Arrive Haneda or Narita; take Narita Express/Keisei (from Narita) or monorail/train (from Haneda) to central Tokyo and check in or drop luggage. Useful to buy an IC card (Suica/Pasmo).
If you land early, have a light hotel breakfast; if you prefer local seafood, Tsukiji Outer Market (usually 5:00am–2:00pm) is great for fresh sushi and street snacks.
Historic Senso-ji temple in Asakusa with the lively Nakamise shopping street — great introduction to Tokyo culture and souvenirs; temple grounds are generally open all day.
Observation decks give panoramic Tokyo views; Skytree typically opens 8:00/9:00am–10:00pm (check exact hours). Good if you want an elevated city overview early in the trip.
Try a lively izakaya alley (Omoide Yokocho) for yakitori and small plates, or Sushi Zanmai for fresh sushi — both capture quintessential Tokyo dining. Many izakayas open from early evening until late night.
Scenic pirate-ship cruise on Lake Ashi (typically 9:00am–5:00pm) and a short stroll to Hakone Shrine on the shore; check for Owakudani access restrictions (volcanic activity can close the valley).
Relax in a traditional ryokan with an onsen bath; many ryokan include kaiseki dinner and breakfast (onsen hours vary, typically afternoon–late evening).
Walk through historic Gion streets—look for traditional machiya buildings and possibly geiko/maiko sights at dusk. Tea houses open across the afternoon/evening (hours vary).
Visit Todai-ji (houses the Great Buddha; usually open 8:30am–5:00pm) and enjoy free-roaming deer in Nara Park—bring small cash for deer crackers if you wish to feed them.
Depart hotel for Haneda or Narita — for international flights aim to arrive at airport 3 hours before departure (train or airport limousine bus transfers available).