If you arrive with a night flight, you may need to wait overnight for the first bus to depart from the airport to Tokyo. Whether you land at Narita or Haneda, there are places where you can rest at the airport. You can choose the airport capsule hotels, the lounges, or the large waiting rooms where to rest and plan your wonderful two-day trip.

Because you only have 2 days, the focus of your itinerary is to reduce the time between locations and attractions. The best hotel choices would be those close to the places you really want to visit.

Tokyo has many high-end hotels, but also budget hotels, youth hostels, capsule hotels, and internet cafes. If you're overwhelmed by the amount of choices and can’t make up your mind, try the chain hotels APA HOTEL or TOYOKO INN, which are perfect places to crash, budget priced, and offer options in many convenient locations.

For example, places like Tsukiji, Ginza, Shibuya, Skytree, Asakusa (Senso-ji temple), Ueno, are all key spots.

First stop of the day on the flash-tour: go to Tsukiji Outer Market and eat delicious seafood breakfast (at great value)

The first bus from the airport to Tokyo leaves at day-break. Your first stop should be the Tsukiji Outer Market to enjoy the most delicious Japanese breakfast. Here, you can taste the dishes of many famous shops, especially seafood risotto, sushi, sashimi, and more, all prepared with fresh daily catches.

In addition, there are many different kinds of snacks, as well as beverages stores right in the market. You can definitely spend a lot of time in Tsukiji.

Now the Tsukiji Wholesale Fish Market itself (where the tuna auction had been conducted) moved to Toyosu in October 2018. So what other options are there when it comes to food stores worth visiting? No need to worry, because actually only the stores within the market itself moved, while hundreds of other stores right outside the market still operate as always. Don’t hesitate to go visit these restaurants for some amazing meals. Just take the first bus out of the airport straight for Tsukiji market!

Dining recommendations:
A gem seafood restaurant recommended by many newspapers and magazines (Tsukiji fish market), you can see the preparation of a huge squid with your own eyes (Tsukiji sushi), must-try “Jade shop” in Tsukiji, and more

Recommended sightseeing spots: Tsukiji Honganji Temple

Day 1, Stop 2: Stroll through the fashionable streets of Ginza, one of Tokyo’s fanciest neighborhoods

Ginza is known for being one of the most prosperous areas of Tokyo. In Ginza you will find countless well-known department stores, brand-stores from many countries, and small and big boutique stores. Ginza is also a food paradise.

You will find all kinds of food from ramen, to sushi, to roasted meat, risotto, western restaurants and more. In addition there are also old and traditional restaurants, Michelin-starred and recommended restaurants, but also more affordable options to choose from. Once you’re there, you may find it impossible to leave!

Dining recommendations: Ginza Bairin and its three generations' old tonkatsu recipe; Owada, the unagi (eel) restaurant founded in 1893 is a great choice for both lunch and afternoon tea; Bills, the fluffy pancake shop; Tsujiri, the Kyoto matcha store; and many others are just a few examples of the choices you will have in Ginza.

Recommended shopping: Ginza Six, Muji Ginza, Lotte Duty Free Shop, Hakuhinkan Toy Park, Uniqlo, Loft.

Day 1, Stop 3: Shibuya/Omotesando and the crazy Harajuku, the forefront of Japanese fashion

Whether this is your first trip to Tokyo or you’re an experienced traveler, when in town, you cannot not go to some of the most lively and popular districts of the city. Go on a walk in Shibuya and enjoy the many departments stores, shopping centers, bookstores, manga stores, electronics stores and much more.

In Harajuku, you will also be close to the Meiji Jingu Shrine, one of the most visited even by Japanese tourists. The calm Meiji shrine can give you some peace right in the middle of the bustling city streets. When you're ready dive right back into the crazy vibe of the neighborhood. Omotesando, like Harajuku, is home to many amazing dessert shops. Don’t miss out!

Recommended sightseeing spots: Shibuya Hachiko Statue, Shibuya Crossing, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku Takeshita Street

Dining Recommendations: Ichiran Shibuya, Gyukatsu Motomura Shibuya, Bills Harajuku, Rikyu, and so on.

Recommended Shopping: Shibuya109, Hikarie Department Store, Uniqlo, GU, Loft, Awesome Store Harajuku, Flying Tiger Omotesando, Søstrene Grene

Day 1, Stop 4: Tokyo's bustling night scene accompanies you to sleep

If you still have energy and don't want to go to the hotel too early, you can enjoy the beautiful night skyline of Tokyo. There are many places (some free) that offer views over the city from rooftop on skyscrapers of the beautiful night skyline. Tokyo can definitely offer you some unforgettable moments.

Day 2, Stop 1: Head to Tokyo's Asakusa area for good luck

Asakusa is one of the most popular tourists attractions in Tokyo. Sensoji Temple can surely give you some Instagrammable angles for you to share all over social media. Asakusa has been a main area of Tokyo since ancient times, but it’s also a very lively area. There are countless old shops that have been open since the Edo period, as well as gourmet shops and cafes hidden in the many alleys in the Asakusa area. You can also find numerous gift shops to load up on mementos from your trip.

The park near Sensoji Temple, Sumida Park, offers a view of Tokyo Skytree and the Sumida River shores, a very famous spot especially in spring, thanks to its many cherry trees. If you happen to visit in spring you will certainly fall in love with Asakusa. Additionally, head to the observation deck of the Culture Tourist Information Center for a fantastic view of the area.

Recommended sightseeing spots: Sensoji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street, Sumida Park, Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center.

Recommended dining spots: Unagi Irokawa, a 100-year-old unagi (eel) shop: Masaru, a shop that's famous for its shrimp; Sugida, for tonkatsu; Azumabashi Yabu Soba, famous soba shop; and Onigiri Asakusa Yukuroku, Tokyo's oldest onigiri rice ball shop.

Day 2, Stop 2: Enjoy a panoramic view of Tokyo from the Tokyo Skytree

The Tokyo Skytree is one of the city's main landmarks, and it's a must-see for all visitors. The Skytree is a great 360-degree observatory, but also a shopping center boasting more than 300 stores including clothing, gift shops, toy stores, beauty product shops and more! In addition you will find restaurants of all kind both in the middle section, and at the top of the tower, for you to enjoy your meal while gazing at the beautiful view.

Day 2, Stop 3: Before ending your flash tour, go to Ueno and enjoy the park and the shopping

Ueno is very conveniently located, regardless of whether you’re flying off from Narita or Haneda. If you need to head to Narita, the Keisei Electric Railway can quickly take you there.

This can give you time to spend in the shopping areas of Ueno where you will find a number of inexpensive stores, as well as the famous Japanese drugstores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sundrug, etc. Here you can collect the final gifts and mementos of your trip to Japan. If you have time, take a walk in the famous Ueno Park.

・The best for shopping: Odaiba and Shinjuku. Kill two birds with one stone - shop and go sightseeing

・Hip areas and coffee: Kiyosumi Shirakawa for coffee; Kuramae for shopping and stationery

・Sightseeing: Visit the towns of Kichijoji, Shimokitazawa, etc.

・For anime and manga lovers: Akihabara and Ikebukuro pilgrimage to anime towns

Day 1:
Odaiba is an area with a lot of attractions and shopping. It will definitely take you a whole day to visit everything. This is where you'll find teamLab and other attractions.

There are also many department stores and malls like Venus Fort and Aqua City. The Statue of Liberty by Tokyo's Rainbow Bridge is also a must-see.

At night you can enjoy the view of the Tokyo Bay and see Fuji TV's observatory. And if you are tired and looking for the perfect place to relax, try the popular hot springs spot of Oedo Onsen Monogatari to wash away the fatigue of your journey.

Day 2:
Shinjuku Gyoen, which espouses Japanese and British garden styles is refreshing. After visiting the gardens you'll be energized to go shop in Shinjuku! Shinjuku boasts of many of Tokyo's main department stores and you will lose yourself among the stores and beautiful items.

Day 1:
The historic and beautiful Tokyo Station area is definitely worth visiting! The most popular attractions around Tokyo Station are Ramen Street with it many typical ramen shops, and many well known hand-made snack and dessert shops.

If you love coffee you will also find many world-renowned cafes in the Shirakawa Kiyosumi area, as well as specialized artisanal shops of all kinds of crafts

Day 2:
The Yanesen (Yanaka/Nezu/Sendagi) neighborhood is a place where modern and traditional mix. Every place has its own characteristics worth seeing. From here you can easily reach Ueno and stock up on goods before returning home.

And since you're in Tokyo, why not use your time to the best and go visit cities like Kichijoji, Shimokitazawa, Nakameguro? Especially if you're looking for food to take home, be that Japanese or otherwise, these cities are filled with amazing shops and lots more to explore.

Day 1:
As an anime lover you must visit Akihabara and Ikebukuro, the Meccas of animation culture. Akiba Culture Zone and Animate are just a couple of the many large-scale anime shopping centers. You'll get lost in a world of anime in these areas.

Day 2:
Buy a ¥400-day ticket and you can freely ride around Tokyo on the Tokyo Sakura Tram, a beautiful retro street car. If can get off and on as you please, while visiting beautiful streets, enjoying great food, and take a step into nostalgic Tokyo.

Tokyo is an ever-changing and ever-improving city, but at the same time it sports wonderful old and traditional places, restaurants, and attractions. This is the best side of Tokyo, so don’t hesitate and use your time to for a good Tokyo flash-trip!

The following budget-friendly hotels are in excellent locations for this Tokyo itinerary.