With the rise of air travel and affordable airlines, flying to Tokyo is becoming easier than ever. And there’s so many reasons to take advantage of this new trend. Tokyo is a fascinating city, full of centuries of history, incredible culture, modern architecture, and of course, amazing food. To make the most of your trip to Japan, here’s the perfect way to spend 72 hours in Tokyo, leaving room to explore the rest of the diverse country.
For your first day in Tokyo, it’s best to just take it all in. If you’ve just arrived, flying to Tokyo can be tiring, and it can be best to take it easy. Take the metro from your hotel to Tokyo Station, the capital’s main thoroughfare. From there, you’re a stone’s throw from the Imperial Palace. While the palace itself isn’t open to the public, tours of the gardens are available twice daily (with prior reservation), and the East Gardens are always open to the public.
After the meandering through the Imperial grounds, make your way over to Ginza Six, a twenty minute walk away. Ginza is one of Tokyo’s most high-end shopping districts. If you’re on a tight budget, you might not want to tempt yourself, but if you’re willing to splurge, Ginza is the place to do it. Ginza Six is Japan’s newest and largest shopping center, and exploring the different themed floors and traditional stores is an attraction in itself. After window shopping to your heart’s delight, head for a different kind of consumer experience. About 5 minutes south is Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji Market. The fish and produce market is home to almost any food you could think of, and of course, you can’t leave without stopping at a sushi bar for lunch.
Finally, there’s no better way to end your day than with a spectacular view. From Tsukiji Market, the Tokyo Tower is 20 minutes away by train. red-and-white monolith stands just taller than its inspiration, the Eiffel Tower, at 333 meters. Below the tower, you’ll also find souvenir shops and restaurants.
For your second day in Tokyo, it’s time for some culture. The Tokyo National Museum is the country’s largest, housing over 110,000 works. The complex consists of several buildings housing different genres of work, such as ancient artifacts from Japan and other Asian countries, as well as Japanese modern art. You could spend an entire day exploring what the museum’s offerings, but for a change of pace, just head out of the museum into Ueno Park. The park is home to a zoo, gardens (and cherry blossoms), as well as three other museums.
In the afternoon, take the Ginza Line from Ueno to Asakusa, which will bring you to Sensoji Temple. Tokyo’s oldest temple, Sensoji is full of vibrant color and energy, with a gorgeous pagoda and a 200-meter-long shopping street, filled with selling souvenirs and traditional snacks. Visiting Sensoji is a great way to experience Japan’s centuries-long history. Heading back to modernity, the Tokyo Skytree offers another, wider, view of the city’s skyline. As the city’s tallest observation tower, you’ll have unbeatable sweeping views of the city, this time from a different vantage point.
For your last day in Tokyo, explore the Shinjuku neighborhood. Start at the Yayoi Kusama Museum, housing works by Japan’s most famous contemporary artist, most notable for her “Infinite Room” exhibitions. The museum offers rotating exhibitions of her work, but plan early; the museum can only be visited with a timed reservation. Next, take the train to Shinjuku Station, and visit the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. The garden is the best place to see cherry blossoms, but it’s gorgeous in any season. Bring your own food and have a picnic (remember to be an ethical traveller) and wander through the landscape gardens and the greenhouse.
Walk or take the train to neighboring Yoyogi Park, home to the Meiji Shrine, another way to see fascinating history among breathtaking nature. Enter through the gargantuan torii gate, and make your way through the wide, forested pathways. For your final night, make your way down to Shibuya, only a ten-minute walk from Yoyogi Park. There, you can join the masses in Tokyo’s busiest and brightest intersection. There’s several restaurants in the neighboring buildings where you can take it all in.
With this itinerary, you’ll have seen all the incredible facets of Tokyo. From here, you can either stay and explore Tokyo’s more off-the-beaten-path attractions, or travel to any of Japan’s other incredible cities.
