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Tokyo in 5 Days: A First-Timer's Itinerary

A realistic five-day plan for a first trip to Tokyo — the big sights, the neighbourhoods that make the city, real food stops and Maps links, plus where to stay and what to budget.

By PlanAsiaTrips Last updated 2026-06-14 9 min read

Tokyo is enormous, and the classic first-timer mistake is trying to cross it three times a day. Five days lets you group the city by area — one neighbourhood cluster at a time — so you spend your hours in places, not on trains. It's enough to balance the must-sees with the side streets where Tokyo actually happens.

This itinerary moves district by district, with real stops linked to Google Maps and a sit-down meal or street-food stop built into each day. Pair it with a transit IC card and you'll rarely wait more than a few minutes for a train.

At a glance

Ideal length
5–7 days
Where to base
Shinjuku or Tokyo Station / Marunouchi
Budget · mid-range
S$145–215 / day
Getting around
The Tokyo Metro, Toei subway and JR lines (especially the Yamanote loop) cover almost everything.

Your day-by-day Tokyo route

A 5-day first-timer route

One area cluster per day so you travel less and see more — with the food, views and side streets that make each district worth the time.

Adds a Kamakura day trip (coast + Great Buddha) after the core city days. The day trip is placed mid-trip, not on arrival or departure.

Day 1

Modern west — Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku

~7 km on foot · low travel load

Morning
Lunch
Afternoon
Dinner
Evening

If it rains: Omotesando shopping + Shibuya Sky indoor decks.

Add if you have time: Free TMG observation deck at dusk.

Day 2

Old east — Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara

~8 km on foot · medium travel load

Morning
Lunch
Afternoon
Dinner
Evening

If it rains: Skytree, museum and malls are indoor.

Add if you have time: Yanaka Ginza old-town walk.

Day 3

Central & bay — market, Ginza, digital art

~6 km on foot · medium travel load

Morning
Lunch
Afternoon
Dinner
Evening

If it rains: teamLab + Ginza depachika indoor.

Add if you have time: Toyosu Market at dawn (closed Sun/some Wed).

Day 4

Day trip — Kamakura coast & Great Buddha

~9 km on foot · high travel load

Morning
Lunch
Afternoon
Dinner
Evening

If it rains: If weather is poor, swap the coast walk for the Tokyo National Museum / Mori Art Museum in town.

Add if you have time: Add Hase-dera temple and Enoshima island if time allows.

Day 5

Palace, art & a classic skyline

~6 km on foot · low travel load

Morning
Lunch
Afternoon
Dinner
Evening

If it rains: Mori Art Museum (indoor, includes a city view).

Add if you have time: Add a Ginza Muji/Itoya stop.

Route last checked 2026-06-14 — verify hours and bookings before you go.

Want this as an interactive guide you can reshape by length, budget and pace — with the maps, food and a one-tap PDF?

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Where to stay in Tokyo

Stay near a JR Yamanote or major metro station for the easiest access. Tokyo hotels are compact; 'comfortable' usually means more space and location rather than luxury alone. Prices are estimates and rise sharply in cherry-blossom and autumn-foliage seasons and around major holidays.

Shinjuku

First-timers, nightlife, transport

Tokyo Station / Marunouchi

Central base, shinkansen day trips

Shibuya

Younger travellers, shopping

Asakusa

Budget, old-Tokyo charm

Ueno

Budget, museums, Narita access

By budget

Prices and availability change constantly. Confirm current rates on the hotel or a booking site before paying.

What to budget for Tokyo

Per person, per day, excluding flights. A rough guide only — your costs depend on season, area and pace.

Budget

S$90–135 / day
  • Accommodation: Capsule/hostel/budget business hotel (JPY 4,000–9,000).
  • Meals: Convenience stores, ramen, standing soba, conveyor sushi (JPY 500–1,200/meal).
  • Transport: IC card pay-as-you-go; walk between close stops.
  • Attractions: Prioritise free sights; one paid highlight per few days.
  • Evening: Omoide Yokocho skewers, konbini drinks by the river, free night views.

Mid-range

S$145–215 / day
  • Accommodation: 3-star business or boutique hotel (JPY 12,000–22,000).
  • Meals: Mix of casual restaurants and one nicer meal (JPY 1,000–3,000/meal).
  • Transport: IC card; occasional taxi for convenience.
  • Attractions: Book a couple of paid highlights (e.g. teamLab, Shibuya Sky).
  • Evening: Izakaya dinners, a rooftop drink, one paid night view.

Comfortable

S$225–390 / day
  • Accommodation: 4–5 star or well-located design hotel (JPY 30,000–80,000).
  • Meals: Good restaurants plus one omakase or kaiseki (JPY 2,500–15,000/meal).
  • Transport: Taxis/ride-hailing where convenient; IC card for quick hops.
  • Attractions: Add premium experiences and museums freely.
  • Evening: Reserved fine dining, hotel/skyline bars.

When to visit Tokyo

Weather, daylight and seasonal events vary year to year. Treat this as general guidance and check a forecast and official event calendars close to your dates.

Winter Dec, Jan, Feb

Cold and dry, roughly 2–12°C. Snow is occasional, rarely heavy in central Tokyo.

Plan more indoor time (museums, depachika, teamLab); shorter daylight means earlier viewpoints for sunset.

Look out for: Winter illuminations citywide, New Year shrine visits (very busy 1–3 Jan)

Spring Mar, Apr, May

Mild, roughly 10–22°C; pleasant for walking.

Book accommodation early; expect crowds at Shinjuku Gyoen, Ueno, Nakameguro and Sumida Park during sakura.

Look out for: Cherry blossom (sakura), Golden Week holidays

Summer Jun, Jul, Aug

Hot and humid, often 28–35°C.

Shift sightseeing to morning and evening; use air-conditioned museums and malls at midday; stay hydrated.

Look out for: Summer festivals (matsuri), Fireworks (hanabi)

Autumn Sep, Oct, Nov

Cooling and comfortable, roughly 12–25°C.

For foliage day trips, go early to beat crowds; central gardens (Shinjuku Gyoen) are quieter alternatives.

Look out for: Autumn foliage (koyo)

Common Tokyo mistakes to avoid

Good to know in Tokyo

Getting around

  • Tokyo Metro + Toei subway cover the centre; JR Yamanote loop links the big districts.
  • Google Maps gives accurate platforms, exits and times — exits matter in large stations.
  • Avoid 08:00–09:30 and 17:30–19:00 rush with luggage.
  • Taxis are reliable and safe but expensive; trains are faster within the city.

Buy and top up at any station machine. Tap on entry and exit on metro, JR and buses. Also works at convenience stores and many vending machines.

Money & connectivity

  • Increasingly card- and IC-friendly, but carry some cash for small stalls, shrines and older shops. IC cards work for many vending machines and convenience stores.
  • Pocket Wi-Fi and travel eSIMs are widely available; airport counters rent Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi exists but is patchy — a SIM/eSIM is more reliable.
  • No tipping. It is not expected and can cause confusion. Service is included.

Local etiquette

  • Be quiet on trains; phone calls are frowned upon.
  • Carry your rubbish until you find a bin — public bins are scarce.
  • Remove shoes where indicated (some restaurants, temples, ryokan).
  • Queue neatly and stand on the correct side of escalators (left in Tokyo).
Entry reminder: Entry requirements vary by passport and change often. Many nationalities enter Japan visa-free for short stays, but you must confirm your own requirements on the official immigration website before booking. Last checked 2026-06-14.

Police: 110 · Ambulance / Fire: 119 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24h, multilingual): 050-3816-2787 · Keep your accommodation address in Japanese for taxis.

Tokyo — frequently asked questions

Is 5 days enough for Tokyo?

5–7 days is the usual recommendation for Tokyo. The plan here runs to 5 days, and the full guide builds routes from 1–7 days — so you can shorten or extend it to fit your trip.

What should I eat in Tokyo?

Tokyo's highlights include Tsukiji Outer Market sushi & sashimi stalls, Ramen in Shinjuku, Omoide Yokocho yakitori bars, Tonkatsu (Maisen, Aoyama), Ginza department-store food halls (depachika) and more. Each is linked to Google Maps in the route above; famous spots queue at peak times, so go off-peak or pick a neighbouring stall.

Where should I stay in Tokyo for the first time?

Good bases include Shinjuku (First-timers, nightlife, transport); Tokyo Station / Marunouchi (Central base, shinkansen day trips); Shibuya (Younger travellers, shopping). See "Where to stay" above for the full breakdown by budget.

How much does Tokyo cost per day?

Roughly around S$90–135 a day on a budget, S$145–215 mid-range, S$225–390 comfortable per person, excluding flights and accommodation swings. See "Budget" above for what each tier covers.

When is the best time to visit Tokyo?

Weather, daylight and seasonal events vary year to year. Treat this as general guidance and check a forecast and official event calendars close to your dates. See "When to go" above for the month-by-month detail.

Do I need a visa for Japan?

Entry requirements vary by passport and change often. Many nationalities enter Japan visa-free for short stays, but you must confirm your own requirements on the official immigration website before booking.

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