Tokyo itinerary — 2 days
Day 1 — Tokyo
4 stops · ≈ 7 h 42 minTokyo's iconic red-and-white communications tower in Shiba Park, built in 1958 to symbolise Japan's post-war resurgence. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower, the 332.9-metre steel lattice structure is painted international orange and white in compliance with aviation law. Two observation decks — the Main Deck at 150 metres with see-through floor windows, and the Top Deck at 250 metres — provide vistas of the metropolis and Mount Fuji.
The official residence of the Emperor of Japan, occupying the historic grounds of Edo Castle within central Tokyo. While the inner palace remains private, visitors can freely roam the East Gardens, admiring massive stone ramparts and wide defensive moats. The grounds showcase the granite foundations of the former castle keep, pruned black pines, the serene Ninomaru strolling garden, and the famous Nijubashi double bridge.
A spacious public park in Tokyo's Taitō district, founded in 1873 on the grounds of the former Kan'ei-ji temple. Renowned as Tokyo's most celebrated cherry blossom destination, it features over a thousand sakura trees blooming each spring. The grounds encompass the lotus-filled Shinobazu Pond, Japan's oldest zoo, the Tokyo National Museum, and Le Corbusier's National Museum of Western Art.
Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, founded in 628 in the Asakusa district and dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. Visitors enter through the Kaminarimon gate with its iconic giant red paper lantern, then stroll along the Nakamise shopping street lined with traditional snacks and crafts. A five-story pagoda graces the courtyard, and admission to the grounds is free.
Reserve
8If you have time left — worth it too.
The public outer garden of Tokyo's Imperial Palace: a vast gravel plaza where runners circle among pines, with the classic postcard view of the double-arched Nijubashi bridge and the Fushimi-yagura turret. A bronze statue of the loyal samurai Kusunoki Masashige guards the entrance. The grounds are free to enter and serve as the ceremonial forecourt of the emperor's residence.
Hamarikyu Gardens is a classic Edo-period landscape garden bordering Tokyo Bay, originally laid out as a hunting retreat for the Tokugawa shoguns. Its defining feature is the Shioiri tidal pond, where seawater levels rise and fall with the bay tides. The striking visual contrast between 300-year-old pine trees, wooden teahouse pavilions set on the water, and gleaming modern skyscrapers of Shiodome forms an iconic Tokyo landscape.
A landmark mixed-use urban complex in Tokyo built as an innovative 'city within a city'. Anchored by the 54-storey Mori Tower, it features lively public plazas, upscale shops, and restaurants. At the entrance stands Louise Bourgeois's iconic 9-metre bronze spider sculpture, Maman. The complex also incorporates the tranquil Edo-period Mohri Garden, while the tower houses the Mori Art Museum and Tokyo City View observation deck.
Traditional district featuring an ancient Buddhist temple, street-food stalls, craft shops & more.
Toyosu Market is Tokyo's premier modern wholesale seafood and produce market, opened in 2018 as the successor to historic Tsukiji. Situated on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay, the state-of-the-art facility features dedicated visitor corridors and an elevated observation gallery where spectators can watch early-morning tuna auctions. Popular restaurant alleys serve exceptionally fresh sushi, while a public rooftop garden overlooks the bay.
An immersive digital art museum created by the international collective teamLab in Tokyo's Toyosu district. Designed around a body-immersive concept, visitors explore barefoot, wading through knee-deep water filled with projected digital koi and traversing mirror labyrinths. Key installations include the sparkling Infinite Crystal Universe, an outdoor moss garden with giant ovoids, and a floating garden with over 13,000 living orchids.
A sprawling 58-hectare former imperial sanctuary in central Tokyo that masterfully blends three distinct landscaping traditions: a traditional Japanese garden with bridges and teahouses, formal French parterres, and sweeping English open lawns. In spring, more than a thousand cherry trees across dozens of varieties burst into bloom, while autumn brings brilliant maples and a tropical greenhouse.
The world's tallest freestanding broadcast tower at 634 metres, dominating Tokyo's eastern skyline in Sumida. The Tembo Deck at 350 metres features floor-to-ceiling glass and glass-floor panels, while the spiraling Tembo Galleria reaches 450 metres. On clear days Mount Fuji appears on the horizon, and the massive Tokyo Solamachi mall sits at the base.
- Learn a few basic Japanese phrases; it helps with communication.
- Always be polite and respectful; bowing is a common greeting.
- Take advantage of the convenience stores for snacks and essentials.
- Be aware of the 'quietness' culture in public transport; keep conversations low.
- Plan your itinerary to include both modern attractions and traditional sites.