How To Spend 5 Days In Tokyo | ULTIMATE 5-Day Japan Itinerary From A Local!

Tokyo is the largest city in the world home to over 37 million people which is over four times the population of New York City and with it being the world's largest city it should go without saying that there is an endless number of things to do here providing tourists with an ample amount of restaurants attractions and areas to explore but with the endless possibilities to choose from and only 5 days on average to visit Tokyo it can be a very intimidating experience planning your trip fearing that you might miss out on an unforgettable experience just because you didn't do that one extra search on Google or YouTube or you didn't efficiently plan out your route and lost vital time traveling around instead of exploring however that's exactly what this video is made for so I can help you with every step of the way on your planning process not only will I cover the best places to visit in a limited time span but I will also cover each day with the most efficient travel plan in mind optimiz izing 5 days in Tokyo by minimizing travel time and maximizing your adventure potential so without further delay let's get right into the plan so I can get you one step closer to having an unforgettable experience in Tokyo if you are overwhelmed with planning the endless amount of things you can do in Tokyo or want a trip planned exactly to what you want well I have the solution that is just for you and that good news is my business hidden Japan Journeys after years of living in Japan I have gained a wealth of knowledge about how to easily get around and help plan your Japan trip as efficiently as possible so if you're interested you can contact me on my business email which is located right here or you can check out my website which is located in the description below kicking off your 5-day trip you'll be starting off in Asaka located in the northeastern reaches of Tokyo Asaka is famous for several things like its massive shopping street nakamori dozens of great Street snacks and treats and of course it's iconic senoji Temple and with the socks of being the first thing to kick off this great 5-day Adventure let's start off with the very first spot you should visit here if you're an early riser and want to have a nice breakfast before starting off your day then head over to Cafe Mimosa home to some of the best pancakes and other great breakfast treats this hidden little shop is located on the Northern edge of aaka and opens at around 8: in the morning one thing to know is it closes on Mondays and Tuesdays so if you'll be on the soaka during those days you'll have to find an alternative breakfast spot but don't worry there are plenty of other great shops to check out in the area for some early morning treats whether you choose to start your day at Cafe Mimosa or not the next place you'll want to check out is senoji Temple itself and you'll definitely want to see the temple first because the morning time is usually when a lot of tourists are still waking up and getting ready for the day affording you the opportunity to see the temple with smaller crowds than normal and as a bonus you'll be able to check out nakam street with smaller than usual crowd crows as well so don't miss out on the early bird special at senoji Temple after you've gotten your fill of senoji Temple now is the perfect time to wander around the surrounding area checking out some of the more hidden yet great little shops like suzukien suzukien is a nice little matcha specialty shop that offers matcha ice cream with increasing levels of potency here you can enjoy a nice highquality matcha ice cream with a great matcha drink to complement your treat or if you want to take home a nice Japanese Kitchen souvenir then head on over to kabashi Street which is only a few minutes away from senoji Temple here you can get several different types of kitchen wear from nice plates bowls and even the famous Japanese Knives and Cutlery and of course you must check out the stores that sell the iconic food display items Japan has become famous for moving on to lunch we have a great Japanese style restaurant titled misu misu is a restaurant you will rarely find in Tokyo and puts a special Twist on Japanese styled set meals in Japan the traditional set meal you can expect would be a meat or fish as the main course with am miso soup and other sides to complement the entree but at miso rather than having a fish or meat as the entree with miso on the side they flip it around making the Miso soup the main piece of your Japanese meal set you can choose from several variations of their delicious miso soups with all of them containing plenty of hearty meats and vegetables to satisfy your hunger another unique aspect about this great shop is they provide a handcrafted onii as your main side you can choose from quite a few variations like the classic salmon onii the brown rice and many other delicious types of onii and as a great bonus if you want a nice dessert after your fabulous lunch then head over to Yu cha where you can get some amazing fruit parfaits complete with its own beautifully themed restaurant just be sure to keep a lookout for that inconspicuous yellow door which hides some of the best parfaits behind it now that you've seen the beauty of aaka senoji Temple and surrounding areas it's time to move on to the next spot on this list which is conveniently located nearby and that would be ueno located just a few minutes north of Asaka ueno is famous for its massive Park and long string of yokoo and iseka once you arrive at weno station you'll already be directly next to weno Park giving you the perfect opportunity to walk around and explore the area ueno park one of Tokyo's biggest Parks has several unique areas to check out while you're here you can visit ueno Zoo home to one of Japan's famous Panda exhibits you can check out the cherry blossoms if you're lucky enough to come here during cherry blossom season or you can come down to the lake or Shrine where they almost always have nice food stalls waiting to satiate your hunger once you've seen your fill of wio Park you can head to amoko which is home to to many of the ezekiah and great street food stalls that ueno is known for you can either walk around and Sample all the different mini food stalls or take a seat at one of the many restaurants and bars in the area and have a great treat while relaxing and recharging now that it's getting later into the day this is the perfect time to check out akaba otherwise known as the electric city of Tokyo akaba has become one of the Central and iconic neighborhoods of Tokyo home to many of the famous anime and hobby shops that draw millions of tourists to Japan every month and don't you worry because we're going to cover all the major highlights in this area so you don't miss out on them as soon as you hop off the train from weno station which is only a few minutes away you'll find one of Aki's iconic hobby shops akaba radio Kon building here you will find several floors of hobby shops from dolls to trading cards and even Gundams of all kind these are just a few of the great little hobby stor you'll find inside moving on from Radio Kon we walk over to Super potato which is the central hub for all things Retro Gaming the first two floors have all sorts of famous gaming devices and video games from decades past and to complement all of this the top floor of super potato has several different types of retroarcade machines giving you a true blast from the past of a style of gaming that is from Generations ago if you still want to get your game on after super potato then you can head over to titto game gaming center in akaba unlike super potato titto gaming center akaba is a modern take on Arcade gaming giving you several floors of crane machines Rhythm games and fighting games so you can play the night away and finally once you've gotten your fill on all things anime and electronics that akiabara has to offer it's time to wrap up the night with some delicious yatu at Ichi Nissan here you can have some delicious gu KATU also known as beef cutlet which is prepared with a light bread coating on the outside and beef cooked just enough on the inside to a juicy pink Center this delectable beef cut which you can cook to your liking on the stone Grill by the way is complemented with a nice beef based soup broth rice cabbage and delicious dipping sauces enjoying this succulent meal is a great way to end the perfect first day you'll have in Tokyo now that it's day two and it's morning time once again the perfect spot to start off your second day in Tokyo is visiting gotokuji Temple otherwise known as the good luck cat temple gotokuji temple is located in setagaya which is about a 30-minute train ride from the bustling Shibuya station and while this Temple might be on the outskirts of Tokyo it is definitely a must visit for several reasons as soon as you enter you are greeted with a beautiful pagota and further in you can take a peaceful walk through the temple grounds and take in all the serenity but of course what makes this Temple so famous is the Moni NE statues believed to be the temple where the famous monaki Neo or luck inviting cat originated they have a section dedicated just for the cat statues to back up this claim we were curious where all of these cat statues came from but we got our aners soon enough if you do a little wandering you will stumble upon the main grounds and a little shop where you can purchase your very own cat statue the smallest cat statue you can get is a microsized one for 300 Yen and the biggest statue you can get is this life siiz cat for 5,000 yen once you have bought your statue you can keep it as a little souvenir or to keep with tradition and to receive Fortune you can take the cat to the temple make a wish and place it on the shelves with everyone else's statue after getting your fill of the beautiful and hidden gotokuji temple now is the perfect chance to check out one of Tokyo's hidden trendy spots that is unknown to the common tourist and that would be shimokita zawa only a short train ride from gotokuji shimokitazawa is famous for its trendy clothing shops almost all of which are secondhand thrift shops at these stores locals mix and match all different types of clothing on the cheap but unlike most thrift stores all of these clothes look nearly brand new here you can dress to impress in all different styles for a fraction of the price along with dozens of trendy thrift shops shimokitazawa is also known for having some great food my personal favorite is this one place place called The Pizza the pizza here is exceptional with a perfect balance of cheese sauce and your choice of toppings this shop is top quality and is comparable to the iconic pizzas of New York City once you have checked out the shops in shimokitazawa it's time to move on to a well-known neighborhood that has helped put Tokyo on the world map Shibuya is the epicenter of Tokyo's energetic City Life filled with tons of great shops and restaurants Shibuya is a must visit at any time of the day however if you only have 5 days in Tokyo I recommend exploring this famous neighborhood at night when Tokyo's iconic District comes alive with all the night lights but now that you're in Shibuya it's time to figure out what exactly you need to do while you're here which is what we're going to cover right now Shibuya Parco is one of Tokyo's newest shopping malls and is a must visit for two very big reasons the first reason is to check out Nintendo Tokyo one of the very few official Nintendo stores that will have almost any kind of major Nintendo merchandise you could ask for they have all types of apparel whether you like Zelda Animal Crossing Mario and many other iconic Nintendo games another great reason to visit this shopping complex is so you can check out the Shibuya Pokémon Center which is right across the way from Nintendo store here you can stock up on all things Pokémon and take some photos of the Mewtwo model in the capsule just like from the original movies after Shibuya Parco you can walk right on over to mha park as it's only a few minutes away here you can check out some vintage and unique stores that you won't find in a typical shopping complex these one-of-a-kind stores are complimented perfectly by MIAA Park's one-of-a-kind architecture helping it stand out amongst the typical high-rise buildings you'll find in Tokyo and of course no visit to MIAA Park would be complete without visiting the rooftop where you can watch Tokyo locals skating around or to see if there's any special events happening which is typical here on Mida Park's rooftop now that is getting later into the day it's time to grab some well-deserved dinner and I know just the perfect spot that will blow you away located just up the street from Shibuya station and tucked away in this inconspicuous basement stairwell gon son is a well-hidden restaurant to enjoy a fabulous dinner what makes gon son a perfect spot to satisfy your hunger is the fact that they wrap almost everything you can think of in bacon yes that's right for all you Americans out there everything from asparagus to shrimp to even scallops are all wrapped in a delicious bacon layer they take everything you see on the menu wrap it in bacon and cook it to pure perfection if you love a great and Hearty yakit toti restaurant and want to take your dinner to the next level then gonan is a must visit for a Unforgettable meal in Shibuya now that You' filled up from a great and delicious dinner it's time to check out one of Shibuya newest and most popular attractions Shibuya Sky located at the top of Shibuya scramble Square Shibuya Sky offers the perfect night view of Tokyo giving you a unique open a view of Tokyo Skyline but an important heads up if you plan on going there at night you should definitely book your tickets well in advance as it is not uncommon to see all the nighttime Windows to visit shuya sky locked up for at least a month in advance so just be sure to keep that in mind if you're coming up on your trip and lastly no visit in Tokyo is complete without walking across the iconic Shibuya scramble Crossing known as the busiest crosswalk in the world Shibuya scramble Crossing is the perfect spot to take some Unforgettable photos during your time in Tokyo and as a bonus if you want to keep that nightlife party going you can head over to either chuo gay which is right off the street from shabuya scramble Crossing or aisu yokoo which you'll usually only find expats or Tokyo locals partying there either nightlife area is a perfect place to enjoy some drinks and wrap up your second night in Tokyo it's day three in Tokyo and one of the best ways to kick off that day is by visiting ski Market ski is the perfect place to start your day as it will open well before most places in Tokyo on top of that ski has become famous worldwide for its Great Sea food and Fresh Markets to wander around here you can enjoy some fresh sushi and fish to start off your great morning the fish here is so fresh in fact that you'll be surprised to find some of it is still warm as it just came out of the sea that very morning once you spent the first few hours exploring and filling up your stomach at skii Market it should be about 10:00 a.m. and a perfect time to start shopping for some Tokyo souvenirs and Ginza is the perfect place to kick off your shopping spree with dozens of upscale shopping centers to choose from ginza's Modern and Posh Vibes will make you want to check out every shop in site you can head inside Ginza 6 and poke your head into the dozens of upscale stores you can walk through Uni's flagship store which has several floors of their signature clothing to sample or you can check out any of the other highquality luxury brand stores in the area after your shopping spree lasts a few hours you might start getting a little tired and maybe a little hungry and if that's the case there's no better spot to get a quick bite from than hashigo ginah honen which serves up some absolutely exceptional tonon men and will leave you fully satisfied and once you filled up at the amazing hashigo ginah honen the perfect place to cool off after that great visit is Ginza Ginger which is home to the famous Japanese kakig GOI ice treats on the second floor you can try out their great icy desserts or you can go to the bottom floor and take home some of their great products from the main store now that you've done some shopping in Ginza it's time to head to raponi and check out azabudai Hills and while this might be another great shopping complex you aren't exactly here to go shopping again unless you didn't get enough at Ginza instead you're here for one of Tokyo's newest and most popular attractions to visit team lab borderless a place that has been shut down over the past few years has recently re open in azabudai Hills for any of you who may not know the team lab exhibits have been some of Tokyo's recent and most famous icons to visit since they opened only a few years ago and team lab borderless is one of those great new exhibits at Team lab borderless you can check out all the visually stunning rooms this place has to offer giving you tons of opportunities to take some truly astonishing videos and photos to mark your visit in Tokyo after you've completed your adventure through team lab borderless now would be a perfect time to get some dinner before finishing up your third night in Tokyo aside from all the great stores that you'll find in azabudai Hills this place also has dozens of great restaurants to enjoy your dinner at as well however if none of those places really pique your interest then goie Burger which is right down the street will definitely be a great place to fill up before completing your third night in Tokyo now that you've gotten your fill from a nice dinner head over to Tokyo Tower which has quite a few great choices to end your third night here you can either go to Red Tokyo which is one of the newest Virtual Arcade centers to enjoy or you can go to the top of Tokyo Tower and get a great view of the city's skyline no matter what you choose visiting Tokyo Tower is the perfect way to end your third night in this city it's now day four in Tokyo and another great spot to kick off your day in this great city is visiting miji jingu miji jingu Shrine which is located in Harajuku is one of Tokyo's biggest shrines right up there with aaka senoji Temple and is best visited in the morning before anyone else comes to detract from the peaceful atmosphere once you're done exploring Mii jingu you can simply walk over to yoyogi park another great park that is also famous for its cherry blossoms that bloom during the springtime not only that but if you arrive during the fall you'll get the special chance to see all the leaves turn gold as well and no visit to yoyogi park is complete without seeing the rockabillies doing their weekly ritual dancing to 19 1950s music at the entrance of yoyogi Park this park is best visited in the morning as well since many tourists won't be around allowing you to take in the peaceful atmosphere once you've gotten your fill of peace and quiet at Mei jingu in yoyogi park you can head back into the bustling streets of Harajuku checking out the famous takash street which is home to many quirky and unique shops once you pass through the busy takasha street you'll probably be a little tired after all that walking and with that in mind mind Cafe Ru would be the perfect spot to sit down and recharge at this Cafe not only can you enjoy your favorite coffee or tea but you can also enjoy it with your favorite actors or anime characters looking back at you at Cafe Ru while you might think this level of detail and craftsmanship can only be achieved by using special 2D or 3D machine printing art it is actually done with Incredible skill by their coffee bird stas who are extremely talented as if the latte art wasn't impressive enough the drinks themselves are equally as pleasing to the taste buds this Cafe will not only serve as a memorable spot to visit but it will also give you the food and drinks needed to recharge and continue on your day after having such a great start to your day it's time to head over to Shin okobo otherwise known as Tokyo's Korea Town here at Shin okobo you can find multiple shops filled with Korean makeup and Korean cosmetic products known for their cheap yet high quality selections the Korean makeup shops are a must visit if you're looking for some top quality selections without breaking the bank not only is Korea known for its great makeup shops but just like Japan it is also famous for the great Street Foods they make as well so while you're wandering around Shin okobo be sure to sample some of the great Street Foods before making your way back to the station and before heading to the last area of the day be sure to drop into the 2D Cafe for some truly memor mble photos unlike your typical Cafe 2D Cafe creates an amazing optical illusion breaking your sense of reality with the two-dimensional look in all appearances aside the food and drinks themselves are also worth a visit so be sure to snap a few photos and grab a couple drinks and snacks before heading to your final destination for the day now that the evening has come to settle in it's time to fill up your stomach with some amazing dinner choices and there is no better spot to do it than at Shinjuku very own nikuya noo this restaurant is a great option for all you wagu lovers as it offers an all you can eat wagu course for a absolute bargain this is my go-to spot whenever I want to enjoy some great Waggy beef without breaking the bank however if you aren't in the mood for eating a buffet style dinner then head over to scaman gami say Sak what sets this noodle shop apart from the rest is not only the way you eat meal but also the type of selections you can choose from here instead of your typical fish or pork style broth that comes with scaman they offer an interesting shrimp style broth infused with a tomato based soup and the unique dipping soup doesn't just stop with the sauce along with their tomato based scaman they include mozzarella broccoli basil and even a few whole tomatoes for you to enjoy it almost makes you think you're eating an Italian Dish rather than a Japanese one but but regardless of what it may look like it is absolutely delicious once you take your noodles mix it with the soup and take your first bite you immediately feel the delicious creamy tomato sauce fill your taste buds it's satisfyingly creamy soup is complimented by the filling and chewy wheat noodles that come with your meal after filling up on either of these two delicious restaurants you can walk it off by going to Tokyo's kabukicho Tower one of the newest nightlife spots to visit in Shinjuku here here you can walk around the first floor which has several different little restaurants to dine or drink at and the second floor is full of fun crane games and other arcade style games to try your luck on or if you want to take a moment to Lounge then you can do so at the Pac-Man Studio Lounge after exploring Tokyo's kabako Tower the Tokyo Metropolitan government building would be a great spot to visit before it closes at the TMG building you can view a nice laser show that is a brand new feature to this already great attraction and as for the main reason to visit at the TMG building you can head to the top floor and get a great view of Tokyo at night but one of the things you might be pleasantly surprised to hear about is that both the laser Show and The Observatory at the top are both free that's right unlike having to pay for the observatory like at Tokyo Sky Tree or at Shibuya Sky you can get a great view of Tokyo Skyline at the TMG building absolutely free to wrap up the night if you still want to go out and have a few drinks then you can visit golden G which is known for the many little bars that are hidden away in all of its many Alleyways although golden guy might be a little bit of a tourist trap if you've never been here before it is still worth a visit so if you're a firsttime tourist in Tokyo be sure to check it out it's now your final day in Tokyo and while you might have thought you've seen it all there's still quite a few spots to check out before you leave this great City do you want to experience the famous 10000 Tor Gates without having to go to Kyoto well at he Shrine you most certainly can located near akasaka and raponi he Shrine has a stairwell which has become famously known for its hundreds of bright red Tor Gates lining a special Stairway To The Top here you can snap a picture perfect opportunity and make people think you somehow transported to Kyoto's Fushimi inar Taisha the most ideal time to visit he Shrine would be in the morning as this place quickly fills up at around 9 or 10 10 a.m. once you have paid this special Shrine a visit now would be a good time to head over to the state Guest House akasaka Palace offering you a beautiful view of well-kept Gardens and a state-of-the-art guest house for foreign officials and special guests after visiting the famous Guest House a great way to wrap up your time in akasaka in rongi would be to visit Ginza West ayama which is right down the street from the state Guest House you just visited Ginza West ayama is famous for its amazing pastries and delicious food selections most notably they're perfectly smooth and round pancakes head here for lunch to fill up with some great tea coffee and satisfying food choices before heading to your next great location now that you've had a great lunch it's time to check out another iconic place that is sure to fill up your phone memory with photos and that place is none other than Harry Potter Studios located a little to the west of EK bukuro you'll find Harry Potter Studios to be only a few minutes of walking from Nima station which is also laid in with Harry Potter theme spots scattered throughout the station but once you actually go inside and see what Harry Potter Studios has to offer you'll be amazed with just how much detail they put into the studio showcasing some of the famous set pieces that were used to create the iconic Harry Potter movies as if the set pieces don't make this place special enough you'll be even more surprised to know there are only two Harry Potter Studios in the world so don't miss this rare opportunity when you're in Tokyo after spending a couple hours ticking in the sights at Harry Potter Studios all you need to do is hop back on the train from Nima station and within a few minutes you'll land yourself in EK buad one of the best stations to check out if you are a big fan of all things anime Pokémon and Japanese gachaan even if you aren't necessarily a big fan of all those unique Japanese items you'll still want to pay a visit to eek bukuro Sunshine City Mall standing as one of the biggest and most diverse shopping complexes in all of Japan Sun GI City Mall is hosts to many famous stalls including multiple Pokémon stores a Pokémon gym for the game Pokémon go and of course the mega Pokémon Center one of the first of its kind to appear in Tokyo but those aren't all the iconic stores you can find here as there are even more special places to check out inside this Mall located on the third floor you'll find the world's largest gachaan store loaded with thousands of different types of gachaan machines to get yourself lost in here you can get these perfect little souvenirs to remember your time in Japan but just be careful not to get too carried away and break the bank on all of these little items and if you wanted anime merchandise as well then don't you worry because this mall has plenty of that too and to wrap things up you can head to the top of this mall and check out the newest and coolest observatory in all of Tokyo Sunshine city tenbo park with this mini Park built into the observatory you'll find yourself the perfect romantic getaway to get lost in and relaxed after doing all that exhausting shopping EK bukuro isn't just home to one of the most diverse shopping malls but it is also home to the biggest anime shop in the world with the newest and coolest animate flagship store here you'll find over seven floors of fantastic anime merchandise to choose from so if you're a fan of almost any type of anime then come to EK bodo's Flagship animate store but just a word of caution that you might want to screen some of these floors first if you have some kids along with you now that you fully explore the majority of the biggest and most famous neighborhoods in Tokyo it's time to head over to Tokyo station itself and explore one of the last big spots in this city if you walk to the opposite end of Tokyo Station you'll find yourself in Tokyo's Imperial Palace this Garden is an interesting place to check out if you're a firsttimer offering a unique contrast of a wide open and clear Park to the large and Tall modern buildings surrounding it on all sides once you're done walking around Tokyo's Imperial Gardens head back to Tokyo station and either do a little more last minute shopping and stock up on some souvenirs or head to the famous Tokyo Ramen Street which has several different types of ramen from around the world and once you finish your dinner it's time to wrap up your final night in Tokyo with an absolutely unique and amazing nightlife bar which is none other than the planetarium bar here you can unwind your final night in Tokyo taking in the absolutely Serene and peaceful atmosphere while enjoying some truly unique and flavorful drinks under the bar's Starry Sky planetarium bar is the perfect spot to complete your adventure in Tokyo by giving you a truly memorable night and a 5-day trip that is already full of great memories if you want to have your very own itinerary planned out from yours truly then contact me at my business email which is right here like this video if you found it useful subscribe for more Japan content and check out my affiliate links in the description below for for when you plan your next trip in Japan all right that's going to do it and until next time I'll see you then

Channel: HarbLife

Views: 52,310

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Id: dJnPh9vyUk8

Length: 30min 4sec (1804 seconds)

Published: Sat May 25 2024