Tokyo 3-Day DIY Itinerary — Don't Get Lost on Your First Trip

Tokyo isn't as simple as it looks

Tokyo has 13 million residents and more than 300 train stations. On your first visit, without knowing the routing, you can lose 30 minutes just waiting at the wrong transfer platform. This is the itinerary I've tested over 6 trips — optimized for first-time visitors: fewer line transfers, diverse experiences, and a budget you can actually control.

Assumption: You're staying at a hotel in Shinjuku or Shibuya (easiest for transit). If you're in Asakusa/Ueno, swap Days 1 and 3.

Day 1 — Old Tokyo: Asakusa, Akihabara, Ginza

8:00 AM — Asakusa + Sensoji Temple

• Station: Asakusa (Ginza Line G-19, Asakusa Line A-18)
• From Shinjuku: Marunouchi Line → transfer to Ginza Line at Ginza → Asakusa. ~35 min, ¥230.
• Arrive before 9 AM to photograph Kaminarimon Gate without the crowds
• Walk down Nakamise-dori to buy omamori (lucky charms) + dango
• Sensoji Temple: free, opens at 6 AM. The main hall has a beautiful red facade + 5-story pagoda

Lunch 12:00 — Asakusa tempura

• Tempura Daikokuya (since 1887) — ¥2,000–3,000/set. Busy but worth the wait
• Or Sushiya no Nohachi if you want cheaper sushi (¥1,500 set)

2:00 PM — Akihabara

• Ginza Line from Asakusa → transfer to Chuo Line at Kanda → Akihabara. ~15 min, ¥170
• Yodobashi Camera: 9 floors of electronics, great prices with tax-free for foreign visitors
• Super Potato (4F): retro games, pure nostalgia for gamers
• Maid cafe @Home Cafe — ¥900 entry + mandatory food order (¥1,000–1,500)
• Gundam Cafe or Sega GiGO game center if you like arcades

6:00 PM — Ginza + dinner

• Ginza Line direct from Akihabara → Ginza. 10 min, ¥170
• Ginza Six — upscale mall, free rooftop (6F) with panoramic Ginza views
• Kyobashi sushi district — Sushi Kyubey omakase from ¥5,000 (lunch) / ¥15,000 (dinner). Book ahead.
• Walk 10 min along Chuo-dori (pedestrianized on weekends)

Day 1 total: ~¥8,000–15,000 (¥2,000 transit + ¥3,500 meals + ¥2,500 admissions/shopping + dinner)

Day 2 — Modern Tokyo: Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku

9:00 AM — Shibuya Crossing + Shibuya Sky

• Shibuya Station (JR Yamanote Line or Ginza Line)
• Shibuya Crossing — shoot it free from the 2F Starbucks at Tsutaya Books
• Shibuya Sky — 230m observation deck, 360° view. ¥2,500 online, ¥2,600 at the counter. Book the sunset slot (17:30–18:30) 2 weeks ahead.

12:00 PM — Harajuku + Meiji Jingu

• 10-min walk from Shibuya → Harajuku (or 1 stop on Yamanote, ¥150)
• Takeshita Street: crepes, rainbow cotton candy, teen fashion
• Meiji Jingu Shrine: shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji, 70ha forest in the heart of Tokyo. Free. 15-min walk from Harajuku Station.
• Eat: Afuri Ramen (yuzu shio) or Marion Crepes

2:30 PM — Omotesando + Aoyama

• Omotesando — "Tokyo's Champs-Élysées," luxury brands
• Omotesando Hills (designed by Tadao Ando)
• Nezu Museum (Aoyama) — art museum + traditional Japanese garden, ¥1,400

6:00 PM — Shinjuku

• JR Yamanote: Harajuku → Shinjuku (2 stops, ¥150)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building — 202m observation deck, free (closes 22:00)
• Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) — old yakitori alley, 2m-wide wooden shops. ¥300–500/skewer, ¥2,000 fills you up
• Golden Gai — neighborhood of 200 tiny bars. Many reject foreign customers, so look for places marked "Tourist Welcome" — usually ¥1,000 entry + ¥800/drink

Day 2 total: ~¥8,000–12,000 (Shibuya Sky ¥2,500 + food ¥4,000 + metro ¥600 + bar drinks ¥2,000)

Day 3 — Day trip or Tokyo deep dive

Pick one of three options:

Option A — TeamLab Planets + Odaiba (easy-going, photogenic)

• Shin-Toyosu Station (Yurikamome Line)
• TeamLab Planets: book online ¥3,800 (reservation mandatory, usually sold out 2 weeks ahead)
• Evening: Odaiba Seaside Park — Rainbow Bridge night view + Unicorn Gundam statue (at Diver City)

Option B — Kamakura day trip (classic, temples & shrines)

• JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station, ~1 hr, ¥950 one way
• Great Buddha of Kamakura (13m, ¥300)
• Hase-dera Temple (9m Kannon statue, summer hydrangeas, ¥400)
• Try shirasu-don (tiny fish over rice) — the local specialty
• Back to Tokyo around 17:00

Option C — Nikko (if it's your second Japan trip and you want nature)

• Nikko is 2 hours from Tokyo by train (Tobu Limited Express from Asakusa ¥2,800)
• Toshogu Shrine (¥1,300) — UNESCO site, wooden shrine lacquered red and gold
• Takes the FULL day, back at hotel late

Day 3 total:

• A: ~¥6,000 (TeamLab 3,800 + food 2,000)
• B: ~¥3,500 (train 1,900 round trip + shrine tickets 700 + food 1,000)
• C: ~¥10,000 (train 5,600 round trip + shrine 1,300 + food 2,500)

Total 3-day cost (hotel excluded)

Category	VND (approx)	Yen
Metro transport (3 days)	~500k	¥3,000
Food (9 meals)	~2.5M	¥15,000
Attractions + nightlife	~2M	¥12,000
Misc (drinks, omamori, omiyage)	~1M	¥6,000
Total	~6M	~¥36,000

Not included: hotel (~¥8,000–20,000/night in Tokyo), airfare.

Practical money-saving tips

• Tokyo Subway Pass 72h — ¥1,500 for unlimited metro+toei for 3 days, buy at the airport or metro kiosk. Saves ~¥1,500 vs individual tickets.
• Combini breakfast (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) — onigiri ¥150 + coffee ¥110 + salad ¥300 = ¥560 and plenty
• Travel off-peak — avoid 8–9 AM and 6–7 PM, less crowded and you get a seat
• Tax-free at shops with the red "Tax-Free Shop" logo — bills ≥¥5,000 get 10% off, bring your passport

Key transit gateways

• Narita Airport → Tokyo: Narita Express ¥3,070/60 min (JR Pass valid) OR Keisei Skyliner ¥2,570
• Haneda Airport → Tokyo: Keikyu Line ¥300/30 min is cheapest, or Limousine Bus ¥1,300
• Book a private airport car if you're a group of 4+ — saves time and hassle with luggage (book a car at OlaChill)

Pre-trip checklist

• Print your "Visit Japan Web" QR (replaces paper immigration forms)
• Download Google Maps, Navitime for Japan Travel, Google Translate (offline Japanese)
• Japan eSIM — OlaChill eSIM 5–8 days
• IC Card (Suica or Pasmo) — buy at airport ¥2,000 preloaded with ¥1,500 balance
• Get your international driver's license if you plan to rent a car for day trips
• Exchange cash in Vietnam beforehand (Japan rates aren't great) — bring ~¥30,000/person/3 days

FAQ

Q: How many days do you need in Tokyo? A: 3 days is the minimum to avoid burnout and see the major districts. 5 days is ideal if you want to add a Nikko/Kamakura/Hakone day trip. More than 7 days in Tokyo starts to feel repetitive.

Q: What's the best season? A: Late March–early April (sakura, 10–18°C, beautiful sun). November (red leaves, 8–15°C). Avoid July–August (32°C + 80% humidity) and January–February (cold, short days).

Q: Do I need Japanese for Tokyo? A: Not required. The metro has Latin script + numbers, restaurant menus in tourist areas have pictures, and most staff understand basic English. Download Google Translate camera mode — point it at signs and it translates.

Q: Is it safe at night? A: Tokyo is one of the safest cities in the world. Women walking alone at night are fine in most areas. Kabukicho (Shinjuku) is a bit seedy but not dangerous.

Q: Where are international ATMs? A: 7-Eleven has 24/7 ATMs accepting Visa/Master/JCB. Major banks have airport branches. Max withdrawal ¥100,000 per transaction.

Wrap-up

3 days in Tokyo is enough to say "I've been to Japan." But don't be greedy — this itinerary is optimized to avoid stress. If you get tired mid-trip, skipping one stop is better than grinding through and seeing nothing. Tokyo will still be there for round two.

If you're weighing whether to get a JR Pass for a short trip, read JR Pass 2026 — when it's worth it — with 3 days in Tokyo only, the 72h Subway Pass is much cheaper.