1-Day Tokyo Itinerary for Slow Travelers: Hidden Gems on the Sakura Tram Line

This Tokyo day itinerary offers travelers an easy way to explore via a retro streetcar line.

One of my favorite things to do in Japan is to find unique trains to ride. Exploring by train makes it easy to discover areas I might not have visited otherwise — and this Tokyo itinerary is built entirely around one of the city’s most charming and underrated lines.

On this day, I rode the Toden Arakawa line (also known as Tokyo’s Sakura Tram in spring) through quieter areas of Tokyo.

It’s the perfect route to explore if you’re looking for a cozier, slower-paced day in Tokyo. One that includes simply following the tracks and seeing what seems interesting along the way.

🌸 The line is also a fun way to experience cherry blossoms (sakura) in the springtime, as the route has many sakura trees lining the train line.

I rode this train line during the fall, so I didn’t get to see the sakura in bloom. However, I loved the cozy autumn vibes that this itinerary provided. 🍂

This guide shares my exact Tokyo day itinerary, as shown in the vlog below.

This itinerary is especially for solo travelers who want to explore Tokyo with confidence and ease.

Inside this guide, you’ll find:

A step-by-step 1-day itinerary for Tokyo
My personal experience at each stop (what to expect + why it’s worth visiting)
Cafes, shops, and cultural spots that are easy and welcoming to visit alone
Optional add-ons if you want to linger longer or shorten your day

Whether you’re planning your first solo trip to Japan or simply craving a softer side of Japan, I hope this guide helps you create a day that feels calm, cozy, and uniquely yours.

➡️ I know how chaotic planning a trip can be! So, I created a simple Japan travel checklist to help you keep track of everything!

Now, let’s dive into how to spend a day in Tokyo!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. These are all products and services I highly recommend. Please read full disclosure here.

Table of Contents

How to Use the Tokyo Sakura Tram

You will ride Tokyo’s Sakura Tram for this entire itinerary. The tram runs along the Toden Arakawa line, which follows a half-loop with 30 stops from west to east.

It takes about an hour to get from the first stop (Waseda Station) to the last (Minowabashi Station).

✨ This itinerary can either be done as a half-day or a full day, depending on how much time you spend at each stop.

➡️ View Route Map.

To ride, you can use Suica or purchase a Toden One-Day Pass for unlimited travel for one day.

🎫 The pass can be purchased directly from the tram driver (in cash) or at the Arakawa Streetcar Office at Minowabashi Omoidekan.

💡What I did vs. What I Wish I Did

I opted not to buy the pass and just use my Suica to tap on and off for this itinerary.

However, my total spent ended up being double what I would’ve paid if I had just gotten the day pass.

My 1-Day Tokyo Itinerary (Stop-by-Stop)

Starting Point: Waseda Station

For this itinerary, you’ll start your day at Waseda Station (view on Google Maps) near Waseda University.

(Note that this Waseda Station is different from the Waseda Station on the Toden Arakawa line.)

✨ Insider tip: This station is near a major Tokyo university, so expect lots of students making their way to class if visiting on a weekday.

The first place we’re going to visit is a short 2-minute walk from Waseda Station: the Hōrin-ji Buddhist Temple.

Peaceful Morning at a Well-Decorated Temple

The 📍Hōrin-ji Buddhist Temple is a colorful little temple that’s decorated seasonally with flowers and little trinkets around the grounds.

This temple made it onto my list because it’s known for its intricate goshuin, which change seasonally.

Next, you’ll walk about 10-minutes to the first stop on the Toden Arakawa line: Waseda Station (view on Google Maps).

Hop on the Tokyo Sakura Tram

You’ll catch the Tokyo Sakura Tram at its first stop: 📍Waseda Station (view on Google Maps).

(Reminder that this is different from the one you arrived at initially.)

If you plan to get the One-Day Pass, you’ll purchase it from the tram driver (cash only) when boarding at the front of the train.

Otherwise, you’ll use a Suica/Pasmo or yen and pay normally.

You’ll ride the line for about 20 minutes to get to our next stop.

Eat thick udon noodles for lunch 🍜

Get off at the Toden-Zoshigaya Station and walk about 5 minutes to our cozy lunch spot: 📍Himokawa-kiryu Ikebukuro.

This smaller udon shop has four different noodle styles and seasonal menu items. I personally chose this spot because I saw they had the extra-thick udon noodles that I love!

The restaurant opens at 11 am, but I always recommend arriving a little before opening to avoid a wait.

After lunch, you’ll walk back to the Toden-Zoshigaya Station and hop back on the Sakura Tram.

If you want to add onto this itinerary…

📍Sunshine City is located not too far from this udon shop. It’s home to floors dedicated to anime, gashapon, and more! You can see what it’s like to visit in these vlogs:
- Last Days in Tokyo | Souvenir Shopping, Culture Day Dance Festival, Gashapon
- 5-Day Japan Travel Itinerary
Get off one stop before the next one at Asukayama and visit the popular cherry blossom viewing spot at 📍Asukayama Park.

Explore an area known for its annual Fox Parade

Get off at Ojiekimae Station and walk about 10 minutes to the 📍Ōji Inari Shrine. This shrine is a dedicated kitsune (fox) shrine, so you’ll find fox statues and prayers all throughout the grounds.

✨ Insider tip: The shrine is a bit weird to get to since you’ll have to go through the Inari Kindergarten area first.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit the shrine because it was closed the day I went, which is a great reminder to double-check their website for operating hours or events happening.

However, on the walk back to the station, I discovered a smaller Inari Shrine (📍Shōzoku Inari-jinja Shrine) and a store (📍Yamawa) dedicated to the fox masks worn during the area’s annual New Year’s Eve Oji Fox Parade.

🦊 The parade is a celebration inspired by an old “firefox” legend, in which participants either paint their faces like foxes or wear fox masks.

Next, you’ll walk back to Ojiekimae Station to catch the tram again.

Slow Down at the Park

Get off at Arakawa-Nichome Station and head to the 📍Arakawa Nature Park. Stroll through the peaceful grounds and see the two swans that call the park home.

The park is free to enter and is a great place to rest for a bit.

I also loved how you could see Tokyo Skytree peeking over some of the buildings in the distance.

Once you’re done at the park, hop back on the line at Arakawa-Nichome Station and head to the last stop on the line.

Relax with Coffee & Dessert

Finally, you’ll get off at the final stop on the line:📍Minowabashi. The area nearby is cute to explore, but by this time, I was ready for a midday pick-me-up.

I head to the 📍Coffee-Kan Minowa Shop and got some coffee jelly. This shop is located at the station and has a large window with a view of the trains arriving and departing.

It was a perfect end to a nice, slow day in Tokyo.

Additional Tips for this Tokyo Sakura Tram Itinerary

You could also flip this itinerary and start at Minowabashi Station. I started from Waseda because I wanted to get to the udon shop before 11 am.
Get the Toden Arakawa One-Day Pass if you plan to follow this itinerary.
Wear bug spray and comfortable shoes.
Accessibility — all cars on the Tokyo Sakura Tram allow wheelchair boarding, have designated wheelchair spaces, and are low-floor streetcars.
Ride the train during sakura season (late March to early May) for a chance to see blooming cherry blossoms along the line.
The smaller trains can get crowded between certain stops during peak hours from 10 am to 3 pm.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Day

My favorite part about this Tokyo itinerary? You won’t feel rushed to get to the next destination. It’s built to allow you to take as much time as you need at each place.

✨ This itinerary can either be done as a half-day or a full day, depending on how much time you spend at each stop.

This itinerary is perfect for:

Photographers, whether it’s for capturing photos of blooming sakura, the retro streetcar, or Tokyo Skytree peeking out over buildings at some of the stops.
Solo travelers or anyone who enjoys slow travel and aimlessly wandering quieter areas.

I also love how I got to take in different areas of Tokyo while riding the Tokyo Sakura Tram. Just looking out the window as we passed by people going about their everyday lives — I loved it!