Five days is just enough time to scratch the surface of Tokyo — if you plan deliberately. This itinerary balances famous landmarks with neighbourhood wandering, great food, and a day trip to Nikko, so you leave with a real sense of the city rather than a blur of subway transfers.
Day 1: Asakusa and the historic east
Start at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa before 8 a.m., when the main hall is quiet and Nakamise shopping street is just opening. The temple grounds are free; allow 90 minutes to explore the pagoda, incense hall, and side streets east of the main gate. Walk 15 minutes north to Kappabashi Street if you enjoy kitchenware and restaurant-supply shops — it is a slice of Tokyo most tourists never see.
Cross the Sumida River toward Tokyo Skytree in the afternoon. The observation deck costs around ¥2,100, but the exterior and surrounding Oshiage neighbourhood are worth exploring even if you skip the lift. Finish with dinner at a tempura counter in Asakusa's backstreets — set menus often run ¥1,500–2,500, far better value than chain restaurants near the temple gate.
Day 2: Shibuya, Harajuku, and Shinjuku
Morning belongs to Shibuya Crossing and the surrounding streets — arrive before 10 a.m. to watch the scramble without the densest crowds. Walk 15 minutes to Meiji Shrine through its forested approach; the shrine is free and offers a calm contrast to Harajuku's Takeshita Street, where fashion boutiques and crepe stands pack into 350 metres of controlled chaos.
Spend the afternoon in Shinjuku. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden charges around ¥500 entry and is worth it for cherry blossoms in late March or autumn maples in November. After dark, explore Omoide Yokocho's tiny yakitori alleys or Golden Gai's micro-bars — many seats charge a cover of ¥500–1,000, so check menus before sitting down.
Day 3: Museums and Ginza
Reserve this day for slower indoor culture. The Imperial Palace East Gardens are free and open most mornings; pair them with a Ginza lunch at a department-store food hall (depachika), where bento boxes run ¥800–1,500. If you booked teamLab tickets in advance, schedule them for the afternoon — sessions last 60–90 minutes and require timed entry.
Balance the week's ramen and convenience-store breakfasts with one splurge dinner: a sushi counter or kaiseki set in Ginza or Nihonbashi. Lunch sets at high-end restaurants often cost half the dinner price — a practical way to experience top-tier cuisine without the ¥20,000 evening bill.
Day 4: Day trip to Nikko
Take the Tobu Railway from Asakusa to Nikko — the journey takes about two hours and costs roughly ¥2,800 one way without a pass. The Toshogu Shrine complex alone justifies the trip: UNESCO-listed carvings, the famous "see no evil" monkeys, and cedar-lined paths that feel centuries removed from Tokyo's density. Admission to the main shrine area is around ¥1,300.
Allow a full day. Local buses connect the station to Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls if you have energy after the shrines — the loop adds 3–4 hours. Book the Nikko All Area Pass in advance during peak autumn weekends when trains fill up.
Day 5: Go deeper into a neighbourhood
Keep your final day unstructured. Return to whichever area felt most interesting — Yanaka's old-town cemetery paths and craft shops, Shimokitazawa's vintage clothing arcades, or Tsukiji Outer Market for a morning of seafood bowls (¥1,000–2,000) followed by teamLab Planets if you missed it earlier. Five days will not make you a Tokyo expert, but this route ensures you see the highlights without exhausting yourself on the subway.
