I recently went to Tokyo on a press trip... for three days. Yep, I traveled nearly 36 hours roundtrip to spend 72 hours in the Japanese capital—and despite the jet lag that turned my brain into mush, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Tourism to Japan is booming, and Tokyo’s at the top of everyone’s 2025 bucket list. But with Americans averaging just 10 to 14 vacation days a year, chances are your visit might be just as brief. Whether you're squeezing in side trips to Osaka or Kyoto—or debating a Tokyo Disney detour—you’ll need smart strategies for tackling the capital on a tight schedule. Here’s what I learned while speeding my way through Tokyo.
Fast-track your airport exit
Skip the chaos and fill out your customs forms ahead of time on the Visit Japan website. You’ll get a QR code that gets scanned at multiple checkpoints, helping you breeze through while everyone else is stuck in line. There’s free Wi-Fi at the airport if you forget, but I recommend taking a screenshot in advance—it's way faster and easier.
Maximize your mornings
You’re not going to beat the jet lag. So, why try? I usually crashed around 11 or midnight and woke up by 6am, annoyingly energized. Since stores and museums don’t open until 10, use that early-bird energy wisely: hit 7-Eleven or Lawson (some are open 24/7), and knock out shrines and temples before the crowds wake up. Touristy, yes—but much better before the crowds get there.
Get ahead of the restaurant game
Omakase was a must for me. What I didn’t realize? Tokyo doesn’t do Resy or OpenTable. The good news: there are local booking sites. I used Pocket Concierge (owned by Amex, no booking fees, instant confirmation), and it saved me. (Pro tip: sign up before your trip and play around with it so you're not scrambling for sushi with three hours to spare like I was.)
Dress for the whole day, and do it accordingly
There is literally no time to go back to your room to change between meals and activities, nor should you have to. Tokyo is a casual city, but its citizens dress well. Read: athleisure is a no, so save the Lululemon for your flight home. Go for sleek sneakers, slacks or real pants (with a button!), and light layers up top. You’ll blend in and still be comfy enough for shrine visits, izakaya hopping, and everything in between.
Skip the train (sometimes)
I love public transportation, and being from Miami, where it’s nonexistent, I use it as much as I can when I travel. But I ditched the subway in favor of taxis for efficiency. Uber works well in Tokyo (you can use it to summon a regular taxi too), and prices are reasonable. (Pro tip: Switch your Uber wallet to “no preferred currency” to get the best exchange rate and avoid extra fees, especially if you use a no-fee credit card.)
Be picky with your tourist stops
Everyone on my Instagram who's been to Tokyo ends up at teamLab, so, of course, I had to as well. I’ve done teamLab at Superblue in Miami, but the Tokyo version was next level. (Full disclosure: teamLab Planets hosted my trip to Japan, but the museum was already on my dream list.)
The highlights? The new Athletics Forest, where I bounced through surreal obstacle courses like a kid at a (much cooler) playground. I drew a creature at Future Park and watched it come to life onscreen. Then I “caught” and studied rainbow-colored, long-gone animals in the Catching Collecting Extinct Forest—think Lisa Frank-inspired digital world. Tween me would’ve died to have them all on her Trapper Keeper.
Compared to Borderless—the other teamLab museum—Planets is smaller and easier to do on a tighter schedule. The exhibits are rooted in nature and also packed with immersive magic, including wading through water and strolling through floating gardens. Bonus: It’s just a 10-minute cab ride from the popular tourist attraction Tsukiji Fish Market, so you can chase your art trip with fatty tuna belly and yakitori in the outer market. Two birds, one delicious stone.
Book a tour
Short on time or don’t speak the language? Let a local lead the way. We booked a half-day walking tour of Asakusa and Ueno through ToursByLocals and hit the highlights: Senso-ji Temple, where we learned how to enter a shrine properly, and Nakamise Street, packed with souvenir stands and street snacks. (Pro tip: no eating on the go in Japan. Step to the side to eat, and carry your trash—there are zero public garbage cans.)
We also stopped at Ameyoko Market in Ueno for lunch, where our guide translated the menu and ordered us a traditional izakaya spread. If trying all the different styles of Japanese dining is on your list, start here.
Sure, I could have done this solo, but it would’ve taken longer, I wouldn’t have gotten the backstory on the temples, and I might’ve missed my izakaya moment entirely. Plus, our guide took us on the subway!