3 Days in Tokyo: A First-Timer's Itinerary and Budget Guide

Day 2: Trends and culture in modern Tokyo (Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku)

Day 2 explores the districts that define Tokyo today: youth culture in Shibuya and Harajuku, art and fashion in Omotesando and Aoyama, and Shinjuku, the city that never sleeps.

9:00 AM: Shibuya Crossing and SHIBUYA SKY

Start at Shibuya Scramble Crossing, one of the most famous intersections in the world. Once you've felt its energy, head up to Shibuya's newest landmark observation deck.

• Nearest station: Shibuya (JR Yamanote Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and others)
• Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
• Highlights:
  • Shibuya Scramble Crossing: When every light turns green at once, crowds surge in from all directions. It is quite a sight. For photos, try the Starbucks on the second floor of SHIBUYA TSUTAYA: grab a drink and look down on the crossing from the window.
    • Starbucks Coffee SHIBUYA TSUTAYA hours: 6:30 AM to 4:00 AM the next day
  • SHIBUYA SKY: An open-air observation deck about 230 meters up, the highest point in Shibuya. The 360-degree panorama takes in Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree and even Mount Fuji.
    • Address: Shibuya Scramble Square, 2-24-12 Shibuya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-6145
    • Hours: 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM (last entry 9:20 PM)
    • Tickets: ¥2,500 online, ¥2,600 at the ticket counter on the day
    • Booking: Sunset slots (around 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM) are the most popular and often sell out two weeks ahead, so book in advance.

Wondering whether to go up SHIBUYA SKY or Tokyo Skytree? Our SHIBUYA SKY vs Tokyo Skytree comparison will help you decide.

12:00 PM: Harajuku pop culture and Meiji Jingu

Harajuku is about 10 minutes' walk from Shibuya, or one stop on the JR Yamanote Line (about ¥150). It has two faces: the street where youth trends are born, and a peaceful shrine in the forest.

• Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
• Highlights:
  • Takeshita Street: Always packed with young shoppers, this street is lined with colorful sweets such as crepes and rainbow cotton candy, and with quirky fashion.
  • Meiji Jingu: A shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Its entrance is right beside Harajuku Station, yet it sits in about 70 hectares of forest, a true oasis in the city; the walk through the trees to the main shrine takes about 15 minutes.
    • Address: 1-1 Yoyogi-Kamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-8557
    • Admission: Free (the Treasure House and the Meiji Jingu Inner Garden charge a fee)
    • Hours: Sunrise to sunset, varying with the season (usually about 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM)
    • Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours
  • Lunch:
    • AFURI Harajuku: A ramen shop famous for its yuzu shio ramen, a light salt-based broth scented with yuzu citrus.
      • Address: Grande Foresta 1F, 3-63-1 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001
      • Hours: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
      • Budget: About ¥1,000 to ¥1,500
    • Marion Crepes: Takeshita Street's signature crepe stand, with a long menu to choose from.

If ramen is high on your list, our guide to Tokyo's 10 best ramen shops has more bowls to try.

2:30 PM: Omotesando's elegant streets and art

Omotesando is within walking distance of Harajuku. Sometimes called Tokyo's Champs-Élysées, its tree-lined avenue of luxury flagships is a place to enjoy striking architecture and refined art.

• Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Highlights:
  • Omotesando Hills: A landmark shopping complex designed by the architect Tadao Ando.
  • Nezu Museum: A museum of pre-modern Japanese and East Asian art, set in a large Japanese garden. It is a perfect escape from the bustle of the city.
    • Address: 6-5-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062
    • Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM)
    • Closed: Mondays, between exhibitions and over the New Year holidays
    • Admission: ¥1,400 for adults (varies for special exhibitions)
    • Nearest station: 8 minutes' walk from Exit A5 of Omotesando Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza, Hanzomon and Chiyoda lines)

6:00 PM: Shinjuku night views and yokocho alleys

Shinjuku is two stops from Harajuku on the JR Yamanote Line (about ¥150). Spend the evening among its skyscraper views and its atmospheric yokocho, the narrow alleys of tiny bars and eateries.

• Time needed: 3 hours or more
• Highlights:
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation decks: Free observation decks 202 meters up, with views of Tokyo by night. There are two, the South Observatory and the North Observatory, each looking out in different directions.
    • Address: 2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 163-8001
    • Hours: 9:30 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry 9:30 PM)
    • Admission: Free
    • Closed: South Observatory on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, North Observatory on the 2nd and 4th Mondays (the following day if that day is a public holiday), and both over the New Year holidays
    • Nearest station: About 10 minutes' walk from the West Exit of JR Shinjuku Station, or directly connected to Tochomae Station (Toei Oedo Line)
  • Omoide Yokocho: A retro alley that keeps the feel of post-war Tokyo. Tiny yakitori stalls and izakaya are squeezed into its narrow lanes, full of Showa-era atmosphere. Skewers cost about ¥300 to ¥500 each, and about ¥2,000 is enough for a filling meal.
  • Shinjuku Golden Gai: A one-of-a-kind nightlife district of some 200 tiny bars packed into a few lanes. It can look intimidating, and some bars don't serve tourists, but the ones displaying a "Tourist Welcome" sign are happy to have overseas visitors. Expect a cover charge of about ¥1,000 and around ¥800 per drink.
• Day 2 budget: About ¥8,000 to ¥12,000 per person (SHIBUYA SKY ¥2,500, meals about ¥4,000, trains about ¥600, bars from about ¥2,000)

Day 3: Three options to suit your interests

For your last day, choose the option that best fits your interests and energy: photogenic digital art, the history of an ancient capital, or nature and a World Heritage shrine. Each one fills a single day from central Tokyo.

Option A: Digital art and waterfront views (teamLab Planets and Odaiba)

Best if you want to experience cutting-edge digital art or take photos in otherworldly spaces, with Tokyo Bay's waterfront thrown in.

• teamLab Planets TOKYO DMM
  • Address: 6-1-16 Toyosu, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0061
  • Hours: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry 9:00 PM)
  • Tickets: Adult tickets are priced by date (about ¥3,600 to ¥5,600 from July to September); booking online in advance is required
  • Booking: Tickets often sell out about two weeks ahead, so book early.
  • Access: 1 minute's walk from Shin-Toyosu Station (Yurikamome Line)
  • Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours
  • Highlights: Wade through artworks in water and step into rooms filled with countless lights: an immersive digital art experience for all the senses. Our teamLab Planets guide has more tips for your visit.
• Odaiba Seaside Park
  • Access: Right by Odaiba-kaihinkoen Station (Yurikamome Line)
  • Highlights: The perfect spot for night views of Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower. In front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza stands a life-size Unicorn Gundam statue, which transforms in performances at set times of day.
    • DiverCity Tokyo Plaza address: 1-1-10 Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0064
    • Hours: Shops 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM; restaurants 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
• Option A budget: About ¥6,000 to ¥8,000 (teamLab from about ¥3,600 depending on the date, meals about ¥2,000)

Option B: History and nature in the old capital (Kamakura day trip)

Best if you want to soak up the atmosphere of one of Japan's ancient capitals and visit its historic temples. The seaside scenery is a bonus.

• From Tokyo Station: JR Yokosuka Line to Kamakura, about 1 hour with no change of train; about ¥1,030 one way with an IC card
• Time needed: 5 to 6 hours; you'll be back in Tokyo around 5:00 PM
• Highlights:
  • Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoku-in): The seated bronze Amida Buddha, about 13.35 meters tall including its base, is the symbol of Kamakura.
    • Address: 4-2-28 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016
    • Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM (until 5:00 PM from October to March)
    • Admission: ¥300 for adults
    • Access: From JR Kamakura Station, take the Enoden (Enoshima Electric Railway) to Hase Station, then walk 7 minutes
  • Hasedera Temple: Its main image is a statue of the Eleven-Headed Kannon more than 9 meters tall. In June, the Hydrangea Path is famous for some 2,500 hydrangea bushes in bloom.
    • Address: 3-11-2 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016
    • Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM); April to June, until 5:30 PM (last entry 5:00 PM)
    • Admission: ¥400 for adults
    • Access: From JR Kamakura Station, take the Enoden to Hase Station, then walk 5 minutes
  • Shirasu-don: A bowl of rice topped with shirasu (whitebait), the local specialty of Kamakura and the Shonan coast. Many restaurants serve it, with the fish either lightly boiled (kamaage) or raw (nama).
• Option B budget: About ¥3,800 (round-trip train about ¥2,070, temple admissions ¥700, meals about ¥1,000)

Our Kamakura day trip guide covers more of the town.

Option C: Nature and World Heritage (Nikko day trip)

Best for second-time visitors to Japan, or anyone who wants to swap the city for nature and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• From Asakusa: Tobu limited express (such as Revaty or Spacia X) direct to Tobu-Nikko, about 1 hour 50 minutes; about ¥3,050 one way on Revaty (¥1,400 fare plus a ¥1,650 limited express surcharge), a little more on Spacia X
• Highlight: Nikko Toshogu Shrine (admission ¥1,600): a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its lavishly carved and gilded wooden buildings
• Time needed: The whole day; expect to be back at your hotel late in the evening
• Option C budget: About ¥10,000 (round-trip train about ¥6,100, admission ¥1,600, meals about ¥2,500)

Our Nikko day trip guide goes into more detail.

Total budget for 3 days (excluding accommodation)

Not included: accommodation (about ¥8,000 to ¥20,000 a night in Tokyo), flights, and the train fare for a Day 3 trip to Kamakura or Nikko.

Money-saving tips

• Tokyo Subway Ticket (72 hours): About ¥1,500 for unlimited rides on the Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines for three days. Buy it at the airport or from kiosks in the subway. It saves about ¥1,500 compared with buying single tickets. JR lines, including the Yamanote Line, are not included.
• Convenience-store breakfast: At 7-Eleven, FamilyMart or Lawson, an onigiri (about ¥150), a canned coffee (about ¥110) and a salad (about ¥300) make a filling breakfast for about ¥560.
• Avoid rush hour: Trains are packed from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM and from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Travel outside those times and you may even get a seat.
• Shop tax-free: At stores displaying a "Tax-Free Shop" sign, spending ¥5,000 or more saves you the 10 percent consumption tax. Bring your passport. Our tax-free shopping guide explains the rules.

Getting into Tokyo from the airport

• Narita Airport: The Narita Express costs about ¥3,070 and takes about 60 minutes (the JR Pass is valid on it). The Keisei Skyliner costs about ¥2,570.
• Haneda Airport: The Keikyu Line is the cheapest option, at about ¥300 and about 30 minutes. The Airport Limousine Bus costs about ¥1,300.
• Groups of four or more: A private airport transfer saves time and makes luggage much easier to handle.

Checklist before you go

• Register on Visit Japan Web and save your QR codes (they replace the paper immigration and customs forms).
• Install Google Maps, Navitime for Japan Travel and Google Translate, and download the offline Japanese language pack.
• Set up a Japan eSIM so you are online from the moment you land.
• Get a Suica or PASMO IC card. At the airport, ¥2,000 buys a card with ¥1,500 of credit (the rest is a ¥500 deposit). You can also add Suica to Apple Pay.
• If you plan to rent a car for a day trip, get an International Driving Permit before you leave home.
• Carry some yen in cash: about ¥36,000 per person covers the three days in this plan, excluding your hotel.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need in Tokyo? Three days is the minimum to see the main districts without rushing. With five days, you can comfortably add day trips to Nikko, Kamakura or Hakone. Spend more than a week in Tokyo alone and the days may start to feel repetitive.

When is the best time to visit Tokyo? Late March to early April, for the cherry blossoms, with temperatures of about 10 to 18°C and often clear skies. November is also lovely for autumn leaves (about 8 to 15°C). July and August bring 32°C or more with humidity above 80 percent, and January and February are cold with short days.

Do you need to speak Japanese? Not at all. Trains and stations have signs in English and romanized Japanese, restaurants in tourist areas have picture menus, and most staff understand basic English. The camera mode in Google Translate will translate signs and menus instantly.

Is Tokyo safe at night? Tokyo is one of the safest cities in the world. In most areas, even women traveling alone can get around comfortably at night. Kabukicho in Shinjuku is a nightlife district with a rowdier feel, but it is not considered dangerous.

Where can I withdraw cash? 7-Eleven ATMs are open 24 hours and accept Visa, Mastercard and JCB cards. Bank branches at the airports also have ATMs. The limit is about ¥100,000 per withdrawal.

Final thoughts

Three days in Tokyo is enough to say you've really been to Japan. Just don't try to cram in too much: this plan is paced so you can enjoy it without stress. If you get tired halfway through, skip a stop. It is far better than dragging yourself around and remembering nothing. Tokyo will still be here for your next trip.

Wondering whether you need a JR Pass for a short trip? Read JR Pass: when is it actually worth buying? For three days in Tokyo alone, the 72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket is far cheaper.