Tokyo is a city where centuries-old shrines share air with glass towers and anime billboards. Edo-period traditions still live in Asakusa and Yanaka, while Shibuya and Shinjuku race toward tomorrow in neon. This 7-day itinerary blends temples and tea, ramen counters and cocktail bars, and a day under Mt. Fuji’s perfectly symmetrical peak.

From Meiji Shrine’s cedar-scented paths to Shibuya Scramble’s technicolor blaze, you’ll thread together the neighborhoods that make Tokyo tick: Harajuku, Omotesando, Ginza, Ueno, and beyond. Expect thoughtfully chosen food stops—sushi, tempura, tonkatsu, wagyu, and wagashi sweets—plus a hands-on look at sumo culture and contemporary art.

Practical notes: Load a Suica/PASMO IC card on your phone for taps on JR and subway lines; English signage is excellent. Book popular experiences (teamLab, Ghibli Museum, top sushi counters) early. Etiquette matters—no eating while walking in most areas, and cash is still useful at small shops even as Japan grows more cashless.

Tokyo

Welcome to a metropolis of contrasts. You’ll bow into shrines, slurp world-class noodles, shop design-forward boutiques, and people‑watch in alleys lined with lanterns. The city is vast, but your days here stitch together smoothly on the JR Yamanote loop and Tokyo Metro.

• Don’t-miss sights: Senso‑ji Temple, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Skytree views, Hamarikyu Gardens, teamLab art, Yanaka’s old-town lanes.
• Essential tastes: Tsukiji’s tamagoyaki and tuna, tempura at century-old houses, tonkatsu cutlets, yakitori skewers, monjayaki on Tsukishima’s Monja Street.
• Good to know: Peak cherry blossom hits late March–early April; autumn foliage burns bright in November. Sumo tournaments are seasonal at Ryogoku; culture shows run year‑round.

How to get to Tokyo (flights): Compare fares and routes into Haneda (HND, closest) or Narita (NRT). Typical nonstop times: West Coast USA ~11 hrs; East Coast USA ~13–14 hrs; Southeast Asia ~6–8 hrs. Search on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com for competitive options.

Getting around Tokyo (trains/metros): The JR Yamanote loop and Tokyo Metro get you almost everywhere. For train tickets beyond the city (e.g., Odawara for Hakone), compare on Trip.com trains. Expect most inner-city rides to cost ¥150–¥300 and take 10–30 minutes.

Where to stay (top picks + booking links):

• The Peninsula Tokyo (Ginza/Imperial Palace): Grand rooms, flawless service, and easy walks to Marunouchi and Ginza. Check availability.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo (Roppongi): Sky-high views from Tokyo Midtown, refined dining, and elegant spa. See rooms.
• Aman Tokyo (Otemachi): Minimalist sanctuary with an ethereal onsen-like pool above the city. Explore Aman Tokyo.
• Hotel Gracery Shinjuku: Fun hub with the Godzilla head and lively nightlife on your doorstep. Book here.
• Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku: Great value steps from Shinjuku Station—ideal base for first-timers. Check rates.
• Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (Shinjuku): Spacious rooms and family-friendly amenities near the action. View details.
• Hilton Tokyo Bay (Disney area): Perfect for a DisneySea/Disneyland day; resort-style facilities. See availability.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com – Tokyo | VRBO – Tokyo

Day 1: Arrival, Shinjuku Skyscrapers, and Lantern-Lit Alleys

Afternoon: Land, transfer to your hotel (Narita Express ~60–70 min to Shinjuku; Keisei Skyliner ~41 min to Ueno, then JR; Haneda monorail to Hamamatsucho is ~20 min). Shake off jet lag with a stroll through Shinjuku Central Park and into the skyscraper district for free views at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

Evening: Dive into Omoide Yokocho, a postwar alley of tiny izakaya where smoke curls off charcoal grills. Order yakitori skewers, seasonal pickles, and a highball. For a proper sit-down, try Tempura Tsunahachi Shinjuku (est. 1923) for crisp prawns and seasonal veg, or Nabezo Shinjuku 3‑chome for all‑you‑can‑eat shabu‑shabu with marbled beef and a refined broth. Cap the night amid Golden Gai’s pocket bars—Bar Albatross glows with chandeliers; Deathmatch in Hell spins rock anthems in a room with ten seats.

Day 2: Tokyo in One Sweep – Guided Highlights

Today you’ll let a local pro connect the dots on a full-day overview that hits quintessential Tokyo and saves transit time.

Do: 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour (matcha experience, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Skytree admission, and a Tokyo Bay ferry when operating). Expect a full day with informative commentary and skip-the-line efficiencies—great in your first 48 hours.

Food note: If you have a free lunch window, grab Afuri Harajuku’s yuzu‑salt ramen—bright, citrusy broth with a lean chashu—or a classic tonkatsu set at Maisen Aoyama Honten (pillow‑soft pork, crisp panko).

Nightcap: Glide to Park Hyatt’s New York Bar vibe in Shinjuku (live jazz, skyline) or head to Bar BenFiddich for apothecary‑style cocktails built from house infusions.

Day 3: Tsukiji Flavors, Asakusa Traditions, Skytree Views

Morning: Join a small-group tasting at the storied outer market—an ideal way to navigate stalls and understand Tokyo’s seafood culture. Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour offers tastings such as uni, grilled eel, fresh sashimi, and custardy tamagoyaki, plus knife and tea stops.

Afternoon: Ride to Asakusa for Senso‑ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. Enter under the thunder gate (Kaminarimon), browse Nakamise‑dori for ningyo‑yaki cakes, and step into the incense haze of the main hall. Stroll Sumida Park or cross to Tokyo Skytree for a 360° panorama. Coffee break at SUKEMASA COFFEE (near Asakusa Culture Tourist Info Center) for a well‑pulled latte.

Evening: Feast on tempura at Daikokuya (light, sesame‑scented batter) or go sukiyaki at Asakusa Imahan, where servers swish marbled beef with a sugar‑soy glaze right at your table. If you want a classic sweet, try Imo‑yokan (sweet potato jelly) from a traditional wagashi shop.

Day 4: Mt. Fuji and Hakone Day Trip

Swap city canyons for mountain air and lake views—this is Tokyo’s most popular day trip for good reason.

Do: Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train. Visit Mt. Fuji 5th Station (weather permitting), cruise on Lake Ashi, ride the Hakone Ropeway over volcanic Owakudani, then zip back to Tokyo by shinkansen. It’s a comprehensive, time‑smart circuit with a dramatic finale.

Dinner back in the city: If you return near Tokyo Station, sample chewy, rich tsukemen at Rokurinsha on Tokyo Ramen Street (thick noodles dipped in umami‑dense broth). For sushi without reservations, Uogashi Nihon‑ichi standing bars offer fresh, fast nigiri at fair prices.

Day 5: Future Tokyo – Toyosu, Odaiba, and a Sumo Evening

Morning: Coffee at KOFFEE MAMEYA Kakeru (expert baristas, guided tastings) or Blue Bottle Kiyosumi en route to the bay area. Explore teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills) or teamLab Planets (Toyosu)—immersive digital art where you literally wade through light. Tickets sell out; book ahead.

Afternoon: Lunch at Toyosu Market: try Sushi Daiwa or a kaisendon bowl piled with tuna, salmon roe, and sweet shrimp. Walk Odaiba’s seafront for Rainbow Bridge views, then decompress in Hamarikyu Gardens, a former shogun duck‑hunting ground with a tea house for matcha and seasonal wagashi.

Evening: Experience the sport that shaped Tokyo’s Ryogoku district: Tokyo Sumo Entertainment Show with Chicken Hot Pot and Photo. You’ll learn rules and rituals, meet wrestlers, snap a photo, and tuck into chanko‑nabe, the hearty stew that fuels sumotori.

Day 6: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku Style, Omotesando Design, Shibuya Nights

Morning: Enter Meiji Jingu through towering torii into hushed forest. Wander to Harajuku’s Takeshita‑dori for street fashion and crepes, then reset on Omotesando’s tree‑lined avenue of architecture (Tadao Ando, Herzog & de Meuron). Coffee at ONIBUS Coffee in Nakameguro (espresso with canal vibe) or Sarutahiko Coffee in Ebisu.

Afternoon: Lunch picks: Kagari (Ginza or Shibuya) for silky tori‑paitan chicken ramen; Tonki (Meguro) for classic tonkatsu with shredded cabbage and mustard; or Uobei-style conveyor sushi alternatives like Genki Sushi have become scarce in Shibuya—opt instead for Uogashi Nihon‑ichi Dogenzaka for quick, quality nigiri. Shop at Shibuya Parco (anime and streetwear) or Loft and Tokyu Hands for best-in-class stationery.

Evening: Time your approach to Shibuya Crossing at dusk for the neon bloom, then ascend an observatory like Shibuya Sky for open‑air views. Eat at Uobei alternatives listed above or go yakitori at Toritake Shibuya (juicy negima and tsukune). Nightcaps: The SG Club (two bars in one, playful menus) or Nonbei Yokocho’s snug bars under lanterns.

Day 7: Yanaka Old Town, Ueno Culture, Last Bites

Morning: Start in Yanaka Ginza, one of the few Tokyo districts to retain prewar streetscapes—shop for ceramics, tenugui hand towels, and cat-themed souvenirs. Sip a nostalgic kissaten coffee at Kayaba Coffee (house toast with kinako or egg salad is a cult favorite). Stroll to Nezu Shrine’s vermilion torii tunnels if time allows.

Afternoon (departure): Swing through Ueno’s Ameyoko market for last-minute snacks (matcha sweets, dried seafood, Japanese chocolate) or Kappabashi for chef’s knives and beautiful tableware. Grab a farewell bowl at Fuunji (Shinjuku; famed chicken‑paitan tsukemen) or delicate soba at Kanda Yabu Soba, then head to the airport. Aim to depart your hotel 3–3.5 hours before an international flight (traffic + check‑in).

Optional add-ons and swaps

• DisneySea: One-of-a-kind attractions like Journey to the Center of the Earth and the new Fantasy Springs (book timed entries).
• Ghibli Museum (Mitaka): Book well ahead; whimsical exhibits and a short film exclusive to the museum.
• Tea ceremony or wagashi class: Deepen your cultural palate with a hands-on experience.

Prefer a guided city day instead of DIY?

If you want a personalized pace, this private tour is a flexible alternative to Day 2’s bus: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide. Your guide tailors stops—Senso-ji, Skytree, Shibuya, hidden neighborhoods—to your interests.

Airport transfers tip

Landing late or traveling with lots of luggage? Consider a private transfer between airport and hotel for comfort and time savings. Narita Airport(NRT) Private Transfer To/From Tokyo is efficient for small groups with meet‑and‑greet on arrival.

Local dining short list (save this):

• Ramen: Fuunji (Shinjuku), Kagari (Ginza/Shibuya), Afuri (Harajuku)—try yuzu shio.
• Sushi: Uogashi Nihon‑ichi (standing), fresh bowls at Toyosu Market eateries.
• Tempura: Tsunahachi (Shinjuku), Daikokuya (Asakusa).
• Tonkatsu: Tonki (Meguro), Maisen (Aoyama).
• Izakaya alleys: Omoide Yokocho (Shinjuku), Nonbei Yokocho (Shibuya), Ebisu Yokocho (Ebisu).
• Cafés: KOFFEE MAMEYA Kakeru (Omotesando), ONIBUS (Nakameguro), Sarutahiko (Ebisu), Blue Bottle (various).
• Sweet stops: Taiyaki Naniwaya (Aoyama; red bean fish-shaped cakes), Kagurazaka’s classic wagashi shops.

Another great overview if you skipped Day 2 or want a recap: Tokyo Customized Private Tour: See Top Attractions in 1 Day lets you choose a route and tempo with a private guide.

In seven days, you’ll have tasted Tokyo’s best: bustling markets, serene shrines, high-design districts, and a day beneath Mt. Fuji. Come back in another season—sakura in spring, fireworks in summer, crimson maples in fall—and watch the same city tell a new story.