Tokyo in 3 days: a 2-night itinerary with 9 top sights

A three-day Tokyo plan grouped by subway route, with Shinjuku Gyoen, Ginza, Tokyo Tower, Senso-ji, Akihabara, Ueno and the Harry Potter studio tour, plus transport and food tips.

Tokyo blends the old traditions of Edo with a very modern city. Whether it's your first visit or a quick return, three days and two nights are enough for the highlights if you plan around the subway lines. This guide puts nine key sights in a sensible order, with transport, food and booking notes.

📅 Your three days at a glance

🏙️ Day 1: landmarks, imperial sights and shopping

The first day stays in central Tokyo, moving from quiet imperial gardens to the bright lights of the city at night.

1. Shinjuku Gyoen

This big park in the middle of busy Shinjuku covers about 58 hectares. It began as a feudal lord's residence in the Edo period, became an imperial garden in the Meiji era, and opened to the public after the war. Its Japanese, French and English gardens look different in every season.

• Address: 11 Naitocho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

• Getting there: take the Marunouchi Line to Shinjukugyoemmae Station, then walk for about 5 minutes.

• Opening hours: generally 9am to 4:30pm, with last entry at 4pm, and closed on Mondays. Check the official site, as hours vary by season.

2. Imperial Palace

In Chiyoda, the Imperial Palace is the Emperor's residence, surrounded by old moats, stone walls and a huge number of trees. You can walk through the outer gardens to see Nijubashi Bridge and Fushimi Yagura, and get a sense of its quiet elegance.

• Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

• Getting there: take the Chiyoda Line to Nijubashimae Station, then walk for about 5 minutes.

• Opening hours: the outer gardens are open all day. The East Gardens generally open from 9am to 4:30pm, and close on Mondays and Fridays. Hours vary by season.

3. Ginza

Ginza is one of the world's best-known upmarket shopping districts, and the Yon-chome crossing is its landmark. You'll find long-established department stores such as Wako, Mitsukoshi and Matsuya, international flagship stores and classic Western-style restaurants. At weekends, Chuo-dori usually closes to cars, which makes it pleasant to walk.

• Address: Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

• Getting there: take the Ginza, Hibiya or Marunouchi Line to Ginza Station.

• Opening hours: the streets are always open, and most shops open from about 11am to 8pm.

4. Tokyo Tower

At 333 metres, the red-and-white Tokyo Tower has been a symbol of the city since 1958. From the 150-metre Main Deck, you can look down through the glass Skywalk Window, and the city lights are lovely at night.

It's worth booking Tokyo Tower deck tickets in advance to avoid queuing at the ticket counter.

• Address: 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo

• Getting there: take the Toei Oedo Line to Akabanebashi Station, then walk for about 5 minutes.

• Opening hours: generally 9am to 11pm, with last entry at 10:30pm.

💡 Where to eat on Day 1:

• Shinjuku: Ichiran ramen, or Jojoen for yakiniku

• Ginza: Ginza Kagari for chicken ramen, or Rengatei for classic pork cutlet

🏯 Day 2: Edo traditions, anime and a view from the sky

The second day moves between old and new Tokyo, from a historic temple to pop culture and a towering broadcast tower.

5. Senso-ji

Founded in the 7th century, Senso-ji is Tokyo's oldest temple and one of its most popular. The giant red lantern at Kaminarimon is the classic photo. Walk through the Nakamise shopping street, with its traditional crafts and ningyo-yaki cakes, to the main hall.

• Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo

• Getting there: take the Ginza or Toei Asakusa Line to Asakusa Station, then walk for about 5 minutes.

• Opening hours: the main hall is generally open from 6:30am to 5pm, and the grounds are always open.

6. Akihabara

Akihabara is world-famous for otaku culture and electronics. It's packed with anime and model shops such as Radio Kaikan and Mandarake, game centres and maid cafés, and its neon comes alive at night.

• Address: around Akihabara Station, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

• Getting there: take the JR Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku or Sobu Line to Akihabara Station.

• Opening hours: most shops open from about 10am to 8pm.

7. Ueno Park

This huge city park combines nature and culture, with an avenue of cherry trees, lotus flowers on Shinobazu Pond and Ueno Zoo. The Tokyo National Museum and the National Museum of Western Art are here too.

• Address: Uenokoen, Taito-ku, Tokyo

• Getting there: take a JR line or the Ginza or Hibiya subway line to Ueno Station.

• Opening hours: the park is generally open from 5am to 11pm. Museums and the zoo have their own hours.

8. Tokyo Skytree

At 634 metres, Tokyo Skytree is the world's tallest free-standing broadcasting tower. Its Tembo Deck at 350 metres and Tembo Galleria at 450 metres give wide views over the Kanto Plain. The Solamachi complex below has more than 300 shops and the Sumida Aquarium.

It's worth booking Tokyo Skytree tickets in advance to avoid queuing at the counter.

• Address: 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

• Getting there: take the Tobu Skytree Line to Tokyo Skytree Station, or the Hanzomon Line to Oshiage Station.

• Opening hours: generally 10am to 10pm, with last entry at 9pm.

💡 Where to eat on Day 2:

• Asakusa: Asakusa Imahan for wagyu sukiyaki, or Daikokuya for tempura rice bowls

• Ueno: Izuei for eel on rice, or Kamo to Negi for duck ramen

🧙‍♂️ Day 3: a day of movie magic

On the last day, head to Asia's first Harry Potter studio tour, to go behind the scenes of the film series.

9. Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo

Opened in 2023, this is Asia's only Harry Potter studio tour. You can walk into a recreated Great Hall, step onto the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9¾, and see a full-size Ministry of Magic set that's unique to Tokyo. You can also try Butterbeer here.

Before you go, book your Harry Potter studio tour tickets in advance, as none are sold at the door.

• Address: 1-1-7 Kasugacho, Nerima-ku, Tokyo

• Getting there: take the Seibu Ikebukuro or Toei Oedo Line to Toshimaen Station, then walk for about 5 minutes.

• Opening hours: generally 8:30am to 7pm, depending on the season and your time slot.

💡 Food and souvenirs on Day 3:

• At the studio: the Butterbeer Bar, and the Backlot Café for house-themed set meals

• Souvenirs: house robes, interactive wands and Hogwarts Express models