7 Days in Tokyo

Arrive at Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND). Take Narita Express train (¥3,000, 1hr) or limousine bus to Shinjuku. Check into Park Hyatt Tokyo (5★, ¥80,000/night).

Explore Asakusa: Senso-ji temple (Tokyo's oldest, free entry) via the Kaminarimon gate. Walk Nakamise-dori shopping street for souvenirs and fresh senbei rice crackers.

Dinner at Imahan (¥12,000/person) in Asakusa — legendary sukiyaki since 1895. Wagyu beef simmered in warishita broth at your table.

Tokyo Skytree (¥3,100/person) — the tallest tower in the world. Night views of Tokyo's infinite cityscape.

Meiji Jingu Shrine (free) — Tokyo's most important Shinto shrine set in a 170-acre forest. Walk through the towering torii gates.

Takeshita-dori in Harajuku — the epicenter of youth culture. Rainbow cotton candy, animal cafés, and quirky fashion.

Lunch at Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka (¥1,500/person) — conveyor belt sushi with touchscreen ordering. Fresh, fast, and fun.

Shibuya Crossing — the world's busiest intersection. Best viewed from Starbucks upstairs or the new Shibuya Sky observation deck (¥2,000).

Explore Shibuya's backstreets: Nonbei Yokocho ("Drunkard's Alley") and the trendy boutiques of Cat Street.

Dinner at Gonpachi Nishiazabu (¥6,000/person) — the "Kill Bill" restaurant. Dramatic interior and excellent izakaya food.

Golden Gai in Shinjuku — 200 tiny bars across six narrow alleys. Each bar seats 5-8 people.

Tsukiji Outer Market — arrive hungry. Fresh sushi breakfast at Sushi Dai (¥4,500/omakase set, expect 1-2hr queue) or Daiwa Sushi.

teamLab Borderless (¥3,800/person, pre-booked) in Azabudai Hills — immersive digital art museum. Incredible interactive installations.

Lunch at Kyubey Ginza (¥10,000/person lunch set) — one of Tokyo's finest sushi counters. The lunch omakase is the best value.

Ginza shopping: Mitsukoshi department store basement food hall (depachika), Itoya stationary (9 floors!), and the Sony Park.

Sunset cocktails at Peter: The Bar in the Peninsula Hotel (¥3,000/cocktail) — floor-to-ceiling views of the Imperial Palace.

Dinner at Manten Sushi Marunouchi (¥8,000/person omakase) — excellent mid-range omakase near Tokyo Station.

Akihabara Electric Town — anime, manga, and electronics paradise. Visit Yodobashi Camera (8 floors of electronics), Super Potato (retro gaming), and a maid café for the experience.

Lunch at Kikanbo (¥1,500/person) — devilishly spicy miso ramen near Kanda Station. The "demon" spice level with extra pork is legendary.

Ueno Park: Tokyo National Museum (¥1,000/person) — the world's largest collection of Japanese art. Don't miss the samurai armor and ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

Ameya-Yokocho market street (Ameyoko) — bustling post-war black market turned food and shopping street. Great for snacks and people-watching.

Dinner at Inakaya East (¥15,000/person) in Roppongi — robatayaki (fireside cooking) where chefs kneel and serve food on long wooden paddles. Pure theater.

Romancecar limited express from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto (85 min, ¥2,300). Purchase Hakone Free Pass (¥6,100) for all transport.

Hakone Open-Air Museum (¥1,600/person) — stunning sculpture park with mountain backdrop and Picasso Pavilion.

Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani (¥1,200) — volcanic valley with steaming vents. Eat the famous black eggs (kuro-tamago) cooked in sulfuric hot springs.

Lunch at Owakudani Kuro-Tamago-kan (¥1,500/person) with views of Mt. Fuji on clear days.

Pirate ship cruise across Lake Ashi (¥1,000) with Mt. Fuji backdrop. Then visit Hakone Shrine with its iconic red torii gate standing in the lake.

Return to Shinjuku via Romancecar. Rest at hotel.

Dinner at Omoide Yokocho (¥3,000/person) — "Memory Lane" or "Piss Alley," a narrow lane of tiny yakitori joints in Shinjuku. Hop between 2-3 stalls.

Shimokitazawa — Tokyo's hipster neighborhood. Vintage clothing shops, indie coffee roasters, and narrow car-free streets. Coffee at Bear Pond Espresso.

Lunch at Shirube (¥1,800/person) — creative Japanese izakaya in Shimokitazawa. The motsuni (offal stew) and grilled mackerel are outstanding.

Mori Art Museum (¥2,000/person) in Roppongi Hills — contemporary art on the 53rd floor with a sky deck (¥500 extra) for open-air views.

Explore Roppongi Hills complex and the giant Maman spider sculpture. Shopping at Tokyo Midtown for Japanese design brands.

Farewell dinner at Narisawa (¥35,000/person) — one of Asia's best restaurants. Satoyama cuisine that reinvents Japanese ingredients with French technique.

Yanaka Ginza — old Tokyo's last surviving shitamachi (downtown) neighborhood. The shopping street has survived since the 1950s. Browse traditional crafts and try menchi katsu (fried meat patties).

Walk through Yanaka Cemetery to Nezu Shrine — one of Tokyo's oldest shrines with a stunning vermilion torii gate tunnel.

Final lunch at Sometaro (¥1,200/person) in Asakusa — build-your-own okonomiyaki (savory pancakes) on a teppan grill at your table.

Depart for Narita or Haneda Airport. Narita Express or Airport Limousine Bus. Arrive 2.5 hours before international flights.