Before choosing a ticket: IC cards, subway passes and reserved trains →
Designed for a first independent visit, with time for lunch and breaks. Time blocks below are editorial planning allowances, not booked tours or live journey results. Rearrange the days to match opening days, weather and tickets.
Asakusa & Ueno: old Tokyo and culture
Photo credit
Akonnchiroll · Wikimedia Commons · CC0Displayed with a crop to fit the layout. Photo dates and seasons vary.- Morning · 2–3 hours
Sensoji · Kaminarimon approach →
Visit Senso-ji and the surrounding lanes. Start with the temple grounds, then explore shops as they open; the shops and main hall keep separate hours.
- Lunch · about 1 hour
Gonpachi Asakusa Azumabashi →
Choose lunch in Asakusa before changing neighborhoods. Gonpachi is one listed option; read the menu, budget and booking conditions before choosing.
- Afternoon · 2–3 hours
Ueno Park · choose one museum →
Walk in Ueno Park or choose one museum. A major museum can fill the whole afternoon, so avoid adding another distant district. Check the chosen museum’s opening day and last entry.
Moving between areas
Take the Ginza Line from Asakusa to Ueno. Allow 25–40 minutes between the sightseeing areas, including walking and finding the platform. This is a planning allowance, not a train journey time.
If it rains
Shorten the temple approach and choose one open museum in Ueno. Do not assume all museums are open on the same weekday.
With children / a gentler pace
Keep either the shops or the museum short. Decide a meeting point and add seated breaks before anyone gets tired.
Tokyo Station & Ginza: architecture and city walks
Photo credit
MaedaAkihiko · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Displayed with a crop to fit the layout. Photo dates and seasons vary.- Morning · 1–2 hours
Tokyo Station · Marunouchi →
See the red-brick station from the Marunouchi side and explore the plaza. Avoid crossing the station repeatedly with luggage; leave large bags with your accommodation if possible.
- Late morning & lunch · 1–2 hours
KITTE Marunouchi · roof garden →
Explore KITTE and have lunch around Marunouchi. Choose lunch where you already are instead of adding another train ride just for a meal. Check individual shop and garden opening conditions.
- Afternoon · 2–3 hours
Ginza Chuo-dori →
Browse Ginza at your own pace with a café break. Kabukiza is an optional replacement for part of the walk; attending a performance requires checking the programme, ticket type and duration first.
Moving between areas
Marunouchi and KITTE can be combined on foot. For Ginza, take the Marunouchi Line from Tokyo or choose a longer city walk. Allow 25–40 minutes door to door by rail; shop entrances and station exits change the route.
If it rains
Spend more time in KITTE or Ginza’s indoor shops. The whole route is not covered; check which station exit is closest to the building you need.
With children / a gentler pace
Make shopping optional and choose a shorter section of Ginza. Keep lunch flexible instead of committing to several fixed-time reservations.
Shibuya & Shinjuku: modern Tokyo
Photo credit
David Kernan · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0Displayed with a crop to fit the layout. Photo dates and seasons vary.- Morning · 1–2 hours
Shibuya Crossing · Hachiko area →
See the crossing, then explore a manageable part of Shibuya. It is a working junction: follow the signals and avoid stopping in the roadway for photographs.
- Lunch & optional view · 2–3 hours
SHIBUYA SKY →
Have lunch in Shibuya. Add SHIBUYA SKY only if you want the paid observation visit and can obtain a suitable entry slot. Keep extra time for the ticketed visit; rooftop access depends on conditions.
- Afternoon to early evening · 2–3 hours
West Shinjuku architecture walk →
Travel to Shinjuku for a short west-side architecture walk, then dinner near the station. If you prefer Shinjuku Gyoen, go earlier, check the closing time and replace part of Shibuya rather than squeezing it in at sunset.
Moving between areas
Use the JR Yamanote Line from Shibuya toward Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. Allow 30–45 minutes between your chosen venues, including walking through both stations. Leave more time with luggage or reduced mobility.
If it rains
Replace the observation visit or shorten the outdoor walk with indoor shopping and a café. Read the exact weather-related conditions for the ticket you buy; do not assume a refund.
With children / a gentler pace
Choose Shibuya or Shinjuku as the main district and make the other optional. A single neighborhood plus a long break can be a full day.
Shibuya · Meguro · Setagaya → Shinjuku · Nakano · Suginami · Kichijoji →
Choose one base for all three days
Changing hotels each night adds packing and baggage transfers. Compare the neighborhood against your airport route and your preferred evening activities, then check the actual hotel’s nearest exit.
Tokyo Station & Ginza
Useful for the Marunouchi day and rail connections; check the walking route through the large station.
Compare listed hotels →Asakusa & Ueno
Focus on old-town visits; identify the specific railway station nearest your hotel.
Compare listed hotels →Shinjuku
A western Tokyo base with evening dining; allow time to find the correct station exit.
Compare listed hotels →Settle these before your first day
- Keep arrival day light. Immigration, baggage collection and reaching the hotel are separate from sightseeing; do not attach a prepaid attraction to a tight flight connection.
- Choose the one visit that needs a booking first, then build the day around it. Check restaurant and attraction conditions separately.
- Budget for each paid visit, meals, urban transport and accommodation separately. A transit pass is only useful if it covers the services you will actually use.
- For one or two available days, pick the matching daily route above. Do not compress all three days into one.
Sources and planning notes
JapaLens editorial itinerary, reviewed 21 October 2026. Each linked spot and hotel guide includes its official sources. Ordinary official links are provided; no live ticket inventory or prices are connected. Photographs show different dates and seasons.
Tokyo Metro — lines and stations · JR EAST — railway map · SHIBUYA SKY — FAQ