Tokyo is one of those cities that can feel almost impossible to take in. It is enormous, fast-moving and packed with neighborhoods that each seem like their own destination. You can spend the morning surrounded by skyscrapers and neon signs, wander into a quiet garden a few hours later, and end the night sitting down for a bowl of ramen in a tiny restaurant.
We only had a couple of days in Tokyo, so we knew we couldn’t see everything. Instead of trying to check every famous attraction off a list, we focused on a few areas that gave us a good mix of food, city views, parks, shopping and some of the experiences that make Tokyo feel completely different from anywhere else. And honestly, it was the perfect introduction to Tokyo.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through them. Read the policies to know more.
Staying in Shinjuku
We stayed at the Hilton Tokyo in Nishi-Shinjuku, which turned out to be a great base for exploring Tokyo. One of my favorite parts of staying there was the view. On a clear day, we could see Mount Fuji in the distance, which was an incredible surprise in the middle of such a massive city. Tokyo is so dense that it can be easy to forget just how much is beyond the skyline, so seeing Fuji rising in the distance made the view feel especially memorable.
The location also put us close to Shinjuku Station and within easy reach of many of the neighborhoods we wanted to explore. Tokyo’s train system can look intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes one of the easiest ways to get around.
Exploring Shinjuku
Shinjuku was one of the areas we spent the most time exploring. It was exactly what I pictured Tokyo being before we arrived, huge buildings, endless lights, busy streets, and people seemingly going in every direction. But one of the best things about Tokyo is how quickly the atmosphere changes.
One of the places we enjoyed walking through was Shinjuku Chuo Park, a green space right in the middle of the skyscrapers. It was a nice change of pace from the energy of the surrounding streets and gave us a chance to slow down and take in a quieter side of Shinjuku.
What I loved about Tokyo was how easily you could go from the middle of a huge, bustling city to somewhere peaceful without really leaving the neighborhood. The contrast between the skyscrapers surrounding the park and the greenery inside it made for a completely different experience.
After walking through the park, we continued exploring Shinjuku, wandering through the surrounding streets, shops and restaurants before heading out for more of the city
Rakeru: A Surprisingly Great Meal in Shinjuku
One of many delicious meals in Shinjuku was at Rakeru. Rakeru specializes in Japanese-style Western food, particularly fluffy omurice, and it was such a fun change from the sushi and ramen we expected to be eating throughout Japan. The restaurant is known for its soft omelets served over rice and its signature Rakeru bread.
If you’re spending a few days in Tokyo, I’d actually recommend mixing in some of these less obvious food stops rather than planning every meal around sushi or ramen. Tokyo’s food scene is so much broader than that.
Shibuya and the Delicious Ramen We Had
No first trip to Tokyo would feel complete without spending some time in Shibuya. Of course, there is the famous Shibuya Crossing, but we also loved simply wandering through the surrounding streets. There is so much happening at street level-shops, restaurants, giant digital screens, tiny side streets and people constantly moving through the neighborhood.
We stopped at ICHIRAN Shibuya, and it was fantastic. ICHIRAN is famous for its tonkotsu ramen and its individual “taste concentration” booths, where you sit in your own little space and customize your ramen. The setup is almost as memorable as the food itself. You choose things like noodle firmness, richness and spice level, and then your ramen arrives through the small opening in front of you.
The broth was rich, flavorful and exactly what I wanted after walking around Shibuya. I know ICHIRAN is a well-known chain and there are plenty of more obscure ramen shops in Tokyo, but I would still absolutely recommend it for a first visit. The food was great, the experience was unique, and it was one of those meals that just felt right for being in Japan.
Tokyo Skytree: Seeing the City From Above
One of our biggest highlights was heading over to Sumida City to visit Tokyo Skytree. At 634 meters, Tokyo Skytree is the tallest structure in Japan, and the observation decks give you an entirely different perspective of the city. The Tembo Deck sits at 350 meters, while the Tembo Galleria reaches 450 meters.
The views are incredible, but my favorite part was the glass floor. Standing over the transparent section and looking straight down at Tokyo is definitely one of those moments where you realize just how high you are. It is slightly terrifying and completely worth doing.
From the observation deck, Tokyo seems to stretch endlessly in every direction. Roads, buildings, rivers and neighborhoods all blend together into one enormous urban landscape. On a clear day, you can even catch Mount Fuji from the tower.
teamLab Planets Is a Must
If there is one experience I would tell someone not to skip in Tokyo, it is teamLab Planets TOKYO. I’ve seen plenty of photos and videos of teamLab before visiting, but none of them really explain what it feels like to actually be inside it.
teamLab Planets is an immersive digital art experience where you physically move through the installations. You take your shoes off, walk through water, move through rooms filled with light and projections, and interact with the artwork as you go.
It is not really something you simply look at. You are part of it. Some rooms are dark and completely surrounded by light and reflections, while others use water, mirrors and projections to create environments that feel almost impossible to describe. It is one of those places where you keep stopping because every room looks different from the last.
Even if you aren’t normally someone who seeks out museums or art installations, I would still put teamLab Planets high on a Tokyo itinerary. It feels much more like an experience than a traditional museum visit.
And definitely book ahead-timed entry is part of the experience and tickets can sell out.
A Few More Tokyo Stops Worth Adding
If you have an extra half-day or another day in Tokyo, there are a few places I’d add.
Asakusa and Senso-ji Temple are a great way to experience a more traditional side of Tokyo. Walking through the Nakamise shopping street toward Senso-ji gives you a completely different feel from modern Shibuya or Shinjuku.
Meiji Jingu is another great contrast. Tucked into a large forested area near Harajuku, the shrine feels surprisingly removed from the surrounding city.
If you want another incredible city view, SHIBUYA SKY is worth considering. The open-air observation deck sits high above Shibuya and gives you a completely different perspective from Tokyo Skytree, especially around sunset.
And if you love wandering without a strict plan, leave some time for Harajuku, Omotesando and the smaller streets around Shibuya.
Tokyo in a Couple of Days
For a short visit, I’d focus on a few experiences that show completely different sides of Tokyo: spend time in Shibuya for the energy and food, explore Shinjuku and its parks, go high above the city at Tokyo Skytree, and make time for teamLab Planets for something completely different.
And leave room for the unexpected. Some of the best parts of Tokyo aren’t the things you plan months in advance. They’re the tiny restaurant you stumble into, the side street you decide to explore, the view you happen to catch from your hotel window, or the bowl of ramen that ends up being one of your favorite meals of the trip.
Tokyo can be overwhelming at first, but that’s also what makes it so exciting. There is always another neighborhood, another restaurant, another view and another experience waiting just around the corner.
For a couple of days, this itinerary gave us a pretty great taste of the city, and more than enough reasons to want to come back.
Tokyo Travel Tips
- Book teamLab Planets in advance. Timed-entry tickets are recommended and popular slots can sell out.
- Consider booking Tokyo Skytree ahead of time, particularly if you want a specific time around sunset.
- Use an IC transit card for trains and subways. Tokyo’s rail system is extensive, but it becomes much easier once you start using it.
- Give yourself more time than Google Maps suggests between Tokyo neighborhoods. Stations can be enormous, and navigating them takes longer than the train ride itself.
- Look up before you leave your hotel. On a clear morning, you may get an incredible view of Mount Fuji from higher floors around Shinjuku.
- Don’t plan every meal. Tokyo has an unbelievable number of restaurants, and some of the best meals can be the ones you find while exploring.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Even when you’re using public transportation, you’ll walk far more than you expect.
