Tokyo in 3, 5 or 7 days: anime, city and Mt. Fuji

Day-by-day plans with the trains and the bookings you need, built around what anime fans and first-timers love.

In 3 days you can cover Tokyo in three themes: an anime day (Akihabara, Nakano Broadway, Ikebukuro), a city day (Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku) and a Mt. Fuji or Hakone day trip. With 5 days, add the east and the bay (Ueno, Tokyo Skytree, Tsukiji, Odaiba) and the Yokohama–Enoshima coast. With 7 days, add the Ghibli Museum (booked in advance) and the nature of Nikko. Iheb, a private guide who lives in Japan, adapts the plan to your group and guides the days you choose.

Tokyo in 3 days

Day 1, anime: Akihabara in the morning (figures, retro games, Pokémon cards at Hareruya 2), Nakano Broadway when Mandarake opens at noon, then Ikebukuro: Animate and Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo. Akihabara · Nakano · Ikebukuro.
Day 2, the city: Harajuku and Takeshita Street, Omotesando, Shibuya crossing and Shibuya PARCO (Nintendo TOKYO, Pokémon Center), Shinjuku Gyoen garden, then the free observatory at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Muslim travelers can fit in Tokyo Camii at Yoyogi-Uehara.
Day 3, Mt. Fuji: Lake Kawaguchi (about 2 hours from Shinjuku on the Fuji Excursion) or Hakone (about 1 h 20 on the Romancecar). Day trips.

Tokyo in 5 days

The three days above, plus:

Day 4, east and the bay: Ueno Park with its zoo and the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Skytree, then the Tsukiji outer market, Ginza and Odaiba at sunset.
Day 5, the coast: Yokohama, the Enoden line, the Kamakura-Kokomae crossing and Enoshima island (about an hour from Tokyo Station).

Tokyo in 7 days

The five days above, plus:

Day 6, Ghibli and Pokémon: the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka by Inokashira Park (tickets go on sale on the 10th of the previous month at 10 am Japan time on Lawson Ticket; none at the door), then Pokémon Center Tokyo DX in Nihonbashi, with the Pokémon Café by reservation, and Character Street at Tokyo Station.
Day 7, nature in Nikko: Kegon Falls (about 97 m) and Lake Chuzenji up the Irohazaka road, about 1 h 50 from Asakusa on the Tobu Spacia X. Or a free day for last-minute shopping.

Bookings and where to stay

Ghibli Museum: the 10th of the previous month, 10 am Japan time.
Pokémon Café: reservation only, slots open at 6 pm Japan time and go fast.
Where to stay: near a JR Yamanote Line station. Shinjuku or Shibuya for the west side and departures to Hakone and Fuji; Tokyo Station or Ueno for the east side, Nikko, Narita and the Shinkansen.
Tax-free: bring your passport and keep receipts; the tax is refunded after customs at departure.