Tokyo: neon, shrines and the best food on earth
Tokyo is the future and the past in the same breath — neon canyons and serene shrines, Michelin sushi and convenience-store miracles, all running with uncanny calm and precision. Overwhelming, electric and endlessly rewarding over three or four days.
When to go
Spring (cherry blossoms, late March–April) and autumn (October–November) are best. Summer is hot and humid; winter is cold but clear. Avoid the Golden Week crush in early May.
Getting around
The train and metro network is vast but flawless — get a Suica or Pasmo IC card and let Google Maps navigate. Trains stop around midnight. Explore by neighborhood; pick a couple per day.
🛏️ Where to stay in Tokyo
Shinjuku for transit and neon energy, Shibuya for youthful buzz, Asakusa for old-Tokyo atmosphere, or Ginza for upscale calm.
Amble may earn a commission from bookings made through these links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Three perfect days
Day 1 — Old Tokyo
Senso-ji temple in Asakusa, the Sumida riverside and Tokyo Skytree, then the tranquil gardens beside the Imperial Palace.
Day 2 — West & neon
The forested Meiji Shrine and Harajuku’s Takeshita Street, chic Omotesandō, then the Shibuya Scramble crossing and Shinjuku’s glowing nightlife after dark.
Day 3 — Food & views
Toyosu or Tsukiji outer market for breakfast sushi, the digital art of teamLab, and a skyline drink in a tower bar — or a day trip to Nikkō or Kamakura.
🎫 Tours & experiences
A teamLab ticket, a sushi-making class, an izakaya food tour, or a day trip to Mt. Fuji and Hakone.
Amble may earn a commission from bookings made through these links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.