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Tokyo: two different city days

A suggested itinerary based in Tokyo. Allow 2 days.

A suggested route for your own trip, inspired by the Journal’s locations. It is not a record of Andy’s personal itinerary.

Allow2 daysBaseTokyoRoute4 planned stages

Editorially reviewed 16 September 2026 · confirm live access before travelling.

Japan — photograph from Andy’s Journal

Your suggested route

The times below are suggested allowances, not live opening hours or transport schedules. Adjust the order for your arrival time, bookings and conditions.

  1. Day 1 · Morning · Asakusa

    Start at Sensō-ji and explore the temple grounds before browsing Nakamise. Allow two hours including breakfast and the quieter side streets, then walk to the Sumida River. This is a neighbourhood morning: resist adding a distant timed attraction before lunch.

  2. Day 1 · Afternoon · Ueno

    Have soba or tempura around Asakusa, then travel to Ueno. Choose one museum, or combine the park with Ameyoko’s shopping streets. Allow three hours including a café break. Stay around Ueno for an informal dinner rather than crossing the city again.

  3. Day 2 · Morning · Azabudai Hills

    Book teamLab Borderless at Azabudai Hills and allow two to three hours. This is a different venue from teamLab Planets in Toyosu. Eat nearby afterwards, leaving enough flexibility that the next reservation does not dictate how quickly you explore.

  4. Day 2 · Afternoon and evening · Shinjuku

    Travel to Shinjuku for a garden visit if Shinjuku Gyoen’s opening hours suit, or browse department stores and their food halls. Finish with dinner locally. Small Omoide Yokocho venues can be atmospheric; check cover charges and seating arrangements before ordering.

Where to pause for food

Make meals part of each neighbourhood: Asakusa soba or tempura, an Ueno dinner, then a Shinjuku food-hall browse. A seated lunch prevents the day becoming several snack queues. Eat takeaway purchases in permitted places and check menus before entering very small venues.

Getting around

Use trains and the subway, allowing 30–45 minutes between major neighbourhood activities as a planning buffer that includes station navigation. Stay near a useful station. These are suggested activity budgets, not current train timetables.

For a shorter day or different weather

For a slower day, replace Ueno’s museum with the river and a long lunch. In rain, extend the museum or department-store time. If digital art does not interest you, choose another museum rather than booking an attraction solely for photographs.

Before you go

Reserve the exact teamLab venue directly and check museum closing days. Keep the days interchangeable around ticket availability. Garden seasons and skyline visibility vary, so neither blossom nor a clear sunset is essential to this route.

Visitor information and further planning

Use these destination, attraction and operator resources to check current access and arrangements before booking.

Places from the Journal

Explore the original Instagram posts from this destination.

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