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You’ve decided you finally want to visit Tokyo, but admittedly, you’re only in the early planning stages. At this point, you’re doing research and creating a dream itinerary. You have so many places you want to go and so much you wish to see, but you’re just not sure how long you should spend in Tokyo. How many days should you plan for?
There’s no real answer as to how many days you should spend in Tokyo. Some say two or three days, other two weeks. I recommend you make your decision based on the following factors:
- Your budget
- Your itinerary
- Your level of activity
- How likely you are to go back
- How much of the rest of Japan you want to see
In this article, I’ll expand on the above criteria so you can come up with your own timeline to visit Tokyo. I’ll even share some activities, places, and things you can do for creating a full itinerary for trip-planning purposes.
Let’s begin!
What Kinds of Things Can You Do and See in Tokyo?
As the capital of Japan, Tokyo has just about every type of sight and activity imaginable. I’ve written about these extensively on this blog. Here’s a list of 21 activities to do in the city after sundown. This article on what Japan is known for ought to inspire you as well.
I’ll now break down the many ways to fill your days in this amazing city.
Eat and Drink
There’s no shortage of restaurants and cafés in which you can satiate your hunger and thirst. If you want to try Japanese cuisine, I can’t think of a better place to do it than Tokyo. You’ll find tons of restaurants here serving far more than sushi and ramen (although those items are on the menu, too).
You may even long for the flavors of home. If so, there’s restaurants with pizza, cheeseburgers, and the fare you’re used to back in the United States.
Just about everywhere you turn, you shouldn’t find a hard time tracking down somewhere to grab food. In fact, there’s such a bounty of options it can get kind of overwhelming. To avoid wasting time on your trip wondering where you’ll eat, I recommend you do your research. If you’re going to Ginza, for instance, then look up restaurants in that area rather than the heart of Tokyo. That’ll prevent a time-consuming back and forth.
Stroll Through a Park
There’s also no shortage of stunning parks in Tokyo. If you plan your trip around the springtime, you can see and participate in cherry blossom festivals. Even during other times of the year, the parks are a wondrous thing to behold. Many have shrines or temples on the grounds, although not all.
Do keep in mind that it gets quite hot in Tokyo in the summertime, typically in July and August. The daily temps round out at about 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to visit a park, you might opt to go earlier in the day before the temperatures start climbing.
Check out the Amazing Architecture
From Tokyo Skytree to the giant Gundam statue, old temples, and other historical artifacts, the architecture in Tokyo will amaze you. Since there’s so many sights, I again recommend you jot down the ones you want to see most and let that guide your itinerary.
Hit up a Museum
Museums dot Tokyo and its surrounding neighborhoods. Some focus on ancient Japanese artifacts and others have a more modern flair. You might want to see a science museum, an art museum, or a history museum. All are plentiful in the city.
Play at an Arcade or Check out a Themed Café
For those rainy days or the ones with lulls in the schedule, you can fill in the gaps at an arcade or themed café. These fun places will pass the time for sure, but you could probably skip them if you only have a short time in Tokyo. Well, unless you’re visiting for all the kitsch. Then keep these places in your sights.
Pay Respects at a Shrine or Temple
There’s also almost no limit on shrines or temples throughout Tokyo. As I mentioned, sometimes you find these on the grounds of parks, other times by train stations, and other times still just around the city. You should make it a point to see at least one during your trip.
Experience Culture at a Festival
Festivals vary by the season. For example, in June 2019, you can check out the Bunkyo Ajisai Matsuri (a flower festival), the Japan Media Arts Festival, and the World Gourmet & Music Festival 2019. If there’s a certain festival or event you’re eager to see, you might want to plan your trip around it.
Take in the Nightlife
Once the sun sets, Tokyo becomes a hotspot for nightlife. One such destination you can check out is Roppongi. This part of Tokyo has countless bars and entertainment options at night, although things sometimes get a little rowdy. Keep your head about you!
Are you are party animal? I wrote a whole article dedicated to what you can do in Tokyo at night. What to See and Do in Tokyo at Night: 21 Great Activities
Are you worried if Tokyo is safe at night? I wrote a article about that as well!
How to Decide How Many Days to Spend in Tokyo
Now armed with the above information, you should find it somewhat easier to determine how many days to spend in Tokyo. You’ll also want to keep the following factors in mind.
Your Budget
The longer you stay in Tokyo, the more money you’re shelling out for the trip. You also have to tally up the cost of your flights, food, hotel, souvenirs, and spending money. All said, you could easily spend thousands of dollars.
Don’t let that deter you from visiting altogether. You can still get a lot done in three days if you follow an airtight itinerary like this one.
Your Itinerary
Speaking of your itinerary, that can also dictate how long you’ll stay. If you want to see dozens upon dozens of places and do tons of activities, you might decide to stretch out your vacation. As the link I provided proves, you can fit in a lot of sightseeing and activities in a few days. Just prepare to have little downtime.
Remember, Tokyo has a great rail transportation system. You can quickly get to and from many neighboring parts of town in under an hour via the trains. Use that to your advantage. Instead of crisscrossing from place to place, plan part of your day in one area and then move on somewhere nearby later in the day.
Your Activity Levels
While Tokyo’s trains will take you almost anywhere you want to go, once you’re there, you still have to walk. If you have any sort of disability or physical issue that makes it difficult for you to get around, then you might want to revise your itinerary. For instance, you’d skip most parks and museums. That in turn can influence how many days you spend in Tokyo.
How Likely You Are to Come Back
If you’re visiting Tokyo in the first place, it’s probably because you love the city and you’ve always wanted to see it. Now that you’re finally here, you’re absolutely in awe everywhere you go. You almost never want to leave.
I totally understand your feelings! It’s more than okay to get excited and exuberant. After all, you spent the money on this trip, so you should enjoy every minute of it. You do have to ask yourself at some point though, will you come back to Tokyo?
You often can’t answer that question until you’re there. For some, the plane ride might make a return trip difficult. Others might have a tough time scrounging up the money for another trip. If you didn’t mind the flight and you’re willing to save and budget, then you might decide to book another visit here in the future.
If so, then you can relax a little. There’s no need to try and cram every last little thing into your trip this time around. You can always come back again and do what you couldn’t the first time you were in Tokyo.
However, if you don’t plan on returning for any reason, or at least not anytime soon, then milk the experience for all you can.
What Other Parts of Japan You Want to See (If Any)
Finally, you have to consider all your plans. Perhaps your trip to Tokyo is only a small part of your whole vacation. Your spouse or family may also want to visit other areas of Japan. In that case, then you should probably only spend two or three days in Tokyo max. This city has a lot to offer, but so too does the rest of Japan. If you have the chance to see it all, or even most of it, you shouldn’t miss it!
Conclusion
When it comes to how many days you should spend in Tokyo, there’s no wrong answer. Some might say infinitely, and I could certainly see why.
To determine how long you should stay in Tokyo, I’d start with an itinerary. Then I’d factor in your budget, your activity levels, and the likelihood of a return trip. No matter how long you visit, you’re sure to have an unforgettable experience.