Fly from Delhi to Tokyo—a direct flight is roughly 7–9 hours in the air, though schedules and the time difference can make the first day feel longer than the flight itself. Choose a departure that leaves you with a manageable arrival, and arrange your hotel transfer in advance: from Haneda Airport, the train or taxi to central Tokyo usually takes about 30–45 minutes; from Narita Airport, allow roughly 60–90 minutes by train. After dropping your bags, start gently at Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi Building; its handsome red-brick façade is especially striking from the plaza. Give yourself around 45 minutes, then wander for another 45 minutes along Marunouchi Naka-dori, a polished, tree-lined street with cafés and public art.
Continue to the Imperial Palace East Gardens for a relaxed walk through the former Edo Castle grounds—normally allow 1–1.5 hours, and admission is free. One important calendar catch: Monday, September 28 is a regular closing day for the gardens, which are generally open Tuesday–Sunday, so check the Imperial Household Agency’s schedule before setting out; if the gates are closed, enjoy the surrounding palace moat and approach instead. Finish at KITTE Marunouchi, a former post-office building with shops, places to eat, and a rooftop garden overlooking the station. It’s a convenient first-night dinner stop; budget about ¥1,500–¥3,500 per person, and take it easy if jet lag is setting in.
Start early at Meiji Jingu, reached via Harajuku Station or Meiji-jingumae Station. The shrine grounds are open from sunrise to sunset and are free to enter; allow about 1½ hours for the broad gravel paths through the forest and a quiet pause at the main shrine. Wear comfortable shoes—the approach is a good walk, and the paths can be muddy after rain.
From the shrine, head to Takeshita Street, a few minutes’ walk from Harajuku Station. It’s busiest around midday, so browse the colorful shops and try a quick snack such as a crepe, then keep moving rather than planning a sit-down meal here. Allow about 45 minutes. Continue on foot to Omotesando—roughly 10–15 minutes—where the tree-lined avenue and striking shopfronts make for a more spacious architectural stroll; give it about an hour and stop for lunch or coffee at one of the side-street cafés if you’re hungry.
Take the Tokyo Metro from Omotesando Station to Shibuya Station (about 2 minutes on the Ginza Line), then spend around 45 minutes at Shibuya Scramble Crossing and wandering the lively nearby streets. For dinner, Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka is a casual, good-value choice: order from the touchscreen and watch sushi arrive on fast-moving trays. Budget roughly ¥1,000–¥2,500 per person and allow about an hour; queues are common at peak dinner time, so arriving a little early helps.
Head to Tsukiji Outer Market for a late breakfast and an easy wander through its narrow lanes of seafood counters, produce shops and kitchenware stalls. Many vendors open early and wind down by early afternoon, so aim to arrive around 9:30–10:00; individual opening days and hours vary. Set aside about 1½ hours and ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person for a market meal. From the market, walk roughly 20–25 minutes to Hamarikyu Gardens, or take a short taxi if you’d rather save your feet.
At Hamarikyu Gardens, trade the market bustle for a stroll around the tidal pond and landscaped paths; allow about 1½ hours. The garden generally opens 9:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30, and admission is about ¥300. Continue to teamLab Planets TOKYO in Toyosu: from the Shiodome area, the Yurikamome line toward Shin-Toyosu is a handy option, followed by a short walk. Give the immersive installations about two hours, book a timed ticket ahead, and check the official schedule and price when reserving, as both can vary. Wear trousers you can roll up—the route includes water, and some rooms have mirrored floors.
Finish at Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai, next to the teamLab area, for a relaxed dinner and a browse through the food and shop complex. Budget about ¥1,500–¥3,500 per person; shop and restaurant hours differ, so check what’s open on the day, especially if you arrive later in the evening. If time allows, look for the rooftop footbath before heading back—bring a small towel or be ready to buy one on site.
Take a slow couple of hours in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. It opens at 9:00 and, on Thursdays, is generally open until 16:30; admission is about ¥500, with last entry usually 30 minutes before closing. Early October is a pleasant time to wander its Japanese, English and French-style gardens, though the autumn colours are only just beginning. Bring a drink for the paths, but save lunch for later—the garden’s rules restrict eating in some areas.
From the garden, it’s about a 20–25-minute walk or a short taxi ride to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Nishi-Shinjuku. Its public observatories are free and usually open into the evening, but hours and occasional closures vary by floor, so check the official schedule before setting out. Allow around an hour for the views and a look around the observation floor; on a clear day, you may spot Mount Fuji. Then walk or take a short train ride to Shinjuku Golden Gai. The narrow lanes are atmospheric to explore, but most bars come alive later; some charge a cover fee, and many are small, so check signs and ask before settling in.
Walk roughly 15 minutes to Omoide Yokocho for dinner among its lantern-lit alleyways and tiny grills. Budget about ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person; yakitori and grilled dishes are the classic choice, and a little patience helps when the narrow counters are busy. Many spots are cash-friendly, so keep some yen handy, and follow posted rules about photography in the lanes.
Take morning Nozomi Shinkansen from Tokyo Station so you reach Hiroshima Station around midday and still have a worthwhile afternoon. The ride is about four hours; reserve ahead, particularly if you have oversized luggage. On arrival, use the station lockers or drop your bags at your hotel, then take a streetcar toward the Peace Memorial Park area—allow roughly 20–25 minutes, depending on the stop and route.
Spend about 1½ hours walking the riverside paths and memorials of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, then continue to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Give the museum at least 1½–2 hours; it’s a moving, detailed visit, so leave yourself time rather than trying to rush through. In October, it typically opens 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m., with last entry at 5:30 p.m.; admission is around ¥200. Check the official schedule before you go, as hours can vary.
Head to Okonomimura in Nagarekawa for Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki cooked at the counter; budget about ¥1,200–¥2,500 per person and allow around 1½ hours. After dinner, wander Hondori Shopping Street, the covered arcade nearby—an easy 45-minute stroll for browsing shops and picking up a snack. Many stores start closing around 8–9 p.m., so go before it gets too late.
Allow 30–45 minutes at Ekie Hiroshima to pick up breakfast or an ekiben before boarding. A typical meal costs about ¥800–¥1,800; shop opening times vary, so check that your chosen counter is open for your train. Take the earliest practical Nozomi Shinkansen to Tokyo—around four hours—and have your ticket and seat reservation ready.
Once you reach Tokyo Station, give yourself about 45 minutes at Gransta Tokyo to browse the food shops and buy something for the airport transfer. Then head to the Marunouchi North Exit and allow roughly 30 minutes to collect your luggage and orient yourself; keep an eye on the station signs, as it’s easy to lose time in the sprawling concourses.
Continue to your departure airport by train: from Tokyo Station, the JR Yamanote Line or Keihin-Tōhoku Line to Hamamatsuchō connects with the Tokyo Monorail to Haneda; for Narita, take the Narita Express from Tokyo Station. Check your ticket and flight terminal before choosing, and leave generous time for the transfer and international check-in. This same-day connection is tight: book a late Delhi-bound flight and confirm there’s ample buffer after your Shinkansen arrival. If the flight is early afternoon or earlier, staying overnight in Tokyo is the safer choice.
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