Tokyo in 4 days: a 3-night itinerary with landmarks, anime and art

A four-day Tokyo plan that avoids backtracking, with the Imperial Palace, Asakusa, Harry Potter studio tour, Ghibli Museum, Tokyo Tower and teamLab Planets, plus when to book.

Whether it's your first trip or your fifth, Tokyo always has something new. This four-day, three-night itinerary combines classic landmarks, anime and manga spots, immersive art, shopping and food, in an order that keeps backtracking to a minimum.

Day 1: old and new at the Imperial Palace, Akihabara, Senso-ji and Tokyo Skytree

1. Imperial Palace

Start at the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda, surrounded by moats and a huge number of trees. Walk to the front of Nijubashi Bridge to see traditional white walls and green roofs, and enjoy a rare feeling of calm in the middle of the city.

2. Akihabara

Head from the palace to Akihabara Electric Town, where huge anime billboards greet you outside the station. Electronics fans can browse cameras and appliances at Yodobashi Camera, and anime fans can look for used figures and rare cards at Akihabara Radio Kaikan and Mandarake.

3. Senso-ji

Reach Senso-ji in the early evening. After taking a photo at the huge red lantern of Kaminarimon, walk through the Nakamise shopping street for ningyo-yaki cakes and matcha sweets, then draw a fortune at the main hall. It's much calmer later in the day, though many shops close early.

4. Tokyo Skytree

End the day on the 634-metre Tokyo Skytree. From the decks at 350 and 450 metres, you can see all of Tokyo at night, and Mount Fuji on clear days. The Tokyo Skytree Town complex below has plenty of souvenir shops and the Sumida Aquarium.

Day 2: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo

Give the second day to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, Asia's first indoor Harry Potter attraction. You can walk into the Great Hall and Diagon Alley, and see a full-size Ministry of Magic set. You can also ride a broomstick, try Butterbeer, and take a photo with the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9¾.

Day 3: Ghibli Museum, Shinjuku Gyoen and Tokyo Tower

1. Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

Spend the morning at the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka. Its theme is getting lost together, with original animation sketches, short films in its Saturn Theatre, and the giant robot soldier from Castle in the Sky on the roof garden. Tickets must be booked in advance for a set time.

2. Shinjuku Gyoen

Return to the centre in the afternoon for Shinjuku Gyoen. This former imperial garden has wide lawns and a lovely avenue of plane trees, and it's a peaceful place to sit for a while. Check the opening days, as it's usually closed on Mondays.

3. Tokyo Tower

Visit Tokyo Tower at night. From the Main Deck, you can look straight down through the glass Skywalk Window, or book the Top Deck for its mirrored, futuristic design.

Day 4: Odaiba and teamLab Planets in Toyosu

1. Odaiba

Spend your last day on Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. Walk along the waterfront to see Rainbow Bridge and the Statue of Liberty replica, then visit DiverCity to see the Unicorn Gundam statue and relax with some shopping and food.

2. teamLab Planets TOKYO in Toyosu

Finish at the award-winning teamLab Planets TOKYO in Toyosu. You take off your shoes, roll up your trousers and walk barefoot through water where digital koi swim, then enter a floating orchid garden. It's a memorable way to end your trip. Book a time slot ahead.

Where to stay in Tokyo

On a short trip, your location matters a lot. Good choices include Shinjuku (a major hub with plenty of nightlife), Ueno or Asakusa (fast trains to Narita, and good value) and Ginza (upmarket shopping and food). All of them can save you a lot of travel time.