Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start at Tokyo Station Marunouchi Plaza, ideally around 9:00, when the Marunouchi business district is waking up but before the sidewalks become busiest. Take time to admire the restored red-brick façade from the plaza, then glance down Marunouchi Naka-dori for its polished office towers, public art, and well-kept street trees. Allow about 45 minutes; Tokyo Station is a large interchange, so add extra time if arriving by train and follow signs for the Marunouchi side rather than the Yaesu exits.
Walk or take a short taxi ride to the Imperial Palace East Gardens—walking from the station takes roughly 15–20 minutes. The gardens are free, but opening days are conditional: they generally close on Mondays and Fridays, and may also close for special palace events or weather, so check the Imperial Household Agency’s calendar shortly before your visit. Spend about 90 minutes among the former Edo Castle foundations, stone walls, and seasonal plantings; comfortable shoes help, as the paths are broad but involve some uneven paving and gentle slopes.
Continue by subway or taxi to Tsukiji Outer Market—roughly 15–25 minutes depending on the connection—and arrive before the main vendors begin winding down. Browse the narrow lanes for sushi, grilled seafood, tamagoyaki, fruit, and small kitchenware shops, choosing busy stalls with clear pricing and eating in designated areas rather than while walking. Budget around ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person, and allow two hours for a relaxed lunch and market wander. From Tsukiji, walk about 15 minutes or take a short taxi to Hamarikyu Gardens, where the city’s towers frame ponds, bridges, and tidal waterways. Give yourself 90 minutes here; the Nakajima-no-ochaya teahouse is a pleasant pause, though traditional tea service costs extra and the garden usually has a modest admission fee of a few hundred yen.
Finish at teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills, reached from Hamarikyu Gardens by taxi in about 10–15 minutes or by subway in roughly 25–30 minutes. Reserve a timed ticket well ahead—same-day entry is not something to rely on, particularly during May weekends and holidays—and plan on about two hours inside. Wear comfortable shoes, avoid long skirts if possible, and keep belongings light; dark rooms, reflective surfaces, stairs, and shifting pathways are part of the experience. Afterward, Azabudai Hills has convenient restaurants and cafés for dinner, making it easier to finish locally rather than adding another cross-city transfer.
Begin at Senso-ji around 8:00–8:30, before the main tour groups arrive. Enter through Kaminarimon, then walk beneath the lantern along Nakamise-dori toward the temple; the approach is at its quietest early, while the temple grounds remain atmospheric throughout the morning. Allow about 1½ hours for the gate, incense burner, main hall, and surrounding lanes. The temple grounds are free, though donations are customary; temple buildings and stalls may keep different hours, so treat this as a flexible morning visit rather than relying on every shop being open.
Spend the next hour browsing Nakamise-dori, trying classics such as ningyō-yaki cakes, kaminari-okoshi rice crackers, or freshly made melonpan from nearby vendors. Continue on foot to Kappabashi Dougu Street—roughly 15–20 minutes, depending on stops—where shop windows are packed with knives, lacquerware, restaurant signs, cookware, and remarkably realistic plastic food. Most stores generally open around 9:00 or 10:00 and close in the late afternoon, with some closing on Sundays or irregular days, so this is worth doing before lunch. Prices range from a few hundred yen for small souvenirs to much more for professional knives; pack purchases carefully if you are flying.
Have lunch at 浅草 Sushi Ken, an easy choice near the temple area after Kappabashi Dougu Street. Budget approximately ¥2,000–¥5,000 per person and allow about an hour; ordering a set menu is usually the simplest way to keep both the cost and timing predictable. From there, take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line from Asakusa to Ueno-Hirokoji, change to the Hanzōmon Line at Ueno-okachimachi via the connected stations, or use a short taxi if you prefer to avoid station transfers; allow roughly 25–35 minutes door to door to reach Tokyo Skytree at Oshiage. A taxi typically takes around 15–20 minutes in light traffic, but congestion near the tower can add time.
Set aside about 2½ hours at Tokyo Skytree for security, elevators, the observation decks, and the Tokyo Solamachi shopping and dining complex below. Reserve a timed observation-deck ticket in advance if possible, especially for a clear May afternoon; the exact view depends on weather, and online ticket availability and pricing vary, commonly from around ¥2,100 upward for the Tembo Deck, with higher prices when combined with the Tembo Galleria. If the sky is hazy, the complex still works well for browsing and a coffee break—there is no need to force a long wait for a perfect panorama.
Return toward Asakusa for a relaxed Sumida River evening walk, using Asakusa Station or walking from Tokyo Skytree across the Sumida River in about 20–25 minutes if you still have energy. The riverside is especially pleasant around sunset, with views back toward the illuminated tower and the city skyline; the Azumabashi and Sumida Park sections are good places to pause without committing to another attraction. Allow about an hour, and keep a light layer handy—the river can feel noticeably cooler after dark. Use an IC card for the day’s trains, and keep small cash for temple offerings, snacks, and smaller shops.
Begin at Meiji Jingu around 8:00–8:30, entering from the Harajuku side and allowing about 90 minutes for the long gravel paths, towering torii, and shrine precincts. The forest is the point here—walk slowly, keep voices low, and check the day’s shrine access and ceremony areas on arrival, as some inner spaces may be restricted. From the shrine, it is a short walk to Takeshita Street; arrive late morning, when its crepe counters, character-goods shops, and fashion stores are properly open. Expect crowds and occasional queues, and treat the street as a browse rather than a destination for a sit-down meal.
Continue south toward Omotesando, where the atmosphere shifts from Harajuku’s youthful bustle to broad, tree-lined avenues and sharply designed boutiques. Allow around 90 minutes to wander, with a coffee stop if needed, then have lunch at Maisen Aoyama Honten, a former bathhouse converted into a distinctive tonkatsu restaurant. The main meal generally runs about ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person; queues are common at lunch, so arriving slightly before peak hours is worthwhile. The walk from Takeshita Street to Omotesando takes roughly 15–20 minutes, and Maisen is another 8–10 minutes from the avenue.
Take the Tokyo Metro from Omote-sando Station to Shibuya Station—about 5 minutes on the Ginza or Hanzomon line, plus station walking time—then spend roughly 45 minutes around Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Watch one crossing from street level, then use an upper-floor café or department-store viewpoint if you want a less hectic perspective. Finish at SHIBUYA SKY, reached directly from Shibuya Scramble Square; reserve a timed ticket in advance, especially for sunset, because popular entry slots can sell out and rooftop access may close temporarily in strong wind or rain. Arrive 20–30 minutes before the booked time for ticket checks and elevators. Plan approximately 1.5 hours there, with admission commonly around ¥2,000–¥2,500 depending on the booking channel and time; confirm May 2027 hours and pricing when reservations open.
No packing list attached yet.