Three Perfect Days: A Trip to Tokyo

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, 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.

Know before you go

Before getting into how to spend your time in Tokyo, let’s talk about money:

• Tokyo is card and tap-to-pay friendly, but you’ll want to have cash on hand to shop in small businesses or if you’re going outside of the city.
• To get cash in Tokyo (for the best exchange rate) use a Seven Bank ATM inside 7-Eleven, airports and train stations.
• You can use a currency conversion app to confirm how much yen is equal to your local dollar.