Expansive, bustling and vibrant are all words that come to mind as I reflect on my summer trip to Tokyo. Tokyo is the biggest city in the world and it definitely felt like it. I spent 5 full days in Tokyo with a detailed itinerary I had spent almost 6 hours planning. From savoring Tokyo’s best ramen to exploring Shibuya Crossing and cruising the streets in go-karts, Tokyo delivered nonstop fun and adventure! Here’s my comprehensive 5-day itinerary as a first-time traveler to Japan.
Tokyo 5 Day Itinerary
Day 1
- Try the BEST in Tokyo at Ichiran Ramen
- Meiji Shrine & Yoyogi Park ( 1 hour)
- Shibuya Crossing (20 minutes)
- Krispie Kreme Donuts (20 minutes)
- Shibuya Sky Observatory (2 hours)
Day 2
- Rent Kimono/Yukata in the Asakusa neighborhood
- Senso-Ji Temple
- Tokyo Dome City
- The Big O Karaoke Ferris Wheel
Day 3
- Tokyo Mario Go Kart Experience
- teamLabs Planets Immersive Museum
- T Nakaneguro Restaraunt
Day 4
- Flipper’s Pancakes
- Tekashita Street
- Visit a Cat a Cat Cafe
- Tax-Free Shopping in the Harajuku Neighborhood
Day 5
- Souvenoir Shopping – Hands Tokyo, Daiso
- Akihabara Arcade/Gaming District
- Gigo 8 Floor Arcade
How to Get from the Narita Airport to Tokyo
Getting from the Narita Airport to the central Tokyo area required 2 trains from the airport. I took the Skyliner 56 Toll Express to the Nipporti Station where I then transferred to get to my hotel which was the Blossom Hibiya. Check out my TikTok video above for a detailed recap!
Day 1: Meiji Shrine & Yoyogi Park, Shibuya Area
My hotel was located in the Shimbashi neighborhood, just a 6 minute walk from Ichiran Ramen which I had heard so much about before arriving to Tokyo. This ramen was the best food I had at Tokyo with it’s savory broth, soft noodles, delicious herbs and spices and the green onion ratio just right. It was the absolute best way to start off the day’s exploration.
Meiji Shrine & Yoyogi Park
Starting off at Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park was a nice welcome to Tokyo as it offered a historical look at the modern city. Meiji Shrine is a peaceful Shinto shrine nested in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. It is a key landmark dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, surrounded by a serene 170-acre blanket of evergreen trees. There are traditional rituals you can take part of as a visitor, like Ema, the ritual of writing down a prayer and hanging it up. The prayers are eventually collected and burned in a sacred fire by the shrine priests, allowing the wishes to be conveyed to the gods.
From the Shrine I continued walking throughout Yoyogi Park. Overall it’s a cool place to take photos, just be mindful of the signs of where you aren’t allowed to take pictures or videos. One hour was a sufficient amount of time.
Shibuya
The focal points for visiting the Shibuya area were Shibuya Crossing and the Shibuya Sky observatory. Located just outside of the Shibuya Station, Shibuya Crossing encapsulates the bustling and vibrant energy of Tokyo. So much so that it is often called the “world’s busiest pedestrian crossing” with thousands of people crossing from all directions, creating a spectacle of organized chaos. I took several photos and timelapses to capture the scene.
Shibuya Food Spot Worth Trying: Krispie Kreme
While waiting for my entry time for Shibuya Sky I had probably the best Krispie Kreme donut I ever had. It was so soft and felt like biting into a slightly sugared cloud. It was delicious!
Shibuya Sky
Shibuya Sky is an open-air observation deck located 754.6 feet above ground, offering a 360-degree view of Tokyo’s stunning skyline. All major cities seem to have some form of their own Shibuya Sky, think the Sears Tower for Chicago, the Empire State Building for New York City, the Eiffel Tower for Paris, and the Sydney Tower Eye for Sydney. Like many places in Tokyo, you must book ahead in advance and tickets open up about one month ahead on their official website. I enjoyed a nighttime peaceful experience at Shibuya Sky with a 7:45pm ticket time with a reserved couch and drinks included in the ticket I purchased. I took as many photos as my heart’s desire and spent a little over 2 hours at the observatory which was all the time I needed.
Day 2: Asakusa, Tokyo Dome City
Renting Kimonos/Yukatas in Tokyo
Renting a kimono was one of the things I had visualized in my head when thinking about my trip to Japan. I had done some research and found that a Yukata was a better option as it is lighter and more breathable for the late June humid weather I would encounter on my trip.
I visited the Cocomo kimono rental shop near Senso-Ji Temple and for around $35 I was assisted with the full adornment of the yukata traditional wear with a hair accessory and small bag to match.
Here are some tips for renting a Kimono in my TikTok below:
Senso-Ji Temple
One of the busiest areas in Tokyo is Senso-ji Temple, the city’s oldest and most famous Buddhist temple, renowned for its stunning architecture, rich history, and vibrant atmosphere in the heart of Asakusa. I spent about an hour or so in the temple area engaging in more traditional activities such as burning incense, shaking the metal canister for Omikuji (a paper fortune), and where I received a good fortune. I thought I would need to spend the full allotted time for the yukata rental but it didn’t take long until I succumbed to the humidity of Tokyo and the hunger building inside of me. After a good 2 hours in the yukata it was time to head on back to Cocomo to change and eat some food.
Tokyo Dome City, The Big O Karaoke Wheel
Jet leg was whooping my butt and I was headed on a train back to the hotel but knew taking a 2 hour nap would set me up for the hardest time trying to sleep later that night.I got off the train and headed to Tokyo Dome City for the evening, a charming amusement park perfect for families, featuring a karaoke Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and a mechanical water ride, all surrounded by a shopping mall. Ending the evening with a splash on the water ride was the perfect way to cool off and close the day.
Day 3: Mario Kart Street Racing, teamLabs Planets, T Nakemegero Restaraunt
By far what I was most looking forward to in Tokyo was doing the Mario Kart go kart experience! I had seen so many cool videos on social media and I was excited to try it for myself. Before arriving to Tokyo you must get an International Drivers Permit if you’d like to participate as a driver in the activity. I booked this just a few days ahead of my trip at a local AAA office for just $20. Not all AAA offices offer this service as it is specific to AAA Travel offices so call ahead to just to be sure. The permit process is completed all within one day and my process took less than 20 minutes. I booked the tour through Viator with a company called Monkey Kart and it was about $96 total. Asakusa was probably the quietest location I’d ever come across during my time in Tokyo. As I rushed there, I was greeted by kind and friendly tour staff members and they provided a detailed yet fun overview of the safety and driving instructions. It’s like operating any other type of race car or go-kart-style vehicle. Being on the road was only a tad bit intimidating because right next to me cars and vans were moving at their usual speed while I was just here in a go-kart driving in Japan for the first time! But the road experience was overall safe and the instructors had clear hand signals to help guide our small group. It truly lived up to the hype and excitement I had about the excursion.
Next on my list that day was visiting the teamLabs Planets immersive museum. When you arrive, they ask you to take off your shoes and the experience gets real right away. It was an immersive experience where all of your senses can be engaged. I loved the koi fish water exhibit and the floating flower/plant exhibit. As someone who loves museums and exhibits, I think this was worth the visit!
Day 4: Exploring the Harajuku Neighborhood
After a busy first couple of days, day 4 was a nice day to stroll through the Harajuku Neighborhood and visit the famous Tekashita Street. But first, I had some delicious fluffy pancakes at Flipper’s which was walking distance from Shibuya Crossing. Flippers is a souffle-style fluffy pancake with a variety of toppings. I had lemon-flavored pancake that came that reminded me of Luigi’s Italian Ice. It was so good!
After eating, I explored Tekashita Street and found the most adorable cat cafe I HAD to stop by. It’s a 30-minute slot and you can buy a warm drink with cat art during your stay. Moving on to the shopping portion, I finally got to take advantage of the tax free shopping in Japan at a couple of stores. I shopped at Uniqlo for the first time and got some nice staples for the fall season.
Day 5: Akihabara Gaming District and the Gigo 8 Floor Arcade
If you love games, gaming, and all-around entertainment then you HAVE to visit the Akihabara Gaming District and just spend the whole day in the arcade. It was my last full day in Japan, and after getting some souvenirs from Hands Tokyo and Daiso I headed to the Gigo 8 Floor Arcade. Yes, EIGHT floors. They had one of the coolest types of Dance Dance Revolution games where the entire square is utilized for dancing. I broke a sweat and had a blast. I spent most of my time at the arcade before coming back to my hotel to pack up for the voyage home.
Final Day: Pawn Shop Experience and Back to the Airport
Shopping is such a big thing in Tokyo and their pawn shops are next level. Of course, I had to see what the luxury thrifting experience was all about in Japan. I got a brand new Coach signature bag for just $80. I’m trying to build up my purse collection so this was a nice staple to have for my new era. If you love to shop, make sure to save some extra space in your suitcase for all of the clothes and shoes you’ll likely come across.
I was content with my final purchase before heading back to the airport. This time around I took an Uber which was a solid idea based on the amount of time I had before my flight’s departure. A long flight awaited me but in the past were lively and fun memories of my time in Tokyo!
Japan was as vibrant and lively as I could have imagined and I sure enjoyed it! If you’ve ever been to Tokyo, be sure to share your highlights in the comments.
As always,
Take it Step by Step and DaibyDai
This is so detailed and helpful!
Great breakdown! Seems like the time you had was amazing.
Wow, thanks for all of the info. Can’t wait to go!
Author
Thank you! You would have soooo much fun.
OMGEEE‼️‼️‼️ I LOVED THIS‼️ THE SCENERY IS BEAUTIFUL! ALL OF THE LOCATIONS ARE AWESOME AND THE FOOD AND FUN‼️‼️🤩🤩🎉🎉🎯💗💗💗 THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO TRAVEL WITH YOU!
Author
Had so much fun here! Glad you enjoyed the post 🙂