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Tokyo is Japan’s bustling capital and largest city. The prefecture has 23 central city wards, offering a perfect blend of ancient traditions, cutting-edge technology, and vibrant culture. There are also plenty of green spaces to enjoy, both within and surrounding central Tokyo. This Tokyo 7 day itinerary will guide you through the best things to do in Tokyo, including must-visit attractions.
Where to stay in Tokyo
Choosing the right accommodation is essential for making the most of your Tokyo adventure. Here are two great options based on my experience.
For the first part of the Tokyo itinerary, we stayed at APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Chuo, an affordable and comfortable hotel just a 6-minute walk from Shinjuku Station. We paid around £100 per night for two adults.
Shinjuku is a great place to stay for its nightlife, restaurants, and giant digital billboards. But if you prefer a more traditional and peaceful area, Akasaka is a fantastic choice. This neighbourhood offers a balance of modern convenience and historic charm, with easy access to the city’s main attractions.
At the end of the Tokyo itinerary we stayed at APA Hotel Kanda-Jimbocho-Ekihigashi, near Akihabara. This location is perfect for tech lovers, anime fans, and shoppers, with the main shopping street of Akihabara just a 20-minute walk away. The hotel costs around £100 per night for two adults and is well connected to subway lines for easy city exploration.
Where to eat in Tokyo
Here are some of our favourite places we ate in Tokyo.
- Ichiran Shinjuku Kabuki-cho: A ramen restaurant where you have your own little booth. There’s usually a queue, so arrive early.
- Moyan Curry Shinjukuhigashiguchiten: A Japanese curry restaurant in Shinjuku offering gluten-free options and free pickled vegetables and potatoes.
- Think Coffee: A fantastic breakfast café near Akihabara that serves salmon toast, bagels, yoghurt, pastries, and cakes.
- Hamasushi. A conveyor belt sushi chain with delicious and affordable sushi. I devoured 10 plates for just £10!
Tokyo 7 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Shibuya
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Start your Tokyo itinerary by visiting Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, one of Tokyo’s largest parks. It features 3 stunning gardens: a traditional Japanese landscape garden, a French garden and an English landscape garden. It’s one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in spring or beautiful autumn foliage when the trees change colour. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku South Exit to Shinjuku Gyoen, and admission is ¥500.
Meiji-Jingu Shinto Shrine
From Shinjuku Gyoen, take a 10-minute walk to Meiji-jingū Shinto Shrine. The shrine is nestled in 70 hectares of tranquil forest, with many walking paths offering a peaceful escape from the busy city. General admission is free, but you can pay ¥500 to enter the inner garden and ¥1000 for the museum.
Harajuku
Wander through the forest and make your way over to the southeast corner and Harajuku Station. Across from Harajuku Station is Omotesando, a tree-lined avenue with brand-name shops and many eateries. It’s a great place to browse the fashion outlets and grab lunch. If you have fashion-conscious teenagers, check out Takeshita Street. It’s the centre of Japan’s teenage culture, lined with trendy shops, second-hand clothes stores and fast food places.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
To finish the day, take a 2-minute train from Harajuku Station to Shibuya Station (¥150). Here, you can walk across the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing. This busy intersection is surrounded by neon advertisements and video screens. I wasn’t particularly impressed with the crossing, but maybe that’s because I’m more of a nature lover. I guess it makes for a good photo if viewed from above. You can do this from Shibuya Sky, which has an open-air observation deck for amazing views across the city and down onto the crossing. Admission is ¥2500.
Day 2: Hiking Mt. Takao
Tokyo’s bustling scene can be overwhelming, but there are serene nature spots near central Tokyo that offer breathtaking natural scenery.
How to get to Mt. Takao
Mt Takao is an hour train journey from Tokyo. Take the Keio Line from Shinjuku Station to Kitano Station, then the Takao Line to Takaosanguchi Station (¥430). It’s a 5-minute walk from here to the chairlift station or cable car station. Both will get you part-way up the mountain to the start of the main walking trails for ¥950 round trip. You can also hike the whole way, which takes 1.5 to 2 hours (one-way), depending on the trails you choose. A course map is available to view the different routes and their difficulty.
Our hike
We took the chair lift up and followed trails 1, 2 and 4 to the summit. We passed by the “Octopus Cedar”, Monkey Park and crossed the suspension bridge on trail 4. Trails 1 and 2 were pretty busy with hikers as these are the easiest, broad and mostly paved trails. On trail 4, we didn’t see a single person until we got close to the top and rejoined the other trails. Trail 4 was unpaved with steps and some narrow areas, making it a moderate difficulty.
At the summit, you should have views of Mt. Fuji. However, it was really misty when we completed the hike, so we didn’t see Mt. Fuji from Mt. Takao. The mist did give the forests an eerie but beautiful feel, though.
On the way back down, we took trails 3, 2 and 1, and then the cable car. Trail 3 was similar in difficulty to trail 4. At the bottom, stop at Takao Coffee for a well-deserved rest. The coffee float and carrot cake are particularly delicious.
Day 3: Art and Culture in Central Tokyo
TeamLab Borderless
TeamLab Borderless is a digital art museum that is described as a world without boundaries. The museum has no set route, and artworks move throughout the rooms. It’s a truly unique experience, and you can easily spend a few hours immersed in the artwork. It’s one of the best things to do in Tokyo on a rainy day.
You’ll need to book TeamLab Borderless on their website in advance. So you’ll need to set specific date in your Tokyo itinerary for this. Ticket prices vary depending on the day and time of year, but expect it to be around ¥4,000 – ¥5,600. To get here from Shinjuku Station, take the Marunouchi Line to Kasumigaseki Station, then the Hibiya Line to Kamiyachō Station (¥210).
Tokyo Tower is only a 5-minute walk from TeamLab borderless. Although we didn’t visit the tower, it could be worth the walk for lovely views over Tokyo.
Imperial Palace
Next, head over to the Imperial Palace and Gardens. You can walk here from TeamLab Borderless in about 30 minutes. Or jump back on the Hibiya Line at Kamiyachō Station to Hibiya Station (¥180), then walk 15 minutes to the Palace.
Although the inner grounds are closed to the general public, you can take a guided tour to get closer to the Imperial Palace. The tours are free and take around 75 minutes to complete. The Imperial Palace East Gardens and Kitanomaru Park are open to the public year-round.
Day 4-6: Hakone and Mt. Fuji Side Trip
Take a 3 day side trip to the Hakone and Fuji areas. Check out my Fuji Hakone Pass guide for tips on transportation and must-see spots. Alternatively, you can opt for the 1-day Hakone Free Pass or the 2-day Fuji Hakone Pass if you want to spend less time here.
Day 7: Asakusa, Ueno, and Akihabara
If you follow this Tokyo itinerary, you’ll be staying somewhere near Akihabara at this point.
Sensoji Temple
Sensoji Temple was built for Kannon, the Japanese goddess of mercy and compassion. It is one of Tokyo’s oldest but most colourful temples. The easiest way to get to Sensoji Station from Akihabara is to hop on the Ginza Line to Asakusa Station (~¥180). From here, it’s a 2-minute walk to Kaminarimon, the outer gate to the temple.
Tokyo National Museum
Next, head over to the Tokyo National Museum. It’s about a 30-minute walk, or you can get back on the Ginza Line at Asakusa Station to Ueno Station (~¥180). The museum features one of Japan’s most prominent and best collections of art and archaeological artefacts. Admission is ¥1,000 for the general exhibition and ¥1,000 – ¥1,500 for special exhibitions.
Ueno Park
After the museum, cross over Byobuzaka Street to Ueno Park and wander around the grounds and ponds. There are many other museums to explore around Ueno Park. It’s also a popular spot for seeing cherry blossoms, with over 1,000 cherry trees lining the central path. To get back to Akihabara, take the train from Ueno Station to Akihabara Station (~¥150).
Akihabara Electric Town
Finally, end your Tokyo 7 day itinerary by shopping in Akihabara Electric Town, a paradise for anime, gaming, and electronics enthusiasts. Explore the massive 9-floor Yodobashi Camera store for the latest gadgets at unbeatable prices. It’s bigger than any store I’ve ever experienced!
Tokyo 7 Day Itinerary Final Thoughts
That’s the end of this Tokyo 7 day itinerary. Tokyo is packed with many other gardens, parks, and attractions, and you can spend much longer here. If you have more time, check out my Google Map to explore other top sights in Tokyo.
For more Japan itinerary ideas check out these posts:
How To Spend 4 Days In Kyoto: The Ultimate Kyoto Itinerary
The Shimanami Kaido: Taking On Japan’s Famous Cycling Route
The Best Japan West All Area Pass 7 Day Itinerary