Five days: Mount Takao, or more time in the city?
Stay four nights in Shinjuku to see viewpoints, gardens, the shrine and mid-mountain Mount Takao on separate city and mountain days. Choose four nights in Ueno for slower visits to the zoo and two gardens across different days. Neither itinerary changes hotels.
Choose a 5 days, 4 nights itinerary
Shinjuku, Asakusa and Mount Takao
Stay in Shinjuku, spending separate days on gardens and streets, eastern temples and views, and Mount Takao. The arrival-day observation room and final-day park are optional when arrival and departure times allow.
Shinjuku, Asakusa and Mount Takao →5 days, 4 nights BUeno Zoo and two gardens
Stay in Ueno, seeing the zoo, two gardens, Senso-ji and Skytree on separate days. Instead of Mount Takao, visit the mansion garden on arrival day and briefly explore Yushima Tenmangu on the final day.
Ueno Zoo and two gardens →Shinjuku, Asakusa and Mount Takao
Stay in Shinjuku, spending separate days on gardens and streets, eastern temples and views, and Mount Takao. The arrival-day observation room and final-day park are optional when arrival and departure times allow.
Day 1 · City views from Shinjuku’s 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 dedicated observation-room elevator on Building No. 1’s 1st floor. See the city from the free south room, then return towards the same exit for dinner and your hotel. Admission waits are separate from the 10-minute walk; reduce the visit if crowded. Hours are 09:30–22:00, last admission 21:30; check closures including first and third Tuesdays. Reservations are not accepted. For a late arrival or closure, skip it and plan only your hotel and meal.
On observation-room closure days, eat and rest in Shinjuku.
Day 2 · Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya
Walk Shinjuku Gyoen’s garden paths and Meiji Jingu’s forest paths, then eat dinner in Shibuya. Walk about 10 minutes from Shinjuku’s south exit area to Shinjuku Gate.
- Shinjuku Gyoen → Same gate → lunch in Shinjuku
After the morning visit, 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 to Harajuku and head to the south shrine entrance. Allow about 1 minute to the entrance, then at least 10 minutes more to the sanctuary.
- Meiji Jingu and Harajuku Station → Finish worship → Shibuya Station
In October, finish worship before the 16:40 closing and take a train in the same direction from Harajuku to Shibuya.
- Shibuya Station → Dinner → Shinjuku hotel
After dinner, take JR towards Shinjuku and Ikebukuro back to your hotel. For a garden closure, replace it with Central Park or a meal near your hotel. Choose park walks according to weather and restrictions. In busy seasons, check reservations for your date and make any required booking before going.
JR Tokyo area route mapMinistry of the Environment informationOfficial visitor informationOfficial access
Day 3 · Senso-ji, then Skytree observation deck
Take JR from Shinjuku towards Ikebukuro and Ueno, then change at Ueno to the Ginza Line towards G19 Asakusa.
- Asakusa Station → Senso-ji worship → lunch
Walk about 5 minutes to the temple, worship and have lunch in Asakusa.
- Tobu Asakusa Station → Tokyo Skytree Station → entrance and observation deck
Take a local train stopping at Tokyo Skytree from Tobu Asakusa for about 3 minutes. Walk about 6 minutes from the west exit to the 4th-floor main entrance. Visit only the deck or deck-and-galleria areas you booked.
Official Skytree rail accessRoute to the fourth-floor entranceTickets
- Tokyo Skytree Station → Transfer at Asakusa and Ueno → Shinjuku hotel
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 · Mount Takao cable car and middle-slope walk
Ride the cable car, walk on Mount Takao’s middle slopes and return to the same Shinjuku hotel.
- Keio Shinjuku Station → Takaosanguchi Station
Take a local Keio train towards Takaosanguchi. If not direct, change to the Takao Line at Kitano. Check train and cable car operations for your date before leaving. Skip the mountain visit if suspended.
Cable car fares and timetableKeio fare chartOfficial cable railway access
- Takaosanguchi Station → Kiyotaki Station → cable car
After getting off, walk about 5 minutes to Kiyotaki, then ride the cable car up for about 6 minutes.
- 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.
- Keio Takaosanguchi Station → Keio Shinjuku Station
Take a local train towards Shinjuku. If not direct, change towards Shinjuku at the actual transfer station in your date-specific result, such as Kitano. Train waits and transfers are extra; reserved-seat train costs are excluded from the existing subtotal.
- Keio Shinjuku Station → Return to the same Shinjuku hotel
Use your booked hotel’s recommended gates, exits and walking route. Confirm the route and time from Keio’s station to your hotel using your booking information.
Walking route and time from Keio Shinjuku Station to your booked hotel’s entrance
Day 5 · Gentle Shinjuku Central Park walk
Explore Shinjuku Central Park and return to the same hotel.
- Shinjuku Station west exit → Shinjuku Central Park
Walk about 10 minutes from JR Shinjuku’s west exit to free Central Park for a morning walk by the water and shaded trees. This is different from day 2’s Gyoen; you do not re-enter that garden. Skip it in rain, construction or restrictions.
Official visitor informationOfficial accessTourism association admission information
- Shinjuku Central Park → Same Shinjuku hotel
Return about 10 minutes towards the west exit and collect bags at the same Shinjuku hotel. Have lunch only if airport travel time allows, then go to your reserved service’s departure station or stop.
- 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: Garden and observation deck admission from JPY 2,300, plus return Ginza Line fares and JPY 1,840 return Takao transport. Takao uses local trains JPY 860 and cable car JPY 980.
Extra costs and conditions: JR, Tobu, airport transport, station-to-hotel journeys, meals and accommodation are excluded from this subtotal.
Ministry of the Environment informationTicketsCable car fares and timetableKeio fare chartGinza Line section information
Ueno Zoo and two gardens
Stay in Ueno, seeing the zoo, two gardens, Senso-ji and Skytree on separate days. Instead of Mount Takao, visit the mansion garden on arrival day and briefly explore Yushima Tenmangu on the final day.
Day 1 · Former Iwasaki residence and garden
Explore the former Iwasaki residence buildings and garden 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 Station → Okachimachi Station and garden entrance
Take the JR Yamanote Line from Ueno towards Tokyo, get off at Okachimachi and walk about 15 minutes to the garden entrance.
- Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens → Residence and garden visit
Enter before last admission to see the Western-style residence and garden (standard admission JPY 400). Wear socks inside to protect the historic building. Hours are 09:00–17:00, last admission 16:30; closed 29 December–1 January. Skip the visit if you cannot arrive by 16:30 with time to explore. Separate guided visits to the underground passage and billiards room are excluded.
- Garden entrance → Okachimachi and Ueno stations
After visiting, walk about 15 minutes back to the same station and take JR towards Ueno.
If you cannot visit comfortably before the garden closes, skip day 1’s visit and eat in Ueno.
Day 2 · Ueno Zoo and breaks
Spend a day at the zoo focusing on animals you’d like to see, such as elephants and giraffes. From your Ueno hotel, head to street level at JR’s Park Exit and walk about 5 minutes to the main gate.
- Ueno Zoo → Animal viewing
Visit after 09:30. On closure days, compare opening calendars to see whether you can swap with another sightseeing day. If other days are unsuitable, reduce the plan to a Ueno Park walk and meal when weather and restrictions allow. With admission queues in mind, see your priority animals first and take breaks.
Official operating informationZoo main gate accessOfficial information
- Zoo main gate → Meal and break in the park
After visiting, leave through the main gate for a break and meal in the park.
Official operating informationZoo main gate accessOfficial information
- Ueno Park → Same Ueno hotel
After the visit and meal, walk back to your Ueno hotel and rest.
Day 3 · Senso-ji and Skytree
Take the Ginza Line from G16 Ueno towards G19 Asakusa, walk about 5 minutes to the temple, worship and have lunch.
- Tobu Asakusa Station → Tokyo Skytree Station
Take a local train stopping at Tokyo Skytree from Tobu Asakusa; the ride is about 3 minutes.
- Tokyo Skytree Station west exit → 4th-floor main entrance and observation deck
Walk about 6 minutes from the west exit to the 4th-floor main entrance and enter the observation deck you booked.
- Tokyo Skytree Station → Transfer at Asakusa → Ueno hotel
After visiting, take an Asakusa-bound train from the same station, then change to the Ginza Line towards Shibuya for Ueno and your 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 timetable
Day 4 · Shinjuku Gyoen, then return to Ueno
Take the Yamanote Line from JR Ueno towards Ikebukuro and Shinjuku, getting off at Shinjuku.
- JR Shinjuku Station south exit → Gyoen Shinjuku Gate
Walk about 10 minutes from the south exit to Shinjuku Gate. For a closure, choose Central Park or a meal near your hotel. Park walks also depend on weather and restrictions. In busy seasons, check reservations for your date and arrange any required booking before visiting.
Ministry of the Environment informationShinjuku Gyoen access by gateJR Tokyo area route mapOfficial visitor informationOfficial access
- Gyoen Shinjuku Gate → Garden visit and the same gate
Explore the garden and return to the same Shinjuku Gate.
- JR Shinjuku Station → Ueno Station and the same hotel
Take JR from Shinjuku towards Ikebukuro and Ueno, get off at Ueno and return to your hotel.
Have lunch and a break in Shinjuku after the garden if you like, then return to Ueno. For an immediate return, head to JR Shinjuku Station.
Day 5 · Yushima Tenmangu, then airport
Walk from Okachimachi Station to Yushima Tenmangu for a short shrine visit.
- Ueno and Okachimachi north exit → Yushima Tenmangu
Take JR from Ueno towards Tokyo to Okachimachi, then walk about 8 minutes from the north exit to the shrine. See the bronze torii and sanctuary front in the free grounds and worship in the morning. Gates open 06:00–20:00; the treasure exhibition, prayers and amulets are excluded. The shrine is on a slope; to avoid stairs, use the Kasuga-dori slope shown in the official access map.
Yushima Tenmangu access by stationTokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau Bunkyo guide PDF
- Yushima Tenmangu → Okachimachi and Ueno hotel
Return about 8 minutes to the same north exit, take JR towards Ueno and collect bags at your hotel. JR Ueno and Keisei Ueno are different stations; go to the departure station and boarding point for your booked airport service. Eat only if travel time allows.
Yushima Tenmangu access by stationJR Tokyo area route mapSkyliner 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
Allow for airport travel and departure procedures first.
Included: Admission to Ueno Zoo, the deck, Shinjuku Gyoen and Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens from JPY 3,300, plus return Ginza Line fares. Skipping the arrival-day garden removes JPY 400 admission.
Extra costs and conditions: JR, Tobu, airport transport, station-to-hotel journeys, meals and accommodation are excluded from this subtotal.
Official operating informationTicketsMinistry of the Environment informationOfficial visitor informationGinza Line section information
Frequently asked questions
Does this itinerary stay overnight on Mount Takao?
It is a day trip using Keio and the cable car to mid-mountain Mount Takao, then returning to the same Shinjuku hotel. It excludes local accommodation and a summit hike. Check the downhill cable car and Shinjuku-bound train for your travel date first.
Cable car fares and timetableOfficial cable railway accessKeio fare chart
Does Tokyo Wide Pass cover every journey in a 5-day trip?
It is valid for only three consecutive days from your chosen start date. Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, Keio, the JR bus to Kusatsu and local Karuizawa buses are separate. Set regional travel dates and covered rail sections before comparing individual fares. The itinerary amounts are subtotals for selected admission and transport, not a whole-trip regional budget or a total after buying a pass.
JR Tokyo Wide Pass coverage, price and three consecutive days
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 ·
- 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 visitor information ·
- Additional official sources ·
- Yushima Tenmangu access by station ·
- Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau Bunkyo guide PDF ·
- Skyliner stops ·
- JR Tokyo area route map ·
- Keikyu airport access information ·
- Haneda Terminal 3 arrivals hall to station directions ·
- 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 ·