Stay in the city or spend a day on Mount Takao?
Choose the city route to combine garden, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya on one day, with Asakusa and Skytree on another. For a mountain walking day, visit Takao's middle slopes and choose Senso-ji/Ueno Park for city sightseeing. Both stay 3 nights in Shinjuku and return to the same hotel.
Choose a 4 days / 3 nights itinerary
Separate days for Shinjuku/Shibuya and Asakusa
Stay in Shinjuku. Combine the garden, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya on one day, and Asakusa and Skytree on another. Visit the Metropolitan Government Building on arrival day. Choose departure-day park walks only for an afternoon flight.
Separate days for Shinjuku/Shibuya and Asakusa →4 days / 3 nights BMount Takao's middle slopes and Asakusa walks
Stay in Shinjuku. Spend a day on Mount Takao's middle slopes, then explore Asakusa and Ueno Park on another day. Choose final-day government-building views only for a late-afternoon flight that leaves enough airport travel time.
Mount Takao's middle slopes and Asakusa walks →Separate days for Shinjuku/Shibuya and Asakusa
Stay in Shinjuku. Combine the garden, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya on one day, and Asakusa and Skytree on another. Visit the Metropolitan Government Building on arrival day. Choose departure-day park walks only for an afternoon flight.
Day 1 | City views from the government building
From Narita Airport, check a Narita Express (N’EX) service stopping at Shinjuku and reserve a seat. Get off at JR Shinjuku and use your hotel's recommended exit.
- Airport arrival station → Around Shinjuku Station
From Haneda, compare Keikyu to Shinagawa, then the JR Yamanote Line towards Shibuya and Shinjuku. At Shinjuku Station, use your hotel's recommended exit.
- Shinjuku Station, West Exit → Government building South Observatory and same hotel
Walk about 10 minutes from JR Shinjuku's West Exit to floor 1 of Tokyo Metropolitan Government No. 1 Building. Take the dedicated lift to the free South Observatory. Busy days may involve a queue. Hours are 09:30–22:00, with entry until 21:30; check closures including the first and third Tuesdays. Afterwards, return towards the West Exit for dinner and your hotel. Skip the visit after a late arrival or during closure. Advance reservations are not accepted.
On an observatory closure day, 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 eat dinner in Shibuya. From your hotel, go towards JR Shinjuku's South Exit and walk about 10 minutes to Shinjuku Gate.
- Shinjuku Gyoen → Same gate → lunch in Shinjuku
Visit the garden in the morning, leave through the same gate and eat lunch in Shinjuku.
- JR Shinjuku Station → Harajuku Station → shrine southern entrance and main sanctuary
Take the JR Yamanote Line towards Shibuya and Shinagawa to Harajuku, then go to the shrine's southern entrance. Allow about 1 minute to reach the entrance and at least 10 minutes more to the main sanctuary.
- Meiji Jingu and Harajuku Station → Dinner in Shibuya → Shinjuku hotel
After worship, take a train from Harajuku in the same direction to Shibuya for dinner, then return to Shinjuku on the Yamanote Line towards Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. The shrine closes at 16:40 in October, so worship before shopping. On garden closure days, choose a Shinjuku Central Park walk or a meal near your hotel. Check weather and local controls for park walks too. In peak periods, check whether your date requires reservations and complete them before visiting.
JR metropolitan route mapShrine accessGate opening timesMinistry of the Environment informationOfficial operationsOfficial access
Day 3 | Senso-ji and Skytree
From JR Shinjuku, take the Yamanote Line towards Ikebukuro and get off at Ueno.
- Ueno Station and Ginza Line → Asakusa Station → Senso-ji and lunch
Transfer to an Asakusa-bound Ginza Line train from G16 to G19, walk about 5 minutes to the temple, worship and eat lunch.
Asakusa Station timetablesSenso-ji rail and walking accessTemple information
- Tobu Asakusa Station → Tokyo Skytree Station → floor 4 main entrance
From Tobu Asakusa, take a local train stopping at Tokyo Skytree. Get off after about 3 minutes and walk about 6 minutes from the West Exit to the floor 4 main entrance.
- Observation deck → Transfers at Asakusa and Ueno → Shinjuku hotel
After the deck, return via Tobu towards Asakusa, the Shibuya-bound Ginza Line to Ueno, then JR towards Ikebukuro and Shinjuku and your hotel. Allow for meals and Tobu waits to reach the entrance for your deck reservation. Without a ticket or during official suspension or admission closure, finish the temple visit and meal, then return via the same Asakusa route. Shorten street walks in heavy rain or outdoor crowds.
TicketsHoursSkytree official rail accessAsakusa Station timetablesJR metropolitan route map
Day 4 | A short walk in Shinjuku Central Park
Walk in Shinjuku Central Park before leaving for 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 a different park from day 2's Gyoen. After a morning walk, collect hotel-stored luggage and go to your reserved airport train or bus boarding point. Eat lunch only if time allows. Skip the walk in rain or during works or local controls.
Official operationsOfficial accessTourism association: admission
- Shinjuku hotel → Reserved airport-train departure station and 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, then transfer at Shinagawa to an airport-bound Keikyu service stopping at your terminal. Sightsee only if you can meet your airline's airport-arrival time, allowing for the hotel-to-platform journeys and Terminal 3 access.
N’EX stopsNarita Airport rail guideJR metropolitan route mapKeikyu airport accessJR works and suspension notices
Choose a short morning walk only if airport travel leaves enough time.
Included: Shinjuku Gyoen admission 500 yen, Skytree Tembo Deck's lowest web price 1,800 yen and return Ginza Line fares. Admission alone totals from 2,300 yen.
Extra costs and conditions: JR, Tobu, airport transport, station-to-hotel travel, meals and accommodation are excluded from this subtotal.
Ministry of the Environment informationTicketsGinza Line section map
Mount Takao's middle slopes and Asakusa walks
Stay in Shinjuku. Spend a day on Mount Takao's middle slopes, then explore Asakusa and Ueno Park on another day. Choose final-day government-building views only for a late-afternoon flight that leaves enough airport travel time.
Day 1 | A short Shinjuku Central Park walk
From Narita Airport, check a Narita Express (N’EX) service stopping at Shinjuku and reserve a seat. Get off at JR Shinjuku and use your hotel's recommended exit.
- Airport arrival station → Around Shinjuku Station
From Haneda, compare Keikyu to Shinagawa, then the JR Yamanote Line towards Shibuya and Shinjuku. At Shinjuku Station, use your hotel's recommended exit.
- Shinjuku Station, West Exit → Central Park and the same hotel
Walk about 10 minutes from JR Shinjuku's West Exit to free Central Park. See its shaded and waterside paths by day, then return the same way. The management office opens 09:00–17:00. Plan walks in daylight and check works and access-control notices for your date. In rain, during works or controls, or after a late arrival, skip the walk and eat in Shinjuku. Rest at the same hotel after dinner.
Official operationsOfficial accessTourism association: admission
Recheck Mount Takao weather and cable car services the day before visiting.
Day 2 | Cable car and middle-slope walks
Take the cable car to Mount Takao's middle slopes, see the views near the station and return. This is a short walk rather than a summit climb. At Keio Shinjuku, take an ordinary Takaosanguchi-bound train.
- Keio Shinjuku and Kitano → Takaosanguchi Station
If your train is not direct, transfer at Kitano to the Takao Line.
- Takaosanguchi Station → Kiyotaki Station → cable car and Takaosan Station
Walk about 5 minutes from Takaosanguchi to Kiyotaki, then ride the cable car for about 6 minutes. It ends at Takaosan Station, not the summit.
- Cable car Takaosan Station → Viewpoint near the station
After getting off, follow signs to the nearby viewpoint for the scenery. This differs from the summit viewpoint. Cloud or rain may obscure distant views.
- Viewpoint near the station → The same cable car Takaosan Station
After the view, retrace your path to the cable car station. This short walk excludes mountain paths onwards to Yakuoin or the summit. If the viewpoint path is closed or rain or strong winds make walking difficult, take the cable car down. Before eating on the middle slopes, check descending services and queues.
Takao Tozan Railway: station-area viewpointCable car fares and times
- Optional meal: near middle-slope Takaosan Station → Return to the cable car station after eating
For a meal at a middle-slope restaurant, check its location, hours and queues. If eating would leave too little time to return for the descent, eat at the foot of the mountain instead.
Check restaurant location, hours, queues and descending cable cars
- Cable car Takaosan Station → Descend to Kiyotaki Station
Check descending services for your date and board the cable car. The official one-way ride takes about 6 minutes; queues and waits are extra. Finish your meal and walk in time to descend before the last service.
- Kiyotaki Station → Keio Takaosanguchi Station
Retrace your path from Kiyotaki to Takaosanguchi, about 5 minutes on foot. Allow extra for meals, cable car waits and reaching the Keio platform.
- Takaosanguchi Station → Shinjuku-bound train → hotel
Take an ordinary Shinjuku-bound train; if not direct, transfer at Kitano towards Shinjuku, then return to your hotel. Adult return fares for Shinjuku and the cable car total 1,840 yen. Check Keio and cable car services before leaving and choose your descent first. During busy periods, shorten middle-slope walks to allow for cable car queues. In rain, strong winds or suspension, do not replace the trip with a walking summit climb. Eat and rest in Shinjuku or swap with a city sightseeing day after checking opening dates.
Keio faresCable car fares and timesOfficial cable railway access
Day 3 | Senso-ji and Ueno Park
From Shinjuku, take the JR Yamanote Line towards Ikebukuro and get off at Ueno.
- Ginza Line Ueno Station → Asakusa Station → Senso-ji
Take an Asakusa-bound Ginza Line train to G19 and walk about 5 minutes to the temple.
Asakusa Station timetablesSenso-ji rail and walking accessTemple information
- Asakusa Station → Ueno Station → lunch and park walk
After worship, take a Shibuya-bound train from Asakusa back to Ueno G16 for lunch and a park walk.
- JR Ueno Station → Shinjuku Station → hotel
Finish by taking JR towards Ikebukuro and Shinjuku, getting off at Shinjuku and returning to your hotel. This route has no observation-deck admission charge.
Day 4 | Government-building views, then the airport
Walk from Shinjuku's West Exit to the government building's South Observatory.
- Shinjuku Station, West Exit → Government building South Observatory
Walk about 10 minutes from JR Shinjuku's West Exit to floor 1 of No. 1 Building. After the observatory opens at 09:30, take the dedicated lift to the free observatory for city views. Shorten or skip the visit if entry queues are long.
- Government building South Observatory → The same Shinjuku hotel
Retrace your route to the Shinjuku hotel and collect luggage. Eat lunch only if airport travel leaves enough time. This route does not add a paid observation deck.
- Shinjuku hotel → Reserved airport-train departure station and 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, then transfer at Shinagawa to an airport-bound Keikyu service stopping at your terminal. Sightsee only if you can meet your airline's airport-arrival time, allowing for the hotel-to-platform journeys and Terminal 3 access.
N’EX stopsNarita Airport rail guideJR metropolitan route mapKeikyu airport accessJR works and suspension notices
The observatory opens at 09:30. On closure days or with a long entry queue, return directly to your hotel.
Included: Return Ginza Line fares plus Mount Takao return transport of 1,840 yen: Keio ordinary trains 860 yen and cable car 980 yen. Paid exhibition admission is excluded.
Extra costs and conditions: JR, Tobu, airport transport, station-to-hotel travel, meals and accommodation are excluded from this subtotal.
Frequently asked questions
How does a Mount Takao day change the city itinerary?
On the mountain route, you walk on the middle slopes on day 2 and visit Senso-ji and Ueno Park on day 3. Choose the city route to combine Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya, with Skytree on another day. Both use 3 nights in Shinjuku; neither combines the mountain and several city sights in one day.
Cable car fares and timesKeio faresMinistry of the Environment informationShrine accessTickets
Does the 72-hour subway ticket cover the airport and Mount Takao?
It covers Tokyo Metro and Toei subway only. Airport railways, Keio, Mount Takao's cable car and JR require separate payment.
Official Tokyo subway tourist-ticket informationChange notice dated 2026-03-14
Do I use GALA Yuzawa Station for an Echigo-Yuzawa day trip?
Distinguish Echigo-Yuzawa and GALA Yuzawa stations. Echigo-Yuzawa is reached by Joetsu Shinkansen; GALA Yuzawa Station operates only in winter and spring. Do not assume GALA-bound trains for autumn. Check return trains and local facility operations for your date separately.
Echigo-Yuzawa tourism organisation: Shinkansen accessJR TOKYO Wide Pass routes, price and 3 consecutive days
Does TOKYO Wide Pass cover the bus on a Kusatsu day trip?
Distinguish eligible JR rail travel to Naganoharakusatsuguchi from the Kusatsu bus. JR buses are excluded from TOKYO Wide Pass, so bus fares cost extra. Choose a day trip only when return buses/trains and bathing-facility hours fit. Compare individual fares for your actual sections too.
JR TOKYO Wide Pass routes, price and 3 consecutive daysJR East: Kusatsu Onsen access and Yubatake
Official sources and dates checked
- Asakusa Station timetables ·
- Ginza Line section map ·
- Senso-ji rail and walking access ·
- Ministry of the Environment information ·
- Gyoen access by gate ·
- Shrine access ·
- Skytree official rail access ·
- Route to floor 4 entrance ·
- Official cable railway access ·
- Temple information ·
- Tickets ·
- Hours ·
- Gate opening times ·
- Cable car fares and times ·
- Keio fares ·
- Official information ·
- Official operations ·
- Further official material ·
- Official operations ·
- Official access ·
- Tourism association: admission ·
- Official Tokyo subway tourist-ticket information ·
- Change notice dated 2026-03-14 ·
- JR metropolitan route map ·
- Keikyu airport access ·
- Narita Airport rail guide ·
- N’EX stops ·
- JR works and suspension notices ·
- JR TOKYO Wide Pass routes, price and 3 consecutive days ·
- Karuizawa tourism association: transport and local buses ·
- Echigo-Yuzawa tourism organisation: Shinkansen access ·
- Kusakaru Kotsu 2026 buses: crowds, delays and operating period ·
- JR East: Kusatsu Onsen access and Yubatake ·
- Takao Tozan Railway: station-area viewpoint ·