Tokyo Speed

Serene woodland temples and bustling city streets

Why Trust This Guide

This guide, like all of our content, is tried and true. We conducted extensive research to uncover the essential sites so that you return home confident that you’ve seen it all. It is important to know that we actually followed this exact program in real life. Traveling with our itinerary means that you can minimize the legwork and maximize your time away.

Know Before You Go

• This itinerary starts and ends in Tokyo. No rental car is needed.

• You can, as we did, include this itinerary as part of a broader trip to the major cities of Japan.

• Much of Tokyo accepts credit cards, but packing some Yen is helpful for taxis and other transactions.

• Taking the subway in Tokyo is a breeze (once you get the hang of it). You might consider riding the rail between destinations rather than walking or hailing a cab. Having said that, waiving down a taxi is the quickest way through the day.

• We timed our visit for cherry blossom season, and a few stops reflect that. Many of the parks that contain pink flowers are still worth a visit even if you travel outside of the springtime.

• This itinerary calls for a visit to the popular BORDERLESS exhibit at the Mori Building. Although not mandatory, we suggest buying timed tickets in advance.

• Unlike our other guides, this one does not recommend food. There are so many places to try in Tokyo and you can find just about any kind of food imaginable. So, we leave that aspect to personal taste - you can’t really go wrong in this preeminent food city.

Day One - Get to Tokyo

• Arrive to Tokyo by mid-afternoon and check into the ANA Intercontinental or elsewhere nearby. 45 minutes by taxi from Narita Airport

• Get your bearings with a walk to the Tokyo Tower. 20 minute walk

• Grab some dinner on your way back to the hotel and get some rest. 20 minute walk