The best way to spend 48 hours in Tokyo
With so much to see and do in Tokyo, two days doesn’t seem like much time. But with clever planning and this handy guide, you can experience the best of it.
A 48 hour sojourn in any city — be it thanks to a stopover or a whirlwind weekend away — is hardly enough time to fully immerse yourself in a location. But 48 hours in Tokyo — one of the most vibrant and fascinating cities in the world — may just be the most exciting 48 hours of your life. A city positively brimming with culture, Tokyo truly does have something to be seen and experienced around every corner — 48 hours in Tokyo isn’t nearly long enough to appreciate the diversity and eclectic nature of the city, but there’s still plenty to squeeze into two days to make you feel like you’ve had a taste of the bustling hotspot. After all, the action in Tokyo doesn’t peter out come nightfall — in fact, it amps right up.
Given how efficient Japan’s railway system is, getting around the city is as easy as can be. While a longer stay in the city might require a rail pass to make travelling on the train more streamlined, a 48 hour-long stay means you’re better off buying your train tickets as you go, which can be easily done at every station. Or, as there’s so much to see in Tokyo, you can tackle plenty of it on foot, especially as it’s so flat. For the adventure seekers, you can also take a tour of the city via go-kart, if you feel so inclined — very Tokyo indeed.
From spectacularly maintained gardens and parks to quirky shopping districts and suburbs that make you feel like you’re in a video game, 48 hours in Tokyo promises to be a whirlwind of sights, smells, tastes and experiences you won’t soon forget. Dare we say, you’ll be so enamoured with the city you’ll be booking a return trip on your way home. For the ultimate itinerary for two days in Tokyo, read on.
Wander through Shinjuku Gyoen
An area that was once the Tokyo residence of a feudal lord, Shinjuku Gyoen is now one of Tokyo’s most spectacular gardens. Home to over 400 cherry trees, the beautifully-maintained park is a tourist hotspot come cherry blossom season, where the park becomes dusted in a cover of baby pink petals. Ponds filled with coy fish are dotted throughout the park, while mini orchards of fruit trees, carefully tended-to flower beds and sprawling trees mean there’s always something to look at (and photograph). Flora aside, there’s also an art gallery and cafe within the park to peruse too. Shinjuku Gyoen can be accessed via a short walk from Shinjuku station.
Visit the famous Shibuya crossing
You may not have heard the name, but you definitely would have seen a photo of Tokyo’s famed Shibuya crossing, or as it’s known in the city, Shibuya Scramble. When the traffic lights go red at this four-way intersection right outside Shibuya station, people emerge from every direction to hurry across the road. It’s a spectacle to behold. The fluorescent glow from neon billboards that adorn the surrounding towers make the scene all the more spectacular come nightfall — take a seat (if you can find one) in one of the restaurants or cafes around the busiest crossing in the world to observe the beautiful chaos from a distance. You do, however, have to try the crossing for yourself at least once.
Go shopping in Harajuku
Harajuku — the quirky nook of the city known for its penchant for everything “kawaii” or cute — is a must-visit spot in Tokyo, especially for the shopping-inclined. A melting pot of over-the-top cosplay culture and high-end, designer shopping, Harajuku is a microcosm of Tokyo itself — an eclectic amalgam of high and low culture. Cat Street, a boutique-lined avenue running through the shopping district of Harajuku is a must-see for the fashion fiends, while the area’s bigger stores and shopping centres can be found short walks from Harajuku train station.
Eat your way through Tsukiji fish market
Although a new fish market in Tsukiji has been recently built, the original market is where all the action is. Step off the main road into the bustling chaos of the Tsukiji outer market, where locals sell their catch of the morning and an abundance of other delicacies from 11am. Get there early to beat the crowds before the lunch rush and enjoy tasty morsels ranging from sashimi that was in the ocean mere hours earlier to pressed omelettes that attract queues down the street. If you’re a foodie who loves to cook, you’ll find a few vendors selling hand-crafted knives that, although fetch hefty prices, will, quite literally, last a lifetime. Tsukiji fish market is a short walk from the Tsukiji Shijo station on the Oedo subway line.
Meander through Ueno Park
Before you dismiss the suggestion of visiting another park — we know, you only have 48 hours — Ueno Park is far more than a mere patch of grass. Covering over 54 hectares, the park is home to Japan’s oldest zoo, a number of museums, and a spectacular lake around which the attractions sit — there’s so much to see, you could easily spend a whole day perusing everything on offer. But alas, we only have two days, so make the most of your trip to Ueno Park by dropping into the Tokyo National Museum — it often has museum-wide exhibitions to explore — the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum or the National Science Museum before visiting the zoo. If you’re heading to Japan in spring, Ueno Park’s cherry blossoms aren’t to be missed, but they do attract quite the crowd, so plan your visit accordingly. Ueno Park is a short stroll from Ueno station.
Visit Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple
Sensoji temple — the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo — is well worth a visit to immerse yourself in the rich culture of Japan’s Edo Period. A 15 minute train trip from Tokyo station, Sensoji temple dates back to 628 and is a vibrant complex adorned with hanging lanterns in colourful hues. Take a wander through the area where you’ll come across various temples and gates surrounded by carefully tended-to gardens before visiting Nakamise shopping street on your way out, where you can do some souvenir shopping to memorialise your stay in Tokyo.
Have a bowl of ramen
You can’t visit Tokyo without having at least one bowl of ramen. There’s no shortage of delicious, steaming hot bowls of rich broth, mounds of noodles and toppings of your choice to be found throughout the city — in fact, there’s basically a ramen joint every 50 metres. Many places allow you to order your bowl via a vending machine-type system where you select your preferred ramen style and toppings with the touch of a button and have your soup delivered straight to your seat, making for a very efficient ramen ordering process. Wherever you dine, you really can’t go wrong.
Spend a night in Golden Gai
If you’ve only got two nights to spend in Tokyo, one of them should most definitely be spent in Golden Gai — a maze of narrow alleys buzzing with eight-seater bars, karaoke joints, and sizzling yakitori spots. If you’re in for a spectacle, visit Kabukicho, a bustling, neon-lit entertainment district where robot restaurants sit alongside nightclubs and quirky shops. If you’d prefer to eat your way through Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho ought to be right up your alley — no pun intended. It’s an uber-narrow strip lined on both sides with hole-in-the-wall yakitori haunts, where bandana-clad chefs flip skewers by the dozen over fiery charcoal. Smoke hangs heavy in the air, as does the mouth-watering smell of grilled meats. Grab an Asahi and prepare to dine like the locals, shoulder to shoulder.
Shop in Shibuya
If you’re a fashion fiend, you’ll have to find a window within your two day Tokyo itinerary to squeeze in some shopping. Shibuya is a hotspot for shopping in the city, boasting an abundance of stores from the big international heavyweights to smaller boutiques selling local designers. While second-hand shopping can be found across the city, Shibuya has plenty of vintage and pre-loved stores to peruse, like Rag Tag, a department store-sized shop selling beautifully preserved pre-loved designer fashion — the perfect place to grab pieces from some of Japan’s most renowned designers, from Issey Miyake to Yohji Yamamoto, at a fraction of the cost.
Live luxuriously in Ginza
Ginza is Tokyo’s home of luxury. Its main strip — a wide road that’s best described as Tokyo’s answer to Rodeo Drive — is flanked with the flagships of high-end designer boutiques, from Rolex to Chanel to Ferragamo and everything in between. Whether you’re prepared to spoil yourself on your 48 hour sojourn or are just a keen window shopper, there’s no shortage of beautiful things to look at Ginza’s main drag. If luxury goods aren’t quite your cup of tea though, there’s still plenty to see on the main strip of Ginza. As many of the luxury stores have their flagships in Ginza, the buildings they’re housed within are nothing short of masterpieces. From the serpent wrapped around Bulgari’s store to Shiseido’s vibrant red tower and Hermes’ rubix cube-reminiscent glass structure, architecture fiends and luxury lovers alike will find something to pique their interest in the area.
Take your trip to new heights via Tokyo Skytree
If you’re scared of heights, you may want to proceed with caution, but the view from Tokyo Skytree is well worth facing your fears for. As the world’s tallest tower at 634 metres high, Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting tower that allows visitors to take in 360 degree views of the city from its observation deck. With five floors for visitors to take in the sights from — the highest being 450 metres above ground — there’s no better place to see the city than way above it. Tickets can be purchased online and in-person at the Skytree.
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