Japan東京
Five nights, one day trip, and a city that never quite let us slow down.
Tokyo was our first stop, and we met it at full speed: early starts, long walks, and days fuller than any sensible itinerary would allow. It’s a city that rewards curiosity, and some of our favorite moments were ones we nearly walked straight past.
Where we stayed
Breakfast here was excellent and wonderfully efficient, the kind that gets you fed and out the door early. A comfortable, reliable base for a busy week, and I’d happily stay again.
The hotel link may earn me a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Day 1January 19
We landed around 5 p.m., checked in, had a quiet dinner, and went straight to sleep. After a long day of travel, an easy first evening was exactly right.
Day 2January 20
We began beneath the tall trees of Meiji Jingu, Tokyo’s most serene Shinto shrine, and wandered through Yoyogi Park before heading into Harajuku. I’m Donut? is every bit as good as its reputation: soft, fresh donuts worth the hype. From there, we drifted through Takeshita Street, Omotesando Hills, and Harajuku Village.
Day 3January 21
Our longest day, and one of the best. We entered Asakusa through Kaminarimon, the great red gate with its giant lantern, and browsed the snack and souvenir stalls of Nakamise Shopping Street on the way to Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, before walking along the Sumida River. In the afternoon we slowed down in Yanaka Ginza, a charming old-fashioned shopping street, and visited Tennoji Temple. Then came Akihabara, which we nearly skipped. The claw machines turned out to be one of the most fun hours of the entire trip. Trust me on this one. We ended the night in the beautiful chaos of Shibuya Crossing.
Day 4January 22
We started at the Imperial Palace, and I’ll be honest: it was underwhelming. We walked the outer grounds and couldn’t find a way in. If you go, head for the East Gardens, which are free and open most days, or book one of the free guided tours in advance.
Then we ate our way through the Tsukiji Outer Market, the maze of food stalls that still surrounds the site of the old fish market: steak, sushi, and candied fruit. We skipped the hour-long line for the TikTok-famous sushi stand. Plenty of neighboring stalls serve the same thing, and I don’t think we missed out. After Tokyo Tower came Ginza, which we loved, and where I happily stocked up on Shiseido skincare. We finished at Shibuya Sky, the open-air rooftop high above Shibuya. It’s spectacular at night, but in January it’s bitingly cold, and we didn’t last long.
Day 5January 23鎌倉
This became one of our favorite days of the whole trip. Kamakura, about an hour from Tokyo by train, is a quieter seaside town, far less crowded than the city and noticeably warmer. We began at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, the town’s grand shrine, wandered down Komachi Street with its little shops, and walked along Yuigahama Beach. Then came Hase-dera, my favorite temple of the day, and the Great Buddha, a bronze giant that has sat outdoors for centuries.
Back in Tokyo, we walked through Omoide Yokocho, or Memory Lane, a narrow alley of tiny bars and grills in Shinjuku. I’d skip it. It’s far more atmospheric in photographs than it is in person.
The final nightJanuary 30
We returned to Tokyo at the very end of the trip and spent our last night at the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills. For one night, it was worth every penny: a beautiful room, wonderful food, impeccable service, and an unreal view of Tokyo Tower glowing outside our window.