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Where should I stay and what should I see in Tokyo?

Consider Ueno-based routes for Senso-ji, Ueno Park and Zoo, or Shinjuku for gardens, Shibuya and Mount Takao. Compare Tokyo Station for trains onwards to other cities. For 2 days, first choose between Senso-ji/Ueno Zoo and Shinjuku Gyoen/Meiji Jingu. For mountain scenery at Takao, set aside a day separate from city sightseeing.

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Would you prefer temples, views or gardens?

Compare Senso-ji and Skytree in Asakusa, or the zoo and park in Ueno. Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya are western city options. Give Mount Takao's middle-slope walk its own day. See details for each sight's prices, hours and entrance access.

Admission, hours and access for 14 Tokyo sights →

Itineraries by trip length

Shorten arrival- and departure-day sightseeing to fit flights. Choose your most-wanted sight for a middle day, then a route returning to the same hotel.

2 days / 1 night

Choose separate Senso-ji and zoo days from Ueno, or garden and shrine days from Shinjuku. This short trip may need shorter visits to fit arrival and departure times.

Senso-ji and Ueno Zoo →Shinjuku Gyoen and Meiji Jingu →

3 days / 2 nights

Stay 2 nights in Ueno. Choose views or the zoo for the middle day; first check Skytree tickets and zoo closures.

Senso-ji, Tokyo Skytree and Ueno Park →Ueno Zoo and Shibuya walks →

4 days / 3 nights

Stay in Shinjuku and give western gardens/shrine and eastern temple/views separate days, or spend a day on Mount Takao's middle slopes. Compare Karuizawa, Echigo-Yuzawa or Kusatsu separately as replacements for an existing city day.

Separate days for Shinjuku/Shibuya and Asakusa →Mount Takao's middle slopes and Asakusa walks →

5 days / 4 nights

Choose 4 nights in Shinjuku for city sights and Mount Takao, or 4 in Ueno for the zoo, two gardens and views on separate days. For a night outside Tokyo, replace one Tokyo hotel night and check return transport.

Shinjuku, Asakusa and a Mount Takao day trip →Ueno Zoo and two gardens →

Should I stay in Ueno or Shinjuku?

Ueno

Consider Ueno for Asakusa, Ueno Park and Zoo, or arrival from Narita Airport via Nippori or Ueno.

JR Ueno and Keisei Ueno do not share ticket gates. Check the walk from each station to your hotel.

Senso-ji rail and walking accessZoo Main Gate accessSkyliner stopsJR metropolitan route map

Shinjuku

Consider Shinjuku for Shinjuku Gyoen, the western Central Park and a Keio Line trip to Mount Takao.

JR, Keio and subway platforms are separate. Check the walk from your prospective hotel to each station and exit you will use.

Gyoen access by gateOfficial accessKeio faresJR metropolitan route map

Tokyo Station

Choose this area for trains to other cities or walks around Marunouchi.

Check whether your hotel is on the Marunouchi or Yaesu side, then look up the walk and time from the corresponding exit.

JR Tokyo Station platforms and layoutJR metropolitan route map

A day trip or a night outside the city

Give Karuizawa or Echigo-Yuzawa a separate day

Karuizawa · 軽井沢 is in Nagano Prefecture; Echigo-Yuzawa · 越後湯沢 is in Niigata Prefecture. Compare replacing a middle day of a 4- or 5-day trip rather than adding a short visit after Tokyo city sightseeing. These options do not retain all original A/B sights and add another destination.

For Karuizawa, first choose the station area or Old Karuizawa. Check separate local bus and walking routes. Echigo-Yuzawa is reached by Joetsu Shinkansen; the tourism organisation's shortest Tokyo journey of 66 minutes covers the train only. Add hotel-to-station and local-facility travel.

Choose a day trip only when return trains and facility hours work together. For an onsen stay, compare a night there, choosing hotel check-in and the next day's return train first. In autumn, use Echigo-Yuzawa Station: GALA Yuzawa Station operates only in winter and spring.

Karuizawa tourism association: transport and local busesEchigo-Yuzawa tourism organisation: Shinkansen accessJR TOKYO Wide Pass routes, price and 3 consecutive days

Compare a Kusatsu Onsen overnight stay including bus connections

Kusatsu Onsen · 草津温泉 is in Gunma Prefecture. Take a bus from JR Naganoharakusatsuguchi to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. JR's approximately 25-minute bus ride is not a total journey including trains and transfer waits.

For a day trip, first coordinate return buses, trains and bathing-facility hours. To relax until evening, compare staying a night. Unlike city A/B routes, this changes your overnight base; check return connections separately before booking. Bus fares and pass coverage, accommodation and bathing admission require separate checks.

Kusakaru Kotsu also runs buses from Karuizawa to Kusatsu, but they do not take reservations; full buses can mean waiting for the next service. Road delays are possible, so avoid tight Shinkansen connections. Check returns against the operator's timetable for your date.

JR East: Kusatsu Onsen access and YubatakeKusakaru Kotsu 2026 buses: crowds, delays and operating period

TOKYO Wide Pass and NIKKO PASS suit different journeys

JR TOKYO Wide Pass costs adults 16,000 yen and lasts 3 consecutive days from the chosen start date. It is not a 5-day pass covering an entire 5-day trip. Tokyo Metro, Toei subway and Keio are excluded. An original passport issued by a country other than Japan is required; Temporary Visitor status is not necessary.

Tobu NIKKO PASS all area is for foreign travellers; Japanese companions travelling with them may also buy it. It costs adults 8,000 yen, lasts 4 days and covers one Asakusa–Shimo-imaichi return plus specified Nikko-area railways and buses. Limited-express tickets and temple admission cost extra. Do not choose it for Karuizawa, Echigo-Yuzawa or Kusatsu. The JR Wide Pass's through limited expresses to Tobu also require the departure or arrival station to be a JR station; do not confuse these with a Tobu limited express from Asakusa.

Add individual fares for the actual trains and dates before comparing. Do not count pass-covered sections again as individual fares; include separate sections in the comparison. Check eligibility and collection/exchange conditions when buying.

JR TOKYO Wide Pass routes, price and 3 consecutive daysJR pass purchase, original passport and eligibilityTobu NIKKO PASS all area coverage; limited express extra

Check airport-train notices for your date

For Narita Express journeys to or from Shinjuku, check official notices and the date-specific reservation screen for stops and operating sections. On days when airport connections change, arrange airport travel before sightseeing.

JR works and suspension noticesN’EX stops

Tokyo neighbourhoods to explore together

Tokyo · 東京都 offers city sightseeing and Mount Takao in Hachioji on separate days. Disney Resort is a separate Chiba destination; Kamakura and Hakone are in Kanagawa. Plan Tokyo's islands separately, as they require ferries or flights.

Asakusa · 浅草: temple and views

After worship and walks at Senso-ji, continue to Skytree if you want views from above. At Tobu Asakusa, board a train and get off at Tokyo Skytree. A temple-only route and a deck visit cost differently. For free views, compare floor 8 of Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center.

Senso-ji rail and walking accessSkytree official rail accessOfficial information

Ueno · 上野: zoo and park

Give Ueno Zoo a day if animals are your priority. You can choose park walks or Toshogu too, but zoo admission and Toshogu's paid area cost separately from park walks. Check Okachimachi-side access for Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens and Yushima Tenmangu and divide them between other days.

Official operationsOfficial informationToshogu current Japanese prices, worship and viewing hoursOfficial operationsYushima Tenmangu access by station

Shinjuku · 新宿: garden and western views

Reach Shinjuku Gyoen from JR Shinjuku's South Exit, or the government building's South Observatory and Central Park from the West Exit. Calculate walks from the appropriate station side. Separate garden visits from free views and park walks so departure day can fit a short visit.

Gyoen access by gateFurther official materialOfficial access

Harajuku · 原宿 / Shibuya · 渋谷

Enter Meiji Jingu through the Harajuku-side southern entrance. Worship first, then go to Shibuya for Hachiko and crossing-area walks. The shrine closes around dusk; avoid shopping first and arriving late. In Shibuya, compare JR's recommended South Gate access.

Shrine accessGate opening timesJR Shibuya Station: South Gate guidanceOfficial information

Mt. Takao · 高尾山: a day on the middle slopes

Take Keio from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi, walk to Kiyotaki and board the cable car. Its destination is not the summit. Enjoy station-area views and middle-slope walks, then return to Shinjuku by the same cable car and Keio route. Summit hiking and local accommodation are excluded.

Official cable railway accessCable car fares and timesKeio faresTakao Tozan Railway: station-area viewpoint

How do I travel from my hotel to the sights?

Choose the exit suited to your hotel's address, then check boarding, alighting and walking steps. Walking times below exclude train waits, transfers and sightseeing queues.

JourneyTravel stepsOfficial access and directions
Ueno → Senso-jiTake an Asakusa-bound Ginza Line train to Asakusa Station, then walk about 5 minutes to Senso-ji.Senso-ji official access by station. Tsukuba Express Asakusa is separate.
Asakusa → Skytree → UenoTake a train from Tobu Asakusa to Tokyo Skytree, then go to the floor 4 entrance. Return by Tobu to Asakusa, then take the Ginza Line to Ueno.Station-to-floor-4 directions. Tobu fares are extra to the subway return subtotal.
JR Ueno → zoo and ToshoguUse the Park Exit and walk about 5 minutes to the zoo Main Gate or about 10 minutes to Toshogu.Zoo Main Gate access. Check Toshogu's separate entrance.
Shinjuku Station → Shinjuku GyoenUse the JR South Exit and walk about 10 minutes to Shinjuku Gate. Return through the same gate to Shinjuku.Gyoen official gate-specific access. Choose a gate suited to your hotel and station.
Shinjuku-sanchome → Meiji JinguTake the Fukutoshin Line to Meiji-jingumae, then walk through the Harajuku-side southern entrance to the main sanctuary.Shrine official access map. Distinguish the station-to-entrance walk from the sanctuary walk.
Harajuku → Shibuya walksTake a Shibuya-bound JR Yamanote Line train to Shibuya Station, then walk about 250 metres from the South Gate to Hachiko.JR Shibuya gate information. Check your return gate too.
Shinjuku → Mount Takao middle slopes → ShinjukuTake a Keio train towards Takaosanguchi, transferring at Kitano if needed. Walk about 5 minutes to Kiyotaki and take the cable car. Return the same way.Official cable car access and operations. Check descending services and Keio trains for your date.
Airport → your hotel's actual stationFor Narita, compare the Skyliner for Ueno and Narita Express for Tokyo Station or Shinjuku. For Haneda, check routes for your terminal.Airport and Tokyo transport guide. JR Ueno and Keisei Ueno are separate stations.

Senso-ji rail and walking accessRoute to floor 4 entranceZoo Main Gate accessOfficial accessGyoen access by gateShrine accessJR Shibuya Station: South Gate guidanceOfficial cable railway accessSkyliner stopsN’EX stops

Transport, costs, meals and related guides

Choose whether to eat where you sightsee or return to your hotel neighbourhood. Meals are excluded from itinerary subtotals.

Asakusa: a meal after temple walks

Consider Edomae sushi in Asakusa. After Senso-ji, choose whether to eat locally before Skytree or after the deck. The existing food guide also lists tempura and grilled eel options. Check each business's menu and hours.

GO TOKYO: Asakusa area and food

Ueno: yakitori and meals after the zoo

Look for izakaya and yakitori beneath Ueno's railway tracks. Eat in Ueno after the zoo and return to the same hotel. If adding Ameyoko shopping, consider the extra walking.

GO TOKYO: Ueno walks and food

Shinjuku: ramen and dinner near your hotel

Ramen shops line Otakibashi-dori, running from west of JR Shinjuku towards Okubo. Eating in Shinjuku after the garden/shrine or Mount Takao reduces another evening trip elsewhere.

GO TOKYO: Tokyo food and dining areas

Shibuya: eat on your walking day

On a Hachiko and crossing walking day, choose dinner in Shibuya or back near your Shinjuku hotel. See ramen and yakitori options in the existing food guide, then check actual menus, hours and your return station.

Official informationJR Shibuya Station: South Gate guidance

What do admission and transport costs include?

These are checked adult prices. Itinerary subtotals are not total trip budgets covering accommodation, meals, airport travel and all city transport. See your chosen route's cost card for actual inclusions and exclusions.

Facility or journeyChecked adult priceSeparate costs and conditions
Ueno ZooAdults 600 yenPark walks are free; check zoo closures separately.
Shinjuku GyoenAdults 500 yenDistinguish ordinary Meiji Jingu worship from paid garden admission.
SkytreeAdvance web Tembo Deck tickets from 1,800 yenPrices vary by date. The deck and galleria combination starts at 3,000 yen; counter purchase adds 500 yen.
Ueno ToshoguPaid worship area inside the wall: 700 yenBuilding interiors are closed to visitors; peony garden costs separately.
Kyu-Iwasaki-tei GardensAdults 400 yenIn the 5-day Ueno route, skip day 1's visit after a late arrival.
Mount Takao returnAdults 1,840 yenThe Keio ordinary-train return costs 860 yen, and the cable car return costs 980 yen. City/airport transport, meals and reserved seats cost extra. Walk near the cable car station and return the same way; do not climb to the summit.
Free views and walksGovernment building South Observatory, Central Park and Yushima Tenmangu groundsPaid facilities, prayers or shopping add separate costs.

Official operationsMinistry of the Environment informationTicketsToshogu current Japanese prices, worship and viewing hoursOfficial operationsCable car fares and timesKeio faresOfficial operationsOfficial operationsYushima Tenmangu access by station

Compare subway timed tickets with individual fares

Decide how much Tokyo Metro and Toei subway travel you will use. JR, Tobu, Keio, airport railways and Mount Takao's cable car are separate from these timed subway tickets.

For one return journey, start with individual fares

The checked subway return in these example routes costs adults IC 356 yen or paper tickets 360 yen. That alone costs less than a 1,000-yen 24-hour ticket. Add other lines and extra journeys before comparing.

Ginza Line section mapMetro fare searchChange notice dated 2026-03-14

Standard tickets: 24, 48 or 72 hours from first use

Standard adult Tokyo Subway Tickets cost 1,000 yen for 24 hours, 1,500 yen for 48 hours and 2,000 yen for 72 hours. Hotel nights and ticket hours differ; consider both the first gate passage and last journey. Their railway coverage also differs from regional JR passes.

Tokyo Subway Ticket is for foreign visitors to Japan and domestic travellers resident outside Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Yamanashi. Foreign visitors show a passport for eligibility when buying in person; online purchase is also available. Domestic travellers should check separate outlets and purchase conditions. Attraction combination tickets have no residence restriction. Standard tickets start on first passage through the gates, whereas IC tickets start at purchase, so check your product type.

Official Tokyo subway tourist-ticket informationChange notice dated 2026-03-14Tokyo Subway Ticket purchase conditions and validity by type

Official Tokyo subway tourist-ticket informationChange notice dated 2026-03-14Ginza Line section mapMetro fare searchTokyo Subway Ticket purchase conditions and validity by type

Choose opening days and return times first

First choose zoo/garden dates and your Mount Takao return time.

Mondays: check zoo and Gyoen calendars

Both have Monday closures and exceptions. Public-holiday and seasonal openings differ, so check each date-specific calendar. Reschedule visits affected by closures for another opening day and choose temple worship or street walks that day instead.

Official operationsMinistry of the Environment information

Mount Takao: choose a day with return cable cars

Choose the descending cable car and Shinjuku-bound train before middle-slope walks. If strong winds or suspension prevent cable car travel, omit the mountain that day rather than switch to a walking summit climb.

Cable car fares and timesOfficial cable railway access

See the Senso-ji main-hall area by camera first

Before worship, you can use the camera to see the area towards Senso-ji's main hall.

A reference view towards the main hall

The camera gives a reference view towards Senso-ji's main hall. It does not show all Nakamise crowds or admission waits. Check broadcast status on the official site and follow local operations and controls separately.

Senso-ji main-hall hours and official information

Frequently asked questions

Which itineraries suit Ueno or Shinjuku?

Compare Ueno for Asakusa, Ueno Park and Zoo, or Shinjuku for Gyoen, Shibuya and Mount Takao. Check the walk from your booked hotel to each actual station and exit.

Senso-ji rail and walking accessZoo Main Gate accessSkyliner stopsJR metropolitan route mapGyoen access by gateOfficial accessKeio fares

Official sources and dates checked