Toyko 3-day Itinerary
Japan
Where to go and what to see in Tokyo to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and Japan travel writer Rob Goss.
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Overview >Bucket list experience:
Sumo wrestling
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
Credit Shutterstock.com/J. Henning Buchholz
Last updated: 19 November, 2022
Nothing quite says Japanese sport like large, semi-naked men trying to wrestle each other to the ground.
Sumo has been around for at least 1,000 years, initially performed to appease the Shinto gods before eventually becoming the major sport it is today. From the brief, yet hard-hitting bouts to the Shinto-influenced pomp that surrounds them, it’s a brilliant spectacle – and Tokyo’s Ryogoku neighbourhood is the centre of it all.
There are three 15-day sumo tournaments a year at the Kokugikan arena in Ryogoku, but if you miss those you could take a morning tour to one of the sumo training stables to watch the rikishi (wrestlers) go through gruelling practice routines.
Any time of year, Ryogoku is also worth a night-time visit for a chanko nabe dinner. This protein-heavy hotpot of fish, meat, vegetables, and tofu, is what rikishi eat to stay supersized.
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Price from: £15
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 8+
Frequency: annually
When: March, May and Sept
Duration: 2-3 hours
Getting there & doing it
Morning tours of the sumo training stables to watch the practice routines are only accessible as part of on organised tour.
To see the Grand Tournament at Kokugikan, book well in advance via the official website.
When to do it
The Grand Tournaments are held over 15 days every March, May and September at the Kokugikan.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Hotel K5
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[2.1 miles]
Uber-hip Scandi-inspired boutique hotel with great access to Tokyo Station, Ginza, and key business districts. A chilled-out base for hipsters.
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Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[2.1 miles]
Uber lux, five star hotel with a prime location in central Tokyo for all travellers who can afford it. One of Tokyo’s swankiest addresses.
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BnA Studio Tokyo
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[2.3 miles]
A recently-opened boutique hotel with just 6 rooms, each a unique art installation, in a convenient location in Akihabara.
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Hoshinoya Tokyo
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[2.7 miles]
A high-rise, high-end contemporary take on the traditional ryokan with a great central location.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Tokyo
Kanto, Japan
A dizzying mixture of old ways and modern style, crowds and calm, and arguably the best food scene on the planet.
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Overview >Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Sensoji Temple
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[2 miles]
With towering gateways and a five-storied pagoda, this busy temple in Asakusa is a standout. If you have time for just one temple in Tokyo – make it this one.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 2-3 hours
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Museums of Ueno Park
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[2.7 miles]
A collection of six excellent in one park, including the Tokyo National Museum. Also one of the city’s most popular sites for hanami in Cherry Blosssom season.
Best for ages: 6+ | Varies | 2-3 hours
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Tokyo National Museum
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[2.9 miles]
Japan’s oldest and largest art and cultural museum, is a must-see for anyone interested in Japan’s fascinating history. Collections include samurai armour and swords, ancient Buddhist sculptures even tea ceremony utensils.
Best for ages: 8+ | £6 | 2-3 hours
Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[8.8 miles]
Surrounded by 170 acres of lush forest, this calming, functioning shrine in otherwise heaving Harajuku is one of central Tokyo’s most tranquil spots.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 2-3 hours
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Experience
Japanese Sword Museum
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[0.2 miles]
This museum in Ryogoku exhibits a collection of around 190 supremely crafted historic katana (samurai swords) – some designated national treasures – and documents how they are made.
Best for ages: 8+ | £7 | 2-3 hours
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Kiyosumi Gardens
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[1.8 miles]
One of the city’s finest traditional ‘stroll gardens’, set out in the sukiya style, tucked away in an under-visited pocket of greenery in eastern Tokyo.
Best for ages: 13+ | £1 | 2-3 hours
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Experience
Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[2.1 miles]
Across the river from Asakusa, the observation decks on this 634-metre tower deliver incredible views over Tokyo’s seemingly unending sprawl. The high-speed elevator gets you to the observation deck in 50 seconds.
Best for ages: 6+ | £10 | 2-3 hours
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Old Tokyo at Yanaka
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan[3.7 miles]
Having avoided damage from the great quake of 1923, the bombs of World War Two and the attention of developers, this mellow, retro and rickety neighbourhood is reminiscent of ‘old Tokyo’.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 2-3 hours
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