⚡ Before You Go — Essentials
🌸 Cherry Blossom Season
Late March is peak sakura in Tokyo — expect full bloom around March 25-31. Shinjuku Gyoen, Ueno Park, and Meguro River are the top spots. Arrive early (before 10am) to beat crowds. Evening illuminations (yozakura) are magical.
🚇 Getting Around
Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card (or use Apple Pay Suica) for seamless travel on all trains, subways, and buses. A 72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket (¥1,500) is great value. Google Maps works perfectly for transit routing.
👨👩👧👦 Family Tips
Tokyo is incredibly family-friendly. Most restaurants welcome kids, train stations have elevators, and convenience stores (konbini) are everywhere for snacks and essentials. Carry a small towel — many restrooms lack paper towels.
🍜 Food Culture
No tipping in Japan — it's considered rude. Many restaurants use ticket vending machines (shokkenki) to order. Convenience store food (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) is genuinely excellent. Don't skip the depachika (department store basement food halls).
Temples, Cherry Blossoms & Electric Town
Start your Tokyo adventure in the historic heart of the city. Morning at Senso-ji temple, a hanami picnic under Ueno Park's 800+ cherry trees, then plunge into the neon-lit wonderland of Akihabara. Today covers culture, relaxation, and family fun in one sweep.
Senso-ji Temple & Nakamise Street
Tokyo's oldest temple is stunning in cherry blossom season. Walk through the iconic Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), browse the traditional shops along Nakamise-dori, and explore the temple grounds. The five-story pagoda framed by sakura is unforgettable.
Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Hanami
With over 800 cherry trees, Ueno Park is Tokyo's most beloved hanami spot. Spread a picnic blanket under the sakura canopy and soak it in. The central path between rows of trees is magical in full bloom. Kids can enjoy the playground and Shinobazu Pond swan boats.
Akihabara Electric Town
Walk south from Ueno to Akihabara — Tokyo's famous electronics and anime district. Browse multi-story arcades, figure shops, and game centres. Kids and adults alike will be mesmerized by the sensory overload. Try your hand at UFO catchers (crane games).
Sakura Gardens, Harajuku Style & Shibuya Lights
Today is pure Tokyo energy — start with a serene morning in Shinjuku Gyoen's spectacular cherry blossom gardens, dive into Harajuku's colourful fashion streets, then experience the electric pulse of Shibuya Crossing and sky-high city views. Something for everyone.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Tokyo's most beautiful cherry blossom garden — 1,000+ trees of 65 varieties mean something is always blooming. The Japanese landscape garden with its pond and tea house is pure serenity. Unlike the party atmosphere at Ueno, Gyoen is peaceful (no alcohol allowed).
Harajuku & Takeshita Street
Walk from Shinjuku Gyoen to Harajuku — Tokyo's youth fashion epicentre. Takeshita Street is a narrow, colourful lane packed with quirky fashion, crêpe shops, and candy stores. Kids will love the energy. Then stroll the elegant tree-lined Omotesando for a contrast in style.
Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky
Experience the world's busiest pedestrian crossing — up to 3,000 people cross at once. Then head up to Shibuya Sky, the rooftop observation deck 230m above the city. The open-air sky stage at sunset with Tokyo sprawling to the horizon is breathtaking. At night, the city lights are mesmerizing.
Market Feasts, Digital Art & Tokyo Bay
A day that hits every style — foodie heaven at Tsukiji/Toyosu markets, mind-bending immersive art at teamLab, waterfront relaxation at Odaiba, and sophisticated Ginza for your farewell evening. The perfect finale to your Tokyo adventure.
Tsukiji Outer Market Food Crawl
While the inner fish market moved to Toyosu, the Tsukiji Outer Market is still the ultimate Tokyo food experience. Dozens of stalls serve fresh sushi, tamagoyaki (sweet omelette), grilled seafood skewers, and Japanese street food. Walk and eat your way through — this is foodie paradise.
teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills)
One of Tokyo's most spectacular experiences — a massive digital art museum where immersive light installations flow seamlessly between rooms. Walk through waterfalls of light, fields of flowers, and infinite crystal universes. Kids and adults are equally mesmerized. Allow 2-3 hours.
Ginza Stroll & Farewell
End your Tokyo adventure in Ginza — Tokyo's most elegant district. Wide boulevards, luxury boutiques, and incredible department store food halls (depachika). The basement floors of Mitsukoshi and Ginza Six have stunning prepared foods, wagashi (sweets), and desserts — a feast for the eyes.
💰 Budget Breakdown
| Category | Budget | Midrange | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ¥8,000–15,000/night | ¥15,000–35,000/night | ¥35,000–80,000/night |
| Meals (per person) | ¥3,000–5,000/day | ¥5,000–12,000/day | ¥15,000–30,000/day |
| Transport | ¥1,000–1,500/day | ¥1,500–3,000/day | ¥5,000–15,000/day (taxi) |
| Activities | ¥0–2,000/day | ¥2,000–5,000/day | ¥5,000–15,000/day |
| teamLab Borderless | ¥3,800pp | ¥3,800pp | ¥3,800pp |
| 3-Night Total (per person) | ¥40,000–70,000 | ¥70,000–160,000 | ¥160,000–350,000 |
✈️ Getting There
- Narita Airport (NRT): 60-90 min to central Tokyo via Narita Express (¥3,070) or Skyliner (¥2,520)
- Haneda Airport (HND): 20-40 min to central Tokyo via monorail or Keikyu line — much closer
- Pocket WiFi or eSIM essential — rent at the airport or order in advance
🏨 Where to Stay
- Shinjuku — central hub, great transit, lively nightlife, close to Gyoen
- Shibuya — trendy, walkable, great for families who want energy
- Asakusa — traditional atmosphere, near Senso-ji, budget-friendly
- Ginza/Tokyo Station — elegant, central, easy Shinkansen access
🌡️ Weather
- Late March: 10-18°C (50-64°F) — pleasant but bring layers
- Cherry blossoms typically peak March 25-April 2
- Occasional rain — pack a compact umbrella
- Evenings can be cool (8-10°C) — light jacket essential
💳 Money
- Japan is still cash-heavy — carry ¥10,000-20,000 for small shops and ramen counters
- Konbini (7-Eleven, Lawson) ATMs accept international cards
- IC cards (Suica/Pasmo) work for transit and many vending machines/konbini
- No tipping — ever. It can actually cause confusion.
📱 Useful Apps
- Google Maps — excellent for Tokyo transit directions
- Suica app (Apple Wallet) — tap-and-go transit from your phone
- Tabelog — Japan's top restaurant rating app (like a local Yelp)
- Google Translate camera mode — point at Japanese menus for instant translation