
Open 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (lunch), 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. (dinner) Bar from 8pm

Attractions and Things to Do in Shinjuku

Giant Godzilla Head – Free

Keep an eye out for the giant Godzilla head peeking over the rooftops beside the Shinjuku Toho Building. Fun fact: The height of the head from the ground (50 meters) is the same height the monster was in the 90s movie Godzilla vs Mothra. 

Shin-Okubo -Free

Tokyo’s Korea Town is the go-to place for anything relating to South Korean culture, including K-pop-related merchandise, food, and fashion. There’s also a large Korean-themed Don Quijote store offering a little of everything at discount prices.

Themed Escape Rooms at Tokyo Mystery Circus

The world’s first escape room-themed park in Kabukicho offers a wide range of escape rooms based on stories and different thrilling mysteries, complete with puzzles, interactive props, and cleverly constructed plots. Most of the games are available to play in English, you can check out the list of events here.

One of the more terrifying options is the 80-minute-long Sadako and the Cursed Video game based on the series of Ring horror films!

Kabukicho Tower – Free Entry 

This new skyscraper opened in 2023 and has a neon-lit entertainment food hall on the second floor in the style of the many popular yokocho alleys around Japan, along with a gaming arcade with a bar, and movie theater.

Tokyo Government Metropolitan Building – Free Entry

Gaze out over the city with commanding vistas of downtown Tokyo from an impressive 202-meter altitude at this free observatory.

Day Two – Ghibli Museum, Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree, Shinbashi

10 AM Visit the Studio Ghibli Museum

If you are a fan of any of the Studio Ghibli movies, you may want to visit the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. You have to pre-book tickets in advance so you will need to plan this out properly before you go.  I would highly recommend booking these the moment they go on sale to avoid being disappointed. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. (JST) on the 10th of each month for the following month. So for example, if you want to buy tickets for any date in February you’d need to buy the ticket on Jan. 10.

You can buy tickets online here.

If you don’t manage to get tickets you can buy them through tour companies but you will need to pay more than double so you need to evaluate if it’s worth the investment for you.

The museum can be reached from Mitaka Station on the JR Chuo Line and takes 15 minutes from Shinjuku Station. There are shuttle buses from the station to the museum or you can walk it.

The museum gets busy so I would recommend getting there for around 10 am when it opens. You can stay as long as you want once you’re inside.

One thing to note is that no photography is allowed inside and most of the exhibits only have information in Japanese. If you try to get your phone out to Google translate the information, you’ll get told off by the staff!

From Mitaka, take the Chuo Line to Kanda and change for the Ginza Line to Asakusa.

3 PM Sensoji Temple in Asakusa

In the afternoon, take some time to explore Sensoji, one of Tokyo’s most famous temples and the oldest. It’s visited by millions of tourists each year and is always busy.

Enter through the famous thunder gate and in addition to seeing the temple, there are also many souvenir and food stalls to discover. Just outside the temple, rickshaw rides are also a popular way to explore the area. You can also book a private walking tour of the area to include the temple here, or for further details check out the Go Tokyo website.

3 Street Foods to try around Sensoji

The Nakamise shopping street that leads up to Sensoji Temple is a great place to try some of the area’s local street food and snacks. Here are a few top recommendations for foods to try:

• Ningyo-yaki – These are doll-shaped cakes made from soft sponge and filled with sweet red bean paste.
• Imo yokan – A kind of Japanese confectionary made from sweet potato that pairs perfectly with a cup of green tea.
• Senbei – You can find many kinds of freshly baked Japanese rice crackers on Nakamise with different flavors and toppings – give them a try!

Pro Sensoji viewing tip: there’s a great free spot where you can enjoy awesome views of the temple grounds and take photos that most tourists don’t know about.

Just across the street from the temple, you’ll find the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, which has a wonderful observation terrace on the 8^th floor that is completely free of charge to access and is open until 10pm daily. Or if you prefer, you can also enjoy the views from the adjacent café.

After you have finished exploring Sensoji and the traditional streets of Asakusa, take a short walk across the river to Tokyo Skytree!

5:30 PM Explore Tokyo Skytree

If you’re seeking out some of the best views of Tokyo, then you won’t go wrong at the Tokyo Skytree.  You can buy tickets at the door or you can purchase advance tickets here if you don’t want to wait in line. If you are visiting at the weekend, it’s probably a good idea to book your tickets in advance as it gets crowded.

After you have been up to the observation deck, there are plenty of shops to visit in the Solamachi complex and you can stop in one of the many restaurants for dinner if you wish. There are often seasonal events going on around the Skytree too that are worth a look. For example, at Christmas time there are illuminations and a German-style Christmas market.

During the spring, special events include cherry blossom photo spots and a kid’s amusement park. The tower is also lit up at night-time in beautiful pink sakura colors.

Another popular dining spot close to Skytree is the Kura Sushi restaurant which is the world’s largest conveyor belt sushi restaurant where you can feast on delicious plates of sushi from as little as 110 yen each!

Stop for dinner in the Skytree area, or if you want a more authentic local dining experience, then hop on the train and take the Asakusa subway line a few stops to Shimbashi station.

8 PM Dinner in Shimbashi Area

Shimbashi is a popular dining district for many of Tokyo’s workers who flock there to let off steam after a long day at the office! One of my favorite spots around here is Ginza Corridor, a lively street filled with small bars and restaurants that runs under the train tracks between Yurakucho and Shimbashi.

I find that the best way to explore this area is to just stroll around and try eating somewhere that looks inviting, followed by a bit of post-dinner bar hopping. I love this street because it’s rare to see tourists here and you can get a real sense of what life in Tokyo is like. You can find all kinds of restaurants here, from traditional Japanese izakaya, to French bistros and Mexican restaurants.

Day Three – Ueno, Akihabara, Ginza, Roppongi

10 AM Explore Ueno

Start your third day in Ueno Park, home to six museums including the Tokyo National Museum and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum as well as Ueno Zoo. Spend the morning exploring the museums, and perhaps stop for coffee and cake at one of the parkside cafes. This area is also a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing during the spring.

Other spots in Ueno I love include the Momi no Yu foot spa cafe, where you can rest your tired feet in a hot foot spa whilst enjoying a complimentary 5-minute massage and some herbal tea.

Ueno is also home to Nezu Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Tokyo, established in 1705. The shrine has a series of striking red Torii gates and a koi pond and is said to be one of the most beautiful shrines in Tokyo.

After you have finished exploring Ueno, walk or hop on the Yamanote Line two stops to Akihabara.

1 PM Go Electric in Akihabara

Tokyo’s electronic district of Akihabara is the holy grail for fans of Japanese anime and manga and is also home to most of Tokyo’s famous maid cafes. Visiting a maid cafe is a bit of a weird experience, but definitely one of those “only in Japan” things you should try. When I visited one for the first time, I was relieved to find out that the customers were a mix of tourists, groups of friends, and couples, and not just single men.

If you’re into Japanese anime and manga then you can spend some time exploring the various anime stores such as the Mandarake Complex, or perhaps you can check out one of the many gaming arcades. Try Super Potato for retro games, or Tokyo Leisure Land for music ones!

If you have a driving license, how about trying a street go-karting experience? Alternatively, if you’re looking for activities that are a little less full-on, I really like Kanda Myojin Shrine and the mAAch ecute shopping area located under railway arches, which is home to independent boutiques, cafes, and even a craft beer brewery.

4 PM Shopping in Ginza

After you have finished exploring Akihabara, take the train to Ginza, you can get there by taking the Yamanote Line to Yurakucho which is just a short walk from Ginza’s main shopping district.

Ginza is to Tokyo what Fifth Avenue is to New York, or Regent Street is to London. It’s one of Tokyo’s most popular shopping areas. From the swanky designer boutiques in the Ginza Six shopping complex, to the flagship department stores like Mitsukoshi and Muji, you’ll find all the major Japanese and international brands here. In addition to the many, many shops, there are plenty of pleasant restaurants and cafes around too, perfect when you need a break.

Another attraction in Ginza worth checking out if you have time is the kabuki theater, a reconstruction of the original theater site that was first built in 1889 which stages regular kabuki drama performances.

Kabuki is a traditional Japanese art form known for its dramatic makeup and is performed by an all-male cast. Tickets can be purchased for entire performances (which can last four hours!) or for single acts if you just want to get a taste of it. English audio is available through translation sets which can be rented.

You could also visit the Art Aquarium, a cool aquarium/art exhibition with installation works & sculptures made out of goldfish tanks lit up by colored lights. Tickets are 2,300 yen per person and you can book online in advance through the website here.

6 PM Explore Roppongi Hills

From Ginza, take the Hibiya Line train to Roppongi for the evening. Before dinner, be sure to check out the Roppongi Hills complex, the whole area feels so elegant and cosmopolitan. I really love the panoramic views from the observation gallery in the Mori Tower, and there are often interesting modern art exhibitions taking place here at the Mori Art Museum. If you have some time to spare, there’s a cinema, shops, bars, and restaurants in the complex too.

One fun place for dinner in the Roppongi area is Gonpachi. Gonpachi is a chain of Japanese izakaya and this one is famous for being the inspiration for the final fight scene in the Tarantino movie Kill Bill. It has a really lively atmosphere and the food is good and reasonably priced. They also have taiko drum performances some nights too. 

You can check out the menu in advance and make a reservation (recommended) through the website here.

Day Four – Tsukiji Market and Local Neighborhoods

9 AM Tsukiji Fish Market Tour & Sushi Making Workshop

Today is all about getting to know the real Tokyo, a bit more like a local – away from the massive crowds of tourists that you’ll encounter at sites like Senso-ji and Shibuya Crossing. Alternatively, if you want to get out of the city, you could take a day trip to nearby Kamakura, Yokohama, or even Nikko.

But in this instance, we’ll start the day with a visit to Tsukiji fish market.  For decades Tsukiji was home to the city’s famous early morning tuna auctions, and although this has since been moved to a new site (in Toyosu in case you’re interested), the outer market is still worth a visit, its narrow streets filled with seafood stalls and tiny restaurants. The best time to visit this bustling marketplace is in the morning when you can enjoy fresh sashimi dishes for breakfast. 

Personally, I would prefer to try this tour and sushi workshop which begins with a walk around the outer market area before participating in a 90-minute sushi-making workshop which you can enjoy for lunch!

If you’re looking for something other than seafood to eat then I also recommend the nearby Tsumugi café, which specializes in Buddhist cuisine and serves an 18-dish breakfast! The café is located in the 400+ year old Tsukiji Hongan Temple grounds which is just a short walk from Tsukiji market.

11 AM Head to Shimokitazawa for a taste of local life in Tokyo

Once you’ve finished exploring Tsukiji’s outer market, you’ll need to head back to Tsukiji station, take the Hibiya Line to Hibiya Station, then change to the Chiyoda Line to Shimokitazawa Station. The total journey time is approximately 35-40 minutes.

12 PM Explore Shimokitazawa – Home to vintage clothing stores, cute cafes, and Totoro cream puffs

Spend the afternoon getting a little off the tourist trail and explore some of Tokyo’s more residential neighborhoods. First up is Shimokitazawa, with its laid-back and bohemian vibes, where you’ll find the local residents browsing the vintage clothing stores and record shops, or meeting friends at one of the many independent cafes tucked away in the backstreets.

If you are planning to visit this area, before you go, I highly recommend reading the novel Moshi Moshi by Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto, which is mainly set in the Shimokitazawa area and whose main character works in one of the local cafes.

One of Shimokitazawa’s most popular spots for visitors is the Shiro-Hige Cream Puff Factory, home to the famous Totoro cream puffs and the only café with official permission to make baked goods in the shape of this iconic Studio Ghibli character.

Other good dessert stops around the area include:

Flipper’s

Popular souffle pancake specialty store that often has a line outside. It is located in the Shimokitazawa North area. 

Aoi Renga

Just a min away from the North Exit of Shimokitazawa Station in Tokyo, you can try these cute baby castella, a popular Japanese sponge cake.

3 PM Visit Nakameguro, one of Tokyo’s best cherry blossom spots

From Shimokitazawa, take the Inokashira Line to Shibuya Station and change for the Tokyu-Toyoko Line to Naka-Meguro which is just a 5-minute journey.

There are two things Nakameguro is famous for – the annual cherry blossom festival along the Meguro River, and the massive Starbucks Reserve Roastery.

If you are lucky enough to visit Tokyo during the cherry blossom season, be sure to visit Nakameguro, when the Meguro River is lined with beautiful pink blossoms. Although crowded, the area is particularly attractive at night when the trees are lit up with lanterns. Food vendors spill out onto the streets selling delicious street food and pink sparkling wine – it’s a festival not to be missed.

The Starbucks here opened in 2019 and is one of the biggest branches of the coffee chain in the world. Spread across four floors, the café offers a huge selection of coffee, tea, cocktails, and food to order. It gets super busy so despite the size of the place, it can still be really hard to find seating.

Another spot worth visiting in Nakameguro is the giant Don Quijote store, perfect for picking up souvenirs, snacks, and cosmetic items at very reasonable prices. Around the area, you’ll also find plenty of independent boutiques, bars, and cafes worth exploring.

Here are some other places worth checking out: 

Peanuts Cafe 

This Snoopy/Charlie Brown-themed cafe is quite stylish and good fun, and the food is not bad for one of these themed cafes. 

Haute Couture Cafe  

Nakameguro’s Haute Couture Cafe is a unique Instagram-worthy café whose decor changes according to the seasons, so for example, in spring you’ll find the place covered in cherry blossoms, whilst other times of year past themes have included purple wisteria trees and red maple leaves in the autumn.

Haute Couture Cafe also sits along the Meguro River, and the whole place was designed with taking photos in mind. You will definitely need a reservation in advance for this one – you can book online here.

The reservation page is in Japanese but you can use Google Translate to help. You can make bookings around 8 weeks in advance. 

Traveler’s Factory

This charming stationery store specializes in everyday items infused with a travel-inspired theme. Located within the premises of a repurposed paper processing factory, Traveler’s Factory features a range of stationery, books, and customizable products. Among its popular offerings is the best-selling Traveler’s Notebook, the perfect item to double up as a travel journal to write about all your Japan adventures!

6 PM Spend the Evening in Ebisu and Daikanyama

Ebisu is one of my favorite areas in Tokyo for eating and drinking. The streets are crammed full of restaurants and standing bars offering Japanese and Western cuisine.

Aside from the restaurants and bars around Ebisu station, the Daikanyama area is also worth checking out for dinner. Daikanyama is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Tokyo with its craft breweries and independent coffee roasteries and is a particularly good date spot too if you are with your partner.

Ebisu Yokocho is a lively spot to visit for dinner, an alleyway with a vibrant array of neon signs and glowing lanterns, filled with numerous lively bars and eateries serving all kinds of Japanese favorites like yakitori skewers and beef tongue.

Day Five – Odaiba, Borderless Museum, and Tokyo Tower

It’s your last day in Tokyo but don’t be sad! If you don’t have plans, I recommend spending some time in the Odaiba area before visiting the new TeamLab Borderless Museum near Tokyo Tower. Odaiba is a man-made island situated in Tokyo Bay, best accessed by the driverless trains on the Yurikamome Line that cross the Rainbow Bridge from Shimbashi Station.

Odaiba is a little out of the way, but there is plenty to do there which will easily fill up an entire day. It’s also the first place I lived in Tokyo, so I have a bit of a soft spot for it, but it’s a lot of fun and particularly good for families!

10 AM Discover Odaiba

Attractions in Odaiba

Miraikan Museum

One of my favorite places in Odaiba is the Miraikan, known in English as the (much longer named) National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. They have a lot of really interesting exhibits, but for me, the highlight has to be their collection of androids and robots.

Fuji Television Building

Another interesting spot in the Odaiba area that is open to the public is the Fuji Television building. You’ll be able to recognize the distinctive building from the giant sphere-shaped observation room at the top.  Inside you can visit television sets and the rooftop garden.

Tokyo Joypolis

Next, visit the Tokyo Joypolis, a gaming arcade that features some of the world’s most advanced virtual reality games as well as more traditional arcade games.

Shopping

Odaiba has three good shopping malls all within a short walk of each other, and all have something unique to offer – here are my highlights:

Aqua City

Shinto shrine – You wouldn’t typically expect to find a religious shrine inside a shopping mall but there is a small Shinto shrine complete with red torii gate situated on the rooftop of this mall.

Robot Information Desk Staff – One of the highlights of the Aqua City shopping mall is the android staff member at the information desk – see if you can spot it!

Restaurants – Aqua City has the most amount of dining options and the best choice of restaurants out of all three shopping malls. There are good choices for families including buffet restaurants, Italian cuisine, chain restaurants like TGI Fridays (with great views of Tokyo Bay), and a food court on the lower floor with fast food options. In addition to Western cuisine, there are plenty of Japanese options too – from yakiniku to ramen!

Decks Shopping Mall

Tokyo Joypolis is located in the Decks mall, but even if you’re not into gaming there are a couple of spots worth checking out, particularly if you’re there with young children, including the Legoland Discovery Center and Madame Tussauds Tokyo.

Daiso – This branch of the famous 100-yen store is huge and is a great place to pick up snacks and souvenirs to take home. I basically fitted out my whole Tokyo apartment with stuff from here.

Bills – This branch of the Australian restaurant chain has an excellent brunch menu and lovely waterfront views.

Fourth Floor Shoutengai – On the fourth floor of the shopping mall there are some fun and more traditional Japanese entertainment options including a haunted house set in the ruins of a cursed elementary school, the Trick Art Museum where you can enjoy 3D artworks and optical illusions to take amusing photos around, and several takoyaki stands for you to try this popular Japanese street food.

Diver City

Compared to the other two malls, I find Diver City to be best for clothing stores with more outlets that cater to western sizes too such as Zara, H&M, and Hollister, as well as Japanese favorites like Uniqlo and GU. Diver City is also home to the famous giant Gundam statue.

Diver City is also home to the recently opened Poop Museum whose attractions include a photogenic space to take colorful poop-related Instagram photos, and a ‘Crappy’ Arcade whose video games are, according to the website, more satisfying than taking a big dump…

Other Recommended Spots in Odaiba

Odaiba Seaside Park

If you’re visiting Odaiba and the weather is good, it’s quite nice to take a walk along the beach, and you can also take a boat ride from the pier to Hamarikyu Gardens near Ginza and Asakusa. You can also stop at one of the convenience stores nearby and have a picnic lunch on the beach or visit one of the beachside cafes.

Sakura Restaurant

If you’re looking for somewhere a bit special to dine at then I recommend the Sakura restaurant situated inside the Hilton Hotel in Odaiba. It’s a beautiful and traditional Japanese restaurant that has even been visited by Japanese royalty and they have three different counters to choose from – teppanyaki, sushi, and tempura. Be sure to make a reservation in advance.

5 PM Visit TeamLab Borderless Museum in Azabudai Hills

Reopening at central Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills in February 2024, the teamLab Borderless Museum offers an interactive and immersive experience through its unique digital installations.

Previously located in Tokyo’s Odaiba area, the museum is set to reopen at Azabudai Hills in central Tokyo on February 9, 2024. Tickets will go on sale on January 16, 2024.

I recommend visiting on a weekday either at the earliest slot they have available or later in the day (after 5pm), so you can enjoy the museum with fewer crowds. You should book tickets as far in advance as possible as this will be the hottest attraction in Tokyo in 2024.

Details such as opening hours, ticket prices, and exhibited works can be found on the official website here.

To get there from the Odaiba area, you’ll want to take the Yurikamome Line train back to Shiodome, and change for the Oedo Line to Akabanebashi Station, and walk to the museum from there.

The Azabudai Hills complex also has a variety of restaurants to choose from where you can find everything from tonkatsu and sushi to pizza and hamburgers!

9 PM Say Goodnight at Tokyo Tower

Finally, say goodbye to the city by stopping at Tokyo Tower, Tokyo’s answer to the Eiffel Tower, and a short walk from the Borderless Museum. This stunning building looks best at night when lit up and is the second-tallest structure in Japan. The tower is open until 11pm so before heading home go up to the observation platform or stop for a cocktail with Tokyo Tower views at the nearby Prince Park Tower Hotel’s Sky Lounge on the 33rd floor.

As the world’s biggest city, this 5-day Tokyo itinerary only covers a fraction of what there is to do in Tokyo. However, as most visitors will only have a limited amount of time there, I have designed it so you will cover most of the city’s most popular sites.

If you have been to Tokyo and think there is something not on the list that everyone must do their first time in the city, do let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!