I had less than 24 hours in Tokyo, and honestly? I’d do it all over again. After landing at Haneda around 2:20 PM local time, I quickly grabbed cash from the airport ATM and picked up a MetroCard. Public transit is the way to go in Tokyo. Don’t overthink it. I took the train straight to Taito City and checked into Nui. Hostel & Bar Lounge. After a quick shower and change, I was back out the door within the hour, ready to explore.
Everything I did once I landed
Dinner in Shibuya (a lesson in menu roulette)
I headed to Shibuya for dinner with no reservations and no real plan, only to strike out at a few restaurants that required them. Eventually, I wandered until something caught my eye. In classic Tokyo fashion, I ordered from a vending machine, picking based on photos. What arrived looked like ramen but wasn’t quite what I expected. Turns out I ordered Ton Yarō, a Jiro-style bowl: massive, heavy, piled high with bean sprouts and thick slices of chashu pork. Lesson learned: when you can’t read the menu, you’re in for surprises.
Shibuya Crossing
After dinner, I walked the neighborhood a bit and made my way to Shibuya Crossing. You’ve seen it in photos, but it really does hit different in person. Seeing hundreds of people crossing from every direction at once, it’s chaotic and oddly satisfying to watch. Definitely worth stopping at, even just for a few minutes.
Shinjuku: Beard Papa’s, Memory Lane & Golden-Gai
From Shibuya, I headed to Shinjuku—just under 2.5 miles, and very walkable. I made a quick pit stop at Beard Papa’s for cream puffs with fresh-piped custard, which is always a good idea and a great way to get extra fuel for exploring. Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) was next: a narrow alley packed with tiny yakitori stalls, all smoke, noise, and energy. I realized I could have eaten here, so now I know for next time.
I finally made my way through Shinjuku Golden Gai. It’s a maze of tiny bars, each with its own personality. I’m not a big whiskey drinker, but Japan is known for its whiskey, so I had to try just one. I walked into a bar called Zeami at random for one drink before heading back. It was tiny; it only fit about 6 people comfortably at the bar. While I was enjoying my drink, two Australians walked in, and we chatted for a bit.
Sensō-ji at Night (and my omikuji moment)
On the way back to the hostel, I stopped at Sensō-ji Temple to check it out for the next day. Even at night, it’s beautiful. The path leading up to the Hōzōmon gate is lined with rows of chōchin, which are traditional Japanese paper lanterns sponsored by local businesses. Each one has different kanji, logos, and little characters painted on it. Did I know what had caught my attention? No, but it looked cool, so I did a little mini photoshoot. No shame in the selfie game.
Once inside the temple grounds, I found the omikuji station, a wooden cabinet with small numbered drawers for drawing fortunes. My first draw was bad, but as tradition goes, I tied it to the rack outside and drew again. The second fortune was good. I spent about 30 minutes there before heading back to sleep, in bed by 11 PM.
The exploration continues on day 2
Breakfast
Up and out by 9 AM, I grabbed breakfast at a nearby hotel with Western options. I’m just not a fish-for-breakfast person, no shame. With another long day ahead, I needed all the fuel I could get.
Nezu Shrine
I took the bus to Nezu Shrine, famous for its torii gate tunnel: about 200 bright red gates lined up in a row. If you’ve seen photos of Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, it’s a similar vibe but smaller and far less crowded. Pink azaleas were in bloom, making it even more of a photo moment.
While there, I spotted a vendor making ningyo-yaki, little round cakes filled with sweet bean paste. They were delicious. I only stayed about 30 minutes before moving on due to time constraints.
Sensō-ji (for real this time)
Back to Sensō-ji to actually explore it in the daylight. This place is amazing. The Kaminarimon gate, the incense, the pagoda. This time, I got to go inside one of the temples, which felt special.
The path leading up from the main road is called Nakamise Shopping Street, and it’s lined with little shops on both sides. This was my go-to spot for souvenirs, easy to browse, lots of options, and you don’t have to go far. I’m also a big people-watcher, and Sensō-ji is one of the best places to do it. Tourists, locals, monks, school groups, everyone comes through.
On my way out, I spotted what I thought was a matcha shop, Suzukien Asakusa Matcha Gelato, offering seven different matcha flavors. I couldn’t decide, so I grabbed an iced matcha and picked up a matcha set as my personal souvenir. I knew it would have to survive three more countries and a few flights, but I didn’t care; I was thrilled to have an authentic matcha set from Japan.
I departed from Tokyo Narita at 4:30 PM. But not before one last attempt at ICHIRAN.
The ICHIRAN saga (and the airport chaos that followed)
I’d been trying to get into ICHIRAN the whole trip. For those who may have never heard of it, ICHIRAN is a solo ramen chain where you sit in your own private booth and eat in peace. It’s iconic, and I was determined. Every time I passed by, the line was long. Before heading to the airport, I gave it one last shot, waited about 25 minutes, and realized there was no way I’d have time to eat before my flight. So I walked away. Again.
Skipping it was the right call because what happened at the airport made the ICHIRAN line look like nothing.
At Narita, I found out I needed to check my bag, and the counter was cash only. I didn’t have enough, and there were just 10 minutes before the counter closed. I sprinted to an ATM, withdrew cash, and raced back. Chaotic and stressful, but honestly, pretty on-brand for me. Something like this always seems to happen, just not usually at the start of a three-week trip.
That’s how my 24 hours in Tokyo ended: out of breath, a little frazzled, but on the plane.
Would I go back?
Absolutely and without hesitation. This trip was just a layover, not a real visit. There was so much I didn’t get to see because of time constraints, but even a short stop made it clear Tokyo deserves a real trip. I want to return and actually explore the city, not just scratch the surface. Even in 24 hours, it was memorable, and that says a lot.
Tokyo Tips
- Get cash from the ATM at the airport and load a MetroCard right away — you’ll use it constantly.
- Seriously, keep cash on you. At the airport too. You’ll need it.
- You don’t need reservations everywhere, but be prepared to wing it and maybe end up with a bowl of Jiro ramen.
- ICHIRAN is worth the wait — just budget your time accordingly.
- If you draw a bad omikuji fortune at Sensō-ji, tie it up and redraw — that’s the move.
- Nakamise Shopping Street is the easiest place to grab souvenirs without going out of your way.
- Golden-Gai is worth a night if you like small, low-key bars with a lot of character.