THE BASIC ROUTE
Staying in Shinjuku,
Divide Tokyo in half.
If it's your first time in Tokyo, the key is not to traverse the large city in one day. Stay three nights in Shinjuku, spend the second day walking west from Meiji Jingu to Shibuya, and the third day walking east from Asakusa to Tokyo Skytree. Tokyo Station was added only on the last day, reducing transfers and going back without missing the iconic scenes.
3 NIGHTS · 4 DAYS
Schedule to follow
Narita to Shinjuku, first night close
- 01Arrival at Narita Airport, immigration and baggage pickup, then transfer to JR
- 02N’EX Tokyo round-trip ticket · Adult ¥5,200 · Travel to Shinjuku without transfers
- 0315:30 Shinjuku hotel check-in or luggage storage
- 0417:00 Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck or West Shinjuku Building Forest Walk
- 0518:00 Tsukemen dinner at Punguna · Pre-peak entry recommended
- 0619:30 Omoide Yokocho → Kabukicho Neon Street
- 07Finish by walking back to your accommodation without having to travel long distances.
From the forest to the skies of Shibuya
- 0108:30 Depart from Shinjuku · Go to Harajuku by JR Yamanote Line
- 0209:00 Meiji Jingu · Free admission · Check opening hours by season
- 0310:30 Takeshita Dori → Cat Street → Omotesando on foot
- 0413:00 Arrival at Shibuya · Scramble intersection and Center Gai
- 0514:00 Sushinomidori Shibuya branch · Late lunch considering waiting time
- 0617:00 Arrive 20 minutes before SHIBUYA SKY reservation time
- 0719:00 After an evening walk in Shibuya, return to Shinjuku by Yamanote Line.
One day east from Senso-ji to Tokyo Skytree
- 0108:00 Depart from Shinjuku and transfer to Toei Metro to Asakusa
- 0209:00 Sensoji Kaminarimon → Nakamise → Main Hall
- 0310:30 View of Tokyo Skytree from the riverside of Sumida Park
- 0411:00 Early Tendon lunch at Daikokuya Tempura
- 0512:30 Go to Tokyo Tokyo Skytree on foot or by Tobu Line
- 0614:00 Observation deck viewing · Date-specific reservations recommended
- 0716:30 Go to Ueno by subway · Walk around Ameyoko
- 0818:30 After a short tour of Akihabara, return to Shinjuku
After going around Tokyo Station, go to the airport
- 0108:30 Check out · Leave luggage at Shinjuku hotel
- 0209:00 Move to Tokyo Station by JR Chuo Line
- 0309:30 Round trip walk to Marunouchi Station and Imperial Palace Garden
- 0411:00 Early lunch at Gyukatsu Motomura Tokyo Station Yaesu Branch
- 0512:20 Return to Shinjuku and collect luggage
- 06Board N’EX from Shinjuku around 13:00
- 07Based on arrival at Narita Airport 3 hours before international departure
- 08If the flight departs before 18:00, the Tokyo Station schedule is omitted.
EAT ALONG THE ROUTE
From Tsukemen to Gyukatsu,
Four meals on the road that day.
Operating hours and prices are confirmed as of September 2026. Please check the official page again on the day of your visit as waiting reception, temporary closures, menus, and public holiday operations may change.
DAY 1 · Dinner
Fuunji, Shinjuku main restaurant
- movement line
- Approximately 8 minutes on foot from JR Shinjuku South Exit / West Shinjuku
- menu
- Special Tsukemen and Ramen
- budget
- Approximately ¥1,000–2,000 per person
- sales
- 11:00–15:00 · 17:00–21:00
This is the first meal served directly from the airport towards West Shinjuku after leaving your luggage at the hotel. There will be a line due to the limited number of seats, so be sure to open at 17:00 and check the notice on the day for temporary closures.
Check the latest information ↗
DAY 2 · Late lunch
Sushinomidori Shibuya Mark City Branch
- movement line
- Directly connected to Shibuya Station, Mark City East 4th floor
- menu
- Assorted seasonal nigiri, tuna, conger eel
- budget
- Approximately ¥3,000–6,000 per person
- sales
- Weekdays 11:00–15:00·17:00–21:00 Weekends/Holidays 11:00–21:00
This is the route you take after coming down from Harajuku to Shibuya and eating before going up to the observatory. It's a popular restaurant with a long wait, so check the on-site reception time first, and if you make a reservation to enter after 15:00, don't delay lunch too much.
Check the latest information ↗
DAY 3 · Early lunch
Asakusa Daikokuya Tempura
- movement line
- Approximately 5 minutes walk from Sensoji Kaminarimon
- menu
- Tendon, Shrimp Tendon, Tempura Set Meal
- budget
- Approximately ¥2,300–4,000 per person
- sales
- Generally 11:00–20:30 · Until 21:00 on Saturdays and public holidays
If you arrive at the opening time after visiting Sensoji Temple, you can avoid long lines. It features a soft batter soaked in a rich sauce, and after the meal, if you head towards the Sumida River, it naturally connects with the direction of Tokyo Skytree.
Check the latest information ↗
DAY 4 · Early lunch
Gyukatsu Motomura Tokyo Station Yaesu Branch
- movement line
- Walking distance from JR Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit
- menu
- Gyukatsu set meal, barley rice, tororo
- budget
- Approximately ¥2,000–3,000 per person
- sales
- Mon–Sat 11:00–23:00 · Sun and public holidays until 21:30
This is a meal on the return trip from Marunouchi, passing through the station to Yaesu. You can cook as much as you want on your personal stove, and if you finish before 12 o'clock, you will have time to pick up your luggage in Shinjuku and go to the airport.
Check the latest information ↗DAY 2 FLOW
In a quiet forest,
To the busiest intersection.
Meiji Jingu is free and opening times vary depending on sunrise and sunset. If you walk through the forest in the morning and go down Takeshita Dori and Cat Street in one direction, it is about 3km to Shibuya. If you can't walk, take the JR from Harajuku to just one stop, Shibuya.
SHIBUYA SKY 10:00–22:30, last admission 21:20. Online adult rates are ¥2,700 before 14:59 and ¥3,400 after 15:00 and are timed. The rooftop area may be closed during strong winds and rain.
THE TOKYO VIEW
What you need to reserve is:
It's time for the sun to set.
Shibuya Sky sells out first at sunset. If you book for about 40 minutes before sunset, you can see the density of daylight and the moment the neon lights up all at once. If the dates don't match, turn the Tokyo Skytree observatory to the night view for DAY 3, and focus on Shibuya for the street night view.
WHERE TO STAY
luxury two,
Two cost-effective hotels
Recommendation Conclusion
Looking at the route, Blossom Shinjuku is the most stable, and Tokyu Stay is better for laundry and long-term stay convenience. Choose the Bellstar for stunning room views, or the renewed Park Hyatt to make the stay itself the highlight of your trip. For all four places, we recommend staying for 3 consecutive nights without changing accommodations.
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Shinjuku Park Tower 39th – 52nd floor · Shinjuku Station shuttle operation
- price
- 2 people per room approx. ¥100,000–220,000+ / 1 night
- breakfast
- Girandol 07:00–10:30 · Check breakfast included plan
- Dinner
- Hotel dining operations including New York Grill, Go’s, and Girandole
- parking
- Self ¥4,800 / 1 night · Ballet ¥6,800 / 1 night
- Advantages
- Re-opening in December 2025, high-rise rooms, classic service, and panoramic views of Tokyo make the trip itself a choice.
- Cons
- It is within walking distance from Shinjuku Station and has the highest lodging and dining costs among the four, making it inefficient considering station accessibility alone.
BELLUSTAR TOKYO, A Pan Pacific Hotel
Tokyu Kabukicho Tower upper floors, walking distance from Shinjuku Station East Exit
- price
- 2 people per room approx. ¥70,000–150,000+ / 1 night
- breakfast
- Breakfast included plan/in room Japanese style breakfast provided
- Dinner
- Restaurant Bellustar·Teppan Ten-yu·Bar operation
- parking
- Hotel guests 12 hours ¥1,300 · 24 hours ¥2,500
- Advantages
- Rooms overlooking the Shinjuku night view are closest to the DAY 1 Kabukicho route, and the hotel has good dining options.
- Cons
- Because it is in the middle of a busy area, the crowds and noise on weekend evenings can be a burden, and rates vary widely.
JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Shinjuku
Approximately 3 minutes on foot from JR Shinjuku South Exit
- price
- 2 people per room approx. ¥22,000–45,000 / 1 night
- breakfast
- 06:30–10:30 · Last admission 10:00 · Adult ¥3,850
- Dinner
- Akasaka Umaya · Weekdays 17:00–23:00 · Weekends and public holidays until 22:00
- parking
- Reservation required: 28 vehicles · ¥2,000 / 1 night
- Advantages
- It is easy to use N’EX, Yamanote Line, and Chuo Line, so it is the number one travel efficiency for this itinerary and arrival and departure from the airport is simple.
- Cons
- Because it is close to the station, depending on the date, prices rise quickly for a budget hotel, and basic rooms can be tight for two large suitcases.
Tokyu Stay Shinjuku Eastside
Approximately 3 minutes walk from Higashi-Shinjuku Station / Approximately 5 minutes walk from Shinjuku-Sanchome Station
- price
- 2 people per room approx. ¥18,000–36,000 / 1 night
- breakfast
- 07:00–10:00 · Last admission 09:30 · Adult ¥2,640
- Dinner
- No regular restaurant dinner · Soup and salad menu sold for guest rooms
- parking
- When using a car, inquire in advance about parking availability and nearby paid parking.
- Advantages
- The in-room washer/dryer, microwave, and mini-kitchen in some rooms are practical for a 3-night stay and easy access to two subway stations.
- Cons
- It is far to carry luggage to JR Shinjuku Station and N’EX platform, so you will need a taxi or extra time on airport transfer days.
Rate criteria · Approximate range of 2 people per room per night searchable in September 2026. It varies greatly depending on the date, day of the week, room class, breakfast, and cancellation conditions. Please double-check the total including tax and service charge before making the actual payment.
BUDGET GUIDE
Estimated cost per person
Accommodation is per person, sharing a double room. Flights and shopping are excluded, and the total varies greatly depending on the combination of accommodation class and paid observation deck. The Meiji Jingu, Sensoji, and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories are free.
GOOD
Advantages of this schedule
- Shinjuku 3 consecutive nights, check-in and luggage transfer only once
- Minimize city crossings by splitting west and east into separate days
- Includes Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Sensoji, Tokyo Skytree, and Tokyo Station
CHECK
Things to know
- Shibuya Sky and Tokyo Skytree have different views and rooftop operations depending on the weather.
- There may be lines at all four restaurants, so make sure to use them when they open or during late lunch hours.
- For flights departing from Narita before 18:00, the Tokyo Station schedule is omitted on the last day.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Please check again before departure.
JR EAST · N’EX round-trip ticket/use section ↗GO TOKYO · Meiji Jingu opening information ↗SHIBUYA SKY · Time-specified ticket and fee ↗TOKYO SKYTREE · Operating hours and fees per date ↗Sushi no Midori · Store · Business hours ↗Daikokuya Tempura · Menu · Store Information ↗Park Hyatt Tokyo · Rooms · Dining ↗JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Shinjuku · Rooms · Access ↗PHOTO CREDITS · Shibuya intersection · Sensoji Temple: Wikimedia Commons · Meiji Jingu: Japan Rail Pass introduction image · Shibuya panoramic view: Photociol · Food images are introduction/review images of each restaurant · Accommodation images are images provided by each hotel's press release, official gallery, or accommodation introduction page.
English edition of our Korean guide. Times and prices retain the source review date; they are not live booking quotes. Check eligibility for visitor fares and plan international flights separately.