Welcome to Part 2 of our comprehensive Tokyo independent travel guide. Having experienced Day 1’s modern energy through Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Shibuya, Day 2 takes you on a journey through Tokyo’s historical heart and traditional culture. Today’s adventure combines imperial grandeur, authentic market experiences, cutting-edge entertainment, and ancient temple traditions—creating the perfect balance to your Tokyo discovery.

Strategic Route Reorganization

Day 1’s unfinished bus tour itinerary: Imperial Palace (Nijubashi 20-minute break) → Asakusa → Skytree → Odaiba → Cocoon Tower → Shinjuku Island (dissolution).

This schedule works efficiently for bus transportation but proves inefficient for train connections. Therefore, we’re reorganizing the sequence for optimal independent travel.

9:00 AM: Imperial Palace Circuit Walk

Official Imperial Palace Map (Japanese Government) Key locations marked for the complete circuit walk

Meeting Point: Toei Mita Line Otemachi Station (Exit D2)

Connected to Tokyo Station underground. This location positions you directly in front of Imperial Palace.

The bus tour’s 20-minute Nijubashi stop wastes this incredible location. Imperial Palace represents Japan in miniature—natural beauty and architectural magnificence combined. A complete perimeter walk reveals endless Instagram-worthy spots throughout. Walking the full circuit, not just a brief Nijubashi pause, allows you to truly appreciate Imperial Palace’s essence.

After approximately30 minutes circling the complete course, you’ll reach Sakuradamon Station area, having covered roughly 70% of the circuit with the National Diet Building visible in the distance on your right. 

Here comes your choice:

Choice 1: Political Power Route

Sakuradamon → National Diet Building → Toyosu Market

Yurakucho Line: Sakuradamon → Nagatacho (1 minute, ¥180). Exit 2 provides 3-minute walk to National Diet Building for perfect Instagram shots. Return to Nagatacho → Yurakucho Line to Toyosu (13 minutes). Transfer to Yurikamome Line → Shijo-mae Station (3 minutes).

11:00 AM arrival at Toyosu Market.

Choice 2: Ginza Cultural Route

Sakuradamon → Ginza Stroll → Toyosu Market

Yurakucho Line: Sakuradamon → Yurakucho (1 minute). Walk through Ginza via Harumi-dori: Marion, Fujiya Main Store, Kabuki-za Theater. 1.2km distance. Reach Shintomicho Station → Yurakucho Line to Toyosu (10 minutes).

11:30 AM arrival at Toyosu Market. Ginza strolling time: approximately 30 minutes.

11:00-11:30 AM: Toyosu Market Experience

Location: Shijo-mae Station

Explore Edo-period recreation at Senkyaku Banrai, then experience legendary market dining where Tokyo’s master chefs source ingredients. Seven exceptional establishments offer world-class meals at unbeatable prices.

1:00 PM: Shijo-mae to Odaiba transfer (14 minutes, ¥330)

**Realistic Time Management:** Arriving at Toyosu at 11:30 AM allows 90 minutes total. Budget 30 minutes for Senkyaku Banrai strolling and 50 minutes for authentic market dining (including queue time), enabling 2 full hours at Odaiba before the 3:00 PM water bus departure. **Strategic Approach:** Keep Senkyaku Banrai visit brief to maximize both authentic dining experience and Odaiba entertainment time.

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1:00-4:00 PM: Odaiba Futuristic Entertainment Island

Odaiba features two symbolic buildings representing this artificial island:

DiverCity Tokyo Plaza

Life-size Mobile Suit Gundam: 19.7-meter memorial photos. DiverCity resembles standard large shopping malls but houses rare specialty shops: Doraemon Museum (goods shop), Sanrio Puroland direct Kitty merchandise store, Gundam figure specialists—essential for specific fandoms.

Decks Tokyo Beach

Multiple theme parks including:

• “Tokyo Joypolis”: World’s largest indoor amusement park

• “Madame Tussauds Tokyo”: 70 life-size celebrity figures
• “Legoland Discovery Center Tokyo”: LEGO workshops, rides, and “MINILAND” featuring LEGO-recreated famous buildings
• “Tokyo Trick Art Museum”: Self-included trick photography
• “Odaiba Takoyaki Museum”: National popular takoyaki shop collection
• “Daiba Ichome Shotengai”: 1960s Japan retro atmosphere

2-hour Odaiba allocation. 3:00 PM: Decks beachfront pier → Water bus via Sumida River to Asakusa (50-minute journey).

4:00 PM: Asakusa Traditional Tokyo’s Crown Jewel

Asakusa pier sits near Kaminarimon Gate (2-3 minute walk).

Begin with classic Kaminarimon memorial photos, then proceed through Nakamise to Sensoji Temple main hall. Browse Japanese original goods at souvenir shops, experience the large incense burner smoke (believed to heal applied body parts), and bow to Kannon at the main hall.

Post-worship, head right from main hall into Nishi-sando arcade, continue straight to Don Quijote for Instagram shots. This area is called “Cinema Street.” Facing Don Quijote with the police box behind you, look left to see Sushiya Street arcade 200 meters ahead. Walk there, turn left before Sushiya Street into another arcade called Shin-Nakamise. Exit the arcade, cross the signal to reach Matsuya Department Store with underground Toei Asakusa Line access.

Every step of this Asakusa journey offers fresh, enjoyable discoveries.

**Cinema Street Cultural Context** This area embodies Asakusa’s forgotten identity as Tokyo’s entertainment capital. From the Edo era (1603～）through the 1960s, Asakusa was Japan’s Times Square—the nation’s premier entertainment district before shifting to Shinjuku in the 1960s. **Entertainment Legacy:** Legendary comedians like Beat Takeshi, Atsumi Kiyoshi, and Hagiwara Kinichi—household names among older Japanese generations—all originated from Asakusa. In fact, virtually every major entertainer from the pre-1960s era called Asakusa home. **Dual Identity:** While tourists see temples and festivals, locals know Asakusa’s true character: an entertainment district where traditional performing arts venues still operate today. Walking Cinema Street reveals this duality—sacred and secular, traditional and theatrical. **Modern Discovery:** As you pass Don Quijote, imagine this street bustling with movie theaters, vaudeville houses, and performers who shaped Japanese entertainment culture.

Asakusa Travel Tips

Tip 1: Tourism Center Secret
The brown building across from Kaminarimon houses English-fluent staff on the first floor for Asakusa travel information. The rooftop offers the only vantage point for single-shot photos capturing Kaminarimon + Nakamise + Sensoji Temple together. Consultation and admission: free.

Tip 2: Asakusa Food Culture
Trending: Melon pan (¥200-300) available throughout the district
Traditional: Asakusa Menchi sells 4,000 daily! Japanese original menchi katsu for ¥350 at the central intersection. Menchi katsu combines ground pork/beef with minced onions, salt, and pepper, shaped into oval or sphere form, coated with flour, beaten egg, and breadcrumbs, then deep-fried—an original Japanese katsu dish.

Tip 3: Alternative Relaxation Option

** Between Don Quijote and Sushiya Street stands ROX entertainment complex, housing Matsuri-yu—a premium health spa perfect for travelers needing serious relaxation after extensive walking. **Matsuri-yu Details:** – Hours: 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM – Cost: ¥2,750 – Facilities: Full spa amenities in pristine condition – T

attoo Policy: Not permitted, but concealment with shop-sold stickers is acceptable –

**Strategic Choice:** Skip Skytree for deep relaxation after your intensive Tokyo exploration **Perfect for:** Travelers prioritizing recovery over additional sightseeing, especially after two full days of walking.

Tip 4: Authentic Hot Spring Sento Experience(Tatoo-Free) + Kappabashi Street Shopping
** While Asakusa lost its last traditional bathhouse (Jakotsu-yu) several years ago, a quick subway ride reveals the perfect combination: authentic sento culture + unique souvenir shopping.
**Access:** Ginza Line Asakusa → Tawaramachi → Inaricho (3 minutes), 200m walk to Hinode-yu
**Hinode-yu Public Bath:** – Authentic hot spring experience: ¥550 entry – Tattoo-friendly (unlike premium spas) – Traditional atmosphere: small, basic, but genuine – Local community bathhouse since [year]

**Kappabashi Street Bonus:** Inaricho Station serves as the gateway to Kappabashi（450ｍ）—Tokyo’s famous “Kitchen Town.” Foreign visitors flock here for professional knives, tableware, and incredibly realistic wax food samples (sushi, ramen bowls, beef bowls) as unique souvenirs. Predominantly popular with Western tourists.

Celebrity Endorsement: Hollywood actress Milla Jovovich has become a regular visitor to Kappabashi, frequently spotted shopping with her daughter—as featured on Japanese television. This celebrity seal of approval highlights the unique appeal of Kitchen Town’s authentic craftsmanship and distinctive food samples.

**Evening Extension:** Continue to neighboring Ueno for dinner and drinks, completing a perfect traditional Tokyo evening.

6:00 PM: Tokyo Skytree Grand Finale

Transportation: Toei Asakusa Line Asakusa → Oshiage (3 minutes)

Oshiage Station sits at Skytree’s base. Enjoy nighttime Skytree at Japan’s tallest structure. The 450-meter “Tokyo Skytree Tembo Galleria” offers unparalleled greater Tokyo views impossible from anywhere else.
Admission: Adults weekdays ¥3,500, weekends ¥3,800.

Skytree District Bonus Experiences

Tip 1: Triton Sushi at Tokyo Solamachi
Tokyo’s most acclaimed conveyor belt sushi. Budget ¥3,000-5,000 for satisfying premium quality.

Tip 2: UNCHAIN DINER Burger Challenge
Finish 2.5kg burger + fries in 20 minutes = FREE. Fail = ¥3,500 payment. Ultimate food challenge!

Tip 3: Traditional Public Baths
Kinshi-cho area (one subway stop): Kogane-yu, Daikoku-yu, Mikoku-yu hot springs. Public bathhouses welcome tattoos. ¥520 entry fee.

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Tip 4: Fujiya Cake Buffet (Kinshi-cho Station)
Japanese brand cake maker Fujiya operates all-you-can-eat cake shop in station building.

• Content: 20-30 varieties of “cut cakes” from showcase
• Includes: Coffee, tea, juice drink bar (self-service)
• Time Limit: 60 minutes
• Pricing: Adults ¥1,850 (tax excluded), Children (elementary 6th grade and under) ¥1,180 (tax excluded), Ages 3 and under: Free
• Hours: 11:00-22:30, reservations by phone

Alternative Day 2 Option: teamLab Planets Tokyo

The Magic of teamLab Planets

teamLab Planets’ extraordinary appeal lies in its responsive artworks that transform based on visitors’ presence and movements. Touch a waterfall projection and watch water flow around your fingertips. Stand still with a companion and flowers bloom beneath your feet. This mesmerizing world of color and light creates unique impressions for each visitor, as the same artwork transforms differently depending on who’s there and how they move. The interactive nature allows complete immersion into the art itself.

teamLab Planets has earned global recognition for pioneering a new artistic frontier—honoring traditional art lineage while boldly integrating digital innovation to create an entirely new art form.

teamLab Planets’ Incredible Achievements

Guinness World Record Holder From April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, teamLab Planets welcomed 2,504,264 visitors, earning the Guinness World Record as the “Most visited museum (single art group)” worldwide. This surpassed even the famously popular Van Gogh Museum and Picasso Museum, traditionally the most visited single-artist museums globally.

Japan’s #1 Inbound Tourist Destination In December 2023, “Hounichi Lab,” the inbound tourism industry’s largest media platform, ranked teamLab Planets first in their “Inbound Popular Tourist Destination Rankings.”

The report noted: “In April 2023, international visitor numbers exceeded 170,000. Of the 1.95 million foreign visitors to Japan that month, approximately 1 in 10 visited teamLab Planets—a truly phenomenal achievement.”

Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction In September 2023, teamLab Planets became the first Japanese attraction to receive the World Travel Awards’ “Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction” recognition, competing against historic landmarks like Angkor Wat and the Great Wall of China.

Official Website: https://teamlabplanets.dmm.com/

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Day 2 Alternative Itinerary with teamLab Planets

Schedule Overview:

• 9:00 AM: Imperial Palace Circuit Walk
• 10:30 AM: Arrival at Shijo-mae Station – Senkyaku Banrai exploration and Toyosu Market lunch
• 12:00 PM: teamLab Planets experience
• 3:00 PM: Water bus from Odaiba Beach to Asakusa
• 4:00 PM: Asakusa exploration
• 6:00 PM: Tokyo Skytree observatory visit

Essential Tips

Tip 1: Imperial Palace to Toyosu Route Walk around Imperial Palace for 30-40 minutes until reaching Sakuradamon Gate. Take Yurakucho Line to Yurakucho Station, then transfer to JR Yamanote Line to Shimbashi Station (next stop). From Shimbashi, board Yurikamome Line toward Odaiba and Toyosu areas.

Tip 2: Yurikamome Day Pass Strategy Purchase the Yurikamome Line day pass at Shimbashi Station for ¥820. This saves money when traveling between Odaiba, Shijo-mae, and Toyosu stations, plus eliminates the hassle of buying individual tickets at each station.

Tip 3: Secret Rainbow Bridge Walk Get off at Shibaura-futo Station (4th stop from Shimbashi) to access the pedestrian walkway across Rainbow Bridge. This 1.7km walk offers exclusive panoramic views of Tokyo’s skyline from above Tokyo Bay—a hidden gem known to few Japanese or foreign visitors. The route spans about 2km total. Re-board Yurikamome Line at Odaiba-Kaihinkoen Station. This makes an excellent alternative to the Imperial Palace circuit.

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Tip 4: Odaiba Time Management Warning This itinerary leaves minimal time for Odaiba exploration—essentially just enough for photos at the Gundam statue in front of DiverCity. Extended Odaiba time compromises the Asakusa experience because Nakamise Shopping Street (connecting Kaminarimon Gate to Sensoji Temple) closes at 5:00 PM. After 5:00 PM, Asakusa becomes quite deserted. To experience vibrant Asakusa, you may need to skip Odaiba entirely.

Access: Yurikamome Tokyo Rinkai New Transit Line – “Shin-toyosu Station” (0-minute walk), “Shijo-mae Station” (6-minute walk)

Your Tokyo Independence: Mission Accomplished

Your two-day Tokyo adventure concludes here, having covered all major famous spots. We omitted the bus tour’s final stop, Cocoon Tower, as it’s less renowned compared to others. Famous tourist destinations excluded from this itinerary include Ueno, Akihabara, and Toyosu’s teamLab Planets—excellent options for first or second-day evening visits.

Your two-day Tokyo adventure concludes here, having covered all major famous spots while experiencing the city like a true local.
**What You’ve Accomplished:**
✅ Saved over $60 compared to rushed bus tours
✅ Explored 10 iconic districts at your own pace
✅ Discovered hidden gems tour buses never visit
✅ Created memories, not just checked off landmarks

We omitted the bus tour’s final stop, Cocoon Tower, as it’s less renowned compared to others. Famous tourist destinations excluded from this itinerary include Ueno, Akihabara, and Toyosu’s teamLab Planets—excellent options for extending your Tokyo journey. **Ready for More?** This independent travel approach works for any destination. You now have the confidence and knowledge to explore Tokyo—and beyond—on your own terms.