One Day In Tokyo: Hitting The High Spots Of The Largest City In The World

If you only have one day in Tokyo and want to make the most of your trip, schedule an all-day excursion such as Viator’s One-Day Tokyo Bus Tour. It’s the most efficient way to see as much as possible of Tokyo in one day, short of hiring a private guide. We took this tour when visiting Japan in September, and it was a wonderful introduction to an amazing city.

Transportation, lunch, matcha tasting, and admission tickets are all included.

About The Tour

Starting bright and early at 7:30 a.m., the tour starts at a train stop in Tokyo. Meet your guide, who will be waiting for you with a green and white flag, hop on a clean, comfortable bus with thirty or so other people, and prepare yourself for an adventure.

Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable, and although a local, spoke excellent English.

Meiji Shrine

The first stop is the Meiji Shrine, a serene oasis in the midst of the busy Shibuya district. A beautiful forest of more than 100,000 trees surrounds you as you walk toward the shrine and pass through the first torii gate.

The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken, who played a crucial role in the modernization of Japan.

Your guide will teach you the proper etiquette for the shrine, where you pay your respects and make a wish. Be sure to have a 5-yen or 50-yen coin to toss into the shrine.

Imperial Palace

The majestic Imperial Palace is the next stop. Although you won’t be able to explore the grounds or the palace itself, you are taken to the beautiful Nijubashi Bridge, which is only open on special occasions. From there you get a glimpse of part of the Imperial Palace, which has been the home of Japan’s imperial family for centuries.

Senso-ji Temple

From there, you are taken to Asakusa, Tokyo’s oldest neighborhood, to visit the Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple.

You will have free time to shop for souvenirs along the crowded streets, where many small shops line the main thoroughfare leading to the temple. The atmosphere is chaotic, colorful, and fun as everyone tries to see as much as possible, taking photos and perusing the wares for the perfect gifts to take home.

Your guide will lead you to a matcha shop, where you can sample either hot matcha tea, cold matcha tea, matcha gelato, or matcha beer. We tried the matcha gelato and beer, and I liked them both.

Tokyo Skytree

After lunch, your group will be taken to Tokyo Skytree, which at 634 meters is the tallest tower in Japan. Skip-the-line tickets will ensure your group is whisked quickly to the Tembo Deck at 350 meters. Circle the deck, taking in the breathtaking panoramic views of the Tokyo skyline, and take a selfie or two with that view in the background.

You will then have free time to shop in the Skytree Town below.

Tokyo Bay Cruise

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a short Tokyo Bay Cruise in a sleek touring boat so you can see the city from a different perspective. Try to pick out landmarks such as the Tokyo Skytree you just visited, and the iconic red Tokyo Tower.

The bus will return you to where you started at around 6:10 p.m., filled with wonderful memories of your adventures in Tokyo. And if you’re like me, your phone will have a few hundred more pictures of some stunning sights from your day.