2 days in Tokyo

[definitelyO]

I'm traveling to Tokyo for business later this week and have 2 free days to myself. I'm staying at The Strings Hotel in Shinagawa (southern Tokyo?).  The next 4 days will be spent traveling to Nagasaki and then up to Oguni.

Looking for thoughts on what to do/see with just limited time.  Mainly looking for highlights and things that are fairly easy to do by myself.  I've traveled internationally before - but mainly Europe.  Thanks! 

[GilliC]

What are your interests? History? Art? Pop culture? Food? Fashion? Nature/Gardens?

IMO, Tokyo doesn't really have a fixed list of must-sees. There are a few popular sights like Meiji Jingu, Asakusa, and the Tsukuji fish market, but I think it's more fulfilling (especially with limited time) to focus on the parts of Tokyo that align with what you really want to see.

The first time I was in Tokyo was my first trip out of the country, and I wanted to see all the facets of traditional Japanese culture that I'd been taught about over the years. So I visited lots of temples, made a day trip to Kamakura, attended a tea ceremony, etc.

When I went back more recently, we were also visiting Kyoto, so we spent most of our time in Tokyo experiencing what I called "WTF Japan?" We went to the Robot Restaurant, visited a studio where they make fake food for window displays, explored some of the subculture fashion shops, wandered around the otaku meccas in Akihabara and Nakano Broadway, etc.

[origami]

I have an itinerary saved from when I went last year. It is mostly based on what travel sites recommended. I had my husband and kids with me, so I'm sure some of this will not interest you at all, but hope to help with some ideas. If you'd like I can send you the full itinerary I have saved, which has links and directions to each point.

Asakusa & Odaiba day
1. Sensoji temple (Can take a rickshaw ride from #1 to #2)
2. Sumida River Boat Ride (#2 takes you to #3)
3. Hama Rikyu (beautiful garden/park with teahouse)
4. Odaiba island (shopping, restaurants, Gundam robot statue, pretty nightscape view of bridge/statue of liberty/)

Western Tokyo Day
1. Meiji Shrine
2. Harajuku/Takeshita Dori/Omotesando (Shopping. this is right by #1)
3. Explore Shibuya (shopping, famous crazy intersection you can watch from Starbucks)
4. Shinjuku (Shinjuku Gyoen garden, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office's observation deck)

There are more parks, like the Imperial gardens, and other places to shop, like Ginza. If you're into anime or manga, also electronics, there's also the area around Akihabara (or Akiba) station. ETA: Forgot about the fish market. That's a biggie for most people.

[definitelyO]

Thanks GilliC and origami

For longer trips I'm more about adventure/exploring - but for 2 days I'd opt for food and culture.

[urbancowgirl]

You've received some great suggestions so far. Definitely visit the Metropolitan Government Building's observation deck. I would also visit a department store and explore the food show in the basement. It was one of my favorite parts of our trip. I think we went to the Tokyu store in Shibuya.

[just]

In 2 days you could eat a LOT of amazing food. If I were going back again for the first time I would decide what I wanted to eat for breakfast, lunch, second lunch, dinner, and supper each day and just nap in between.

ETA: and go to an onsen in the evening.