Spring is the optimal time to visit Japan, the weather is warm but not too warm, tourists have no yet ravaged their way through Tokyo, and the Cherry Blossoms are in full-bloom. I swear there is no prettier place to be in April in the ENTIRE world. We at Posh Voyage love Japan- the food, people, sights, are all some of the best in the world, have I mentioned the food yet?

We have created this 72-hour city guide of Tokyo to help optimize navigation through this sometimes overwhelming city. Prepare to eat your way through Tokyo in the most luxurious way possible!

 

Thursday:

 

1:00pm- Check-in to The Park Hyatt Hotel (article coming Friday). For a classic Tokyo experience, this is definitely the hotel to stay in. The hotel is modern, located in one of the busiest districts, and has old-school classic elegance.

If you would like a hotel with a little more old-school grandeur, head to The Peninsula Tokyo. The hotel will pick you up from the airport in a 1950’s Rolls Royce then take you to the hotel, which is located across the street from the Imperial Palace and steps from the shopping capital of Ginza.

The new big-hitter to join the strong Tokyo hotel game in the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, located in the rich historical district of Nihonbashi, in downtown Tokyo. The service level, attention to detail, and award-winning restaurants are only a few reasons why this hotel is consistently rated one of the top hotels in Asia.

 

2:00pm- Take a stroll around The Meiji Shrine. This stunning shrine is dedicated to the late 19th-century emperor who opened Japan to the West.  This is Tokyo’s most famous Shinto shrine and is beautifully serene, and not a complete tourist trap. If you can go back on a Sunday, we recommend checking it out that night so you can watch a traditional Japanese wedding in process. 

 

8:00pm– Dinner at Kanda. Awarded three Michelin stars in 2009, the traditional Japanese restaurant’s cooking is guided by the seasons.

10:00pm- Head upstairs to The Peak Bar for a glass of champagne and stunning views from The Park Hyatt’s rooftop. 

Friday:

 

 

10:00am- Breakfast at Clinton Street Baking Co.  This little breakfast eatery hails from New York City and if you plan on having a late breakfast expect a very long line to get in! Insider Tip: Order the pancakes

11:30am- If you’re visiting Tokyo in the spring during Cherry Blossom season, you must spend your day at the public parks. Head to Chidorigafuchi Park and rent a little rowboat and row yourself down the river. You can also head there at night, the trees are lit up. Insider Tip: perfect for a romantic outing with your significant other. 

1:00pm- Stop at one of the many food stands near Yasukuni Shrine and grab some foods for a picnic under the trees.

2:00pm- Spend the rest of your day at Shinjuku Gyoen, where over 1,000 Cherry Blossom trees have been planted.

8:00pm– Dinner at the Kozue in The Park Hyatt. No other restaurant in Tokyo has a setting to rival Kozue. Perched far above the fray on the 40th floor of the Park Hyatt, Kozue is still as swish as the day it opened in 1994, with a contemporary look (soaring ceiling, stylish tables and chairs) to match the confident modern inflections on kaiseki (japan’s version of haute cuisine).

10:00pm- After-dinner drinks at Sky Lounge Stellar Garden for one of the best views in Tokyo, located on the Prince Park Tower’s 33rd floor. 

 

Saturday:

 

 

10:00am-Brunch at one of the hottest breakfast spots in town, Cafe Kaila. Cafe Kaila started in Honolulu and moved it’s way to Tokyo. Order the breakfast burrito or pancakes (comes with a healthy topping of fruit). If Cafe Kaila is too busy check out Moke’s Bread and Breakfast. 

11:00am- After you have filled yourself to the brim, check out the Chanel, BVLGARI, or MoMa Design Store, located in the same building as your breakfast stop.

1:00pm- Have a fancy lunch at Sense in the Mandarin Oriental. The views are reason enough to come to this delectable restaurant. 

3:00pm- Visit the Tsukiji Fish Market. This is the world’s largest, busiest fish market, and it is an awesome spot to visit if you need to kick start your jetlagged mind and body. At 5 a.m., you can watch the live tuna auctions. Spots are limited, but it will be one of the highlights of your adventure.

8:00pm- Obviously Tokyo is home to some of the best sushi in the world, so why not hit-up one of the top rated sushi restaurants in the whole world? Sushi Saito is your place for the freshest fish, but don’t expect it to be americanized sushi. 

10:00pm- Before you leave Tokyo you MUST see a traditional sumo wrestling show. Try Ryogoku Kokugikan – Tokyo’s National Sumo Hall.  If you do not happen to catch tournament season, try to go to an early morning training session at a beya (sumo stable).  We promise, it won’t be as scarring as an Austin Powers situation.

 

 

Sunday:

 

 

10:00am- Have your last breakfast at Ivy Place surrounded by Japanese Zelkova trees. Insider tip: order the scrambled eggs with mascarpone and toasted brioche.

12:00pm- After breakfast wander over the the giant Tsutaya, one of the most beautiful bookstores in Tokyo. 

2:00pm- Get your spa on at Club on the Park located in the Park Hyatt before you stressful travel day home. Insider Tip: opt for the “Tokyo Journey”.

 

 

Get the look: