The ideal duration to explore Tokyo is at least 5 days to discover the main areas of the city and the outskirts of the prefecture. To explore Japan’s best, spend at least 2 weeks here. Even then, you will realize that there are so many things to discover in Japan. If you are pressed for time, you can go through the best places and must-do activities in Tokyo within 3 days.
If you are looking for ideas on how to explore Tokyo’s best, here’s a good 3-day Tokyo itinerary you can take inspiration from:
Day 1: Explore the Asakusa district. Visit Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, and walk around Nakamise Shopping Street. Head to the Tokyo Skytree, one of the world's tallest towers, for panoramic views of the city. Then explore the modern shopping and entertainment districts of Shibuya and Harajuku. Don’t forget the Shibuya Crossing and Harajuku’s Takeshita Street for quirky fashion finds.
Day 2: Head over to Ginza, an upscale neighborhood full of department stores and art galleries. Then visit Tsukiji Fish Market to find fresh sushi for lunch and other fresh seafood dishes. Wrap up your day at Imperial Palace to get a glimpse of Japan’s imperial history and enjoy the beautiful gardens.
Day 3: Go to Omotesando, an upscale shopping district, and explore its trendy boutiques, shops, and cafés. Then proceed to Akihabara, the epicenter of animé, manga, and gaming culture, to score some items and souvenirs. If you feel like doing more, visit the Meiji Shrine or Nakameguro. In the evening, get a taste of Tokyo’s bustling nightlife in areas like Shinjuku or Roppongi.
This is just an idea to get you started. Tokyo has a lot to offer, so you can probably find more attractions that might interest you, including museums, temples, shrines, parks, art galleries, themed cafés, zen gardens, and even food culture.
