Mount Takao or more city sightseeing in 5 days?
For decks, gardens, shrine and Mount Takao's middle slopes, stay 4 nights in Shinjuku and visit city and mountain on separate days. For the zoo and two gardens at a slower pace, choose 4 nights in Ueno. Neither route changes hotels.
Choose a 5 days / 4 nights itinerary
Shinjuku, Asakusa and a Mount Takao day trip
Stay in Shinjuku. Give the garden and streets one day, eastern temples and views another, and Mount Takao an extra day trip. Arrival-day government-building views and the final-day park are optional only if arrival and departure times allow.
Shinjuku, Asakusa and a Mount Takao day trip →5 days / 4 nights BUeno Zoo and two gardens
Stay in Ueno. Give the zoo, two gardens and Senso-ji/Skytree separate days. Instead of Mount Takao, visit a mansion garden on arrival day and make a short final-day visit to Yushima Tenmangu.
Ueno Zoo and two gardens →Shinjuku, Asakusa and a Mount Takao day trip
Stay in Shinjuku. Give the garden and streets one day, eastern temples and views another, and Mount Takao an extra day trip. Arrival-day government-building views and the final-day park are optional only if arrival and departure times allow.
Day 1 | City views from Shinjuku's 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 the government building, then use the observatory's dedicated lift on floor 1 of No. 1 Building. See the city from the free South Observatory, return towards the same exit for dinner and stay at your hotel. Entry queues are extra to the 10-minute walk; shorten the visit when busy. South Observatory hours are 09:30–22:00, last admission 21:30. Check closures including first and third Tuesdays. Reservations are not accepted. After a late arrival or during closure, skip the visit and plan only your hotel and a meal.
On an observatory closure day, eat and rest in Shinjuku.
Day 2 | Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya
Walk Shinjuku Gyoen's garden paths and Meiji Jingu's wooded paths today, then eat dinner in Shibuya. Walk about 10 minutes from the South Exit side of Shinjuku Station to Shinjuku Gate.
- Shinjuku Gyoen → Same gate → lunch in Shinjuku
After the morning visit, 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 and go to the shrine's southern entrance. Allow about 1 minute to the entrance, then at least 10 minutes more to the main sanctuary.
- Meiji Jingu and Harajuku Station → Finish worship → Shibuya Station
In October, finish worship before closing at 16:40, then take a train from Harajuku in the same direction to Shibuya.
- Shibuya Station → Dinner → Shinjuku hotel
After dinner, take JR towards Shinjuku and Ikebukuro back to your Shinjuku hotel. 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 mapMinistry of the Environment informationOfficial operationsOfficial access
Day 3 | Senso-ji worship, then Skytree views
Take JR from Shinjuku towards Ikebukuro and Ueno to Ueno, then transfer to an Asakusa-bound Ginza Line train to G19.
- Asakusa Station → Senso-ji worship → lunch
Walk about 5 minutes to the temple, worship and eat lunch in Asakusa.
- Tobu Asakusa Station → Tokyo Skytree Station → entrance and deck
From Tobu Asakusa, take a local train stopping at Tokyo Skytree for about 3 minutes. Walk about 6 minutes from the West Exit to the floor 4 main entrance. Visit only your reserved ticket's deck or deck-and-galleria areas.
Skytree official rail accessRoute to floor 4 entranceTickets
- Tokyo Skytree Station → Transfers at Asakusa and Ueno → Shinjuku hotel
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 | Mount Takao cable car and middle-slope walk
Take the cable car for a walk on Mount Takao's middle slopes, then return to the same Shinjuku hotel.
- Keio Shinjuku Station → Takaosanguchi Station
Take an ordinary Takaosanguchi-bound Keio train. If not direct, transfer at Kitano to the Takao Line. Check trains and cable cars for your date before leaving. If services are suspended, omit the mountain visit that day.
Cable car fares and timesKeio faresOfficial cable railway access
- Takaosanguchi Station → Kiyotaki Station → cable car
After getting off, walk about 5 minutes to Kiyotaki and ride the cable car for about 6 minutes.
- 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.
- Keio Takaosanguchi Station → Keio Shinjuku Station
Take an ordinary Shinjuku-bound train. If not direct, transfer towards Shinjuku at the actual station shown in your date-specific journey search, such as Kitano. Waits and transfers are extra; reserved-seat train charges are excluded from the existing subtotal.
- Keio Shinjuku Station → Return to the same Shinjuku hotel
Follow your booked hotel's gate, exit and walking directions. Check the individual booking information for the Keio-station-to-hotel route and time.
Walk and time from Keio Shinjuku to your booked hotel's entrance
Day 5 | A short walk in Shinjuku Central Park
Explore Shinjuku Central Park, then 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 morning waterside and shaded paths. This differs from day 2's Shinjuku Gyoen; you do not re-enter Gyoen. Skip it in rain or during works or local controls.
Official operationsOfficial accessTourism association: admission
- Shinjuku Central Park → The same Shinjuku hotel
Walk about 10 minutes back towards the West Exit and collect luggage at your same Shinjuku hotel. Eat lunch only if time allows before airport travel, then go to your reserved airport service's departure station or boarding point.
- 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: Gyoen and Tembo Deck admission from 2,300 yen, return Ginza Line fares and Mount Takao return transport 1,840 yen. Takao transport uses ordinary trains 860 yen and cable car 980 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 informationTicketsCable car fares and timesKeio faresGinza Line section map
Ueno Zoo and two gardens
Stay in Ueno. Give the zoo, two gardens and Senso-ji/Skytree separate days. Instead of Mount Takao, visit a mansion garden on arrival day and make a short final-day visit to Yushima Tenmangu.
Day 1 | Former Iwasaki residence and garden
Explore the former Iwasaki residence and garden on day 1. From Narita Airport, reserve a Keisei Ueno-bound Skyliner from your terminal's railway station and get off at the terminus.
- Airport arrival station → Around Ueno Station
Keisei Ueno and JR Ueno are separate stations; follow your hotel's station and exit directions. From Haneda, compare taking Keikyu to Shinagawa and transferring to a JR service stopping at Ueno. At Haneda Terminal 3, follow ‘Keikyu Railways’ signs from arrivals to the gates and platform. At other terminals, follow that terminal's railway signs.
Skyliner stopsJR metropolitan route mapKeikyu airport accessHaneda Terminal 3: arrivals-to-station directions
- Ueno Station → Okachimachi Station and garden entrance
From JR Ueno, take the Yamanote Line towards Tokyo to Okachimachi, then walk about 15 minutes to the garden entrance.
- Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens → Mansion and garden visit
Enter before last admission to explore the Western-style mansion and garden; general admission is 400 yen. Wear socks inside the buildings to protect the cultural property. Hours are 09:00–17:00, last admission 16:30; closed 29 December–1 January. Skip day 1's visit if you cannot arrive by 16:30 with enough viewing time. Separate guided visits to the underground passage and billiard room are excluded.
- Garden entrance → Okachimachi and Ueno stations
After your visit, walk about 15 minutes back to the same station and take Ueno-bound JR.
If you cannot view the mansion garden before closing, skip day 1's visit and eat in Ueno.
Day 2 | Animals and breaks at Ueno Zoo
Spend a day seeing animals that interest you, such as elephants and giraffes. From your Ueno hotel, go to street level at JR Ueno's Park Exit and walk about 5 minutes to the Main Gate.
- Ueno Zoo → See the animals
Visit after 09:30. On a zoo closure day, compare opening calendars to see whether you can swap with another sightseeing day. If no other day fits, choose a shorter Ueno Park walk and meal when weather and local controls allow. Allow for entry queues, see your preferred animals first and take breaks.
- Zoo Main Gate → Meal and rest in the park
After your visit, leave by the Main Gate for a rest and meal in the park.
- Ueno Park → The same Ueno hotel
After sightseeing and your meal, walk back to your Ueno hotel to rest.
Day 3 | Senso-ji and Skytree
Take an Asakusa-bound Ginza Line train from Ueno G16 to G19. Walk about 5 minutes to the temple, worship and eat lunch.
- Tobu Asakusa Station → Tokyo Skytree Station
From Tobu Asakusa, take a local train stopping at Tokyo Skytree for about 3 minutes.
- Tokyo Skytree Station, West Exit → Floor 4 main entrance and deck
Walk about 6 minutes from the West Exit to the floor 4 main entrance and enter your reserved deck.
- Tokyo Skytree Station → Transfer at Asakusa → Ueno hotel
After the visit, take an Asakusa-bound train from the same station, transfer to the Shibuya-bound Ginza Line for Ueno and return to 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 timetables
Day 4 | Shinjuku Gyoen, then back to Ueno
From JR Ueno, take the Yamanote Line towards Ikebukuro and get off at Shinjuku.
- JR Shinjuku Station, South Exit → Gyoen Shinjuku Gate
Walk about 10 minutes from the South Exit to Shinjuku Gyoen's Shinjuku Gate. 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.
Ministry of the Environment informationGyoen access by gateJR metropolitan route mapOfficial operationsOfficial 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
From JR Shinjuku, take a train towards Ikebukuro and get off at Ueno, then return to your hotel.
After Gyoen, you can eat lunch and rest in Shinjuku before returning to Ueno. To return straight away, go to JR Shinjuku Station.
Day 5 | Yushima Tenmangu worship, then the airport
Walk from Okachimachi to Yushima Tenmangu for a short visit.
- Ueno and Okachimachi North Exit → Yushima Tenmangu
Take JR from Ueno towards Tokyo to Okachimachi. Walk about 8 minutes from the North Exit to the shrine. In the morning, see the bronze torii and area before the sanctuary in the free grounds and worship. Gates open 06:00–20:00; the treasure hall, prayers and amulets are excluded. The shrine is on a slope; to avoid stairs, choose the Kasuga-dori-side sloping route in its official access map.
Yushima Tenmangu access by stationTokyo tourism foundation: Bunkyo PDF
- Yushima Tenmangu → Okachimachi and Ueno hotel
Walk about 8 minutes back to the same North Exit, take Ueno-bound JR and collect hotel-stored luggage. JR Ueno and Keisei Ueno are separate stations, so go to your reserved airport service's departure station and boarding point. Eat only if time allows before travelling.
Yushima Tenmangu access by stationJR metropolitan route mapSkyliner stops
- Ueno hotel → Reserved airport-train departure station and terminal
For a Narita-bound Skyliner, go from your hotel to Keisei Ueno and board your reserved service. Get off at Narita Airport Station for Terminal 1 or Airport Terminal 2 Station for Terminals 2 and 3. Allow extra time from the station to Terminal 3. For Haneda, compare JR from Ueno to Shinagawa followed by a Keikyu train stopping at your terminal. Work backwards from the airport-arrival time and sightsee only if enough time remains.
Skyliner stopsNarita Airport rail guideJR metropolitan route mapKeikyu airport access
First allow time for airport travel and procedures.
Included: Ueno Zoo, Tembo Deck, Shinjuku Gyoen and Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens admission from 3,300 yen, plus return Ginza Line fares. Skipping the arrival-day garden removes its 400-yen admission.
Extra costs and conditions: JR, Tobu, airport transport, station-to-hotel travel, meals and accommodation are excluded from this subtotal.
Official operationsTicketsMinistry of the Environment informationOfficial operationsGinza Line section map
Frequently asked questions
Does this route stay overnight on Mount Takao?
It is a Keio/cable car day trip to the middle slopes, returning to the same Shinjuku hotel. Local accommodation and summit hiking are excluded. Check descending cable cars and Shinjuku-bound trains for your date first.
Cable car fares and timesOfficial cable railway accessKeio fares
Does TOKYO Wide Pass cover all travel in a 5-day trip?
It lasts only 3 consecutive days from your chosen start. Tokyo Metro, Toei subway, Keio, Kusatsu-bound JR buses and Karuizawa local buses cost separately. Choose regional travel dates and covered rail sections, then compare individual fares. Route prices are subtotals of selected admission and transport, not a total regional trip budget or total after buying a pass.
Official sources and dates checked
- Asakusa Station timetables ·
- Official operations ·
- Ginza Line section map ·
- Senso-ji rail and walking access ·
- Zoo Main Gate 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 operations ·
- Further official material ·
- Yushima Tenmangu access by station ·
- Tokyo tourism foundation: Bunkyo PDF ·
- Skyliner stops ·
- JR metropolitan route map ·
- Keikyu airport access ·
- Haneda Terminal 3: arrivals-to-station directions ·
- 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 ·