Tokyo in 3 Days — A First-Timer's Self-Guided Itinerary

Day 1 — Asakusa, Ueno & the old east side

Start at Sensō-ji in Asakusa early, before the Nakamise shopping street fills up. Walk the temple grounds, then head to Ueno Park for museums and, if the season is right, cherry blossoms.

For lunch, look for a small teishoku (set-meal) shop. If the menu is only in Japanese, snap a photo and read it in your own language before you order.

Day 2 — Shibuya, Harajuku & Shinjuku

Cross the famous Shibuya Scramble, wander Takeshita Street in Harajuku, then spend the evening in Shinjuku around the neon backstreets of Omoide Yokocho.

Tiny izakaya here often have hand-written menus with no English. A quick photo translation turns a guessing game into a confident order.

Day 3 — Tsukiji, the bay & a day trip option

Begin at the Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast — tamagoyaki, grilled seafood, and fresh sushi. With time to spare, ride out toward Odaiba on the bay, or take a half-day trip to Kamakura.

Getting around

Buy a rechargeable Suica/PASMO card. Most trips inside the city are a few hundred yen; the JR Yamanote loop connects nearly every district above.