Tokyo is a city of time travel. In one block you’ll pass incense‑scented temples that date to the 7th century, in the next, a tower of glass where robots serve coffee and chefs hand‑form sushi with a flick of the wrist. It’s orderly and electric, reverent and playful—an ideal canvas for a week-long adventure.

From the shogunate capital of Edo grew today’s Tokyo: districts with distinct personalities, from Asakusa’s lantern-lit lanes to Shibuya’s neon canyons. You’ll sip matcha in shrine forests, graze through markets with generations of fishmongers, and glide past Mount Fuji’s slopes by bullet train. The city rewards curiosity—and appetite.

Practical notes: no tipping, trains run to the minute, and contactless cards work in most places. Pick up a Welcome Suica/PASMO at the airport or use contactless Visa/Mastercard on many gates and buses. A Tokyo Subway 24-hour ticket (~¥800) is great for days you’ll hop between sights.

Tokyo

Tokyo is a mosaic of “villages”—Asakusa (old-town soul), Ueno (museums and park), Yanaka (crafts and cats), Akihabara (retro games and gadgets), Ginza (couture and theaters), Shibuya/Harajuku (youth culture), and Shinjuku (skyline, nightlife, ramen galore). Plan your days by neighborhood to cut transit time and maximize discoveries.

• Top sights: Senso‑ji, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Skytree, Hamarikyu Gardens, Imperial Palace East Gardens, Akihabara, teamLab (Borderless at Azabudai Hills; Planets in Toyosu), Odaiba’s waterfront.
• Essential eats: Sushi breakfasts, tempura in Asakusa, tonkatsu at Maisen Aoyama, yakitori in yokocho alleys, ramen (Afuri yuzu-shio; Menya Musashi), wagyu yakiniku in Shibuya, wagashi sweets and matcha.
• Fun facts: Shibuya’s scramble handles up to 3,000 pedestrians per light cycle. Vending machines outnumber convenience stores. And sumo’s ceremonial heart beats in Ryogoku.

Where to stay: Browse vacation rentals on VRBO Tokyo or hotels via Hotels.com Tokyo. Favorites: Ginza’s refined The Peninsula Tokyo (walk to the Imperial Palace), sky‑high views at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo (Roppongi Midtown), serene luxury at Aman Tokyo (Otemachi), and Shinjuku standouts like Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku, and Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo. Heading to Disney? Check Hilton Tokyo Bay.

Getting in and around: Find flights with Trip.com or Kiwi.com (if flying to/from Europe, also check Omio). For intercity trains in Japan, see Trip.com Trains. From Haneda: Keikyu or Monorail to central Tokyo (~20–30 min, ¥300–¥500). From Narita: JR Narita Express to Tokyo/Shinjuku (~60–90 min, ~¥3,000) or Keisei Skyliner to Ueno (~41 min, ~¥2,570).

Day 1 — Arrival, First Bow to the City

Morning: Travel day. Book a window seat for a first glimpse of Fuji on clear days. Compare fares and schedules on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; travelers originating in Europe can also check Omio. Download an offline map, and set up mobile Suica if you’ll tap-in with your phone.

Afternoon: Land, ride the Narita Express or Haneda Monorail into the city, and drop bags. Stretch your legs in a tranquil garden: Shinjuku Gyoen (shady lawns and tea house) or Hamarikyu (seawater ponds and a teahouse on an island). Refuel with coffee at Onibus Coffee (Nakameguro, mellow neighborhood vibe) or Fuglen Tokyo (retro-Nordic café in Shibuya).

Evening: Ease into Tokyo’s food scene at an izakaya—Japan’s pub-dining hybrid. Try Ebisu Yokocho (a cluster of tiny stalls; order yakitori, karaage, and highballs), Uoshin Nogizaka (grilled seafood and sashimi, lively), or Torishiki-inspired yakitori joints around Meguro (book ahead). Nightcap: Bar BenFiddich (Shinjuku; farm-to-glass bitters) or Nonbei Yokocho’s lantern-lit alleys in Shibuya.

Day 2 — Tokyo’s Essentials in One Sweep (Guided Bus Tour)

Let a local guide stitch the city’s big sights together so you don’t have to. The 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour typically covers Meiji Jingu, the Imperial Palace precincts, Asakusa’s Senso‑ji and Nakamise shopping street, a Tokyo Bay ferry (when operating), and admission to Tokyo Skytree—with a matcha experience along the way. It’s a smart overview on Day 2, freeing you to return later to your favorites.

Pre-tour breakfast: Bread, Espresso & in Omotesando (thick-cut French toast, stellar lattes). Post-tour dinner: Tempura Kondo (two-Michelin-star finesse; book well ahead) or Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama (juicy kurobuta cutlets; no-fuss classic).

Day 3 — Tsukiji Tastes, River Cruise to Asakusa, Skytree Views

Morning: Join the Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour for an expert-led graze through Tsukiji’s outer market—think buttery uni, tamagoyaki on sticks, tuna cut rolls, and miso soup from vendors who’ve served chefs for decades. Learn how to read tuna grades and seasonality as you snack your way through history.

Afternoon: Walk to Hamarikyu Gardens and take the Sumida River cruise up to Asakusa. Explore Senso‑ji’s thunder gate and Nakamise (look for ningyo-yaki sponge cakes and kaminari-okoshi rice crisps). Detour to Kappabashi “Kitchen Town” for knives and pottery; ask staff to inscribe your name in kanji.

Evening: Dinner in Asakusa: Daikokuya Tempura (golden, sesame‑oil aroma) or Asakusa Imahan (sukiyaki with marbled wagyu). For sweets, Asakusa Kagetsudo’s melonpan (warm, crispy shell) or Suzukien for the city’s darkest matcha gelato. If you’re chasing a night view, ride up Tokyo Skytree; the east‑side panorama glitters.

Day 4 — Sumo Morning, Ryogoku to Akihabara

Morning: Witness the discipline behind the spectacle at a stable with the Tokyo Sumo Morning Practice Tour at Stable. You’ll watch wrestlers train up-close—no phones or chatter—then debrief with your guide about hierarchy, rituals, and tournament seasons. After, warm up with chanko‑nabe (sumo hotpot) at Chanko Tomoegata or Chanko Kawasaki in Ryogoku.

Afternoon: Walk or hop to Akihabara. Browse Yodobashi Camera for the latest gadgets, Super Potato for retro consoles, and Mandarake for manga treasures. Pause at Kanda Myojin Shrine (patron of merchants and tech folk) and grab a pour-over at Glitch Coffee nearby.

Evening: Ramen crawl: Afuri (yuzu-shio brightness), Menya Musashi (rich, meaty broth), or Soranoiro (creative veg-forward bowls). Nightcap in Shinjuku’s Golden Gai—tiny bars with big personality; try Albatross G (gilded and cozy) or Kenzo’s Bar (vinyl spinning).

Day 5 — Meiji Forest to Shibuya’s Neon

Morning: Enter the cedar-lined calm of Meiji Jingu; watch for wedding processions on weekends. Snack your way down Takeshita Street (Calbee+ hot chips, crepes at Marion) and wander Cat Street toward Omotesando’s boutiques. Coffee at Koffee Mameya Kakeru (tasting-style menu) or Blue Bottle Aoyama.

Afternoon: Continue to Shibuya. Pay respects to Hachikō, then time the famed scramble—originating near the 1930s station, now a symbol of the city’s motion. Soar to Shibuya Sky for a rooftop panorama. Lunch ideas: Uogashi Nihon‑Ichi (standing sushi, fast and fresh), Gyukatsu Motomura (breaded beef cutlets you sear to taste), or Han no Daidokoro for yakiniku (ask for a wagyu sampler).

Evening: Explore Nonbei Yokocho’s postwar alley bars or book an izakaya hop in Omoide Yokocho (grilled skewers, stews, sake). For a sit‑down dinner, Nabezo (shabu‑shabu with quality cuts and vibrant veg), or Uobei (high‑tech conveyor sushi; fun and affordable). Dessert: yuzu cheesecake at Aoyama’s Pablo or parfaits at Shiseido Parlour in Ginza if you’re heading that way.

Day 6 — Day Trip: Mt. Fuji and Hakone by Coach + Bullet Train

Trade city lights for mountain air on the Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return by Bullet Train. Ascend to Fuji’s 5th Station (weather permitting), sail Lake Ashi with views back to the peak, and peer into Owakudani’s volcanic valley. The day caps with a Shinkansen sprint from Odawara—an exhilarating, 30‑minute glide back to Tokyo that underscores Japan’s rail magic.

Tip: Pack layers; mountain weather swings quickly. Back in Tokyo, celebrate with sushi at Sushi no Midori (great value; expect a line) or tempura and sake at Ginza’s Tenichi.

Day 7 — Souvenirs, teamLab, and Takeoff

Morning: If your flight is later, immerse in digital wonder at teamLab Planets (Toyosu, barefoot, water rooms) or teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills; mirrored infinity spaces and interactive light). Otherwise, keep it classic: last-minute gifts at Tokyu Hands/Shibuya Loft (bento boxes, stationery), and fruit sandos at Nihonbashi Sembikiya or melonpan to go.

Afternoon: Depart for the airport. For Haneda, budget ~30 minutes via Monorail or Keikyu; for Narita, ~60–90 minutes via N’EX or ~41 minutes via Skyliner. Grab an ekiben (train bento) for the ride. If you need rail tickets, check times and fares on Trip.com Trains.

Evening: In the air, relive the week: incense at Senso‑ji, steam from chanko‑nabe, the hush of Meiji’s forest, the sparkle from Shibuya Sky, and Fuji’s silhouette from the Shinkansen window. Matane—see you next time.

Extra Eats and Coffee (Bookmark This Shortlist)

• Breakfast/Coffee: The Roastery by Nozy (Harajuku; single-origin), Turret Coffee (Tsukiji; potent espressos), About Life Coffee Brewers (Shibuya; tiny kiosk with big flavor).
• Lunch: Kyūryori Kanda Yabu Soba (heritage soba house), Birria de Res Shinjuku (Tokyo’s taco wave), Tsukishima monjayaki on Nishinaka-dori (DIY griddles; try mentaiko-cheese).
• Dinner: Den (innovative kaiseki; book months ahead), Sazenka (Chinese-Japanese fine dining), Uoshins and Uokins (standing seafood bars), and Yukimura’s oden counters in winter.
• Bars: High Five (Ginza; bespoke cocktails), Bar Orchard (Shibuya; literary mood), Baird Taproom (Harajuku; craft beer and sausages).

Practical Tips

• Subway etiquette: queue lines, no loud calls, and mind the last train (often around midnight).
• Cash vs. card: Cards widely accepted; keep some yen for small shops and shrines.
• Connectivity: eSIM or pocket Wi‑Fi makes navigation and translation effortless.
• Timing: Museums often close Mon; many restaurants take last orders ~9–10 pm.

Optional Private/GUIDED alternatives: Prefer a custom, door-to-door day in Tokyo? Consider the Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide or a full-day driver-guided option like the Customizable Private Tokyo Tour with Driver to match your pace and interests.

With a week, you’ve tasted Tokyo’s contrasts—shrine quiet, market bustle, avant‑garde art, and mountain horizons. Whether you return for cherry blossoms or autumn gold, the city keeps new layers for you to peel back, one delicious, dazzling day at a time.