Explore Tokyo in Three Days
Let us start by saying three days are not enough for Tokyo. Not even a year is enough to explore the city, but as we say, better one day than none. When flying in, we knew we had limited time and about a thousand items on our bucket list of what to see in Tokyo. When planning a trip to Japan, here is the best advice – create a list, then cross half of it out, then again cross half of the items out, and that’s about what you might get to explore as there are lots of incredible attractions to see and thing to try.
Exploring Japan’s largest city may seem daunting, but it does not have to be. Here is our three days in Tokyo itinerary and what we managed to see and do. Beware, it was a little harsh and involved a lot of waddling.
Day #1 in Tokyo
Ueno Market
Ueno Market or also known as Ameyoko , is a busy market street along the Yamanote Line tracks between Okachimachi and Ueno stations. The name “Ameyoko” is a short form for “Ameya Yokocho” (candy store alley), as candies were traditionally sold there.
Hachiko Statue
Hachiko Statue is one of Japan’s unofficial landmarks. The Hachiko statue honors the most loyal dog in Japan, and you can find him outside of the Shibuya Station.
It is a popular meeting spot, but if you go in the morning, you will have the statue almost for yourself.
Yoyogi Park & Meiji Shrine
Yoyogi Park & Meiji Shrine – the park is vast, with an area of 100 000 trees of 365 different species, making for a great waddle. And in the middle, you can find the Meiji Shrine.
Already when entering, a massive torii shrine greets you. Then you have to waddle for a while before you come to the shrine, which has a serene vibe. While waddling around Yoyogi Park, you will come across a wall of sake barrels.
Sunshine Aquarium
Sunshine Aquarium – Tokyo offers many places to see penguins, and we decided to stop at the Sunshine Aquarium to see the penguins fly. Read more here about our adventure.
Maybe you are asking yourself, why should you visit this particular aquarium? The answer is easy; they have “flying” penguins.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office – most people wouldn’t think to make a government building a travel destination, but the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is well worth a visit. It is free, and you can go to its top and enjoy the fantastic view of Tokyo.
Nonbei Yokocho (Drunkard’s Alley)
Nonbei Yokocho (Drunkard’s Alley) – small, narrow alley a short distance from Shibuya station, home to many kiosk-sized bars and some delicious foods.
Day #2
Team Lab Borderless
Team Lab Borderless – a must when in Tokyo. It is one of the most “Instagrammable spots” in Tokyo. Simply put, it is a combination of lights and audio that will make you forget the outside world. It feels like stepping into a fantasy. The whole exhibition is very interactive, and everyone will enjoy it.
Venus Fort Shopping Mall
Venus Fort Shopping Mall – a mall with European-style decor offering fashion boutiques, outlet stores & a food court. We visited it to get a snack and because it was close to the teamLab Borderless.
However, the fountain is very nice, as well as the rest of the interior.
Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty – for a taste of New York City with views of Tokyo Bay in the background, visit Odaiba’s replica of the famous Statue of Liberty. It was originally erected in 1998 as a temporary tribute to Japan’s relationship with France, but the statue was so popular it was made a permanent feature in 2000. What’s most interesting about the Odaiba Statue of Liberty is that she is not the only one in Japan; she also has sisters in Shimoda and Osaka.
Sensoji-Temple
Sensoji-Temple – one of Tokyo’s oldest temples, founded in 628. In our opinion, it is also among the ones grandest looking.
We managed to visit it during the evening, and the evening light made it even more beautiful and breathtaking.
Day #3
Hie Shrine
Hie Shrine – you can find the shrine in the middle of Tokyo, and it is a pro tip in case you are not planning to go to Kyoto but still want to have photos with orange torii gates.
There is a “hidden” torii gate tunnel where you can take pictures with no people.
Tsukiji Fish Market
Tsukiji Fish Market – for yummy food and snacks, take advantage of the local Tsukiji market.
Great to experience local cuisine or buy souvenirs. We tried there quite a few snacks.
Godzilla Statue
Godzilla Statue – there are a few statues in Tokyo, and we waddled over to Godzilla Square. It’s a model of the monster that appears in the 2016 film Shin Godzilla.
The statue might seem huge, but in reality, it is not, so do not expect a real-life Godzilla to be waiting for you.
Imperial Palace Park
Imperial Palace Park – close by is the Imperial Palace, and we waddled around the park a little. The area is vast, but unfortunately, we didn’t have much time to explore more. An interesting fact, the imperial family still lives in the palace to this day.
Tokyo Train Station
Tokyo Train Station – is a railway station in Chiyoda. Tokyo Station is one of the major train stations in Tokyo and among the busiest. And the building will surprise you. Note there is an excellent Suica shop inside, among other great shops.
Takeshita Street
Takeshita Street – this famous street in Harajuku is known for wacky, youth-driven shops selling colorful and crazy clothes and accessories. It’s also a paradise for sweets lovers – don’t miss the fluffy, sugary crepes.
Penguin Shop
Penguin Shop – as a fellow penguin, I had to visit THE shop, and let me tell you. It’s amazing. It is the kind of shop where you say, “shut up and take all my money!” The owner is super lovely and a pleasure to talk to.
That is our list. As we made our way from one place to another, we saw some unexpected stuff, but those were the main things we managed to explore. The most time it will take you to get from one place to another. Only when getting off from one metro line to take another one will you sometimes have to waddle almost a kilometer to get there.
In case you are interested, this was our actual list of things we wanted to see vs. what we managed. We were, for sure ambitious. 😅
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