Take Narita Express (N'EX) or Keisei Skyliner/Haneda monorail depending on arrival airport; drop bags and rest. Travel time: Narita ~1h to Tokyo station; Haneda ~30–40min to central Tokyo—check scheduled arrival and train times.
Walk through the neon district; Golden Gai has many tiny themed bars (small cover charge common). Check opening hours of specific bars — most open from evening to late night.
Sprawling Shinto shrine set in a large forested area — peaceful morning walk; grounds open roughly sunrise–sunset (approx 5:00am–6:00pm), shrine buildings accessible during daylight hours.
Iconic Harajuku shopping street (quirky fashion, crepes) then upscale Omotesando avenue for architecture and boutiques; many shops open 10:00am–8:00pm.
Sample a solo ramen booth experience or try a lively izakaya in Shibuya for grilled dishes and small plates; many ramen shops are open late (some 24h).
Outer market stalls and small sushi counters open from ~5:00am to 14:00; a great fresh sushi or seafood-don breakfast experience (many stalls close mid-afternoon).
Tokyo's oldest temple with lively shopping street (souvenirs and snacks); temple area accessible daily (gates/shops typically 9:00–18:00 though temple grounds are often open earlier).
Ginza offers everything from mid-range sushi chains to Michelin restaurants; lunch sets are a good value and many places open 11:00am–2:00pm for lunch.
Window-shop luxury brands, department stores, and visit Kabukiza for short-act kabuki tickets (shows run throughout the day; check daily program and ticket availability).
Take Odakyu Romancecar (~85–100 minutes) or local train; get a Hakone Free Pass (from Odakyu lines) for transport around Hakone and savings on cable car, ropeway, and boats — check current price and validity options.
Ropeway provides volcanic valley views (Owakudani may have restricted access due to volcanic activity — check live notices). Lake Ashi pirate-ship cruises operate roughly 9:00–16:00; weather permitting, enjoy views of Mt. Fuji if clear.
Komachi-dori has many small restaurants serving local specialties — try shirasu (whitebait) rice bowls in season; shops open mid-morning through early evening.
Edo-Tokyo Museum open 9:30am–5:30pm (check closed days); morning sumo practice visits require advance booking and are held early — verify schedules beforehand.
Consider Gonpachi (inspiration for the Kill Bill restaurant scene) or other quality Roppongi restaurants — open for lunch and dinner, reservations recommended for dinner.
Head to Narita: Narita Express (~JPY3220) or Keisei Skyliner (~JPY2470) to Narita; to Haneda: Keikyu or Tokyo Monorail (~JPY500–800). Allow 1–1.5 hours to Haneda, 1.5–2.5 hours to Narita depending on train and terminal.
Arrive for international check-in, security and any last-minute duty-free shopping; recommended 2–3 hours prior to departure for international flights.