Here I am: my first trip to Japan, starting with 3 days in Tokyo. Japan has been on my travel list for a very long time, and I’ve been looking forward to discovering its culture, food scene and vintage shops. With plenty of research done beforehand and three full days to explore, I’m ready for my first taste of the city.
So here it is: my personal guide to Tokyo, from vintage shopping to secret doors and hidden bars. This city is certainly not short of surprises. Discover districts like Ginza, Omotesando, Roppongi and Akasaka with me. Spending three days in Tokyo offers so many new experiences that I really enjoyed.
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My 3 days in Tokyo
Tokyo city
With around 14 million people in Tokyo Metropolis alone, the scale of the city is extraordinary. It somehow reminded me of Bangkok, although it seems less chaotic here. Despite its size, Tokyo feels surprisingly quiet to me. Well, that was until I went vintage shopping along Tokyo’s Omotesando street and visited the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing near Shibuya Station. Nevertheless, there is a calm in Tokyo that is hard to describe.
From my hotel – read about my hotel soon – buildings stretch as far as the eye can see. And I could see quite far from my room. Although it might not be the best skyscrapers view I have seen, the city feels clean, the people are polite and even the traffic seems manageable. P.S. One of my favourite skyscrapers is definitely New York! Read: New York, New York – I finally made it!
After a month of rain, the sun came out just as I arrived. Tokyo is certainly a walkable city and exploring Tokyo’s neighbourhoods on foot is part of the fun for me. Luckily, three days in Tokyo gave me time to wander through some of the best districts. I focused on three areas: Ginza, Omotesando and Akasaka. Each was different, but all were full of surprises. Ginza and Omotesando were especially high on my list for browsing. Read more about my vintage shopping in Tokyo below.
For anyone with only 3 days in Tokyo, these neighbourhoods are must see. Especially at night, when the town comes even more to life. Especially on the weekends.
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Tokyo’s hidden bars…
The city is full of hidden bars. They are basically everywhere, yet, there are somehow none to find. At least not a bar that I would consider stopping at. Entering some of those bars felt like intruding someone’s home. Still, I struggled to find a nice speakeasy bar like the ones I am used to in Europe.
Most of the times, behind a secret door would be a tiny bar: a few chairs, some whisky bottles and, occasionally, nobody in sight. Some were so tucked away that I couldn’t even find them on Google. Yet the signs outside the buildings told another story, listing bars on different floors, from the basement to the very top. Some of the buildings I explored had four or five floors, with more secret doors to try on each level.
Of course I opened quite a few. Just to be surprised by what is inside. I peaked, smiled and left, closing the door behind me. From the sight of fresh tuna being cut up in a private ceremony to spaces that felt like someone’s private living room, I never knew what to expect. It was somehow fun and exciting.
That said, you should definitely explore Akasaka in the evening. There is one bar and restaurant after another, with plenty of locals out for dinner. This district is vibrant, busy and fun. And, of course, there are plenty of secret doors to open.
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… and restaurants
That said, while I didn’t have much luck with the bars, I certainly hit the jackpot with the restaurants. Tokyo is full of places with big, flashy signs and crowds of people. But I found the more secretive the door, the better the restaurant. Still tiny but serving delicious local specialities. And some dishes were certainly new to me, like raw chicken, for example. This is part of what makes a short 3 day visit to Tokyo so memorable and unique. Why not try something new for a change?
My favourite in Tokyo? ‘Sushi Kappou 3‘ in Roppongi. A tiny place I stumbled upon, with just eight seats and a chef who doesn’t speak English. They don’t even have a website. The menu was limited, so I left it to the chef to prepare my meal. And the food was absolutely delicious. I wanted the authentic experience and I certainly received it here. The sashimi most likely the best I’ve ever had. Well, so far on my Japan trip. Furthermore, sharing the traditional drink sake with the other guests was an added bonus as well.
For me, the food alone is reason enough to return to Japan and Tokyo. Although I heard that Kyoto is even better than Tokyo, so stay tuned!
So far, my 3 days in Tokyo have certainly been full of discoveries. Especially once I started finding all the spots for vintage shopping in Tokyo. Whether it was handbags or watches! Because Tokyo is not all about bars and restaurants.
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Vintage shopping in Tokyo
Experiencing vintage shopping in Tokyo was one of the things I looked forward to most on this trip. With Ginza and Omotesando high on my list, I was curious to see what I might find beyond the big-name boutiques. For me, the pleasure of vintage shopping is the surprise, as well as the scouting. You might have something in mind, but it’s often the unexpected piece that catches your eye. With only 3 days in Tokyo, I had to leave myself some time to browse. It might be a little dangerous for the wallet, but worth making room for in the itinerary.
And I visited a lot of shops. Not all of them, because it can be exhausting, but certainly enough to get an impression of the secondhand market in Tokyo. If you’re also planning just three days in Tokyo, definitely add an incredible treasure hunt in the vintage shops.
That said, after seeing what seems like thousands of secondhand bags, I might actually write a separate post about the best vintage shopping in Tokyo and Japan. After all, I still have Kyoto and Osaka to visit. For now, 3 days in Tokyo is a good start.
And where to stay in Tokyo?
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1 Hotel Tokyo
For my three days/four nights trip to Tokyo, I stayed at 1 Hotel Tokyo, a new luxury hotel in Akasaka that opened in March 2026. Set high in the Akasaka Trust Tower, it combines nature-inspired interiors with sweeping views across the city. From up here, you really get a sense of just how big Tokyo is. The view is stunning. And down below, Akasaka’s restaurants and hidden bars are waiting to be explored.
The location is perfect and the Hotel memorable. The interiors bring nature indoors, with greenery and natural textures reflecting the hotel’s focus on sustainability and environmentally conscious design. It was certainly a great find in a big city. With a very spacious room and stunning views overlooking Tokyo, I could certainly relax here during my stay in Tokyo.
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And so …
… my 3 days in Tokyo come to an end. I can certainly see why so many people love coming to Japan. It is definitely an experience. Well, at this stage, I have only seen Tokyo, and I can’t wait to explore more.
However, I really liked Tokyo. It is a very clean and polite city. There is none of the hustle and bustle one would expect from a big city. Yes, it is big, but very civilised, even the parts with lots of people. Not to mention that it is a very safe city. I walked a lot in Tokyo, especially in the evenings. And I felt very, very safe, no matter how small or dark the road was. Especially when I searched for one more of the secret doors hidden away.
After experiencing three days here, I understand why it’s such a popular destination. So include Tokyo in your next trip!
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