YOUR FIRST TOKYO TRIP
5 places to fall in love with Tokyo
A flexible two-day plan for your first visit
A park walk, a temple gate, a skyline view, a forest shrine and the crossing you have seen on screen. Start with these five places, then use each spot page to shape your own Tokyo trip.
2 days · 5 places · public transport + walking
See the two-day plan ↓
Turn your wish list into a route
All time budgets below are our planning estimates, not official visit durations or guaranteed travel times. They exclude queues and meals unless stated. Check live directions, weather and opening times before leaving; allow more time if you walk slowly or travel with children.
Day 1 · Ueno, Asakusa and the skyline
Morning: a walk in Ueno Park, then Senso-ji in Asakusa. Leave a separate lunch break before Tokyo Skytree in the afternoon. This plan covers the park outdoors, not its museums or zoo. If you add a museum, drop a later stop rather than rushing all three.
Ueno → Senso-ji: take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line from Ueno to Asakusa, then follow the temple’s approximately 5-minute walking approach. Senso-ji → Tokyo Skytree: return to Tobu Asakusa Station and take the TOBU SKYTREE Line to TOKYO SKYTREE Station. Leave time for the station walks and check your actual trains.
Day 2 · A forest shrine and Shibuya
Morning: Meiji Jingu, with time for the walk through the grounds and worship. After lunch, continue to Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Keep the remaining afternoon flexible for a break or a short look around the area. The shrine opens and closes with the seasons; put it before Shibuya rather than leaving it until evening.
Meiji Jingu → Shibuya: return to Harajuku Station and take the JR Yamanote Line to Shibuya. JR asks visitors heading to the crossing to use the South Gate because the Hachiko Gate is crowded. Follow the current station signs; the train ride does not include the walk back from the shrine.
Check this transfer: Meiji Jingu → Shibuya Scramble Crossing ↗
Only one day? Choose Day 1 or Day 2. If long walks are difficult, choose fewer stops and check the official accessibility information. A museum visit needs a separate time budget.
Choose the places you want to see
Photo source & licence
Bernard Gagnon · Ueno park · CC BY-SA 3.001 · Day 1 · Ueno, Asakusa and the skyline
Ueno Park
Start with room to breathe
Begin with a walk through the park and around Shinobazu Pond. The park’s official hours are 05:00–23:00. Museums, the zoo and boat rides are separate visits with their own hours and charges; this plan stays outdoors.
- Time to set aside
- 60–90 minutes for an outdoor park walk; museums and zoo excluded
- Getting there
- The park lists approximately 2 minutes on foot from JR or Tokyo Metro Ueno Station, or 1 minute from Keisei-Ueno Station. These are walks to the park, not to every attraction inside.
Photo source & licence
Akonnchiroll · Sensoji 2023 · CC002 · Day 1 · Ueno, Asakusa and the skyline
Senso-ji Temple
Walk from the gate to the temple
Follow Kaminarimon and Nakamise toward the Main Hall, leaving room for worship and a short stroll. The Main Hall opens 06:00–17:00, with opening delayed to 06:30 from October to March. Shops and other halls have their own schedules.
- Time to set aside
- 60–90 minutes for the temple and a short Nakamise stroll
- Getting there
- Approximately 5 minutes on foot from Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station or Tobu Asakusa Station, according to the temple. Use the Tobu station for the next journey to Skytree.
Photo source & licence
Kakidai · Tokyo Skytree 2014 Ⅲ · CC BY-SA 3.003 · Day 1 · Ueno, Asakusa and the skyline
Tokyo Skytree
See the city from above
Choose the Tembo Deck at 350 m or a ticket that also includes the Tembo Galleria at 450 m. Check the official ticket options and opening calendar for your date, then choose an afternoon entry time with room for lunch and the journey from Asakusa.
- Time to set aside
- 90–120 minutes for the observation decks; queues and meals excluded
- Getting there
- Take the TOBU SKYTREE Line to TOKYO SKYTREE Station. The official access guide lists a route from Ueno via Ginza Line Asakusa and the TOBU SKYTREE Line; this plan visits Senso-ji before the final train leg.
Photo source & licence
Akonnchiroll · Meiji Jingu 2023-3 · CC BY-SA 4.004 · Day 2 · A forest shrine and Shibuya
Meiji Jingu
Begin the day among trees
Walk the shrine approach and give yourself time to worship before returning toward Harajuku. Shrine admission is free. Gates open and close by month; October’s official hours are 05:40–16:40. The Inner Garden and museum are separate paid visits outside this plan.
- Time to set aside
- 90–120 minutes including the walk through the shrine grounds
- Getting there
- Use Harajuku Station for this route. Meiji Jingu’s official access page says the Main Shrine is at least another 10 minutes on foot from a grounds entrance; reaching the entrance does not mean reaching the shrine.
Photo source & licence
Kakidai · 2018 Shibuya Crossing · CC BY-SA 4.005 · Day 2 · A forest shrine and Shibuya
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Step into a familiar Tokyo scene
Make the crossing the final stop, then take a break nearby instead of adding another distant district. Watch a crossing cycle from a safe place off the roadway, and move with the pedestrian signal. This stop does not include a ticket to Shibuya Sky or another viewing facility.
- Time to set aside
- 20–30 minutes for the crossing and immediate surroundings
- Getting there
- Take the JR Yamanote Line from Harajuku to Shibuya. JR recommends the South Gate for Hachiko Square and the crossing because the Hachiko Gate is crowded; follow current station signs.
Photos are reused from the site’s licensed gallery. Credits link to the original file and its individual licence. Images may be resized or cropped for this page.
Before you go
- Check the official opening information and Tokyo Skytree’s prices and calendar for your date. Choose your deck and ticket time before travelling; budget separately for transport, food and optional museums or gardens.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and leave time for breaks. Shrine and park walks take time. If you need step-free access, check each facility and station’s official guidance before choosing the route.
- Respect worshippers and photography signs. Keep paths and the crossing clear; cross only when the pedestrian signal allows it.
- Save this page in your browser bookmarks. The map buttons open Google Maps; choose public transport and set your actual departure time.
Sources and checked date
Access and visitor information checked: 2026-10-04
Original itinerary by japan-spots.com, based on the official sources below. This is a suggested plan, not a booked tour.
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government · Ueno Park hours and access
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government · Ueno Park facilities
- Senso-ji · Access and Main Hall hours
- Senso-ji · Precinct guide
- Tokyo Metro · Ginza Line stations
- Tokyo Skytree · Public transport
- Tokyo Skytree · Tickets and observation decks
- Tokyo Skytree · Opening calendar
- Meiji Jingu · Access and approach walk
- Meiji Jingu · Visiting and monthly gate hours
- GO TOKYO · Meiji Jingu and Harajuku access
- JR East · Harajuku Station and Yamanote Line
- JR East · Shibuya Station and Yamanote Line
- JR East · South Gate guidance for the crossing
- GO TOKYO · Shibuya Scramble Crossing