I Flew to Tokyo for 48 Hours: Here’s My Full Itinerary and Costs

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, one of the most populous cities in the world, and one of the hottest destinations for travelers around the globe.

With stunning architecture, high-speed trains, Buddhist temples, serene gardens, an unparalleled food and shopping scene, and an ever-present passion for anime, Tokyo is a shock to the senses in the best possible way.

This city is not one that can be properly experienced in just 2 days, but when my wife and I had the opportunity to try, we couldn’t turn it down.

Here is everything we did during our whirlwind, 2-day, 3-night stay in this culture-rich yet futuristic metropolis.

How To Get There

Traveling using points and miles can unlock some incredible experiences (like this one I’m about to share), but it can also limit you if you can’t find the flight you’re looking for and don’t want to pay cash!

My wife and I needed to get to Sydney, Australia, for a wedding, but I was having a really hard time finding flights that would work for us. This was a special trip, and I really wanted to fly business class, but there were no options for our very specific dates.

However, I snagged them when I found lie-flat seats on a nonstop flight to Tokyo for just 60,000 miles!

This made sense because it (kind of) got us closer to our destination. There were plenty of options from Tokyo to Sydney, and Tokyo has long been on our bucket list!

Japan Airlines From New York (JFK) to Tokyo (HND)

Those in the points and miles world know that flying to Tokyo can be a great way to get outsized value from your points and miles, thanks to great prices and above-average flight experiences from Japanese carriers.

Whether you find availability with All Nippon Airways (ANA) or, in my case, Japan Airlines, you will arrive in comfort — especially if you fly up front!

I was able to find availability on Japan Airlines’ brand new A350-1000 from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) in business class for only 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

This is an incredible deal for a flight that routinely sells for upward of $5,000 each way.

The 14-hour-plus flight was a delightful experience thanks to lie-flat seats with closing doors, pajamas, and a long list of amenities.

We were going to Japan to experience the cuisine, so we got a headstart on the flight.

And, of course, a beverage or 2.

After a nap and a few meals, we landed at Haneda Airport and hopped on the subway toward our (first) hotel. We took the Keikyū Airport Line, which took us to Higashi-ginza Station, for just ¥547 (about $3.50) per person.

Where To Stay

Like any true travel hacker on vacation, I visited more than 1 hotel during this brief stay.

Despite the obvious hassle, we decided it was worth it to experience a luxury hotel where we only had enough points for 1 night. One is better than none!

The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza

Our first stop was at the brand-new The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza.

This hot spot of a hotel was right in the middle of the famed Ginza neighborhood, giving us immediate access to unlimited shopping, dining, and nightlife — although we mostly focused on the dining!

The 86-room boutique hotel was extremely intimate, with highly personalized service, luxury amenities, and one of the most comfortable beds I have ever experienced.

To pay for the ¥117,600 (about $750) room, I used a Free Night Award certificate from my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.

With its sexy, understated luxury vibe, I would return in to this hotel a heartbeat. Especially now that The Roof is open.

Conrad Tokyo

To keep the trend of maximizing points, we headed over to the Conrad Tokyo for our final 2 nights.

This luxury hotel under the Hilton umbrella occupied the top floors of the Shiodome skyscraper, giving guests endless views of Tokyo Bay and Hamarikyu Gardens while being just an elevator ride away from the subway station and all of Tokyo’s attractions.

This hotel offered more than just a place to relax and recharge — although there was plenty of that, thanks to an incredible spa, pool, fitness center, and, of course, top-notch dining.

As Hilton Diamond members, my wife and I enjoyed an upgraded room (with fancy pajamas!) and lounge access that awarded us complimentary breakfast and happy hour each day — which added up to big savings.

We paid for both ¥65,000 (about $420) nights using Free Night Reward certificates from the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card,* as my wife and I each hold the card.

We save our annual free nights for big redemptions, and this was the perfect fit.

* The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

What To Do

There are countless attractions in and around Tokyo; heck, just walking the streets aimlessly is enough to overwhelm your senses. But with the city’s incredible mix of history, culture, and technology, there is so much to see that it’s a good idea to at least have a few items on your to-do list.

I crowdsourced Tokyo itineraries from my expert travel friends and highlighted anything that was mentioned more than once. From museums, temples, ramen spots, capsule toy vending machines, cherry blossoms, and more, there is literally something for everyone.

Here is what we did:

Ginza

Thanks to its famed shopping and dining, the Ginza neighborhood is at the top of many guides.

But it’s not all high-end fashion houses and Michelin-starred restaurants. The streets are filled with boutiques, bistros, department stores, and convenience stores. Just window-shopping could keep you busy for hours.

Or, if you are like us, you will find yourself slurping some cheap ramen meandering through the 12-floor Uniqlo Tokyo Ginza — the world’s largest!

Train Station Ramen

Eating ramen was high on our list of things to do in Tokyo. So when we arrived on a cold, rainy February evening, a warm bowl for our first meal felt like destiny.

Unable to score highly competitive reservations for the top spots, and being completely overwhelmed when searching online, we asked the concierge at our hotel for a recommendation. She sent us to the Tokyo Central Railway Station … yes, a train station for dinner.

Cold and hungry, we meandered our way underground, where the quiet streets above suddenly unveiled a bustling city below. Thousands of tourists and locals zigzagged to their trains or meeting friends and coworkers for after-work drinks at one of over 100 bars and restaurants.

After a few missed turns, we found ourselves at Ramen Steet, a cluster of 8 ramen shops, each with a line out the door. After circling a few times, we picked Kakushinka Tokyo and rehearsed our order.

When we got to the front of the line, we were escorted to a vending machine with pictures and English translations, and with a tap of our Pasmo (no credit cards were accepted, more on that below) were escorted to our table.

Soon after, 2 steaming bowls of ramen were placed in front of us, and all felt right in the world.

I can’t say that it was the best ramen in Tokyo, but it was the best that I ever had! And for ¥1,600 (about $10) per person, my wallet agreed.

Hot Tip:

Credit cards are not widely accepted. Add Pasmo to your mobile wallet, like Apple Pay, to easily tap to board trains and even pay at some restaurants. American Express cards tend to work best for refills. About $50 per person was a good starting point for trains and ramen, and then we topped up as needed.

Tsukiji Outer Market

Japan is known for its sushi, and Tsukiji Wholesale (Inner) Market was the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world before being relocated to another part of town in 2018.

However, the Tsukiji Outer Market remains and is a major destination for tourists and locals, as it is packed with retail stands, fresh seafood, sushi, wagyu beef, sake, and more.

We walked from our hotel in Ginza around 10 a.m. and immediately started eating.

Since it was early, I started with tamago on a stick, which is basically a sweet, fluffy omelet. It wasn’t on my radar originally, but with the long (and quick-moving line), I figured eggs for breakfast was a good idea. The price of ¥200 (about $1.30) was unbeatable.

My wife, who couldn’t wait any longer, went straight for the sushi. Neither of us was disappointed.

After poking around a bit, we found a sake stand. When in Rome, eh?

Of course, I had to grab some meat on a stick, but make it A5 Wagyu for ¥3,300 (approximately $20).

To cap things off and lower our average cost, I grabbed grilled octopus and a beer for ¥800 (about $5).

A few hours of eating and drinking for less than $50 is a great day in my book.

Hot Tip:

Very few vendors accept credit cards, so bring cash or exchange currency inside the market.

teamLab Planets

If you have done any Tokyo research on Instagram or TikTok, you have likely heard of teamLab.

Tokyo has 2 of these immersive, interactive, digital art museums: teamLab Planets and teamLab Borderless.

After reading many reviews, we went to Planets, as it was closer to our hotel and more adult-oriented. We left Borderless as an option if we came back with our kids.

The museum experience was stunning and a must-do.

There were multiple exhibits where we were encouraged to interact with spaces that included water, plants, mirrors, lights, and more. It was a true stimulant for our senses and a perfect fit in Tokyo.

Tickets and reservations were required and started at ¥3,800 (around $24) for adults and about half that for children.

Meiji Shrine

Stepping out of the digital world and back into Tokyo’s rich history, we started our final full day at the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the first modern emperor of Japan, Mutsuhito, who ruled from 1867 to 1912.

As it was in the Shibuya neighborhood, this offered us a great jumping-off point for other destinations on our list.

We took the JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station and walked 5 minutes to the entrance of the Meiji Shrine, which is in a meticulously maintained 170-acre forest. After about a 10-minute walk inside the complex, we arrived at the main complex of shrine buildings.

The shrines, museums, gardens, and forests were all beautiful. Just be respectful about where photography is prohibited.

Overall, it was a very nice experience, and the serenity was a palate cleanser after the rest of the electrified city.

The Meiji Shrine is open every day from sunrise to sunset, and admission is free.

Takeshita Street

Just outside Harajuku Station was the entrance to Takeshita Street, a pedestrian-only street and hot spot for Tokyo’s youth culture, trends, cosplay, and fashion.

Packed with trendy shops, boutiques, viral food stands, and TikTokers, it offered us a unique Japanese experience — and quite the sensory overload! This is also where we could find those cute and controversial cat (and other animal) cafes.

My wife and I just grabbed a snack and walked around for a bit before finding somewhere quieter for lunch.

Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya is one of the most popular shopping and entertainment neighborhoods in Tokyo, although most are familiar with the name thanks to its landmark, extremely busy pedestrian intersection.

Shibuya Crossing (also known as the Shibuya Scramble) is outside of Shibuya Station. Hundreds of thousands of people zigzag across the intersection each day.

Although the organized chaos is often a destination in itself, the surrounding streets offered plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment, making a few elbow bumps worth a visit. With everything from a massive Nintendo store to endless capsule toy stores and even Mario Kart-style street tours, we weren’t bored here.

If you want a view from up top, check out Shibuya Sky, an open-air sky deck 750 feet above the scramble, for about ¥2,500 (about $16).

Hot Tip:

For a more budget-friendly option, visit the Starbucks in front of Shibuya Station. Thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows, the restaurant offers excellent views. Plus, you can grab a coffee!

Convenient Store Snacks

One of the things I loved the most was how good and affordable the food and local convenience stores were.

Whether it’s a 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson, you can grab a solid meal, snack, or drink any time of the day. We loved that we could get a coffee in the morning, or a quick onigiri (rice ball), a smoothie, ramen, or just a quick maple syrup pancake, and get our fix quickly!

Airport Robot Beer

After a whirlwind 2 days in Tokyo, I found myself sitting in JAL’s Sakura Lounge at Haneda Airport, decompressing and trying to figure out when I could book another trip back.

As I sat there, I remembered there was still 1 item left on my to-do list: Drink a beer served by a robot!

So I went to the back of the lounge, grabbed a frosty glass, and enjoyed a final Asahi before flying off to Sydney, Australia.

Final Thoughts

Tokyo is an absolutely incredible city. With so much history, technology, food, and fashion, there is always going to be something you will miss because you will most likely want to see it all.

I absolutely do not recommend visiting for only 2 days, but if you have only 2 days thanks to a convenient (self-made) layover — DO IT!