GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
GoWithGuide
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!

One day in Tokyo - Trip Plan itinerary recommendation

Coelho Costa Junior

by GoWithGuide travel specialist:Coelho Costa Junior

Last updated : Dec 04, 20246 min read

Travel Tips

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 , you can do it clicking here: Hire a private tour guide for Tokyo 

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:

1 day Tokyo plan summary

 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!

more information

 

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!

more information

 

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).

more information

 

 

Meiji Jingu Shrine

blog image

Photo by Planetyze

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!

more information

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!

more information

 

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).

more information

 

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 message your favourite guides about what you would like to see and our guides will send you quotes and their own recommendations.

 

Written by Coelho Costa Junior

blog writer avatar

GoWithGuide’s writers are passionate travel specialists sharing unique tips and essential information for global explorers.

Kanagawa Tour Guide - Yuki K.

Yuki K.

4.77 / 5
(371 reviews)
Japan

I was born and grew up in Yokohama. I used to work in Tokyo for more than 20 years. I became the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in English in 2013. At first, I had attended a volunteer group which provided a tour of the Imperial Palace East Gardens until 2015. I guided more than fifty times in the garden as a volunteer and studied about Japanese history and culture. Based on this experience, I became a tour guide of this online site in 2015. Since then, I have guided more than 500 tours in Tokyo as well as Yokohama, Kamakura, Hakone, Kyoto, Nikko, etc., while improving my tours. My tours are very flexible and I always do my best to customize them according to the interests of my guests. I studied about the places and will provide you knowledge to appreciate them more deeply than just visiting there by yourself or a member of group tours. I like foods and I know many restaurants which provide typical Japanese lunch with reasonable price without waiting too long. Therefore, I am sure that I can provide you the best tours customized to your interests. It will be my great pleasure to help you to enjoy your stay in Japan. So please be my guest!!                                                                                                                                 

Tokyo Tour Guide - Akira N.

Akira N.

4.95 / 5
(333 reviews)
Japan

Hello, My name is Akira. I am certified national guide interpreter. I have been living in Tokyo for more than 30 years. I love walking in the city with no particular plan finding trasures in the streets such as nice ramen noodle restaurants, cafes, funny billboards, and most of all, narrow alleys that remind me of good old days. I will help you enjoying the days in the city fully and making your vist memorable one. I am looking forward to seeing you soon.                                                                                                                                 

Tokyo Tour Guide - Kahoko K.

Kahoko K.

4.95 / 5
(322 reviews)
Japan

Hello , my future guests . My name is Kahoko . I live in Tokyo over 30 years with my family , one husband and two kids . I used to work in an airline as a cabin attendant . Naturally , I may have visited your countries myself as you do now . I chose the job because I like traveling and meeting new people . Now I'm so glad to be able to work for foreign visitors as a licensed guide . When I have foreign guests . I'd like to treat them as if they were my home stay guests , and I were their host mother in Tokyo . I do hope their stay in Japan enjoyable and unforgettable . So it's a great pleasure to assist you in some way . So click me if you like . I'm looking forward to meeting you soon .                                                                                                                                 

Plan your trip to Tokyo

Chat with a local tour guide who can help organize your trip.

Get Started