Tokyo’s story arcs from Edo-era samurai streets to a megacity of Michelin stars and micro-bars. In ten days you’ll step through shrine forests, ride the world’s busiest crossing, and taste your way from sushi counters to smoky izakaya alleys.

This plan balances icons—Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya—with under-the-radar neighborhoods and a restorative day to Mt. Fuji and Hakone. You’ll savor ramen worth the queue, craft coffee worth a detour, and seasonal sweets with centuries of know-how.

Practical notes: pick up a reloadable Welcome Suica, carry some cash for small shops, and book headline spots (teamLab, fine dining, Ghibli Museum) in advance. Trains are safe, punctual, and easy; cabs are best for late nights or luggage. Dietary needs are increasingly accommodated—just ask.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a collage of distinct worlds: serene shrine groves in the morning, anime arcades by afternoon, and sky-high cocktail bars by night. Shinjuku and Shibuya hum with nightlife; Asakusa keeps old Edo alive; Ginza polishes fashion and art; Nakameguro and Daikanyama slow the pace with canals and boutiques.

Top draws include Senso-ji Temple, Meiji Jingu, Tokyo National Museum, Shinjuku Gyoen, and contemporary art hubs like the Mori Art Museum and teamLab Planets (Toyosu). Food is half the fun—from tempura at century-old counters to buttery tonkatsu, eel over rice, and wagashi confections.

• Stay: Search stays on VRBO Tokyo or Hotels.com Tokyo. For your budget (83/100), consider:
  • The Peninsula Tokyo (Imperial Palace views, refined spa).
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo (skyline panoramas from Midtown Tower).
  • Aman Tokyo (zen minimalism, standout onsen-style spa).
  • Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (fun Godzilla head, lively location).
  • Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (value, transport hub).
  • Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (spacious rooms, club lounge options).
  • Hilton Tokyo Bay (best if adding Tokyo Disney).
• Getting in/out: Compare flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. For intercity rail or day-trip options, see Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival, first bites, and neon strolls

Morning: In transit. Hydrate and download an offline map. If landing early, store luggage at your hotel or a station coin locker.

Afternoon: Check in, then a gentle walk in Shinjuku Gyoen for a reset—tea house views, French and Japanese gardens. Coffee at Blue Bottle Shinjuku or Glitch Coffee Kanda for meticulously roasted single origins.

Evening: Welcome dinner in an izakaya alley. Try Omoide Yokocho (grilled skewers, sake) or Ebisu Yokocho (livelier, many stalls). If you have energy, ride up to the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory for a city-light intro.

Day 2: Grand overview of the city (guided)

All day: Kickstart orientation with a curated city highlights tour including Meiji Jingu, Asakusa, and Tokyo Skytree entry.

1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour (Skytree, Meiji Shrine, Bay cruise)

Food notes: Quick breakfast at your hotel or Good Morning Cafe Shinjuku. After the tour, slurp late-night ramen at Ichiran (private booths, tonkotsu broth) or citrusy yuzu ramen at Afuri Harajuku.

Day 3: Old Tokyo—Asakusa, Sumida, and Ueno

Morning: Start with Senso-ji before crowds. Browse Nakamise-dori for ningyoyaki cakes and senbei rice crackers. Coffee break at retro Cafe de L’Ambre (Ginza) for aged-bean pours, or stay local at Suke6 Diner by the river.

Afternoon: Walk or cruise the Sumida River, then hop to Ueno Park for the Tokyo National Museum (samurai armor to ukiyo-e). If you love kitchenware, detour to Kappabashi-dori for knives and those realistic food replicas.

Evening: Dinner in Asakusa: Daikokuya (classic tendon—tempura over rice) or Tsunahachi (tempura tradition since 1923). For a nightcap, check out Bar High Five in Ginza for precision cocktails.

Day 4: Harajuku, Omotesando, and Shibuya after dark

Morning: Enter the cedar forest of Meiji Jingu as drums echo. Grab a light Tokyo-style fruit sando at Azuma or a croissant from Gontran Cherrier. Stroll Takeshita-dori for crepes and quirky fashion.

Afternoon: Architecture walk along Omotesando (Tadao Ando, Herzog & de Meuron). Consider the Nezu Museum for tea-ceremony objects and a tranquil garden. Coffee at Koffee Mameya Kakeru (tasting flight, bar-seat service).

Evening: Shibuya Crossing at twilight—organized chaos since the 1930s. Dine at Umegaoka Sushi no Midori (great value, expect a queue) or yakitori at Toritake (old-school). Explore Nonbei Yokocho and tiny bars of Golden Gai (mind small cover charges).

Day 5: Markets, art, and a Shinjuku food safari

Morning: Snack your way through Tsukiji Outer Market—tamagoyaki on a stick, fresh oysters, and tuna handrolls from Sushi Zanmai or Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku-style stands (look for made-to-order onigiri). Coffee at Turret Coffee (rich latte art).

Afternoon: Head to teamLab Planets in Toyosu (immersive, barefoot digital art). Book timed tickets; expect 1.5–2 hours. Swing through Ginza for art at Artizon Museum or window-shopping on Chuo-dori.

Evening: Join a small-group tasting across alleyway eateries—perfect for discovering spots you’d miss alone.

Tokyo: Shinjuku Food Tour (13 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries)

Day 6: Coastal temples—Kamakura and Enoshima day trip

Morning: Depart Shinjuku for Kamakura (JR Shonan–Shinjuku Line; ~1 hr, ~¥1,200 one-way). Visit Hase-dera (ocean views, hydrangeas in season) and the bronze Great Buddha at Kotoku-in. Coffee at VERVE Coffee Roasters near the station.

Afternoon: Stroll Komachi-dori for street snacks (shirasu croquettes, black sesame soft serve). Ride the vintage Enoden to Enoshima for sea breezes and caves if time allows.

Evening: Return to Tokyo. Dinner back in the city: Maisen Aoyama Honten for buttery tonkatsu or Nodaiwa (Azabu) for refined eel over rice.

Train tip: Check schedules and fares on Trip.com Trains.

Day 7: Sumo spirit, Hokusai waves, and chanko

Morning: Ryogoku is sumo’s hometown. Visit the Sumida Hokusai Museum (bold Edo-era prints). Stroll quiet Kyu-Yasuda Garden.

Afternoon: Try a hearty chanko-nabe (sumo stew) lunch at Chanko Tomoegata or Yoshiba (former stable setting). Explore craft shops around the Kokugikan.

Evening: Enjoy an entertaining sumo demonstration with photo ops and a drink—great if your dates don’t match a tournament.

Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show Experience with Photo and Drinks

Day 8: Mt. Fuji and Hakone panoramas (full-day tour)

Spend the day chasing Fuji views, Owakudani’s volcanic scenery, and a Lake Ashi cruise, then zip back to Tokyo by bullet train. Clear autumn/winter days offer the best visibility.

Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train

After you’re back: Soothe travel legs at Spa LaQua (Tokyo Dome City) or Thermae‑Yu (Shinjuku)—both offer multiple baths and saunas. Late snack: Gyukatsu Motomura (beef cutlet you finish on a hot stone).

Day 9: Akihabara arcades and bayside night

Morning: Coffee at Onibus Nakameguro, then plunge into Akihabara—retro game shops, figure stores, and multi-story arcades. If curious, try a themed café for kitsch value.

Afternoon: Ride to Odaiba for science at Miraikan and a photo with the life-size Unicorn Gundam at DiverCity. Sunset from the seawall or the Rainbow Bridge area.

Evening: Experience Tokyo’s local soul food in Tsukishima Monja Street. Monjayaki is the looser cousin of okonomiyaki—cook it at your table, pair with a highball. Nightcap at Ben Fiddich (botanical spirits wizardry) if you enjoy serious cocktails.

Day 10: Last tastes and takeoff

Morning: Brunch in Daikanyama at King George (stacked sandwiches) or a refined kissaten set at Cafe Facon. Pick up edible souvenirs: Tokyo Banana, Hiyoko chick-shaped cakes, or small-batch sencha.

Afternoon: Depart for the airport. From central Tokyo, budget 45–90 minutes depending on NRT or HND and train vs. limo bus. Check flight options or schedule changes on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Optional add-on (swap into any free evening): Private photos at the Crossing

Capture editorial-style shots at Tokyo’s most iconic intersection—fast, fun, and ideal for solo or couples travel mementos.

Private Photoshoot at Shibuya Crossing Tokyo

Where this plan spends and saves (budget 83/100)

• Splurge: One or two premium hotel nights, sushi omakase, cocktail bars, Mt. Fuji guided day trip.
• Save: Transit by train, casual ramen/udon lunches, free viewpoints and parks, neighborhood bakeries for breakfast.

Practical transport notes

• Suica/Welcome Suica: Tap-in/out on all metro and JR lines; works at convenience stores. Airport lines accept IC cards.
• Typical rides: Shibuya–Shinjuku ~7 min (¥200); Shinjuku–Asakusa ~30–35 min (¥260–¥320). Kamakura day trip ~1 hr (¥1,200 each way). Hakone via Romancecar ~85–100 min (~¥2,500–3,000 one-way) if going independently.
• Check rail options on Trip.com Trains.

Another excellent guided option (swap for Day 2 if you prefer private)

If you want a tailored introduction to Tokyo with flexible pacing:

Tokyo Customized Private Tour: See Top Attractions in 1 Day

Across ten days you’ll taste Tokyo’s contrasts—quiet shrine pathways, dazzling crossings, refined art, and alleyway grills—plus a day gazing at Mt. Fuji. Expect to leave with a full camera roll, fuller belly, and a list of “next time” favorites.