Tokyo Short Stay Guide : How to Make the Most of Your Short Time in the City
If you’re travelling on business, or on a long haul flight from another trip, you may have a layover in Tokyo. This could range from only a few hours to a day or two! If you’re lucky enough for it to be between 24 hours or 48 hours, you can make the most of your time in the Capital and do some exploring! To help you navigate the tricky question of how you should spend your short time wisely in Tokyo, we have an itinerary suitable for a 24 hour layover, and for a 48 hour layover we recommend booking a guided tour. We hope this page will give you the inspiration you need! On this page you will find the following information :
— How to Spend 24 Hours in Tokyo
— How to Spend 48 Hours in Tokyo
— How to Get to Tokyo from the Airport
HOW TO SPEND 24 HOURS IN TOKYO
Tokyo is a bustling city with so much to see and do. Having only 24 hours in the city may feel daunting and leave you unsure on where is best to get the most out of your day/night. However, we have crafted an itinerary for the perfect 24 hours in the capital. Read on to see our suggestions!
Morning :
6:00am – Tsukiji Outer Market
Start your day early and make the most of your short stay by heading to Tokyo’s most famous market, Tsukiji. Open from 6am, it’s perfect if you want to fill your time in the early hours of the morning. Enjoy a breakfast like no other eating the freshest seafood and best sushi Tokyo has to offer. Explore the many other stalls selling Wagyu and Kobe beef, fresh fruit, fluffy egg omelettes and traditional Japanese sweets.
8:00am – Meiji Jingu Shrine
Another great attraction to fill the early hours is to visit a shrine or temple. Generally open to the public from 8:00am, we highly recommend using your time to visit one of Tokyo’s most famous shrines, Meiji Jingu. Surrounded by a lush green forest, the peaceful walk to the shrine at this time will leave you feeling refreshed and at peace. Enjoy the minimal design of the shrine complex and buy a paper fortune as a memento of your visit. Pop into the Shrine’s cafe for a coffee before heading to your next stop!
09:30 – Harajuku and Takeshita Dori Street
Just a stone’s throw away from Meiji Shrine is the pop culture hot spot Harajuku and Takeshita Dori. Known for its youth culture, street fashion, unique cafes and sweets, it is a must visit to experience the modern side of Tokyo. Stroll down the main street of Takeshita to try some of its famous Crepes or browse in the eclectic mix of shops.
11:00am – Shibuya Crossing
A short walk from Harajuku is the core of modern Tokyo, Shibuya! Visit the iconic ‘Shibuya Scramble’ crossing, the busiest crossing in the world! Take a moment to people watch and gaze at the atmosphere of the bustling metropolis, before popping to visit the famous Hachikō statue located just opposite the crossing outside Shibuya station.
Afternoon :
12:00am – As you’re in Shibuya, have lunch in one of its many restaurants or trendy cafes. If you need fast service due to being short on time, we recommend Ichiran Ramen for a quick but delicious meal.
1:30pm – Asakusa and Senso-Ji Temple
If you’re visiting Tokyo, you absolutely have to visit the famous Asakusa district. Famous for its historical and traditional atmosphere, it has some of the best temples and shrines in all of Tokyo, including the oldest temple in Tokyo, Senso-ji. Pay a visit to this beautiful temple before exploring Nakamise Dori lined with amazing street food vendors and local crafts to pick up the perfect souvenir.
3:30pm – Tokyo Skytree
Just across the Sumida river from Asakusa you will find Tokyo Skytree. This is the tallest structure in Japan and boasts fantastic panoramic views of Tokyo! You can enjoy a drink at the bar and relax as you gaze out at the city. It also has a large shopping complex located as its base.
Evening and Night :
5:30pm – Akihabara
Head here for all things anime and pop culture! Here you can enjoy the bright lights and neon signs, character cafes, games arcades and shopping for anime and electrical goods. Even if you’re not an anime fan, you can take some great street photography shots here.
7:00pm – Odaiba and Tokyo Bay
To enjoy your one and only night in Tokyo, explore the man made island of Tokyo Bay. Full of bay side restaurants and bars, you can sit and wind down on your final night with a drink overlooking the main island and the Tokyo cityscape. Wonder at the city lit up and the rainbow bridge on the horizon. Why not also go to TeamLab to experience their TeamLab Planets exhibition. Open until 10:00pm, this makes for a great late night and final activity before heading back to the airport or your hotel.
HOW TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN TOKYO
Continuing on from the end of the 24 hour itinerary above, we will now provide additional suggestions for you so that you can combine them to create your perfect 48 hour itinerary! If you’re lucky enough to have 48 hours in the city, we recommend spending one of your days on a guided tour with us! Of course, we also recommend booking one of our tours even if you only have 24 hours in Tokyo. Pick your favourite tour from our Tokyo selection, book and we take care of the rest! An experienced local guide will show you around, ensuring you will be getting the best and most time effective experience on your short trip. All our Tokyo based tours usually run anywhere between 8:15am to 5:00pm.
Here is a flavour of some of our Tokyo tours we offer, for more information and to see more tours scroll down to the ’Best Tours in Tokyo’ section.
1 Day Tour
| Ultimate Tokyo Tour : Imperial Palace, Sake, Robots, Japanese Gardens and Edo Museum | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 16:45 |
| Meeting Place | Inside Tokyo Station’s Domed Lobby Area by Green and White Information Board |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Walking Tour in Shinjuku and Kagurazaka : Tokyo Hot Spots and Hidden Gems | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:30 – 17:30 |
| Meeting Place | Inside Yotsuya Sanchome Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
THINGS TO DO IN TOKYO
This page would not be complete without also suggesting our wider list of recommendations on things to do in Tokyo. Pick and mix from our recommendations to help you build a customised itinerary. So why not check out our 25 Things to Do in Tokyo page which will also give you plenty of inspiration for your short time spent in Tokyo. Here you will find some of the best activities and recommendations on how to spend your time in the Capital, as well as some tours that you could join to make the most out of your short stay!
From watching Sumo wrestlers train to eating the freshest sushi at local markets, playing Taiko drums to exploring hidden shrines and temples, Tokyo truly has it all. Our Tokyo tours enable you to pick and choose from a wide range of areas and activities to explore during your trip. Want to explore lesser known neighbourhoods in Tokyo, or do you want to get into the hustle and bustle of the world’s most populated city, then click the link above and start exploring what you can do in Tokyo to make your trip unforgettable.
BEST TOURS IN TOKYO
Tokyo is steeped in history. The city has faced many hardships from earthquakes, fires and the air raids of WW2, and unfortunately many of its oldest buildings and structures have disappeared over time. However, Tokyo does a fantastic job at celebrating and retaining much of its character and culture, with stunning renovations of temples and shrines, museums housing some of Japan’s finest artefacts, and pockets of neighbourhoods that have managed to preserve its original architecture despite the many challenges its faced. Pop culture lovers will rejoice at Japan’s modern aesthetic, with its bright lights and neon signs that make the city glow at night. There is so much to see and do in Tokyo. You may decide that the best way to spend your short time in Tokyo is with a local and experienced guide! So why not check out our ’Best Tours in Tokyo’ page which will give you information on our best tours available. Please note, our Tokyo tours generally run anywhere between 8.15am to 5.00pm. We do not provide evening or night time tours.
HOW TO GET TO TOKYO FROM THE AIRPORT
As Japan’s sprawling capital, Tokyo is the start and end point of numerous train lines and express bus services making it easy to reach from all over the country. Our ‘How to Get to Tokyo’ page includes detailed information about how to get there from popular starting points including Tokyo Haneda airport and Tokyo Narita. Why not also check out our ’Comparing Tokyo Haneda Airport and Tokyo Narita Airport’ page for more useful information for planning your trip.
WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING TOKYO
There is no shortage of accommodation in Tokyo ranging from luxury hotels, mid-range to budget, youth hostels and even capsule hotels! The areas of Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Tokyo are among the most popular with tourists, all of which have excellent public transport links, shopping, bars and restaurants. Therefore they make excellent bases for a short stay in the city. Check out our Tokyo destination page which includes everything you need to know about the city, and our ‘Where to Stay in Tokyo’ page for what areas to book your hotels and find the right accommodation for you.
