Tokyo in 3 days: a first-timer’s plan, area by area

The plan at a glance

Prices from each attraction’s official site on 24 October 2026; Skytree and teamLab prices vary by date. Staying somewhere central makes all three days easier: see where to stay in Tokyo.

Day 1: Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree and Ueno

1. Early morning: Sensoji. Tokyo’s oldest temple, a few minutes’ walk (approx.) from Asakusa Station (Ginza, Asakusa and Tobu lines). The main hall opens at 6:00, or 6:30 from October to March, and closes at 17:00. Before 9:00 the approach through Kaminarimon and Nakamise is quiet.
2. Late morning: Tokyo Skytree, across the Sumida River. Adults pay from ¥1,800 for the Tembo Deck (350 m) or from ¥3,000 for the combo with the Tembo Galleria (450 m) online; prices vary by date, and buying on the day at the venue adds ¥500 per ticket.
3. Afternoon: Ueno. Ueno Park and its museums, then the Ameyoko market street under the tracks.
4. Evening: Akihabara, two stops from Ueno on the JR Yamanote Line, for electronics, games and anime shops. Shopping over ¥5,000? From 1 November 2026 log the receipt in our tax refund wallet: you pay full price and claim the tax back at the airport.

Day 2: Meiji Jingu, Shibuya and Shinjuku

1. Morning: Meiji Jingu. Free and open every day from sunrise to sunset: in November 6:10–16:10, in December 6:40–16:00 (the shrine publishes a table for every month).
2. Late morning: Harajuku, Takeshita Street and Omotesando, next to the shrine’s south entrance.
3. Afternoon: Shinjuku Gyoen (adults ¥500, IC cards accepted at the gates). From 1 October to 14 March it opens 9:00–16:30, last entry 16:00. It is closed on Mondays, except during the Chrysanthemum Exhibition (1–15 November) and the cherry blossom season (25 March to 24 April), when it opens every day.
4. Sunset: Shibuya Crossing and SHIBUYA SKY. Adult web tickets cost ¥2,700 for entry until 14:59 and ¥3,400 from 15:00 (¥3,000 and ¥3,700 at the counter). They go on sale two weeks ahead and sunset slots sell out first. Bags are not allowed on the rooftop, so use the lockers.
5. Night: Shinjuku. The free alternative to SHIBUYA SKY is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building: the South Observatory opens 9:30–22:00 (last entry 21:30) and is closed on the first and third Tuesday of each month; the North Observatory closes at 17:30. Then Omoide Yokocho or Kabukicho for dinner.

Day 3: Tsukiji, Ginza and teamLab Planets

1. Morning: Tsukiji Outer Market. Street food, knives and dried goods. Most shops open about 9:00–14:00; many close on Sundays and some Wednesdays, so check the market’s calendar. Before 9:00, professional buyers have priority. What else to eat in Tokyo, from monjayaki to ramen: what to eat in Japan.
2. Midday: Ginza, a 10–15 minute walk away (approx.), for department-store food halls and flagship shops.
3. Afternoon: teamLab Planets in Toyosu, where you walk barefoot through water. Tickets are sold online only, with no fixed release date, and the museum is scheduled to stay open until the end of 2027.

Prefer a day out? Swap day 3 for Nikko or Kamakura, or Mt Fuji and Hakone.

Which ticket to buy

Tokyo Subway Ticket: for overseas visitors and for Japanese residents from outside the Tokyo area; valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours from first use; child half price. The break-even rides are our arithmetic on Tokyo Metro’s published fares. How IC cards work on your phone: Suica, PASMO and ICOCA guide.

What to book ahead

• SHIBUYA SKY: two weeks ahead, at 00:00 Japan time, for a sunset slot.
• teamLab Planets: as soon as your date is on sale (no fixed release date is published).
• Pokémon Cafe, or a sold-out date? Release times in your own time zone and the official fallbacks are in how to get Ghibli Museum, Pokémon Cafe, teamLab and SHIBUYA SKY tickets.
• Ghibli Museum or Tokyo Disney, if you want them: they open on fixed days months ahead. See what to book, and when, or let the trip planner show each release time in your own time zone. Choosing between the two Disney parks? See Tokyo Disneyland vs DisneySea.
• Nothing else on this plan needs a ticket in advance. Sensoji, Meiji Jingu, Ueno Park, the city-hall view and Tsukiji are walk-in.

When a tour helps

Tokyo is easy on your own. A tour is worth it when:

• You want to eat your way through Shinjuku’s alleys, Shibuya or Asakusa with someone who reads the menu and orders.
• You want Fuji or Hakone in one day without working out trains and buses yourself.
• Not worth it for Sensoji, Meiji Jingu or Shibuya Crossing, which are simple to do alone.

Quick answers

Is 3 days enough for Tokyo?

Enough for the classic sights if you group them by area: the old east side (Asakusa, Skytree, Ueno) on one day, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya and Shinjuku on another, Tsukiji and teamLab on the third. A fourth day lets you add Nikko, Kamakura or Mt Fuji.

Is the Tokyo Subway Ticket worth it?

On busy days, yes. It costs ¥1,000 for 24 hours, ¥1,500 for 48 hours or ¥2,000 for 72 hours (adult) and covers every Tokyo Metro and Toei subway line, but not JR lines such as the Yamanote Line. A single Tokyo Metro ride is ¥180–330, so the 24-hour ticket pays off from about five rides that day.

How much is SHIBUYA SKY?

Adult web tickets are ¥2,700 for entry until 14:59 and ¥3,400 from 15:00. At the counter it is ¥3,000 and ¥3,700. Web tickets go on sale two weeks ahead, and sunset slots go first.

Is there a free view of Tokyo?

Yes: the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. Its South Observatory is free and open 9:30–22:00 (last entry 21:30), closed on the first and third Tuesday of the month.

What time does Sensoji open?

The main hall opens at 6:00 (6:30 from October to March) and closes at 17:00. Early morning is the quietest time.

When is Tsukiji Outer Market open?

Most shops open about 9:00–14:00, and many close on Sundays and some Wednesdays. Before 9:00, professional buyers have priority.

Landing at Narita or Haneda? Fill in Visit Japan Web before you fly, then see airport to city. Going on to Kyoto and Osaka? Our 7, 10 and 14-day itineraries start with these three days, and Kyoto in 2 or 3 days plans the next stop the same way, area by area.

Sources

Checked against these pages on 24 October 2026. Official pages take precedence over this summary.

1. Sensoji: About Sensoji: main hall opening hours (Japanese)
   The temple’s own site.
2. JNTO: Asakusa: Sensoji and access
   National tourism organisation.
3. TOKYO SKYTREE: Tickets and prices
   Attraction operator; prices vary by date.
4. Meiji Jingu: How to visit: opening hours by month
   The shrine’s own site.
5. Shibuya Scramble Square: SHIBUYA SKY tickets (Japanese)
   Attraction operator.
6. Shibuya Scramble Square: SHIBUYA SKY admission ticket revision (press release, 27 Feb 2025, Japanese PDF)
   Attraction operator.
7. Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation decks (Japanese)
8. Ministry of the Environment: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: admission, hours and closed days
9. Tsukiji Outer Market: Hints for shopping: business hours and closed days
   Market association.
10. teamLab: teamLab Planets TOKYO, Toyosu (official site)
    Attraction operator.
11. teamLab: teamLab Planets TOKYO: FAQ
    Attraction operator.
12. Tokyo Metro: Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48 and 72 hours) for visitors
    Railway operator.
13. Tokyo Metro: Regular tickets and IC card fares by distance
    Railway operator.
14. JNTO: Shinjuku: station, lines and Kabukicho
    National tourism organisation.
15. JNTO: Shibuya and Shimokitazawa
    National tourism organisation.
16. JNTO: Ueno and Akihabara
    National tourism organisation.

General information. Prices and opening hours change; each operator’s own page is always right. JapanBenri is not affiliated with any attraction, railway or tour company.