Itinerary Summer

3 Days in Tokyo Summer Itinerary

Tokyo is one of the major tourist spots in Japan where you would like to come back over and over again to experience the seasonal attractions it offers throughout the year.

Think of its beautiful cherry blossoms display in spring, and fall colors in autumn – how amazing it could be! Do you wish to discover it in the summer?

If you are planning a trip to somewhere around the world to spend an unforgettable summer holiday with your family, friends or even alone then you should put Tokyo in your travel bucket list.

Tokyo Skytree and Hanabi (fireworks). Photo Credit: Fabian Reus at Flickr.

With exciting summer festivals, lush open green parks, traditional Japanese gardens, street foods, shopping streets, and museums, Tokyo seems to me a great place to spend a few days in the upcoming summer.

Due to its hot humid weather, visiting Tokyo during the summertime is a challenging thing to do.

However, you should not be concerned with it much because these useful travel tips would make your trip a great summer adventure. In addition, I want to you to follow this suggested itinerary as a result you get the most out of your summer vacation in Tokyo.

This itinerary is crafted especially to enjoy the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival that usually is held on the last Saturday in July. So if you plan on visiting Tokyo in late July this is what you need to get the job done.

If you follow this travel plan, I guarantee that you don’t have to put loads of time into planning your journeys to most of the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo.

Day 1 in Tokyo

Shops at Ameya Yokocho. Photo Credit: IQRemix at Flickr.

Places of interest: Ameya Yokocho, Ueno Park, Ueno Zoo, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo National Museum, Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon Temple), Asakusa Shrine, Sumida River, and Tokyo Skytree.

You start your trip from Taito ward – a special ward in Tokyo. Therefore, it is highly recommended to book your hotel nearby Ueno station. Find some cheap hotels here.

Start your trip by visiting Ameya Yokocho, one of Tokyo’s most popular open-air markets. Often it is called one of the most popular street markets on earth but who cares! If you are in Ueno, you must visit it.

It is fun walking through it where you find many shops located side by side. As you will be heading towards Ueno Park, it is better if you start exploring the market from Okachimachi station.

Ueno Park in Summer. Photo Credit: Cristopher Gonzalez at Flickr.

You can find Japan’s one of the most popular parks is Taito ward called Ueno Koen. It is a large public park featuring many relaxing strolling paths, trees of different kinds, museums, temples, shrines, and monuments.

In addition, there you will find a beautiful pond. In spring, cherry trees planted around it look amazingly majestic.

In search of little bit of history, you visit the museums located on the park’s vast grounds. Each of the museums there will help you to discover the history of Japan including a collection of art and archeological artifacts.

You should spend more time at Tokyo National Museum as a result you don’t miss experiencing the valuable national treasures.

Please note that the museum is one the oldest and largest museum in Japan that has been designated as a National Treasure and Important Cultural Property.

Tokyo National Museum. Photo Credit: Joe Mabel at Flickr.

The park also offers the opportunity to explore a zoo, it is known as Ueno zoo. You can spend some times there as it is a worth a visit whenever you make your way to the park.

Anyone who is interested in the culture and history of Japan should spend a lot of time there, I hope you will not bother spending 3 to 4 hours roaming around the park and visiting the cultural properties it highlights.

The five story pagoda and the Sensoji temple. Photo Credit: john_v_mccollum at Flickr.

Although you find many things to see and do in Ueno Park, one thing that you would definitely enjoy is having a perfect lunch time at Innsyoutei, located inside the park area.

In my opinion, this is the best restaurant in Taito ward, Tokyo.

Next you explore the hidden gems of Sensoji Temple and Asakusa Shrine. Both of these attractions are situated not far from each other and quite easy to access to.

Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival, Tokyo. Photo Credit: Toru MORI at Flickr.

In the evening, you make yourself ready for a breathtaking firework display. Guess what?!

I have mentioned you earlier; yes that is the greatest Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival – one of the major summer fireworks festivals in the city.

It illuminates the evening sky over the Sumida River in a beautiful fireworks display to make your summer holiday haunting. The firework display kicks off at 7:20pm and ends at 8:30pm.

A-90 minute show creates a spectacular scene where approximately tens of thousands of fireworks leave the viewers speechless!

Tokyo Skytree. Photo Credit: T.Kiya at Flickr.

Where to go next?

I would highly recommend you to pay a visit to the iconic Tokyo Skytree. This is probably the best place to see the city from above and offers great views of Tokyo city at night from the top of the tower’s two observation decks.

In fact, second observation deck of the tower has one of the best views over Tokyo! In addition, you will find souvenir shops to buy things and restaurants to have you dinner.

Day 2 in Tokyo

The Japanese garden looking pretty awesome – Shinjuku Gyoen in summer. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Places of interest:  Shinjuku Gyoen, Yoyogi Park, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Takeshita Dori, Omotesando, Nezu Museum, Shibuya, and Roppongi Hills.

It is a big day for you because you are to explore the most exciting and popular places in Tokyo.

At first you head to Shinkuku Gyoen, a place of scenic beauty especially in spring and autumn though summer here looks incredibly gorgeous with its traditional Japanese garden, English garden and French garden.

You can stroll through the walkways and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Get in the garden through Shinjuku gate and exit through Sendagaya gate.

Visitors actually don’t forget to visit Meiji Jingu Shrine and its adjacent park called Yoyogi Park. The giant trees around the shrine and park look pretty wonderful making the areas so cool to relax.

You can take a stroll under the trees with someone special and enjoy a great time together.

Torii Gate at Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Next you explore a shopping street known as Takeshita Dori. You don’t have buy things from the shop you see there, just walk through the street!

It will take you to Omotesando, a wide tree lined avenue in Harajuku area. I think you should have your lunch at one of the restaurants located in this neighborhood.

Once you are done with it, keep walking to the east until you reach to the entrance gate of the Nezu Museum.

It showcases a large collection of East Asian artwork that includes different objects from Japan, China and Korea including a beautiful Japanese garden.

Shibuya Crossing. Photo Credit: RynseOut at Flickr.

Shibuya is colorful, busy, and yeah it is crazy as well! It is widely known as the best shopping and entertainment area in the capital city where the life seems so lively.

It is full of shopping stores, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Don’t forget to see the famous Hachiko statue located right outside the Hachiko exit. Find out Tokyo’s most popular shopping areas.

If you think you are in love with Shibuya and stay here till late night, stay right there. Or if you think you want to see more then visiting Roppongi Hills would be a hilarious experience. Anyway, you have to decide!

Day 3 in Tokyo

Tsukiji outer fish market. Photo Credit: Stephen Kelly at Flickr.

Places of interest: Tsukiji Fish Market, Hama Rikyu Garden, Imperial Palace East Garden, Tokyo Imperial Palace, Yasukuni Shrine, Koishikawa Korakuen, and Akihabara.

Many tourists are willing to visit Tsukiji Fish Market mainly for two reasons: the Tuna Auction, and outer Tsukiji’s outer market.

If you think you can’t wake up very early in the morning, better skip experiencing the famous Tuna auction as it begins in the very early morning at 5:00am. It is also recommended to stay overnight in a hotel nearby the Tsukiji Station.

Hama Rikyu Garden. Photo Credit: Andrew and Annemarie at Flickr.

I hope the outer market would amaze you with its sushi restaurants. Visitors usually take their breakfast there with fresh sea foods. Therefore, go for it and enjoy your meal!

It is time to relax for a while now! Head directly to Hama Rikyu, one of the most attractive Japanese landscape gardens is arguably an ideal place to take a pleasant walk through its beautiful walkways.

Admission is 300 Japanese Yen and you get a comprehensive audio guide to explore the garden. The ponds in the garden look fabulous even in the summer!

Don’t forget to have some tea from the old Japanese tea houses you see there.

Tokyo Imperial Palace’s moats and guard tower. Photo Credit: DocChewbacca at Flickr.

After end of this relaxing trip you should go to Shimbashi Station and hop on the train to Tokyo Station. There are so many great places to have your lunch around Tokyo Station.

Find one cozy restaurant to satisfy your stomach with delicious Japanese authentic foods. After taking the meal, have some rest there before you set off, no one will bother.

Now get ready to explore the Imperial Palace Area.

It includes some of the most historic landmark that Tokyo could offer you such as the Tokyo Imperial Palace, Imperial Palace East Garden, Nijubashi Bridge, Kitanomaru Park, Yasukuni Shrine and the museum, and Koishikawa Korakuen.

On the way to these famous attractions you will encounter many awe-inspiring things.

Akihabara at night. Photo Credit: Fredrik Rubensson at Flickr.

The last destination of your trip of the day-3 would be Akihabara, a famous electronic district in Tokyo, and one of the “must-see” spots in the city.

The atmosphere here is different and quite surprising. You will fall more in love with it every time you visit it especially if you are a big fan of Japanese anime and manga.

People often can’t decide which one to buy because everything seems to them Kawaii and worth buying for someone as souvenir. Finding a restaurant in Akihabara is not a daunting task, you can easily spot on to have your dinner.

That’s it! 3 day is enough to explore Tokyo’s most recommended attractions, don’t you think so? If you want to see other famous summer festivals somewhere else in Japan, especially in northern Japan then wait for few days till I share with you a suggested itinerary. You can simply add this one with that itinerary.

Thanks for reading.

Leave a Reply