Tokyo 3-Day Itinerary: Food, Fun & Shopping
Approximate reading time: 15-20 minutes
Disneyland, Japan
Table of contents
Introduction
Disclaimers
3-Day Guide in Tokyo, Japan
Day 0: Arrival
(Airport → Hotel → Dinner)
Day 1: Shrine & Disneyland
(Hotel → Meiji Shrine → Disneyland / DisneySea → Dinner)
Day 2: Asakusa & Shibuya
(Hotel → Sensoji Temple → Shibuya → Dinner)
Day 3: Shopping & Departure
(Hotel → Shopping Areas → Airport / Bullet Train)
Hotel Recommendations
Quick Tips
Ready for your next adventure?
Ending Notes
Looking for the best travel hacks?
Introduction
Being one of the most popular destinations in Japan, the capital of Tokyo offers so many different things to see, eat, experience, and of course, buy. Whether you’re here for two weeks or just two days, there’s definitely a looong, long list of what you can do during your stay.
Ave and I have gone here together twice now, and it seems to get better every time - hopefully next time, we can bring our daughter with us, too!
With the amount of things to do, how do you make sure you experience the best of Tokyo? We’ve put together this short, 3-day guide for those of you who might be coming to or from Osaka, or having a short layover. The best part is, you can adjust the days as you like!
Disclaimers
Details including but not limited to operating hours and price may change. This article will contain affiliate links, which will come at no cost to you for clicking.
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3-Day Guide in Tokyo, Japan
Day 0
I’ve set a ‘day 0’ for those arriving much later in the day, so you can adjust the itinerary if you’ll be in Narita or Haneda earlier.
Our travel vlog in Japan, watch this out :
Transportation Passes
First things first: transportation passes! Taking the train from Haneda or Narita airport is the most popular way of going to central Tokyo because it’s so efficient. You can also take the bus, or if you have a more lenient budget, a taxi or private van will do.
We buy our tickets in advance at Klook (affiliate) so that we only have to show the voucher or QR code to claim our passes, then we’re good to go. Very easy!
Dinner
Once you settle down at your hotel, have an easy dinner at a nearby restaurant. Feeling adventurous? Try local, hidden gems at places like Omoide Yokocho or Ebisu Yokocho - these places make for great pictures too.
Afterwards, get enough rest and prepare for the next few days, because you’re definitely going to get your steps in!
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Day 1
Breakfast
In the morning, have breakfast at Komeda’s coffee, one of Japan’s most beloved family restaurants. They serve bread and jams to go with your morning coffee at no added price, which is a perfect start to the day.
Meiji-Jingu Shrine
Meiji-Jingu shrine
Then, head to the Meiji-Jingu shrine, Japan’s most popular shrine on New Year’s. Here, you can pray and write your wishes that you want to come true. Entrance is free, but the inner garden and museum cost Y500 and Y1000 to enter, respectively.
Tokyo Disneyland / Disney Sea
Of the 12 Disney parks in the whole world, 2 of them are in Tokyo. So, don’t miss out on the chance to hit two birds with one stone and explore these theme parks!
Catch our Disney Japan vlog, watch here :
Realistically, you really only fully enjoy Tokyo Disneyland or Disney Sea if you don’t squeeze them both in one day, so if you have one more extra day… you know what to do! (affiliate)
Tokyo Disneyland has a special offer: the Starlight ticket allows entrance for a lower price if you enter from 3PM onwards. Although we think this is best for single riders, you can try this out if you just want to be in Tokyo Disneyland for the vibes.
Celebratory 7-Eleven Dinner
Sandwiches and rice balls in 7 - Eleven
For sure, you’re going to feel tired from all that walking - what better way to wind down than with a good old 7-Eleven dinner? The selection of food at Japanese convenience stores are famously known for their variety, freshness and taste, especially the tamago sando or egg sandwich.
In my opinion, these sandwiches and rice balls did keep us going throughout all of our Japan trips after all!
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Day 2
Sensoji Temple
Sensoji Temple at Asakusa.
To kick off day 2, we’re starting off with one of Tokyo’s more popular destinations: Sensoji Temple at Asakusa. Most recognizable by the huge gates and red, hanging lantern, Sensoji temple is also lined with shops selling traditional and novel Japanese food, crafts and products.
This shopping street called Nakamise-dori is directly in front of the temple and can get pretty crowded, so be sure to go early. Afterwards, treat yourself to a sweet treat at Asakusa Kagetsudo, famous for their melon pan, before they sell out for the day!
Shibuya Crossing
You’ve heard of the tale of Hachiko, the dog who waited. To this day, he’s still waiting… as a statue! In the heart of Shibuya crossing sits the Hachiko statue, a symbol of loyalty and friendship. This is often used as a marker for meet-ups, but it also isn’t bad for a picture, just to say you’ve been to Japan.
Moving forward from Hachiko, you’re met with a barrage of people waiting to cross the famous Shibuya crossing. Here, the amount of pedestrians crossing can reach between 1,000 to 2,500 in one round of crossing, which is why it’s also referred to as the Shibuya scramble.
You can get a good view of this from the Starbucks coffee at Tsutaya Bookstore, just in front of the crossing. A less populated area is the bridge from Shibuya station to Mark City. These are perfect places to hang out for photographers trying to get that “perfect shot.”
If you’re willing to spend a little more, you can get a better bird’s eye view of the scramble from Shibuya Sky (affiliate) while also enjoying Tokyo’s skyline. You can book tickets in advance or at the place itself, although lines can get long at peak seasons.
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Dinner
Ichiran ramen
Of course, a good dinner is mandatory - one of our favorites is the Ichiran ramen, and with good reason! The broth is so rich, and all the ingredients, especially the noodles, are perfectly cooked. The line is always worth the wait for us with a meal this delicious.
If you don’t feel like waiting for long, you can also go to local fast food chains like Matsuya, Yoshinoya and Sukiya. The prices are cheaper and food is served faster, but they definitely don’t skip out on the quality!
Want something more authentic on your last full day? How about a local restaurant in the streets of Tokyo? In the streets and alleys of Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ueno, try looking for restaurants with a fair amount of locals dining. Be sure to ask if you can do a walk-in, because many restaurants are by reservation only.
Day 3
Shopping
Make sure to have a hearty breakfast, because the shopping you can do at Tokyo… it can go wild! Our usual method here is to bring two luggages: one for clothes, and the other empty for pasalubong to bring home. But where do you start?
Ameya-yokocho
A short walk away from Ueno Park, Ameya-yokocho is the go-to for authentic, quality Japanese products and souvenirs. It’s in this area that we usually buy matcha or green tea sourced from Kyoto, or bags, wooden fans, ceramics and other Japanese crafts that are hard to come by in the Philippines.
Drugstores / Pharmacies
It’s easier to come by such stores because they’re pretty much at every corner. The ones we encounter most frequently are Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Tsuruha drugstore, which have striking blue and red signs, respectively.
These tend to have cheaper prices and lesser crowds than you’ll see at Don Quijote, but the selection is quite limited to some food and mostly beauty products only.
Don Quijote
The ever famous store that you’ll leave with the catchy tune in your head. Don Quijote can be found all across Japan, so you’ll easily find one in busy Tokyo. Some are open for 24 hours, and others span across 10 floors.
From food and clothes to suitcases and cameras, you definitely know you’re not leaving Don Quijote without a bag in each hand!
Book-Off
This is our favorite place to go to for thrifting, especially for clothes during the winter season. Known for selling pre-loved books, collectibles, clothes and even bags at lower prices, Book-Off also has several branches throughout Tokyo, making it easier to find near your accommodation. There are some with the Book-Off Plus, where you know it’s a bigger store with more things to discover!
Just be careful - you might end up having to buy another suitcase with the amount of things you could buy here!
Head to the Airport or Bullet Train
Train station with Baby Tokyo
Whether you’re catching a flight back home or to somewhere else, be sure to book your transportation in time. There are also trains and buses going to the airport, or you can arrange another private van if you’re traveling with elderly tourists.
For those catching a bullet train to Osaka or up north to Sapporo, make sure to claim your ticket and reserve your seats! It’s advised to book them in advance especially during peak seasons, so that your plans aren’t cancelled last minute.
Quick tips
Money
While cashless options are available in most stores in Japan, always have cash on hand since some stores (especially locally run, small businesses) do not accept card payments. We’ve found that convenience store ATMs are the next best thing for withdrawing cash if there’s no money exchange nearby.
There’s also good news for all Filipinos using GCash! You can use the app abroad to pay in Japan at a good conversion rate. Just have them scan the QR code generated using AliPay+. If you use WePay or ApplePay, you can also look for the sign first before you ask.
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Transportation cards
If you haven’t gotten yourself an ICOCA, Suica, or PasMo yet, it might be the best time to get one (affiliate). Makes traveling that much easier!
Special tickets
Got the JR Pass? Make sure to keep it with you ALWAYS since it’s nonrefundable! If you want to know more about the Japan Rail Pass and its different alternatives, check out our article here (link to transpo article)!
Etiquette / Cultural customs
Remember to be respectful and mindful of Japanese culture while visiting, especially at shrines and temples.
For our complete guide on proper etiquette when in Japan, read our article here!
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Ending Notes
The Solhaugens
We hope this short guide helps make your planning a little easier for your Japan trip! This guide is more suited for seasoned and flexible travelers, since the schedules are a little jam packed and require much energy.
If you’re planning to stick to local travels for now, we’ve also got just the thing for you – let Dream Tours Philippines handle the planning so you can enjoy El Nido, Siargao and Boracay without the stress!
Want to visit the Philippines?
Are you ready to enter a tropical paradise? Book that much deserved beach vacation and skip the hassle of planning with Dream Philippines Tours. We’ll make sure that you get the very best beach experience wherever you choose to go. Dream Philippines Tours connects you to nothing but the best accommodations, services, and activities. Let Dream Philippines Tours handle all your planning concerns so that all you have to do is sit back, relax, and feel the seabreeze on your skin.
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