Tokyo · Japan
Three Days in Tokyo, from Temple to Golden Gai
Otemachi calm by day, six-seat bars by night — how to see Tokyo without sprinting.
7 min read · Updated September 2026
Tokyo is not one city but a dozen dense ones stitched by rail. The mistake visitors make is treating neighbourhoods as stops rather than destinations.
Base yourself centrally, give each district half a day, and leave the evenings loose.
Day 1 — Arrival and altitude
15:00 · Stay
Aman TokyoThe lobby sits on the 33rd floor; arrive before dusk for the shift from daylight to city grid.
Day 2 — Asakusa and old Tokyo
07:30 · Do
Sensō-jiGo before eight. The approach street is empty and the incense smoke is at its best.
Day 3 — Shinjuku after dark
21:00 · Nightlife
Golden GaiMany bars charge a small cover and seat six people. Read the door signs; some are regulars-only.
Know before you go
- — A Suica or Pasmo card in your phone wallet covers trains, buses and most convenience stores.
- — Cash still matters in small bars and older restaurants — carry ¥10,000 in reserve.
- — Reserve counter restaurants through your hotel; many will not take overseas calls or online bookings.