A viewpoint or the zoo for your middle day?
Spend the middle day at Senso-ji and Skytree for views, or Ueno Zoo for animals and a slower pace. Both itineraries use two nights in Ueno. The viewpoint itinerary ends with Toshogu, and the zoo itinerary with Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, only if there is enough time for the airport journey.
Choose a 3 days, 2 nights itinerary
Senso-ji, Skytree and Ueno Park
Stay in Ueno: park on day 1, Senso-ji and Skytree on day 2, Toshogu on the final day. Reserve the observation deck for day 2; choose final-day sightseeing only for an afternoon flight.
Senso-ji, Skytree and Ueno Park →3 days, 2 nights BUeno Zoo and Shibuya walks
Stay in Ueno, visit Shibuya on day 1 and spend day 2 at the zoo. On the final day, briefly visit Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, then return to your Ueno hotel.
Ueno Zoo and Shibuya walks →Senso-ji, Skytree and Ueno Park
Stay in Ueno: park on day 1, Senso-ji and Skytree on day 2, Toshogu on the final day. Reserve the observation deck for day 2; choose final-day sightseeing only for an afternoon flight.
Day 1 · Ueno Park and Shinobazu Pond
Walk through Ueno Park and around Shinobazu Pond on day 1. From Narita, reserve a Skyliner to Keisei Ueno from your terminal’s railway station and get off at the terminus.
- Airport arrival station → Ueno Station area
Keisei Ueno and JR Ueno are different stations; use the station and exit recommended by your hotel. From Haneda, compare a Keikyu journey to Shinagawa followed by a JR service stopping at Ueno. In Haneda Terminal 3, follow Keikyu Railways signs from Arrivals to the gates and platform. Follow the relevant terminal’s rail guide elsewhere.
Skyliner stopsJR Tokyo area route mapKeikyu airport access informationHaneda Terminal 3 arrivals hall to station directions
- Ueno hotel and Park Exit → Fountain plaza, walking paths and Shinobazu Pond
Go to street level at JR Ueno’s Park Exit and enter Ueno Park opposite. Walk via the fountain plaza → central path → Saigo Takamori statue → Shinobazu Pond.
- Park and Shinobazu Pond → Dinner near Ueno Station → same hotel
After the afternoon walk, return towards Ueno Station for dinner and your hotel. The park opens 05:00–23:00 and entry is free; museums, the zoo and boats are excluded. For a late arrival, keep to paths near the station rather than the pond.
For a late arrival, walk only near Ueno Station rather than as far as the pond.
Day 2 · Senso-ji, then Skytree observation deck
Visit Senso-ji, eat lunch in Asakusa and see Tokyo’s streets and buildings from Skytree. From your Ueno hotel, go to Ginza Line G16 and board towards Asakusa, getting off at G19.
- Asakusa Station → Senso-ji worship → lunch
Walk about 5 minutes to the temple and visit Kaminarimon → Nakamise → main hall, then have lunch in Asakusa.
- Tobu Asakusa Station → Tokyo Skytree Station
Walk to Tobu Asakusa Station and take a local train stopping at Tokyo Skytree. The ride takes about 3 minutes; transfers and waiting are extra.
- Tokyo Skytree Station west exit → 4th-floor main entrance
After getting off, walk about 6 minutes from the west exit to the 4th-floor main entrance.
- Observation deck → Transfer at Asakusa → Ueno hotel
After the deck, return through the same exit and travel via Tobu towards Asakusa → Ginza Line towards Shibuya to G16 Ueno → hotel. Tobu is not covered by the subway tourist ticket. Leave time for meals and Tobu waits to reach the entrance at your reserved deck time. Without a ticket, or during an official suspension or admission halt, finish the temple visit and meal and return via the same Asakusa route. Reduce street walks in heavy rain or crowding.
TicketsHoursOfficial Skytree rail accessAsakusa Station timetable
Day 3 · Ueno Toshogu, then airport
Walk about 10 minutes from JR Ueno Station’s Park Exit to Ueno Toshogu.
- Ueno Toshogu → Paid visit inside the wall
After the 09:30 opening, pay JPY 700 to see the gilded building and wall from inside the enclosure. Building interiors are closed to visitors; the peony garden is excluded.
- Toshogu and Park Exit → Ueno Station area
Walk about 10 minutes towards the Park Exit and return to the Ueno Station area. Have lunch there if airport travel time allows.
- Ueno Station area → Same Ueno hotel
Return to the same Ueno hotel and collect bags. Confirm the airport train departure station for your service. JR Ueno and Keisei Ueno are separate stations.
Official access informationCurrent Japanese Toshogu admission and visiting hoursSkyliner stops
- Ueno hotel → Reserved airport train’s departure station and your terminal
For Narita’s Skyliner, go from your hotel to Keisei Ueno and board your reserved train. Get off at Narita Airport Station for Terminal 1 or Airport Terminal 2 Station for Terminals 2 and 3. Allow separately for reaching Terminal 3 after leaving the station. For Haneda, compare JR from Ueno to Shinagawa followed by Keikyu stopping at your terminal. Work backwards from your required airport arrival time and sightsee only if time allows.
Skyliner stopsNarita Airport rail informationJR Tokyo area route mapKeikyu airport access information
Paid Toshogu visits start at 09:30. Skip it on the final day if airport travel time is tight.
Included: Skytree Tembo Deck’s minimum online price of JPY 1,800, Ueno Toshogu JPY 700 and return Ginza Line fares. Admission alone starts at JPY 2,500.
Extra costs and conditions: JR, Tobu, airport transport, station-to-hotel journeys, meals and accommodation are excluded from this subtotal.
TicketsCurrent Japanese Toshogu admission and visiting hoursGinza Line section information
Ueno Zoo and Shibuya walks
Stay in Ueno, visit Shibuya on day 1 and spend day 2 at the zoo. On the final day, briefly visit Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, then return to your Ueno hotel.
Day 1 · Shibuya’s Hachiko Square and streets
Explore Hachiko’s statue and the crossing area on day 1. From Narita, reserve a Skyliner to Keisei Ueno from your terminal’s railway station and get off at the terminus.
- Airport arrival station → Ueno Station area
Keisei Ueno and JR Ueno are different stations; use the station and exit recommended by your hotel. From Haneda, compare a Keikyu journey to Shinagawa followed by a JR service stopping at Ueno. In Haneda Terminal 3, follow Keikyu Railways signs from Arrivals to the gates and platform. Follow the relevant terminal’s rail guide elsewhere.
Skyliner stopsJR Tokyo area route mapKeikyu airport access informationHaneda Terminal 3 arrivals hall to station directions
- Ueno hotel and JR Ueno Station → Shibuya Station
Take the JR Yamanote Line from Ueno towards Tokyo and Shinagawa to Shibuya.
- Shibuya Station south gates → Hachiko Square and crossing → dinner
Following JR’s congestion guidance, leave through the south gates and walk about 250 m to Hachiko Square. See the statue and cross the adjacent scramble crossing. Walk around the square and streets, then eat near Shibuya Station. The outdoor square differs from shop opening hours; reduce your time and area according to on-site restrictions and crowding.
JR Shibuya Station informationOfficial informationJR Shibuya Station South Gate access advice
- Shibuya Station → Ueno Station → same hotel
Return from Shibuya towards Shinagawa and Tokyo to Ueno and stay at the same hotel. Paid observation decks are excluded.
For an arrival too late to make the Shibuya trip, eat and rest in Ueno on day 1.
Day 2 · Ueno Zoo and breaks
Spend today watching your chosen animals and taking breaks at Ueno Zoo. From your hotel, go to street level at JR Ueno’s Park Exit and walk about 5 minutes to the main gate.
- Ueno Zoo main gate → Animals and breaks
Enter after 09:30, see the animals you’re interested in and take breaks. Check official notices for individual animal viewing. For a Monday closure, you can swap with Shibuya on day 1 if you can arrive before 16:00 last admission with time to explore. If day 1 is also unsuitable, skip the zoo and choose a Ueno Park walk and meal. Rest at the hotel if weather or restrictions also prevent park use.
Official operating informationZoo main gate accessOfficial information
- Zoo main gate → Meal near the park
Leave through the main gate and eat near the park.
- Park area → Ueno hotel
Walk back to your Ueno hotel after the meal.
Day 3 · City view from Asakusa’s observation terrace
Take the Ginza Line from G16 Ueno towards Asakusa and get off at G19.
- Asakusa Station exit 2 → Culture Tourist Information Center
Walk about 1 minute from exit 2 to the tourist information centre opposite Kaminarimon.
- Culture Tourist Information Center → 8th-floor observation terrace and 7th-floor exhibitions
Visit the 8th-floor terrace and 7th-floor exhibitions in the morning. The terrace is free and opens 09:00–22:00; exhibitions open 09:00–20:00. The centre’s luggage storage has ended, so do not plan to leave suitcases there.
Access informationLuggage storage closure noticeOfficial information
- Asakusa Station → Ueno Station and the same hotel
Take the Ginza Line towards Shibuya from Asakusa back to Ueno, collect bags at the hotel, then go to your reserved airport service’s departure station.
- Ueno hotel → Reserved airport train’s departure station and your terminal
For Narita’s Skyliner, go from your hotel to Keisei Ueno and board your reserved train. Get off at Narita Airport Station for Terminal 1 or Airport Terminal 2 Station for Terminals 2 and 3. Allow separately for reaching Terminal 3 after leaving the station. For Haneda, compare JR from Ueno to Shinagawa followed by Keikyu stopping at your terminal. Work backwards from your required airport arrival time and sightsee only if time allows.
Skyliner stopsNarita Airport rail informationJR Tokyo area route mapKeikyu airport access information
The tourist information centre cannot store your bags. Return to your Ueno hotel after visiting.
Included: Ueno Zoo JPY 600 plus return Ginza Line travel between Ueno and Asakusa on the final day. Day 1 JR travel to and from Shibuya costs extra.
Extra costs and conditions: JR, Tobu, airport transport, station-to-hotel journeys, meals and accommodation are excluded from this subtotal.
Official operating informationGinza Line section information
Frequently asked questions
Do both Skytree and Ueno Zoo fit into one itinerary?
These two itineraries offer a choice of how to spend the middle day. The viewpoint route visits Senso-ji and Skytree, while the zoo route spends the day at Ueno Zoo. To see both, adjust another sightseeing day. Check zoo closures and date-specific Skytree tickets before choosing.
Official sources and dates checked
- Asakusa Station timetable ·
- Official operating information ·
- Ginza Line section information ·
- Senso-ji rail and walking access ·
- Zoo main gate access ·
- Official Skytree rail access ·
- Route to the fourth-floor entrance ·
- Temple guide ·
- Tickets ·
- Hours ·
- Official information ·
- Official access information ·
- JR Shibuya Station information ·
- Official information ·
- Access information ·
- Luggage storage closure notice ·
- Official information ·
- Skyliner stops ·
- JR Tokyo area route map ·
- Keikyu airport access information ·
- Haneda Terminal 3 arrivals hall to station directions ·
- Narita Airport rail information ·
- Current Japanese Toshogu admission and visiting hours ·
- JR Shibuya Station South Gate access advice ·