5 Days in Tokyo: Things to Do, See & Eat
This post was updated in January 2025
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Tokyo: One of the world’s biggest cities and perhaps the most fascinating one.
(By the way, I even wrote a song about this sprawling metropolis, check it out on Spotify or Youtube.)
I’ve been to Tokyo a few times already, but obviously, I’ve not been able to discover everything yet, so I keep coming back for more and each time I discover a new amazing part of Tokyo.
The Japanese Yen is currently rather low (at the time of writing, 2025). So now is a good time to go to Japan, if you’re from Europe, USA or Australia!
Read below my guide and itinerary for 5 days in Tokyo, Japan!
Quicklinks:
Things To Do & See
Shibuya Crossing
You can't go to Tokyo and not cross this busy but awesome crossing at least a couple of times! Only then will you truly experience the sheer enormity of this city and just how many people live in it. You can also have a coffee at one of the surrounding cafes and watch the crowds of people cross. When you're done people-watching, you can start your shopping frenzy at all the countless malls and shops surrounding Shibuya crossing.
Don’t forget to visit the Hachiko Memorial statue, which is close to the crossing.
Harajuku: Takeshita Street
This famous fashion street is where you'll find all the teenagers shopping, and somehow it's always crazy busy. It's fun to walk around for a bit and do some (window) shopping, but if you go to one of the parallel streets, you can also find a lot of cool stores that can even be slightly cheaper than what's on Harajuku street.
Meiji Jingu
Located close to Harajuku is Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine situated in Yoyogi Park. It's a beautiful place to visit, and if you're lucky (like us!), you might see a traditional wedding ceremony taking place there. It's a great spot to take a walk and take in nature and the zen-like atmosphere.
Senso-ji Temple
The famous Senso-ji Buddhist temple, which is the oldest temple in Tokyo, is located in the Asakusa neighborhood and consists of the temple and five pagodas, all colored in bright red. You can also buy yourself a little fortune on a little paper. Around the temple, you can find many shops selling little trinkets, so it's fun to walk around and shop a little as well. This place does get really crowded though, so try to go early in the morning.
Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Skytree is a big tower where you can go up and have an amazing view on Tokyo from high above. However, it's quite pricey, so I didn't actually go there. Many say that going to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is actually a much better deal because you can get the same view on Tokyo by going to the observation deck, and it's all for free
Shop Electronics and Manga at Akihabara
Akihabara is the electronics district, where you can find all sorts of electronics and gadgets. On top of that, you can also find loads of manga and anime related things in this area of Tokyo. It’s fun to browse the different stores and try out all the interesting gadgets.
Tsukiji Fish Market
The famous fish market of Tokyo is definitely a must-see, not only for the market itself but also the small restaurants around it that serve mouthwatering fresh sashimi bowls and dishes. For the brave-hearted, there is the tuna auction at 3AM (some suggest to go even earlier), which is apparently a pretty cool experience. For others who can not bring themselves to wake up (or stay awake) so early - like me - you can still see the market action if you go later in the morning.
Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace covers quite a big area, so make sure to wear something comfortable when you visit it. There are a few nice gardens located in the compound, and it just felt like a really peaceful place, especially in spring when all the flowers are blooming. Definitely a lovely spot for strolling around and soaking in the Japanese history.
Shopping at Ginza
You can’t be in Tokyo and not visit the flagship Uniqlo store, which is located in Ginza.
While you’re in Ginza, also check out the big Loft shop for all your souvenirs and trinkets. I also really enjoyed browsing the beautiful Tsutaya Bookstore.
For Cat Lovers: Visit a Cat Cafe
Even though cat cafes can be found all around the world nowadays, the true cat cafe experience can only be found in Japan. We went to one in Shinjuku, which had quite a few cats. If you're a true cat lover you might like it, though I've found that the cats will only come towards you if you have food, for which you'll have to pay extra. It's funny to see all the people yearning for these cats' attention, while the cats will randomly (or so we think) choose who to get their cuddles from.
Check out the Shimokitazawa neighbourhood
For vintage shopping, or if you just want to visit a cool neighbourhood that isn’t too touristy, you should check out Shimokitazawa. You can find a lot of vintage clothes shops and thrift stores here. I also liked it because it was very quiet and not busy at all - a stark contrast with the Ginza neighbourhood for instance.
Stroll around Meguro-Ko
I'm not sure what exactly the area is called, but the streets along the canal near Naka- Meguro metro station were so enchanting during Sakura season! We went at night and you can enjoy amazing Japanese street food and marvel at all the Sakura trees lined up along the canal. There are also loads of cute boutique stores and art galleries, so we really enjoyed just taking a stroll along the water. It's definitely a must-do if you ask me!
During Spring: See the Sakura spring blossoms in the parks
When you visit Japan end of March or beginning of April, there's a good chance you will experience the Sakura season. Many parks will be colored in white and pink spring blossom trees that are blooming. I loved the Shinjuku Gyoen National Park, which was a huge park and it was exploding with spring blossom trees! Also perfect for a little picnic and some people watching.
Digital Art at TeamLabs Borderless & TeamLabs Planet
Teamlabs is an interactive, digital art museum which is a pretty fun way to spend the morning or afternoon. The picture above shows a TeamLab Borderless exhibition.
I’d personally recommend going in the morning, so that there are fewer crowds.
Visit the Konbini (Convenience Store)
A trip to Japan isn’t complete without visiting the convenience stores (almost) every day and getting some fun and tasty snacks, or even whole meals. There are three main ones: Lawson, 7 eleven and FamilyMart.
One of my favourite things to do while in Japan was going to the konbini every day and picking out a snack. It’s cheap, convenient and fun to take a look at all the snacks and try them all out!
Check out my instagram reel showcasing my favourite konbini snacks:
Visit the Pokemon and Hello Kitty Store at Tokyo Station
Visit your childhood friends at these store under the Tokyo Station! There is also a bigger Pokemon Store somewhere else in the city, but as we found ourselves close to the Station, we had a look at the store there. You will also find some other cute stores, such as Snoopy town, Hello Kitty store and a Ghibli store.
Karaoke!
When in Japan you can't miss going at least once to a karaoke complex! You can rent a private booth and sing your heart out for hours at an end. I had so much fun at these karaoke places; so far they are the best you can find in Asia. They have a nice selection of English songs as well, so don't be afraid that you will only find Japanese anime songs ;) Some Karaoke places even let you dress up with all kinds of funky costumes. All in all, it will be a fun night (or day!) out guaranteed.
Play Games at the Arcade and snap Purikura photos
All around the city you'll find tons of big arcade halls, where you can play games all day and night long. My friend and I particularly liked the Purikura snapshot experience. These are photobooths where you and your friend can snap some cute pics, and then edit them and add some funny effects, like making the eyes bigger and adding cute stickers.
A Day Trip to Kamakura
There are many day trips you can take from Tokyo, and one highly recommended one is to Kamakura. In Kamakura you can find the famous Great Buddha statue, as well as many temples and you can even see Mt. Fuji from some spots in Kamakura. The city is about a 1-hour metro ride from Tokyo, so it’s perfect for a little day trip
Where To Eat
There are many amazing restaurants in Tokyo and it would be virtually impossible for me to list all of them. And I found that around every corner in Tokyo you can find great spots to eat and sometimes it’s just a random mom & pop shop.
But here are a few that I tried and loved and some that I heard of that are apparently very good:
Specialty Coffee & Breakfast
KITASANDO Coffee, Specialty coffee
KOFFEE MAMEYA, Specialty coffee - a small coffee shop that is extremely popular, so try to get here early if you can.
Ogawa Coffee Laboratory Shimokitazawa, Specialty Coffee - A specialty coffee shop & lab located in the hipster neighbourhood of Shimokitazawa. I also loved their scones!
Tokyo Little House, Specialty Coffee - This cute little cafe is also a hotel, but they serve really good coffee (and Matcha) too.
Common, Coffee & brunch cafe - A scandi-style cafe in Roppongi with great breakfast dishes and excellent coffee
Japanese Cuisine
Manten Sushi Hibiya Okuroji, Japanese Omakase - An amazing Omakase place that’s located close to Tokyo Station.
Kura Sushi, Sushi - A conveyor belt sushi chain that has quite good sushi and above all, is a fun experience.
Tsukemen Gonokami Seisakusho Shinjuku, Tsukemen - I’ve heard great things about this Tsukemen shop near Shinjuku station!
Sushi Kanesho, Japanese Omakase, another excellent Omakase experience
International Cuisine
Luke’s Lobster Omotesando street, Lobster Rolls - When you find yourself shopping in Omotesando street and feel like a little snack or lunch, check out these Lobster rolls
Sabasu サバス, Pizza - If you feel like a decent Neapolitan pizza, go to this cute little restaurant. I loved the interior decor as well, it was super cozy.
The Pizza Bar on 38th, Pizza - This is a very high-end pizza place and is supposed to be really good. So if you feel like fancy pizza, try this spot.
Where To Stay & Accommodation
Neighbourhoods
Where to stay in Tokyo?
I haven’t been able to check out all the area’s in Tokyo, but here are a few neighbourhood recommendations in Tokyo that I do know of:
Akasaka - a great central area in Tokyo, that is super-well connected.
Ginza - great for shopping lovers, and if you want to be in central Tokyo
Shinjuku - if you want to be in the hustle and bustle of the city and close to shopping outlets and other main sights of Tokyo.
Kiyosumi-Shirakawa - My friend recommended me this area, which is more quiet, but still trendy and full of cozy coffee shops.
Accommodation
In Tokyo, you can find loads of decent, mid-range hotels for a good price and in a good location.
I stayed at this hotel: Via Inn Prime Akasaka.
Which I thought was in a really good location (Akasaka), close to many metro lines and restaurants, and the room was small but very comfortable, and there was even an onsen inside the hotel. Another pro: there was a 7 eleven convenience store within the hotel, which was super convenient!
Other mid-range hotel options are:
lyf Ginza Tokyo - a relatively new hotel, which caters to a younger crowd, and I think has very comfortable rooms. I’ve stayed at a few lyf locations around the world, and I always think the value for money is great.
For more luxury hotel options, you may want to check out:
When To Go
Tokyo is an amazing city to visit all year round but there are a few months and periods that are more popular than others.
Spring time (March - April) is when you can see the sakura trees (cherry blossom) in full bloom and this is also a very popular time for many tourists to come to Tokyo.
Summertime (July - September) can be extremely hot, but there are fun summer festivals and parades taking place all around Japan, and a lot of fireworks that you can see.
Autumn is another popular time (September - November), where people come to see the autumn foiliage and the weather is actually still relatively mild (15-25 C).
Low season is therefore the winter months (December - February), when it’s cold but prices are much lower than the rest of the year.
How To Get Around
Tokyo has an extensive metro system that is extremely efficient and connects most areas and main sights to see. It might be a little difficult at first to get used to all the lines and finding your way, but once you do, it is the most efficient way to get around Tokyo.
You can get the Suica card which you can top up at every metro station, and it makes it easy to get around.
Even though there are many metro lines and stops, be aware that you will still have to walk a lot in Tokyo. Especially when changing metros for instance, depending on which station you may need to walk a lot to get to the other line.
How To Get There
Tokyo has two major airports: Haneda and Narita.
I would recommend flying to Haneda, because it is much closer to Tokyo city centre than Narita.
Check out flights on Kiwi.com from your nearest airport to Tokyo:
Other Tips
Finally, here are some handy tips & etiquette rules while in Japan:
Japanese will be offended if you give them a tip, so no tipping!
There aren’t many trash cans around, so hold on to your trash until you are home/at your hotel
Always take off your shoes when you enter someone’s home.
The Japanese value quiet, and will find it rude if you speak very loudly or even shout in public spaces, such as in the train, in a restaurant or similar.
When checking Google Maps for restaurants, don’t pay too much attention to the ratings - the Japanese are known to rate rather low, so even a 3.5/5 will be actually rather good!
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