Tokyo itinerary 5 days. Where to go, what to do, how to spend 5 days in Tokyo for the first-timers?

First time traveling to Tokyo on your own? Don’t worry, immediately pocket Living Nomads’ self-sufficient 5 days 4 nights Tokyo travel itinerary and “get” the most emotional moments. This itinerary is specifically designed for people coming to Japan for the first time, at a very reasonable cost! Now, lets’ check out our suggested Tokyo itinerary 5 days on where to go, what to do, how to spend 5 days in Tokyo, what to do in Tokyo for 5 days for the first-time visitors?

It’s hard not to get caught up in the bustling pace of life in Tokyo – one of the most charming cities on the planet. You will never be able to count the places you want to visit, the delicious local dishes or the series of “virtual living” coordinates that are causing a storm on social networks.

From theme parks, unique museums, ancient temples, to the experience of viewing the city from hundreds of meters high, relaxing in the onsen or taking the earliest train to visit the countryside – it’s all These are all great Tokyo travel ideas.

THE TOKYO PASS

Detailed Tokyo Travel Itinerary 5 Days 4 Nights Self-sufficient

So that you don’t have a headache between options, below is the “standard” 5-day, 4-night Tokyo travel itinerary recommended by Living Nomads. The best thing is that you can complete this traveling idea with the companion of a JR Pass multi-purpose transportation pass.

Day 1: Enjoy exploring Tokyo (# Tokyo itinerary 5 days)

After a long flight from Vietnam to Japan, you should not make your first day’s itinerary in Tokyo too dense. It’s best to spend all your time exploring the neighborhoods near where you stay. One of Tokyo’s most popular neighborhoods is Shimokitazawa – famous for its “chill”, vintage shop-houses, bakeries, galleries, bookstores, live music performance areas and cafes, izakaya style bars.

Maybe you don’t know: Shimokitazawa is also known as the “Curry District” in Tokyo. There is an annual Curry Festival here that takes place in October. Grab lunch at one of the top local Curry restaurants if you get the chance – you’ll be surprised to enjoy a plate of Curry served with Italian ice cream topped with exotic spices.

Continuing your journey, visit Harajuku – one of Tokyo’s most famous neighborhoods (especially for the global fashion enthusiast community). Only about 15 minutes by train from Shimokitazawa, Harajuku is where you find creative vitality and free will flowing in every breath.

From beautiful small clothing stores to shops selling kawaii items, you can’t take your eyes off; At the same time, there are cafes and unique themed restaurants, which seem to never lack new experiences that make you praise.

For sweet lovers, Harajuku is truly a paradise. The map of snacks and sweet refreshments here comes in all shapes and sizes, most notably crepes, ice cream and giant cotton candies. After eating your fill, take a stroll around nearby Yoyogi Park. This is one of the largest parks in Tokyo.

Micro Pig Cafe Experience in Harajuku

Not much in the mood for shopping? Then go a little further to the suburbs to enjoy the gentle natural scenery. One of the tourist destinations near Tokyo worth considering is Inagi City, only about 30 minutes by train from the city center.

On the way to Inagi City, you can stop at Yomiuriland Park – a famous theme park with more than 40 outstanding activities, from “sensational” roller coasters to “chill” rides. Yomiuriland is especially beautiful in winter, when the entire park is lit up by bright lights, creating an extremely sparkling whole at night.

Another new Tokyo tourist attraction that you may like is the Flower Park “HANA·BIYORI“, just launched in 2020. This is the home of hundreds of beautiful flowers, and “virtual living coordinates” full of potential for photographers. You can enjoy a digital art show and stroll through the flower path made up of more than 300 blooming flower pots.

“HANA·BIYORI” Flower Park is also popular for having a botanical garden-themed Starbucks store, which is always filled with sunshine and fresh energy from flowers and trees.

Come to Shinjuku if you’re looking for a place to dine. When night falls, the breath of life creeps into every corner of Shinjuku. Food lovers can find thousands of Japanese restaurants and eateries with menus rich in local colors, whether you like sushi, ramen, tonkatsu, shabu-shabu hot pot or BBQ. There are many price ranges – from budget to luxury – and at any time, you can choose a delicious and hearty meal.

Here are a few dining suggestions in Shinjuku that you should consider:

• Ichiran Ramen
• Himawari Sushi
• Tempura Tsunahachi
• Tsukemen Gonokami Seisakusho
• Nabezo Shinjuku Meiji Dori
• Tonkatsu Hamakutsu
• Kyourakutei (Soba noodle shop with 1 Michelin star)
• Nakajima (one of the most “affordable” Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo)

At the end of the first day of your Tokyo itinerary 5 days 4 nights, go to Golden Gai, a bustling small alley in Shinjuku district. With countless bars and small restaurants, Golden Gai is the perfect place to get an authentic experience of Tokyo’s nightlife.

Chances are, you’ll want to fall asleep with panoramic views of the city from the Shibuya Sky Observation Deck. This is a 360-degree night observatory that gives you a panoramic view of the city’s top spots, such as Tokyo Skytree, Shibuya Crossing, Roppongi Hills and more. Visitors can also visit the Sky Gallery to enjoy the digital art displays on display.

Day 2: Culture & Art Trip in Tokyo (# 5 days in tokyo)

It’s time to explore the contrasting beauty of urban Tokyo. It can range from culture and art preserved over centuries to bold, groundbreaking and forward-looking creative trends. Whether you love ancient relics or want to immerse yourself in modern art, Tokyo is a metropolis where both aspects exist side by side.

Below are a few travel suggestions that you cannot miss during your 5 days and 4 nights trip to Tokyo.

Meiji Shrine: dedicated to the first emperor of modern Japan, Meiji Shrine in Tokyo is a “must visit” when exploring the city. This tourist attraction includes spacious shrine grounds with quiet walking paths, a forest made up of 100,000 trees, ancient shrine buildings, and the newly opened Meiji Jingu Museum.

Asakusa: to enjoy the atmosphere and vibes of old Tokyo, head to Asakusa. Known for its famous Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street (a lively street with stalls selling local snacks and tourist souvenirs), Asakusa is a tourist-friendly district with plenty of emotional experience. This is also where traditional Japanese cultural festivals and events take place. If you’re lucky, you may encounter art performances or other interesting customs. You should try renting a Kimono for a day of sightseeing in Asakusa to take home extremely “artistic” check-in photos!

Kimono Yae Rental Experience in Asakusa

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the largest and most famous parks in Tokyo. Local people often gather here to enjoy the cool air, have picnics under the wide canopy of trees or simply “escape” from the busy streets of the city. If you’re traveling in spring or fall, bring a mat and snacks to have a picnic under the cherry blossom trees or red leaves at Shinjuku Gyoen. This is definitely the most memorable scene during your 5 days and 4 nights trip to Tokyo.

teamLab Borderless: if you love digital art, you will love teamLab Borderless! This ultra-modern digital art museum is filled with immersive installations across a 10,000 square meter space, worthy of a spot on your Instagram for its brilliance. Coming to teamLab Borderless, your eyes will be “filled” with enchanting artistic effects, from interactive swirls to constantly moving shapes.

Tokyo Tower: if you like to admire the view from above, Tokyo Tower is a place you must definitely visit when traveling to Tokyo. Located 333 meters high in the city center, Tokyo Tower’s observation deck offers sweeping views of Tokyo – and you can even catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance on clear days . Alternatively, enjoy picturesque city views from the Roppongi Hills Observatory or Tokyo Skytree.

Akihabara: if you love anime, manga or “Japanese” games, Electric Town is the ideal destination. Akihabara is known for its wide range of electronics stores, pubs, maid cafes, and a variety of themed restaurants. This area is famous as a shopping destination for discounted electronics, video games, manga and anime. And what’s more fun than walking around the streets of Akihabara on a go-kart!?

Day 3: Explore Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea

If you are a “die-hard fan” of Disney or theme parks in general, don’t end your 5-day, 4-night trip to Tokyo without setting foot in Tokyo Disneyland. Strictly speaking, Tokyo has two Disney-themed parks – Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Both parks have their own appeal and are made up of unique attractions and rides suitable for all ages.

If you love pure Disney and are suitable for children, Tokyo Disneyland is a great choice. If you’re looking for lively activities aimed at a more mature audience, don’t miss Tokyo DisneySea. It’s best to plan to explore both Disney parks in Tokyo to make your own choices.

Day 4: Spend Full Day Visiting Mount Fuji (# what to do in tokyo for 5 days)

No doubt! Mount Fuji is a timeless symbol of Japan, and a dream destination for many tourists. If you are planning to travel to Japan, joining a day tour to explore Mount Fuji is something you should consider.

The journey will of course be more relaxing if you choose to go on a guided tour, but if you prefer to travel on your own, you can also go to Mount Fuji by train, bus or rent a private car. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach Mount Fuji from central Tokyo.

With the Mount Fuji and Hakone Tour from Tokyo, you’ll enjoy an itinerary filled with exciting highlights, including Mount Fuji 5th Station, Gotemba Premium Outlets, Hakone Town, as well as such as riding the Hakone Ropeway cable car and traveling on the Hakone Pirate Ship.

Explore the mountain town of Hakone on your own and enjoy unlimited travel on 8 types of transportation with the Hakone Freepass! Not only does the pass cover train, bus, cable car and sightseeing excursions in Hakone, you can also take advantage of discounts to over 70 attractions and facilities across Hakone.

Day 5: Toyosu Fish Market – Shopping & Sightseeing in Odaiba – Return to Vietnam

On the last day of your 5-day, 4-night Tokyo itinerary, spend some time visiting and shopping at Toyosu Fish Market (considered the successor of the legendary Tsukiji Fish Market). This is a huge wholesale market, with buildings dedicated to selling seafood, fruits and vegetables. The fish market is best known for its morning tuna auctions, which you can watch in person if you get up early.

Tuna auctions take place from 5:30 to 6:30 every morning, and you can watch from observation windows lined up along the opposite hallway. If you like seafood, you can enjoy it from the market’s many restaurants serving everything from fresh sushi to ramen. Remember to arrive early as most of these restaurants close at 2pm.

After exploring the fish market, take a 20-minute train ride to Odaiba, a fun spot located on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. This cool coastal area offers a variety of recreational activities for all ages.

Some worth places to visit in Odaiba include:

• The Rainbow Bridge connects Odaiba to the rest of Tokyo (especially beautiful when it’s lit up at night!).
• Relaxing water cruise between Asakusa and Odaiba.
• teamLab Borderless & teamLab Planets Tokyo Toyosu, rich digital art museum.
• A giant ferris wheel 115 meters high.
• Miraikan, Japan’s National Museum of Science and Innovation.
• Majestic Gundam unicorn statue.
• Tokyo Joypolis and indoor amusement park specializes in games with virtual reality experiences.
• LEGOLAND Tokyo Discovery Center.
• Aqua City Odaiba, a large complex with more than 100 shops and entertainment facilities.

If you don’t have much time to shop in the past few days, you can freely open your wallet on your last day in Tokyo. Please consult in advance information about the place you want to visit and plan your shopping accordingly! If you’re not sure what to buy and just want to walk around, head to Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Ikebukuro and Ginza.

Our 5 days 4 nights Tokyo travel experience will give you more confidence to set out to explore. Please visit our blog and gain more interesting information about the land of Kimono.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tokyo you can refer to

• Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Airport Limousine Bus Transfers from/to Narita and Haneda International Airport (Free Wifi Onboard)
• Tokyo Amazing Sightseeing Bus Day Tour
• Tokyo Highlights Private Day Tour
• Nikko Day Tour from Tokyo
• Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour: Lake Ashi & Ropeway Day Trip from Tokyo
• Nikko Cultural Day Tour from Tokyo
• Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48, or 72 Hours)
• Tokyo Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket
• Shuttle Bus Transfers (One Way/Round Trip) from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea
• Tokyo Disney Resort Park Ticket
• Klook Pass Greater Tokyo
• SHIBUYA SKY Ticket
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter Ticket
• Skyliner Narita Airport Express Ticket
• TeamLab Planets Ticket
• TOKYO SKYTREE® Ticket
• Limousine Bus Narita or Haneda Airport to Tokyo
• Skyliner Narita Airport Express With Tokyo Subway Ticket
• JR Tokyo Wide Pass
• Sky Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Pass
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (BKK and DMK Airport Pick Up) for Japan (Unlimited Data)
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Are you looking for more Tokyo travel guide and top things to do in Tokyo: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Tokyo itinerary 3 days — What to do in Tokyo in 3 days?