5 days in Tokyo: a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood itinerary with one easy day trip

Five days in Tokyo is a lovely length. It's enough to get past the famous sights and start to feel the city's neighbourhoods, each with its own pace, food and personality, plus one day out of the city to see something green.

This Tokyo itinerary for 5 days follows one idea: one hotel, one area a day. Tokyo is huge, and crossing it twice a day wears people out. Grouping each day by neighbourhood keeps the walking pleasant and the train rides short. Below you'll find each day, why it's in that spot, and the practical details for getting around.

The route at a glance

• Base: one hotel for all 5 nights, in Shinjuku, Shibuya or near Tokyo Station
• Shape: west Tokyo → old Tokyo → bay and Ginza → day trip → free day
• Pace: one neighbourhood a day, with time for long meals
• Good for: first-timers, city-break travellers, and groups who don't want to change hotels

Why this order? We start with the west side because it's close to most hotels and gentle after a flight. Old Tokyo comes on day 2 while you're still waking up early from jet lag, which is the best time for Senso-ji. The day trip sits on day 4, once you're comfortable with the trains, and the last day stays free so the group can fill in whatever it missed.

Day 1: Shinjuku and a gentle start

Arrive, check in and keep the first evening close to your hotel. In Shinjuku, walk through Omoide Yokocho's tiny bars, and if the sky is clear, go up to the free observatories of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The south deck takes visitors until 9:30pm, apart from the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.

From Haneda, the Keikyu line reaches Shinagawa in about 11–14 minutes. From Narita, the Narita Express takes about an hour to Tokyo Station and about 80 minutes to Shinjuku (about ¥3,100–3,300).

Day 2: Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara

We put Asakusa first because Senso-ji is calm before about 8am and crowded by mid-morning. Have breakfast on the lanes behind the temple, then walk along the Sumida River for a view of the Tokyo Skytree.

In the afternoon, take the short ride to Ueno for the park and Ameyoko market street, and finish in Akihabara for arcades, retro games and electronics.

Day 3: Harajuku, Omotesando and Shibuya

Start at Meiji Jingu, which is cool and quiet in the morning, then walk through Harajuku's Takeshita Street and down Omotesando's tree-lined avenue. It's a good day for shopping and cafés at your own pace.

End in Shibuya. A sunset slot at Shibuya Sky gives you the classic view over the crossing. Tickets go on sale two weeks before each date, and sunset times go first.

Day 4: A day trip out of the city

By day four, a change of scenery feels good. Choose one:

• Kamakura: the Great Buddha, temple paths and the sea, about an hour on the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station (about ¥1,040). The easiest choice.
• Nikko: ornate shrines in a mountain forest, about 1 hour 50 minutes by Tobu limited express from Asakusa (about ¥3,050, seats reserved). Leave early.
• Fuji Five Lakes (Kawaguchiko): Mount Fuji views on a clear day, about 2 hours on the direct Fuji Excursion train from Shinjuku (about ¥4,200), or by highway bus. Check the weather the evening before.

Day 5: Free day, then Tsukiji and Ginza

Keep the last day open. Most groups enjoy breakfast at Tsukiji Outer Market, followed by an easy wander through Ginza's department-store food halls. Others might choose teamLab, Shimokitazawa's vintage shops or the Ghibli Museum (advance tickets only; they go on sale on the 10th of the month before).

Meet for a last dinner somewhere you've all been meaning to try.

Getting around Tokyo

You don't need a rail pass for this itinerary. Tokyo's trains and subways are cheap, and most single rides cost a few hundred yen.

• Suica or PASMO: add one to your phone wallet or buy a card. It works on almost every train, subway and bus, and in convenience stores.
• Tokyo Subway Ticket: if you'll take lots of subway rides, a 24, 48 or 72-hour pass (about ¥1,000, ¥1,500 or ¥2,000) covers all Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines. It's for overseas visitors and doesn't cover JR lines such as the Yamanote.
• Day trips: pay separately. They're usually the biggest single transport cost of the week.

• Haneda → Shinagawa, Keikyu / Narita → Tokyo, Narita Express: ~11–14 min / ~1 h, ~¥330 / ~¥3,100
• Typical ride within central Tokyo: ~10–30 min, a few hundred yen
• Tokyo → Kamakura, JR Yokosuka Line: ~55 min, ~¥1,040 each way
• Asakusa → Tobu-Nikko, Tobu limited express: ~1 h 50 min, ~¥3,050 each way
• Shinjuku → Kawaguchiko, Fuji Excursion: ~2 h, ~¥4,200 each way

Rough budget per person (approximate, excluding flights)

• Accommodation: about ¥8,000–20,000 per night when sharing an apartment or business hotel room
• Food: about ¥4,000–10,000 a day
• Transport for 5 days, including a day trip: about ¥6,000–12,000
• Sights and activities: about ¥1,000–5,000 a day

These are our planning estimates, not quotes. Prices change with seasons, exchange rates and how many of you share a room.

What to book early

• Hotels: 2–3 months ahead in cherry blossom season (late March to early April) and over New Year.
• Timed tickets: Shibuya Sky (two weeks ahead), teamLab, and especially the Ghibli Museum, which releases the next month's tickets at 10am Japan time on the 10th and often sells out.
• Popular restaurants: a few days ahead for groups of five or more.

Planning this trip as a group

• Stay in one place. One apartment or neighbouring hotel rooms near a major station make every day easier.
• Vote on the day trip early, so the person who books trains or tickets has time to do it.
• Let the free day be free. It's the easiest way to keep everyone happy.
• Keep the plan in one place. With Tripmo's group trip planner, each person's ChatGPT, Claude or Grok can add to one shared plan on a map, so nothing gets lost in the group chat.

More Japan itineraries

• 7 days in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in one week
• 10 days in Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka
• 14 days in Japan: two weeks from Tokyo to Hiroshima
• 3 days in Kyoto: pair this with Kyoto for a full week