7 Day Tokyo Itinerary

Last updated on June 28th, 2020 at 06:38 pm

A lifetime in Tokyo might still leave some corners untouched and unexplored, so it is ambitious to see Tokyo in a week, but it is possible to get a taste of this incredible city with this 7 day Tokyo Itinerary. 

Tokyo is unlike any city that I have ever visited before. As the biggest city in the world, it is chaotic and lively, but also surprisingly ordered. The Japanese people are polite and friendly, with stringent cultural rules on general behavior and hospitality. Tokyo houses some of the best and most varied food, many unique districts to explore, beautiful temples and shrines on almost every street, and unique activities that you can only find in Tokyo. 

When to Visit Tokyo

Tokyo, being the incredible city that it is, provides a ton of activities and so I would guess that visiting at any point in the year would be enjoyable. The best time to visit Tokyo is the spring, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the temperatures start to warm up again or in the fall, when the leaves are changing colors and the temperatures are in the 60s and 70s.

Cherry blossoms begin to bloom in late March and early April, so this time of year is fairly crowded. Golden week, which involves several holidays in succession, goes from April 29th to May 5th and will also be busy.

Summer is the high season in Tokyo, with many crowds fighting the heat and humidity. This is also considered Tokyo’s rainy season. This is the worst time to visit Tokyo.

Winter in Tokyo brings daytime temperatures in the 40s and 50s, but nights can be cold. Tokyo doesn’t get very much snow, usually less than 2 inches per year. Many places will close for the week over New Year’s.

What to pack for 7 Days in Tokyo

We visited Tokyo in the winter, over New Year’s, and the weather was cold but not too cold for sightseeing. The wind chill was bad at times, but as long as I was dressed in layers I stayed warm. The best advice I have for staying warm is wearing a pair of fleeced lined leggings under your jeans. I suggest this all the time, but that’s because it really does help. A pair of Smartwool socks will help lock in all the heat and keep your feet warm as well. For a jacket, I like this warm pea coat because it is still cute and looks good in pictures. Finally, add a cute and warm infinity scarf. I like scarves that don’t get in the way too much while I’m on the go, but usually pack more than one so I can mix up my outfits a bit. On the cloudy or rainy days I wore a hat and gloves as well.

For any time of year in Tokyo, you might want to consider packing your own pocket WI-FI, which doesn’t cost much more than renting one in Tokyo and can be used for your other travels. I also always bring a small cross-body purse that will fit my necessities but not be too cumbersome to carry around the city all day. A small travel umbrella will fit nicely in the cross-body bag, just in case, and don’t forget sunglasses (paid links).

Pocket Wi-Fi or SIM Card? 

Many people purchase or rent a pocket Wi-Fi or Sim Card when traveling to Japan because the Wi-Fi can be inconsistent and is not as widely available as it is in the US. I highly recommend at least one member of your group have access to Google Maps because Tokyo is a huge city. 

If your wireless plan includes Japan, of course, this would be unnecessary. Luke has T-mobile and one of the countries included in his plan is Japan. Since I have AT&T, I usually add the country to my plan when traveling, if possible, but this time I decided to try out the pocket Wi-Fi. 

What is the difference between a pocket Wi-Fi and a SIM Card? 

The pocket Wi-Fi is a Wi-Fi hotspot and can work for multiple devices. So if you are traveling in a group or have more than one device that requires Wi-Fi, then a pocket Wi-Fi is the way to go. 

You can easily rent a pocket Wi-Fi in Japan by reserving ahead of time online. This often involves either picking it up at the airport or having them ship it to your hotel. We picked ours up at the airport and the only difficulty we had was that I didn’t know we would be flying into Terminal 1 of Narita Airport, so I set the pick up/drop off location as Terminal 2. Narita makes it very easy to get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 via a bus (I think it took us about 15 minutes total to go from Terminal 1 to 2, drop off the Wi-Fi and return to Terminal 1 for our flight), so this wasn’t a big deal. I used Ninja Wifi.

Note that when you are returning to Narita for your flight, you will have to drop off your Wi-Fi before you go through security otherwise they will charge you a fee. Many of the companies that provide pocket Wi-Fi rentals have an option to drop the Wi-Fi off in a mailbox, so you can avoid doing so at the airport. 

A SIM card is a good option as well, perhaps if you are traveling solo. SIM cards can easily be bought on Amazon. You purchase a SIM card based on how many days you intend to be in that country, so this 7 day SIM card is cheaper than I paid for the pocket Wi-Fi (paid link).

Getting to Tokyo from Narita International Airport 

Transportation between the airport and Tokyo is very easy as the trains are incredible. Leaving the airport, there are several options. We took the Keisei Skyliner from Narita Airport to Nippori Station, where we transferred to the JR Yamanote Line to get to Shinjuku Station.

Keisei Skyliner

The Keisei Skyliner was comfortable and you will have an assigned seat. It was also easy to find the huge Skyliner sign at the airport. Transferring to the JR Yamanote Line was only a little difficult because we wanted to get the Suica pass and were not sure where to do that, but ultimately it was not hard either. The Keisei Skyliner takes 40 minutes to get to Nippori Station for about 2520 yen and 20 minutes from Nippori to Shinjuku Station via the Yamanote Line for 200 yen. 

Other options include: 

JR Narita Express – 90 minutes direct to Shinjuku Station for about 3250 yen

JR Sobu Line – 105 minutes to Shinjuku Station for about 1540 yen

Keisei Limited Express – 90 minutes to Shinjuku Station with one transfer, 1470 yen

Limousine Bus – 100 minutes direct to Shinjuku Station, 3200 yen one way

Discount Bus – 90 minutes direct to Osaki Station, 1000-1300 yen + 15 minutes via JR Yamanote Line to Shinjuku Station, 170 yen

Where to Stay for 7 days in Tokyo

During our time in Tokyo, we stayed in two different hotels. This was because originally we had thought we were going to visit other cities in Japan, but ultimately the feedback we got was that there was enough to do in Tokyo to stay for several weeks. When we committed to staying in Tokyo the whole time, our original hotel was booked for the rest of our trip, so we found another one. This ended up working out well since Tokyo is so big and we were able to stay in different neighborhoods. 

The first hotel that we stayed in was Nishi Shinjuku Hotel Mystays in Shinjuku. The room was quite small but comfortable for our needs. The location was great because it is right next to Shinjuku Station, which you will visit constantly, as well as many of the popular tourist sights in Shinjuku. As Shinjuku is the most touristy district in Tokyo, and it was a holiday, this hotel was more expensive. 

For the second half of our trip, we stayed in Shimbashi, which is very close to Ginza, at the Daiwa Roynet Hotel Shimbashi. The room here was a bit bigger and it was cheaper. Ginza is one of the other popular areas to stay because of all the shopping and upscale restaurants. 

Both hotels had non-smoking rooms available. 

Wherever you end up staying, the most important thing is to be near a train station so you can easily get around. 

Getting Around Tokyo

I highly recommend getting a Sucia Card while you are in Tokyo, a refillable card that allows you to avoid getting a ticket every time you need to take the train. Tokyo’s train system is incredible, and since it is such a huge city, you will likely use trains to get around most of the time. 

In Tokyo, you swipe going into the train station and leaving the train station because the distance you traveled determines the amount you are charged. So make sure you keep your ticket or Suica card handy on your way out.

Note also that the trains do not run 24 hours a day. If you are out late, you may end up having to take a taxi or walking. We took a taxi one night and found that the conditions were very nice and we were able to pay with a card. It was about $30 to go from Shinjuku to our hotel in Shimbashi, which is about a 20 minute drive. 

Uber is available in Tokyo, but it is not as commonly used because the train system is so good, taxi conditions are good, and there aren’t many drivers. 

Currency in Tokyo

Tokyo uses Japanese yen. One US Dollar is approximately 100 Japanese Yen (at the time of writing this, 1 USD = 106.48 JPY), which makes it easy to figure out approximately how much things cost.

You will need cash in Tokyo as not all restaurants and bars will accept credit. ATMs are pretty common around Tokyo, so it is not too big of a concern. Most 7 Elevens and Family Marts will have ATMs (and bathrooms).

7 Day Tokyo Itinerary

Day 1 – Shibuya 

Start out day one with a deep dive into Tokyo’s eccentric side by exploring parts of Shibuya and Harajuku. 

Meiji Shrine

Begin your day by visiting the Meiji Shrine, a Shinto Shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. It is a lovely place to visit, with beautiful architecture surrounded by lush greenery. It doesn’t feel like you are in the biggest city in the world at all. 

Make sure you check out the barrels of sake, a gift from the Japanese people to the gods. While the barrels are actually empty, the sake barrels signify a connection between the people and the gods. 

Near the sake barrels, there are also wine barrels, which were donated from France as a gesture of the country’s friendship. Emperor Meiji emphasized the importance of maintaining the old culture of Japan while also exploring and understanding the Western ways. He adopted many practices in the pursuit, including the enjoyment of wine with dinner. 

While you are visiting the Meiji shrine, the Meiji Jingu Gyoen is a lovely Japanese garden. If you have been following along for a while, you know I am always searching out a Japanese garden in my travels in the US, so I decided I needed to see the real thing in its native country. 

Entrance to the garden is 500 yen (about $5 USD) and it is a great place to escape the crowds and enjoy a moment of peace. Meiji Jingu Gyoen is home to Kiyomasa’s well, filled with crystal clear water that people line up to see. The water remains at 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit) year round and feeds the garden’s pond. Overall, the garden was very nice, but since it was winter there wasn’t too much in bloom, so I would probably aim to visit this in the spring instead. 

Harajuku

After exploring the Meiji Shrine, it likely is time for something delicious to eat. Head over to Flipper’s and aim to get their 10-15 minutes before they open at 11 am. Here you can order the Insta-famous souffle pancakes. They really are as good as they look, deliciously fluffy, and fun to eat.

Read More: 25 Things you need to eat in Tokyo

 

Next, head over to Kiddy Land, which is a multi-floor store dedicated to character goods. The whole basement was dedicated to Snoopy and the other floors were a mix of Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and many other American and Japanese cartoons that I didn’t recognize. Either way, it is a good introduction to the quirky side of Japanese culture. 

Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku, a short 2 minute walk from Kiddy Land, is known for the geometric mirrors above the escalator that provide a unique photo opportunity. If you are interested in shopping, Tokyu Plaza is a mall, so you can spend some time looking around. 

On the top floor of Tokyu Plaza is a Starbucks with a beautiful patio area for sitting in warmer weather. Even in the winter it was pretty and there are some interesting views of the city. 

Takeshita Street, the next place to explore, is a complete sensory overload in the best way, so get ready. It is the center of unique Japanese teenage culture. 

There are colors everywhere, people walking around with giant cotton candy, fried cheese on a stick, and rainbow colored snacks. There are trendy shops and boutiques that reflect the current teenage trends. Stroll through here, observe the unique stores, and grab the ridiculous snack of your choice.

Many people come here to get the rainbow grilled cheese, but we decided to try this caramel custard stick called Zaku zaku and some black sesame boba. 

After experiencing the crowds in Takeshita Street, Yoyogi Park is a nice place to sit and recover or stroll through the grounds. If you are in the mood for a warm drink, head to Chop Coffee for a beautiful and delicious Matcha Latte on your way to Shibuya Crossing. Otherwise, stop for sesame ice cream at Gomaya Kuki. Sadly, they were closed over the holiday so we didn’t get to experience sesame ice cream. 

Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya Crossing is the busiest intersection in the world, known for the Shibuya Scramble, which occurs every few minutes when the traffic stops and people cross from all directions at the same time. 

I recommend crossing during the scramble and then heading up to the Starbucks to get a bird’s eye view of the chaos. There’s no need to buy a drink, unless you really want to, because this Starbucks is likely going to have a very long line. If you enter on the east side of the building near the smaller Starbucks kiosk, there will be an escalator going up to the second floor.

Then grab a spot by the windows to stand and wait for the magic to happen. 

Shibuya crossing, in my opinion, is one of those places like Times Square. Check it off your bucket list, but usually one visit is enough. On our way out, Luke and I vowed that we wouldn’t return to Shibuya crossing again. But alas, Shibuya Station is a transportation hub so we were there within the next few days. 

Check out the Hachikō Statue, memorializing the dog that waited at Shibuya Station every day for his owner to return from work, continuing to do so for nine years after his owner died while at work. Nowadays, it is a common meeting place. 

Ebisu

Hop on the train at Shibuya Station and head to Ebisu Yokocho for dinner, a Japanese Izakaya restaurant filled with different food options served in tight quarters. This is the real Japanese experience where many locals eat, drink highballs, and smoke, so it may not be for you. As seating was very limited when we visited, we ended up at a restaurant specializing in beef tongue, which I wasn’t my first pick. There were a lot of other options, however, and the experience was not one I will forget. 

Bar Trench is what brought us to Ebisu and I highly recommend it. The bartenders were so nice and the drinks were fantastic. It was not overly busy at all so we got a seat at the bar and tried several drinks including a Mezcal Milk Punch and a Buttered Rum sour. 

Bar Tram, related to Bar Trench, is an absinthe bar, so of course we had to try that one as well. I didn’t enjoy the atmosphere or the drinks nearly as much though.

Day 2 – Shinjuku

Isetan Shinjuku

Start the day at Boul’ange near Shinjuku Station, a pastry shop with a wide variety of Japanese and French style pastries. We tried several things and they were all delicious, but my favorite was a strawberry Mont Blanc. There is also an Egg Slut here, one of our favorite breakfast spots in Los Angeles, if you need something a bit hardier. 

Isetan Shinjuku is a department store sandwiched between a food market in the basement and restaurants on the top. Of course we explored both of these areas and avoided all the other floors. The market in the basement was fun to explore, filled with all your normal market needs like meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, and so on.

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It also doubled as a specialty food store, with a variety of unique vendors selling decadent desserts and artisanal foods. It was incredible and we could have spent all day walking around.

We decided we had to wait in an incredibly long line at one of the shops, where we got strawberry mochi, dorayaki, and these cute acorn shaped confections with sweet azuki bean paste inside. 

On the top floor, there are several restaurants varying in type of food, each with a row of chairs stretching to the door. These chairs are not for resting, but for waiting in the line that forms outside of the restaurant before and during operating hours. 

Grab lunch at the sushi restaurant, Rosan, which opens everyday for lunch at 11. The food was quite good and we were so excited to try sushi for the first time in Japan. 

Also on the top floor when we visited was another food market, almost more like a farmers’ market. Here vendors had set up tables piled high with Japanese foods like fish eggs and cakes, sake, and other interesting foods. I am not sure if this market is normally there because everything was in Japanese and we seemed to be the only tourists. But check it out if you’re in the area and let me know if it’s still there. 

Shinjuku Gyoen

If you’ve had enough foodie activities for the day, head to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. It also has a 500 yen entrance fee. This is a very popular spot to visit in spring when the Cherry Blossom trees are in bloom. Unfortunately, they are closed December 29th to January 3rd and every Monday, so we were not able to visit. 

Instead we found a really good boba shop and stepped in for a drink. 

Temples and Shrines

Next we visited a Buddist Temple, Taisō-ji, and the Hanazono-jinja Shinto Shrine. Temples and shrines can be found all over Tokyo and they are all beautifully unique, so stop and see as many as you can. 

For us, this day in our itinerary was New Years Eve, so our evening was full of New Year’s Eve festivities. Otherwise, I recommend any combination of the following for your evening (or evenings) in Shinjuku.

Robot Restaurant

If you are interested in having a uniquely Tokyo experience, get tickets to the Robot Restaurant for tonight. You will need tickets in advance and you have to check in at the time instructed on your ticket. We bought discounted tickets through Voyagin for 6500 JPY per person.

While we didn’t eat at the Robot Restaurant because it didn’t seem like the food would be very good, the show was entertaining. It is split into three sections, the first is a short intro involving dancers, after which you are permitted a bathroom break, the robot fight, another quick bathroom break, and then an assortment of different themed dances. It is quirky and weird but it is something you can only find in Tokyo. 

While you are in that area of Shinjuku, explore a bit and look for the Godzilla Head. This is the flashiest area of Tokyo and attracts an interesting crowd.  

After our experience at the Robot Restaurant we were craving a giant bowl of ramen. Head to Ramen Takahashi for a delicious bowl of ramen and a chance to order from a vending machine. They are open until 5 AM, just in case you are ever looking for a late night meal (or early breakfast?) in Shinjuku. 

Yakitori Alley

If you are looking for a fun foodie experience that you can only have in Tokyo, head to Yakitori Alley and squeeze into one of the many small restaurants serving skewers of meat, seafood, and vegetables. I was a little nervous about the way they were preparing the food, but we ate here twice and didn’t have any problems. 

Golden Gai

After dinner, check out some of the great bars in the area. Golden Gai is home to small izakayas where you can sip Japanese whiskey and get to know your bar mates. Many of the bars do not welcome tourists, but these are well marked, so stroll around until you find a promising bar with a minimal cover charge (most range from 600 to 1000 yen).

We had a great time in Golden Gai where we met a group of Australians, whom we hung out with for the rest of the night. So keep an open mind, be friendly, and brave the often uncomfortable situation. You never know what friends you might make. 

Craft Cocktails in Shinjuku

If dive bars are not for you, there are several more upscale options in Shinjuku as well. Ben Fiddich is a well known cocktail bar in Shinjuku that is supposed to be great. The drinks will be expensive and reservations are required. If you are visiting around New Years, they close for a week to celebrate the holiday (on alternating weeks to their sister bar). They also have a sister bar on the second floor called B&F, which is supposed to have similar drinks. 

In the same building of Ben Fiddich is a lovely bar that we happened upon by accident. Ben Fiddich claimed that they may be able to seat us around 11 PM, so while we were waiting we grabbed a seat at Spirits Bar Sunface. It is advertised as a Mezcal and Tequila bar, so we were not sure what to expect. But we were pleasantly impressed by this bar, so much so that Luke said he’d rather return there then visit Ben Fiddich. 

The bartenders were exceptionally nice and made some complex and unique drinks. There was no menu, but I ordered a whiskey sour. It was made with Japanese whiskey, sake, and yuzu and I loved the flavor as well as the creative use of Japanese ingredients. Next I had a delicious gin drink that had cardamom and citrus.

Luke ordered a Mezcal negroni, a white negroni made with gin from Kyoto, and a drink made with mezcal, ginger, wasabi, and citrus. Everything was delicious and we made more friends at the bar, so I highly recommend visiting. 

Day 3 – Moving to Ginza 

On Day 3 we moved hotels from Shinjuku to Shimbashi near Ginza. It was New Year’s Day, which is quiet in Tokyo, so it was a good day to move. I also think other areas of Tokyo would have been busier, but the nature of Ginza meant that most things were closed. 

Explore Asakusa

I suggest you instead head up to Asakusa and explore. Asakusa is home to Sensō-ji, a buddist temple and also the oldest temple in Tokyo, which dates back to 645. Eat some green tea ice cream for me at Suzukien Asakusa and explore Nakamise Street, where you can find traditional Japanese street food. 

Head to the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center and visit the 8th floor observation deck for free to view Sensō-ji and the Skytree. Admire the Sumida River as you cross to the other side and visit Sumida Park. 

If you are interested in going to the top of the Skytree, now is your chance. Or you can grab a snack at Solamachi Kunimi, which has more views of the Skytree and Tokyo. Otherwise, head to Jikken Bridge to get some good photos of the tower. 

If you are hungry for ramen or hand pulled noodles, head to Bazoku Asakusa. 

For a night out in Asakusa, check out Daimasu Sake Bar where you can sample sake at the bar or buy some to take home.

Day 4 – Ginza 

Imperial Palace

Start your day with a stroll through Hibiya Park on your way to Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace is surrounded by several beautiful parks that are open to the public and a great place to walk or jog. 

You can take a guided tour of the grounds of the Imperial Palace, but cannot enter the palace itself. Tours are held at 10 AM and 1:30 PM for free. You can register online in-advance or in-person same day at Kikyō-mon Gate, but they only accept 500 people a day.

The National Museum of Modern Art and a Science Museum primarily for children are also in the area if you are interested.

When we visited the Imperial Palace on January 2nd, there were massive crowds because it was one of the few days you can see the Imperial family from the balcony of the palace. We were not committed enough to join the hordes of Japanese people pouring into the line, however, so we came back on another day. 

Tsijiki Fish Market

Grab a pastry and a sesame latte at Pierre Hermè, if that’s your cup of tea. Then wander through Ginza to visit the Tsijiki fish market where you can grab your favorite fish snack or meal. I have also heard that the sesame ice cream here is very good, although again many of the restaurants were closed over the holiday. 

Note that the fish market has actually moved to Toyosu Market in the Kōtō ward. Many of the vendors remain at Tsijiki fish market, so it is still worth a visit. However if you want to see the tuna auction, you will have to visit the Toyosu Fish Market.

We found a lovely stop at the market where we were able to taste three different sakes as well as a variety of Japanese wines and hot sake. They also had some Japanese craft beers, which I was extremely tempted to buy.

Hamarikyu Gardens

Next head to the Hamarikyu Gardens and admire the view of Tokyo Bay and the lush greenery. It is only 300 yen to enter the gardens, but make sure you get there a little before 5 pm when they close.

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Bar High Five

To finish off the night, head to Bar High Five, one of the best bars in the world. I recommend going here before dinner because it is such a popular spot and getting there right when they open is the best way to make sure you don’t wait very long.

There is no menu so simply describe to the bartender what you are in the mood for and they will make a one of a kind creation for you. If having to describe your drink preferences makes you nervous, don’t worry, the bartenders have a set of questions that they will ask if you aren’t sure. First they will ask what kind of spirit you would like and if you would like it spirit-forward or citrusy. Then they will ask if you prefer bitter, nutty, fruity, floral, or smoky. You can choose one of these, suggest one of your own, or select a combination. They will then ask if you would like it served up in a martini glass or tall with club soda.

Luke and I had more drinks than I care to admit at Bar High Five and I will say it gets easier to order once you have already done it. The first drink I had (Tequila, citrus, floral, served up) was not my favorite, but the others were good.

My favorite part about Bar High Five was the endless snacks that they serve for free.

Ramen at Tokyo Station

For dinner we got ramen at Tokyo Station. Restaurants at train stations in Tokyo are known for being really good, so we tried Oreshiki Jun. The flavor was good, but the noodles were a little thin for my liking.

We actually wanted to eat at Rokurinsha, one of the best rated ramen restaurants at Tokyo Station, but the line was enormous. Full disclosure, most of the restaurants around Ginza were closed after the New Year, so it might just have been that subway ramen was the only available option for everyone.

Day 5 – Take a Day Trip

There are many places around Tokyo that make for an interesting day trip and provide some relief from the city. Visit Kamakura to see the giant Buddha or Nikko for the many sacred sites.

Our day trip to Hakone did not go exactly as planned, but it was a beautiful place to visit and worth it to see Mount Fuji in all its glory. I recommend, if you would really like to visit Hakone, trying to spend at least one night there so you don’t feel so rushed. Try to visit in the middle of the week and avoid weekends and holidays. If you don’t have time to spend the night, Hakone is still a good option for a day trip, but you won’t be able to do everything. 

From Hakone, we took the train back to Shinjuku where we filled our stomachs and our souls with yakitori from Yakitori Alley and drinks from Spirits Bar Sunface. From Shinjuku we took the train back to Ginza, bringing the end of a very long day. 

Day 6 – Odaiba

Tokyu Plaza Ginza

Grab a quick breakfast at Tokyu Plaza Ginza. The City Bakery is a good spot to grab a pastry but there are several food options here depending on what time you arrive. 

Hop on a train to Odaiba for a day of exploring this quirky area of town. 

Statue of Liberty and Rainbow Bridge

Once you arrive, I recommend checking out the Statue of Liberty and the view of the Rainbow Bridge.

Hachitama Observation

If you want to see Tokyo from higher up, head up to the Hachitama Observation room. It is 700 yen per person and provides a good view of Tokyo Bay. 

Gundam Statue

Next head to the Unicorn Gundam Statue, a giant robot that will light up and dance at night. He stands outside of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, so if you need a snack or want to do some shopping, head inside. 

VenusFort

If not, it is worth it to visit VenusFort, another mall that has been modeled after Europe. 

Check out the ceilings that appear to be blue skies and the fountain.

TeamLab Borderless

TeamLab Borderless is also on Odaiba, so head there next. Make sure to purchase tickets in advance, you don’t want to miss this attraction. We bought our tickets on Voyagin for 3200 JPY per person. 

When you purchase tickets, you can visit at any time during the day. We arrived at TeamLab Borderless at 2:55 pm and the line was extremely long but moved surprisingly fast. It only took about 30 minutes to get inside. They request that you store large bags into a locker, which costs 100 yen. They have a change machine in case you don’t have 100 yen. 

Once inside you may have to wait in line to get into specific rooms, but there are other rooms you can move freely in and out of without waiting in line. They also will have a sign showing an estimated wait time for the rooms that do have lines. 

Our favorite room was the crystal room. Make sure you find the control box where you can choose how the crystals act. 

The Forest of Resonating Lamps is the most popular room that will have a wait, but it is worth it. Once you are inside, you only get one minute, so have a plan. Since there is only one minute allowed per group, the line moves fairly fast but you will still wait about 20 – 30 minutes. 

En Tea House may also have a line, although we got very lucky and walked right up to the counter, but it was a very cool experience so don’t miss this one.

At En Tea House you will be required to buy a cup of tea for 500 yen. Once you are seated with your tea, a beautiful flower will bloom in your cup and change throughout the time that you drink it. They also have matcha ice cream, which causes green leaves to appear. 

In total we spent 3.5 hours at TeamLab Borderless and we didn’t wait to see all of the rooms. We heard that The Nest was not really worth it and the line was very long, so we skipped it. 

Next head back the way you came and if you are interested check out the Unicorn Gundam Statue’s light show in the dark. Make sure you check out the rainbow bridge at night because it lights up in rainbow colors. 

Osaka Kitchen

For dinner, try Osaka Kitchen, one of my favorite meals we had the entire trip. I recommend doing the 7 course omakase (Chef’s choice). Everything was so delicious and it will give you a chance to try okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake and one of the things you must eat when you visit Japan.

The courses are small for the most part but you will be very full when everything is finished. The seven course meal allowed us to try fish, Wagyu beef, and an assortment of other delicious foods.

Drinks in Ginza

Head to Star Bar in Ginza if you’re in the mood for a classic cocktail. This was my least favorite bar we visited, based on drinks and atmosphere, so visit the others first.

Next, if you want a Tokyo dive bar experience, head to the Three Hundred Bar in Ginza. Every drink is only 300 yen, or about 3 dollars. The drinks are not high quality but it is a good place to meet people and have some fun.

 Day 7 – Tokyo Tower and Roppongi 

Zojoji Temple

For your last full day in Tokyo, head to the Zojoji Temple. Grab a pastry at Shimbashi station on the way. 

Zojoji Temple is a Buddhist temple dating back to the 1600s. It is quite a sight with the Tokyo Tower standing behind it. Explore the temple as much as possible. When we visited, there was a Buddhist ceremony going on, so we listened for a while. 

Tokyo Tower

Next head to Tokyo Tower. The base of the tower is more congested than Paris, so it is hard to get a good view of it from below. Head to this park where you can get a better view of the tower. 

Kinka Sushi Bar

Next take a train to Roppongi Hills, where you can get a delicious lunch at Kinka Sushi Bar. This is not traditional sushi necessarily, but it is very good and perfect for people who don’t always enjoy sushi. I got the mosaic torched sushi which was beautiful and made up of much smaller pieces. Luke tried the assorted sushi and we also shared some fried chicken. Everything was very good and I highly recommend it. 

Roppongi Hills Observation

Roppongi Hills Mori Tower is the next stop. It is 1800 yen and you receive entrance to view the Mori Art Museum and the Roppongi Hills observation. The skydeck, an outdoor helipad and viewing space, is an extra 500 yen. 

From the observation area, we could see Tokyo Tower, Mount Fuji, and some of the major districts such as Shibuya and Shinjuku. The skydeck was worth it solely to get photos without the windows, but it was extremely windy and cold up there. 

The Mori Art Museum was surprisingly interesting, with exhibits on technology of the future, and we would have spent much more time here if we had been able. 

Unfortunately, we had tickets to the Robot Restaurant on this night. If you haven’t yet seen the Robot Restaurant, I would recommend doing that, or spending some additional time at the Mori Art Museum depending on your personal preference. 

Day 8 – Head Home

If you are able, spend the morning saying goodbye to Tokyo. Eat your favorite pastries, get sushi one more time, and squeeze in anything that you missed if possible. On this day we went back to Tokyu Plaza Ginza and ate pastries and sushi and then got some matcha tea at Ippodo Tea. We also returned to the Imperial Palace. 

It is impossible to see everything with only 7 days in Tokyo, but with this itinerary you can explore many of the highlights. 

Tell me what you are most looking forward to for your visit to Tokyo below! Have you visited before? Is there anything you would add to this 7 day Tokyo itinerary? 

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