TOKYO TRIP PLANNING · ITINERARY
Tokyo in 3 days: a first-timer plan, with what to book ahead
Three days is enough for Tokyo's big neighborhoods if you group sights by area and put at most one timed ticket in each day. This plan does that, and tells you which parts need a booking and which can wait until you land.
Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you book through the GetYourGuide links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Every timed ticket here can also be bought from the venue itself. Prepared with AI assistance and checked against the cited sources. I have not done this exact itinerary myself.
The plan at a glance
| Day | Area | Book ahead? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tsukiji Outer Market, then teamLab Planets in Toyosu | Yes: teamLab Planets (no tickets at the door) |
| 2 | Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shibuya Sky | Only if you want a sunset slot at Shibuya Sky |
| 3 | Senso-ji and Asakusa early, then your choice: a free afternoon or a day trip | Only the day trip, if you take one |
Hours below are as each official site listed them on October 8, 2026. Check again before you go.
Day 1: Tsukiji, then teamLab Planets
Morning: Tsukiji Outer Market. The market's own site says professional buyers have priority from 6:00 to 9:00, and the public buying window runs 9:00 to 14:00. So arrive after 9, and eat early: many stalls sell small, ready-to-eat portions. Shops set their own hours and closing days, so check the market calendar for your date.
- Eat inside a shop or a designated eating area, not while walking.
- Ask before photographing a shop, don't touch the food, and don't haggle.
- Big bags go in a coin locker; the streets are narrow.
Afternoon: teamLab Planets. It is in Toyosu, a one-minute walk from Shin-Toyosu Station on the Yurikamome Line. teamLab lists opening hours of 8:00 to 22:00 (last entry an hour before closing) and says tickets are not sold on-site, so buy your timed entry before the trip.
- You walk through water barefoot; it can reach knee height. Wear trousers you can roll up above the knee.
- Some floors are mirrored; teamLab lends shorts free of charge.
- teamLab lists closures on Thursday, November 5 and Thursday, December 3, 2026.
See teamLab Planets tickets →
Affiliate link to GetYourGuide search results. You can also buy on teamLab's own site. Compare the entry time and cancellation terms before paying.
Day 2: Meiji Jingu, Harajuku and Shibuya
Morning: Meiji Jingu. Entry to the shrine grounds is free. The gates follow the daylight, so hours change by month: the shrine lists 5:40 to 16:40 in October, 6:10 to 16:10 in November and 6:40 to 16:00 in December. Go early, before the paths fill up.
Midday: Harajuku and Shibuya on foot. No tickets needed. Walk down from the shrine through Harajuku toward Shibuya and the scramble crossing.
Evening: Shibuya Sky. The open-air rooftop above Shibuya Scramble Square sells tickets for an entry time slot. Sunset slots are the hard ones; daytime and after-dark slots are easier. My Tokyo book-ahead guide covers when slots open. When sales open in US hours and what each slot costs: Shibuya Sky tickets guide.
See Shibuya Sky tickets →
Affiliate link to GetYourGuide search results. Check which entry time the ticket is for.
Day 3: Asakusa, then choose your afternoon
Morning: Senso-ji. The temple lists its main hall hours as 6:00 to 17:00, opening at 6:30 from October to March. The grounds are busiest late morning, so this is another early start.
Afternoon, option A: stay in the city. Spend it on whatever you liked most so far, or shop for the trip home. Nothing to book. Tokyo Skytree is a short walk or one train stop from Asakusa; if you want a city view, see my Tokyo Skytree tickets guide for which deck to pick and when to book.
Afternoon, option B: a day trip. With three days, a full-day trip to Mount Fuji, Hakone or Nikko replaces the Asakusa morning rather than adding to it. Organised tours run on fixed dates, so book once your days are set.
Browse Tokyo day trips →
Affiliate link to GetYourGuide search results. Read what is included (transport, entry fees, pickup point) and the cancellation terms.
Want the Ghibli Museum instead?
It needs the most planning of anything in Tokyo: tickets are for a set date and time, and the overseas online sale opens on a fixed day each month. Swap it into Day 3 if you get a ticket. For the exact sale times in US hours and the closed dates, see Ghibli Museum tickets: US on-sale times and closed dates. No affiliate links for the museum.
Before you go
- Fix your flight dates first. Timed tickets are tied to a day and often a time.
- One timed booking a day. Leave travel time between it and anything else.
- Get mobile data sorted for QR tickets and maps: see the Japan eSIM guide.
- Re-check hours the week you travel; the shrine's change every month.