Tokyo is a city of shimmering contrasts—a place where Shinto shrines whisper through cedar forests and neon boulevards pulse with late-night ramen, retro arcades, and record shops. Once a castle town called Edo, it grew into the world’s largest metropolis, yet you can still hear the echo of the Edo period in old merchant lanes and morning temple bells.

Fun fact: the busiest train station on Earth is Shinjuku, serving over three million passengers a day. And for food lovers, Tokyo boasts more Michelin stars than any city—though the best meals often cost less than ¥1,000 at humble counters and standing bars.

Practical note: public transit is outstanding. Load a Suica or PASMO card and you’ll glide across the city cheaply and efficiently. Cash is still handy for small eateries, but contactless is widely accepted. This itinerary favors budget-friendly eats, free or low-cost attractions, and a few selectively chosen tours that add unforgettable context.

Tokyo

Tokyo’s neighborhoods are like different novels in the same library: Asakusa keeps Edo’s soul alive around Senso-ji Temple; Shibuya crackles with youth culture and the famous crossing; Harajuku blends crepes, couture, and a tranquil shrine forest; Shinjuku stacks gardens, skyscrapers, and alleyway izakaya under shimmering lights.

Top sights include Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu, Ueno Park’s museums, and the view from Bunkyo Civic Center or the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Food-wise, explore ramen heavyweights, standing sushi bars, and old-school yakitori under glowing lanterns in Omoide Yokocho and Shimbashi.

• Where to stay (budget to splurge): Search deals on Hotels.com (Tokyo) or apartment-style stays on VRBO (Tokyo). Specific picks: Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (excellent transport, often good value), Hotel Gracery Shinjuku (Godzilla-head photo ops, compact rooms), and for a splurge, The Peninsula Tokyo, The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo, Hilton Tokyo Bay, or the minimalist sanctuary Aman Tokyo.
• How to get there: Compare flights to Tokyo (Haneda HND or Narita NRT) on Trip.com and Kiwi.com for budget-friendly fares.
• Airport to city: From Haneda, take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho (13 min) then JR to Shinjuku/Shibuya (total ~35–45 min, ~¥700–¥800; bookable trains on Trip.com Trains). From Narita, the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno is ~41 min (~¥2,600) or JR Narita Express to Shinjuku ~60–80 min (~¥3,200).
• Money-saving tips: Seek lunch “teishoku” sets (¥800–¥1,200), convenience-store breakfasts (onigiri, sandwiches, drip coffee), free views at Bunkyo Civic Center, and consider a 24/48/72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket if you’ll ride often.

Day 1: Arrival, Asakusa’s Old Tokyo, and Riverside Night Walk

Afternoon: Arrive and drop bags. Head to Asakusa for Tokyo’s oldest temple, Senso-ji. Stroll Nakamise-dori’s snack stalls: try fresh taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes) and melon-pan. For coffee, duck into Suke6 Diner for a hand-drip or try a Lawson Machi Café for a budget caffeine fix.

Evening: Explore the lantern-lit lanes off Hoppy-dori where casual izakaya serve skewers and draft beer. Budget dinner ideas: Torikizoku (¥350 per plate yakitori), On-Nagi for eel rice bowls (split one if on a strict budget), or a tempura bowl at Tendon Tenya (~¥600–¥900). Cap the night with a Sumida River stroll for skyline reflections.

Nightcap: If you’ve energy, peek at Azuma Bridge for a view of Tokyo Skytree or grab a cheap dessert crepe along Shin-Nakamise.

Day 2: Meiji Shrine Forest, Harajuku Trends, and Shibuya Crossing

Morning: Start at Meiji Jingu’s forested paths—free, serene, and a soft jet lag cure. Breakfast at Bakery & Café Blue Jean (seasonal pastries) or grab onigiri and canned coffee before a quiet shrine visit. Wander Harajuku’s Takeshita Street for crepes (try a strawberry custard) and thrift shops.

Afternoon: Walk to Omotesando’s tree-lined boulevard for window-shopping and affordable set lunches—try Afuri for yuzu-shio ramen (~¥1,200) or Maisen Aoyama’s tonkatsu lunch specials. Continue to Shibuya: meet Hachiko, cross the famous scramble (iconic since the 1930s intersection upgrades), and watch the flow from a café overlooking the crossing.

Evening: Dinner in Shibuya’s backstreets: Uobei (conveyor-belt style ordering, plates from ~¥120), Han no Daidokoro for shared yakiniku (split a few cuts), or Ichiran ramen if you want the “solo booth” experience (~¥1,000–¥1,400). Optional paid view: Shibuya Sky’s rooftop at sunset (reserve ahead; budget alternative: free views from Shibuya Hikarie’s Sky Lobby).

Day 3: Gardens and Grit in Shinjuku + Sumo Show

Morning: Coffee at Verve or % Arabica near Shinjuku Station, then roam Shinjuku Gyoen (French, English, and Japanese gardens; small entry fee). It’s a calm counterpoint to nearby skyscrapers.

Afternoon: Head to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for a free city panorama (clear days reveal Mt. Fuji). Snack in Omoide Yokocho’s tiny stalls (gyoza, yakitori) or try a gyudon at Matsuya (~¥500–¥700) to keep costs low.

Evening: Experience a lively cultural highlight with the Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show Experience with Photo and Drinks—you’ll watch bouts up close, learn rituals, and capture photos you’ll actually frame.

Post-show eats: wander to Golden Gai’s micro-bars (many charge small cover; ask first) or try a curry rice at Go! Go! Curry (budget staple) before turning in.

Day 4: Tsukiji Market Bites, Ginza Windows, and Imperial Tokyo

Morning (tour): Dive into one of Tokyo’s great kitchens on the Tsukiji Fish Market: Street Food & Culture Walking Tour—taste tamagoyaki, grilled scallops, and tuna cuts while learning market lore and seasonal fish tips.

Afternoon: Walk or hop the subway to Hamarikyu Gardens (saltwater ponds and Edo-duke teahouse; small fee), then up to Ginza for sleek arcades and department-store “depachika” food halls—sample bento, croquettes, and wagashi by the piece for a low-cost tasting lunch.

Evening: Circle the moat paths near the Imperial Palace at golden hour. For dinner, try Shimbashi’s standing bars (tachinomi): skewer sets, potato salad, and highballs make a filling meal under ¥1,200–¥1,800.

Day 5: Ueno Museums, Yanaka Old Town, and Akihabara Arcades

Morning: Coffee at Bridge café near Ueno, then Ueno Park’s museums. The Tokyo National Museum offers stellar samurai armor, ukiyo-e, and ceramics (great value ticket). Street snack: Imojin’s sweet potato treats when in season.

Afternoon: Wander Yanaka Ginza’s low-slung lanes, one of the few areas untouched by wartime bombing. Grab a croquette from Niku no Suzuki or taiyaki from a family-run stand; prices hover around a few hundred yen—perfect for a budget graze.

Evening: Akihabara lights up with retro arcades and niche shops. Try kaiten (conveyor) sushi for dinner (Katsu-Midori’s budget plates, or Sushiro with many items under ¥150 each). If you prefer noodles, Kikanbo’s spicy miso ramen is a fan favorite (~¥1,100).

Day 6: Optional Full-Day Excursion to Mt. Fuji & Lake Kawaguchiko

Trade neon for mountain air on the Tokyo: Mt.Fuji & Lake Kawaguchiko 1-Day Bus Tour—a convenient, cost-effective way to reach classic viewpoints like Arakurayama Sengen Park and lakeside promenades without juggling multiple trains and buses.

Pack snacks (onigiri, fruit, bottled tea) for savings, and expect a 10–12 hour day door-to-door. Prefer to stay in the city? Swap in a free-view loop: Bunkyo Civic Center deck, Kiyosumi Garden stroll, and sunset along Odaiba’s Rainbow Bridge promenade.

Day 7: Backstreets of Shinjuku + Departure

Morning: Before you go, explore Shinjuku’s secret alleys and history on the Tokyo: Shinjuku Historical Walking Tour & Secret Backstreets—a great way to read the city’s layers like a local. If you’d rather DIY, roam Golden Gai by day to see its tiny bar architecture up close.

Afternoon: Grab a quick budget lunch (konbini bento, or udon at Hanamaru for under ¥600), pick up last-minute snacks (Tokyo Banana, Royce’ chocolate), and ride to the airport. From central Tokyo to Haneda: ~35–45 min and ~¥700–¥800; to Narita via Skyliner: ~41 min and ~¥2,600, or Narita Express: ~60–80 min and ~¥3,200. Check schedules/prices on Trip.com Trains.

Alternate/Bonus Experiences (Optional)

• Hands-on culture in Asakusa: mochi pounding or calligraphy with Mochi Tsuki Experience HANBEI_Asakusa(&Calligraphy).
• Foodies who want more: a Shinjuku izakaya crawl with 14+ tastings on the Best of Shinjuku: Izakaya Food Tour.
• Pedal past palace moats on the Private E-Bike Tour of the Imperial Palace Area.

Where to Eat and Drink (Budget-Focused Cheat Sheet)

• Breakfast/coffee: Convenience-store onigiri and drip coffee (~¥300–¥500), Blue Bottle, Onibus, or % Arabica for specialty pours.
• Lunch deals: Afuri (yuzu ramen), Katsu-Midori or Sushiro (plate-by-plate sushi), Maisen (teishoku sets), Hanamaru Udon.
• Dinner under lanterns: Omoide Yokocho (yakitori), Shimbashi stand bars (highballs + skewers), Torikizoku (fixed-price skewers), Go! Go! Curry (hearty and cheap).
• Sweet stops: Melon-pan in Asakusa, crepes in Harajuku, taiyaki in Ueno/Yanaka.

Transit & Tickets

• Load a Suica/PASMO and cap daily transit costs by clustering nearby neighborhoods.
• Consider time-limited subway passes if riding 6–10+ times in a day.
• Book intercity or airport trains on Trip.com Trains; compare flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Included Viator Highlights in This Itinerary

• Tokyo Shinjuku Sumo Show Experience with Photo and Drinks

  

• Tsukiji Fish Market: Street Food & Culture Walking Tour

  

• Tokyo: Mt.Fuji & Lake Kawaguchiko 1-Day Bus Tour

  

• Tokyo: Shinjuku Historical Walking Tour & Secret Backstreets

  

In one week, you’ll have tasted Tokyo’s markets, traced shrine forests, conquered arcades, and watched the city twinkle from above—all without torching your budget. Keep this guide handy, ride the rails with confidence, and savor each bowl, bite, and backstreet as if you were a local.