I absolutely guarantee it: You’ve never visited a place like Tokyo. A place that honors and preserves the past while also being an almost unimaginably massive metropolis that presents a technicolor vision of the future.
And whether you’re seeking culinary or cultural experiences—or just looking to feel the rush of the crush of pedestrians at Shibuya—Japan’s capital doesn’t disappoint. You could spend a whole year and not even scratch the surface. But if you only have 24 hours? Here’s what we recommend for a very busy but ultimately satisfying one-day adventure.
Arrival
When you fly in, Tokyo offers two options. Narita International Airport (NRT) sits about 37 miles east of the city and is Japan’s busiest airport for international passengers. Haneda Airport (HND) is closer to the action, just over nine miles south of Tokyo Station, and is the country’s busiest in terms of aircraft movement. Both receive direct flights on major carriers from around the world and across North America.
You’ll have easy options from each one to get into town. The fastest from NRT is the JR Narita Express train, which connects the airport with Tokyo’s central station in about 55 minutes. A one-way ticket will set you back about $20.
From HND, you have a number of ways to reach Tokyo Station, including hopping on the monorail (which was built for the 1964 Olympic Games), a trip that should take about half an hour. The cost is very minimal—a ticket won’t be more than five dollars.
Morning
While I wouldn’t normally recommend hanging around the train depot as your first experience in a new city, Tokyo Station is the perfect place to refuel after your long flight. The world’s 10 busiest train stations are all located in Japan, and around 1.1 million people pass through this stately red brick building every single day. Beneath it, an underground city bustles.
Don’t get lost—something that’s easily done. The series of interlocking malls can seem like a maze. You can browse for your breakfast, as many restaurants here offer plastic models of their various delicious dishes for you to observe and decide. Or a simpler and easier plan is just to head to a place you know is really good, like Rokurinsha, which serves up steaming, satisfying morning ramen.
Satiated, take a short walk across to the Imperial Palace. Some 14 million people make their home in Tokyo, and more than twice that live in the metro area. But right in the beating heart of it all, a few steps into the lush and landscaped grounds of the Palace, all that busyness fades away.
Walk across the moats on stone bridges. Still the home of the Japanese royal family, the complex is actually relatively new when you consider the ancient nature of this country. They began construction in 1868, after the seat of power moved here from Kyoto in the Meiji Restoration. Everything was rebuilt after bombing in the Second World War.
To see beyond the outermost gates, you’ll need a guided tour, which is best booked in advance at the website of the Imperial Household Agency. They run on most days at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., for a little more than an hour. Unlike palace tours in Europe, which enter the inner chambers of long-ago kings and queens, this is still the active residence of the emperor. So while you won’t actually enter any buildings, the beauty of the grounds and the fascinating information related by guides are reason enough to visit.
If you’re still looking for a bit more of a walk, make your way just a little north of the palace to Kitanomaru, a national park. This green space was once home to a powerful clan. Now its paths, moats, and pond attract anyone seeking a little fresh air. (Plus a science museum and the Budokan, which hosts martial arts competitions and some big-time concerts.) The park is especially stunning in the spring, when cherry blossoms bloom, and in autumn, with all the fall colors.
Afternoon
Just getting to your destination in this city is a truly interesting experience, especially if (like me) you love riding on trains. Tokyo’s transit system includes a number of different companies, including JR and Metro. Dozens of lines connect to hundreds of stations, daily moving many millions of people.
When you stand in front of the system map, the kaleidoscope of colors, circles, and boxes can be intimidating. But once you figure it out (perhaps with a little help from a maps app on your phone or a helpful staff member), you’ll have a fascinating ride. Big stations are worlds unto themselves.
Platforms feature vending machines for almost anything imaginable, from beer to burgers to T-shirts and umbrellas. And once on board, the people-watching is some of the best in the world. It’s an inexpensive way to get a sneak peek into the lives of ordinary commuters—short rides cost little more than a dollar.
You might want to ride for a while, just for fun. But definitely make your way over to Senso-Ji. This Buddhist temple, which dates back to 645 AD, is the oldest in Tokyo. Walk amongst the worshippers, through the Thunder Gate, and past the shrines and cauldron emanating incense smoke under a five-tiered pagoda.
If you’re looking for a souvenir, this is the perfect place to pick one up. Right here, Nakamise-dori is a long shopping street where you can scoop up anything from Godzilla toys to kimonos and yukatas (a lightweight summer version of the traditional robe). Because you’ll be having an early dinner, this is also an excellent spot for a little snack. Choose from stands offering ramen and sushi and other easy, super-delicious fare.
It’s time to make your way across town—a bit of a journey. Take the JR or Metro, and with one change of train and about 30 to 40 minutes, you’ll arrive at Shinjuku Station. You’ll step off your train at a place that the Guinness Book of World Records recognizes as the busiest train station on earth. More than 3.5 million people pass through here daily.
Take a little time to wander around the massive, rambling complex of shops and restaurants, feeling the crush of commuters. Then ramble around Shinjuku, a district that radiates neon and energy. Grab a pre-dinner drink at one of the hundreds of super-tiny, somewhat tumbledown bars that line the narrow, interlocking lanes and alleys in Golden Gai. It is raffish and just absolutely filled with personality (as well as plenty of locals), a tucked-away corner of the city that feels like the Tokyo of decades ago.
Then, grab an early dinner at Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane), another throwback to a Japan that now mostly exists only in the past. Take a little extra time to walk the length of this super-tight backlane. Smell the yakitori—chicken skewers cooking in the open air, wafting delicious scents over the whole scene.
The truly adventurous can find other culinary options, too, including frog sashimi. When you’re ready to eat, don’t be shy. Elbow up to the bar and join the after-work crowd for a bite. The atmosphere is communal and convivial and a truly unique opportunity to mix with the people who live here.
Then it’s time for some baseball. This is by far Japan’s most popular sport. Introduced by Americans in the late 19th century, many in this country now live and breathe the game. Japan, of course, produced the LA Dodgers’s Shohei Ohtani, one of the best players to ever pick up a ball, bat, and glove.
Watching a game in this country is a spectacular experience you’d never get in an American ballpark. Yes, the game on the field—but also watching your fellow spectators. Japanese fans engage in a series of chants whenever their team is at bat, often beating drums or blowing instruments like trumpets.
While the Tokyo Dome is the country’s most famous stadium, try to get a game at Meiji Jingu Stadium. Home to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, it’s the second-oldest stadium in the country, built back in 1926. Cheer on the home team with all the fans, who wave green umbrellas in the air when the Swallows score.
And if you still have a little energy after the game, hop on the Ginza Line and ride two stops over the Shibuya Station. The scramble crossing there is the world’s busiest pedestrian intersection. Wait for the light to change. Then, under the flashing lights all around, step out and make your way to the other side of the street, with as many as 3,000 others doing the same thing. A typically Tokyo way to end a busy day.
