5 Days in Tokyo Itinerary (2026)

Our 5 days in Tokyo itinerary cover the best things to do, eat, and see in Japan’s capital, including Shibuya, Asakusa, Shinjuku, and hidden gems.

Tokyo is one of the places in the world that most people want to and should try to experience at least once in their lifetime. We enjoyed this 5 days in Tokyo itinerary during our time backpacking Asia and it still wasn’t enough.

Here is how we spent 5 days in Tokyo. Whilst in Japan, we recommend you do at least a 2 days in Osaka and then head over to Kyoto for 3 days. 

5 Days in Tokyo Itinerary

Before You Go: Helpful Tokyo Travel Tips

Before diving into this 5 days in Tokyo itinerary, a few practical tips will make your trip smoother:

• Getting around: Tokyo’s public transport system is excellent. Trains are fast, clean, and reliable, making it easy to explore different areas each day.
• Cash vs cards: While Japan is becoming more card-friendly, small restaurants and shops often prefer cash.
• Walking shoes: You will walk a lot in Tokyo, even when using trains.
• Food choices: Don’t be afraid to try small local restaurants. Some of the best meals come from places with only a few seats.

Day 1:

After landing in Tokyo, we made our way to our hotel and took some time to freshen up. We chose to stay in Shinjuku, which turned out to be a great base thanks to its transport connections and lively atmosphere.

Our hotel was just off a fairly busy road that was full of little shops, a delicious-looking bakery (mental note to return here in the morning), lots of sushi bars and restaurants, a few bars up and down narrow stairs, and a handful of Pachinko Parlours (a Japanese game that includes flying balls and slightly resembles a pinball machine).

Once we were ready, we headed out to explore the area around our hotel. Shinjuku immediately felt like Tokyo as we had imagined it — busy streets, bright signs, and endless places to eat.

That evening was all about keeping things relaxed:

• We wandered around nearby streets
• Grabbed a simple dinner, opting for sushi
• Ended the night with a stop at a convenience store, which quickly became one of our favourite parts of Japan

It was the perfect introduction to the city without feeling overwhelming after a long journey.

Creative Tip: Don’t use taxis whilst in Tokyo! The easiest way to travel from Narita or Haneda Airport to Shinjuku (where our hotel was located) is by taking the train into the city and then changing to the JR Yamanote Line.

Gambling is illegal in Tokyo but the Japanese head to parlors like this and can win these metal ball things when playing. They can then exchange these balls for food and drink or leave the parlor and exchange these balls at a stall around the corner for cash.

We had a try and a nice guy working there moved Calum’s hand so he could win more balls. I don’t entirely understand how you play it but I think we lost. No balls came out so I guess we lost?! Who knows! New Bucket list item: learn how to play Pachinko for our next Japan trip. It is just another wonderful and weird thing in Japan. 

We tried out a bit of Sushi (the first of many in this 5 days in Tokyo itinerary) in one of the sushi bars and checked out the various displays of plastic food used in restaurant shop windows.

This was also the evening I made a great discovery – the vending machines in Japan serve cans of hot chocolate that are ACTUALLY HOT!

Little things in life do amuse me. We headed to 7/11 for a few late-night snacks before heading back to the hotel and watching a bit of TV in bed.

Day 2: Technology, Innovation & Tokyo After Dark

We started day 2 of our 5 days in Tokyo itinerary, with breakfast at a small local bakery before heading out to explore a more futuristic side of Tokyo.

One of the highlights was visiting the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. The interactive exhibits, robots, and space displays made it far more interesting than a typical museum, and we easily spent longer there than planned.

I am a bit of a geek and have a soft spot for museums but I will say this one is pretty awesome. There is a massive globe hanging from the ceiling in one of the exhibitions and lots of interactive sections that are great fun.

Calum enjoyed a hand scanner that showed you the different DNA cells in your hand (I can not promise that is the correct terminology) and I liked the room full of robotic machines that had various functions and use.

Of course, a trip to the gift store was needed before leaving – you can buy space curry… You could also buy an electronic hand which instantly reminded me of that episode of Big Bang Theory with Howard, his electronic hand, and trip to A & E.

After a short rest back at the hotel, we headed out again in the evening to experience Tokyo at night.

In Shinjuku after dark, we:

• Walked through neon-lit streets
• Popped into bars and small local spots
• Tried Japanese crepes filled with unexpected but delicious toppings

Seeing the city come alive at night was one of our favourite experiences of the trip.

Creative Tip: When visiting Japan, look into the Japan Rail Pass if you plan to travel across the country.

The streets of Shinjuku were fascinating and I could spend multiple days during our 5 days in Tokyo itinerary; like a hybrid of NYC Times Square and Chinatown. Shinjuku is one of the best shopping districts in Tokyo and a hub for nightlife. It has all the lights and moving signs and bustling people of Times Square but the Japanese culture could be seen in every shop window or bar entrance. We spent some time popping in and out of a few shops and bars; trying Sake and enjoying a very expensive beer.

There are lots of interesting food to eat in Japan so don’t be afraid to wander into any restaurant or bar that catches your eye.

We also ate a Crepe. Yes weird, but in Tokyo, they have a never-ending selection of the types of Crepes you can eat: Tuna, curry, and cheese. Pepperoni, ham, and cream. Olives, chicken, and lettuce. Strawberry, ice cream, and honey. Literally amazing! Calum went for a Tuna, spinach, and cheese crepe whilst I opted for a chicken, tomato, and cream cheese crepe. So yummy!

Day 3: Harajuku, Meiji Shrine & Slowing the Pace

By day three, we wanted a mix of exploring and slowing things down.

No matter what sightseeing tour in Japan you choose to do, every organized trip and self-planned trip should include a trip to Harajuku Street. This is the shopping haven of Tokyo and if you head there on a Sunday, you’ll see lots of interestingly and/or stylishly dressed youngsters strolling around. This is also one of the best food streets in Tokyo.

We began in Harajuku, wandering through streets full of fashion stores, colourful snacks, and quirky shops. Even without buying much, it was a fun area to explore and people-watch.

After spending some hours exploring the shops, we headed to Meiji Jingu (a Japanese temple near the Harajuku train station). The walk towards the temple is beautiful by itself and whilst you are in the area, this place is definitely worth a visit.

That afternoon, we gave ourselves permission to rest:

• We headed back to the hotel
• Relaxed for a while
• Then went out for a casual dinner close by

Taking things slower helped us enjoy the rest of the trip even more.

Day 4: Views, Arcades & Shibuya

We started day 4 of our 5 days in Tokyo itinerary with one of best free things to do in Tokyo, the observation deck at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The views across the city were impressive, especially knowing we hadn’t paid anything to see them.

From the government building towers, you can see Tokyo for miles. Just breathtaking.

Next, we took a stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, enjoying some greenery and a quieter pace before heading back into the city. April is said to be the perfect time to see blossom in Japan. This is the very end of March and it already started to look stunning.

We ate a quick lunch of Teriyaki skewers near Shinjuku station then headed towards Akihabara – the area of Tokyo crammed full of arcades and gadget shops. Calum was in heaven. There were so many crane games and Anime shops full of little statues. I found a Mickey Mouse satellite dish and Calum enjoyed investigating the different types of toilet seats.

In the afternoon, we made our way to Akihabara, where we:

• Played arcade games
• Browsed electronics and anime shops
• Took in how unique and energetic the area felt

We ended the day of our 5 days in Tokyo itinerary, in Shibuya, watching the famous crossing from above before walking through it ourselves. It was one of those moments that really made the trip feel real.

The lights change and hundreds of people across the road from all angles. Crazy but looks pretty awesome. For dinner, we headed back to Shinjuku as I had to have another crepe. This time I went for something a bit sweeter – strawberry, cream, and chocolate flakes! YAY! Happy Katie.

Day 5: Shopping, Easy Exploring & Tokyo Tower

For our final full day of our 5 days in Tokyo itinerary, we kept plans flexible due to the rain.

We started with a relaxed breakfast before heading to Tokyu Hands, a store we could easily have spent hours in. From stationery and homeware to travel gadgets and souvenirs, it was the perfect place to pick up gifts and last-minute items.

In the evening, we visited Tokyo Tower, which felt like a classic Tokyo experience. Seeing the city lights from above was a memorable way to end our time in Japan’s capital. This is an Eiffel tower lookalike in the middle of Tokyo. It even had macaroons in the bar at the top. Tasty! It was a misty evening and getting quite dark but I still loved seeing the lights of this expansive city. Just perfect.

Once we were back at our hotel, we went to a burger bar nearby and enjoyed a towering burger.

Things to Know Before You go to Tokyo

5 Days in Tokyo Itinerary FAQ

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We love Tokyo and Japan. We have actually decided to head back to Japan later this year and spend some time in Osaka. There is so much to see and do in Tokyo and by no means did we see everything we wanted to see. There are also some more great temples and of course Mt Fuji. Next time I will also be finding some time to visit Disneyland and DisneySea.

Is there anything else we need to include on our next trip? Did you find this blog helpful? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.

P.S. Make sure you find some time to visit Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea too!