Where should you stay and what should you see in Tokyo?
Compare Ueno for visits to Senso-ji, Ueno Park and the zoo, and Shinjuku for gardens, Shibuya and Mount Takao. Consider Tokyo Station when taking trains to other cities. For two days, first choose between Senso-ji with Ueno Zoo and Shinjuku Gyoen with Meiji Jingu. Give Mount Takao’s scenery a separate day from city sightseeing.
Would you prefer temples, observation decks or gardens?
Compare Senso-ji and Skytree in Asakusa, or the zoo and park in Ueno. Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya suit western city sightseeing. Choose Mount Takao as a separate day for a mid-slope walk. Detail pages list attraction fees, hours and directions to the entrances.
Itineraries by trip length
Reduce arrival- and departure-day sightseeing around your flights. Choose the place you most want to see for a middle day, with a route returning to the same hotel.
1 night, 2 days
Choose Senso-ji and the zoo on separate days from Ueno, or the garden and shrine on separate days from Shinjuku. This short trip may need fewer visits depending on arrival and departure times.
2 nights, 3 days
Stay two nights in Ueno and choose whether to spend the middle day at an observation deck or the zoo. Check Skytree tickets and zoo closure dates first.
3 nights, 4 days
Stay in Shinjuku and give western gardens and shrine visits, and eastern temples and views, separate days, or spend a day on Mount Takao’s middle slopes. Compare side trips such as Karuizawa, Echigo-Yuzawa and Kusatsu separately as replacements for a city day.
4 nights, 5 days
Choose four nights in Shinjuku for city sights and Mount Takao, or four in Ueno for the zoo, two gardens and observation deck. For an overnight side trip, replace one Tokyo hotel night and check return transport.
Should you stay in Ueno or Shinjuku?
Ueno
Stay here for Asakusa, Ueno Park and the zoo, or travel from Narita Airport towards Nippori and Ueno.
JR Ueno and Keisei Ueno have different ticket gates. Check the walk to your hotel from each.
Senso-ji rail and walking accessZoo main-gate accessSkyliner stopsJR metropolitan area route map
Shinjuku
Consider this area for Shinjuku Gyoen, Central Park to the west and a Keio Line trip to Mount Takao.
JR, Keio and subway platforms are separate. Check the walk from your hotel to each station and exit you will use.
Gyoen access by gateOfficial accessKeio fare tableJR metropolitan area route map
Tokyo Station
Choose this area for trains to other cities or exploring Marunouchi.
Check whether your hotel is on the Marunouchi or Yaesu side, then confirm the walk and time from that side’s exit.
JR Tokyo Station platforms and station mapJR metropolitan area route map
For a day trip or an overnight stay outside the city
Give Karuizawa or Echigo-Yuzawa a separate day
Karuizawa · 軽井沢 is in Nagano Prefecture, and Echigo-Yuzawa · 越後湯沢 is in Niigata. Compare either as a replacement for a middle day of a four- or five-day trip, rather than a short addition after Tokyo sightseeing. These options do not keep every A/B itinerary visit and add a side trip on top.
In Karuizawa, first choose between the station area and Old Karuizawa. Check local bus and walking routes separately. Echigo-Yuzawa is reached by Joetsu Shinkansen; the tourism organisation’s minimum 66 minutes from Tokyo covers only the train ride. Add travel from your hotel to the station and to local facilities.
Choose a day trip only if return trains and attraction hours fit. For an onsen stay, compare one night after choosing hotel check-in and the next day’s return train. Use Echigo-Yuzawa Station in autumn; GALA Yuzawa Station operates only in winter and spring.
Karuizawa tourism association transport and local busesEchigo-Yuzawa tourism organisation’s Shinkansen accessJR Tokyo Wide Pass routes, price and three consecutive days
Compare a Kusatsu Onsen overnight stay with the bus journey included
Kusatsu Onsen · 草津温泉 is in Gunma Prefecture. Take a bus from JR Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. JR’s approximately 25-minute bus ride is not the full journey including trains and transfer waits.
For a day trip, match return buses and trains with bathing facility hours first. To stay at the onsen into the evening, compare an overnight visit. Unlike city routes A/B, this changes your overnight base; check outward and return connections before booking. Bus fares, pass coverage, accommodation and bathing fees need separate confirmation.
Kusakaru Kotsu also runs buses from Karuizawa to Kusatsu, but these are not reserved and a full bus can mean waiting for the next service. Road delays can also occur; avoid tight Shinkansen connections. Use the operator’s timetable for your date to check both directions.
JR East access to Kusatsu Onsen and YubatakeKusakaru Kotsu 2026 buses, crowding, delays and operating periods
Tokyo Wide Pass and Nikko Pass suit different trips
The adult JR Tokyo Wide Pass costs JPY 16,000 for three consecutive days from your chosen start date. It is not a five-day pass covering a four-night trip. Tokyo Metro, Toei subways and Keio are excluded. An original passport issued by a country other than Japan is required. You can use it even without Temporary Visitor status.
Tobu NIKKO PASS all area is for foreign travellers; Japanese companions travelling with them can also buy it. The adult price is JPY 8,000, valid for four days, including one return between Asakusa and Shimo-Imaichi and specified Nikko-area rail and bus routes. Limited express supplements and temple admission cost extra. Do not choose it for Karuizawa, Echigo-Yuzawa or Kusatsu. For Tobu through limited expresses covered by the JR Wide Pass, either the origin or destination must be a JR station; this differs from a Tobu limited express starting at Asakusa.
Add individual fares for the trains and dates you will actually use before comparing. Avoid adding individual fares again for journeys covered by a pass, and include separate sections in the comparison. Check eligibility and collection/exchange conditions when buying.
JR Tokyo Wide Pass routes, price and three consecutive daysJR pass purchase, original passport and eligibilityTobu NIKKO PASS all area coverage; limited express costs extra
Check airport train service notices for your travel date
For Narita Express travel to or from Shinjuku, check stops and service sections in official notices and the reservation screen for your date. When airport connections change, plan airport travel before sightseeing.
Tokyo areas to explore on separate days
Tokyo · 東京都 lets you give city sightseeing and Mount Takao in Hachioji separate days. Disney Resort is a separate destination in Chiba; Kamakura and Hakone are in Kanagawa. Plan Tokyo’s islands separately because they require boats or flights.
Asakusa · 浅草: temple and observation deck
After worship and walking at Senso-ji, continue to Skytree if you also want a high view. Go to Tobu Asakusa Station and get off at Tokyo Skytree. Adding the observation deck changes the cost of a temple-only route. For free views, compare the information centre’s 8th floor.
Senso-ji rail and walking accessOfficial Skytree rail accessOfficial guide
Ueno · 上野: zoo and park
Give Ueno Zoo a day if animals are your focus. Park walks and Toshogu are alternatives, but zoo admission and Toshogu’s paid worship area are separate from free park walks. Check access via Okachimachi for Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens and Yushima Tenmangu, and visit on other days.
Official operating informationOfficial guideCurrent Japanese Toshogu fees, worship and visiting hoursOfficial operation informationYushima Tenmangu access by station
Shinjuku · 新宿: garden and western city views
Reach Shinjuku Gyoen from JR Shinjuku’s south exit, and the government South Observatory and Central Park from the west exit. Calculate walks from the appropriate side of the station. Visit the garden on one day and the free observation deck or park on another; a short departure-day visit may fit if airport travel allows.
Gyoen access by gateAdditional official informationOfficial access
Harajuku · 原宿 / Shibuya · 渋谷
Enter Meiji Jingu from the south entrance on the Harajuku side. Worship first, then travel to Shibuya for Hachiko and the crossing. Shrine gates close around sunset, so avoid a late visit after shopping. In Shibuya, compare access through JR’s recommended south ticket gate.
Shrine accessGate opening informationJR Shibuya south-gate guidanceOfficial guide
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 upper station is not the summit. Enjoy nearby views and a mid-slope walk, then return to Shinjuku by the same cable car and Keio route. Summit hiking and local accommodation are excluded.
Cable car operator’s official accessCable car fares and hoursKeio fare tableCable car operator’s guide to the viewing point near the station
How do you reach attractions from your hotel?
Choose an exit that suits your hotel address, then follow the boarding, alighting and walking steps. Walking times below exclude train waits, transfers and admission queues.
| Journey | Travel steps | Official access and directions |
|---|---|---|
| Ueno → Senso-ji | Take the Ginza Line towards Asakusa, get off at Asakusa Station and walk about 5 minutes to Senso-ji. | Official Senso-ji access by station. Tsukuba Express Asakusa is separate. |
| Asakusa → Skytree → Ueno | From Tobu Asakusa, take a train to Tokyo Skytree Station and walk to the 4th-floor entrance. Return via Tobu to Asakusa, then the Ginza Line to Ueno. | Directions from the station to the 4th floor. Tobu fares are additional to the subway return amount. |
| JR Ueno Station → zoo and Toshogu | From the Park Exit, walk about 5 minutes to the zoo’s main gate or about 10 minutes to Toshogu. | Zoo main-gate access. Check Toshogu’s separate entrance. |
| Shinjuku Station → Shinjuku Gyoen | From JR Shinjuku’s south exit, walk about 10 minutes to Shinjuku Gate. Return through the same gate after your visit. | Official Gyoen access by gate. Choose the gate around your hotel and station. |
| Shinjuku-sanchome → Meiji Jingu | Take the Fukutoshin Line to Meiji-jingumae, then walk via the south entrance on the Harajuku side to the main sanctuary. | Official shrine access map. Distinguish the station-to-entrance walk from the walk to the sanctuary. |
| Harajuku → Shibuya walk | Take the JR Yamanote Line towards Shibuya and get off at Shibuya Station. Walk about 250 m from the south ticket gate to Hachiko. | JR Shibuya ticket-gate guide. Check your return gate. |
| Shinjuku → Mount Takao’s middle slopes → Shinjuku | Take Keio towards Takaosanguchi, changing at Kitano if needed. Walk about 5 minutes to Kiyotaki, then take the cable car. Return the same way. | Official cable car access and operation. Check descending services and Keio trains for your date. |
| Airport → your hotel’s actual station | Narita: compare Skyliner for Ueno or Narita Express for Tokyo Station and Shinjuku. For Haneda, check a route serving your terminal. | Airport and Tokyo transport guide. JR Ueno and Keisei Ueno are separate stations. |
Senso-ji rail and walking accessRoute to the 4th-floor entranceZoo main-gate accessOfficial access guideGyoen access by gateShrine accessJR Shibuya south-gate guidanceCable car operator’s official accessSkyliner stopsN’EX stops
Transport, costs, food and related guides
Choose whether to eat in the sightseeing area or return to your hotel’s neighbourhood. Meals are excluded from itinerary subtotals.
Asakusa: a meal after the temple walk
Consider Edomae sushi in Asakusa. After Senso-ji, decide whether to eat here before Skytree or after the observation deck. The existing food guide also offers tempura and grilled eel options. Check each restaurant’s menu and hours.
Ueno: yakitori and a meal after the zoo
Look for izakaya and yakitori businesses beneath Ueno’s elevated railway. You can eat in Ueno after the zoo and return to the same hotel. Consider the extra walking before adding Ameyoko shopping.
Shinjuku: ramen and dinner after returning to your base
Ramen restaurants line Otakibashi-dori, west of JR Shinjuku towards Okubo. Eating in Shinjuku after the garden, shrine or Mount Takao reduces the need for another evening journey.
Shibuya: include a meal on your walking day
On your Hachiko and crossing day, choose dinner in Shibuya or back near your Shinjuku hotel. Compare ramen and yakitori in the existing food guide, then check actual menus, hours and your return station.
Which admission and transport costs are included?
These are documented adult items. Itinerary subtotals are not full trip budgets including accommodation, meals, airport journeys and all city transport. Check inclusions and exclusions in your chosen route’s cost card.
| Attraction or transport | Documented adult price | Costs and conditions to distinguish |
|---|---|---|
| Ueno Zoo | Adult JPY 600 | Park walks are free; check zoo closures separately. |
| Shinjuku Gyoen | Adult JPY 500 | Distinguish free Meiji Jingu worship from paid garden admission. |
| Skytree | Advance web Tembo Deck ticket from JPY 1,800 | Prices vary by date. Deck and gallery start at JPY 3,000; on-site purchases add JPY 500. |
| Ueno Toshogu | Paid worship area inside the fence JPY 700 | Building interiors are closed to visitors; peony garden admission is separate. |
| Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens | Adult JPY 400 | Skip the first-day visit after a late arrival on the five-day Ueno route. |
| Mount Takao return journey | Adult JPY 1,840 | Regular Keio return JPY 860 + cable car return JPY 980. City and airport travel, meals and reserved seats cost extra. Walk near the cable car’s upper station and return the same way; the summit is excluded. |
| Free views and walks | Government South Observatory, Central Park and Yushima Tenmangu grounds | Paid facilities, prayers and shopping add costs. |
Official operating informationMinistry of the Environment informationTicketsCurrent Japanese Toshogu fees, worship and visiting hoursOfficial operation informationCable car fares and hoursKeio fare tableOfficial operation informationOfficial operation informationYushima Tenmangu access by station
Compare timed subway tickets and individual fares
Decide how much you will use Tokyo Metro and Toei subways before comparing. JR, Tobu, Keio, airport railways and Mount Takao’s cable car are separate from this subway ticket.
For one return journey, compare individual fares first
The documented adult subway return in these representative routes costs JPY 356 by IC card or JPY 360 with paper tickets. For only that return, it costs less than the JPY 1,000 24-hour ticket. Add other lines and journeys before comparing.
Ginza Line journey tableMetro fare searchChange notice for 14 March 2026
Standard tickets cover 24, 48 or 72 hours from first use
Standard adult Tokyo Subway Tickets cost JPY 1,000 for 24 hours, JPY 1,500 for 48 hours and JPY 2,000 for 72 hours. Hotel nights differ from validity hours; compare your first gate entry and final ride times. Coverage also differs from regional JR passes.
Tokyo Subway Ticket is for foreign visitors to Japan and domestic Japanese travellers living outside Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Yamanashi. Foreign visitors show a passport for in-person eligibility checks; online purchase is also available. Domestic travellers should check their separate sellers and purchase conditions. Attraction combination tickets have no residence restriction. Standard tickets start at the first ticket-gate entry, while the IC version starts at purchase; check which product you are buying.
Official Tokyo subway tourist ticket guideChange notice for 14 March 2026Tokyo Subway Ticket purchase conditions and validity by type
Official Tokyo subway tourist ticket guideChange notice for 14 March 2026Ginza Line journey tableMetro fare searchTokyo Subway Ticket purchase conditions and validity by type
Choose open days and return services first
Choose zoo and garden visiting days, and your return time from Mount Takao, first.
Check zoo and Gyoen calendars for a Monday visit
Both have Monday closures and exceptions. Public-holiday and seasonal openings differ; check each facility’s calendar for your date. Move zoo and garden visits to open days if needed, replacing a closed day with temple worship or street browsing.
Official operating informationMinistry of the Environment information
Visit Mount Takao when a cable car return is possible
Choose the descending cable car and Shinjuku-bound train before your mid-slope walk. If strong winds or a suspension prevent cable car use, omit the mountain rather than replacing it with a summit hike.
Cable car fares and hoursCable car operator’s official access
See the main-hall area on camera before visiting Senso-ji
Use the camera view if you want a look towards Senso-ji’s main hall before worship.
Reference view towards the main hall
The camera provides a view towards Senso-ji’s main hall. It cannot show all Nakamise crowding or admission waits. Check broadcast availability on the official website and follow local operating and access controls separately.
Frequently asked questions
Which itineraries suit Ueno and Shinjuku?
Compare Ueno for Asakusa, Ueno Park and the zoo, or Shinjuku for Shinjuku Gyoen, Shibuya and Mount Takao. Check the walk from your booked hotel to the actual stations and exits separately.
Senso-ji rail and walking accessZoo main-gate accessSkyliner stopsJR metropolitan area route mapGyoen access by gateOfficial accessKeio fare table
Official sources and dates checked
- Official operating information ·
- Ginza Line journey table ·
- Senso-ji rail and walking access ·
- Zoo main-gate access ·
- Ministry of the Environment information ·
- Gyoen access by gate ·
- Metro fare search ·
- Shrine access ·
- Official Skytree rail access ·
- Route to the 4th-floor entrance ·
- Cable car operator’s official access ·
- Tickets ·
- Gate opening information ·
- Cable car fares and hours ·
- Keio fare table ·
- Official guide ·
- Official access guide ·
- Official guide ·
- Official guide ·
- Official operation information ·
- Additional official information ·
- Official operation information ·
- Official access ·
- Official operation information ·
- Yushima Tenmangu access by station ·
- Official Tokyo subway tourist ticket guide ·
- Official Senso-ji main-hall opening times ·
- Change notice for 14 March 2026 ·
- Skyliner stops ·
- JR metropolitan area route map ·
- N’EX stops ·
- JR works and service suspension information ·
- JR Tokyo Station platforms and station map ·
- Current Japanese Toshogu fees, worship and visiting hours ·
- JR Shibuya south-gate guidance ·
- JR Tokyo Wide Pass routes, price and three consecutive days ·
- JR pass purchase, original passport and eligibility ·
- Tobu NIKKO PASS all area coverage; limited express costs extra ·
- Karuizawa tourism association transport and local buses ·
- Echigo-Yuzawa tourism organisation’s Shinkansen access ·
- Kusakaru Kotsu 2026 buses, crowding, delays and operating periods ·
- JR East access to Kusatsu Onsen and Yubatake ·
- Cable car operator’s guide to the viewing point near the station ·
- GO TOKYO: Ueno walks and food ·
- GO TOKYO: Tokyo food and dining areas ·
- GO TOKYO: Asakusa area and food ·
- Tokyo Subway Ticket purchase conditions and validity by type ·