Cover photo: Shibuya crossing (12214).jpg (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons

Tokyo is large enough that three days will never cover it, but three days is enough to get a real sense of the city if you keep each day to one or two areas. The plan below groups sights by neighborhood and by rail line, so you spend more time looking around and less time changing trains. Treat every timing as approximate and check opening days, reservations and closures on official sources before you go.

Route overview

The idea is simple: one day for the older east side, one day for the western districts around the big parks and shrines, and one day for a mix of markets, gardens and evening neighborhoods that suits your own interests.

• Day 1: Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara, the older and more traditional side.
• Day 2: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku.
• Day 3: The Imperial Palace area, Tokyo Station, and a flexible afternoon.

If you are staying in Shinjuku, Ueno or near Tokyo Station, all three days can start with a short train ride and no luggage hauling.

Day 1: Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara

Start early at Senso-ji in Asakusa, Tokyo's oldest well-known temple. The approach through Kaminarimon gate and the Nakamise shopping street gets crowded as the morning goes on, so arriving before the shops fully open gives you a quieter walk. Temple grounds are usually open to walk through at most hours, but shops keep their own schedules.

From there, you have a few options:

1. Walk toward the Sumida River for a look at the skyline, including Tokyo Skytree, then decide whether you want to go up. Observation decks need tickets, and the queue depends on the day, so check the official site.
2. Take a train to Ueno for lunch and a walk through Ueno Park. The park holds several museums, including the Tokyo National Museum. Museums often close one weekday, commonly Monday, but this varies, so confirm before you plan around one.
3. Keep the afternoon light and stroll through Yanaka, an older neighborhood within walking distance of Ueno, where small shops and side streets survive from an earlier era.

In the evening, head to Akihabara for electronics shops, arcades and anime stores. Even if none of that interests you, walking through the main street after dark is an easy way to see a very different side of Tokyo.

Day 2: Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku

Begin at Meiji Shrine, which sits inside a forested park next to Harajuku Station. The gravel path from the gate to the main hall takes a while on foot, and the quiet is a good contrast to the city outside. Follow the signs for the customary steps at the gate and the purification fountain.

Then walk out to Harajuku. Takeshita Street is the busy, youth-oriented shopping lane, and Omotesando, the tree-lined avenue nearby, is calmer and lined with larger stores and cafes. Pick whichever suits you, or do a quick pass through both.

Continue to Shibuya, where the famous scramble crossing is within sight of the station. Many visitors like to watch it from an elevated viewpoint in one of the nearby buildings, and a few of those charge entry, so look up current details before you go.

Finish the day in Shinjuku. Options include:

• The observation floors of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, which have historically been free to enter, though you should confirm this and check the current hours.
• Omoide Yokocho, a narrow lane of small grilled-food counters near the station's west side.
• Golden Gai, a cluster of tiny bars that some visitors find welcoming and others find crowded. Some venues have cover charges or limited seating for newcomers, so read signs before entering.

Day 3: Palace area, Tokyo Station and a flexible afternoon

Spend the morning around the Imperial Palace. The East Gardens are open to the public on most days, with a few closures, so check the Imperial Household Agency site. It is a spacious, quiet walk that works well after two busy days.

From there, walk to Tokyo Station, where the red-brick Marunouchi building is worth a look from the outside, and the underground streets have a huge range of places to eat. This is also a practical place for lunch, since so many restaurants cluster here.

For the afternoon, choose one:

1. Gardens: Shinjuku Gyoen or Hamarikyu Gardens for a slower pace.
2. Neighborhood wander: Nakameguro, Shimokitazawa or Kagurazaka, each with a different small-street feel.
3. Museum or market day: Depending on your interests, check what is open and reserve if needed. Some popular attractions require timed tickets booked ahead.

If you still have energy in the evening, a walk around Ginza or a meal near your hotel is a gentle way to finish.

Getting around

Tokyo's rail network is dense, and you will likely use trains for most of your trips. A rechargeable IC card such as Suica or Pasmo makes rides simple, and many phone wallets can now hold one, though setup depends on your phone and region. Check the official railway sites for the current options for visitors.

A few tips:

• Google Maps or a similar app handles train routing well, including platform numbers and transfer times.
• Rush hour, roughly early morning and early evening on weekdays, is very crowded. Avoid it for luggage or when you are in a hurry.
• The last trains run around midnight, but the time varies by line. Check before you head out for the evening.

Timing and seasons

Spring and autumn tend to bring pleasant walking weather, and they are also busy. Summer can be hot and humid, so plan indoor stops for the afternoon. Winter is usually dry and cold, with clear days that help with views. Golden Week in late April and early May and the mid-August Obon period are busy across Japan.

Budget notes

Tokyo can be done at several price levels. Convenience stores and casual noodle or rice-bowl shops keep food costs modest. Temples and shrines are often free, gardens and museums usually charge a small entry fee, and observation decks and special attractions cost more. Look up current prices on official pages instead of relying on older guides.

Common mistakes

• Trying to visit five areas in one day. Cross-city trips take longer than the map suggests.
• Arriving at a museum or garden without checking closing days.
• Carrying only a card. Some small shops and shrines still prefer cash.
• Skipping lunch until late. Restaurants sometimes pause between lunch and dinner service.
• Ignoring the last train.

Packing and etiquette

Bring comfortable walking shoes, since three days of touring will often mean well over ten kilometers on foot each day. A small bag for rubbish is useful because public bins are scarce. Keep your voice down on trains, avoid phone calls on board, and stand on the side of the escalator that local custom suggests, which varies by region. Remove shoes where indicated.

Staying connected

Maps, translation and train apps carry most of the load in Tokyo, so reliable data matters more than you might expect. A Japan eSIM with the Flexible Top-up Feature lets you add more data when you run low, which helps if you use maps and video more than you planned. Compare plan details and check that your phone supports eSIM before you buy.

Before you leave home, download offline maps for the main areas as a backup, and screenshot any booking confirmations you might need. With that in place, a Japan eSIM from eSIMCircle is just one more small item to sort out before the flight, and the rest of the time goes to walking the city.