Planning a trip to Japan soon but only have 2 days in Tokyo? We recently traveled to Tokyo and were able to see so many beautiful landmarks, eat delicious food, and take in the city life all in just a couple days. I would definitely recommend coming to this amazing city, learning the language, and absorbing the culture. This travel itinerary may seem like a lot but if you have the energy and a sense of adventure, you’ll be golden! Keep reading to learn more about some of the best things to do if you have only 2 days in Tokyo:
1. Eat fresh seafood at the Tsukiji fish market
If you love fresh seafood, stop by the Tsukiji fish market first thing in the morning. Vendors will typically be just opening around 7am. Tsukiji Outer Market is located a short walk from either Tsukiji Shijo Station on the Oedo Subway Line or Tsukiji Station on the Hibiya Subway Line. There’s a variety of seafood here, including fish, oysters, octopus, squid, eel, ramen, pastries, and much more. Ensure you eat right outside the shop you purchased from so you can discard any trash once you’re done eating. Tokyo is a pretty clean city, but it’s ironically difficult to find a public trash can. 😂
2. Navigate the train with a Suica card
When traveling for only 2 days in Tokyo, it’ll really help to purchase a Suica card when you get to the train station after arriving from the airport. This pass will make it easy to travel Tokyo by train and allow you to see more sights in a short amount of time. For costs and how to use the pass, be sure to visit their website for all the info.
3. Visit Senso-ji
The oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo is the Senso-ji (Asakusa Kannon Temple) and it’s one of the most popular temples in Japan. When we were there, there were tons of people, many wearing the traditional Japanese garments. There was lots of picture taking, even couples having their wedding photos captured with the background of the temples and pagoda. We also found some beautiful cherry blossoms nearby. To learn more about the temple, check out the Senso-ji website.
4. Wander the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
This was a nice afternoon walk where we spent about an hour of the day. The gardens were super clean and expansive, and the downtown skyscrapers surrounded the area. It was a great spot for picture taking, or sitting on a nearby bench and enjoying a refreshing drink.
5. Stroll through the forest to Meiji Jingu
Meiji Jingū is a shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken in 1920. In order to get there, it’s about a 10-15 minute walk through a forest where you’ll pass barrels of sake and wine. The shrine is open from sunrise to sunset, so try to get there before the sun sets. Also, make sure to visit the website dedicated to Meiji Jingu for more information on this historical landmark.
6. Shibuya crossing and Hachiko Memorial Statue
Of course, it goes without saying, if you only have 2 days in Tokyo, you’ll want to head over to Shibuya City. This popular area is where you’ll find the busy Shibuya crosswalk, miles of shopping, restaurants, marketing/advertising, colorful lights, etc. It’s definitely one of the most photographed places in Tokyo.
Additionally, next to Shibuya crossing is where the Hachiko Memorial Statue is located. If you’re not familiar with the story: Hachiko, an Akita dog in the 1920s, would return every day back to the same train station for 9 years where he used to meet his human companion who had passed away. It’s such a touching story – I would recommend reading about it before visiting the memorial. 😥
7. Window shop in Harajuku
Next on the list is the Harajuku district. This area is known for its artistic clothing stores, fashion, and food stalls. You can find a little bit of everything here whether you’re looking for a specific outfit or just window shopping.
8. Slurp ramen at local shops
Let’s eat some ramen! There’s a lot more food than just ramen in Japan, but this was our first time in Tokyo so we really wanted to try a local ramen shop. There are tons to choose from all over the city. We actually tried ramen from a restaurant which had self-service ordering, and it was so warming and delicious. 🍜
9. Capture the skyline from the Government Observatory
For some amazing panoramic views of the city at no cost, head to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Room. Once you get to the building on the ground floor, there are signs directing you to the observation floor. After you get inside, they have employees who will take groups of people up to the higher floors where you can take pictures. The city views at night were wonderful – would highly recommend!
There you have it! I hope this short list of Tokyo favorites will help you on your next Japanese adventure. Let me know in the comment section what you’re most excited about doing in Tokyo or any recommendations you’d like to add! Looking to continue traveling throughout Asia? Check out my Asia travel destinations page for more tips. Happy adventuring! ✈
