4 Days in Tokyo: The Perfect Ending to Our Japan Trip
- Anju Chandna
- Nov 26, 2025
- 7 min read
Spending 4 days in Tokyo gave us the perfect finale to our Japan trip.
After our amazing journey through Hakone, we arrived in Tokyo from Odawara, ready for the final chapter of our trip to Japan...
Coming to Tokyo was like stepping into a city that felt like a world of its own, fast, vibrant, endlessly alive with billboards, lights and yes.....crowds!
If you're planning a Tokyo itinerary, four days gives you enough time to explore famous attractions, unique experiences, great food and city adventures without rushing.
While planning our Japan trip, we had initially allocated only 3 days each to Tokyo and Kyoto. Later, we added a day to our Tokyo itinerary, and I'm so glad we did it. 4 days in one city might sound like a lot, but Tokyo is different. There is so much to see and do in Tokyo that having an extra evening was the best decision ever!!
How to Spend 4 Days in Tokyo
We reached Tokyo after a hectic ten days of extensive travel through Japan. Shrines, temples, museums, scenic mountains, forests, live shows...you name it.
So, for our time in Tokyo, we decided to keep it relaxed and soak in the distinct vibe that Tokyo is so famous for.
Day 1 in Tokyo
Visiting Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa
We started day 1 with a visit to the famous Senso-ji Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, dedicated to Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, in the Asakusa District of Tokyo.
You can read all about our visit to this beautiful temple here
Watching a Sumo Wrestling Performance in Tokyo
After spending a relaxed first half of the day at Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street, it was time to experience a very exciting performance we'd been eagerly looking forward to...a Sumo wrestling performance!
The show was not only informative but hilariously engaging, with a live commentary by a lively hostess. If you have a spare evening, this is an attraction you absolutely should not miss. Let me tell you why...
Day 2 in Tokyo
Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo
Tokyo surprises you at every turn.
Right in the heart of Shibuya District lies the revered Meiji Jingu Shrine, amid thick forest cover, and just a 10-minute walk from the Harajuku Station.
Spending an evening at the TeamLab Planets in Tokyo
This digital art installation in Tokyo is a popular day out for tourists. So, what makes it special?
Day 3 in Tokyo
Visiting the Kiyosu Suspension Bridge over the Sumida River in the Chuo district
The Sumida River flows through the heart of Central Tokyo, meandering its way through Asakusa, Sumida and Chuo. The entire city seems to come alive around the river. You will see beautiful residential colonies thriving along the riverbank.
You have the option of picking a river cruise like the Tokyo Cruise Water Bus or more traditional Japanese houseboats that sail between Asakusa and Tokyo Bay.
We just wanted to spend a quiet afternoon at the riverfront watching the beautiful sunset....
An Evening at the Akihabara Electric Town of Tokyo
Akihabara is a neighbourhood around Akihabara Station in Tokyo, also nicknamed Akihabara Electric Town, a mecca for lovers of anime, manga, gaming, electronics and the famous maid cafes, of course!
But let me tell you that this description does not do justice to what Akihabara truly is.
Akihabara is a showcase of Japanese tech, a neon strip of town that buzzes all the way. With so much thrown in together in one spot, Akihabara is a riot of colour, chaos, brightly-lit neon signs, shops jam-packed with all kinds of electronics goods and IT stuff, eateries with inviting signboards, girls in maid costumes handing out flyers and coupons and stores filled with tech goodies to die for!
My Tip for You
Although Akihabara caters to the very specific interests of people, like anime and gamers, the vibe is certainly touristy. So, even if you don't have any interest in buying any electronic items or in gaming, manga or anime, go there for the vibe.
Many nice eateries serve authentic Japanese street food worth exploring.
We also had plans to visit one of the maid cafes. We had read very mixed reviews about them, with the general perception being that they offer innocent fun, but honestly, there was something cringy about them, so we just gave it a miss.
The best time to go to Akihabara is in the late evening when the lights are on. It is centrally located and easily reachable from Tokyo Station (JR Yamanote Line) and from Shinjuku Station (JR Sobu Line).
Day 4 in Tokyo
This was our last day in Tokyo and in Japan, too. We decided to spend the entire day strolling through Tokyo and collecting as many memories of this beautiful city as possible.
Tokyo is one of the most exciting shopping destinations with an endless array of good-quality stuff to buy, plus it has no dearth of malls, with the Ginza District for high-end malls and Shinjuku for budget-friendly shopping.
Plus, visiting Tokyo malls can be a roller-coaster ride of thrill and excitement, especially if you're travelling with kids, since all the well-known Japanese characters are on display here.
Visiting the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo
After spending the previous evening at the crazy Akihabara, we decided to spend a serene day at the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
A visit to the garden brings out the contrasts that make Tokyo one of the most visited and coveted cities in the world.
This meticulously landscaped garden, right in the heart of Tokyo, not only pleasantly surprised us but also offered the much-needed relaxation that we were craving after many days of hectic sightseeing.
The picturesque garden has artificial hills and islands, and a beautiful manmade lake called Lake Sakura. It's a great place to see cherry blossoms if you visit in the season.
Plan to spend about 2 hours in the garden. There was a chrysanthemum exhibition in the garden, which was nice. You will come across three distinct garden styles: English Landscape Garden, Japanese traditional garden and French Formal Garden. The entry ticket to the park is 500 yen and gives you access to everything inside.
The park has 3 gates, making it accessible via many subway trains and JR lines.
Observatory at the Tokyo Metropolitan Office – Nishishinjuku 1-Chome
This is a lesser-known attraction in Tokyo, but no less amazing. Located on the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, this observatory offers stunning views of the Tokyo skyline, plus far-off places like Mount Fuji, on a clear day if you're lucky.
Tokyo has 3 observatories, one at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, two, the open-air deck at Shibuya Sky, and three, Tokyo Skytree in Sumida. Out of these, the one at the top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is free to visit.
Visiting this observatory will also give you the chance to see this part of Tokyo where the city administration works. This area has a very businesslike vibe, which, as a tourist, was fun to watch.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station. Remember to take the West Exit from the station and follow the signs to the observatory. Shinjuku is a big station, so just follow the signs since the chances of getting lost in the maze of escalators and corridors are very high.
A very efficiently managed security check and a quick ride up the elevator will take you to the top floor. There is a nice cafe plus a souvenir shop for tourists at the top.
Solamachi Mall
We picked the Solamachi Mall because we wanted to see the Tokyo Skytree and buy some exclusive Japanese souvenirs.
Solamachi Mall is located at the foot of the Tokyo Skytree and above Oshiage Station. With over 300 shops and restaurants, the mall needs a good amount of navigating.
Since Christmas was around the corner, the entire Solamachi Mall was buzzing with offers and Christmas celebrations.
Shibuya Crossing
Before visiting Shibuya Crossing, I kept wondering how thousands of people could treat a traffic crossing in the middle of a city like some sightseeing event!
If you're wondering too, then you need to visit Shibuya Crossing, located near Shibuya Station. As the traffic light turns green, a sea of people starts crossing the road, making this one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world!
Close to 3000 people cross this traffic light every two minutes.
Plan to go to Shibuya in the evening when the crossing is lit up with billboards and neon signs. Just outside the Shibuya Station, you can also see the famous bronze statue of the Akita dog, Hachiko, known for its loyalty to its owner.
Very close to the crossing is the famous mall called MEGA Don Quijote, a popular stop for tourists looking to buy souvenirs at super reasonable rates.
Dinner at Kinka Sushi Bar Izakaya Shibuya
Since this was our last evening in Japan, we wanted to celebrate with one final round of sake and sushi.
Very close to the Shibuya Crossing is Kinka Sushi Bar. Kinka comes highly recommended by most visitors on many social media platforms.
The bar is always very crowded; we did not have any bookings, so the waiting time was a good 40 minutes or so. By the time it was our turn, the queue had gotten really long. They have an awesome variety of sake that you can pick from. Must try the blow-torched sushi platter.
So, this was our last day in Tokyo and in Japan, as well.
This 15-day vacation in Japan was one of my most awe-inspiring yet. From experiencing the calmness of temples and shrines to the mesmerising beauty of Mount Fuji, from tasting mouth-watering street food to savouring exotic Japanese cuisine, from the thrill of seeing bullet trains zipping past to the mad crowds that throng Tokyo, everything was perfect!!
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