4 Days in Tokyo: A Practical First-Time Itinerary
The short answer: how to split four days in Tokyo
For 4 days in Tokyo, give each day one part of the city:
- Day 1: Asakusa and Ueno, Tokyo's older east side.
- Day 2: Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, and Shibuya, ending at Shibuya Sky.
- Day 3: The Tsukiji Outer Market and Ginza, then teamLab Planets.
- Day 4: Shinjuku, from its garden to its evening alleys.
Book Shibuya Sky and teamLab ahead, check which days museums and markets close, and note one change for shoppers: purchases from November 1, 2026 use a pay-first system, with the refund arranged after customs confirms export.
This plan assumes four full sightseeing days. Tokyo is huge, so the route keeps each day in one area and uses the subway for longer hops. If you're continuing to Kyoto, the last section explains how.
Jump to
- four-day Tokyo at a glance
- What to book before you fly
- Where to stay for this itinerary
- Getting around: IC cards and subway passes
- Day 1: Asakusa and Ueno
- Day 2: Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, and Shibuya
- Day 3: Tsukiji, Ginza, and teamLab Planets
- Day 4: Shinjuku
- Continuing to Kyoto
- Tax-free shopping in 2026: what changed
- Keep / Swap / Skip
- preparation checklist
- FAQ
Your four-day Tokyo itinerary at a glance
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| Day | Main area | Core stops | Optional stop | Watch for | Main transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asakusa + Ueno | Sensō-ji, Ueno Park | Tokyo National Museum | Museum usually closed Mondays; holiday exceptions | Subway |
| 2 | Harajuku + Shibuya | Meiji Jingu, Omotesando, Shibuya Crossing | Shibuya Sky | Timed ticket | JR or subway |
| 3 | Tsukiji + Ginza + Toyosu | Tsukiji Outer Market, Ginza | teamLab Planets | Many shops close Sun and some Wed; check shop calendars and holiday hours; timed ticket | Subway |
| 4 | Shinjuku | Shinjuku Gyoen, evening alleys | Department store food halls | Check garden closures and exceptions | Walk, subway |
Details checked October 27, 2026. Confirm hours, prices, and closures for your own dates.
Who this itinerary is for
This route suits independent first-time visitors who want Tokyo's big neighborhoods without spending half the day on trains. Expect long walking days through busy stations. Plan one major ticketed visit per day, and leave room for food: in Tokyo, that is part of the sightseeing.
What to book before you fly
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| Booking | Why it matters | When to book |
|---|---|---|
| Shibuya Sky | Timed entry; sunset slots sell out first, and if tickets sell out online, the counter has none either | As soon as your booking window opens |
| teamLab Planets | Timed entry with prices that change by date and slot | Weeks ahead for weekends |
| Accommodation | Station access shapes every day | Once your dates are firm |
| Shinkansen to Kyoto (if continuing) | Seat reservations on busy dates | Once your onward date is set |
Use the attraction’s official booking site first. If you choose an authorized reseller, compare the exact attraction, entry slot, inclusions, and cancellation terms.
Decide whether teamLab Planets is a priority before buying. If that experience is a main reason for your Tokyo trip, choose its slot first and fit the Tsukiji and Ginza portions of Day 3 around it. If you would rather spend the afternoon eating, shopping and exploring those neighborhoods, leave the Toyosu visit out instead of buying a ticket just to complete this itinerary. Compare sellers only once you have chosen the visit you actually want.
Tokyo ticket planning
Compare teamLab Planets entry options
Use the attraction’s official booking site first. For a reseller comparison, check the exact venue, date, entry slot, inclusions, and cancellation terms against the official seller.
This link is for teamLab Planets Tokyo. Match the venue and time slot to your itinerary.
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compare teamLab Planets Tokyo tickets on TiqetsWhere to stay for this itinerary
Location by station matters more than neighborhood names in Tokyo:
- Ueno is convenient for Day 1 and the Skyliner from Narita. Asakusa is another useful east-side base; check the airport route to your exact station.
- Shinjuku or Shibuya suits Days 2 and 4 and has rail links in every direction.
- Tokyo Station or Ginza is central for Day 3 and for Shinkansen departures to Kyoto.
Before you book, check the walk to the nearest station and which lines stop there. Our hotel selection checklist helps you compare the room, total price, and booking terms.
Compare stays near your chosen station
Start with one of the bases above, then use the map to narrow your search. Check the walk to the station, room size, total price, and cancellation terms for your dates.
Affiliate link: BoardingNotes may earn a commission if you book through this link.
Compare Tokyo stays on Booking.comGetting around: IC cards and subway passes
From the airport
- From Narita: The Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station in about 60 minutes. The Keisei Skyliner reaches Nippori in about 40 minutes (Ueno is one stop on).
- From Haneda: The Tokyo Monorail reaches Hamamatsucho in about 20 minutes, and the Keikyu Line reaches Shinagawa in about 15 minutes.
IC cards: Suica and PASMO
An IC card is a rechargeable tap card for trains, subways, buses, and many convenience stores. Regular Suica and PASMO cards went back on general sale in 2025 after a chip shortage. Visitors have a few options:
- Welcome Suica Mobile: iPhone only; lives in your Apple Wallet.
- Welcome Suica card: A physical visitor card valid for 28 days. Any balance left is not refunded, so spend it down before you leave.
- Regular Suica or PASMO: Sold at stations.
Should you buy a subway pass?
The Tokyo Subway Ticket, sold to visitors, covers all Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines for 24 hours (¥1,000), 48 hours (¥1,500), or 72 hours (¥2,000) from first use. It doesn't cover JR lines such as the Yamanote Line. Add up the covered fares for your actual routes and compare that total with the pass price. Several short rides may still cost less separately, especially on this itinerary's walking-heavy days. Keep an IC card for journeys outside the pass network, and do not add detours simply to use the pass.
Stay connected
Maps and train planners do most of the work in Tokyo, so plan your data before you land. An eSIM is one option if your phone is unlocked and supports it. Our international eSIM guide explains what to check.
If you book or buy through this link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. If your current plan does not cover Japan, compare Japan eSIM plans on Airalo. Check device compatibility, coverage, data allowance, validity, and activation rules before buying.
Day 1: Asakusa and Ueno
Route: Sensō-ji → Nakamise-dōri → Ueno Park → optional Tokyo National Museum → Ameyoko or Akihabara in the evening.
Start early at Sensō-ji in Asakusa for quieter temple grounds, then return to Nakamise as shops open. An early temple visit does not mean the shops will already be trading. Then ride the subway to Ueno Park.
The Tokyo National Museum offers a broad introduction to Japanese art and archaeology, but it is usually closed on Mondays. When Monday is a national holiday, it normally opens and closes the following day. For late-2026 trips, note the December 15 closure and December 26–31 year-end closure; on December 22–25, only the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures and Kuroda Memorial Hall are scheduled to open. Other galleries also have temporary closures, so check the museum calendar before choosing your day. Reorder the itinerary before fixing timed tickets, and recheck Tsukiji's shop calendars if you move Day 3.
Finish with the busy market street of Ameyoko near Ueno Station, or the electronics and anime shops of Akihabara.
Day 2: Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, and Shibuya
Route: Meiji Jingu → Takeshita Street and Omotesando → Shibuya Crossing → Shibuya Sky at your booked time.
Start at Meiji Jingu, a large shrine set in a forest next to Harajuku Station. Then walk through Harajuku: busy Takeshita Street first, then the wide Omotesando avenue toward Shibuya.
If sunset matters to you, try to book Shibuya Sky for about an hour beforehand, subject to the ticket’s entry and visit conditions. The outdoor deck can close in poor weather. That lets you see the city in daylight, at sunset, and after dark from one visit. If sunset slots are gone, a daytime slot still shows the crossing and, on clear days, mountains in the distance.
Day 3: Tsukiji, Ginza, and teamLab Planets
Route: Tsukiji Outer Market → Ginza → teamLab Planets in Toyosu.
The Tsukiji Outer Market is liveliest between about 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Many shops close on Sundays and some Wednesdays; individual schedules vary. Check the official market calendar and your chosen shops for your date, including national holidays. Card acceptance varies by shop, so ask before buying and carry yen for cash purchases. The wholesale fish market moved to Toyosu in 2018; the outer market's food stalls and shops stayed in Tsukiji.
Walk into Ginza for lunch, a coffee, and its department store food halls. In the afternoon, take the subway to teamLab Planets in Toyosu for your timed entry. Plan for about two hours, and wear clothes you can roll up: you walk barefoot through water.
Day 4: Shinjuku
Route: Shinjuku Gyoen → Shinjuku Station area → evening in the alleys around Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai.
Start at Shinjuku Gyoen, a large garden that changes with the seasons. It usually closes on Mondays—or the next weekday when Monday is a public holiday—and from December 29 through January 3. From October 1 to March 14, admission normally ends at 4 p.m. and the garden closes at 4:30 p.m. The garden also opens on Mondays during the cherry blossom period (March 25 to April 24) and from November 1 to 15. Busy blossom-season dates may require advance reservations; check the garden’s current entry rules.
Spend the afternoon around Shinjuku Station. In the evening, walk the narrow lanes of small bars and food stalls around Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai. Some bars charge a seating fee, so check before you sit down.
Continuing to Kyoto
The Nozomi shinkansen runs from Tokyo to Kyoto in about 2 hours 15 minutes. A one-way ticket costs about ¥14,000.
For a simple Tokyo–Kyoto–Tokyo trip, compare individual tickets with the current Japan Rail Pass price before booking. Pass prices differ by purchase channel. The pass alone does not cover Nozomi or Mizuho trains: pass holders must buy the additional Nozomi Mizuho Ticket before boarding each train.
For Kyoto itself, see our Kyoto in Fall: A Practical 4-Day Itinerary.
Tax-free shopping in 2026: what changed
For purchases from November 1, 2026, Japan switches to a refund system: pay the tax-inclusive price at an eligible store, show your passport, and follow the retailer’s refund instructions after customs verifies export at departure. Keep the goods available for inspection before checking your luggage. The refund is handled through the retailer or its service provider; it is not a promise of immediate cash at the airport.
The export window becomes 90 days from purchase. Goods consumed in Japan do not qualify. Read the official explanation and leave time for the departure checks.
Keep / Swap / Skip
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| Your situation | Keep | Swap | Skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your planned museum or garden visit falls on a closed day | Open stops and confirmed timed bookings | Move the museum or garden to an open day; recheck ticket times and Tsukiji shop calendars | Assuming a whole day can move unchanged |
| Your chosen Tsukiji shops are closed on Day 3 | teamLab Planets | Move those shops to a morning when they open | Assuming every Tsukiji shop follows one calendar |
| Shibuya Sky is sold out at sunset | Shibuya | A daytime slot or another viewpoint | Waiting at the counter |
| Rain | teamLab, museums, food halls | Gardens for indoor stops | Long park walks |
| Limited walking | One area per day | Walks for short subway hops | Extra shopping streets |
| Spring (cherry blossom season) | Shinjuku Gyoen, Ueno Park | Go early on weekdays | — |
Your preparation checklist
- Book Shibuya Sky and teamLab Planets time slots.
- Check each museum, garden and Tsukiji shop’s calendar for your dates, including holiday exceptions.
- Set up an IC card or plan which subway pass fits your days.
- Carry some cash for markets and small shops.
- Read the 2026 tax-free rules if you plan to shop.
- Check entry requirements for your passport with our international travel checklist.
Planning sources
Key booking and rule sources checked October 27, 2026: Tokyo Subway Ticket · Japan Rail Pass prices · Tokyo National Museum · Shibuya Sky · teamLab Planets. Check the provider’s calendar for the date you intend to travel.
Frequently asked questions
Is four days enough for Tokyo?
Yes, for a first visit with one area per day. Add a day for a day trip or a slower pace.
Do I need to book Shibuya Sky and teamLab in advance?
Yes, for both. Both use timed entry, and sunset slots at Shibuya Sky sell out first. If tickets sell out online, there are none at the counter either.
Is the Tokyo Subway Ticket worth it?
Only if the covered fares for your planned journeys justify the price. It costs ¥1,000 for 24 hours, ¥1,500 for 48, and ¥2,000 for 72, covering Tokyo Metro and Toei lines but not JR. Compare your actual routes; an IC card can cost less on walking-heavy days.
What changed with tax-free shopping?
Purchases from November 1, 2026 use a pay-first, refund-later process. Customs verifies export, and the retailer or its refund service handles payment. Keep eligible purchases available for inspection.
Which Tokyo airport is closer to the city?
Haneda. From there, the Keikyu Line reaches Shinagawa in about 15 minutes and the monorail reaches Hamamatsucho in about 20. From Narita, allow about 40 to 60 minutes by express train.
What are Tokyo's common closing days?
Many museums and gardens usually close on Mondays, with holiday and seasonal exceptions. At Tsukiji, many shops close on Sundays and some Wednesdays; holiday schedules also vary. Check the official calendars and the individual shops for your dates.
When is cherry blossom season in Tokyo?
Usually late March to early April, but it varies by year. Official forecasts are published closer to the season; plan flexible days and check the latest forecast.
Before you go
Book your two timed visits, plan around closing days, and give each day one part of the city. Four days in Tokyo work best when the trains do the long distances and you take your time on foot.
Planning more of your trip? Explore our Japan travel guides for the Tokyo itinerary and Kyoto fall plan.
