The Ultimate 3-Day Tokyo Itinerary For Food Lovers

This ultimate 3-day Tokyo itinerary for food lovers will take you to the city’s best places to eat! Snack at the different convenience food stalls along Nakamise Street, watch your skewers being grilled right in front of you at the shabby hole-in-the-wall joints along the infamous Piss Alley (the local name for Omoide Yokocho) and try to find the city’s best ramen restaurant along Ramen Street.

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Experience the unforgettable tuna auction at Toyosu Market and join some of our top-pick food tours guided by local food enthusiasts who know all the best spots. 

Tokyo is one of the most exciting foodie destinations in the world, which is one of the many reasons we keep coming back!

3 Day Itinerary For Tokyo

Get ready to eat your way through Japan’s capital! Let’s dive into this itinerary that’s packed with awesome food spots and loads of information about Tokyo’s food culture.

Day 1 – Go On An Extraordinary Food Tour In Asakusa And Explore The Neighborhood

You’ve landed in Tokyo and now you’re ready to start exploring! We’ve prepared the perfect guide for food enthusiasts. You’ll eat all the tastiest local dishes, dive into the local food culture, and visit some of Tokyo’s coolest attractions along the way. 

Check into your hotel, drop off your bags, and get ready for an epic day eating your way through one of Tokyo’s most vibrant neighborhoods. 

To kickstart your time in Tokyo, we’ve planned a day in one of Tokyo’s best-preserved historical areas, Asakusa. It is a quieter and more peaceful atmosphere than some of the city’s busier areas, so it’s a nice place to explore after a long journey to Japan. 

Asakusa is home to the Senso-ji Temple, which is Tokyo’s oldest temple, and the main reason people visit the area. On one side of the temple, there’s a gate that leads you along a 200-meter-long shopping street called Nakamise Street. This little shopping alley has been there since the 17th century and it’s a great place to pick up souvenirs. 

To make your trip a foodie’s dream, we suggest doing the temple in reverse and starting at Nakamise Street. As you wander through the souvenir stalls, you’ll come to lots of different food stalls selling all sorts of sweet treats and tasty snacks! 

Fill up on different snacks for breakfast, like age-manju which is famous in the Asakusa neighborhood. These delicious fried batter balls stuffed with sweet red bean paste will wake your taste buds up. Next, try kibi-dango, a millet flour cake that is extra yummy with a cup of warm sake in the winter or cool green tea in the summer. The best way to make sure you don’t miss any of the best stalls is to join this Nakamise Street food tour. 

Fill up on different street food as you wander towards the temple, then walk through the Hozomon gate that is in front of the temple. This ancient Buddhist temple was built in 645 and legend has it that two brothers fished a statue of the Goddess Kannon, out of the nearby Sumida River. They threw the statue back in again and again, but they kept catching it on their fishing lines. So they set out to build a temple in the goddess’ honor. 

Attached to the temple, there’s a 5-story high pagoda, which is the star of the show! 

Once you’re finished at Senso-ji, walk to the Asakusa Ninja Experience Cafe just 7 minutes away. You can try on ninja costumes, train in sword fighting, and try out some ninja-themed food! It’s such a cool place to eat, it even made it onto our Ultimate 3-Day Tokyo Itinerary for Families. 

Next, wander through Sumida Park, over the Sumida River Walk Bridge to the Tokyo Skytree. This giant television broadcasting tower is a whopping 634 meters tall and has two observation decks you can visit in the tower. The views are so good that they made it onto our Where to Find the Best Observation Deck in Tokyo guide. 

You can get tickets to the Tembo Deck and Tembo Galleria observation decks here! Remember to bring along your selfie sticks and camera, it’s an awesome spot to snap holiday pics.

Image via Viator.com

After soaking in the awesome cityscape views, you’re probably starting to get hungry again. Let’s get back to the most important part of today – food!

This unusual Sumo wrestling match with a delicious pot of chankonabe (chicken hot pot) is one of the most fun food-themed things we did in Japan! You get to watch a live sumo match at the same time as feasting on a delicious chicken hot pot and other Japanese dishes prepared by former sumo wrestlers. The food was great, and watching the sumo match at the same time made it even better.

We know some of you might not have flown into the city until later in the day, so if you arrived on a later flight, skip visiting the Tokyo Skytree and book yourself straight onto this quirky food tour.

Day 2 – Visit The Toyosu Fish Market And Eat At The Stalls Around The Old Tsukiji Fish Market

The Toyosu Market replaced what used to be the Tsukiji Market. While you might have thought this was a bad thing, the new market’s impressive scale and the awesome auctions won’t leave you disappointed. 

Any foodie needs to see the Toyosu Market and witness the tuna auctions, which we thought was an awesome cultural experience and offered loads of insight into the Japanese seafood industry. When the auctions were held at Tsukiji there were lots of complaints about the hectic queues and frantic crowds. So when they built Toyosu Market, they designed it to make it easier for onlookers to see the market, without everyone stepping on each other’s toes. 

Once you’re there, there are a few different spots you can watch the auction from. There are the Observation Windows that have a great view of the auction from above, but the downside is that there’s a thick glass window between you and the auction, so it’s really hard to hear what’s going on below. 

Below the Observation Windows, there’s the Observation Deck – our favorite viewing spot! Because you’re closer to the actual auction, it felt more authentic and was closer to the experience than we had of the auction when it was held at the Tsukiji Market. To access the Observation Deck, you’ll need to navigate their slightly strange lottery ticket system. But don’t worry, our How to Apply to Toyosu Fish Market Tuna Auction has everything you need to know!  

If you’re not a morning person, you’ll be disappointed to hear that the market opens at 5 AM, when they start laying everything out on the huge market floor. The tuna auction itself starts at about 5:45 AM, and it’s done by 7 AM, but we promise you it is worth getting out of bed for! 

Make sure you get an early night the day before and bring a strong coffee with you. That said, if you’re anything like me, you’ll find that you wake up ridiculously early on your first morning in Japan. Make the most of your jet lag by going to the market on your first full morning in Tokyo.

Once you’ve seen the market, head to the Fish Intermediate Wholesale Market Building. That’s where you’ll find the Toyosu Gourmet, where all the main restaurants are. Start the day like any foodie should, eating at Nakaya. We ate here and loved it. The restaurant is all about chirashi, which is slices of sashimi on a rice bowl. The fish was so fresh, and the uni (sea urchin) was insanely good. Just a heads up, the staff aren’t the friendliest. 

Now, if you’re a die-hard sushi fan and you’re willing to put in a little extra effort to get your hands on the best sushi in town, you should have breakfast at Daiwa Sushi. You can make a reservation in advance on their website, or you might be queuing for ages to get a spot. 

Afterwards, make your way to the Tsukiji Market. The old market is in the neighborhood of Ginza, which is a great place to come if you’re hoping to try Japan’s craziest dishes. 

Although the wholesale area of the market, which was famous for its giant tuna auctions, was moved to Toyosu, there are still loads of food stalls worth checking out.

What is known as the outer market is still there. It’s made up of a few blocks lined with food stalls and down-to-earth, local restaurants. It’s the place to go if you want to submerge yourself in Japan’s food culture. 

They get their fresh fish each morning from Toyosu, so the quality is amazing! We loved the idea that what we were eating for lunch just a few hours later had been bought at the fish market we had just left. 

Because there are many quirky seafood dishes you need to try, and there are so many stalls to choose from, we suggest eating smaller dishes at a few different stalls to make the most of your trip to Tsukiji Market. 

Kick lunch off with some grilled scallops and fresh oysters that melt in your mouth at Kakigoya. Then pick between the 18 different types of kaisendon (seaweed bowls) at Tsukiji Koromo Sushi restaurant. 

Finish off at one of the outer market’s oldest stalls, Ajino-Hamato Tsukiji Honten. The store has been around for more than 80 years, and they have some seriously peculiar dishes. Don’t leave without trying their satsuma-age, a deep-fried mix of minced fish and vegetables. Their squid dumplings are good too!

If you’re like us and you like learning all about the best food spots, and you’d like some local insight into the history of the market and Japan’s food culture, then book this Tsukiji Fish Market Food Tour!

Since you’re in the Ginza area, it makes sense to visit the Tokyo Imperial Palace next. It is a 30-minute walk away, and you won’t get there much faster using public transport, so we suggest walking and enjoying exploring the area along the way. 

Built on the site of an older Edo Castle, the Palace is surrounded by moats and protective stone walls. It’s still the residence of Japan’s Imperial family (they even make public appearances here just after New Year), so you can only go into the palace grounds on guided tours at certain times.

The park surrounding the palace is a highlight in itself. Whilst some sections are closed to tourists, you can visit the Kitanomaru Park and areas of the East Gardens. For the best views and photos of the Imperial Palace from afar, head to Nijubashi Bridge.

Once you’re finished exploring, wander over to Godaime Hanayama Udon Nihonbashi for dinner! They serve awesome Himokawa udon noodles, which are famous for being super wide and chewy. The combination of the huge noodles and the mouth-watering broths they make is why there is almost always a line outside this restaurant! 

The restaurant is a short 10-minute walk away from Tokyo Station, so it’s an easy and convenient place to get home from.  

Day 3 – Whizz Around Harajuku And Shinjuku Hitting All The Best Food Spots

Wake up as early as you can on your third day in Tokyo because there’s a lot to squeeze in today! 

Japan is famous for its temples, so it won’t come as a surprise that there’s one on today’s schedule! Meiji Shrine was built in 1920 to pay tribute to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, who are considered to be amongst Japan’s most influential leaders. Sadly, the original structure was destroyed during the Second World War so the shrine you see today was built in 1958. 

There’s a big torii gate at the entrance to the complex, and the shrine is surrounded by a forest of more than 100,000 trees. It’s a tranquil place to start the day before we head into the bustling streets of Harajuku and Shibuya to all the best food spots! 

After visiting the shrine, wander out of the park and walk another 5 minutes to the Harajuku Owl Cafe, where you can have a cup of coffee in the city’s most unique cafes. In between taking bites of their cafe snacks, hang out with the majestic owls and mighty falcons that live there. If you want to learn some Japanese so you can order your coffee like a local, check out our guide on using the Rosetta Stone Japanese phone app to learn the language.

This awesome Harajuku food tour, tailored to kids, also visits the Meiji Shrine and Owl Cafe. Harajuku seems to be packed with animal cafes, so we’ve also found this tour designed for families, which blends pop culture and tradition. You’ll get to visit the breathtaking Meiji Shrine and finish the day at an animal cafe that has micropigs! It’s so cool and made it onto our Ultimate 3-Day Tokyo Itinerary for Families. 

After visiting the Owl Cafe for a late breakfast, head towards Shinjuku. This is one of our favorite Tokyo neighborhoods for foodies because there are so many awesome restaurants and local food spots. 

If you catch a metro to Shinjuku Station you’ll be spat out near Piss Alley, the local name for Omoide Yokocho. The narrow street gets its unfortunate nickname because it was a popular spot for men to relieve themselves after too many pints. But don’t worry, that’s not the case anymore. 

Piss Alley has a local and authentic feel to it, and it’s more shabby and grotty than some of the foodie areas aimed at tourists. Along the narrow alleyway, you’ll find lots of tiny stalls where people huddle over the grill on tiny bar stools. 

There’s always a strong smell of meat cooking on the fire in Piss Alley, and that was enough to get our appetite going the minute we arrived! 

There’s not one specific restaurant you should look for along Omoide Yokocho. Most of the food stalls have a similar menu and the quality is great all around. It tends to come down to which restaurant has a place to sit when you’re there! 

It’s a busy spot, so the stalls do tend to charge an unexpected small commission ‘sitting’ fee, which took us by surprise. Even so, the skewers and beer went down a treat and going to Piss Alley is a cultural experience in itself that no foodie should miss. You can find out more about our experience at Piss Alley in our Ultimate Tokyo Food Guide in Japan – Where and What To Eat. 

Still got room for more delicious Japanese food? Then join this Golden Gai & Kabukicho Izakaya Experience in Shinjuku, which is perfect for anyone looking for a food tour in a neighborhood that is well known for its izakaya bars. You’ll get to try 4 different Japanese local dishes that everyone will love too. There’s also this Shinjuku local bar hopping and food tour if you’re not convinced by the first one, or this Shinjuku food tour where you’ll eat 13 different dishes!

It’s worth going on a walk around the Shinjuku neighborhood, which is pretty lively. If you want to find out about more of the neighborhood’s attractions, check out our Tokyo Neighborhood Guide – Where You Should Visit and Why.

Once you’re ready for dinner, make your way to Tokyo Station. When we were in Tokyo, we kept getting different tips about where to go for the ‘best’ ramen, so we figured it would be a good idea to go somewhere that had a cluster of different ramen restaurants in one place, so we could pick between a few.

That’s when we heard about Ramen Street. The place’s story began when 8 of the best and most famous Japanese ramen shops from around the country were asked to set up a shop on the street. Since then, it’s kept growing and growing.

Now, ramen is a serious thing in Japan. There are local customs and secret rules about how you should eat and order ramen. To help you get to grips with the etiquette, we wrote this How to Eat Ramen in Japan guide!

When we were there, we were lured into Rokurinsha because there was a sizable queue, which we figured meant the ramen was good! The restaurant is known for a special type of ramen called Tsukemen, where the soup and noodles are separate. The broth tends to be richer, and the noodles are thicker. 

It was cool to try it, but we found the fishy flavor that comes from the gyofun dry fish powder pretty overpowering, so we’d recommend trying something else. You can find out more about Ramen Street on our Ultimate Tokyo Food Guide in Japan – Where and What to Eat guide!

Map Of Tokyo

We’ve made this super handy interactive map with all the restaurants, hotels, and attractions for your trip pinned for you! Download it ahead of time for hassle-free navigation around the city:

What You Should Know About Tokyo

It’s hard to believe that Tokyo started as a small fishing village called Edo! Historically, Kyoto was the capital of the country, and it wasn’t until 1603 that Tokyo became the capital of Japan. 

The city’s name was changed from Edo to Tokyo, which translates to ‘eastern capital’. It’s now one of the largest cities in the world, alive with an electric buzz and bright neon billboards. 

Tokyo is located along Tokyo Bay on Japan’s biggest island, Honshu. Because it’s so close to the ocean, it’s renowned for its fresh seafood, which is used in dishes like sushi and ramen!

Tokyo Packing Guide

Here’s a handy packing list to keep in mind for this awesome cityscape holiday:

• Comfortable shoes: Avoid having your holiday time ruined by blisters and bring some comfy trainers to wear while you’re exploring! 
• Pack a raincoat: You aren’t guaranteed good weather in the winter and autumn months, but even in spring, you can be surprised by the occasional shower, so pack a raincoat just in case! Remember that October and November are especially drizzly in Tokyo. 
• Bring your best camera so you can capture timeless memories of your time in Japan! You might want to think about packing other accessories like selfie sticks, so you can take food envy selfies in Tokyo’s best food spots. If you want to capture awesome reflection-free photographs, you should also invest in one of these lens hoods.
• Remember to pack a travel adapter: You’ll need a two-pronged Type A for Japan, so check your plugs to see if you need to get an adapter ahead of your trip.
• Get some Japanese Yen ready before your trip. Japan is still very much a cash-based country. Food stalls in particular prefer cash. 
• Check that you can use your credit or debit card to take out Japanese Yen while you’re abroad without being charged hefty fees! If not, plan and bring all the travel money you think you’ll need. In our 10 day Japan itinerary, we estimated it costs about $147 per person per day to travel in Japan.
• Check if you need a Visa ahead of your trip! Most countries don’t need a Visa for a short holiday in Japan, but make sure you check the requirements for your country so you don’t run into any unexpected problems. You can find out more on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website.
• Bring hand sanitizer: It’s not unusual for there to be no soap in public and restaurant toilets in Japan. 
• Get some metal chopsticks: That way, you can reduce the amount of waste and make your trip a little eco-friendlier.

Eat Your Way Through Japan’s Capital On This Epic Foodie Getaway

This epic Tokyo itinerary for food lovers will take you to all our favorite food spots. You’ll get to dine at restaurants along the coolest foodie streets in the city, like Nakamise Street and Piss Alley. 

A definite highlight of the trip is watching the tuna auctions at Toyosu Market, then feasting on peculiar seafood dishes in the outer market at Tsukiji Market! We’ve also included loads of unique food tours where you’ll get to learn more about Japan’s second-to-none food culture.

Tokyo Frequently Asked Questions