Tokyo is our favourite Japanese city. The first-world metropolis is home to the world’s best restaurants, age-old traditional eateries, swankiest skyscrapers and ancient architectural buildings.
If you have been to Tokyo, you would understand how addictive this eclectic mix is. If you haven’t, it is time to make a trip.
We have taken the liberty to pick out the Japanese megalopolis’ best attractions and our personal favourite dining options in Tokyo. From watching the legendary Tsukiji tuna auction, to eating at the relatively unknown Uoriki Kaisen Sushi, here is our itinerary on 4D3N holiday in Tokyo – 24 Tips on What To See and What To Eat.
In this guide, we will also show you how affordable a trip to Tokyo is – as long as you make use of your credit card miles!
DAY ONE IN TOKYO
#1 HAVE BREAKFAST AT ICHIRAN RAMEN
8am: There is no other better way to kick start your 4D3N holiday in Tokyo than a piping hot bowl of delicious Ichiran Tonkotsu Ramen. Hands down the best ramen in the World.
Iwamoto Building B1F
1-22-7 Jinnan Sibuya-ku Tokyo-to
150-0041
Tel: +81 3-3463-3667
Daily: 24 hours
Nearest Station: Shibuya
#2 VISIT THE MEIJI SHRINE
9.30am: Meiji Shrine is a stone’s throw away from the bustling Harajuku. Before entering the sacred site’s main hall, you are expected to wash your hands and mouth as a form of purification at the troughs. At the shrine, you can write down your wishes on a wooden plate (¥500) and hanging them on the divine tree.
1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya
Tokyo 151-8557, Japan
Nearest Station: Harajuku
#3 TAKE A STROLL IN YOYOGI PARK
12pm: Yoyogi Park in Shibuya is the best place to go to for a stroll after your shrine visit. Locals like to gather here with their friends for a picnic and there are always street performers to keep you entertained.
2-1 Yoyogikamizonocho
Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0052, Japan
#4 ARMS BURGER
1pm: You must be starving after a morning at Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park. Head to ARMS for one of the best burgers in Tokyo.
5-64-7 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0063, Japan
Tel: +81 3-3466-5970
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Sun: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Yoyogi-Hachiman
#5 LITTLE NAP COFFEE STAND
2pm: After lunch, walk over to Little Nap COFFEE STAND – which is just around the corner from ARMS – to enjoy a cup of coffee. Established in 2011, Little Nap is a small coffee shop that is frequented by Tokyo’s creative community and the occasional tourists visiting Yoyogi Park.
5-65-4 Yoyogi Shibuya-Ku
Tokyo 151-0053
Tel: +81 3-3466-0074
Tue to Sun: 9am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Yoyogikoen
#6 VISIT TOKYO NATIONAL ART CENTER
3.30pm: Tokyo National Art Center is yet another beautifully designed building worth checking out. Spend your afternoon with your artistic self, and marvel at the splendid undulating glass façade and its three spectacular conical volumes inside.
Kokuritsu Shin-Bijutsukan
The National Art Center, Tokyo
7-22-2 Roppongi Minato-ku
Tokyo 106-8558 Japan
Nearest Station: Roppongi
#7 ROPPONGI HILL MORI TOWER
5.30pm: Currently the fifth-tallest building in Tokyo, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower is a 54-storey skyscraper. The observation decks at the Mori Art Museum on level 53 are perfect spots to see the city’s landscape from up above.
We strongly recommend you to linger till sunset so you get to witness the mesmerising transformation of Tokyo’s daytime cityscape into dazzling night lights.
6 Chome-11-1 Roppongi
Minato, Tokyo 106-6108, Japan
Nearest Station: Roppongi
8pm: There are many tonkatsu restaurants in Tokyo, but ask anyone where the best tonkatsu place is and most will unanimously agree on Maisen Tonkatsu. The pork cutlets served here are extremely juicy and crispy – and are not greasy at all!
4-8-5 Jingumae
Shibuya-ku Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3 3470 0071
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Omotesando
DAY TWO IN TOKYO
#9 WATCH TSUKIJI MARKET’S TUNA AUCTION
3am: While watching the renowned tuna auction at Tsukiji Fish Market is for free, you have to be prepared to sacrifice your precious sleep. There are two auctions in the morning and only 120 visitors are allowed to watch this interesting activity. Guests are divided into two batches and it is recommended to arrive as early as 3am to secure a place.
Tsukiji Fish Market is set to relocate on 02 November 2016 so do pay a visit before they move! Do note that the auction is not open on a daily basis and it is best to plan in advance.
5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo
Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Nearest Station: Tsukiji Shijo
#10 FEAST ON THE FRESHEST SASHIMI AND SUSHIS
8am: Now that you are done with the tuna auction at Tsukiji Fish Market, it is time to feast on sushi and sashimi! Unfortunately, a minimum 3-hour wait is required to dine at the legendary Sushi Dai and Sushi Daiwa.
But Ryu Sushi is equally amazing and you could savour extremely fresh premium sashimi and sushis at very affordable prices. We really love Ryu Sushi.
5-2-1, Building 1. Chuo-ku Tsukiji Market
Tokyo Tel: +81 03 3541 9517
Nearest Station: Tsukiji/Tsukijishijo
#11 TRY THE YUZU RAMEN AT AFURI RAMEN
1pm: We hope you have sufficient rest after a morning trip to the Tsukiji Market! Everyone comes to Afuri Ramen for the famous yuzu ramen.
Every bowl comes with a half seasoned egg, a slice of grilled pork, bamboo shoots and seaweed. The ramen itself is firm and springy, just the way we like it to be. The egg has a runny yolk and is thoroughly flavoured throughout.
1F 117 Bld., 1-1-7 Ebisu
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03 5795 0750
Daily: 11am – 5am
Nearest Station: Ebisu
#12 CROSS THE SHIBUYA CROSSING
3pm: Rain or shine, the famous Shibuya is packed with people from all over the world; it is perpetual. When the traffic light turns red, watch in amazement as pedestrians cross the junction from all directions in an organised chaos. Well, you should join in the moving crowd!
Photography and videography enthusiasts can camp at the nearby Starbucks at Shibuya Tsutaya’s second floor with other like-minded hobbyists to capture this spectacular moment.
#13 SHOPPING AT SHIBUYA
4pm: Of course you have to do some shopping when in Shibuya! The sheer number of shops and malls will leave you spoilt for choice.
Not sure where to start? Shibuya 109 is the most popular destination. Expect kawaii Japanese fashion, classic workwear and quality staples. And the basement is a shoes heaven!
Here’s a tip – for shopping overseas, you should pay with DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card. It is the card to use for travel and with its splendid miles system, it is our preferred way to accumulate miles for our next travel. Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent!
#14 DINNER AT UORIKI KAISEN SUSHI
7pm: Uoriki Kaisen Sushi is an under-the-radar destination that not many people know about. Tucked away in Tokyu Department Store at Shibuya, we love how this hidden gem serves sashimi and sushi at the most wallet-friendly prices.
B1 Tokyu Department Store 2-24-1
Shibuya
Tel: +81 03 5428 3813
Daily: 10am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Shibuya
DAY THREE IN TOKYO
#15 START YOUR DAY WITH DESSERTS AT DOMINIQUE ANSEL BAKERY
10am: Dominique Ansel Bakery, the creator of the world-famous cronut, has an overseas outpost in Tokyo. Step inside the bakery and you will be enchanted by a wide variety of baked goods and desserts. Get your hands on the legendary cronuts and Frozen S’mores.
5-7-14, Jingumae, Shibuya-Ku
Tokyo 150-0001
Tel: +81 3 3486 1329
Nearest Station: Omotesando
#16 WANDER AROUND JAPANESE FOOD HALLS
12pm: Usually located at the basement of departmental stores, Japan’s food halls are like whimsical playgrounds filled with all sorts of Japanese products. We are suggesting you to fill your tummies up with the endless variety of snacks for lunch.
#17 EXPLORE TAKESHITA DORI
2pm: Takeshita Dori aka Takeshita Street is a pedestrianised street in Harajuku, and it is the quintessential Harajuku expeirence. The 400-meter street is lined with dessert kiosks, cute lifestyle shops and boutique fashion stores.
#18 TEMPURA AT TENDON TENYA
6pm: Tendon Tenya is a tendon chain that we really like. While it may not have the best tempura, it is cheap (¥500 for a very decent tendon) and satisfying whenever we want a quick meal.
4-4-31 Jingmae, Shibuya-ku
Tel: +81 3-5413-7983
Nearest Station: Meiji-Jingumae
#19 MARVEL AT THE TOKYO TOWER
8pm: Standing at 332.9 meters, the iconic Tokyo Tower is the second-tallest infrastructure in Japan. The communications and observation tower bears an uncanny resemblance to the world-famous Eiffel tower.
It is best to view the Tokyo Tower at night and watch it shine. Alternatively, head up to the observatory deck of Tokyo Tower if you have spare time earlier in the day and immerse yourselves in a 360-degree breathtaking view.
4 Chome-2-8 Shibakoen,
Minato, Tokyo 105-0011, Japan
DAY FOUR IN TOKYO
#20 EAT GYUDON FOR BREAKFAST
9am: Our favourite breakfast in Japan is gyudon (beef rice bowl). There are three places that we go to – Yoshinoya, Sukiya, and Matsuya. While they may be chains, rest assured that their gyudons are superb.
#21 SHOPPING AT GINZA
11am: Ginza is Tokyo’s most famous upmarket shopping district, and where you can find most of the luxury labels at. It is still worth a visit even if you are not shopping; it is bustling and lively and filled with very fashionable, well-dressed people.
For shoppers, you are probably going to buy big-ticket items here that are in hundreds and thousands. Best way to accumulate your miles, yes? With DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card, of course! 2 miles for every S$1 spent overseas. You are on your way to a business class ticket!
#22 SPLURGE ON A LUXURIOUS LUNCH AT SUSHI KANESAKA
1pm: Sushi Kanesaka is one of the finest sushi restaurants in Tokyo, if not Japan. There are three lunch Omakase options – ¥5,000, ¥10,000 and ¥15,000. A meal here is not cheap, but for the price you pay and quality you get, it is extremely great value.
5-64-7 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0063, Japan
Tel: +81 3-3211-5323
Daily: 11.30am – 2pm, 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Otemachi
#23 AOYAMA FLOWER MARKET TEA HOUSE
4pm: The gorgeous cafe is said to be every girl’s dream high tea venue and we totally understand why. We were wonderstruck by the ethereal decors; think potted flowers, hanging weed and whatnot. Even beautiful plants could be found underneath the glass tables that we were dining at!
5-1-2, MinamiAoyama
Minato-ku Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3 3400 0887
Nearest Station: Omotesando
#24 DINNER AT RED ROCK
6pm: Red Rock’s Roast Beef Rice Bowl – a MOUNTAIN of meat for just ¥880 (or ¥1,150 for the large portion). The value-for-money roast beef rice bowl lived up to all the hype.
And then it’s time to head back to the hotel to get your luggage and return home! Until next time, Tokyo!
3 Chome-25-12 Jingumae, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Tel: +81 3-6721-1729
Daily: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Harajuku
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Tokyo happens to be our favorite city too. And I completely understand how addictive it is. My boyfriend has been obsessed ever since we went and that is why we are going back this year. Thank you for giving me some ideas of where to eat this second time around.
Hi LadyIronChef, appreciate the 4D3N Tokyo Itinerary. However, just a feedback from a reader who also frequents other local food blogs and travel guides. This article just felt a little insincere to me, where many of the points are just to bring DBS Altitude Card into the post. It may be an issue with the writing style perhaps, but I didn’t get a good impression of both DBS Altitude Card and LadyIronChef from this post. Feels like the whole article was just quickly written, for the sake of fulfilling a branded advertorial, with little sincerity put into the planning of content.