Catherine - Savvy Family TravelPlanning a trip to Tokyo can feel like a lot. It’s massive, moves fast, and is somehow both hyper-organized and chaotic at the same time.
But once you’re there, it clicks pretty quickly if you build your days with a mix of structure and flexibility.
This Tokyo, Japan itinerary is based on our actual trip, including what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d tweak next time. It is diverse enough to provide attractions that will please everyone in your travel party and I provide specific kid favorites as well.
Tokyo, Japan Itinerary
Tokyo, Japan Itinerary Ideas
Because Tokyo’s wards are so spread out, it is easy to waste away your day on transportation between them. I’ve grouped the following activities by their area so you aren’t criss-crossing around the city.
Shibuya Area
This area is a great candidate for a day where there is rain on the forecast! Shibuya is built for ducking in and out of places.
Shibuya Crossing
Start by watching the Shibuya Crossing from the elevated walkway inside the train station. You get the full view without the chaos surrounding you.
Then its time to actually cross it as you head to the stops below. My opinion is that it is pretty overrated and the observation angle is better.
Shopping
- Pokémon Center and Nintendo Store (right across from each other)
- Don Quijote Mega
- Random drugstores and shops (don’t skip these—some of your best finds will be here)
- What was really fun were the niche shops that line the streets, enjoy wandering in and out of these small storefronts.
Conveyor Belt Sushi
Lunch is at Uobei (Shibuya Dogenzaka location). It is fast, fun, and surprisingly good conveyor belt sushi. (We liked it more than the Kura chain.)
Meiji Shrine
Cut through Yoyogi Park as you head to Meiji Shrine. Dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, the shrine is a symbol of Japan’s transition into the modern era
At the entrance, you walk beneath towering torii gates and along a wide, gravel path surrounded by dense greenery that muffles the noise of the city.
Along the way, you’ll pass rows of sake barrels donated by breweries across Japan, and once inside, you can take part in small rituals like writing wishes on ema plaques or offering a prayer at the main hall.
Reissue Cafe
Add some whimsy into your day with 3D latte art at Reissue. My kids especially loved the novelty of Pokemon in their hot chocolate.
Rainbow Karaoke
No reservation needed. Just drop in and rent a room at Rainbow Karaoke for as much time as you’d like. There is a countertop for unlimited, self serve ice cream and soda. You’ll want at least 45 minutes.
TeamLab, Asakusa & Ginza
Start your morning with a quick photo stop near Tokyo Tower, then head straight to TeamLab Borderless.
TeamLab Immersive Art Experiences
The jury is out on which TeamLab location is “best” in Tokyo as it depends largely on preference and interest.
TeamLab Planets gets a lot of hype for its water room. You take off your shoes, roll up your pants, and wade through what appears to be a koi pond. This is a lot of people’s absolute favorite part, but it was why we skipped it knowing it’d weird out my youngest and the cleanliness concerned me. Teamlab Planets was intended to be a temporary installation, currently slated to close at the end of 2027.
Teamlab Borderless is equally as immersive and is packed with highly stimulating exhibits. We also enjoyed their tea room where butterflys and flowers were projected into our cups.
Plan to stay a while. You’ll easily spend around three hours here.
Imperial Palace
After that, slow things down at the Imperial Palace grounds, then walk over to Chidorigafuchi. If you have time, hop on one of their paddle boats in the canal.
If you’re visiting in spring, this is a top Tokyo cherry blossom location and you’ll find street vendors, and people picnicking everywhere.
If you’re interested, you can find affordable walking tours of the Imperial Palace as well.
Worthwhile Free Viewpoint
Enjoy the free view from the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center (don’t skip this—it’s one of the best views in the area). Just take the elevator to the 8th floor.
Nakamise Street
Leading right up to Senso-ji, perusing the shops and food vendors on Nakamise is a treat, assuming the crowds aren’t too dense.
I really liked the souvenir shop next to the Kaminarimon Gate, called Kurodaya.
There are several market streets that shoot off from Nakamise as well. We recommend:
- Musashi Japan for knives
- Asakusa Mimatsu or Monja Zenya for lunch or dinner
- Taiyaki Sawada for taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries with sweet filling)
Senso-ji
Senso-ji is the city’s oldest temple and it is dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. To enter you’ll walk through Kaminarimon Gate which has a nearly 4 meter lantern, a symbol of Tokyo.
As you walk through the grounds, the five-story pagoda rises just behind the main hall—bright, bold, and impossible to miss.
Try the fortune sticks (omikuji): shake the metal container, draw your number, and see what your luck holds. If it’s not great, you can tie it off nearby and leave the bad fortune behind.
You can also purchase omamori, small protective charms you can take with you for things like health, luck, or safe travels.
Ginza
Later, head to Ginza. The standout here for me was Itoya Ginza—an 11-story stationery and design store. You’ll find all the top brand name shops in this area as well.
Dinner in Ginza feels like a nice change of pace from the more chaotic food stops earlier in the trip.
Markets, Baseball & Ueno Park
This day appears like it’d be too much, but trust me, it works.
Tsukiji Outer Market
Arrive at Tsukiji Outer Market by around 8 AM, because by 9, it’s crowded. If you want a more relaxed experience, go even earlier but some of the top vendors won’t quite be ready for you.
Tokyo Dome Baseball Game
Next, head to Tokyo Dome for a professional baseball game. Even if tickets are sold out, resale sites like TicketJam are an option.
The atmosphere is completely different from U.S. games, more coordinated cheering, less leaving the seat, and really fun to soak in.
Tokyo Dome City
Right outside the stadium, Tokyo Dome City has rides, making it easy to keep the momentum going without crossing the city again. There is no admission to the theme park, you just pay by the ride, so it’s an easy 30 minute stop.
Ueno Park
End your day at Ueno Park, especially during cherry blossom season.
Also stop at Ueno Toshogu Shrine before heading to Akihabara.
Akihabara
If you aren’t too exhausted, it is easy to walk to the shops in Akihabara from Ueno Park after the sun goes down.
Akihabara is bright lights, arcades, electronics, and full sensory overload.
Day Trip to Nikko
Hiring a private driver makes it easy to cover a lot on a Nikko day trip, but we still craved more time.
Nikko Toshogu Shrine
Nikko Toshogu Shrine will likely be your favorite of the entire trip. It’s detailed, colorful, and completely different from the temples in Tokyo. The complex seems to go on forever, with every building immaculately detailed, making it well worth the price of admission.
Speaking of, book online via KKday and you can skip the line and go straight to the KKday counter to get in.
Shinkyo Bridge
Stop for a quick photo, but this is a bit overrated.
Kanmangafuchi Abyss
What a mystical spot! The riverside is lined with Jizo statues. We think there are about 70 but as legend goes, no one can get an accurate count because you’ll get a different number each time as the Jizos vannish!
Strawberry Picking
The unexpected highlight? Strawberry picking. Thirty minutes, all-you-can-eat, and the kids will be fully committed.
Private Onsen
Finish at an onsen, booking a private room so the whole family can go together. We booked one of the cabins at Akebi Onsen, each of which has two hot spring fed tubs. The booking process was tedious, but the experience ended up being perfect as a family.
What I’d change: If I could redo this Nikko trip, I’d stay overnight at an onsen and add Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji, plus 4-5 hours at Edo Wonderland for the kids.
Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Bay can take an hour or more to reach from the wards mentioned above. We were glad we hassled with changing hotels to stay in Tokyo Bay for 3 nights while we experienced the Disney Parks because the mornings started early and it made transporation a breeze.
Tokyo DisneySea
This is easily one of the most unique Disney parks you’ll visit and if you have 7 days in Tokyo it should not be missed.
Getting there about 90 minutes before opening gives you a huge advantage for rides and skip the line passes. Tokyo DisneySea operates differently than U.S. parks, so having a strategy for Premier Access and Priority Pass is key as these cannot be booked before you scan into the park.
Check out our full DisneySea article for our review, budget, and top tips.
Tokyo Disneyland
Same strategy as the day before: arrive early, have a plan, and understand the app before you go.
Tokyo Disneyland feels more familiar if you’ve been to Disney in the US, but it still has its own quirks and differences. As soon as you walk into the park, you’ll want to snag a Premier Access pass for Beauty and the Beast. And if there’s any left, snag a priority pass for either Pooh or Big Thunder Mountain.
Meanwhile, head to Monsters, Inc as your first ride of the day before the line wait time balloons.
7-Eleven Snacks (All Over Tokyo)
When we need a casual and quick meal or snack, we popped into the nearest 7-Eleven (or in a pinch Family Mart or Lawsons).
A few of our favorite things to eat from 7-Eleven are: the pancakes, pre filled with maple syrup and butter, fresh smoothies, frozen grapes, the curry bun, and squeezable ice cream.
Another cool souvenir for your Tokyo, Japan itinerary is to print a custom postcard from the print station at 7-Eleven! It costs about $0.38USD per postcard and you can upload your own photos.
Kid Favories for a Tokyo, Japan itinerary
If you’re traveling with kids, these were the standout hits from our Tokyo, Japan itinerary:
- TeamLab Borderless
- Pokémon Centers
- Claw machine arcades (Prize Spot, Taito Station)
- Gatcha Capsule Machines (they’re everywhere, you don’t have to seek them out)
- Uobei conveyor belt sushi
- Tokyo Dome City rides
- Professional baseball game at Tokyo Dome
- Strawberry picking in Nikko
- Tokyo Disneyland
- DisneySea
- 7-Eleven snack runs (a daily ritual)
Tokyo Restaurants
- Noteworthy counter service sushi restaurants are Mimatsu in Asakusa and Tsukiji Koromo Sushi by Tsukiji Market.
- Uobei for conveyor belt sushi
- Tsukiji Market for quick bites and trying a variety of local flavors
- Convenience store food (see our favorites above)
- Vendors at the park
- If you’ll be traveling on the Shinkansen, make sure to purchase an Eki Bento box at the station to enjoy during your journey. (Felt like the one time eating on trains is allowed and customary.)
Shopping in Tokyo
- Don Quijote (often referred to as Donki) for just about anything
- Pokémon Centers for character toys and cards
- Drugstores for snacks + skincare
- Itoya in Ginza for floor after floor of stationary and design products
- Akihabara for tech + collectibles
Where to Stay in Tokyo
We split our stay between central Tokyo and Tokyo Bay.
Staying central, in Shibuya, Ginza, or similar makes sightseeing easier.
Moving to Tokyo Bay before our two days at Disney saved us time and made those early mornings much more manageable. Plus, many hotels in the area operate free shuttles to and from the Disney entrances.
How Long Should You Stay in Tokyo
For a first trip, I’d plan at least 4-5 days in Tokyo itself.
If you want to add a day trip like Nikko and include Disney, you’re realistically looking at 6–8 days. Less than that and you’ll spend more time navigating than actually enjoying it.
5 day highlights Tokyo, Japan itinerary
- Shibuya + Meiji Jingu + shopping
- Asakusa + TeamLab
- Tsukiji Market + Ueno Park
- Add Tokyo Dome + Akihabara
- Add a day trip (Nikko or Hakone)
7 day highlights Tokyo, Japan itinerary
- Shibuya + Meiji Jingu + shopping
- Asakusa + TeamLab
- Tsukiji Market + Ueno Park
- Add Tokyo Dome + Akihabara
- Add a day trip (Nikko or Hakone)
- Day trip to Nikko or Hakone
- Both Disney parks
Cherry Blossom Tips
If you’re visiting in early spring, you’ll likely get to see the famous blossoms. They are EVERYWHERE. You could enjoy them without committing any effort to seek them out, they line canals, train tracks, are scattered on city streets, and are prevalent in many of the cities parks.
That said, the two best places for cherry blossoms in Tokyo are Chidorigafuchi and Ueno Park.
- Naturally, there will be crowds, but one way paths and general Japanese demeanor keeps things calm and orderly.
- Go early in the morning when possible
- Don’t rely on bloom estimates—blooms can shift and different parts of the city will be in peak bloom at different times.
- Return after dark for a different view and the food vendors. This was our favorite time to soak them in.
- To enjoy them like a local, pickup a tarp from a local store and spread out a picnic area under the trees.
- NEVER touch the blossoms or shake the branches. We saw too many tourists doing this and it is extremely disrespectful.
Tokyo, Japan Itinerary FAQs
What should I expect when landing at the airport in Japan?
Here’s what to expect on arrival at the airport:
- You’ll be asked to show that you have secured a QR code from the Japan Travel site otherwise you’ll be pointed to a counter to go and complete that step.
- There is a family priority lane.
- After you clear the immigration officer, you’ll enter the baggage claim area.
- While you wait for your bags to come off the belt, go to one of the kiosks near the exit. Scan the QR and passport for each traveler to get assigned a lane from which to exit through customs.
- Grab a taxi, train, or limousine bus to your hotel.
- Or better yet – locate your private transfer driver. We landed at 5:30 PM at Haneda Airport and hit that wall you only get from a long-haul flight. We booked a private airport transfer through Klook, and I’d do it again without hesitation.
- After navigating immigration, luggage, and a completely new environment, figuring out trains with our kids in tow would’ve been a lot. Being able to just walk out and get in a car that would take us straight to our doorstep was worth every dollar. (about 70USD)
How much cash will I need in Tokyo?
We spend about ¥35,000 per week in cash. This is primarily for markets, certain restaurants, omamori and goshuin stamps at shrines, flea markets, and other small shops.
Is Tokyo kid-friendly?
There was more than enough to do with kids. We felt we actually had to reign in our kid focused stops to make sure we got good balance of culture, food, and attractions.
Tokyo is nothing like Europe when it comes to adoration of children, but no one was unfriendly to our kids. Many of the younger Japanese women would call our kids “kawaii,” which means cute.
Is it hard to get around Tokyo?
The public transportation network in Japan is excellent. Apple Maps gave incredibly detailed instructions about how to navigate train stations and bus stops as well. (Even better than Google Maps on multiple occasions.)
When is the best time to plan a trip to Tokyo, Japan?
Spring (late March–early April) is hard to beat for cherry blossoms, but it comes with crowds.
Fall is another great option with moderate temperatures, fewer crowds, and fall foliage.
The humid summer heat in Japan is something that you have to be prepared for if you plan a Tokyo, Japan itinerary in June to August. Even people from the southern USA say it’s next level HOT.
Is English widely spoken in Tokyo?
English is spoken by locals enough to get by, especially in big cities.
Download the offline Japanese language pack for free on the Google Translate app and you can translate any unique requests while on the go without using your data connection.
That said, making an effort to speak Japanese goes a long way! At a minimum, learn hello, please, thank you very much, how much does this cost?, and thank you for this meal.
What is the best way to exchange money in Tokyo?
The two best options for a fair currency exchange rate are:
- Ordering Yen from your home bank a month before you go. My bank charges a flat rate of $7USD to ship the money, but the exchagne rate is optimal.
- Withdraw money from an ATM using a bank card at 7-eleven. The ATM fee is only ¥110 per transaction up to ¥100,000 at a time.
- Note: This is not cost effective if your bank charges hefty ATM fees for out of network machines.
- We opened a Charles Schwab Checking account specifically for making international withdrawals as they do not charge fees for using ATMs worldwide, no foreign transation fees, and they even reimburse the machine’s fee. I highly recommend, especially if you travel out of the US often.
Checklist for Planning a Tokyo, Japan Itinerary
Tokyo is incredibly efficient, but it does take some upfront planning—especially for reservations, transportation, and tickets.
The more you can book ahead, the smoother everything feels once you’re there. Here’s a quick check list while you plan out your Tokyo, Japan itinerary:
- Book lodging in Tokyo
- Book lodging in Tokyo Bay
- Get a free Charles Schwab debit card (ATM fee reimbursement)
- Book Tokyo Disney tickets through Klook if using US credit card
- Set up a Suica card (Apple Wallet is easiest)
- Get a child Suica card at a JR office when you arrive (bring passport)
- Reserve certain experiences early
- Book Pokémon Cafe 31 days out (they sell out almost instantly)
- PokéPark (2 months out, they sell out almost instantly)
- Animal Cafés – especially the capybara one
- Asakusa Sumo Club
- Teamlab Planets or Borderless
- Ghibli Museum (in a Tokyo Suburb)
- Download SmartEx app for trains. Buy Shinkansen Oversize Luggage Seats 30 days in advance if you are adding another city to your Tokyo, Japan itinerary.
- Reserve a tea ceremony or other cultural experiences
- Purchase an eSIM (Saily or Airalo)
- Book a day trip to Nikko (or better yet an overnight)
- Reserve an onsen (hot spring bath) experience
- Download Tabelog for restaurant reviews
- Book an airport transfer for when you land in Tokyo (We were grateful to have this when we were exhausted from a full travel day. On the return to the airport the Limousine Bus worked great.)
- Complete Japan immigration forms ahead of time (You’re done when you have a QR code for each traveler.)
Closing Thoughts on 7 Days in Tokyo
Returning to the states from Tokyo gave me reverse culture shock. I instantly missed the common courtesies extended by everyone we interacted with, the cleanliness, efficiency, and affordability of all things Japan.
There’s a good chance you’ll be planning a return trip before you even get home!
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