Arcades, figure shops and where to avoid the queues.
4 nights from Tokyo to Tokyo
Before you fly, five things matter most: check your passport and visa, book your stays and tickets, buy an eSIM and travel insurance, and decide on a rail pass. Open the list for every step, with links.
4 nightsTokyo · IkebukuroPrice level ¥Find stays
About Ikebukuro Stays link to partner sites. See the note under Find stays.
A busy hub with department stores, anime shops and low hotel prices.
When to stay here. Stay here when you want a low price near a big station.
Stay here if: You want low prices and fast trains to Narita and Haneda. You like anime shopping.
Skip it if: You want a postcard view of Tokyo.
Day 1: steps for your landing time
Midday, 11:00 to 16:00
- Get an IC card. Get an IC card such as Suica or ICOCA at the airport, or add one to your phone. It pays for trains and many shops. First-day guide
- Get online. Pick up your SIM or switch on your eSIM before you leave the airport, so you have maps at once. First-day guide
- Send big bags ahead. If you have a big bag, send it from the airport to your hotel with luggage forwarding, and travel light. First-day guide
- Go to your hotel. Keep the hotel address in Japanese on your phone. If you arrive before check-in, ask if the hotel can hold your bags. First-day guide
- Drugstore run. Buy small things for the first days: wet wipes, bandages, snacks and anything that you forgot. What to buy
- A light meal or an easy walk. Keep the first day easy. Eat close to the hotel and walk around your area.
EveningOtome Road anime shops
Why it fits you. You like anime. A street of shops for anime and manga fans, with many shops for romance stories.
Other options
MorningGhibli Museum, Mitaka
Why it fits you. You like anime. A museum of the famous film studio with a short film made only for it. Tickets sell out early.
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AfternoonSunshine City shopping and anime
Why it fits you. You like anime. A big mall with an anime store area, a character cafe and a view deck.
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EveningNakano Broadway
Why it fits you. You like anime. A mall full of small shops for anime, retro toys and collectors.
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MorningHakone Open-Air Museum
Why it fits you. Big sculptures in a mountain garden, with a Picasso room and a foot spa.
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AfternoonHot spring bath with a day-use ticket
Why it fits you. Many hot spring hotels sell a bath-only ticket. A good end to a day of walking.
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MorningCup Noodles Museum
Why it fits you. You design your own cup of noodles and learn the story of instant ramen.
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AfternoonCharacter Street at Tokyo Station
Why it fits you. You like anime. A group of shops for TV and film characters, inside the station. Easy to visit before a train.
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EveningAkihabara Electric Town walk
Why it fits you. You like anime. Multi-floor shops of anime goods, games and electronics. Take your time on each floor.
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MorningKanda Myojin shrine
Why it fits you. A bright shrine on a hill. Fans of anime leave picture boards here.
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What this trip costs, in levels. Stay price levels for your budget: ¥. These levels are relative (one yen sign is low, three is high). Live prices come from the partner sites.