Packing three neighborhoods into every day for a week is a fast way to burn out. This is a seven-day plan that actually lets you taste Tokyo without grinding yourself into the pavement.
Day 1-2: Shibuya & Shinjuku
Land, sleep, and resist the urge to “make the most of it” on day one. Tokyo punishes that. Book the first two nights in Shinjuku or Shibuya because the transit access is excellent, the convenience stores are open all night, and jet-lag wandering is genuinely fun in neighborhoods that stay lively late.
Keep day one light. Shibuya Crossing, a slow coffee at a tiny stand near the station, then up to Shibuya Sky if the weather is clear — tickets are limited and sold by time slot, so book ahead, especially for sunset (official ticket page). Dinner is whatever ramen shop has a line that isn’t insane. On day two, go deeper into Shinjuku: Golden Gai for one drink (some of those tiny bars charge a cover or seating fee, and some are not open to tourists, so check the door sign), Omoide Yokocho for skewers, and the free observation deck at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building if you want a city panorama without paying (hours and closure days vary, so check the official observatory page first).
A small thing that helps: get a Suica or Pasmo IC card (a rechargeable travel card) and keep it topped up. Tapping through gates is so much faster than buying paper tickets, and you can also use it at convenience stores. JR East explains the options for visitors, including the short-term Welcome Suica, which has no refundable deposit and no refund of unused balance, and the regular Suica, which carries a refundable 500 yen deposit, on its Suica page. Where each card is sold changes, so check there before you fly.
Day 3: Asakusa & Old Tokyo
This is the day to shift gears. Asakusa feels like a different city — wood, incense, sweet-shop steam. Start at Senso-ji early (before 9am if you can stomach it) because the approach through Nakamise-dori is genuinely peaceful when the shutters are still half-down. By late morning it is much busier.
After the temple, wander into Yanaka, an old-Tokyo neighborhood where many older buildings survived the 1923 earthquake and the WWII air raids (Go Tokyo). Yanaka Ginza is a lantern-lined retro shopping street of small shops.
Lunch is unagi (grilled eel over rice) if your budget allows. Evening: a short subway ride to Tokyo Skytree if you want the height, or back to your hotel for an early night. Day four is a long one.
Day 4: Akihabara & Modern Tokyo
Akihabara hits differently in person. Photos make it look chaotic; the reality is more like walking through a video game arcade that swallowed an electronics district. Even if you’re not into anime or retro games, the sensory load alone is worth a half-day.
Do Akihabara in the morning when the crowds are thinner, then head to Ginza by train (Google Maps or the Tokyo Metro app will give you the best route) for an afternoon flip — high-end stationery shops (Itoya’s flagship is a multi-floor temple to paper), department-store food halls (the basement levels, called depachika, are a good place to pick up prepared meals and bento), and Hibiya Park if your feet need a break.
If you have energy left, end the day in Shimokitazawa for vintage shops and live music venues. It’s a short train ride from Shibuya.
Day 5-6: Day-trips (Kamakura, Hakone)
Two full days inside Tokyo is plenty before the city starts feeling like noise. Day five is Kamakura — about an hour south by train, ocean air, the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), and a string of temples connected by walking paths. Japan’s national tourism organization puts the trip from Tokyo Station at roughly 55 minutes on the JR Yokosuka Line (JNTO), so it works easily as a day-trip.
Day six is Hakone if you want hot springs and a Mt. Fuji view (weather-dependent — Fuji hides behind clouds more often than the postcards suggest). The Odakyu “Hakone Freepass” bought for a Shinjuku departure includes the round-trip Odakyu Line fare plus the Hakone Tozan Railway and cable car, the ropeway and the Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise; the Romancecar limited express costs extra (Odakyu). It’s a touristy loop, but it works.
If hot springs aren’t your thing, swap Hakone for Nikko — temples and waterfalls roughly two hours from Tokyo by limited express (Tobu Railway) — or just stay in the city and do a slow Shimokitazawa-into-Daikanyama café day. Not every day has to be a checklist.
Day 7: Wind-down + Souvenir Run
Last day. Don’t try to cram a new neighborhood. Use day seven for the things that are easy to forget on the way out — pharmacy stops (Don Quijote for snacks and skincare; opening hours vary by branch), a real sit-down breakfast somewhere you liked earlier in the week, one last temple or garden for the photo album.
Hamarikyu Gardens is a good choice — a former shogunal garden turned public park, with a tea house on an island in the middle of the pond. Water buses run between the Hamarikyu area and Asakusa along the Sumida River if you want a slow, scenic ride to bookend the trip; check the operator’s timetable for the direction and stops (Go Tokyo).
Pack snacks for the flight home. The KitKat flavors are not a joke; matcha and hojicha both travel well.
Money, Trains, and Survival Phrases
Cash still matters in Tokyo more than first-timers expect. Big stores and chains take cards, but small shops and restaurants may accept cash only, so carry some yen (Go Tokyo).
💱 1USD ≈ 158JPY
Trains are the lifeline. Get the Suica/Pasmo IC card mentioned above, download the Japan Travel by Navitime app, and trust Google Maps for routing — it knows which car to board for the fastest transfer. Avoid the weekday morning and evening rush hours on busy lines such as the Yamanote and Chuo unless you enjoy being a sardine.
Three phrases will carry you further than you’d think:
- Sumimasen — “Excuse me” / “Sorry” / “Thanks for getting my attention.” Use it constantly.
- Arigatou gozaimasu — “Thank you very much.” Formal, polite, always appropriate.
- Eigo no menyuu wa arimasu ka? — “Do you have an English menu?” This gets it out faster.
Tipping is not customary in Japan and may be politely refused (JNTO). Some places add a table or service charge instead.
FAQs
Is 7 days enough for Tokyo?
For a first visit, yes — comfortably. Seven days lets you cover the main neighborhoods, do one or two day-trips, and still have time to wander without itinerary-checking every hour. If you want to add Kyoto, Osaka, or Hakone as more than a day-trip, plan 10-14 days total.
Do I need to learn Japanese?
No, but learning three or four polite phrases changes the texture of the trip. Major signs, train announcements, and tourist-facing menus are usually in English. Off the tourist track, Google Translate’s camera mode is shockingly good for menus.
Is the JR Pass worth it for Tokyo only?
Honestly, no. The JR Pass mostly pays off when you’re doing long shinkansen (bullet train) routes between cities. For a Tokyo-only week with one or two regional day-trips, single tickets plus a Suica card are cheaper. Run the math on the official JR East site before buying.
What’s the best month to visit?
Late March to early April for cherry blossoms (crowded but unforgettable), late October to November for cool weather and autumn colors, or winter for crisp, clear days. June is rainy season; August is humid in a way that will end you.
Where should I stay for a first trip?
Shinjuku or Shibuya for energy and transit access, Asakusa for a quieter old-Tokyo feel, or Tokyo Station / Ginza if you want central and polished. Splitting the stay also works — for example, three nights in Shinjuku, three nights in Asakusa, and the last night near the airport.
Sources
- Tokyo travel guide — Wikivoyage
- Japan National Tourism Organization — official site
- JR East — train info and JR Pass details
- Tokyo Metro — subway map and fare info
- Hakone Navi — Odakyu’s official Hakone tourism site
- Kamakura City — official tourism portal
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Last updated 2026-10-29.