Stay in the city, or spend a day on Mount Takao?
Choose the city route to combine the garden, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya on one day, with Asakusa and Skytree on another. For a day walking in the mountains, visit mid-mountain Mount Takao, then see Senso-ji and Ueno Park during your city day. Both itineraries use three nights in Shinjuku and return to the same hotel.
Choose a 4 days, 3 nights itinerary
Separate days for Shinjuku and Shibuya, and for Asakusa
Stay in Shinjuku, combining the garden, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya on one day, and Asakusa and Skytree on another. Visit the Metropolitan Government observation room on arrival day. Choose the final-day park walk only with an afternoon flight.
Separate days for Shinjuku and Shibuya, and for Asakusa →4 days, 3 nights BMount Takao’s middle slopes and Asakusa walks
Stay in Shinjuku, spending a day on Mount Takao’s middle slopes and another in Asakusa and Ueno Park. Choose the Metropolitan Government observation room on the final day only with a late-afternoon flight and enough airport travel time.
Mount Takao’s middle slopes and Asakusa walks →Separate days for Shinjuku and Shibuya, and for Asakusa
Stay in Shinjuku, combining the garden, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya on one day, and Asakusa and Skytree on another. Visit the Metropolitan Government observation room on arrival day. Choose the final-day park walk only with an afternoon flight.
Day 1 · City views from the Metropolitan Government observation room
From Narita Airport, check a Narita Express (N’EX) service stopping at Shinjuku and reserve your seat. Get off at JR Shinjuku and use your hotel’s recommended exit.
- Airport arrival station → Shinjuku Station area
From Haneda, compare Keikyu to Shinagawa followed by the JR Yamanote Line towards Shibuya and Shinjuku. Use your hotel’s recommended exit at Shinjuku.
N'EX stopsJR Tokyo area route mapKeikyu airport access information
- Shinjuku Station west exit → South observation room and the same hotel
Walk about 10 minutes from JR Shinjuku’s west exit to the 1st floor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1. Take the dedicated elevator to the free south observation room. Busy days may bring admission queues. Hours are 09:30–22:00, admission until 21:30; check closures including the first and third Tuesdays. Return towards the west exit for dinner and your hotel. Skip the visit for a late arrival or closure. Advance reservations are not accepted.
On observation-room closure days, eat and rest in Shinjuku.
Day 2 · Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya
Walk in Shinjuku Gyoen in the morning, worship at Meiji Jingu in the afternoon and have dinner in Shibuya. From your hotel, head towards JR Shinjuku’s south exit and walk about 10 minutes to Shinjuku Gate.
- Shinjuku Gyoen → Same gate → lunch in Shinjuku
Explore the garden in the morning, leave through the same gate and have lunch in Shinjuku.
Ministry of the Environment informationShinjuku Gyoen access by gate
- JR Shinjuku Station → Harajuku Station → shrine south entrance and sanctuary
Take the JR Yamanote Line towards Shibuya and Shinagawa, get off at Harajuku and head to the shrine’s south entrance. The roughly 1-minute approach and at least 10 minutes to the sanctuary are separate.
- Meiji Jingu and Harajuku Station → Dinner in Shibuya → Shinjuku hotel
After worship, take a train in the same direction from Harajuku to Shibuya for dinner, then return on the Yamanote Line towards Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. Meiji Jingu closes at 16:40 in October, so worship before shopping. For a Gyoen closure, choose Shinjuku Central Park or a meal near your hotel; park walks also depend on weather and restrictions. In busy seasons, check whether reservations are required for your date and arrange them before visiting.
JR Tokyo area route mapShrine accessOpening timesMinistry of the Environment informationOfficial visitor informationOfficial access
Day 3 · A day for Senso-ji and Skytree
Take the JR Yamanote Line from Shinjuku towards Ikebukuro and Ueno, getting off at Ueno.
- Ueno Station and Ginza Line → Asakusa Station → Senso-ji and lunch
Change to the Ginza Line from G16 towards G19 Asakusa. Walk about 5 minutes to the temple, worship and have lunch.
Asakusa Station timetableSenso-ji rail and walking accessTemple guide
- Tobu Asakusa Station → Tokyo Skytree Station → 4th-floor main entrance
Take a local train stopping at Tokyo Skytree from Tobu Asakusa. Get off after about 3 minutes and walk about 6 minutes from the west exit to the 4th-floor main entrance.
Official Skytree rail accessRoute to the fourth-floor entrance
- Observation deck → Transfer at Asakusa and Ueno → Shinjuku hotel
After the deck, return via Tobu towards Asakusa → Ginza Line towards Shibuya to Ueno → JR towards Ikebukuro and Shinjuku → hotel. Allow 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 timetableJR Tokyo area route map
Day 4 · A gentle Shinjuku Central Park walk
Walk in Shinjuku Central Park, then head to the airport.
- Shinjuku Station west exit → Central Park and the same hotel
Walk about 10 minutes from Shinjuku’s west exit to the park and return the same way. This is different from day 2’s Gyoen. After the morning walk, collect bags at your hotel and go to your reserved airport train or bus boarding point. Have lunch only if time allows; skip the walk in rain, construction or restrictions.
Official visitor informationOfficial accessTourism association admission information
- Shinjuku hotel → Reserved airport train’s departure station and your terminal
For Narita, board your reserved airport-bound Narita Express at JR Shinjuku. Get off at Narita Airport Station for Terminal 1 or Airport Terminal 2 Station for Terminals 2 and 3. For Haneda, take the JR Yamanote Line towards Shibuya and Shinagawa, change at Shinagawa to an airport-bound Keikyu service and confirm it stops at your terminal. Sightsee only if you can meet the airline’s advised airport arrival time, including hotel-to-platform travel and Terminal 3 access.
N'EX stopsNarita Airport rail informationJR Tokyo area route mapKeikyu airport access informationJR construction and service suspension notices
Choose this optional morning walk only when airport travel time allows.
Included: Shinjuku Gyoen JPY 500, the deck’s minimum online price of JPY 1,800 and return Ginza Line fares. Admission alone starts at JPY 2,300.
Extra costs and conditions: JR, Tobu, airport transport, station-to-hotel journeys, meals and accommodation are excluded from this subtotal.
Ministry of the Environment informationTicketsGinza Line section information
Mount Takao’s middle slopes and Asakusa walks
Stay in Shinjuku, spending a day on Mount Takao’s middle slopes and another in Asakusa and Ueno Park. Choose the Metropolitan Government observation room on the final day only with a late-afternoon flight and enough airport travel time.
Day 1 · Short Shinjuku Central Park walk
From Narita Airport, check a Narita Express (N’EX) service stopping at Shinjuku and reserve your seat. Get off at JR Shinjuku and use your hotel’s recommended exit.
- Airport arrival station → Shinjuku Station area
From Haneda, compare Keikyu to Shinagawa followed by the JR Yamanote Line towards Shibuya and Shinjuku. Use your hotel’s recommended exit at Shinjuku.
N'EX stopsJR Tokyo area route mapKeikyu airport access information
- Shinjuku Station west exit → Central Park and the same hotel
Walk about 10 minutes from JR’s west exit to free Central Park. See shaded and waterside paths by day and return the same way. The 09:00–17:00 hours refer to the management office. Plan the walk in daylight and check date-specific construction and access restrictions. Skip it for rain, construction, restrictions or a late arrival, and have dinner in Shinjuku. Rest at the same hotel afterwards.
Official visitor informationOfficial accessTourism association admission information
Recheck Mount Takao weather and cable car operations the day before visiting.
Day 2 · Cable car and Mount Takao’s middle slopes
Take the cable car up the middle slopes, see views near the station and return. This is a short walk rather than a summit hike. Take a local train towards Takaosanguchi from Keio Shinjuku Station.
- Keio Shinjuku and Kitano → Takaosanguchi Station
If the train is not direct, change to the Takao Line at Kitano.
- Takaosanguchi Station → Kiyotaki Station → cable car to Takaosan Station
Walk about 5 minutes from Takaosanguchi to Kiyotaki, then ride the cable car up for about 6 minutes. It reaches Takaosan Station, not the summit.
- Cable car Takaosan Station → Viewpoint near the station
After the cable car, follow signs and walk to the viewpoint near the station. This is different from the summit viewpoint. Clouds or rain may obscure distant scenery.
Takao Tozan Railway information on viewpoints near the station
- Viewpoint near the station → Same cable car Takaosan Station
Return to the cable car station along the same path after the view. This short walk does not continue along mountain paths to Yakuoin or the summit. Take the cable car down if the viewpoint path is restricted or rain and strong winds make walking difficult. Check downward services and waits before choosing a meal on the middle slopes.
Takao Tozan Railway information on viewpoints near the stationCable car fares and timetable
- Optional meal: around Takaosan Station on the middle slopes → Return to Takaosan cable car station after your meal
Check location, hours and waits if eating at a middle-slope restaurant. Eat below the mountain instead if there isn’t enough time afterwards to return to the cable car station and catch a downward ride.
Check your restaurant’s location, hours and waits, and downward cable car services
- Cable car Takaosan Station → Descend to Kiyotaki Station
Confirm downward operations for your date before boarding. The official one-way ride is about 6 minutes; queues and waiting are extra. Finish meals and walks in time to descend before the last service.
- Kiyotaki Station → Keio Takaosanguchi Station
Return along the same path from Kiyotaki to Takaosanguchi, about 5 minutes on foot. Allow separately for meals, cable car waits and reaching the Keio platform.
- Takaosanguchi Station → Train towards Shinjuku → hotel
Take a local train to Shinjuku; if not direct, change at Kitano towards Shinjuku and return to your hotel. Adult return train and cable car fares total JPY 1,840. Check Keio and cable car operations before leaving and choose your downward service first. In busy periods, reduce the walk to allow for cable car queues. In rain, strong winds or suspension, do not replace it with a summit hike. Eat and rest in Shinjuku or swap with a city visit confirmed as open.
Keio fare chartCable car fares and timetableOfficial cable railway access
Day 3 · Senso-ji and Ueno Park
Take the JR Yamanote Line from Shinjuku towards Ikebukuro and Ueno, getting off at Ueno.
- Ginza Line Ueno Station → Asakusa Station → Senso-ji
Take the Ginza Line towards Asakusa, get off at G19 and walk about 5 minutes to the temple.
Asakusa Station timetableSenso-ji rail and walking accessTemple guide
- Asakusa Station → Ueno Station → lunch and park walk
After worship, take the Ginza Line from Asakusa towards Shibuya to G16 Ueno for lunch and a park walk.
- JR Ueno Station → Shinjuku Station → hotel
Finish by taking JR towards Ikebukuro and Shinjuku, then return to your hotel. This route has no observation deck admission fee.
Day 4 · Metropolitan Government observation room, then airport
Walk from Shinjuku’s west exit to the Metropolitan Government south observation room.
- Shinjuku Station west exit → Metropolitan Government south observation room
Walk about 10 minutes from JR Shinjuku’s west exit to the 1st floor of Building No. 1. After the 09:30 opening, take the dedicated elevator to the free observation room for city views. Reduce or skip the visit if admission waits are long.
- Metropolitan Government south observation room → Same Shinjuku hotel
Return along the same route to your hotel and collect bags. Have lunch only if airport travel time allows. A separate paid observation deck is not included.
- Shinjuku hotel → Reserved airport train’s departure station and your terminal
For Narita, board your reserved airport-bound Narita Express at JR Shinjuku. Get off at Narita Airport Station for Terminal 1 or Airport Terminal 2 Station for Terminals 2 and 3. For Haneda, take the JR Yamanote Line towards Shibuya and Shinagawa, change at Shinagawa to an airport-bound Keikyu service and confirm it stops at your terminal. Sightsee only if you can meet the airline’s advised airport arrival time, including hotel-to-platform travel and Terminal 3 access.
N'EX stopsNarita Airport rail informationJR Tokyo area route mapKeikyu airport access informationJR construction and service suspension notices
The observation room opens at 09:30. Return straight to your hotel if it is closed or admission waits are long.
Included: Return Ginza Line fares plus JPY 1,840 for Mount Takao transport. Takao transport combines return Keio local trains JPY 860 and return cable car JPY 980. Paid exhibition admission is excluded.
Extra costs and conditions: JR, Tobu, airport transport, station-to-hotel journeys, meals and accommodation are excluded from this subtotal.
Cable car fares and timetableKeio fare chartGinza Line section information
Frequently asked questions
How does a day on Mount Takao change the city itinerary?
The Mount Takao itinerary spends the second day on a mid-mountain walk and visits Senso-ji and Ueno Park on the third day. Choose the city itinerary if you want to combine Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya, with Skytree on another day. Both use three nights in Shinjuku and avoid fitting the mountain and several central-city sights into one day.
Cable car fares and timetableKeio fare chartMinistry of the Environment informationShrine accessTickets
Does the 72-hour subway ticket cover airports and Mount Takao?
It covers Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway only. Airport railways, Keio, the Mount Takao Cable Car and JR require separate payment.
Official Tokyo subway tourist ticket information14 March 2026 change notice
Should an Echigo-Yuzawa day trip use GALA Yuzawa Station?
Distinguish Echigo-Yuzawa Station from GALA Yuzawa Station. Echigo-Yuzawa is reached by Joetsu Shinkansen, but GALA Yuzawa Station operates only during winter and spring. Do not plan an autumn trip around a GALA-bound train; check return trains and local facility operations for your travel date separately.
Echigo-Yuzawa tourism authority Shinkansen accessJR Tokyo Wide Pass coverage, price and three consecutive days
Does Tokyo Wide Pass cover the bus on a Tokyo–Kusatsu day trip?
Distinguish the covered JR rail section to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi from the bus to Kusatsu. Tokyo Wide Pass excludes JR buses, so the bus fare is separate. A day trip is possible when the return bus, train and bathing facility hours fit. Compare individual tickets for your actual route as well.
JR Tokyo Wide Pass coverage, price and three consecutive daysJR East access to Kusatsu Onsen and Yubatake
Official sources and dates checked
- Asakusa Station timetable ·
- Ginza Line section information ·
- Senso-ji rail and walking access ·
- Ministry of the Environment information ·
- Shinjuku Gyoen access by gate ·
- Shrine access ·
- Official Skytree rail access ·
- Route to the fourth-floor entrance ·
- Official cable railway access ·
- Temple guide ·
- Tickets ·
- Hours ·
- Opening times ·
- Cable car fares and timetable ·
- Keio fare chart ·
- Official information ·
- Official visitor information ·
- Additional official sources ·
- Official visitor information ·
- Official access ·
- Tourism association admission information ·
- Official Tokyo subway tourist ticket information ·
- 14 March 2026 change notice ·
- JR Tokyo area route map ·
- Keikyu airport access information ·
- Narita Airport rail information ·
- N'EX stops ·
- JR construction and service suspension notices ·
- JR Tokyo Wide Pass coverage, price and three consecutive days ·
- Karuizawa tourism association transport and local buses ·
- Echigo-Yuzawa tourism authority Shinkansen access ·
- Kusakaru Kotsu 2026 buses, crowds, delays and operating period ·
- JR East access to Kusatsu Onsen and Yubatake ·
- Takao Tozan Railway information on viewpoints near the station ·