If you're traveling to Tokyo, then you can't miss this Tokyo 1 day itinerary featuring the best sightseeing and dining spots the guidebooks won't tell you!
Tokyo is the largest city on earth – by some estimates, up to a fourth of the entire Japanese population lives in Tokyo.
It could be difficult to see this city in a week, let alone a day. But we’ve got you covered with this Tokyo 1 day itinerary to have you seeing the best places and eating the best food.
From crazy Harajuku to the peaceful Imperial Palace, this whirlwind day can show you why you should travel to Tokyo soon!
Keep reading to learn how you should spend your day in Tokyo. Let’s travel to Tokyo!
In the Morning - Tokyo 1 Day Itinerary
It’s always important to rise and shine to see the sights! The Imperial Palace in Chiyoda City opens at 9 and you want to see it before it’s packed with other tourists. Although, it is simply massive and not like you might expect from European-style castles.
Things are more spread out and you can wander the gardens with ease. You can even take a wander of the Kokyo Gaien National Garden right next door if you get there early. The garden is open 24 hours.
If you’re looking to drink a little coffee at the start of your day, there are a few options. Yanaka is an adorable tiny coffee shop with freshly roasted beans just a short walk away. It has a few locations in Tokyo and it’s one of your only options before 9 AM (it opens at 8).
What's for Lunch?
If you’ve never sampled true Japanese ramen, be prepared to have your mind blown. As such, there’s no other place I could send you than Ichiran. It may be a chain, but it’s a fantastic introduction to the ramen way of life.
Ichiran is perfect for the solo traveler, with small divided booths for a private meal. Your meal will simply appear before you when the screen in front is rolled up. Ring the bell for more delicious sliced pork or a hardboiled egg.
Settle yourself in at the closest location and enjoy this most delicious pork ramen. It originated in the Fukuoka, or Hakata area known for this type of ramen.
When you finish lunch, consider checking out the teamLab Borderless museum. It’s like no other, with incredible projection displays. Immersive and one of the top-rated attractions in Tokyo you could lose hours here if you’re not careful!
Evening Snacks
You’ve probably done a lot of walking by now, so let’s head over to a different area of Tokyo to relax and power up for the evening. Why not get a tea experience?
Sakurai offers several different choices for a fun and peaceful time. Huge windows overlooking the city and a refreshingly modern take on traditional architecture inside. Your servers wear lab coats as they blend tea into different concoctions – even alcoholic ones!
Your tea comes with a traditional sweet, or wagashi, on the side. Watching them cool the tea by pouring it from cup to cup is mesmerizing. Open from 11 AM to 8 PM, it’s an excellent cool-down from the fast-paced city.
Less than a 20 minute walk away you can see Harajuku, one of the best shopping areas in the whole city. Incredible used and vintage stores line up against specialty costumes and streetwear shops. Don’t be surprised to see people dressing up in all kinds of outfits – it’s all about expressing yourself here!
What to Do in Tokyo at Night
There are several options for nightlife in Tokyo. Since Shibuya is the closest we’re heading there! Densely packed every night of the week, you’re sure to find everything you’re dreaming of for dinner, drinks, and entertainment.
For Dinner
Make sure you fill up before starting your night on the town. There are two excellent options depending on what you’re up for.
Uobei offers that sushi you’ve been dying to try, all for reasonable prices. Conveyer-belt sushi at its finest, all you have to do is sit and wait for the dish you want to slide by you.
Your second option is Hakushu, just a four-minute walk from the station and home to some mouth-watering Kobe beef options. Reasonable prices for Kobe beef can be hard to find, but Hakushu offers several sampling options to stuff yourself with!
If you’re looking to extend your stay or want more to see, check out our list of the top 20 things to see in Tokyo!
For Drinks
You can’t go to Tokyo and miss out on Sake. Take a crash course in everything to do with Sake at Tsubo no Naka. Here you can keep sampling from over 70 different types of Sake, all for the low price of 3,000yen. Let that sake flow free!
If you’re dreaming of those tiny, intimate settings that Tokyo is known for, it can be hard to make a recommendation. Those places can fill up so fast because there are only a few seats! Just stroll around and you’ll bump into them no problem.
For Entertainment
If you want something truly weird and wacky, catch the 9:30pm Robot Restaurant show. Watch as robots join laser shows and dancers to a techno backdrop. Truly a psychedelic experience if you’ve had a few.
If you’re into clubbing there are several options, but the Ruby Room is a fun option for live music. Locals actually come here and they serve good drinks as you bump to the beat!
Where Should I Go Next?
Are you planning to travel more in Asia? Maybe you just had a layover for this Tokyo 1 day itinerary and now you’re onto your next destination.
Well, make sure you check out Singapore! And continue your food tour with the best Michelin-starred restaurants Singapore has to offer.
Discussion about this post