Tokyo Travel Guide 2026: Itinerary, Hotels & Costs

Last verified: August 2026

Tokyo: Ancient Shrines Meet Neon Skylines

Tokyo runs on contrast. A quiet moss garden and a centuries-old shrine can sit a five-minute walk from a seven-story arcade blasting neon light into the night. This guide pays particular attention to one thing most first-timers get wrong: which transit card to actually get in 2026, since the answer changed twice in the last two years and depends on your phone.

5-Day Tokyo Itinerary

Day 1: Shibuya & Shinjuku

• Morning: Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko statue
• Afternoon: Meiji Shrine and Harajuku's Takeshita Street
• Evening: Shinjuku's neon streets and an izakaya dinner

Day 2: Asakusa & Old Tokyo

• Morning: Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise shopping street
• Afternoon: Sumida River cruise or Tokyo Skytree
• Evening: Dinner in the Asakusa backstreets

Day 3: Museums & Gardens

• Morning: teamLab digital art museum (book ahead)
• Afternoon: Imperial Palace East Gardens
• Evening: Ginza for upscale shopping and dinner

Day 4: Akihabara & Ueno

• Morning: Ueno Park and its museums
• Afternoon: Akihabara for electronics, anime, and gaming culture
• Evening: Ramen dinner in a local shotengai (shopping street)

Day 5: Day Trip to Kamakura or Nikko

• Morning: Train to Kamakura for the Great Buddha and coastal temples
• Afternoon: Explore Kamakura's shrines and beach town streets
• Evening: Return to Tokyo for a farewell dinner

Where to Eat in Tokyo

• Tsukiji Outer Market – Fresh sushi and street food near the old fish market site.
• Ichiran – A famous tonkotsu ramen chain with individual ordering booths, found across the city.
• Local izakayas – Small neighborhood pubs serving skewers, small plates, and drinks — a Tokyo essential.
• Depachika food halls – Department store basements packed with high-quality bento boxes and desserts, great for an affordable feast.
• Standing sushi bars – Found around Ginza and Shinjuku, offering excellent quality at lower prices than sit-down restaurants.
• Conveyor belt sushi (kaitenzushi) – A fun, affordable way to try a wide variety of sushi.

Best Hotels in Tokyo

• Budget: UNPLAN Shinjuku, Nine Hours Capsule Hotel, K's House Tokyo
• Mid-range: Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza, Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu
• Luxury: Park Hyatt Tokyo, Aman Tokyo, The Peninsula Tokyo

Staying near a major JR Yamanote Line station (Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ueno) keeps you connected to almost everything without long commutes.

How Much Does a Trip to Tokyo Cost?

Costs vary by travel style, but here's a grounded daily budget per person:

• Budget traveler: $70–110/day (capsule hotel or hostel, subway pass, convenience store and casual meals)
• Mid-range traveler: $160–260/day (3-star hotel, occasional taxis, sit-down restaurants, paid attractions)
• Luxury traveler: $400+/day (upscale hotel, fine dining, private guides, premium experiences)

Which IC transit card to actually get in 2026

A global chip shortage froze sales of standard Suica and PASMO cards from 2023 until March 1, 2025 — if you read an older guide warning about a card shortage, that's resolved now, but the tourist landscape it left behind is a bit more complex. Your best option depends on your phone and trip length:

• iPhone: Add "Welcome Suica Mobile" directly in Apple Wallet before you land. It's free, valid 180 days, and you top it up with any overseas credit card — no airport counter needed.
• Overseas Android: Mobile Suica generally won't work — it needs a Japan-specific FeliCa chip that most non-Japanese Android phones lack (this isn't expected to change broadly until 2027). Get a physical card instead.
• Physical card, short trip (under 4 weeks): Get a Welcome Suica or Tourist Pasmo at Narita, Haneda, or a major JR East station — both have no deposit but expire after 28 days with a non-refundable balance.
• Physical card, longer stay: A regular Suica or PASMO (¥500 refundable deposit) is back in normal stock and doesn't expire.

Whichever version you get, Suica and PASMO are fully interchangeable on trains, subways, buses, and convenience stores across Tokyo (and nationwide) — the brand doesn't matter, only the physical-vs-mobile decision does.

Other things to budget for: teamLab tickets (around $30–40), and a day trip train ticket to Kamakura or Nikko (around $15–25 round trip). Flights and travel insurance are additional and depend heavily on your departure city and season.

Practical Tips for Visiting Tokyo

• Best time to visit: March–May (cherry blossoms) and October–November (autumn foliage) for the best weather and scenery.
• Decide on your IC card strategy (above) before you land — it saves an hour of confusion at the airport.
• Cash is still commonly used, especially at smaller restaurants and shops — carry some with you.
• Convenience stores (konbini) are excellent for cheap, high-quality meals at any hour.
• Tipping is not customary in Japan and can even cause confusion — it's not expected anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Tokyo

How many days do you need in Tokyo?

5 days covers the major districts and a day trip outside the city without feeling rushed. A tighter 3-day visit can hit Shibuya, Asakusa, and one museum or day trip.

Should I get Suica or PASMO?

It genuinely doesn't matter — they're fully interoperable on the same trains, buses, and shops. What matters is physical vs. mobile: iPhone users should add Welcome Suica Mobile before arrival; overseas Android users should get a physical card at the airport.

Is Tokyo expensive to visit?

It can be visited on a range of budgets — capsule hotels, convenience store meals, and free shrine visits keep costs around $70-110/day, while luxury hotels and fine dining push costs well over $400/day.

What is the best time of year to visit Tokyo?

March-May for cherry blossoms and October-November for autumn colors offer the best combination of weather and scenery, though both are also the most crowded and expensive seasons to book.