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What to skip on your first visit to Tokyo
Tokyo is huge, and it's impossible to catch everything on your first visit unless you're here for at least a week.
This article is not about what's bad or ugly in Tokyo, but what I think is not worth your time if you only have a few days and want to make the most of Tokyo.
- 👉 Tokyo for the first time - itinerary for 3 days
- 👉 Tokyo on a layover - what to do in 12 hours
- 👉 O ur tips on where to stay in Tokyo
Tokyo isn't about the sights, it's about the atmosphere
Tokyo doesn't have the world-famous "must-see" sights like Paris, Rome or New York.
Rather, the city will absorb you with its energy and atmosphere. The best experiences come from strolling through the gardens or the bustling streets full of neon lights.
That's why it's not so necessary to have a "check-list" of what to see in Tokyo, and I'd rather recommend focusing on 3-4 neighborhoods and walking around them on your first visit.
What to skip if you only have 2-3 days
Below are places and activities that I probably wouldn't visit if I had little time in Tokyo.
Pick just a few observatories
There are several famous observation towers and skyscrapers in Tokyo. I visited all of them and would definitely skip some next time.
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building - I liked this one the best, the observation deck is free and you can see Mount Fuji perfectly from here
- Tokyo Tower - an iconic observation tower with a view without glass from the staircase, I would include this one in the program too
- Tokyo Skytree - the 3rd tallest tower in the world, but for me the view was disappointing - I would skip it
- Shibuya Sky - it's nice that it's right on Shibuya, but you have to book at least 2 days in advance - it tends to be crowded
Famous restaurants from TikTok or Google Maps
Have you seen a great ramen restaurant or boho sushi in Tokyo on TikTok or Instagram? Do any of the restaurants have a 5.0 rating on Google Maps?
Then it's very likely that you queued quietly for more than 90 minutes.
Make better use of your time, walk a few streets and visit perhaps one of the many local eateries to experience the true authentic Tokyo.
Akihabara, if you're not a cosplay fan
For the famous Akihabara district, I just wasn't keen.
If you're not a fan of cosplay, anime or arcade games, skip Akihabara and head to Shinjuku or Shibuya instead.
Find a hotel in Tokyo by neighbourhood
Imperial Palace as the biggest disappointment
Kokyo Palace, sometimes called Edo Castle, was probably the biggest disappointment for me in all of Tokyo.
You can't enter the palace at all, so you can only visit its gardens. They are nice, but the grounds are huge and I think you'll find nicer and more compact gardens in Tokyo - Shinjuku Gyoen, for example.
Tsukiji, if you're expecting an authentic fish market
I was happy at the Tsukiji fish market because I knew what I was getting into and I love trying new foods.
However, if you are expecting to visit an authentic fish market, you will be disappointed.
Tsukiji is more of a neighborhood full of touristy restaurants and cafes.
Ueno Park and especially the local zoo
I stayed near Ueno Park on my first night to explore as many areas of Tokyo as possible.
But if I had less time, I would definitely skip Ueno.
The park is rather popular among locals because there are a lot of museums and also a zoo. In short - Ueno is a nice place to relax, but it doesn't have much Japanese atmosphere.
The zoo specifically was a pretty bad experience for me though. First of all, the local zoo is small, but more importantly, the animals here live in not so good conditions.
Senso-Ji Temple as a place suffering from overtourism
Tokyo's most famous temple , Senso-ji, may be pretty, but the extreme crowds will make your visit unpleasant.
It's also quite far from the city centre and personally I'd rather opt for the little-visited Zojo-ji Temple, which you can easily combine with a visit to Tokyo Tower or the Ginza district.
Akasaka Palace
The Akasaka Imperial Residence is an interesting place to visit if you want to explore Tokyo in more depth.
But it's certainly not a typical Tokyo experience - the palace is more reminiscent of Vienna's Hofburg than anything Japanese.
Plus, you're not allowed to take photos inside.
Unnecessary cross-town transfers
Tokyo is really big and it's definitely worth planning your day so that you only have 2-3 areas.
Ideally, combine Shinjuku + Shibuya on one day and Ginza + Roppongi (or an optional other area since Ginza is right in the middle of the city) on the other.
What I would do differently on my next visit
I've learnt a bit from my visits to Tokyo so far, and there are some things I'd look out for next time:
- I wouldn't plan a very busy itinerary (4-5 places a day maximum).
- I would stay in one of the main districts (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza)
- I would choose a hotel as close to the subway as possible - this will make life in Tokyo much easier
- I would wake up later and explore Tokyo in the evening after dark
Useful links
If you've already chosen a neighbourhood, here are the quickest links for booking and planning:
Any questions left?
If you have any questions or comments about the article...
