Tokyo is a city where centuries-old shrines cast shadows on glass towers, where morning prayers mingle with the hum of vending machines. Founded as Edo in the 1600s and reborn as Tokyo in 1868, the capital has mastered the art of constant reinvention without losing the rituals that anchor daily life—from shrine etiquette to slurping noodles while they’re still singing hot.

Across a week, you’ll sample Tokyo’s neighborhoods like chapters in a novel: serene Meiji Shrine under cedar canopies; Harajuku’s playful fashion lanes; Shibuya’s electricity; and Asakusa’s lantern-lit alleys where Senso-ji has welcomed pilgrims for 1,300 years. Add a day trip to Mt. Fuji and Hakone’s lake vistas, and you’ll understand why Tokyo is a world capital for both culture and curiosity.

Practical notes: buy a PASMO/Suica transit card for easy tap-in travel; tipping isn’t customary; and many small eateries prefer cash. Cherry blossoms typically bloom late March–early April; autumn foliage peaks in November. Summers are humid; typhoon season is late summer to early autumn—pack light layers and a compact umbrella.

Tokyo

Japan’s restless heart mixes old soul with future vision. Start with Senso-ji’s incense and fortune slips, then ride a tide of people through Shibuya Crossing before retreating to a kissaten (retro coffee shop). Tokyo rewards wanderers: a ramen shop down a tiny lane, a pocket shrine behind a convenience store, a jazz bar up an unmarked staircase.

• Top sights: Senso-ji and Nakamise Street (Asakusa), Meiji Shrine (Harajuku), Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Skytree, Imperial Palace East Gardens, teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills), Ueno Park museums.
• Where to stay: Shinjuku or Shibuya for nightlife and transit, Ginza/Marunouchi for refined dining and easy airport access, Asakusa for tradition and budget-friendly stays.
• Book stays: Browse apartments on VRBO Tokyo or hotels on Hotels.com Tokyo.
• Getting in: Compare flights on Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com. If flying from Europe, you can also search Omio Flights.
• Airport to city: From Narita (NRT): Keisei Skyliner to Ueno (~41 min, ~¥2,570) or Narita Express to Tokyo/Shinjuku (~60–80 min, ~¥3,000–3,500). From Haneda (HND): Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsuchō (~20 min, ~¥500) or Keikyu to Shinagawa (~15 min, ~¥300). For trains, check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Asakusa Atmosphere, and Shinjuku Lights

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle walk through Asakusa: pass the vermilion Kaminarimon Gate, browse traditional snacks on Nakamise-dori (try ningyō-yaki sponge cakes and senbei rice crackers), and step into incense-fragrant Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple (7th century). Coffee stop: Turret Coffee Tsukiji for strong espresso with a retro market vibe.

Evening: Head to Shinjuku. For dinner, graze in Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) at yakitori counters like Torigen or Kabuto (eel skewers). Then ride the elevator up to the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory for a night skyline; on clear evenings you can spot Skytree. Nightcap: Bar Benfiddich (herbal-spirited cocktails) or Golden Gai for intimate bars with 10 seats and big personality.

Day 2: Tokyo’s Greatest Hits by Coach (Full-Day Tour)

Let an expert route you through the city’s icons in one efficient day.

Recommended experience: 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour — includes Meiji Shrine, a matcha experience, admission to Tokyo Skytree, and a Tokyo Bay ferry (sometimes no cruise). Expect a comfortable coach, curated photo stops, and helpful commentary for context.

Post-tour dinner: Ramen showdown: Ichiran (individual booths, tonkotsu broth), AFURI (bright yuzu-shio), or Ginza Kagari (silky chicken paitan). Dessert: Ginza Akebono for seasonal wagashi.

Day 3: Tsukiji Food Tour, Ginza Elegance, and the Imperial Gardens

Morning: Explore the historic outer market with a guide who knows the vendors and the good stuff hot off the grill. Book the Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour to taste tamagoyaki, tuna, and sweet scallops while learning how the market shaped Tokyo dining.

Afternoon: Stroll Ginza’s sleek avenues. Coffee at legendary Café de L’Ambre (single-origin, aged beans) or the modernist Koffee Mameya Kakeru (guided tastings). Pop into Kabuki-za’s gallery shop for theater souvenirs, then decompress in the Imperial Palace East Gardens—moats, stone walls, and seasonal blooms.

Evening: Tempura dinner: reserve Tempura Kondo (light, crisp, seasonal) or go casual with the line-worthy Kaneko Hannosuke (hearty tendon bowls). Post-dinner, try Gen Yamamoto (reservation-only cocktail tasting, seasonal Japanese ingredients) or Bar High Five (precision mixology).

Day 4: Harajuku to Shibuya—Youth Culture, Style, and Skyline

Morning: Breakfast at World Breakfast All Day (global breakfasts that rotate monthly) or pastries at VIRON (Shibuya). Enter the forest for Meiji Shrine, where sake barrels line the path and weddings sometimes process through the courtyard.

Afternoon: Window-shop Omotesandō’s sculptural flagships (Tadao Ando and Herzog & de Meuron have left their mark). Snack on a Harajuku crepe at Marion or Santa Monica. Walk to Shibuya: pay respects to Hachikō, then absorb the kinetic theater of Shibuya Crossing from street level and, if you like, the rooftop at Shibuya Sky for a high-angle panorama.

Evening: Izakaya crawl in Shibuya’s Nonbei Yokocho (“drunkard’s alley”)—tiny counters serving skewers, simmered dishes, and sake. For sushi that’s quick and excellent, try stand-up Uogashi Nihon-Ichi. Jazz lovers: slip into JBS, a vinyl-lined bar where the owner handpicks the soundtrack.

Day 5: Day Trip—Mt. Fuji and Hakone by Coach, Return by Bullet Train

Swap neon for mountain air on a classic escape from the city.

Recommended experience: Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train — ascend to Mt. Fuji’s 5th Station (weather permitting), cruise Lake Ashi with shrine-tipped ridgelines, and ride the Hakone Ropeway over volcanic Owakudani. Cap it with a swift Shinkansen from Odawara back to Tokyo (~35 min).

Back in Tokyo: Soothe travel legs at Spa LaQua (mineral baths, saunas) or enjoy a casual feast in Shin-Okubo (Tokyo’s Koreatown: charcoal-grilled meats at Han No Daidokoro, cheesy dak-galbi along the main drag).

Day 6: Museums, Digital Art, and Sumo Spectacle

Morning: Choose your museum mood. In Ueno Park: Tokyo National Museum (samurai armor, Buddhist art) or National Museum of Western Art (Le Corbusier building). Coffee break at Fuglen Asakusa (Scandi-Japanese vibe) or Onibus Coffee (Nakameguro roastery, near the canal).

Afternoon: Dive into interactive light at teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills)—an ever-shifting world where artworks spill from room to room. Then wander nearby for a chic late lunch: Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi (Azabudai outpost) or Ukai-tei for teppanyaki done with ceremony.

Evening: Experience sumo culture—matches are seasonal, but this show brings the world of the ring to life, complete with hearty hot pot.

Recommended experience: Tokyo Sumo Entertainment Show with Chicken Hot Pot and Photo — held in Asakusa around a real dohyo, with interactive demos and photos.

Day 7: Old-Town Morning and Farewell

Morning: Savor a slower Tokyo in Yanaka: wooden houses, neighborhood shrines, and friendly shopkeepers. Walk Yanaka Ginza for croquettes at Niku no Suzuki and custard taiyaki. Brunch at Kayaba Coffee (kissaten classics on thick toast) or Suke6 Diner near Asakusa (excellent eggs and sourdough).

Afternoon (departure): Pick up last-minute souvenirs—stationery at ITOYA (Ginza) or tea at Ippodo. For airport trains, check times on Trip.com Trains. If you’re flying long-haul, aim to be at the airport 2–3 hours early; Narita’s immigration queues can fluctuate.

Extra Ideas If You Have Energy

• Craft coffee crawl: Blue Bottle Kiyosumi, About Life Coffee Brewers (Shibuya), Nozy Coffee (Sangenjaya).
• Monjayaki on Tsukishima’s Monja Street: try Monja Kura or Daruma and cook the savory batter on a hot griddle.
• Soba and tempura classic: Kanda Yabu Soba for elegant buckwheat noodles.

Where to Sleep

• Browse stays: Apartments and family-friendly options on VRBO Tokyo.
• Hotels by neighborhood: Business chic in Marunouchi/Ginza, design-forward in Shibuya/Daikanyama, scenic river views in Asakusa. Compare rates on Hotels.com Tokyo.

Getting Around and Between Cities

• Tokyo transit: Subways and JR lines cover nearly everywhere; expect ¥170–¥320 per ride. Tap with PASMO/Suica. Taxis are clean and reliable; contactless payment is common.
• Intercity trains (if you extend your trip): Shinkansen to Kyoto/Osaka is ~2.5–3 hours from Tokyo; search times/fares on Trip.com Trains.
• Flights: Compare fares on Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com; if departing/arriving in Europe, also try Omio Flights.

Optional Private or Custom Tours

If you prefer tailored pacing, consider a private guide to match your interests and avoid backtracking. A popular option is the Tokyo Full Day Customize Private Tour with English Guide.

In a week you’ll have traced Tokyo’s arc from incense to LEDs, from market bites to kaiseki finesse, and from city canyons to Fuji’s broad shoulders. Keep the PASMO handy—this is a city that rewards return visits, each one revealing another hidden alley, another perfect bowl.