Tokyo in 3 Days: A Solo Backpacker's Guide

3-Day Backpacking Tokyo Itinerary

Day 1: Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara

Our itinerary begins in Asakusa, home to one of the most impressive temple complexes in Tokyo, Sensoji Temple. You can easily reach this area with the Asakusa metro line.

Sensoji Temple is massive, consisting of several temple structures such as the iconic 5-story pagoda, Sensoji's stunning main temple, and the Thunder Gate (Kaminarimon), where you will often find tourists flocking for that money shot with the giant lantern.

The surrounding area is also worth exploring, with many winding streets like Nakamise-dori, where you will find countless shops lining both sides of the street, selling all kinds of things from street food to souvenirs, and more.

The place does get very crowded during the day, so if you want to avoid crowds, you can come back here at night when there's no one around and check it out. The temple is especially beautiful when the street lights are on. It really gives you a totally different vibe that I prefer more than visiting during the day.

Now, here's a little hidden gem for you. If you want to get a nice view of Sensoji Temple from above, as well as an awesome vantage point over Asakusa, be sure to visit Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center and check out the view from the observation deck on the top floor. It's free!

Before we leave Asakusa, we can stop for lunch at one of my favorite chain restaurants in Japan, Ichiran. They are delicious, cheap, and have fast service. However, due to its popularity, you might have to queue up if you are there during lunch or dinner time.

The coolest thing about Ichiran is the experience of it all. As you enter the restaurant, you will have to order your menu from a ramen ticket machine. Once you have paid the machine, you can sit at the solo compartment (or table if you choose), where your order will be served through this personal window straight from the kitchen. How cool is that!?

Next up, we can take the metro to Ueno Park, located only one train station away from Asakusa. You can go for a little stroll here and enjoy a quiet moment away from the tourist crowds. Visit Ueno Toshogu Shrine and check out the Tokyo National Museum.

After Ueno, you can take the train to Akihabara, also known as Electric Town for its abundance of electronic shops and its status as the epicenter of various fascinating Japanese subcultures, such as manga, anime, games, and much more.

Here, you will find shops and stores selling all kinds of things, from console games like Nintendo and PlayStation to elaborately designed figurines of your favorite Japanese Manga characters like One Piece or my favorite, Dragon Ball Z (I'm old school that way 😉).

Akihabara is also known for its vibrant and colorful buildings, and one of the best places to see this is on this street, which is right by Akihabara JR Station.

By the time you are here, it should already be evening. Stay until night, and you will see all these colorful signs and buildings come to life with beautiful light illuminations all over.

For your dinner, you can check out Yūrakuchō, a place where you can eat like a local and experience the unique "Under the Tracks" dining that the area is known for.

What's unique about the Yurakucho district is the "Gado-shita" (under the tracks) area. Restaurants and izakayas (Japanese pubs) are tucked away beneath the elevated train tracks. It is where the locals often hang out in the evening, which is always a good sign when it comes to picking restaurants in Japan.

Day 2: Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku

On our second day, we are going to visit the trendy neighborhoods of Tokyo starting with Shibuya Sky, a newly launched 360° open-air observation deck located on the 48th floor of the Shibuya Scramble Square skyscraper, right at the center of Shibuya.

It is one of the best vantage points in the city, allowing you to see not only the Tokyo Tower or the Tokyo Skytree but also Mount Fuji on a clear day. Be sure to book the ticket way in advance as it does get booked out pretty quickly.

For regular time slots like late morning and mid-day, I recommend booking at least 2 days in advance. For sunset and nighttime slots, you can expect them to be booked out weeks, if not months, in advance. So, be sure to reserve the time slot as early as you can.

With this itinerary, I am going to assume that you have the late morning time slot, which is why we start our day with Shibuya Sky. If not, you can easily rearrange today to fit Shibuya Sky's time slot, since all the places we will be visiting are not too far apart.

Spend around an hour or 2 at Shibuya Sky and really get to enjoy the view before we continue on to our next stop, the Shibuya Crossing, a controlled chaos dance of people trying to cross the road, right in the heart of Tokyo.

Shibuya Crossing is one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world, and when the lights turn green, it's a rush of people from all directions, trying to cross the road all at the same time. It's pretty awesome.

Here's another hidden gem for you. If you are looking for a viewpoint to see the Shibuya Crossing from above, I highly recommend you go up the MAGNET by Shibuya 109 shopping mall, go up to the 6th floor, and you will find a small window right by a toy store where you can see the crossing from above for free.

After you are done with Shibuya, another great place to hang out is Harajuku (Takeshita Street), one of Tokyo's trendy spots known for its creative youth and street-style fashion culture.

Takeshita Street is where all the cool kids hang out in Harajuku, with quirky boutiques, trendy clothing stores, and colorful accessory shops lining both sides of the narrow street. It's a fashion paradise, showcasing everything from kawaii (cute) and street style to avant-garde and alternative fashion.

While in Harajuku, be sure to drop by Tokyu Plaza and get that iconic photo of the reflective, tunnel-like escalator at the entrance. Also, check out the rooftop terrace for a great view of Harajuku from above.

There are also some hidden gem shops and stores around the backstreet of Omotesando where you can find all kinds of venues, from a beer garden to hip branded stores like Onitsuka Tiger. So, be sure to spend some time and explore the area.

Next up, we are going to visit Meiji Park, a massive park located right across the road from Takeshita Street with over 100,000 trees donated from all over Japan and a Shinto shrine right at the center.

It is one of my favorite parks in Tokyo, and you can go for a stroll and take a break from all the hustle and bustle of the city for about an hour or 2 before we head over to our next stop, Shinjuku.

For the best nightlife in Tokyo, you can't go wrong with Shinjuku, a vibrant and dynamic neighborhood that never sleeps. The district is best known for its neon-lit streets and diverse entertainment options, with countless restaurants, clubs, and bars where you can enjoy your night away.

There are several districts you can check out in Shinjuku. If you are looking for a place to eat, Golden Gai is a famous narrow alleyway full of roadside bars, each with its own unique theme and decor that you can check out.

The red light district (Kabukicho) is also located here. It is quite a trip to walk around that area with all the neon-lit signs bombarding you in all directions.

And that is it for our second day. You can find plenty of restaurants to try in Shinjuku and enjoy a few drinks or two before heading back to your accommodation and retreating for the day.

Day 3: Ginza, Tokyo Tower, and the rest

On our third day in Tokyo, we are going to go on a shopping spree, and there is no better place to be than Ginza. It is an upscale shopping district lined with shops from some of the most well-known brands in the world, both Western and Japanese, such as Apple, Seiko, and more.

In Ginza, you can literally shop until you drop... or realistically, run out of money 😂. With the majority of shops participating in the tax-free program, you can enjoy an additional 10% discount on top of any ongoing promotional campaigns. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Here, you will also find the Uniqlo flagship store, the famous minimal clothing brand, with 12 floors' worth of clothing you can browse through. There's even a cafe and a custom printing workshop inside the store!

Japan is also home to some of the best electronic stores in the world, with dedicated electronic shops like Bic Camera or Yodobashi that have several floors worth of electronics for you to browse through, so be sure to check them out.

In fact, I spent so much time in Bic Camera that I ended up getting myself a new camera and a new lens. Combined with the weak yen and the 10% tax-free purchase, I was able to get a much better deal here than if I were to buy them elsewhere, so get your calculator ready and let's go shopping!

You can then spend your afternoon and go café-hopping around Ginza. There are some really cool cafes you can check out here like GESHARY Cafe, Blue Bottle Coffee, Tricolore Ginza, and more, so be sure to spend some time and explore the café scene of Ginza.

Not too far from Ginza, you can also visit one of the most iconic landmarks in Tokyo, the Tokyo Tower. Standing tall at 333 meters, the tower was inspired by Paris's Eiffel Tower and serves both as a communication and observation tower.

The tower is especially beautiful at night when it is illuminated, and it should be around sunset by the time you get here. It is a great place to walk around at night and enjoy the iconic landmark while visiting beautiful places like Zōjō-ji Temple, Prince Shiba Park, and more in the area.

At night, you can go back to Shinjuku and enjoy a nice dinner, go crazy with the arcade games at TAITO Station. Play some Tekken, Gundam fighting games, slot machines, or get scammed by the claw machine as I did 😂. All in all, there are plenty of things to do that will occupy you for the rest of the night in Shinjuku. Since it's your last day here, end your trip in Tokyo with a bang and go crazy!

When to Visit Tokyo?

The best time to visit Tokyo is between September and November when the weather is not too humid or cold, and you have a higher chance of clearer days.

If you don't mind the heat, you can also visit Tokyo during the summer, where you will find many festivals and events taking place. To make your Tokyo trip even more memorable, try to align your days with a matsuri (festival). You can check out Tokyo's upcoming festivals here.

If you want to attend the Grand Sumo Tournament, be sure to stick to January, March, May, July, September, or November as these months are when the grand tournaments are often held.

How to Get from Tokyo Airports to the City Center?

No matter where you stay in Tokyo, the best way to travel between the two Tokyo airports (Haneda and Narita) is by using Tokyo's extensive metro system that connects both airports to much of the city.

From Narita: There are 2 types of train you can take. One is the express Skyliner train, which is the fastest and most comfortable way to get to the city. The train will take you about 50 minutes to reach Keisei Ueno, costing around 2570 JPY. From there, you can buy a subway ticket and take Tokyo's subway to your accommodation. It's pricey, but you get the benefit of reserved seats, allowing for a more comfortable ride.

Another option is the regular train, which runs the same route as the Skyliner at around 1340 JPY per trip, but it takes around 30 minutes longer. If you are not in a rush, this is the cheapest way to travel between the city and Narita airport.

You can also use the JR Pass, but I wouldn't recommend using it in Tokyo as you will get your money's worth more if you activate the pass when you want to travel long distances.

For Haneda: You can easily take either the Tokyo Monorail (500 JPY) or the Keikyu Airport train line (380 JPY), which will take you to Hamamatsucho Station and Shinagawa station, respectively, in less than 20 minutes. From there, you can easily take the Tokyo Metro and get to your accommodation.

Tip: For a hassle-free travel between the airports and downtown Tokyo, you can also choose a bus limousine service, which costs the same as the train but without all the hassle of transferring and lugging around your luggage.

If you do not want to deal with your luggage as you travel to the city center, you can also use a luggage transfer service that will transfer your luggage to your hotel straight from the airport, allowing you to hit the ground running and start exploring Tokyo right away. You can check out the available luggage service here.

How to Get Around Tokyo?

Tokyo is extremely well covered by trains and subways, and you can easily travel to all the tourist attractions I mentioned here and beyond using only metros/trains.

The most convenient way to use this train is to buy a prepaid IC card, which can be bought from JR Station (Suica card) or Non-JR Station (Pasmo Card). Both cards can be used on trains, buses, and beyond, not just in Tokyo but also in other major cities around Japan. All you have to do is fill up the card with money and tap on the machine when you enter and exit the platform.

The IC Card doesn't save you any money per trip, but it does save you time, having to fiddle with the ticket machine every time you want to travel.

That said, if you plan to travel a lot using the metro/train system here, you can also get the Tokyo Subway Pass for unlimited access Toei and Tokyo metro on one-calendar day (not 24 hours). It is 900 JPY and can be bought online here or at the ticket machine at trains/subway stations.

Again, if you have the JR Pass and haven't yet activated it, I wouldn't recommend you do so in Tokyo, as you will get more value for your money by using it on long-distance bullet trains.

Tips: If you are a train pass holder like JR Pass and want to only see train routes that you can use with a JR Pass, try NAVITIME app. You can filter train routes based on the train pass you hold. Highly recommended.

How Much Money Do I Need For Tokyo?

From this 3-day itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:

Accommodation: For 4 nights, you can expect to pay a minimum of 120 USD for accommodation.

Food: For 3 days, you can expect to pay around 90 USD for food at regular restaurants.

Transportation: For this itinerary, you can use the 3-day Metro Pass which costs around 1,500 JPY (10 USD), allowing you to travel all over Tokyo.

Activities: Depending on how much you want to follow my itinerary, you can expect to pay around 3,000 JPY (20 USD) for activities, including Shibuya Sky and more.

Total Budget for 3 days in Tokyo: 240 USD

What to Pack for Tokyo?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Tokyo, Japan:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: For buses, I always go with 12Go when traveling in Tokyo, Japan while for trains, JR Pass is my go-to place to book all my train travels in advance.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Klook is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Japan

Looking for more information for your trip to Japan? Here are a collection of articles about Japan that you might find useful:

• For a complete Japan itinerary, check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Japan Itinerary.
• Visiting Japan for the first time? Here are a few things I wish I knew before visiting Japan: 13 Important Things To Know Before Visiting Japan.
• Looking for a complete list of things you shouldn't miss when you are traveling in Japan? Check out: 16 Best Things to Do in Japan.
• Want to climb Mount Fuji? Here is a complete guide on how to and not to climb Mount Fuji for a real-life experience.
• What is it like to climb Mount Fuji during a super typhoon? Here's A Backpacking Travel Guide to Mt Fuji and Kawaguchiko.
• Looking for a complete travel guide to Tokyo? Check out: 14 Best Things to Do in Tokyo.
• Another awesome place to visit in Japan for a great view of Mt. Fuji is Hakone. Here are the 9 Best Things to Do in Hakone.
• A day trip to Hakone from Tokyo is possible, but you need to be smart with your time. Here is a complete One Day Hakone Itinerary From Tokyo.
• Planning to visit Nikko soon? From hiking to best temples to visit, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Nikko.
• Kyoto, the old capital city of Japan, is a one-of-a-kind city that you should not miss. Here are the 16 Best Things To Do In Kyoto.
• For a complete itinerary of Kyoto and Osaka, check out: 3 Days Backpacking Kyoto-Osaka Itinerary.
• There are more to Hiroshima than the war memorial. Here are the 13 Best Things to Do in Hiroshima.
• Want to go off the beaten path in Japan? What about exploring Kyushu island? Here is a 3-day road trip itinerary for Kumamoto and Aso.
• Not convinced by my words about Japan? Watch these videos: Just Japan and Japan Day & Night travel videos.
• Wondering where to go after Japan? How about hopping over to China or visiting the islands of Taiwan or Hong Kong?
• For all articles about Japan, visit the Japan Travel Guide page.
• Looking to travel to East Asia? Check out all my articles about East Asia here: East Asia Travel Guide page.
• You can see all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.