5 Days in Tokyo: From Neon Nights to Shrines, Soba, and TeamLab Dreams
Before our cruise set sail, Tokyo became its own adventure; five days of ramen steam, neon nights, sacred shrines, and a day trip to Hakone that felt like stepping into another world. Here’s how we spent it (and how you can too).
Day 1 – Arrival in Tokyo: Sleepless in Shinjuku
We landed at Haneda early afternoon, bracing ourselves for jet lag and long lines. Instead, we breezed through with our Visit Japan Web QR codes printed (digital works too, but printed makes it so much smoother). After scanning at the kiosk, a letter popped up on the screen, and with that in hand, immigration and customs were seamless.
By 3:20, we were on the Limousine Bus, efficient, spotless, and still running on the minute. An hour later, the skyscrapers of Shinjuku rose around us like steel trees, and our Hyatt Regency room finally welcomed us. We spent a short time dropping our bags and freshening up – knowing NOT to nap…
That evening, Tokyo introduced itself in layers:
- Dinner at Alice in Fantasyland (quirky, themed, more fun than foodie).
- Wandering Golden Gai, its tiny bars glowing like lanterns in a maze.
- A local drink at Open Book, a bar lined with literary quotes.
- Cocktails at Bar BenFiddich, where Hiroyasu Kayama blends Japanese herbs like an apothecary magician. Book in advance if interested
“There’s a kind of magic in Tokyo alleys: like each one holds a secret you haven’t earned yet.” – Maple Rae
Tips for Day 1
- Print a copy of your passport and get your QR code! Saves time after a long flight.
- The Limousine bus is a lifesaver for middle-of-the-night arrivals and saves money
- Golden Gai: carry cash, many bars seat fewer than 10 people.
- Convenience store snack run = onigiri, bottled tea, and fun snacks for novelty.
Day 2 – Hakone: Black Eggs, Pirate Ships & Hot Springs
Morning whisked us away on the Romancecar train, with comfortable seats, wide windows, and the hum of excitement as Tokyo blurred into green hills.
Hakone was a world apart:
- At the Open-Air Museum, sculptures and mountains shared the same stage.
- The ropeway drifted over steaming volcanic vents at Owakudani, where we cracked into the famous black eggs (one adds 7 years to your life, they say).
- A Lake Ashi cruise ferried us past Mount Fuji’s silhouette and the red torii of Hakone Shrine.
- We slurped soba noodles lakeside, then ended the day melting into a mineral-rich onsen soak.
“The red torii felt like a doorway not just to a shrine, but to a quieter version of yourself.” – Violet James
Tips for Day 2
- Buy a Hakone Free Pass (covers trains, buses, ropeway, and lake cruise).
- See my full, detailed Japan train guide
- Most onsens don’t allow tattoos; research tattoo-friendly spots before you go or cover them up with a skin-tone bandage.
- Try the black eggs at Owakudani, they taste like regular eggs but feel adventurous.
Day 3 – Gardens, Shrines & Kabuki Nights
Tokyo shifted tempo on Day 3. We wandered through the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, where manicured lawns and koi ponds softened the city’s edges. Then we bowed beneath the towering gates of the Meiji Shrine, incense and cedar grounding us in tradition.
Lunch? Ramen, steaming and perfect. After a quick refresh, we slid into a seat at a Kabuki theater, where painted actors and dramatic drums carried us into centuries-old stories.
We ended with a warm sake tasting, learning the difference between dry, fruity, and umami notes.
“I’ll admit it, I was skeptical about Kabuki. But by the end, I was on the edge of my seat. It’s a language you feel, even if you don’t understand the words.” – Kristin
Tips for Day 3
- Shinjuku Gyoen opens at 9AM; visit early for fewer crowds.
- Meiji Shrine = respect customs: bow once at the torii gate, cleanse hands at the basin.
- Kabuki tickets can be bought for single acts if you don’t want to commit to the whole show.
Day 4 – Tokyo on Rails: A Metro Marathon
Armed with a Suica transit card, we zigzagged the city like pros:
- Toyosu Tuna Auction: We won the lottery! At 5:30AM, we watched tuna worth thousands being sold at the sound of a bell!.
- Tsukiji Outer Market: Skewers of scallops, tamagoyaki omelets, fresh uni on rice — every stall a new delight.
- Asakusa & Sensō-ji Temple: Lanterns, incense, and Nakamise Street lined with snacks and souvenirs.
- Kappabashi Street: Heaven for kitchen geeks, from knives to fake food models.
- Ikebukuro’s Sunshine Mall & Pokémon Center: Pikachu hugs included.
- Kabukicho: Neon chaos, arcades, and robot cafés.
- Harajuku Hedgehog Café: Because who doesn’t want tea with hedgehogs?
- Shibuya Scramble: The famous crossing swallowed us whole, thousands of footsteps moving as one.
“Shibuya isn’t just a crossing. It’s a pulse you get caught inside, and for a moment, you’re part of Tokyo’s heartbeat.” – Maple Rae
Tips for Day 4
- Apply early for Toyosu tuna auction lottery, slots are limited.
- See my full, detailed step-by-step Japan train guide
- Tsukiji tip: arrive hungry, bring small cash, eat your way through.
- Hedgehog cafés book up, reserve ahead! Oh, and they don’t serve food, ha…
- Shibuya Crossing is best at dusk/night when neon signs glow.
Day 5 – Digital Dreams & Cup Noodles
Our Tokyo finale was pure play. At TeamLab Planets, we wandered barefoot through mirrored rooms, koi fish projections swimming under our steps, and walls of light that shifted as we moved. We highly suggest the tea room experience – order hot tea and ice cream.
On the way to port, we stopped at the Cup Noodles Museum, designing our own ramen cups and filling them with silly pride.
“Walking through TeamLab felt like stepping inside someone else’s imagination — surreal, infinite, alive.” – Noah Finch
By evening, we boarded the ship, cameras full and bellies still buzzing with ramen. Tokyo had given us everything: sleepless nights, sacred shrines, black eggs, hedgehogs, and noodles with our names on them.
Final Tokyo Travel Tips
- Transit: Get a Suica card for effortless subway hopping. See my guide, here
- Cash: Japan is still cash-friendly; carry yen for markets and small bars.
- Foodie Musts: Ramen, Peppers, oysters, fresh market sushi, convenience store snacks.
- Timing: Shrines in the morning, bars at night, markets whenever you’re hungry.
Five days in Tokyo gave us everything: sleepless neon nights, soulful shrine mornings, Michelin-worthy bites from market stalls, and even a bowl of noodles we made ourselves. It was the perfect prelude, a city that doesn’t just host you, it sweeps you into its rhythm.
Loved this itinerary? This is just the beginning.
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Happy travels,
Violet, Kristin, Maple, Lola, & Noah
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