This route from Gotanda covers the Imperial Palace general visit near Tokyo Station, Kaminarimon and Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, and an evening up Tokyo Skytree with dinner at Solamachi. It's a day built around three of Tokyo's most iconic sights — the seat of the imperial family, the city's oldest and most famous temple, and its tallest modern landmark — so it suits first-time visitors who want the classic highlight reel in a single day.
Morning: Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace general visit is a guided, on-foot tour of the palace grounds, reached via reception at Kikyomon Gate. It runs as a same-day, walk-up program rather than something booked in advance: a morning session (ticket distribution from 9:00, reception from 9:30, finishing around 11:15) and an afternoon session (ticket distribution from 12:30, reception from 13:00, finishing around 14:45). Bring photo ID (a passport or residence card), and be ready for a bag check at the entrance.
Note that the general visit is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and national holidays, so this itinerary only works on days when the tour is running — double-check the calendar before building this stop into your own plan.
Midday: Lunch near Tokyo Station
Lunch is easy to find right at Tokyo Station itself — the Yaesu underground shopping street beneath the station has a wide range of restaurants, so there's no need to travel further before heading on to Asakusa.
Afternoon: Asakusa
From Tokyo Station, it's a short ride via the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line (changing at Kanda) to Asakusa. Kaminarimon, the "Thunder Gate" with its huge red lantern, marks the entrance to the approach leading to Sensoji Temple, Tokyo's oldest temple and one of its most photographed spots. The approach street, Nakamise-dori, is lined with stalls selling traditional snacks and souvenirs — worth slowing down for even with a full afternoon ahead.
Evening: Tokyo Skytree
A short hop from Asakusa brings you to Tokyo Skytree. Tokyo Solamachi, the shopping and dining complex at its base, is worth a browse in its own right — the Solamachi shopping street and the Japan Souvenir shop are both good for last-minute gift hunting. Tickets for the Tembo Deck (adult ¥2,200) can often be bought same-day without trouble; if the view from 350m isn't enough, a Tembo Corridor add-on ticket (adult ¥1,400) takes you up to 450m. Going up around sunset, in the 19:00–19:30 window, is a good way to catch both the daylight view and the city lights coming on.
Dinner
Dinner is back down at Solamachi, which has both a restaurant floor and a food court — an easy, no-reservation-needed way to close out a long day of walking.
- Seasonal notes: works in any season; Tokyo Skytree and Solamachi are fully indoor and hold up well in any weather, while the Imperial Palace grounds and the Asakusa approach are outdoor and more pleasant in spring and autumn
- Backup rainy-day options: if the weather turns, Solamachi and the Skytree observation decks can easily absorb more of the afternoon; Asakusa's Nakamise-dori arcade is roofed, so it holds up reasonably well in light rain too
Before you go: The Imperial Palace general visit is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and national holidays, and requires photo ID. Confirm the day of the week and current reception times before relying on this stop, and have a backup (such as extra time in Asakusa) ready in case it doesn't work out.
Time-Block Itinerary
Start: Mitsui Garden Hotel Gotanda
End: Mitsui Garden Hotel Gotanda (same hotel — this is a Hub Day)
| Time | Stop | Line | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:10 | Depart Gotanda → Tokyo | JR Yamanote Line | ~20 min by train |
| 09:00 | Imperial Palace general visit | — | Ticket distribution from 9:00, tour to ~11:15; ID required |
| 12:00 | Lunch | — | Yaesu underground street, Tokyo Station |
| 13:00 | Depart Tokyo → Asakusa | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line | ~20 min, transfer at Kanda |
| 13:20 | Kaminarimon & Sensoji Temple | — | Asakusa's main sights, about 1.5 hours |
| 15:00 | Depart Asakusa → Tokyo Skytree | — | ~5 min walk/short ride |
| 15:10 | Tokyo Solamachi & Tokyo Skytree | — | Shopping, then Tembo Deck (¥2,200 adult) |
| ~19:00 | Tembo Deck / Tembo Corridor | — | Optional corridor add-on ¥1,400 adult; good sunset timing |
| 19:30 | Dinner | — | Tokyo Solamachi restaurant floor / food court |
| 20:30 | Depart Tokyo Skytree (Oshiage) → Gotanda | — | ~30 min by train |
| ~21:20 | Pick up breakfast for tomorrow | — | Tokyu Store |
| ~21:30 | Mitsui Garden Hotel Gotanda | — | Return to hotel, end of day |
Transport Notes
- Gotanda and Tokyo Station are both reachable directly on the JR Yamanote Line, with no transfers required.
- Getting from Tokyo Station to Asakusa involves a transfer at Kanda onto the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line — allow a little extra time for the change.
- Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree (Oshiage) are close enough that the connection between them is quick, whether on foot or by a short train ride.
- The return trip from Tokyo Skytree to Gotanda takes about 30 minutes; confirm the exact routing with a transit app on the day.
Cost and Ticket Notes
- No special rail pass is needed for this day; single subway/train fares (IC card such as Suica or Pasmo) cover every leg.
- Imperial Palace general visit: free, but requires same-day reception and photo ID.
- Tokyo Skytree Tembo Deck: ¥2,200, adult; Tembo Corridor add-on: ¥1,400, adult.
- Budget for: train fares (several short rides), lunch near Tokyo Station, a Skytree observation ticket (and optional corridor add-on), and dinner at Solamachi.
This day pairs well with:
- Tokyo - Shrines, Skylines & Gardens — the day before, also based at the same Gotanda hotel
- Tokyo to Hakone Transfer Day — the day after, leaving Gotanda and heading toward Hakone