Tokyo—known as “Tokio” in many languages—blends 400-year Edo heritage with a future-forward skyline. Samurai-era shrines sit a few train stops from digital art museums and ramen counters where bowls disappear in minutes. It’s a city of districts, each a world: lantern-lit alleys, design-forward boutiques, hushed teahouses, and rooftop observatories.

Founded as Edo, the city became Japan’s political center in the 1600s and was renamed Tokyo (“Eastern Capital”) in 1868. Today, you’ll find treasures like Senso-ji temple, the Meiji Shrine forest, and the National Museum alongside cutting-edge pop culture in Shibuya and Akihabara. Food is a highlight: sushi before sunrise, buckwheat soba, wagyu, monjayaki, craft coffee, and inventive cocktails.

Practical tips: Load a Suica/PASMO on your phone for transit. ATMs in convenience stores work with foreign cards. Book popular spots (Shibuya Sky, teamLab, top sushi) in advance. Many museums close Mondays. For airport transfers, Haneda is closer to central Tokyo than Narita. This plan assumes afternoon arrival on Day 1 and afternoon departure on Day 7.

Tokyo

Tokyo rewards curiosity. Wander a block off any main street and you’ll hit a kissaten (old-school coffee shop), a standing sushi bar, or a tiny counter where one chef quietly roasts yakitori over binchotan charcoal. Mornings are for shrines and gardens, afternoons for museums and neighborhoods, nights for ramen steam and neon glow.

• Top sights: Senso-ji in Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo National Museum, teamLab Planets (Toyosu), Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Skytree, Nezu Museum, Odaiba’s waterfront, Imperial Palace East Gardens.
• Don’t miss eats: Sushi breakfast at Tsukiji Outer Market, tempura at Tsunahachi (Shinjuku), yuzu-shio ramen at Afuri (Harajuku), soba at Kanda Matsuya (Kanda), monjayaki in Tsukishima, yakitori in Omoide Yokocho, tonkatsu at Maisen (Aoyama).
• Fun facts: The Tsukiji inner market moved to Toyosu; the historic outer market still bustles. teamLab Borderless returned in 2024 (Azabudai Hills) while teamLab Planets in Toyosu continues to dazzle with water-and-light installations.

Where to stay (neighborhoods): Shinjuku for nightlife and transport, Shibuya for youthful energy, Ginza for refined dining and shopping, Asakusa for old Tokyo vibes, Nihonbashi/Marunouchi for business hubs and easy rail links. Browse stays on Hotels.com or apartment-style options via VRBO.

Getting in and around: Check flights to Tokyo (HND/NRT) on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. For intercity rail in Japan, see Trip.com Trains. Within Tokyo, use JR, Tokyo Metro, and Toei lines—fast, frequent, and clean.

Day 1: Arrival, Asakusa Atmosphere, and Skytree Nights

Morning: In transit. On your flight, pre-load Suica/PASMO to Apple/Google Wallet and bookmark this plan. If landing at Haneda, the monorail to Hamamatsucho takes ~20 min; from Narita, the Narita Express to Tokyo/Shinjuku takes 50–70 min.

Afternoon: Arrive, check in, and freshen up. Head to Asakusa for Tokyo’s oldest temple, Senso-ji. Stroll Nakamise-dori for snacks: warm ningyo-yaki cakes and flaky melonpan from Asakusa Kagetsudo. Coffee pick: Suke6 Diner by the river—great sourdough and drip coffee.

Evening: Ride to Tokyo Skytree for a golden-hour panorama; the Tembo Deck’s 350 m view is spectacular. Dinner nearby at Musashi Sky Restaurant (sky-high washoku) or keep it casual with Solamachi ramen counters. If energy remains, an easy Sumida River walk under lantern-lit bridges.

Day 2: Shinjuku Gardens, Tempura Traditions, and Golden Gai

Morning: Begin at Shinjuku Gyoen, a serene blend of French and Japanese landscape styles—lovely in all seasons. Flat whites at Blue Bottle Shinjuku or retro kissaten vibes at Coffee L’Ambre (since 1948).

Afternoon: Slurp iconic tsukemen at Fuunji—creamy chicken-fish broth with thick noodles; expect a line that moves fast. Pop up to the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory for Mt. Fuji peeks on clear days. Shop at Don Quijote or Isetan’s basement food hall (depachika).

Evening: Classic tempura dinner at Tsunahachi Shinjuku (since 1923), where seafood and vegetables are fried to whisper-light crispness. Then bar-hop Omoide Yokocho for yakitori smoke and tiny counters, and wrap in Golden Gai—intimate bars like Albatross and Deathmatch in Hell (expect small cover charges; be respectful of house rules).

Day 3: Meiji Jingu, Harajuku to Omotesando, and Shibuya Sky

Morning: Walk the cedar-lined paths of Meiji Jingu, a century-old shrine set in a man-made forest. Espresso at Fuglen Tokyo (Scandi-Japanese mid-century vibe), then peek at Takeshita-dori for crepes and street fashion.

Afternoon: Wander Omotesando’s design corridor—Tadao Ando’s Omotesando Hills, the sculptural Prada Aoyama. Quiet art stop at the Nezu Museum and its bamboo-framed garden. Lunch: Afuri Harajuku (yuzu-shio ramen; bright, aromatic) or Maisen Aoyama Honten (melt-in-your-mouth tonkatsu; go early).

Evening: Cross the famous Shibuya Crossing—a living river of people since the 1930s. Sunset tickets for Shibuya Sky deliver open-air city vistas. Dinner options: standing sushi at Uogashi Nihon-Ichi (fresh, fast), casual yakitori at Toritake, or modern washoku at Uobei. Nightcap at award-winning The SG Club (inventive cocktails, speakeasy feel).

Day 4: Old Tokyo to Otaku: Asakusa, Ueno, and Akihabara

Morning: Revisit Senso-ji early for incense and drumbeats sans crowds. Try Asakusa Kagetsudo again for that addictive melonpan or sit for a light traditional breakfast at Kagetsudo Annex.

Afternoon: Head to Ueno Park—museums, lotus ponds, and street snacks. The Tokyo National Museum houses samurai armor and Hokusai prints; allow 1.5–2 hours. Lunch nearby: Innsyoutei (seasonal kaiseki in the park) or down-to-earth Gyukatsu Motomura (beef cutlet you finish on a hot stone).

Evening: Dive into Akihabara: retro games at Super Potato, multi-story arcades, and model shops. Dine at Kanda Matsuya (soba since 1884; order seiro with tempura) or spicy curry at Go! Go! Curry for a quick hit. Craft-beer round at Hitachino Brewing Lab by the river.

Day 5: Markets, teamLab Planets, and Tokyo Bay Evening

Morning: Fuel with a sushi breakfast at the Tsukiji Outer Market—try Sushi Zanmai Honjin or Sushi Sei and sample tamagoyaki on a stick. Knife shops and tea merchants line the alleys; sip matcha at a counter and watch the bustle.

Afternoon: Head to teamLab Planets TOKYO (Toyosu). You’ll walk barefoot through mirrored water rooms and interactive light—book timed tickets; allow 90–120 minutes. Coffee and wagashi break at Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai food zone.

Evening: Waterfront stroll in Odaiba and a photo with the life-size Unicorn Gundam (DiverCity). Soak at the new Tokyo Toyosu Manyo Club for onsen-style relaxation with skyline views. Dinner at Gonpachi Odaiba (yakitori, soba, robata) or ramen at Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai food court if you’re collecting bowls.

Day 6: Day Trip to Kamakura and Enoshima

Morning: From Tokyo or Shinjuku Station, take JR Yokosuka or Shonan-Shinjuku Line to Kamakura (~60 min, about ¥940/$6–7). Visit Hasedera for ocean views and hydrangea paths, then the bronze Great Buddha (Kotoku-in)—serene since 1252. Coffee at VERVE Coffee Roasters near the station.

Afternoon: Lunch on Komachi-dori: try shirasu-don (whitebait rice bowl) at Wadatsumi Shokudo or handmade soba at Kamakura Matsubaraan. Ride the vintage Enoden to Enoshima, climb to the Sea Candle, and walk coastal paths; on clear days you’ll glimpse Mt. Fuji.

Evening: Return to Tokyo (~70–90 min). Late ramen near your hotel: Ichiran (choose your broth intensity) or Ramen Nagi in Golden Gai (rich niboshi fish broth). Toast the day with a highball from a Lawson convenience store—truly local.

Day 7: Ginza Finesse, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Explore Ginza’s polished avenues. Espresso at Turret Coffee Ginza (thick, caramel notes), then browse Ginza Six and the Kabukiza gallery shops for souvenirs. If you prefer something green, the Imperial Palace East Gardens offer moats and stone walls (closed Mon/Fri).

Afternoon: Finale lunch: classic sushi at Kyubey (reserve) or the easier-to-enter Sushi no Midori Ginza. Pick up confections at Toraya or Minamoto Kitchoan. Transfer to the airport: Haneda via Keikyu or Monorail (~20–30 min); Narita via Narita Express (~50–70 min). Check flight options or schedule changes on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: Fly out. If your departure is later, one last view from Tokyo Tower or a calm tea at Higashiya Ginza is a fitting goodbye.

Where to Sleep: Shortlist by Vibe

• Shinjuku: Steps from nightlife and transport. Search stays on Hotels.com. Look for skyline-view rooms and easy rail access.
• Shibuya: Youthful, energetic, great dining. Consider apartment-style options via VRBO for extra space.
• Ginza/Marunouchi: Polished restaurants, calm nights, and quick airport rail links.
• Asakusa: Old-Tokyo charm, boutique ryokan, easy access to Skytree and Ueno.

Transit and Costs Snapshot

• Airport to city: Haneda Monorail or Keikyu (¥300–¥500; 15–30 min). Narita Express (¥3,000–¥3,500; 50–70 min). Day passes rarely pay off unless museum-hopping; the IC card is your friend.
• Day trip to Kamakura: JR Yokosuka/Shonan-Shinjuku Lines (~60 min; ~¥940 each way). Enoden to Enoshima (~25 min; ~¥260).
• teamLab Planets: Timed entry, adults typically ~¥3,800–¥4,500. Borderless (Azabudai Hills) is another option if you prefer central Tokyo.

Optional swaps: Art lovers can add the Mori Art Museum (Roppongi Hills). Anime fans might carve out more time for Ikebukuro’s Otome Road and Sunshine City aquarium. Foodies could book a counter omakase (e.g., Sushi Shin by Miyakawa) or a cocktail experience at Bar BenFiddich (herbal, imaginative).

Seven days in Tokyo lets you live the city’s rhythm—temples at dawn, markets at noon, and neon at night. With this itinerary’s specific places to eat, drink, and explore, you’ll move confidently between eras and neighborhoods. You’ll leave already plotting your return.