3 Days in Tokyo: Travel Itinerary
Itinerary Overview
1. Asakusa
2. Tokyo Skytree & Lunch at Rokurinsha
3. Ginza
4. Ramen at Ginza Kagari Honten
5. Bar High Five
6. Toranomon Koffee
7. Omakase at Sushi Kanesaka
8. Meiji Jingu
9. Omotesando
10. Souffle Pancakes at A Happy Pancake
11. Shabu Shabu at Zakuro
12. Rikugien Garden and Michelin-Starred Ramen at Tsuta
13. Daikanyama
14. Teahouse in Jiyugaoka
15. Shibuya Crossing and Sushi Dinner at Sushi no Midori
Day 1
1. Being a Tourist at Asakusa | 9 a.m.
Bright and early for the first day in Tokyo. The first stop is to Asakusa, which is a tourist attraction with the Buddhist temple, Sensoji. After getting off the metro and walking a few blocks, we were met by the Kaminarimon, which is the large gate which marks the entrance. This has become the symbol of Asakusa, and many people gathered to take photos and selfies.
Upon entering, there is a long street called the Nakamise, which is lined with a variety of traditional snacks and confections such as various mochi and dorayaki, as well as all the typical tourist souvenirs. The streets were really bustling and lively even this early in the morning, and it made it a ton of fun checking out the various stands to try the samples or to browse the different keychains, magnets, and folding fans offered. At the end of the street was the Sensoji, which was free to enter and offered a glimpse into a traditional Japanese temple. Despite the area being touristy, it was a great experience and definitely worth visiting.
2. Dipping Ramen and Matcha Sundae at Tokyo Skytree | 11 a.m.
A quick 10 minute taxi ride away was Tokyo Skytree, which is the tallest tower in the world and the tallest structure in Japan when it was completed in 2011. There were several layers of observations decks that you could access by paying admission, but we were actually there for the food and the shopping, which covered the bottom 7 floors. There was a large selection of international brands such as Zara and Diesel as well as Japanese brands like Beams and Urban Research. There were also many many confectionery stores like Qu’il fait bon, which made beautiful fruit tarts, and Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory, known for their famous cream cheese cookies. They even had a dedicated Tokyo Banana shop for fans of that snack. If you have kids, it’s also a great place because they had a Pokemon, Hello Kitty, and Disney store.