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

Tokyo 3-day itinerary for first timers

K

by GoWithGuide travel specialist:Kenzia V.

Last updated : Apr 28, 20226 min read

Itinerary Ideas

 I think we can agree that Tokyo is a stunning city, and it's important to plan an itinerary ahead to ensure that you get to experience more of Tokyo. However, it can be difficult to plan one. 

 

Even so, there is so much information on the internet of where are the best places to go in Tokyo for your itinerary idea and other ways to make your Tokyo experience better! 

 

In this article, I'm going to provide you information on how to many days you should spend in Tokyo to truly experience it, present a 3-day itinerary idea, and other options for a great Tokyo experience. So sit tight and read on! 

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Tokyo is a big city with many incredible attractions and destinations. Each of them has their own character and appeal that attract people from all over the world. Tokyo attracts millions of tourists each year, and the number keeps on increasing. Tokyo has a distinct character that makes it so attractive to tourists from all over the world.

 

Tokyo has it all, a lively and modern side, but also a serene and traditional side. With the many destinations in Tokyo, it is impossible to experience all the places. Especially, if you are first timers, it can be difficult and confusing. Hence, having an itinerary is really helpful to save time and make the most out of your trip. However, planning an itinerary can be dreadful, but this article can help you. 

How many days should you spend in Tokyo?

blog imageHow long you want to spend time in Tokyo depends on your preferences and schedule. However, if you are visiting Tokyo, and want to really experience it, make time in Tokyo for 3 days. You might be thinking “is 3 days enough for Tokyo?”. The answer is yes if you structure your trip plan right.

 

Here's the thing:

If you don’t know what to do in and where to go in Tokyo for 3 days, don’t worry. This article can help make your trip easier. 3 days is enough for you to travel to some popular destinations in Tokyo, and experience the culture of Tokyo.

Where can you get itinerary ideas?

Get this:

There are many places on the web that offer itinerary ideas for a Tokyo trip, however, it can’t be guaranteed that they are good.

 

For itinerary ideas for your 3-day Tokyo trip, my recommendation is GoWithGuide. From the website, not only you can find ideas for places to visit for an itinerary, you can even choose the private tours with set itineraries made by professional tour guides. You can customize and personalize the itinerary according to your preferences and needs.

 

If you don’t want to do the planning on your own, private guides are also available to guide you and help you experience Tokyo and learn the destinations and the culture deeper. You can talk to the guides to make sure that your itineraries are perfectly made according to your preferences.

 

Here's a time-saver
You can send a message to one of the friendly guides in Tokyo! They will help you make a customized itinerary and give you a quotation for an unforgettable experience.
Trust me: It’s a good idea to have a guide take care of you in Japan! 


Itinerary idea for a 3-day Tokyo trip for first timers

Here is an itinerary idea for a 3-day Tokyo trip that allows you to experience the many incredible places of Tokyo in just 3 days

blog imageFirst day:

  • Asakusa (09:30 AM-11:00 AM): visit Sensoji Temple by walking through Nakamise Street
  • Akihabara (11:30 AM -1:00 PM): visit Akihabara as an anime paradise with many unique cafes and electric stores
  • Ueno (1:30 PM- 4:00 PM): explore the museums and park in Ueno. You can also visit the Ueno Zoo.
  • Meiji Jingu Shrine (4:45 PM-05:40 PM): visit the popular shrine dedicated to the Emperor and Empress Meiji
  • Harajuku (06:15 PM-08:30 PM): take a walk in Takeshita Street, also Omotesando and its alleys

blog imageSecond day:

  • Tsukiji (9:30 AM-12:30 PM): try the freshest sushi and many other kinds of food
  • Hama Rikyu Gardens (1:00 PM-2:30 PM): experience the beautiful landscape of Hama Rikyu Gardens and have your own tea ceremony
  • Shibuya (3:30 PM- 5:30 PM): walk through the Shibuya crossing and shop around
  • Shinjuku (06:45 PM-09:00 PM): eat and shop around in Shinjuku while enjoying the bright lights

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Third day:

  • Imperial Palace East Gardens (9:00 AM-10:30 AM): take a look at the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan and enjoy the beautiful gardens
  • Tokyo Ramen Street (11:00 AM-12:30 PM): get a taste of Tokyo with many different choices of ramen from 8 different vendors
  • Zojoji temple (1:00 PM-2:00 PM): visit the famous Buddhist temple
  • Roppongi (2:30 PM-5:30 PM): shop and eat around Roppongi. You can also visit the museums.
  • Ginza (6:30-8:30 PM): go to Ginza for more extra shopping and good food

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More options

Private tours

Look:

If you don’t want to do the planning on your own as it can get overwhelming, or you don't want to trouble yourself with figuring out the details like directions and transportations, you can try a private tour.  

 

Here are some options for private tours in Tokyo with itineraries that can be customized according to your preferences. Just tell the guides where you want to go and they will arrange the perfect Tokyo itinerary for you.

You can also click here for private tours in other areas of Japan.

Private Cars, Van, Transfers, and Bus Tours

If you decide that other options are the best for your trip besides private tours, you can check out this article to find some other options for you Tokyo trip: Where to get car, van, bus tours & transfers in Tokyo and Japan?

Other tours

Also...

If you want to experience more of Japan, you can consider checking Multiple day package tour tours and Cherry blossom tours for more tour options to answer your needs.

 

 

I hope this article gives you some insights about places to go in Tokyo and make your trip planning a less dreadful with the options I show in this article. Hope you have a great time in Tokyo! 

 

Tokyo Tour Guide - Arnold  H.

Arnold H.

4.94 / 5
(31 reviews)
Japan

Hi, my name is Arnold and I love meeting new people. I have been living in Tokyo for over 9 years and I believe I know the place well enough to provide a fun tour. It will be my pleasure to help you enjoy your stay in Japan. I can speak English, Chinese and Japanese, so feel free to talk to me in any language that you feel comfortable with. I was once a tourist myself, so I believe I can provide the best tour experience from a tourist's perspective. Let me know your interests and I will make the best tour for you. Hope to see you soon! 嗨,我的名字是阿諾,我喜歡結識新朋友。我在東京生活了9年多,我相信我足以提供您一個有趣的日本之旅。我很樂意幫助您享受在日本的旅遊,所以如果有任何需求請盡量告訴我。我會說英語,中文和日語,所以請隨意用任何你覺得舒服的語言與我交談。作為一個生活在日本的外國人,我自己也曾經是一名遊客,所以我相信我可以從遊客的角度提供最好的旅遊體驗。請讓我知道您的興趣,我會為您規劃最好的行程。希望能與您早日見面!                                                                                                                                 

Tokyo Tour Guide - Yasuro C.

Yasuro C.

4.79 / 5
(62 reviews)
Japan

Hello, my name is Yasuro (Mr). I was born and brought up in Kansai, graduated from a univ in Kobe city, after moved into Kanto, 30 years in Tokyo, 2.5 years in Nagoya city, 7.5 years abroad (KL & S'pore) as a rep of a construction company and I got the National Guide Certificate in 2011. My hobbies are making Haiku poems, singing various songs (voice-training for 18 years), playing the folk-guitar, trekking in mountains like Takao and Okutama in the West of Tokyo, visiting museums like in Ueno Park and travelling around Japan to make Haiku poems. Thank you for your attention.                                                                                                                                 

Yokohama Tour Guide - Haruo T.

Haruo T.

4.83 / 5
(6 reviews)
Japan

I live in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture. I have a license to teach in high schools and was admitted to the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language in the University of Birmingham. Until 2015 I had been teaching English at public high schools in Kanagawa for 37 years. During that time, I had some experience of guiding students from overseas through sister-school relationship around Tokyo and Kanagawa. Therefore, I had good command of English with the TOEIC score of 935. As for a tour guide experience I earned the certificate of National Government Licensed Guide-Interpreter in English and since then I have guided tourists to the popular sites around Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura and Yokosuka. My guiding focuses on introducing not only Japanese historical and cultural backgrounds but also giving tourists some tips to travel Japan only by themselves, such as how to use trains and subways, find good restaurants, reserve tickets, buy survenier, and speak basic Japanese. In addition, my tour includes opportunities to experience Japanese culture like Zen meditation, ninja performance, visiting anime's location sites based on tourists' request. Besides, by means of my hobbies of writing English Haiku and Waka (traditional Japanese poems) and performing Rakugo (traditional Japanese funny story telling) in English, I can surely entertain tourists during the tour. My moto as a tour guide is let the tourists have a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Japan with my profound, intelligible and interestiog guiding.                                                                                                                                 

Kanagawa Tour Guide - Kaneo U.

Kaneo U.

4.97 / 5
(34 reviews)
Japan

I’m so excited to have a chance to show you around my favorite spots in Kanagawa prefecture. I was born in Kanagawa. I spent my whole school life, including university, here in Kanagawa. I worked as a high school English teacher here for 40 years. I love Kanagawa so much. We have many interesting tourist spots, like Hakone, Kamakura, Enoshima and Yokohama. I got my tour guide license in English in 2009. I am still an English teacher. To give an interesting and impressive lesson to young high school students, I’ve learnt and gathered many kinds of information. I also have a license to teach social studies, so I have a wide range of knowledge about Japanese culture and history. I’m sure to provide you an interesting tour.                                                                                                                                 

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