Why this guide: about 33,100 people a month search Google for “things to do in tokyo” (US, DataForSEO Labs, September 2026). This is the answer we would give a client, written to be booked from.
The short answer
- Do firstMeiji Shrine at opening, Shibuya Crossing from the Sky, teamLab Planets, and Senso-ji after dark
- FreeMeiji Shrine, Senso-ji, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's observation deck, Yoyogi Park
- SkipThe Robot Restaurant-style tourist shows and paying for the Skytree if you are doing Shibuya Sky
Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku
Shibuya Crossing from Shibuya Sky (book the sunset slot weeks ahead) or, free, from the Starbucks in Tsutaya; Hachiko; Center Gai. Harajuku's Takeshita Street for the teen fashion, Omotesando for the architecture, and Meiji Shrine's forest at 8 a.m. before the coaches. Shinjuku: the Metropolitan Government Building's free 45th-floor deck, Omoide Yokocho's yakitori alleys, Golden Gai's two-seat bars, and Shinjuku Gyoen's gardens for cherry blossom.
Asakusa, Ueno and the east
Senso-ji through the Kaminarimon gate and Nakamise's stalls — go at 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m. when the crowds are gone and the temple is lit. The Skytree across the river; a Sumida river cruise to Hamarikyu Gardens. Ueno Park's museums (the Tokyo National Museum is the one) and Ameyoko market. Ryogoku for the Sumo Museum and a tournament in January, May or September — or a morning stable practice.
teamLab, Tsukiji and the bay
teamLab Planets (Toyosu) and teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills) are the two immersive art museums — book weeks ahead; Planets is the wet-feet one. Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast (tamagoyaki, uni, tuna bowls); Toyosu for the tuna auction viewing at 5 a.m. Odaiba for the bay, the Gundam and the Ferris wheel; Ginza for the department-store basements (depachika) and the Kabuki-za's single-act tickets.
Akihabara, Yanaka and day trips
Akihabara for electronics and anime, Jimbocho for books, Yanaka for the old shitamachi streets and cemetery. Day trips: Nikko (Toshogu shrine, 2 hours), Kamakura (the Great Buddha and Enoshima, 1 hour), Hakone (Fuji views, onsen, the open-air museum, 90 minutes), or Mount Fuji's Kawaguchiko in clear autumn weather. See our Mount Fuji and Shibuya guides.
Eat, and get there
Ramen at Fuunji or Nakiryu, sushi at a counter you book (Sushi Saito is impossible; mid-range omakase is not), yakitori in Omoide Yokocho, tempura, a konbini breakfast, and one kaiseki. Haneda (HND) is 20–30 minutes from central Tokyo, Narita (NRT) 60–90; the engine's Tokyo page carries the hotels, and a chauffeur from Narita is the difference between arriving and enduring. See the best time to visit Japan.
Three things to get right
- Book Shibuya Sky, teamLab and any sushi counter before you fly.
- Temples at 7 a.m. or after dark; shopping districts mid-afternoon.
- A Suica card on your phone covers every train, bus and konbini.
Book it
Featured destination: Tokyo — hotels, airport and activities on one engine page.
