24 Hours in Tokyo: A One-Day Itinerary from Haneda to Shibuya Sky

This past May, I had a podium presentation at a conference in Japan. Sagoy! It was a great opportunity for an international presentation and trip! Work pays for the ticket if the trip is a week or shorter so…cue up a relatively quick trip with a days off/work mix.

Quick Facts

• Airport: Haneda (HND) — closer to central Tokyo than Narita with multiple transport options
• Getting into the city: Airport Limousine Bus direct to Shibuya or the Keikyu train line (which will not accept the JR Japan Rail pass, but it’s only ~¥1000/$10 a ride and so convenient!
• Where I stayed: Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel
• Transit: A Japanese IC card (Suica or Passmo) loaded on your phone — a credit card alone won’t tap through gates
• Highlights: Isetan duty-free shopping, Nakameguro canal at sunset, Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park, Shibuya Sky
• Watch out for: Scam sites charging for the free Japan arrival QR code. Use the official Visit Japan Web

A Warning About a Japan Arrival QR Code Scam

I booked my flight into Haneda, which is much closer to Tokyo than Narita. Customs was a breeze. There is a pre-entry requirement that can either be done in advance or at the airport. If you do it in advance through Visit Japan Web, you get a QR code that is scanned in the airport. If you do it at the airport, you fill out a paper arrival card. IMPORTANT NOTE: there are scam websites out there and I fell for one! Yes, I did! When I Google searched for Japan Arrival QR code, the first website that came up looked legit with a .jp website and all. But they charged $60 and I didn’t think much of it. Well, actually, I thought that Americans kind of deserve it and I understood. But then, there was something about the experience that as it was processing, I thought, “Wait….” I Googled again and found the real site. Honestly, it’s actually clunkier interface and scammy-er looking than the real site.

I immediately wrote the company an email with the subject line “Fraudulent Practices,” to which they immediately replied, told me sorry I was sad, and offered an immediate refund of $50 of the $60. A follow-up, snarkier email from them after I stated I wanted a full refund was that it was part of their admin fee covered in Terms & Conditions. I then wrote back and told them I was going to contest the charge- which I did and that is the story of how I was scammed but then got my money back. But it’s so weird! The scam website comes up first, looks official, and they clearly have a response protocol for when people call to complain that they are charging $60 for a free application. Yet there seems to be nothing on social media about it. So strange.

Anyway! I landed in Haneda, bought a much needed cohi, and took the Airport Limousine bus to Shibuya. The ticket vending machine was easy to use and although the train would have worked, the bus seemed easier. Hop on, sit down, and be delivered within a block of my hotel. I did mess this up a little since I picked the third stop for disembarking, which involved about 15 extra minutes circling about a 1/4 mile of Shibuya roadway. It would have been faster to walk.

I checked into my hotel, which was clean and serviceable- just what I was looking for. It was the Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel. If you’re looking for clean, less expensive, and a nice place to sleep, it’s the hotel for you. Kind of a generic chain, but there was a nice breakfast buffet so it wasn’t totally bare bones.

Setting Up Your Suica or Passmo IC Card

At the hotel, I activated my Suica mobile app, which I couldn’t do until I was in Japan although I had loaded it at home. It is important to have some Japanese transport pass loaded on your phone (Passmo is another option), because a credit card in Apple wallet will not work alone when clicking onto trains and buses. It needs to be a Japanese IC (Integrated Circuit) card in order to work. I used mine for trains, buses, vending machine drinks, and some 7-11 purchases.

Afternoon: Isetan Shopping

After dropping off my bag, I took the 86 bus to the Isetan department store. I had a splurgy bag purchase I had been thinking about for weeks and between the 10% off for duty free and the 5% visitor coupon through the department store, I saved 15% on a bag I really wanted. Not all brands are included in the 5% card but the bag I wanted was so it was a total score!

Evening: Nakameguro Canal at Sunset

I took the train to Nakameguro and walked around the river canal at sunset. It was so beautiful. I tried to rally to get a “real” dinner but I ended up with a kombini snack because I was tired, not that hungry, and didn’t want to rally for a dining experience. I walked back to the hotel and went to bed. Oyasumnasai!

Morning: Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park

The next morning, I had my Japanese breakfast from the hotel buffet: natto, fish, noodles, and a little cat pastry. Then, I took the bus to the Hiro-o neighborhood so I could go to my favorite small park near a hotel SMS and I had stayed at several times: Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park 有栖川宮記念公園.

I did a lap around the park on the trail. It is very serene. There was a small class of kids that were being told (in English) to not poke each other with sticks. This seems like reasonable instruction.

Shibuya Sky: Tokyo’s Best Viewpoint?

Then, I hopped on the bus and hustled back to Shibuya for my timed entrance ticket for Shibuya Sky. It opened in 2019 so I had never been. In terms of Tokyo viewpoint towers, I had previously been to Tokyo Sky Tree near Asakusa and Mori Arts Center in Rappongi. Both are great, but I think Shibuya Sky tree is pretty fantastic. The two story escalator along the glass wall is pretty cool. I think you can pick one and get the idea but if you’re in Shibuya, the Sky Tree is a great choice. Book ahead! I bought my ticket a few days before and none were available in-person that day. Tickets open up two weeks in advance and apparently, the sunset times sell out fast. The downside to sunset would be the lines to wait for the elevators both going up and down. I saw the line management system set-up but it wasn’t needed in the middle of the day.

There’s a corner of the building where there’s a professional photographer, who takes a picture and then you get the rest of the minute to look and take pictures yourself. I gave my phone to a honeymooning American couple, so got a few snaps and then took a few selfies.

I walked around taking the massive cityscape views, which were really amazing. I also used a selfie stand to take a photo, which was hard to get since people have varying ideas of what waiting for a turn means and then they really want to make sure they get their poses right (omg).

Heading to Sendai

After the SkyTree, I went to the train station to start my trip to Sendai! I took a local train to Ōmiya and then hopped on the Shinkansen to Sendai. My final destination was Matsushima Bay, but I’ll save that for the next post!

FAQ _{(AI generated)}

How do I get from Haneda Airport to Shibuya?

The Airport Limousine bus runs directly from Haneda to Shibuya and drops you within a block of most central hotels — no transfers required. Buy your ticket at the vending machine in the arrivals pick-up. Double-check your drop-off stop; picking the wrong one can add 15+ minutes of extra riding.

Do I need a Japan transit IC card if I have Apple Pay?

Yes. A regular credit card in Apple Wallet won’t tap through Japanese train and bus gates on its own — you need a Japanese IC card like Suica or Passmo loaded on your phone. Suica can be activated once you’ve landed in Japan, even if you set it up in the app beforehand.

Is Shibuya Sky worth visiting?

Yes — of Tokyo’s viewpoint towers (Skytree, Mori Tower/Tokyo City View, Shibuya Sky), Shibuya Sky stands out for its open-air rooftop deck and glass-walled escalator. Book your timed-entry ticket at least a few days ahead; sunset slots sell out fast, and lines for the elevators are longest around sunset.

How do I avoid the Japan arrival QR code scam?

Only complete the pre-entry form through the official Visit Japan Web site — it’s free. Scam sites with .jp domains rank highly in search results and charge around $60 for what should cost nothing. If you’re charged, dispute it with your card issuer.