Tokyo in 5 Days: everything you need to know

Tokyo is the largest city in the world. This can be intimidating for any traveler!...And if you add other boundaries such as language, rules of coexistence and many other things typical of the culture, it can be scary.

Don't worry! You are not the first who has had that feeling and, fortunately, there are many tools to "survive" as a tourist in the Japanese city and enjoy everything there is to see and do in Tokyo. In this post I leave you some recommendations of tours and tips to make the most of those 5 days. Let's get started!

To start the first day in this mega city with all the energy, I suggest you start with a bike tour. The idea is that after so much pedaling, you will have enough appetite for a delicious gastronomic tour of Tokyo and end the day with a good taste in your mouth. What do you think?

Bike, helmet and pedaling through the city

Although the Japanese capital is huge and intimidating, cycling is an efficient and very friendly way to get around. There is little hilly terrain, traffic is very respectful and there are many landscapes that are best enjoyed without a window in between.

It will be easy to admire the iconic scenes of the city riding a bike, such as the giant skyscrapers that loom over Shinjuku and Meiji-jingu, a very famous religious site in the city.

Another place you can visit is the Aoyama Cemetery, a very old place where you will find the grave of a famous and faithful Japanese canine, the beautiful Buddhist temple of Zōjō-ji and the Aqua City Odaiba shopping complex.

This tour departs a few steps from the New National Theater. To get there by public transportation, the best option is to take the Keio New Line to Hatsudai Station, located in front of the theater.

By the way, all the visits and tours that I recommend in this post can be easily reached by public transportation. I will provide you with the easiest routes.

And then... A delicious dinner

After almost 7 hours of exercise, you will surely want to relax and fill your stomach. So get ready for a date where food will be the main thing.

I invite you to take a food tour of Tokyo to see the most popular izakaya spots, a word that translates into English as "a place to have a drink and make yourself comfortable."

One of the classic stops is the labyrinthine Omoide Yokocho area. Here, many small traditional restaurants saturate the alleys to offer one of the most popular dishes: yakitori.

Also, less than 7 blocks away is Golden Gai, a neighborhood that will bring you the feeling of having gone back in time and is very popular in Tokyo's nightlife. The area is home to a multitude of small bars, food stalls and karaoke bars.

The meeting point for this tour is at Shinjuku Station, one of the busiest stations in all of Tokyo, served by 12 different train lines, operated by 5 companies. So if you plan to arrive by public transport, you will have plenty of options.

An easy way to get there is to take the Marunouchi line of the subway service.

On this your second day in the world's greatest city, you'll take a more leisurely itinerary. Well, you'll determine the pace, because you'll tailor-make it to suit you.

A private car with chauffeur guide is a very comfortable way to visit different attractions in a small group. Later, you will end the day with a nightlife escapade in Shibuya. You will love it.

You choose where and aboard a comfortable car

Just as you read. The great advantage of this tour is that you only have to worry about setting your own schedule and the destinations you want to see in Tokyo.

Although you will be provided with suggestions of pre-established routes, you decide whether to choose them, adapt them or take a totally different route. In addition, you determine how much time to dedicate to each of the attractions, something that more than once you have wished for on a tour, right?

What do you want to visit? a Buddhist temple? the Imperial Palace Gardens? the Edo Museum? or a modern neighborhood? You decide! And don't forget to add places to shop, stop for lunch or whatever else you want to do to pass the time on the streets of Tokyo. Everything is included in the tour, which can last up to 9 hours.

Simply a perfect option to spend the day at different attractions and adjusted to your schedule.

Visiting the Shibuya district

On the way back, you will want to take a couple of hours of rest at the hotel because in the evening a neighborhood that will attract all your attention awaits you: Shibuya.

This is one of Tokyo's special neighborhoods and a must on the itineraries of those who visit the city.

You may have heard of it because of the Shibuya crossing, an intersection where, every time the traffic lights open, a massive human tide invades the asphalt. It has been estimated that during rush hour, up to three thousand people can cross the intersection during a passing shift.

You can come and be part of the crowd that crosses it or, also, observe this scene from the heights at the Starbucks in the Tsutaya building, which is located north of this crossing.

You can get to Shibuya and to this particular crossing easily from any point of the city through the subway lines: Ginza, Hanzomon and Fukutoshin. If you don't know where you are when you arrive, look for the Hachiko statue and you will know you are in the right place.

Being a very trendy and touristy neighborhood, you will find plenty to eat here, just around the station alone , there are several restaurant options.

Fashion and shopping

The night is long here. And if you like shopping, in Shibuya you can find many options walking a few blocks away. Enter the 109 shopping mall, located a few steps from the station to get an idea. If Japanese fashion doesn't quite convince you, in the surrounding area you will find stores of several Western brands that you already know.

Speaking of fashion, this part of the city is where the new trends are cooked up, placing this neighborhood among the most "fashionable" in Tokyo. With a short walk through its streets, you will find all kinds of proposals in clothing, hairstyles and everything that makes you stand out from the crowd.

Need to see more? Take a look at Harajuku

If you think you've seen it all, I invite you to its neighbor Harajuku, located one stop away (Harajuku station) taking the Yamanote line of the Japan Rail (JR). It won't take you more than 5 minutes to get there.

Everything you couldn't see in Shibuya, you will find here. From cosplayers to punk musicians, to gothic lolitas and many other urban tribes that you didn't even know existed.

Feeling the rhythm of this great city in one of its most modern and creative spaces will definitely be an experience you will enjoy from beginning to end.

On the third day, you will spend a few hours in nature. It seems difficult with such a massive metropolis, but yes, it is possible and it's not far away.

The destination? The landscapes located at the base of Mount Fuji, an active volcano that is also the most revered sacred mountain by the Japanese. On your return to the city, if you bring a professional camera, even better, because you will go on a night photography tour.

Mount Fuji and its icy caves

Many years ago, an eruption of the volcano (Mount Fuji) spewed boiling lava down the slopes of the Aokigahara forest and penetrated the ground creating caves. Then, the snow that covers this volcano half of the year entered through the caves and today they are fascinating caves that are well worth visiting.

The best way to visit these caves is with an organized tour to Mount Fuji, where you will be guided through the interior with all the professional instruction for a safe and very fun route.

To start this tour, one of the pick-up points is Kawaguchiko Station. To get there by public transportation, take the Japan Rail (RL) Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station(which you reach via the Marunouchi Line) to Otsuki Station.

Once there, transfer to the Fujikyu line which will take you to Kawaguchiko station. The transfer will be long, so at Shinjuku Station you can either have breakfast or buy something to take away.

Trying your hand at photography in the city

When you return to Tokyo, you may want to rest a bit at the hotel before continuing your tour for the day. The world's largest city doesn't rest...and it's quite a light show at night that's worth getting out to look at through a photographic lens.

No matter if you are a beginner or a professional photographer, if you love photography and want to get the best night scenes of the city, you will love this tour.

This photo tour of Tokyo allows you to tour iconic areas of the city such as Shinjuku and Shibuya to get the most out of your camera.

Even if you have already toured these neighborhoods on previous days, with this tour you will be taken to off-the-beaten-path spots and receive the necessary instruction to capture all kinds of urban scenes in your own style.

You'll have 2.5 hours to use up your camera's memory! Conveniently, the departure and return point of the tour is Shinjuku Station, which is highly connected to the city's various train and subway transportation lines.

On the fourth day of your trip, how about starting with a relaxing excursion in a traditional Edo-period neighborhood ? Its quiet streets and stores that have been offering goods and services to the community for hundreds of years will captivate you.

In the afternoon, I suggest you move to SkyTree and the surrounding modern shopping area. You will be amazed at how these contrasts between the modern and the old are maintained in one city.

Discovering some corners of old Tokyo

Ningyocho ward belongs to the Nihonbashique district. During the Edo period, it was a prominent entertainment district where puppet theaters (Ningyocho means "dolls") abounded. Today, it is a very attractive historical space, as the locals have chosen to survive by maintaining the traditions and pace of life of several centuries ago.

It is a charming neighborhood. Typical objects carefully crafted by hand and dishes that are prepared as if they were a work of art is what you will see here.

If you choose to take this tour with an expert guide, you will do some sightseeing to learn about the history of Ningyocho, but you will also hear the story of what some locals have lived through for generations. You will be amazed to see how there are warehouses selling the same product for almost three centuries.

The meeting point is usually very close to Ningyocho subway station, which you can reach via the Hibiya subway line.

Visit to Japan's tallest tower: Skytree

You are almost at the end of your trip and, if you didn't include it in your personalized driving tour, you are still in time to visit a Tokyo must-see: the Skytree tower.

The advantage is that it is very close to your first ride, you will only have to enter Ningyocho station again and take the Hanzomon subway line to the last station: Oshiage.

This tower is one of the most visited viewpoints in Tokyo. It was inaugurated in 2012 and, at 634 m high, was recognized as the tallest in the world. However, this distinction lasted a few months when the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai was presented to the world with 828 meters high. That doesn't take away from the extraordinary nature of the Skytree, and it is a site that no tourist wants to miss on their visit to Tokyo.

You will find two viewpoints, one at 350 m (Tembo Platform) and the other at 450 m (Tembo Gallery). The interesting thing about going up to the Tembo Platform, is that it has some areas with glass floors to add sensations to the experience. Although, definitely, you will have the most spectacular views in the Tembo Gallery.

Skytree tickets and more things to see here

Going up to the first platform will cost you approximately €13 and, the package to enter both together, an average of €20. It is really not much difference, so if you have the possibility, I would suggest you to buy directly the ticket for both. In this link you can buy tickets.

The Skytree Tower is the central part of a huge urban development called Tokyo Sky Tree Town. Its attractions include a shopping mall and an office building of almost 30 floors, although in my opinion, the most incredible thing is the presence of an aquarium and a planetarium as well.

That's right, I had to dedicate a day to anime because few things are as Japanese and as well known around the world as this art form is. In addition to the many stores and products that you will have already seen throughout the city during your stay, there are museums and spaces dedicated solely to anime.

I leave you with three options for you to choose where to spend the day, because besides the fact that they are too far apart to visit all three (possibly two, adjusting), in each one you will find much more than you can imagine. Cheer up!

Get lost in the pop culture paradise of Akihabara

With its origins as a post-war black market, Akihabara eventually became the must-see showcase of Japanese technology, with thousands of stores selling all kinds of electronics and cutting-edge technology.

In recent years, it has earned its place as a haven and paradise for fans of video games, manga and of course anime.

In Akihabara, a must visit is the Akiba Cultures Zone, a 5-story building where you will find everything! about Japanese pop culture, from figurines and comics, to movies, collectible cards, toys and all kinds of costumes for cosplay.

Other stores that I recommend you visit are: Animate, the largest anime, video game and manga store in Japan with more than 100 physical stores in the country and, if you like to build and build, the Kotobukiya store is an excellent option and also has affordable prices regularly.

It's not all comics and manga in Akihabara

Although anime stores outnumber tech stores, there are still plenty of stores dedicated to selling cables, circuits and other parts you may be looking for. It is also not hard to find stores offering used and repaired computers at very affordable prices. The same goes for cell phones.

Without a doubt, one of the best places to buy souvenirs from Japan is Akihabara. And as you may have seen, if anime or other elements of Japanese pop culture are not your thing, you can go here for other types of shopping.

To get to Akihabara by public transportation, a quick way is to go to Shinjuku Station, and from there take the Japan Rail (JR) Sobu line to Akihabara Station. All the stores I have recommended are less than 2 blocks away from each other.

Ghibli Museum

If you grew up with My Neighbor Totoro, Porco Rosso or Spirited Away... you probably already know what I'm talking about and your emotions are already running high. Yes! In Tokyo you will find a museum dedicated to Ghibli Studios, which produced these and other charming animated stories that stole the hearts of millions around the world.

One of the objectives of the museum is to show the whole process of making an animation, from the moment an idea is conceived until it is projected to the world. There are several rooms where inspiration, creativity, artistic talent and fun will steal your breath away.

Oh, and don't forget to stop by the Mamma Aiuto souvenir store !

This museum is located inside Inokashira Park. A quick and familiar way (yes, again, from Shinjuku station) is to take the JR Chuo line and get off at Kichijoji. Then walk three blocks south and you'll soon be in the park. I recommend you not to be in a hurry, so you can better enjoy this beautiful park.

Nakano Broadway

The Nakano neighborhood is another very popular with manga, anime and collectibles fans. Here you will find Nakano Broadway, a huge three-story shopping mall dedicated to Japanese pop culture.

However, the difference with others I have recommended is that here you will also find temples and shrines immersed in beautiful parks, traditional alleys and other elements to contemplate.

Another advantage of visiting it is that it is very close to Shinjuku Station. You can get there via the JR Chuo Line to Nakano Station. Nakano Broadway is a five minute walk from the north exit of the station.

• Before making reservations, check well the language of the tour guide. English is still one of the first choices for tourism in this country, although Spanish is also gaining popularity.
• For the customized driving tour, check calmly which places you want to visit on your dream trip to Tokyo and compare it with the standardized tours...but above all, be open to suggestions, they know their city best.
• Possibly you should know that Tokyo and Japanese culture in general is very given to courtesy, order and respect, where following certain guidelines are necessary to avoid attracting (bad) attention.
• I have left you some connections for public transport. In Tokyo, this is the basic means of transport and one of the most efficient in the world. Take advantage of it. Once you arrive for the first time at Shinjuku Station and make your first trip, everything will be easier.