4 Days: Tokyo and Beyond
Four days changes the math. You still get a full run through Tokyo’s core neighborhoods, but now there’s room to step outside the city entirely for a day and see how the rest of Japan feels. This builds on the 3-day itinerary by swapping in a day trip for the fourth day; add Hakone on top and you’ve got the 5-day version .
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Shinjuku and Shibuya: free observatories, the Scramble, Meiji Shrine |
| 2 | Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara: Senso-ji, the National Museum, electronics |
| 3 | Harajuku, Omotesando and Ginza, plus teamLab Borderless in the evening |
| 4 | Day trip to Kamakura: the Great Buddha and a beach town, about an hour out |
Book these before you go
- teamLab Borderless: same-day availability is rare, book ahead on GetYourGuide .
- Shibuya Sky sunset slot: released 14 days ahead at midnight Japan time. Check Viator .
- A guided Kamakura day trip, if you’d rather not navigate the Yokosuka Line and temple hopping solo: browse options on GetYourGuide .
- Four nights on the Yamanote loop: compare rates on Agoda .
Land and tap in before day 1
Take Haneda over Narita if your flight choice allows it, the monorail or Keikyu Line gets you into town in under 20 minutes instead of the hour-plus haul from Narita. Load Welcome Suica Mobile on your phone before you fly (free, skips the counter entirely) or grab the physical Welcome Suica on arrival. From there, one card runs every train, bus, and vending machine for the rest of the trip.
Day 1: Shinjuku and Shibuya
Base yourself in Shinjuku or Shibuya, both sit on the Yamanote Line loop. Start at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building’s free observatories, a skyline view on par with Skytree for zero yen, plus a nightly light show on the east facade. Ride the loop to Shibuya, cross the famous Scramble , and grab lunch at a yakitori counter in Nonbei Yokocho.
Afternoon takes you to Meiji Shrine , a genuine forest a few steps from Harajuku Station. For dinner, walk Golden Gai’s shoebox bars in Shinjuku, and if you want something louder, the old Robot Restaurant is gone but the same creators now run Samurai Restaurant a floor up in the same Kabukicho building, still loud, still neon, still ridiculous.
Day 2: Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara
Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa is free and Nakamise shopping street on the approach is worth the crowd for the snacks alone. A short subway ride puts you in Ueno Park, where the Tokyo National Museum and a walk around Shinobazu Pond fill the rest of the morning. Grab lunch nearby, then spend the afternoon in Akihabara among multi-floor arcades and electronics shops. Dinner at a conveyor-belt sushi spot runs ¥1,500 to 2,500 for a full meal, plates from ¥120.
Day 3: Harajuku, Omotesando and Ginza
Morning is Takeshita Street’s fashion and crepe stands in Harajuku, then a shift a few blocks over to Omotesando’s quieter, upscale energy. Walk the Imperial Palace East Garden in the early afternoon, free and calm despite sitting minutes from Tokyo Station. In the evening, book ahead for teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills, the immersive art museum that reopened here in 2024 after the original Odaiba location closed. Tickets run ¥3,600 to 5,600 and same-day slots are rare.
Day 4: Day Trip to Kamakura
Take the JR Yokosuka Line straight from Tokyo or Shinagawa, about an hour, and you land in a coastal town that feels nothing like the capital. The Great Buddha sits in the open air at Kotoku-in, temples dot the hills around it, and the beach itself makes for an easy, unrushed afternoon before the ride back.
Here’s the opinion I’ll stand behind: skip the nationwide JR Pass for a trip like this one. At roughly ¥50,000 for seven days, it only pays for itself on a long-haul round trip, something like Tokyo to Hiroshima. For a single day trip to Kamakura, your IC card covers city transit and a standalone Yokosuka Line ticket costs a fraction of the pass price. Save the money for dinner instead.
Where to stay
Shinjuku or Shibuya still works best as a base, both sit on the Yamanote loop and put Kamakura’s departure stations within easy reach on Day 4.
Is Kamakura the right day trip, or should you save that day for the city?
Kamakura earns its spot for anyone who wants a genuine change of pace, temples, a beach, and the open-air Great Buddha, all within an hour of central Tokyo and easily done round trip in daylight. If you’d rather stay in the city for a fourth day instead, the plain 4-day Tokyo itinerary covers Yanaka and Ginza in its place.
Things to know before you land
Tipping isn’t customary in Japan and can genuinely confuse staff if attempted, so don’t leave cash on the table. Carry some yen anyway, since smaller shops, older izakayas, and shrine stalls still prefer it over cards. And the weak yen right now, hovering near or above ¥160 to the dollar, makes this a genuinely good stretch to be spending here.
Four days gets you the city and a real taste of the country around it. Tap your card, catch your train, and don’t rush the Kamakura afternoon just to get back for dinner.
Official references: Go Tokyo , JR East , Tokyo Metro , and Kamakura’s official tourism site for temple hours and seasonal events.