Tokyo Tower lit up at dusk above the city, with Tokyo Bay behind

Tokyo and Kamakura · Japan

Tokyo for first timers

Old temples in Asakusa, the crowds of Shibuya and Shinjuku, breakfast at the Tsukiji market and a day with the Great Buddha in Kamakura. Four days that cover the classic sides of Tokyo.

4 days
$$ Mid-range
Easy
Good with kids
Solo
Couples
Families
City
Food
Culture

Copy this trip into Andamos See the plan

Day by day

The plan

Times are suggestions. Opening hours and seasons change, so check before you go. Once it’s in your trip, move anything you like.

Day 1
Asakusa and Ueno
1. 08:00
  Senso-ji
  Activity
  Tokyo’s oldest temple, entered through the huge red lantern of the Kaminarimon gate. Early morning is calmest.
2. 09:30
  Nakamise-dori
  Activity
  The shopping lane leading to the temple, with rice crackers and sweet buns made on the spot.
3. 12:00
  Lunch: tempura or soba in Asakusa
  Food & drink
  Asakusa is an old-fashioned neighborhood known for both.
4. 14:00
  Ueno Park and the Tokyo National Museum
  Activity
  A big park with ponds and shrines, and Japan’s largest collection of its own art and history.
5. 17:30
  Ameya-Yokocho
  Activity
  A busy street market under the train tracks, good for snacks and an evening walk.
Day 2
Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku
1. 08:30
  Meiji Jingu and Harajuku
  Activity
  A large Shinto shrine in a forest in the middle of the city, then teen fashion on Takeshita Street right outside.
2. 13:00
  Lunch: ramen in Shibuya
  Food & drink
  Order from a ticket machine at the door, the usual way in small ramen shops.
3. 15:00
  Shibuya Crossing
  Activity
  The famous scramble crossing, best seen from above and then walked through.
4. 17:30
  Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
  Activity
  Observation decks high over Shinjuku; on clear days you can see Mount Fuji.
5. 19:30
  Dinner: yakitori in Omoide Yokocho
  Food & drink
  A tight lane of tiny grill counters next to Shinjuku Station.
Day 3
Tsukiji, the palace and Tokyo Tower
1. 08:00
  Breakfast at Tsukiji Outer Market
  Food & drink
  Sushi, grilled seafood and tamagoyaki from the stalls around the old fish market.
2. 10:30
  Imperial Palace East Gardens
  Activity
  Old castle walls, moats and gardens on the grounds of the former Edo Castle.
3. 13:00
  Lunch in Ginza
  Food & drink
  Department store food halls in the basement have everything from bento to sweets.
4. 14:30
  Hama-rikyu Gardens
  Activity
  A landscape garden with a tidal pond and a teahouse, surrounded by skyscrapers.
5. 17:00
  Zojo-ji and Tokyo Tower
  Activity
  A large temple right below the tower; stay for dusk, when the tower lights up orange.
Day 4
Day trip to Kamakura
1. 08:00
  Train to Kamakura
  Getting around
  About an hour south of central Tokyo on the JR Yokosuka Line.
2. 09:30
  Great Buddha of Kamakura
  Activity
  A bronze Buddha seated in the open air for centuries, a short ride on the small Enoden train.
3. 11:00
  Hase-dera
  Activity
  A hillside temple with gardens and a terrace looking over the bay.
4. 13:00
  Lunch on Komachi-dori
  Food & drink
  A lively shopping street with whitebait rice bowls, a local specialty.
5. 14:30
  Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
  Activity
  Kamakura’s main shrine, at the top of a long avenue from the sea.

Good to know

Tips

Get an IC card

A rechargeable Suica or Pasmo card works on almost every train, subway and bus, and in many shops. Avoid the trains at rush hour if you have luggage.

Seasons

Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant. June is the rainy season, July and August are hot and humid, and typhoons can arrive in late summer.

Carry some cash

Cards are widely accepted, but small restaurants, market stalls and temples often take cash only. Convenience store ATMs work with foreign cards.

Check closing days

Museums and gardens, including the Imperial Palace East Gardens, close on certain weekdays. Check before you plan the day around them.

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