Tokyo during a layover: itinerary for 6 to 12 hours
I experienced Tokyo for the first time during my transfer - and I was surprised by how much you can get done.
Even a few hours in the city is enough to get a first taste of the atmosphere, the food and the neon streets.
In this article, you'll find a simple itinerary for Tokyo during a 6, 8 or 12 hour layover - so you can do it without stress.
Heading to Tokyo for multiple days?
- 👉 Tokyo for the first time: my ideal itinerary for 3 days
- ❌ What to skip in Tokyo when you're short on time
Is it worth going to the city?
When is it even worth thinking about leaving the airport and checking out Tokyo? And is it even legal to leave the airport when changing planes?
- ✅ Yes, most countries have visa-free travel with Japan - you can leave the airport
- ✅ If you have 6 hours or more between flights, it's worth considering a visit to central Tokyo
Narita Airport (NRT) vs. Haneda Airport (HND)
It makes a big difference whether you're connecting at Narita or Haneda Airport, or if you're transferring between the two airports.
- Narita NRT - is further away from the city centre than Haneda
- fastest way to get from the terminal to the station - about 90 minutes one way
- ➡️ Head into town if you have at least 8.5 hours to transfer, ideally 12 hours
- ➡️ How to get from Narita Airport to Tokyo - detailed guide
- Haneda HND - located relatively close to the centre
- fastest way even with transfer from terminal to station - about 40 minutes one way
- ➡️ Go to the city if you have at least 6.5 hours for a transfer, ideally 10 hours
- ➡️ How to get from Haneda Airport to Tokyo - detailed guide
- Transfer Narita <-> Haneda
- Net transfer time by train approx. 120 minutes
- the train goes through the centre, so you can get off anywhere and walk around
- ➡️ Get off in the city if you have at least 6.5 hours to transfer
Tokyo within 6 hours
If your net time in the city works out at 2 to 6 hours, you will only be able to visit a maximum of 2 attractions.
From Haneda Airport
Personally, I would go to the Shibuya or Shinjuku area.
- Keikyu + JR Yamanote trains with a change at Shinagawa Station (45-55 minutes)
The Shibuya and Shinjuku districts will give you the true atmosphere of a Japanese big city - giant illuminated signs, bars, typical Japanese izakaya restaurants or
Both districts are ideal in that you can spend as little as 30 minutes with a short walk or a full 6 hours combining both places, visiting restaurants, the beautiful Shinjuku Goyen Garden or the free view of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
From Narita Airport
The closest Keisei Line train station in Tokyo is the Ueno area, full of tourist attractions - a huge park with museums or a zoo.
- Keisei Skyliner (within 60 minutes)
An alternative is Senso-Ji Temple in the Asakusa area, where slower trains also run directly to the airport (about 65 minutes away).
- Keisei Access Express (75 minutes)
Tokyo for 8-10 hours
If your net time in the city works out at 8 to 10 hours, you can already catch more attractions.
From Haneda Airport
I'd route the trip again to the Shibuya or Shinjuku areas, which can be reached in 45-55 minutes by train with one transfer at Shinagawa Station.
I would put together an itinerary from my own experience as follows:
- The famous Shibuya Junction (1 hour)
- Meiji Shrine and Kiyomasa Well (2 hours)
- Shinjuku - ideal for food and lively atmosphere (2 hours)
- Depending on time, I'll also visit Shinjuku Goyen Gardens or the free viewpoints of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (about 1 hour each)
From Narita Airport
I would choose the Asakusa area, which can be reached by direct trains in about 65 minutes.
- Senso-ji Temple - a typical Japanese religious building
- Tokyo Skytree - Japan's tallest tower
- If you have time, take the subway to Ueno station - a district with streets full of local restaurants or the extensive Ueno Park
Tokyo for 12 hours
Stopover for a full 12 hours is already long enough to make your choice of destinations in Tokyo completely at your discretion, no matter how close they are to the airport in question.
You can do everything and it's up to you whether it's 1 attraction or 4.
eSim Japan - Internet from landing to departure
From Haneda Airport
Here I'll describe the itinerary exactly as I experienced it in 2024.
- We arrived at 8:30 a.m.
- From the airport we took the monorail + subway to Senso-Ji Temple in the Asakusa area to see a traditional Japanese temple
- From there we continued to the Tokyo Skytree, Japan's tallest building
- After lunch at a local shopping mall, we took the Hanzomon Line direct subway to Shibuya Junction
- We spent too much time here, and it certainly made sense to get off at the Imperial Kokyo (Edo) Palace in the city centre on the way
- We departed around 10:00 p.m.
It was one of those connections that you remember more than the flight itself.
A night stopover - is it worth it to the city?
Tokyo is not one of the top places with nightlife - except perhaps the Shinjuku district.
Even so, if you only have a night stopover between flights (say, between 8pm and 8am), I personally wouldn't go into the city at all.
Better to find a hotel near the terminal and sleep comfortably.
Any questions left?
If you have any questions or comments about the article...
