This is a 1-day itinerary for Tokyo including: Asakusa→Akihabara→Shibuya→Meiji Jingu→Harajuku→Shinjuku.
This plan was curated by professionals, so it's a perfect plan for you and your family to spen a great day in Tokyo. If you'd like to know more travel tips for each mentioned spot in case you decide to stay longer in each place and make this a 2-day Tokyo plan, please read the texts below where I write my personal recommendations for each place!
If you'd like to hire a tour guide for this tour, you can do it clicking here: Hire a guide for this Tokyo itinerary with GoWithGuide
Travel plan for first timers in Tokyo
In the video above, I comment and explain this itinerary for anyone who is coming to Japan. You may also leave a comment with questions if you have any!
Now lets get to the Itinerary:
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1 day Tokyo plan summary |
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| Asakusa ( 09:30 AM ~ 10:30 AM ) |
| Akihabara ( 11:00 AM ~ 12:00 PM ) |
| Shibuya ( 12:45 PM ~ 02:15 PM ) |
| Meiji Jingu Shrine ( 02:30 PM ~ 04:00 PM ) |
| Harajuku ( 04:15 PM ~ 05:00 PM ) |
| Shinjuku ( 05:30 PM ~ 08:00 PM ) |
| ★ Click here for a list of excellent guides who can customize this itinerary for you. |
Asakusa
The Tour of Old and New Japan in Asakusa
In Asakusa which is visited by more than half of the overseas tourists, you will encounter Tokyo’s oldest temple Sensoji Temple as well as the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), which is the outermost gate of Sensoji Temple as well as the street lined with old-school shops that lead to the inner precincts of the shrine. Many of the stores offer services in English.
If you want to spend more time in Asakusa: Go out to the left of Senso-ji temple to the old Geisha streets or to the old streets of Taito to see many izakayas, shops and even places where you can dress as a samurai/gueisha yourself!
Akihabara
From Anime to Idols to electronics, Akihabara has it all
Akihabara is continuously abuzz with tourists from all over the world. Akihabara is a pop culture mecca representing anime and manga and is popular as a tourist sightseeing spot largely due to the concentration of stores specializing in Japanese electronics.
If you'd like to spen more time in Akihabara, you can better explore the giant stores, play some games in the arcades for a while and visit some crazy cafés such as the Gundam Cafe, the AKB48 cafe or the N3331 Café (which is tin the middle of two trans stations, super interesting!
Shibuya
Shibuya, the Pulse and Heart of Tokyo’s Youth
The scramble intersection of the youth mecca of Shibuya is the world’s busiest, with 500,000 people crossing it daily. Besides the shopping and cuisine, enjoy the unique atmosphere of this neighborhood
If you'd like to spend more time in Shibuya, you can visit the VR Park for some crazy virtual world fun, go take a Purikura with your friends in "Purikura no Mecca" or visit the famous fashion building 109 (ichi maru kyu).
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Feel the mystical energy of the Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine, located in the Shibuya district in Tokyo, attracts the greatest number of visitors from throughout Japan for hatsumode or the first shrine visit of the New Year. If you happen to be lucky enough on the day of your visit, you could catch a glimpse of a traditional wedding ceremony.
If you'd like to spend more time in this area, after visiting the Meiji Jingu Shrine, you can take a walk in the beautiful and vast Yoyogi park!
Watch this 360º VR Video of Meiji Jingu Shrine and feel like you are walking there yourself.
Harajuku
Enjoy shopping in the neighborhood where ‘kawaii’ culture began
Harajuku’s Takeshita Street has recently been ranked as the most desired place to visit by visitors to Japan. Harajuku continues to broadcast its distinct fashion responsible for the ‘kawaii’ (cute) sub-culture.
Feel like you are in Harajuku and see how Harajuku's Takeshita street TRULY is like in this 360º video:
If you'd like to spend more time in Harajuku, at the end of Takeshita Street, you can cross the avenue and go to Kawaii Monster Cafe. Super crazy café, look it up!
Shinjuku
Experience the unique atmosphere of old Japan at Shinjuku’s Golden Gai
In the midst of the bustling commercial district of Shinjuku is Golden Gai, which has recently seen a surge in the number of foreign tourists. At Golden Gai, it feels as if you’ve taken a trip back in time to the Showa period and you can enjoy the atmosphere of what it would have been like in old-time Japan.
To spend more time in Shinjuku doing more things than recommended in the first video of this page, you can also visit the Golden Gai and the Memory Lane (omoide yokocho).
Hire tour guides for this itinerary or ask them any questions
You can use the GoWithGuide service to find tours and tour guides from all over Japan. Select your city and find something for you! You may also message guides if you have any questions or need to customize one of their itineraries. In GoWithGuide, you will be able to see each guide's profile video and select your favorite person to show you around Japan!
You can also Request a tour just for you. Just type what you would like to see and guides from all over Japan will send you quotes and their own recommendations.
