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Find the perfect itinerary for you
Where tradition high-fives futuristic vibes, and every corner is a surprise party waiting to happen. Forget boring travel—Tokyo is your ticket to epic family selfies, time-traveling history fixes, and art that'll make your brain do backflips. Get ready to dive into a world that's part ancient wisdom, part sci-fi dream with this 1 day in Tokyo itinerary.
Tokyo for families
Tokyo for history buffs
Tokyo for art lovers
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast: Bills Odaiba is a brunch paradise with its legendary ricotta hotcakes, creamy scrambled eggs, and avocado toast. Kids can munch on mini pancakes while parents soak up ocean views from the terrace.
Attraction: Tokyo Tower
Tokyo’s answer to the Eiffel Tower, but make it red and retro! This 333-meter icon offers panoramic city views, a see-through floor for daredevils, and a quirky anime-filled basement.
Nearest stop:
- Tokyo Tower (Blue and Green Courses)
Highlights:
- The Main Deck (150m) and Top Deck (250m) dish out Tokyo skyline views with a sprinkle of Mount Fuji on clear days.
- Foot Town at the base is a mini wonderland. Think One Piece anime exhibits, themed cafés, and a souvenir heaven.
- The “Lookdown Window” lets you walk on glass and pretend you’re floating above the city—cue nervous laughter!
Pro tip: Spot the hidden heart-shaped light on the tower; as locals say, finding it brings good luck and extra Instagram likes.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time for the next stop: 15 to 20-minute bus ride to your next stop.
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch: It is tonkatsu heaven at Ponta Honke! Serving crispy, golden-brown breaded pork cutlets for over a century, the rosu katsu (fatty pork cutlet) and hire katsu (leaner option) are must-tries. The old-school wooden interiors give it that nostalgic Tokyo charm—classic, cozy, and downright delicious.
Attraction: Ueno Zoo
Pandas, tigers, and elephants, oh my! Ueno Zoo is Japan’s oldest zoo, but it’s far from outdated. From giant pandas stealing the show to a monorail that whisks you between exhibits, this place has 400 species; there’s always something wild around the corner.
Nearest stop:
- Ueno Matsuzakaya (Red Course)
Highlights:
- Giant pandas are the undisputed rockstars here—expect adorable bamboo-munching and serious naptime envy.
- The Gorilla and Tiger Forest feels like a jungle adventure, with skywalks and glass panels for epic up-close views.
- A retro monorail connects the zoo’s two sections, doubling as a fun mini-ride for kids and tired parents!
Pro tip: Ueno Park is right outside—perfect for a post-zoo picnic or a swan boat ride on Shinobazu Pond.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time for the next stop: Hop on for a 15-minute bus ride to Shinjuku.
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: Shinjuku
A neon jungle of shopping, entertainment, and surprise encounters. One minute, you’re watching a Godzilla head roar above a building, and the next, you’re wandering through a tranquil garden. With everything from arcades to cat cafés, there’s no such thing as a dull moment here.
Nearest stop:
- Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station (Green Course)
Highlights:
- The “Godzilla Head” on Hotel Gracery growls and lights up hourly because Tokyo wouldn’t be Tokyo without a kaiju moment.
- Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) is a time warp alley filled with tiny, smoky yakitori stalls that feels like stepping into the past.
- Shinjuku Gyoen offers a peaceful escape with cherry blossoms, tea houses, and ponds.
Pro tip: Stay till dusk when the neon signs light up the sky. It’s Blade Runner vibes, minus the rain.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time for the next stop: Take a 5-minute stroll to your dinner destination.
Late night (8pm - 12am)
Dinner: Niku Kabuku is where premium wagyu meets a sizzling grill right at your table. The yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) experience lets you cook your juicy cuts, while the cheese-filled tsukune (chicken meatballs) are a kid-approved hit. Just be ready to leave smelling deliciously like grilled beef.
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast: For coffee purists, Café de l'Ambre is a time capsule where only one thing matters—brewing the perfect cup. This 80-year-old kissaten serves single-origin coffee, aged beans, and velvety siphon brews.
Attraction: Imperial Palace
Once home to shoguns and emperors, the Imperial Palace is where Tokyo’s history still breathes. While the inner grounds remain off-limits, the Nijubashi Bridge, Edo-era moats, and sprawling East Gardens offer glimpses into Japan’s feudal past.
Nearest stop:
- Kodenmacho Station (Red Course)
Highlights:
- The East Gardens blend Edo-period ruins with cherry blossoms, giving history buffs a scenic crash course in old Tokyo.
- Nijubashi Bridge offers that postcard-perfect view of the Imperial Palace.
- Sakuradamon Gate holds a dark past—this is where a samurai assassinated a shogunate official in 1860.
Pro tip: Join a guided tour to hear all the palace secrets, from hidden chambers to imperial gossip.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time for the next stop: 20-minute walk to Edo-Tokyo Museum.
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch: Stepping into Kanda Yabu Soba is like time-traveling to Edo-era Tokyo—except with better noodles. Their thin, aromatic buckwheat soba is legendary, especially the cold zaru soba with crisp nori and a punchy dipping sauce. Feeling extra? Go for the tempura-topped soba. The tatami mat seating and kimono-clad staff seal the deal.
Attraction: Edo-Tokyo Museum
Forget dusty relics as this museum drops you into life-sized samurai streets, kabuki theaters, and wooden bridges. With elaborate dioramas, interactive exhibits, and even a replica of a feudal lord’s mansion, its history told in 4D.
Nearest stop:
- Ryogoku Edo-Tokyo Museum (Red Course)
Highlights:
- A full-scale replica of Nihonbashi Bridge lets you literally “walk into” Edo-era Tokyo the moment you enter.
- See inside an old-school townhouse, complete with samurai armor, tatami rooms, and shogun-approved furnishings.
- A reconstructed Meiji-era newspaper office shows how Tokyo transitioned from feudal times to modernity.
Pro tip: Try lifting a traditional fireman’s pole. These guys carried them while scaling burning buildings.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time for the next stop: 8-minute bus ride to Asakusa.
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: Senso-ji Temple
Tokyo’s oldest temple is a sensory overload of incense, fortune slips, and buzzing markets. The iconic Kaminarimon Gate leads to Nakamise Street, where vendors have been selling snacks and souvenirs for centuries. Inside, the temple’s gilded main hall honors Kannon, the goddess of mercy.
Nearest stop:
- Asakusa Hanakawado (Red Course)
Highlights:
- Kaminarimon Gate’s massive red lantern is a Tokyo icon—good luck rubbing the giant straw sandals nearby.
- Nakamise Street is lined with century-old stalls selling everything from matcha treats to samurai-themed souvenirs.
- Omikuji fortune slips are brutally honest—if you get a bad one, tie it to a post and leave your bad luck behind.
Pro tip: Try ningyo-yaki (tiny, red bean-filled sponge cakes) from one of the Nakamise stalls; they're piping hot and addictive.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time for the next stop: A 5-minute bus ride or a 15-minute walk to your final stop.
Late night (8pm - 12am)
Dinner: Tokyo’s food scene isn’t all sushi—Komakata Dozeu has been serving up eel hotpot since the Edo period. Their signature dish, dozeu-nabe, features thin-sliced loach fish simmered in a rich miso broth over charcoal. It’s served in a tatami-floored, lantern-lit space that feels straight out of a samurai drama.
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast: Feels like sipping tea inside a secret garden, this dreamy Aoyama Flower Market Tea House is draped in fresh flowers—yes, even the tables bloom. Their rose-infused French toast is almost too pretty to eat, and the herb-packed floral teas taste like springtime in a cup. With greenery everywhere, it's part breakfast, part botanical therapy.
Attraction: Mori Art Museum
Perched on the 53rd floor, this museum delivers cutting-edge contemporary art with a side of city skyline views. Expect avant-garde installations, thought-provoking exhibits, and some of Japan’s boldest artistic voices. It’s where art meets altitude and prepares to leave you inspired or maybe a little dizzy.
Nearest stop:
- Tokyo Tower (Blue and Green Courses)
Highlights:
- Exhibits change frequently, so one visit might be all about AI-generated art, and the next, a deep dive into Japanese surrealism.
- Tokyo City View, right next door, gives you a sweeping skyline panorama—art lovers deserve a scenic intermission.
- From immersive light shows to edgy political art, this museum isn’t afraid to push creative boundaries.
Pro tip: The gift shop is an underrated gem. Quirky art books, limited-edition prints, and cool design pieces galore—you simply can’t skip this.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours
Time for the next stop: 10-minute ride to your next stop.
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch: A pixelated paradise for gamers and nostalgia lovers, 8bit Café is stuffed with vintage consoles, retro posters, and cartridge-shaped menus. Their Curry Mario rice, pixel-art pancakes, and themed cocktails are all Instagram gold.
Attraction: Tokyo National Museum
Home to samurai armor, ancient scrolls, and priceless ukiyo-e woodblock prints, it’s a one-stop shop for all things beautiful and historic. With six buildings covering everything from Buddhist sculptures to kimono designs, it’s a feast for the eyes.
Nearest stop:
- Ueno Matsuzakaya Stop (Red Course)
Highlights:
- The Honkan building is a deep dive into Japanese art. Think samurai swords, delicate ceramics, and paintings from centuries past.
- The Hyokeikan Hall itself is a work of art, with grand Western-style architecture from the Meiji era.
- Their collection of ukiyo-e woodblock prints features iconic works by Hokusai, including The Great Wave.
Pro tip: Visit the Asian Art Gallery for rare Korean and Chinese artifacts because only Japan didn’t make all the cool stuff; other Asian countries did too.
Suggested time to spend: 2 hours
Time for the next stop: Get set for a 15-minute bus ride to your next attraction.
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: TeamLab Borderless
Who needs a museum when you can step into the art itself? TeamLab Borderless is a mind-bending digital art wonderland where walls shift, colors move, and every step changes the experience. This is art you don’t just see, you live in it.
Nearest stop:
- Tokyo Teleport Station (Blue Course)
Highlights:
- The "Forest of Lamps" creates a glowing maze where each step triggers a new light sequence; it’s like stepping into a dream.
- "Athletic Forest" is art meets obstacle course. So, climb, bounce, and interact with digital creatures.
- The artwork moves with you! Colors shift, flowers bloom underfoot, and butterflies follow your path.
Pro tip: Wear white or light-colored clothes as some exhibits project art onto you, making you part of the masterpiece.
Suggested time to spend: 1 to 1.5 hours
Time for the next stop: Take a 5-minute ride or walk for 15 minutes for one of Tokyo’s best ramen.
Late night (8pm - 12am)
Dinner: Forget heavy, rich ramen—Afuri’s yuzu-shio broth is light, citrusy, and absolutely legendary. Their signature yuzu ramen perfectly balances zesty and umami goodness, while the grilled chashu pork melts in your mouth. The minimalist, wood-heavy vibe makes it as sleek as the ramen is soul-warming.
