Researched guide · Checked on Oct 24, 2026
A week in Tokyo lets you see the city properly, take two day trips and still have time to slow down. This plan covers the classic sights, Mt. Fuji or Hakone, Nikko or Kamakura, and the neighborhoods most visitors miss.
Quick answer
Days 1–3: our 3-day plan. Day 4: Mt. Fuji or Hakone. Day 5: Roppongi, Azabudai and teamLab. Day 6: Nikko or Kamakura. Day 7: Shimokitazawa, Kichijoji and last-minute shopping.
This plan at a glance
What to book and what to check for each part of this plan. All of it is based on the official sites listed at the end of this guide.
| Day | Where you go | Book ahead | Check before you go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree, Ueno, Akihabara | Nothing essential. Skytree tickets are also sold at the 4th-floor ticket counter on the day | Senso-ji’s main hall closes at 5:00 pm |
| Day 2 | Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku | SHIBUYA SKY: web tickets go on sale 2 weeks ahead | Meiji Jingu closes at sunset. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatories close on some days |
| Day 3 | Tsukiji, Ginza, Imperial Palace East Gardens, Toyosu | teamLab Planets: no tickets at the venue, buy ahead | The East Gardens are closed on Mondays and Fridays. Tsukiji shops set their own closing days |
| Day 4 | Mt. Fuji or Hakone | Mt. Fuji: the Fuji Excursion is all reserved seats. Hakone: Romancecar seats can be reserved online | Clear mornings are best for Fuji views |
| Day 5 | Roppongi, Azabudai, Tokyo Tower area | teamLab Borderless: book a date and time online | Check the Roppongi guide for museum closing days |
| Day 6 | Nikko or Kamakura | Nikko: SPACIA X tickets are sold online and at Tobu stations | Kamakura needs no booking |
| Day 7 | Shimokitazawa, Kichijoji, shopping | Ghibli Museum: on sale on the 10th of the month before | No tickets are sold at the Ghibli Museum |
Two day trips

- Mt. Fuji or Hakone (Day 4): pick Lake Kawaguchi for close Fuji views, or Hakone for hot springs and a lake cruise. Clear mornings are best for Fuji.
- Nikko or Kamakura (Day 6): Nikko for grand shrines and waterfalls in the mountains, Kamakura for the Great Buddha and the sea.
- Want a slower trip? Spend a night at a ryokan in Hakone instead of returning to Tokyo.
Find day tours
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Pace yourself
- Put a quieter day (Day 5 or Day 7) after each day trip.
- Check closing days: many museums close on Mondays, and the Imperial Palace East Gardens close on Mondays and Fridays.
- Leave room for an onsen or sento, a sumo tournament or a kabuki act if your dates allow.
Getting around and where to stay
For the first three days, consider a 72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket (¥2,000 for adults). It covers only Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway, not JR or private railways, and paying per ride with an IC card can cost less if you walk a lot. After that, use Suica. One central base works for the whole week; choose an area near your day trip stations. See Tokyo transport passes and Where to stay.
For this plan, choose your base by your day trips.
- Shinjuku: the Fuji Excursion to Mt. Fuji and the Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone leave from Shinjuku Station. Hotels in Shinjuku · Best hotels in Shinjuku
- Ueno or Asakusa: SPACIA X to Nikko leaves from Asakusa, and the Ginza Line runs from Ueno to Asakusa. Hotels in Ueno · Hotels in Asakusa · Best hotels in Asakusa
- Tokyo Station and Ginza: the JR Yokosuka Line runs straight to Kamakura. Hotels near Tokyo Station · Best hotels near Tokyo Station and Ginza
Book your stay
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Book before you go: your checklist for this plan
Work down this list from the top. Hotels, SHIBUYA SKY time slots, Ghibli Museum tickets and day trip trains can fill up, so do those first.
- As soon as your dates are set: your hotel. See where to stay in this plan.
- On the 10th of the month before your trip: Ghibli Museum, if you want to go. Tickets go on sale at 10:00 am Japan time on the 10th of each month, for the whole of the next month, on Lawson Ticket. No tickets are sold at the museum. Ghibli Museum tickets guide
- 2 weeks before Day 2: SHIBUYA SKY. Web tickets are sold up to 2 weeks ahead, for a set entry time. Adult web tickets cost ¥2,700 for entry before 3:00 pm and ¥3,400 from 3:00 pm (¥3,000 and ¥3,700 at the ticket counter). If the web tickets sell out, the counter is sold out too. Bags can’t be taken up to the rooftop, so plan to use a locker. SHIBUYA SKY tickets guide
- Before you fly: teamLab Planets. There are no tickets at the venue, so buy them before you go. Web tickets bought from the official ticket store can be moved to another date or time up to 2 hours before entry, up to 3 times, but they can’t be refunded. teamLab tickets guide Book teamLab Borderless for Day 5 online too.
- Once you choose your day trips: the Fuji Excursion to Mt. Fuji. All seats are reserved, and you book them on JR East’s Eki-net. When the train is full you can still ride standing. Mt. Fuji day trip Or the Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone. Seats can be reserved online with e-Romancecar. Hakone day trip For Day 6, SPACIA X to Nikko. Tobu sells tickets online (Tobu Railway Ticketless service) and at Tobu stations. It runs from Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree stations to Tobu-Nikko. Nikko day trip Kamakura needs no booking.
- On Day 1: if you bought a 72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket, start it. The 72 hours start from your first ride, so use it for the first time on the morning of Day 1. After that, use an IC card such as Suica.
- The night before Day 3: check the day of the week. If Day 3 is a Monday or Friday, the Imperial Palace East Gardens are closed, so swap Day 2 and Day 3.
- No booking needed: Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu and the Imperial Palace East Gardens are free to enter. Tokyo Skytree tickets can also be bought at the 4th-floor ticket counter on the day.
Where to eat along the route
For Days 1 to 3, see where to eat in our 3-day plan, which lists restaurants near each day’s stops.
Not sure how many days you need? Compare every trip length in how many days in Tokyo.
FAQ
Is a week enough for Tokyo?
A week is ideal: you can see the city, take two day trips and still have time to relax.
What should I book in advance?
Book SHIBUYA SKY for sunset and any timed attractions such as teamLab or the Ghibli Museum. See all tickets to book ahead.
Where should I stay?
Choose a base near the subway or the JR Yamanote Line, such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza or Ueno. See Where to stay in Tokyo.
Keep reading
Sources
The booking rules, opening hours and prices in this plan come from the official sites below. Checked on October 24, 2026. Tokyo Subway Ticket prices and teamLab Planets ticket sales were checked again on November 9, 2026. They can change, so please check before you go. Our area and day trip guides list their own sources.
- GO TOKYO (Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau)
- Tokyo Metro: Tokyo Subway Ticket
- Senso-ji (official site, Japanese)
- Tokyo Skytree: Admission (Japanese)
- Meiji Jingu: How to visit
- SHIBUYA SKY: Tickets (Japanese)
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Observatories
- Imperial Household Agency: East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- teamLab Planets TOKYO (official site)
- Fujikyu Railway: Limited express trains (Japanese)
- Hakone Navi: Access from Tokyo
- Tobu Railway: SPACIA X boarding information
- Ghibli Museum, Mitaka: Tickets






