Tokyo itinerary, planned the way a local plans
One to seven days in Tokyo, clustered by neighbourhood so you never cross the city twice.
Most Tokyo itineraries are checklists: a temple here, a tower across the city, a market back the other way, and half the trip disappears into trains. I plan the other way around. I cluster each day into neighbourhoods that sit next to each other, so you walk more, ride less, and actually feel the city. Below are my plans for one to seven days. Pick the one that matches your trip.
Pick your length
How many days do you need?
Three full days is the sweet spot for a first visit: old Tokyo, the modern west side, and a food day, without sprinting. Four or five days lets you slow down and add the neighbourhoods most tourists skip. Seven days means you can take a day trip out of the city and still have a lazy morning or two. One day is possible, but treat it as a taster, not a trip.
Planning Tokyo: common questions
How should I plan a Tokyo itinerary?
Plan by neighbourhood, not by attraction. Group each day into areas that sit next to each other, start earlier than you think, and keep afternoons loose so you have room for the street you fall in love with. The train network makes any plan work, but the less you cross the city, the better the trip.
Should I plan every hour in Tokyo?
No. Fix your mornings, because the famous places are calm before nine, and leave the rest of the day half planned. Tokyo rewards wandering, and some of the best moments come from a side street you did not plan for.
Do I need to book attractions in advance in Tokyo?
Only a few things genuinely need advance booking: popular timed-entry attractions like teamLab, the observation decks at sunset, and any famous restaurant. Temples, markets, parks and most of the city need no booking at all.