Tokyo2 min read
Tokyo in one day: east side or west side?
Old Tokyo or neon Tokyo. You can see both in a day, but only from a train window.
By the Troose team ·
Pick a side. East Tokyo (Asakusa, Skytree, the Imperial Palace, Ginza) is old Tokyo, temples and easy walking. West Tokyo (Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku) is the busy, neon Tokyo of the photos. Doing both in one day means much of it is spent underground.
Two Tokyos
Tokyo is huge, but most first visits split neatly into two halves. The Ginza metro line runs from Asakusa in the east to Shibuya in the west in a little over 30 minutes, and the two ends feel like different cities.
East side
Asakusa, Skytree, Imperial Palace, Ginza
- Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple, and the snack street in front of it
- Skytree for the view over the whole city
- Wide, calm walks around the Imperial Palace moats
- Ginza's shop windows in the late afternoon
- Best for: first-timers, parents, a slower day
West side
Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku
- A quiet forest path to the Meiji Jingu shrine
- Harajuku's street fashion and sweets
- The Shibuya Crossing, ideally from above
- Shinjuku at night, under the neon
- Best for: teenagers, night owls, the Tokyo of the photos
One day on the east side
08:30
Senso-ji, before the crowd
The temple grounds are calm early. The shops on Nakamise street open from around 9:00 to 10:00.
10:30
Nakamise street
Rice crackers, sweet bean snacks and small souvenirs.
12:00
Lunch, then Skytree
Skytree is a short ride from Asakusa. Book a time slot in busy seasons.
15:00
Imperial Palace
Walk the outer gardens and the moat. The inner grounds have limited opening, so check before you go.
17:00
Ginza
The main street at dusk, when the shop windows light up.
One day on the west side
09:00
Meiji Jingu
Start quiet: a gravel path through tall trees to the shrine.
11:00
Harajuku
Takeshita street for the noise and colour, Omotesando for something calmer.
13:30
Lunch, then Shibuya
Walk down to Shibuya and cross the famous crossing. Then go up to see it from above.
17:00
Shinjuku after dark
Ten minutes by train. Arrive as the signs come on.
Quick questions
Is one day enough for Tokyo?
Enough for one half of it. Pick the east side for temples and history, the west side for shrines, shopping and neon.
Asakusa or Shibuya?
Asakusa for old Tokyo and Senso-ji, Shibuya for the crossing and the city at night. They are a little over 30 minutes apart on the Ginza metro line.
What is the best area for a first day in Tokyo?
The east side. Asakusa and Senso-ji are easy, calm in the morning and a gentle introduction to the city.
The Tokyo Waddle
Nine days in and around Tokyo, planned for Indian travellers
Fly from India, land in Tokyo and let us handle the transport, tickets and timings. Centuries-old temples by morning, radiant neon cities by night, Mt Fuji mirrored in a lake, and a whole day to shop before you fly home.
- Indian dinner every night
- A guide who speaks English, Hindi and Japanese
- 15 places in 9 days
From ₹1,95,000 per person
