Tokyo in 5 days

The most efficient megacity on earth - once you crack the code. Best time to visit: March-May (cherry blossom) and October-November (autumn colours). Average daily budget: $110 to $180 USD.

Land, Shibuya, recover

Morning: NEX or Limousine Bus from NRT/HND. Drop bags. Coffee at % Arabica Daikanyama.

Afternoon: Walk Shibuya: scramble, Hachiko, Mag's Park rooftop for the view.

Evening: Ramen at Ichiran, then a quiet walk to bed. Jet lag wins tonight.

Eat: Tonkatsu at Butagumi (Nishi-Azabu), ¥2,500, the best pork cutlet of your life.

Asakusa + east-side old Tokyo

Morning: Senso-ji at 7am (empty). Walk Nakamise-dori, breakfast at Asakusa Imahan.

Afternoon: Sumida river ferry to Hama-rikyu Garden, matcha at the tea house.

Evening: Yakitori at Toritake (Asakusa) or Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku for the alley experience.

Eat: Ramen at Afuri, yuzu shio, light and clean, locations everywhere.

Harajuku, Meiji, Shimokitazawa

Morning: Meiji Shrine forest walk at 8am. Coffee at Streamer.

Afternoon: Harajuku → Cat Street → Omotesando architecture walk.

Evening: Train to Shimokitazawa for vintage browsing, dinner at Mother (curry).

Eat: Sushi at Tsukiji's Sushi Dai (yes, the queue, ¥4,500 omakase).

TeamLab + Toyosu

Morning: TeamLab Planets at opening (book online). Toyosu fish market for sushi breakfast.

Afternoon: Odaiba waterfront, teamLab Borderless if it has reopened.

Evening: Back to Roppongi Hills for the city night view from Mori Tower.

Eat: Convenience-store egg sandwich at Lawson, non-negotiable, ¥250.

Day trip, Kamakura or Hakone

Morning: Train at 8am. Kamakura: Big Buddha, Hase-dera.

Afternoon: Walk to Yuigahama beach, lunch at Garden House.

Evening: Back to Tokyo. Easy izakaya in Ebisu Yokocho.

Eat: Tachinomi (standing bar) crawl in Yurakucho under the train tracks, beers + skewers, ¥300 each.

Hidden gems

Kagurazaka - the old geisha quarter, now full of tiny French bistros.
Todoroki Valley - a real ravine inside Tokyo.
Kichijoji's Inokashira Park at sunset.
Kanda Used Bookstore Street.
Yanaka Ginza shopping street, locals only, ¥150 menchi-katsu, no English signs.
Shimokitazawa's Mikkeller bar for craft beer with a 30-something solo crowd.
Hama-rikyu Garden + matcha tea house, feudal-era park surrounded by skyscrapers.

Getting around

Get a Suica or Pasmo card on arrival (¥500 deposit + top-up). The metro and JR are spotless and on time. Tokyo has two operators, Tokyo Metro and Toei, but Suica works on both, plus JR, buses and convenience-store payments. Walk neighbourhoods rather than train-hopping inside one. Avoid taxis except late at night (they're ¥1,000+ for short rides).

Safety

One of the safest cities on earth. Solo female travellers regularly report walking home at 2am without concern. The main 'risk' is touts in Roppongi and Kabukicho - just keep walking. Don't follow anyone offering you a 'free drink' to a bar, known scam zone.

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