How many days in Tokyo is enough? 4 Days Itinerary

When planning for your Tokyo trip, you need to decide where to stay and How long should a trip to Tokyo be to book your accommodations. It can be a bit overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors, so In this post, I will help you to find out How many days in Tokyo is enough?

I usually recommend spending at least 3-4 days in Tokyo. You can spend 2-3 full days exploring Tokyo itself and a day trip to nearby Hakone, Lake Kawaguchi, or Nikko. This time will allow you to visit popular areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya, visit major attractions, enjoy shopping, nightlife and local food.

If you have 5-7 days in Tokyo, it is a good amount of time to explore the city more in depth. You can spend more time in each district, or take multiple day trips to nearby destinations. Hakone and Lake Kawaguchi offer stunning views of Mt. Fuji. Nikko is home to famous shrines, temples and national parks.

Basically, major places to explore in Tokyo including Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Asakusa, Akihabara, and Teamlabs. You can go shopping, visit shrines, temples, museums, parks, enjoy views of the observation decks at Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Sky, or Metropolitan Government Building.

Don’t forget delicious food! Japanese food is yummy. You must try sushi, ramen, yakitori, wagyu beef, tonkatsu, soba, and tempura. You might want to consider activities like go-karting or a helicopter ride.

Here is my layout of 4 days in Tokyo. Depending on your pace and interest, you can modify it to suit your preferences.

How to Spend 4 days in Tokyo (My Exciting Itinerary)

Day 1: Getting from airport to your accommodation

This is the first time you arrive, I assume you just need to handle how to get from the airport to your hotel. And after arriving at the hotel, you either rest, or just wander around the neighborhood that you stay in.

The most popular areas in Tokyo to book your hotel are Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, and Asakusa/Ueno. From these areas, you can easily reach the airports by trains and limousine bus.

Tokyo has two airports, Haneda airport closer to the city center, and Narita airport, further away. From Haneda, you can take the local train. From Narita, you can take Narita Express, limousine bus, or Tokyo Keisei Skyliner to get to the city center.

Day 2: Explore popular neighborhoods like Shibuya and Shinjuku in Western Tokyo

Shibuya and Shinjuku are the most popular neighborhoods in Tokyo where you can find many attractions, as well as shopping, nightlife, and dining options.

You can spend your morning exploring the area around Harajuku Station, located between Shibuya and Shinjuku. It is easily accessible by train on the Yamanote Line. From the Harajuku Station, you can easily explore attractions like the Meiji Temple, Yoyogi Park, Takeshita Street, and Omotesando street.

You can go shopping for many things on Takeshita Street, which is Harajuku’s iconic main street. You can find quirky fashionable clothes and accessories. There are more vintage shops on nearby Cat Street and high-end boutiques on Omotesando street.

In the afternoon, you can explore the Shibuya area where you can walk across the Scramble Crossing, visit Hachiko Statue, and go shopping at one of its many department stores like Shibuya 109, Tokyu Hands, and MEGA Don Quijote. You can consider buying a ticket to get to the Observation Deck of Shibuya Sky for stunning views of the city.

You can spend your late afternoon and evening in Shinjuku where you can explore the Gyoen National Park, visit the free observatory at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, and explore the nightlife areas with many izakayas, bars, eateries at Kabukicho, Golden Gai, and Omoide Yokocho.

You can consider taking a guided food tour or bar tour in Shinjuku which will give you more knowledge of the culture.

Day 3: Explore Teamlabs, Ginza, Asakusa, Akihabara in Eastern Tokyo

In the morning, you can check out Tsukiji Outer Market for many seafood, and delicious dishes with good prices. The market is located next to Ginza district and is open from 5am to 2 pm daily except Wednesday and Sunday.

You can take subways from Odaiba to visit teamLabs PLANETs, a beautiful Modern art museum. Make sure to book your ticket well in advance before your visit to skip the queue. I’m sure it will be a fun and interactive art exhibition. I recommend wearing short pants or if you are wearing long pants, you’ll need to roll it up till your knees to avoid getting wet.

While in Odaiba, you can take a look at the Unicorn Gundam Statue or Odaiba Marine Park to view the Statue of Liberty.

In the afternoon, you can head back to the Ginza high-end shopping district where you can shop, or check out some attractions such as the Art Aquarium Museum or the Giant Ghibli Clock.

Later, you can explore the traditional Asakusa district, where you can visit the famous Sensoji temple, check out Kaminarimon gate, and browse shops at Nakamise shopping street. You can take a stroll along the nearby riverfront Sumida Park in spring for cherry blossom, and spot Tokyo Skytree on the other side of the river.

Finally, head to Akihabara, where you can find many manga and electronic shops , as well as maid cafes. You can finish your days by enjoying the nightlife in Shinjuku or Roppongi.

Day 4: Day trips to Hakone, Lake Kawaguchi, or Nikko

Hakone, Lake Kawaguchi, and Nikko are the most popular day trips from Tokyo. The easiest way to explore these areas is to take guided tours, but they can be expensive. You can do it yourself by taking public transportation or renting a car.

Hakone is located 90 mins by train ride from Tokyo, and is famous for its hot springs, breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. You can take a boat ride on Lake Ashinoko, visit Hakone Shrine, explore the Great Boiling Valley (Owakudani), eat iconic black eggs, and explore the Hakone Open Air Museum. Make sure to get Hakone Pass to get around easily.

Lake Kawaguchi is one of the Fuji Five Lakes, located within a 2 hours bus/train ride from Tokyo. This area has some of Mount Fuji, reflected in its lake. You can explore Kawaguchiko Music Forest, Iyashi no Sato, and Kubota Itchiku Art Museum. You can consider an overnight stay in Kawaguchiko.

Nikko is located 2 to 3 hours by train from Tokyo. It is where you can find many temples, shrines, and various waterfalls. Popular points of interest in and around Nikko include Shinkyo bridge, Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple, Futarasan Shrine, and Edo Wonderland.

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There you have it, my recommendation of How long is long enough in Tokyo and the 4-days Tokyo itinerary. It really depends on your interest, your available time, and your travel pace.

I usually recommend spending at least 3-4 days to have some good introduction about Tokyo. If you have more time, you can explore at a slower pace and more places.

So, what do you think about my itinerary? Feel free to comment down below. I’d love to hear your thoughts!