Three Perfect Days Tokyo

There are many things Japan is known for that you’re going to want to see and do over the next three days, but lets first focus on navigating from the airport when jetlag is still hitting hard. We suggest you take public transit everywhere you go on your trip to Tokyo. It’s robust, safe and clean. When you’re fresh off the plane you can easily take the Narita Express from the airport to Tokyo Station.

Japan is also a fairly accessible city. But we recommend you call ahead to your hotel and any sites you plan to visit to confirm access and discuss any support needs you may have.

If you’re interested in Japanese architecture ranging from 14,000 BC to the 1990s, head over to Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum. Or if it’s raining you can go to Koto City Fukagawa Edo Museum instead. At the Edo Tokyo museum you can see vintage buildings and recreations from all different eras in Japan, including a hut from the Jomon period, an 1850s bar, a 1930s kitchenware shop and a 1920s bathhouse.

Next up, the Rikugien Gardens, which date back to 1702. It’s said these gardens are inspired by famous Japanese poems. You can either take a stroll admiring their beauty or participate in one of their many workshops, including an uchiwa fan-making workshop.

Now, the most important thing of the day: what and where to eat. There are all kinds of grocery stores in Japan, but one of the fancier ones is called Sembikiya, which sells fresh and high-value produce. 7-Eleven is also worth stopping in. They’re nothing like in the states, with good food including sandwiches made with shokupan and mentaiko onigiri.

For a sit-down restaurant you can try Kanda Matsuya, a soba noodle shop that’s been around since 1884. We recommend the shrimp tempura and with sudachi soba.

For your first night’s stay try the Hoshinoya Tokyo. Not only is it styled as a traditional Japanese inn, or ryokan, but each floor has six rooms making it feel small and intimate. The Hoshinoya Tokyo also offers a variety of amenities, including rooftop baths and ryūteki, or dragon flute, concerts.

Japan is crisscrossed with subway lines. The Yamanote line is the most popular and goes in a circle around the center of Tokyo. Or, if you want to visit a few museums or see the Rainbow Bridge, the Yurikamome line is a monorail that takes a scenic path through Odaiba.

One thing to check out as you enjoy the train system are the rooftop experiences in Tokyo. In the states this usually means just restaurants and bars, but in Japan it also means gardens, shopping and kenjutsu, or Japanese sword fighting, lessons.

There are also a variety of temples you can visit, but we recommend at the very least seeing the oldest temple in Tokyo: Sensoji in Asakusa. After you’re done at the temple it’s worth sticking around this part of town. Asakusa has a lot of small booths and food stalls that you should stop by.

If you had to choose only one art museum to visit on your trip, it should be the teamLab museum in Azabudai Hills. This digital art museum is immersive and feels like stepping into a video game. The whole point is for visitors to become part of the art, so you’re encouraged to interact with all of it.

In terms of food, day two is sushi day. If you’re looking for a place tourists love, check out Sushiro. You order on a tablet and your sushi will come straight to you on a conveyor belt. There are both traditional rolls and fusion rolls, like pancetta and broccoli. If you want a fancier meal, stop by Sushi Mitsukawa for a 14-course sushi omakase.

For your second night’s stay, check out Prince Sakura Tower. The best part about this hotel is Junya Ishida, the concierge. His suggestions for local bars, shops, secret gardens and more are all must-visits.

If you want to shop while you’re in Tokyo, you need to go to Ginza. This area is known for its glamor, but it’s also where you’ll find antenna shops. At these stores you can find local goods from each of Japan’s 47 prefectures. This includes Hiroshima’s momiji manjū, maple leaf–shaped pastries, Ishikawa sake and Okinawa pottery.

For a temple to visit on day three, go to Gotokuji. This temple is peaceful even though it’s still part of Tokyo city. It's also home of maneki-neko, or the lucky waving cat statue.

If you need a jolt of energy for an activity-packed day, head to Café de L’Ambre for coffee. People travel from all over the world just for this cup of joe, and it’s well worth it.

The Omoide Yokocho area is also a good one to check out for food, but if you’re a fan of ikura, salmon roe, we recommend you go to Iroriya Higashiginzaten in Ginza and order the kobore. Harukor is also a good option if you want to Ainu food. The Ainu are an indigenous group native to northern Japan.

If you’re looking for a nightcap, Golden Gai is a network of alleyways filled with small bars that serve no more than 12 people at a time.

For your final night, stay at the Hotel Groove Shinjuku. It’s right in the center of Tokyo in Kabukicho Tower.