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Here is a 3-day Tokyo itinerary balancing history, cafés, and restaurants, with hotel and public transportation tips included. The format keeps a time-table structure for easy daily planning, followed by practical travel advice.
🏨 Hotel Recommendations
| Area | Hotel Example | Why Stay Here |
|---|---|---|
| Ueno / Asakusa | ⚜️ The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon by Hulic | Close to Senso-ji, great for historical Tokyo, easy access to Ginza Line. |
| Shibuya / Harajuku | 🌿 Shibuya Stream Excel Hotel Tokyu | Perfect for café culture and nightlife; direct airport train from Haneda. |
| Tokyo Station / Ginza | 🏙️ Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyobashi | Central for both historical sites and modern districts, great rail access. |
💡 Tip: Book hotels near JR Yamanote Line stations (loop line around Tokyo) — it connects almost all major attractions with one train line.
🚇 Public Transportation Tips
- Suica / Pasmo IC Card: Tap-and-go smart card for trains, buses, and even convenience stores. You can now use your iPhone or Android wallet instead of a physical card.
- JR Yamanote Line: Loops through major districts — Ueno, Akihabara, Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Harajuku.
- Tokyo Metro: For shorter hops (e.g., Ginza Line for Asakusa–Ueno–Ginza).
- Airport Transfers:
- From Haneda → central Tokyo: Take the Tokyo Monorail or Keikyu Line (~30–40 min).
- From Narita → Tokyo Station: Use Narita Express (N’EX) (~1 hr).
🗓️ Day 1 – Historic & Cultural Tokyo (Asakusa, Ueno, Yanaka)
Shared Google Map itinerary is here. Use it on your Phone.
| Time | Activity | Details / Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | ☕ Breakfast | Kayaba Coffee (Yanaka) – nostalgic 1930s café with thick toast. |
| 9:30 AM | Ueno Park & Tokyo National Museum | Explore Japan’s oldest museum for samurai armor and Edo art. |
| 12:00 PM | 🍱 Lunch | Innsyoutei inside Ueno Park – elegant traditional kaiseki lunch. |
| 2:00 PM | Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa | Walk through Nakamise Street for snacks (taiyaki, melonpan). |
| 4:00 PM | 🍵 Café stop | Suke6 Diner – riverside café with matcha lattes and pastries. |
| 6:00 PM | Sumida River evening stroll | View Tokyo Skytree across the river. |
| 7:30 PM | 🍲 Dinner | Asakusa Imahan – sukiyaki from a century-old Tokyo favorite. |
| 9:00 PM | Optional | Short rickshaw ride or rooftop bar near Skytree. |
🚉 Getting Around: Use the Ginza Line (Ueno ↔ Asakusa, 5 min).
🗓️ Day 2 – Modern & Trendy Tokyo (Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku)
Shared Google Map itinerary is here. Use it on your Phone.
| Time | Activity | Details / Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | ☕ Breakfast | Streamer Coffee Company (Shibuya) – smooth latte art café. |
| 9:00 AM | Meiji Jingu Shrine | Peaceful forest walk, traditional Shinto architecture. |
| 10:30 AM | Takeshita Street | Explore trendy boutiques and crepe stands. |
| 12:30 PM | 🍜 Lunch | Afuri Harajuku – famous for yuzu shio ramen. |
| 2:00 PM | Omotesando cafés | Visit Aoyama Flower Market Tea House – floral decor and tea sets. |
| 4:00 PM | Shibuya Sky Observatory | Panoramic views, ideal before sunset. |
| 6:30 PM | 🍣 Dinner | Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka – fun conveyor-belt sushi experience. |
| 8:00 PM | Nightlife | Golden Gai (Shinjuku) – explore retro bars or jazz spots. |
🚉 Getting Around: JR Yamanote Line (Harajuku → Shibuya → Shinjuku).
🗓️ Day 3 – Imperial & Modern Tokyo (Ginza, Odaiba, Toyosu)
Shared Google Map itinerary is here. Use it on your Phone.
| Time | Activity | Details / Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | ☕ Breakfast | Marunouchi Café × WIRED – stylish café near Tokyo Station. |
| 9:30 AM | Imperial Palace East Gardens | Relaxing garden walk with historical Edo castle remnants. |
| 11:30 AM | Tokyo Station shopping | Check out “Character Street” (Ghibli, Pokémon, etc.). |
| 12:30 PM | 🍣 Lunch | Kyubey Ginza – top-quality sushi omakase experience. |
| 2:30 PM | Café & shopping | Café de L’Ambre (Ginza) – vintage coffee house from 1948. |
| 4:30 PM | Odaiba | Take Yurikamome Line over Rainbow Bridge for seaside cityscape. |
| 6:30 PM | 🌆 Dinner | Toyosu Market for fresh seafood or sushi daiwa. |
| 8:30 PM | Art & Relax | TeamLab Planets (Toyosu) – immersive digital art to end the trip. |
🚉 Getting Around: Tokyo Metro Ginza Line + Yurikamome monorail.
💡 Extra Travel Tips
- Pocket Wi-Fi / eSIM: Rent from the airport or order in advance for Google Maps navigation.
- Cash vs Card: Most cafés and restaurants accept credit cards now, but carry some yen for temples and smaller shops.
- Google Maps Transit: Extremely accurate — shows train line colors, exits, and exact arrival times.
- Avoid Rush Hours: 7:30–9:30 AM and 5:30–7:30 PM (especially on weekdays).
3 Days in Tokyo: The Perfect Itinerary for History, Cafés & Local Charm
