# Things to do in Tokyo: a practical guide for first-time visitors Canonical: https://ticketglide.com/tokyo Language: en Publisher: TicketGlide Facts checked: 2026-10-11 Tokyo is a city of neighbourhoods linked by superb trains: old Asakusa in the east, the Imperial Palace by Tokyo Station, and Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku in the west. Temples, shrines and gardens are free or cheap; what sells out are the timed tickets, from the Ghibli Museum to the Shibuya Sky sunset slots, so check their release dates before you fly. Get an IC card for the trains and plan each day around one area. **Book these before you go** - Ghibli Museum: tickets for the next month go on sale at 10am Japan time on the 10th, and none are sold at the museum - Shibuya Sky at sunset: sunset is always in the higher-priced afternoon band and sells first - teamLab Planets: no tickets at the door, and weekends sell out - Toyosu tuna auction viewing: a monthly lottery of 100 places a day ## Top 10 things to do in Tokyo Ranked for a first visit. For each we name the one tour we would book, or say when you do not need one. Prices checked on 11 October 2026. ### 1. Senso-ji and Asakusa 2 hours · Free Tokyo’s oldest temple and its Nakamise shopping street. The main hall opens at 6:30am from October to March (6am the rest of the year) and closes at 5pm, but the grounds stay open and are lit up after dark. Come early for a quiet temple, or after the shops close for photos. ### 2. Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky 2 hours · Shibuya Sky from ¥2,700 online Watch the crossing from street level, then go up to the open-air roof. Online tickets cost ¥2,700 before 3pm and ¥3,400 from 3pm, so sunset is always in the higher band; at the counter it is ¥300 more, and if adult tickets sell out online the counter has none either. Open 10am to 10:30pm, closed in bad weather. ### 3. Meiji Jingu and Harajuku 2 hours · Free A forest shrine next to Harajuku station, free and open from sunrise to sunset: in October until about 4:40pm, and in December the gates close at 4pm. Visit the shrine first, then walk into Harajuku and Omotesando for shopping. ### 4. teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless 2 hours · From ¥3,800 Immersive digital art. Planets in Toyosu, where you walk barefoot through water, costs from ¥3,800 for adults on its official store, with no tickets at the door. Borderless at Azabudai Hills costs about ¥3,600–5,600 by date and time slot. Both use timed entry; weekends and holidays sell out first. ### 5. Tsukiji Outer Market 2–3 hours · Tours from ¥2,500 Street food, knives and fresh seafood. The market is open to the public from 9am to 2pm (earlier hours are for trade buyers) and closes on Sundays, holidays and some Wednesdays. The tuna auction itself is at Toyosu: viewing from the observation deck is by monthly lottery, 100 people a day, and the November 2026 lottery closes on 13 October at 11:59pm. ### 6. Tokyo Skytree 1.5 hours · From ¥1,800 Japan’s tallest tower, a short walk or one stop from Asakusa. Since April 2026 prices change by date: from ¥1,800 for the 350 m deck and from ¥3,000 with the 450 m gallery, plus ¥500 per ticket if you buy at the counter. Open 9am to 10:30pm. ### 7. Imperial Palace East Gardens 1–2 hours · Free The former castle grounds, free, a short walk from Tokyo Station. Closed on Mondays and Fridays (and on Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); in October open 9am to 4:30pm, from November until 4pm. Free guided tours of the palace grounds run at 10am and 1:30pm from Tuesday to Saturday (not on holidays); bring photo ID. ### 8. Shinjuku by night Evening · Food tours from ¥13,000 Neon, tiny bars and izakaya around Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building’s 45th-floor observatory is free, open from 9:30am (check its monthly closing days). By day, Shinjuku Gyoen garden costs ¥500 and is closed on Mondays. ### 9. Ghibli Museum, Mitaka 2–3 hours · ¥1,000 Studio Ghibli’s own museum in west Tokyo, with timed entry and no tickets sold at the door. Tickets for the following month go on sale at 10am Japan time on the 10th, through the Lawson Ticket English site from abroad. Adults pay ¥1,000. ### 10. Day trip to Mount Fuji and Hakone Full day · Tours from ¥12,880 Lake cruises, a ropeway and, on a clear day, Fuji views. A bus tour is the easiest way to fit both in a day. On your own, the Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku costs ¥7,100 for two days, and the Romancecar express (¥1,200 extra each way) takes about 80 minutes. Fuji is often hidden by cloud, so pick a clear forecast if you can. ## Tokyo itinerary for 1, 2 or 3 days Plan each day around one side of the city and travel between areas by train. ### Day 1: east Tokyo, old and new - Morning: Senso-ji and Asakusa before the crowds. - Midday: Tokyo Skytree, a short walk or one stop away. - Afternoon: Ueno Park and the Tokyo National Museum (¥1,000; closed on Mondays, open until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays). ### Day 2: west Tokyo - Morning: Meiji Jingu, then Harajuku and Omotesando. - Afternoon: Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Sky, timed for sunset. - Evening: Shinjuku for izakaya and Omoide Yokocho. ### Day 3: central Tokyo and the bay - Morning: Tsukiji Outer Market from 9am for breakfast. - Midday: the Imperial Palace East Gardens (closed on Mondays and Fridays). - Afternoon: teamLab Planets in Toyosu or teamLab Borderless at your booked time. ### With more time Add the Ghibli Museum, Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea, or a day trip to Mount Fuji and Hakone. ## Tokyo tickets that sell out: when they go on sale Temples and gardens need no booking, but a handful of Tokyo tickets sell out, each with its own release date. - Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea sell date-priced tickets online only; on peak days in October 2026 an adult one-park ticket reached ¥12,400. | Attraction | When tickets go on sale | Good to know | | --- | --- | --- | | Ghibli Museum | 10am Japan time on the 10th, for the next month | No tickets at the museum | | Toyosu tuna auction deck | Monthly lottery, held the month before | 100 places a day, up to 5 per application | | Shibuya Sky | Online in advance | Sunset is in the higher ¥3,400 band | | teamLab Planets | Online, by time slot | No tickets at the door; from ¥3,800 | | Tokyo Skytree | Any time; prices change by date | ¥500 extra per ticket at the counter | | Imperial Palace grounds tour | In advance or on the day | Free; photo ID required | ## When to visit Tokyo: seasons and weather Spring blossom and autumn leaves are the favourite seasons; summer is hot and humid, and September and October bring the most rain. - Weather: average highs of about 31°C in August and 10°C in January. - The rainiest months are October and September, because of typhoons, not the June rainy season. - Autumn leaves colour Shinjuku Gyoen from late November to early December; cherry blossom forecasts for spring 2027 are usually published from January. - The Tokyo Marathon is on Sunday 7 March 2027. - Many gardens and museums close on Mondays, and the Imperial Palace East Gardens also on Fridays. ## Getting around Tokyo: airports, IC cards and passes Buy a Suica or PASMO card and tap it on every train, subway and bus; the cards are back on sale, and visitor versions need no deposit. ### From the airports - Narita: the Keisei Skyliner reaches Ueno in 41 minutes, every 20 minutes or so, for about ¥2,300–2,600 depending on where you buy. The Narita Express to Tokyo Station takes about an hour. - Narita taxis charge fixed fares of ¥29,000–32,500 to central Tokyo, plus tolls. - Haneda: the Keikyu line reaches Shinagawa in about 11 minutes, and the Tokyo Monorail reaches Hamamatsucho in 13 minutes. ### IC cards and passes - Standard Suica and PASMO cards went back on sale in March 2025. Welcome Suica, for visitors, has no deposit and lasts 28 days. - The Tokyo Subway Ticket for visitors gives unlimited subway rides for 24, 48 or 72 hours. - The Japan Rail Pass (¥50,000 for seven days online) covers JR lines only, not the subway, so it is not worth it for a Tokyo-only stay. ## Money in Tokyo: tax-free shopping changes and tipping From 1 November 2026, tax-free shopping in Japan becomes a refund system: you pay the 10% tax in the shop and get it back when you leave the country. - Purchases up to 31 October 2026 use the old system, where the tax is removed at the till. - Consumption tax is 10%, usually included in displayed prices. - Tipping is not customary in Japan, in restaurants, taxis or hotels. - Carry some cash for small restaurants, shrines and markets. ## Tokyo with kids, on a rainy day or as a couple Digital art and Ghibli for children, indoor museums and teamLab for wet days, and city views at sunset for couples. ### With kids - teamLab Planets or Borderless, the Ghibli Museum, and Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea. ### On a rainy day - teamLab, the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno, and Tokyo Skytree’s indoor decks. ### For couples - Shibuya Sky at sunset, then an izakaya evening in Shinjuku. ## Tokyo tours and tickets by type Browse every bookable option by type, with live prices and availability for your dates. - **Food tours:** Tsukiji Outer Market by morning and Shinjuku or Shibuya izakaya by night. - **Guided and walking tours:** Asakusa and Senso-ji, Shibuya, and e-bike tours of the city. - **Day trips:** Mount Fuji and Hakone by bus or bullet train. - **Attraction tickets:** Observation decks, teamLab and theme parks. ## Frequently asked questions about visiting Tokyo ### How many days do you need in Tokyo? Three days covers Asakusa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and the Imperial Palace. With five, add teamLab, the Ghibli Museum and a day trip to Mount Fuji and Hakone. ### How do I get Ghibli Museum tickets? Tickets for the following month go on sale at 10am Japan time on the 10th; from abroad, use the Lawson Ticket English site. No tickets are sold at the museum. ### How much is Shibuya Sky? Online, ¥2,700 before 3pm and ¥3,400 from 3pm; ¥300 more at the counter. Sunset is always in the higher band. ### How much is Tokyo Skytree in 2026? Prices change by date since April 2026: from ¥1,800 for the 350 m deck and from ¥3,000 for both decks, plus ¥500 per ticket at the counter. ### Can you see the tuna auction in Tokyo? Yes, at Toyosu Market, by a free monthly lottery for the observation deck: 100 people a day, up to five per application. Others can watch from the second-floor walkway. ### Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it for Tokyo? Not for a Tokyo-only trip: it covers JR lines but not the subway. It costs ¥50,000 for seven days and pays off only with long-distance trips. ### How do I get from Narita Airport to Tokyo? The Keisei Skyliner reaches Ueno in 41 minutes; the Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station in about an hour. Fixed-fare taxis cost ¥29,000–32,500 plus tolls. ### How does tax-free shopping work in Japan from November 2026? You pay the 10% consumption tax in the shop and it is refunded after a check when you leave Japan. Purchases until 31 October 2026 use the old system. ### Do you tip in Tokyo? No. Tipping is not customary in Japan. ### When is the best time to visit Tokyo? Spring for cherry blossom and late autumn for leaves. October is the rainiest month on average, and summer is hot and humid. ## Sources - [Senso-ji: about the temple](https://www.senso-ji.jp/about/) - [Meiji Jingu: visit](https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/visit/) - [GO TOKYO: Shibuya Sky](https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/1749/index.html) - [Tokyo Skytree: tickets](https://en.tokyo-skytree.jp/ticket/) - [Tokyo Skytree: 2026 pricing press release](https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/press/post/677/) - [teamLab Planets: tickets](https://teamlabplanets.dmm.com/en) - [Tsukiji Outer Market: calendar](https://www.tsukiji.or.jp/english/calendar/) - [Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Toyosu Market](https://www.english.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/w/016-101-003992) - [Imperial Household Agency: East Gardens](https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-event/higashigyoen02.html) - [Ministry of the Environment: Shinjuku Gyoen](https://policies.env.go.jp/national-garden/shinjukugyoen/index.html) - [Ghibli Museum: tickets](https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/tickets/) - [Tokyo National Museum: admission](https://www.tnm.jp/modules/r_free_page/index.php?id=156&lang=en) - [Odakyu: Hakone Freepass](https://odakyu-global.com/passes/hakone-freepass/) - [Narita Airport: taxi](https://www.narita-airport.jp/en/access/taxi/) - [Haneda Tokyo Access: fares and times](https://www.haneda-tokyo-access.com/en/ride/fares.html) - [Tokyo Monorail](https://www.tokyo-monorail.co.jp/english/) - [ANA: Keisei Skyliner](https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/guide/prepare/airport-guide/access/keisei/) - [JR East: Suica card sales resume](https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/press/pdf/0225_suica_en.pdf) - [Japan Rail Pass: prices](https://japanrailpass.net/en/purchase/price/) - [JNTO: changes to tax-free shopping](https://www.japan.travel/en/ca/news/changes-are-coming-to-tax-free-shopping-in-japan/) - [Japan Meteorological Agency: Tokyo climate normals](https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=44&block_no=47662) - [Tokyo Marathon](https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/) --- TicketGlide helps travellers find tickets, tours, attractions and experiences worldwide. 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