iCity guide
One Tokyo plan for five to seven days, grouped by neighbourhood so you are not crossing the city three times a day: historic East Tokyo (Asakusa, Ueno, Yanaka), the shrine and youth quarters of the west (Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku), the imperial centre and Ginza, and the old market and gardens by the bay. Days 1–5 are the core trip; days 6 and 7 add a day trip to Kamakura and the old-town lanes of Shimokitazawa and Kichijoji. Food is strictly Japanese — ramen from a ticket machine, soba, tonkatsu, yakitori in the yokocho alleys, tamagoyaki at Tsukiji and matcha in a garden tea house. The budget covers what two people spend on the ground; accommodation is shown separately.
First-time visitors and couples spending five days to a week in Tokyo — often as part of a longer Japan trip — who want temples, shrines, neighbourhood food and honest prices instead of queues and tourist traps.
Get the full Tokyo plan — day by day, official prices, transport tips and red flags — on your phone with no internet or roaming needed.
A mid-range business hotel near Ueno, Asakusa or Shinjuku — Business hotels are small but spotless and well connected. Ueno is ideal if you arrive at Narita on the Skyliner. Not included in the budget below. Budget around €130 per night for two.
Days 1–5 are the core trip. Staying longer? Days 6–7 carry on from the same base, with their own cost breakdown below.
Estimates for 5 days in Tokyo, excluding flights and accommodation. Always confirm live prices and opening hours before you book.
Seven days adds a full day trip to Kamakura and a slow day in Shimokitazawa and Kichijoji. Accommodation is not included: budget roughly €110–170 a night for a mid-range double.
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Plan my Tokyo trip →Before you fly
Nothing here is required — it is simply the order most travellers wish they had booked things in.
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The busiest sights sell out days ahead — book the timed slots first.
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Guided days out and multi-sight passes are cheaper booked before you arrive.
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Find a drop-off pointSpring (Mar–May)
RecommendedCherry blossoms in parks and shrines; book hotels early.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Budget-friendlyRainy June, hot and humid July–August — plan indoor afternoons.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
RecommendedMild, clear days and autumn colours in the gardens; early-September typhoons possible.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Budget-friendlyCold, dry and sunny, with clear Mt Fuji views from Shibuya Sky.
Late March to early April (cherry blossoms) and mid-October to late November (autumn colours) are the best months. Summer is hot and humid; June is the rainy season.
Tokyo is a train city. Use a Suica or PASMO card for single rides (most subway trips are 180–330 JPY (~€1–€2)) and the Tokyo Subway Ticket (1,000 / 1,500 / 2,000 JPY (~€12) for 24 / 48 / 72 hours) for heavy subway days. The JR Yamanote loop is not covered by the subway pass. Avoid taxis late at night, when a surcharge applies.
What travellers consistently praise and warn about, checked against recent reviews.
Insider tip. Come before 08:00 or after dark, when the main hall is lit and nearly empty.
Book ticketsInsider tip. Enter from the Harajuku gate at opening and leave via Yoyogi for Omotesando.
Book ticketsInsider tip. Bags and hats are not allowed on the roof; use the lockers and book a slot 30 minutes before sunset.
Book ticketsInsider tip. Go early in the evening, have one drink in two or three bars, and pay as you go.
Book ticketsInsider tip. Arrive around 08:00 on a weekday and eat as you walk only where stalls allow it.
Find on Google MapsInsider tip. Order a mixed skewer set (moriawase) and a highball, then move on to Golden Gai.
Find on Google MapsAI-generated synthesis of public reviews (Tripadvisor, Google Maps, Booking.com, Reddit); not Wayfare.live's opinion. Last AI analysis update: October 2026 · Review & rating disclaimer
With more than a week, add Nikko's Toshogu shrines (about two hours by train) or continue by shinkansen to Kyoto, about two hours and fifteen minutes away.
Different number of days? Build a plan for exactly your trip length.
Plan my Tokyo trip →Tokyo is calm, safe and surprisingly romantic once you leave the busiest crossings.
Share skewers at a tiny yokocho counter, then end with a quiet drink in Golden Gai or a riverside walk in Asakusa.
Tokyo is huge. Keep each day in one area and let the trains do the rest.
What two travellers spend on the ground in Tokyo over five days, accommodation excluded.
Konbini or bakery breakfasts, ramen and soba lunches, yakitori and izakaya dinners.
Shibuya Sky, Tokyo National Museum, Shinjuku Gyoen and Hamarikyu for two; Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu and the Palace gardens are free.
Skyliner both ways, a 72-hour and a 48-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket each, plus a few JR rides.
Bar seating fees, matcha and wagashi, a few souvenirs.
About €900 for two over five days, or €1,300 for seven with Kamakura. Accommodation is not included: budget roughly €110–170 a night for a mid-range double. Prices are converted from Japanese yen — check the official sites before you go.
Working to a fixed budget? Read our step-by-step guide to planning a trip on a budget.
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Plan my Tokyo trip →Still torn? Read our Tokyo vs Kyoto comparison →
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