Where should you stay and what should you see in Tokyo?
Consider Ueno for Senso-ji, Ueno Park, and the zoo, or Shinjuku for gardens, Shibuya, and Mount Takao. Tokyo Station is another option for trains connecting to other cities. For two days, start by choosing Senso-ji and Ueno Zoo or Shinjuku Gyoen and Meiji Jingu. Give Mount Takao's mountain scenery a separate day from city sightseeing.
Temples, views, or gardens?
Compare Senso-ji and Skytree in Asakusa, or the zoo and park in Ueno. For sights in western Tokyo, consider Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu, and Shibuya. Give Mount Takao a separate day for a mid-slope walk. Attraction details cover admission, hours, and directions to the entrance.
Itineraries by trip length
Reduce arrival- and departure-day sightseeing to fit your flights. Choose what you most want to see on the middle day, then compare itineraries returning to the same hotel.
2 days, 1 night
Choose Ueno for Senso-ji and the zoo on separate days, or Shinjuku for a garden and shrine on separate days. This short trip may require fewer visits depending on arrival and departure times.
3 days, 2 nights
Stay two nights in Ueno and choose an observation deck or the zoo for the middle day. Check Skytree tickets and zoo closure days before deciding.
4 days, 3 nights
Stay in Shinjuku, separating western gardens and shrine visits from eastern temples and views, or spend a day at mid-slope Mount Takao. Compare Karuizawa, Echigo-Yuzawa, and Kusatsu separately as replacements for an existing city day.
5 days, 4 nights
Stay four nights in Shinjuku for city sights and Mount Takao, or four nights in Ueno for the zoo, two gardens, and views on separate days. For an overnight side trip, replace a Tokyo night and check return transportation.
Stay in Ueno or Shinjuku?
Ueno
Choose this area for Asakusa, Ueno Park, and Ueno Zoo, or when arriving from Narita Airport through Nippori or Ueno.
JR Ueno and Keisei Ueno do not share ticket gates. Check the walking route to your hotel from each station separately.
Senso-ji rail and walking accessZoo main-gate accessSkyliner stopsJR Tokyo-area route map
Shinjuku
Consider Shinjuku for Shinjuku Gyoen, Central Park on the station's west side, and a Keio Line trip to Mount Takao.
JR, Keio, and subway platforms are separate. Check walking routes from your booked hotel to the stations and exits you will use.
Garden access by gateOfficial accessKeio fare tableJR Tokyo-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 review the walking route and time from that side's exit.
JR Tokyo Station platforms and station mapJR Tokyo-area route map
A day trip or an overnight stay nearby
Set aside a separate day for Karuizawa or Echigo-Yuzawa
Karuizawa · 軽井沢 is in Nagano Prefecture, and Echigo-Yuzawa · 越後湯沢 is in Niigata Prefecture. Compare them as replacements for a middle day of a four- or five-day trip, rather than short additions after Tokyo city sightseeing. These are not plans that keep every existing A or B stop and add a side trip.
In Karuizawa, first choose whether to focus near the station or around Old Karuizawa. Check local bus or walking routes separately. Echigo-Yuzawa is reached by Joetsu Shinkansen; the tourism body's advertised fastest 66-minute journey from Tokyo covers only the train ride. Add travel from your hotel to the station and onward to local facilities.
A day trip requires compatible return trains and attraction hours. For a hot-spring stay, compare an overnight option after choosing hotel check-in and the next day's return train. In fall, use Echigo-Yuzawa Station. GALA Yuzawa Station operates only in winter and spring.
Karuizawa Tourism Association transportation and local busesEchigo-Yuzawa tourism guide to Shinkansen accessJR Tokyo Wide Pass routes, price, and three 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 Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. JR's approximately 25-minute bus time excludes rail travel and transfer waits.
For a day trip, match return buses and trains with bathing-facility hours first. To stay at the hot spring into the evening, compare an overnight visit. This changes your accommodation base, unlike the city A and B itineraries, so check both directions' connections before booking. Bus fares and pass coverage, hotels, and bathing admission require separate checks.
Kusakaru Kotsu also runs buses from Karuizawa to Kusatsu, but they do not accept reservations. If a bus is full, you may need to wait for the next one. Road delays are possible, so allow a margin before Shinkansen connections. Check the operator's timetable for your date in both directions.
JR East Kusatsu Onsen access and YubatakeKusakaru Kotsu 2026 buses, crowds, delays, and service periods
Tokyo Wide Pass and Nikko passes suit different trips
The JR Tokyo Wide Pass costs JPY 16,000 per adult and lasts three consecutive days from your chosen start date. It is not a five-day pass for the entire five-day trip. Tokyo Metro, Toei subways, and Keio are excluded. You need an original passport issued outside Japan. A Temporary Visitor immigration status is not required.
Tobu's NIKKO PASS all area is for international travelers; Japanese travelers accompanying them can also buy it. It costs JPY 8,000 per adult and lasts four days, covering one round trip between Asakusa and Shimo-imaichi plus specified rail and bus routes in the Nikko area. Limited-express tickets and temple admission cost extra. Do not choose it for Karuizawa, Echigo-Yuzawa, or Kusatsu. For Tobu through limited-express trains covered by the JR Wide Pass, either the departure or arrival station must be a JR station; do not confuse this with a Tobu limited express departing from Asakusa.
Add the individual fares for your actual trains and dates before comparing. Do not count pass-covered journeys again as individual fares; include separate-route costs in the comparison. Check eligibility and collection or 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 and separate limited-express tickets
Check airport train notices for your travel date
For Narita Express travel to or from Shinjuku, confirm stops and service sections in official notices and the booking screen for your date. If airport connections change, arrange airport travel before sightseeing.
Neighborhoods to group into separate days
Tokyo · 東京都 lets you separate city sightseeing from Mount Takao in Hachioji. Tokyo Disney Resort is in Chiba Prefecture, while Kamakura and Hakone are separate destinations in Kanagawa Prefecture. Plan a separate itinerary for Tokyo's islands, which require boats or flights.
Asakusa · 浅草: temples and views
After worship and a walk at Senso-ji, continue to Skytree for views from above. Head to Tobu Asakusa Station first and get off at Tokyo Skytree. A short temple-only trip has different costs from one including the deck. For a free viewpoint, compare the information center's eighth floor.
Senso-ji rail and walking accessOfficial Skytree rail accessOfficial visitor information
Ueno · 上野: zoo and park
Give Ueno Zoo a full day if animals are your main interest. You can also choose a park walk or Toshogu visit, but zoo admission and Toshogu's paid area are separate from the free park walk. Check access from Okachimachi for Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens and Yushima Tenmangu, giving them separate days.
Official visitor informationOfficial visitor informationCurrent Japanese Toshogu fares, worship, and visiting hoursOfficial operating informationYushima Tenmangu access by station
Shinjuku · 新宿: garden and western views
Reach Shinjuku Gyoen from JR Shinjuku's south exit, and the government-building South Observatory and Central Park from the west exit. Calculate walks from the appropriate side of the station. Separate the garden from free views and park walks across days, with short departure-day stops when time allows.
Garden 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 continue to Shibuya for Hachiko and the crossing. The shrine closes around sunset, so avoid leaving it until after shopping. In Shibuya, compare the JR-recommended south ticket-gate approach.
Shrine accessGate opening informationJR Shibuya south ticket-gate guidanceOfficial visitor information
Mt. Takao · 高尾山: a mid-slope walking day
Take Keio from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi, walk to Kiyotaki, then board the cable car. Its endpoint is different from the summit. Enjoy station-area views and a mid-slope walk, returning by the same cable car and Keio route to Shinjuku. Summit hiking and local accommodation are excluded.
Official mountain railway accessCable-car fares and hoursKeio fare tableTakao mountain railway guide to the station-area viewpoint
How do you get from your hotel to each attraction?
Choose an exit that suits your hotel's address, then follow boarding, alighting, and walking steps. Walking times below exclude train waits, transfers, and attraction queues.
| Route | Travel steps | Official access and directions |
|---|---|---|
| Ueno → Senso-ji | Ginza Line toward Asakusa → Asakusa Station → about a five-minute walk to the temple | Official Senso-ji station access. Tsukuba Express Asakusa is separate. |
| Asakusa → Skytree → Ueno | Tobu Asakusa → Tokyo Skytree Station → fourth-floor entrance. Return via Tobu to Asakusa, then the Ginza Line to Ueno | Directions from the station to the fourth floor. Tobu fares are separate from the subway round trip. |
| JR Ueno → zoo or Toshogu | Park Exit → about five minutes to the zoo main gate or 10 minutes to Toshogu | Zoo main-gate access. Check Toshogu's separate entrance. |
| Shinjuku Station → Shinjuku Gyoen | JR south exit → about 10 minutes to Shinjuku Gate. Return through the same gate | Official access by gate. Choose a gate suited to your hotel and station. |
| Shinjuku-sanchome → Meiji Jingu | Fukutoshin Line to Meiji-jingumae → Harajuku-side south entrance → main shrine | Official shrine map. Distinguish station-to-entrance and entrance-to-shrine walks. |
| Harajuku → Shibuya walk | JR Yamanote Line toward Shibuya → Shibuya Station → about 250 meters from south ticket gates to Hachiko | JR Shibuya gate guidance. Check your return gate too. |
| Shinjuku → mid-slope Mount Takao → Shinjuku | Keio toward Takaosanguchi (transfer at Kitano if needed) → about five minutes to Kiyotaki → cable car. Return the same way | Official cable-car access and service. Check downhill rides and Keio trains for your date. |
| Airport → your actual hotel station | Narita: compare Skyliner for Ueno with Narita Express for Tokyo Station or Shinjuku. Haneda: check a route suited to your terminal | Airport and Tokyo transportation guide. JR Ueno and Keisei Ueno are different stations. |
Senso-ji rail and walking accessRoute to the fourth-floor entranceZoo main-gate accessOfficial access guideGarden access by gateShrine accessJR Shibuya south ticket-gate guidanceOfficial mountain railway accessSkyliner stopsN’EX stops
Transportation, costs, meals, and related guides
Choose whether to eat in the sightseeing neighborhood or return to your hotel's area for a meal. Meals are excluded from itinerary subtotals.
Asakusa: a meal after a temple walk
Consider Edomae sushi in Asakusa. Decide whether to eat after Senso-ji before continuing to 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 shops beneath Ueno's elevated railway. You can eat in Ueno after the zoo and return to the same hotel. Consider the amount of walking before adding Ameyoko shopping.
Shinjuku: ramen and dinner after returning
Otakibashi-dori, with many ramen shops, runs from JR Shinjuku's west side toward Okubo. Eating in Shinjuku after the garden, shrine, or Mount Takao reduces another evening journey to a different area.
Shibuya: pair a walk with a meal
On a Hachiko and crossing day, choose dinner in Shibuya or back near your Shinjuku hotel. Use the existing ramen and yakitori guide for options, then check the actual menu, hours, and station for your return.
Official visitor informationJR Shibuya south ticket-gate guidance
What do the admission and transportation subtotals cover?
These are verified adult prices. Course subtotals are not the total cost of your trip: they do not combine lodging, meals, airport transfers, and all city transportation. Check the cost card for your selected course to see what is included and excluded.
| Attraction or journey | Verified adult price | Separate costs and conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Ueno Zoo | ¥600 | Walking through the park is free. Check the zoo's closing days separately. |
| Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden | ¥500 | General worship at Meiji Jingu and paid admission to its garden are separate. |
| TOKYO SKYTREE | Tembo Deck advance online tickets from ¥1,800 | Prices vary by visit date. Deck and Galleria tickets start at ¥3,000; buying at the counter costs an additional ¥500. |
| Ueno Toshogu | ¥700 for the paid area inside the fence | The building interior is closed to visitors. Peony garden admission costs extra. |
| Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens | ¥400 | On the five-day Ueno course, skip this first-day stop if you arrive late. |
| Mount Takao round trip | ¥1,840 | ¥860 for a round trip on regular Keio trains plus ¥980 for a cable car round trip. City and airport transportation, meals, and reserved seats cost extra. Walk near the mountain cable car station and return the same way; this course does not climb to the summit. |
| Free viewpoints and walks | Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building South Observatory, Shinjuku Central Park, and Yushima Tenmangu grounds | Paid attractions, prayer services, shopping, and other purchases add separate costs. |
Official visitor informationMinistry of the Environment informationTicketsCurrent Japanese Toshogu fares, worship, and visiting hoursOfficial operating informationCable-car fares and hoursKeio fare tableOfficial operating informationOfficial operating informationYushima Tenmangu access by station
Compare timed subway tickets with individual fares
Decide how often you will ride Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway before comparing prices. JR, Tobu, Keio, airport rail services, and the Mount Takao cable car are separate from this timed subway ticket.
For one round trip, start with individual fares
The subway round trip checked for this representative course costs ¥356 with an adult IC card or ¥360 with paper tickets. That round trip alone costs less than the ¥1,000 24-hour ticket. Add any other routes and rides before comparing.
Ginza Line fare tableMetro fare searchNotice of changes effective 2026-03-14
Standard tickets run for 24, 48, or 72 hours from first use
Standard adult Tokyo Subway Tickets cost ¥1,000 for 24 hours, ¥1,500 for 48 hours, and ¥2,000 for 72 hours. The number of nights in your trip does not determine the ticket's validity: compare your first trip through a ticket gate with your last subway ride. These tickets also cover different routes from JR passes for trips outside Tokyo.
Tokyo Subway Ticket is available to international visitors to Japan and travelers living in Japan outside Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Yamanashi. International visitors need a passport to confirm eligibility when buying in person and can also buy online. Travelers living in Japan should check their designated retailers and purchase conditions. Attraction combination tickets have no residence restriction. Standard tickets start at first use through a ticket gate, while the IC version starts at purchase, so check which product you are buying.
Official Tokyo subway tourist ticket informationNotice of changes effective 2026-03-14Tokyo Subway Ticket purchase conditions and validity by type
Official Tokyo subway tourist ticket informationNotice of changes effective 2026-03-14Ginza Line fare tableMetro fare searchTokyo Subway Ticket purchase conditions and validity by type
Check closing days and plan your return first
Choose your zoo and garden dates, and decide when you will return from Mount Takao, before building the rest of the day.
Check the zoo and Shinjuku Gyoen calendars for Monday visits
Both attractions have Monday closures and exceptions. Holiday and seasonal opening rules differ, so check each attraction's calendar for your visit date. If a stop is closed, move it to an open day and use that day for a temple visit or a neighborhood walk.
Official visitor informationMinistry of the Environment information
Visit Mount Takao when a cable car round trip is possible
Plan the downhill cable car and train back to Shinjuku before your walk around the mountainside station. If strong winds or suspended service make the cable car impractical, leave the mountain out of that day's itinerary instead of substituting a hike to the summit.
Preview the area facing Senso-ji's Main Hall
Use the camera view if you would like a preview of the area facing Senso-ji's Main Hall before visiting.
A reference view toward the Main Hall
The camera provides a reference view toward Senso-ji's Main Hall. It does not show all of Nakamise's crowds or every entrance queue. Check the official site's broadcast status and follow on-site operating rules and access restrictions.
Frequently asked questions
Which itineraries suit Ueno or Shinjuku?
Compare Ueno for Asakusa, Ueno Park, and the zoo, or Shinjuku for Shinjuku Gyoen, Shibuya, and Mount Takao. Check the walking route from your booked hotel to each station and exit you will actually use.
Senso-ji rail and walking accessZoo main-gate accessSkyliner stopsJR Tokyo-area route mapGarden access by gateOfficial accessKeio fare table
Official sources and dates checked
- Official visitor information ·
- Ginza Line fare table ·
- Senso-ji rail and walking access ·
- Zoo main-gate access ·
- Ministry of the Environment information ·
- Garden access by gate ·
- Metro fare search ·
- Shrine access ·
- Official Skytree rail access ·
- Route to the fourth-floor entrance ·
- Official mountain railway access ·
- Tickets ·
- Gate opening information ·
- Cable-car fares and hours ·
- Keio fare table ·
- Official visitor information ·
- Official access guide ·
- Official visitor information ·
- Official visitor information ·
- Official operating information ·
- Additional official information ·
- Official operating information ·
- Official access ·
- Official operating information ·
- Yushima Tenmangu access by station ·
- Official Tokyo subway tourist ticket information ·
- Official Senso-ji Main Hall hours ·
- Notice of changes effective 2026-03-14 ·
- Skyliner stops ·
- JR Tokyo-area route map ·
- N’EX stops ·
- JR construction and service-suspension notices ·
- JR Tokyo Station platforms and station map ·
- Current Japanese Toshogu fares, worship, and visiting hours ·
- JR Shibuya south ticket-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 and separate limited-express tickets ·
- Karuizawa Tourism Association transportation and local buses ·
- Echigo-Yuzawa tourism guide to Shinkansen access ·
- Kusakaru Kotsu 2026 buses, crowds, delays, and service periods ·
- JR East Kusatsu Onsen access and Yubatake ·
- Takao mountain railway guide to the station-area viewpoint ·
- 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 ·