See Tokyo’s Highlights Without Spending the Trip Crossing the City

How to Use This Four-Day Tokyo Plan

This four-day Tokyo itinerary assumes four full sightseeing days. Arrival and departure days are separate. If you land on the first afternoon and leave on the fourth morning, remove a day’s optional layers instead of compressing the entire route.

Four full days can provide a varied introduction to Tokyo, but not comprehensive exploration. The aim is to experience historic eastern districts, modern western Tokyo, a central market-and-shopping corridor, gardens, skyline views, and optional nightlife without repeatedly crossing the city. Several neighborhood-based itineraries similarly treat four days as enough for selected highlights rather than a deep survey of Tokyo (Bon Traveler’s geographically grouped itinerary).

The organizing rule is simple: give each day one geographic anchor and remain in that part of Tokyo for most of the day. Neighborhood clustering reduces unnecessary transfers and makes it easier to adapt when a queue, long lunch, shop, or side street deserves more time than expected.

The route at a glance:

• Day 1: Asakusa and Kappabashi, followed by one eastern Tokyo branch: Ueno, Yanaka, or Akihabara.
• Day 2: Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Omotesando, and Shibuya.
• Day 3: Tsukiji, Ginza, and—if you have timed admission—teamLab Planets in Toyosu.
• Day 4: Shinjuku Gyoen, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatory, and an optional Shinjuku evening.

Each day follows the same flexible pattern:

1. One essential anchor that gives the day its purpose.
2. One or two nearby additions if time and energy permit.
3. A meal area, rather than one restaurant on which the schedule depends.
4. At least one easy-to-skip stop that can disappear without spoiling the day.

This is a planning synthesis, not a claim that the exact sequence has been tested end to end as one completed trip. It combines geographically compatible recommendations from several Tokyo itineraries, then deliberately removes the fixed timings and overloaded checklists that make short trips fragile.

At-a-glance effort and flexibility

Day	Likely effort	Main dependency	Weather exposure	Easiest cut
Day 1	Moderate, with extensive optional browsing	Museum or shop opening patterns	Mostly outdoor neighborhood walking	The afternoon branch or Skytree
Day 2	Potentially the most walking-intensive	A reserved skyline ticket, if wanted	Shrine approach and shopping streets	Omotesando or the observation deck
Day 3	Moderate but more schedule-sensitive	Timed teamLab admission	Tsukiji browsing and movement between districts	Toyosu
Day 4	Easy to expand or shorten	Garden and observatory access	Garden and skyline visibility	Nightlife or one daytime anchor

A train journey shown in a mapping app is only part of a transfer. Reaching the platform, choosing the correct service, walking between lines, finding an exit, and orienting yourself at street level can add meaningful time. Meals, shopping, weather, queues, and fatigue will also change the pace.

Operational details are intentionally not fixed here because hours, closure days, admission systems, ticket availability, transport conditions, and accessibility arrangements can change. Before finalizing each day, consult the current official website of the attraction or transport operator. If an official page conflicts with an itinerary article, follow the official information.

Day 1: Asakusa, Kappabashi, and Your Choice of Ueno, Yanaka, or Akihabara

Essential anchor: Senso-ji and Asakusa Nearby additions: Nakamise and Kappabashi Choose one afternoon branch: Ueno, Yanaka, or Akihabara Easy to skip: Tokyo Skytree or the evening extension

Begin at Senso-ji and the surrounding Asakusa streets. Starting early can help you become oriented before the district grows busier, but it does not guarantee an empty temple complex.

There is also a tradeoff. The temple area may be accessible before many Nakamise businesses begin operating, so travelers interested in shopping may prefer a later start or a second pass through the street. One traveler’s itinerary specifically notes that early Senso-ji visitors can arrive before many Nakamise shops open (Twirl The Globe’s eastern Tokyo guidance).

Allow time to explore the gates, main approach, surrounding lanes, and quieter edges of the neighborhood. Treat the temple as the morning’s anchor rather than a quick photo stop. If you arrive early, visit the temple first and return toward Nakamise later.

Browse Nakamise according to your interests. Souvenir shopping might be a brief walk-through or a substantial part of the morning; it does not need a fixed duration. If the main street feels too congested, explore adjoining lanes or postpone shopping until your return.

Next, map a walking route from Asakusa to Kappabashi. The kitchen-supply district is commonly paired with Asakusa and sits between the Asakusa and Ueno areas. Its cookware, ceramics, knives, utensils, restaurant supplies, and display items make it particularly relevant to travelers interested in food culture, design, or practical souvenirs. Choose a few categories rather than trying to inspect every shop.

Plan an unhurried lunch in Asakusa or around Kappabashi. Pick a food category—soba, tempura, curry, set meals, or a café—and save several nearby options. Unless a particular restaurant is one of your trip priorities, do not let a long queue consume the afternoon.

After lunch, choose one branch.

Ueno: Parks and Museums

Choose Ueno if you want a park, museum, or more conventional sightseeing afternoon. Map the route from Kappabashi toward the specific Ueno entrance or venue you intend to use rather than treating “Ueno” as a single stop.

Decide which museum matters before arriving and confirm its current calendar on its official website. A substantial museum can occupy the remainder of the afternoon, so do not assume that several museums and the entire park form one quick visit.

If you do not want a long indoor visit, use Ueno as a walk-and-rest branch. Explore part of the park, stop for a drink, and finish when your attention or energy drops.

Yanaka: A Slower Neighborhood Walk

Choose Yanaka for the gentlest afternoon. The point is not to collect landmarks but to move through smaller streets, local shopping areas, and temple surroundings at a slower rhythm than central Asakusa.

Yanaka works particularly well after a busy morning because it does not require another headline attraction. It is also easy to shorten: walk for as long as the neighborhood remains enjoyable, stop for tea, and return to your hotel without leaving an expensive ticket unused.

Use rail or a mapped walking-and-rail combination to reach your chosen starting point. Do not assume that every part of the broader Yanaka and Ueno area will be equally convenient from Kappabashi.

Akihabara: Games, Electronics, and Anime

Choose Akihabara if games, electronics, collectibles, arcades, or anime are meaningful interests. Treat it as the afternoon destination, not a quick addition after both Ueno and Yanaka.

Make a short list of the types of shops you want to see. Without priorities, the scale and repetition can become tiring. For a casual interest, one compact browsing session may be enough.

Ueno, Yanaka, and Akihabara are alternatives, not three stages of a comfortable afternoon. Visiting more than one is possible, but it changes the day from flexible exploration into a transfer-heavy checklist.

For the evening, remain in Asakusa or stay in the afternoon district you selected. Skip it if you already plan another observatory, the weather is poor, or the extra journey no longer appeals.

Reduced-effort version: Visit Senso-ji, browse Nakamise, have lunch, and spend a short period in Kappabashi. End there, or make one compact stop in Ueno, Yanaka, or Akihabara.

Museums and individual shops may have weekday closures. Verify the venue that matters most, but do not rebuild the whole day because one shop is unavailable—the eastern Tokyo cluster still works.

Day 2: Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Omotesando, and Shibuya

Essential anchor: Meiji Jingu Nearby additions: Harajuku and Omotesando Late-day option: Shibuya and a reserved view Easy to skip: Omotesando browsing or the observation deck

Start at Meiji Jingu. The forested approach is part of the visit, not empty space between the station and shrine. Allow for the approach, a calm visit, and the return toward Harajuku.

Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Omotesando, and Shibuya are commonly grouped as one western Tokyo route because they can be connected without a cross-city transfer (Japan Wanderlust’s district-by-district plan).

From the shrine, move into Harajuku. There are two useful approaches.

The Takeshita Street version follows the busy commercial strip for youth-oriented fashion, novelty shops, and snacks. It can be stimulating but intense, especially when crowded. Stop where something genuinely interests you rather than treating every widely shared food or shop as compulsory.

The neighborhood version treats Takeshita Street as optional. Use nearby side streets, clothing shops, and cafés for a less checklist-driven visit. This may suit travelers more interested in design, fashion, or people-watching than novelty purchases.

Continue toward Omotesando if you still have energy. Use it as an optional layer for architecture, larger shops, galleries, or a seated café break. There is no need to enter every flagship store. One building, shop, or café can be the entire Omotesando stop.

Proceed to Shibuya on foot if the weather and your energy are good. Otherwise, use the train. Check a live mapping app before leaving Harajuku because the most practical choice will depend on your exact starting point and destination within Shibuya.

At Shibuya, see the crossing from street level and continue. It is a brief urban experience rather than an attraction requiring a large block of the day. Shopping, food, side streets, and the evening atmosphere are more likely to determine how long you remain in the district.

If a skyline view is a priority, check the current official booking procedure for Shibuya Sky and reserve before building the evening around it. If your preferred time is unavailable, use another paid observatory on a different day or consider the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatory on Day 4. Missing one particular deck does not mean missing Tokyo’s skyline.

Stay in Shibuya for dinner if you want an active evening. Save several restaurant categories or streets rather than making one heavily queued venue indispensable. Alternatively, finish after the afternoon. This day can become demanding because the shrine approach, shopping districts, and Shibuya all encourage extended walking.

Rain or heat adjustment: Retain Meiji Jingu only if conditions are comfortable, reduce exposed shopping streets, and shift more time into indoor retail, cafés, or a museum whose current schedule you have verified. Use the train between Harajuku and Shibuya.

Lower-energy version: Visit Meiji Jingu, choose either Harajuku or Omotesando, and make a brief Shibuya stop. Skip the observation deck and finish after an early dinner.

Day 3: Tsukiji, Ginza, and Toyosu

Essential anchor: Tsukiji Outer Market Nearby addition: Ginza Reservation-dependent option: teamLab Planets in Toyosu Easy to skip: Toyosu or a second food-market visit

Begin at Tsukiji Outer Market. Check the current schedules of any businesses that matter to you before deciding when to arrive. Earlier visits are often suggested for market activity and potentially lower exposure to later tour groups, but crowd levels cannot be guaranteed.

Approach Tsukiji as a food area rather than a list of famous stalls. Share several small items, choose a seated breakfast or early lunch, or combine the two. Carry some cash because smaller stalls and independent businesses may not always accept cards. That does not mean the whole market is cash-only; it simply prevents one rejected card from disrupting breakfast.

After Tsukiji, continue to Ginza. Depending on where you finish in the market, walking may be practical, but confirm the route in your mapping app rather than relying only on district names.

Ginza is the day’s easiest component to expand or contract. Browse shops, look at architecture, have lunch, sit in a café, or use larger indoor buildings as shelter from rain or heat. If Tsukiji takes longer than expected, reduce Ginza to one walk and a meal.

If you have secured timed admission, continue to teamLab Planets in Toyosu in the afternoon. Use rail for this leg and leave a generous transfer buffer; Toyosu should be treated as a distinct waterfront extension rather than part of the Ginza walk.

Confirm the venue’s current entry instructions before booking. The experience includes a barefoot component, which may not suit every traveler. One visitor reported choosing a different teamLab venue specifically because going barefoot at Planets did not appeal to her (a first-timer’s account of choosing between teamLab experiences). If that element makes you uncomfortable, choose another activity rather than booking solely because teamLab appears on an itinerary.

Do not make Tsukiji Outer Market, Toyosu Fish Market, Ginza, and teamLab four mandatory major stops. Tsukiji and Toyosu offer different experiences, but treating both markets as full visits in one morning can make the schedule rushed; another four-day itinerary gives the same warning about combining them (Twirl The Globe’s market-day guidance).

If the Toyosu wholesale market is a personal priority, build the morning around it and reduce Tsukiji. If food browsing at Tsukiji is the priority, do not add a second market merely because teamLab is in the broader waterfront area.

If teamLab Is Sold Out

Remain in central Tokyo. Extend Ginza, have a longer lunch, or choose a currently open museum after checking its official calendar. The replacement should preserve the central cluster rather than send you across the city to compensate for one unavailable ticket.

Lower-Cost Version

Make Tsukiji the food anchor, walk through Ginza, and keep the evening free. This removes the paid immersive-art ticket and the pressure of reaching Toyosu at a fixed time. Sightseeing can remain centered on neighborhood walking, with spending determined largely by your food and shopping choices.

Check current admission procedures, closure days, ticket availability, and prices directly with any venue you plan to enter. Do not rely on an old booking window or price quoted by a third-party itinerary.

Day 4: Shinjuku Gyoen, a Free View, and an Optional Night Out

Essential anchor: Shinjuku Gyoen Nearby addition: Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatory Evening option: Omoide Yokocho or Golden Gai Easy to skip: Nightlife

Keep the final day in Shinjuku rather than adding another distant neighborhood. This allows the day to expand when you feel energetic and contract when the previous three sightseeing days have caught up with you.

Begin with Shinjuku Gyoen, subject to its current opening calendar, admission arrangements, and the weather. Because the garden is the daytime anchor, confirm its status before leaving your hotel.

Do not rush through the garden merely to remain “on schedule.” Choose a section to explore, stop when you find a pleasant place, and let this be a quieter counterweight to Shibuya, Asakusa, and Tsukiji.

Later, make the Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatory a separate mapped leg within Shinjuku. The building is commonly included as a free skyline option in compact Shinjuku itineraries alongside the garden and evening alleys (Japan Wanderlust’s Shinjuku route). Confirm current access through the relevant official information before traveling there.

On a clear day, distant Mount Fuji visibility may be possible, but it is never assured. Visit for the Tokyo panorama and treat any mountain visibility as a bonus.

Leave unassigned time between the garden, observatory, and evening. Use it for shopping, a café, lunch, an indoor rest, or simply finding your way through Shinjuku without hurrying. The open space is intentional.

For the evening, choose between two different experiences:

• Omoide Yokocho is oriented more toward compact food-and-drink venues and may suit travelers who want a meal in a small alley setting.
• Golden Gai is more bar-focused and better suited to travelers actively interested in a small-bar evening.

Neither is compulsory or universally suitable. If you dislike tight venues, queues, crowded lanes, or drinking-focused settings, choose a quieter dinner elsewhere in Shinjuku. Returning to the hotel early is also a sensible final-night plan.

Rainy-day version: Consider the observatory only if it is open and visibility makes the journey worthwhile. Otherwise, use Shinjuku’s indoor shopping, food, cafés, and another currently operating indoor attraction.

This is also the cleanest day to replace with an excursion. Days 1 through 3 already provide eastern, western, and central-waterfront introductions to Tokyo. Replacing Day 4 removes one district rather than breaking several neighborhood sequences.

Where to Stay for This Route

For a short stay, choose one hotel near a well-connected station. Changing hotels consumes time through packing, checkout, luggage handling, and check-in, while Tokyo’s rail network allows the four clusters to be reached from several practical bases.

The right choice depends less on identifying a universally superior neighborhood and more on matching the base to your arrival route, preferred evenings, sleep needs, budget, and comfort with large stations.

Shinjuku

Choose Shinjuku if you value active evenings and want direct compatibility with Day 4. It also lets you finish the final sightseeing day without another long return across the city.

The tradeoff is intensity. The station can take time to navigate, and nightlife-oriented streets may feel busy or noisy. Check the hotel’s exact location rather than assuming that every Shinjuku address offers the same atmosphere or station access.

Shibuya

Shibuya works well for Day 2 and for travelers who want restaurants, shopping, and activity after sightseeing. It reduces friction when you want to remain in western Tokyo into the evening.

The tradeoff is a potentially energetic environment. If you sleep lightly, inspect recent comments about street noise and room soundproofing, then map the actual route between the station and hotel.

Asakusa

Asakusa offers a traditional-district setting and an easy start for Day 1. It may suit travelers who prefer calmer mornings and want Senso-ji nearby.

The tradeoff is that western districts such as Harajuku, Shibuya, and Shinjuku will generally require more travel than they would from a western base. That is manageable for one or two days, but it should be a deliberate choice.

Ginza or the Tokyo Station Area

Ginza and the Tokyo Station area provide a central base compatible with Day 3 and useful access in several directions. Depending on the exact property and street, they may also suit travelers who want a more restrained evening environment.

Prices, atmosphere, and station complexity vary. “Near Tokyo Station” can still involve an inconvenient walk through a large area, so inspect the actual door-to-platform route rather than relying only on a booking-site distance.

Evaluate accommodation by arrival logistics, daily rhythm, noise, nearby services, and the real station walk. Nomadic Map’s general guide to choosing where to stay in a new city uses the same practical filter.

Before booking, map the complete airport-to-hotel route for your arrival date and time. This matters particularly for a late arrival, early departure, or heavy luggage. Check the current operator information for services, transfers, and operating conditions rather than choosing a neighborhood solely because it appears central.

Transit, Reservations, Walking, and Daily Buffers

A rechargeable IC card such as Suica can simplify journeys on participating transport and may work for some other purchases. Availability, purchase methods, refunds, and acceptance can change, so consult current official transport guidance before relying on one card for the entire trip.

Do not assume that a broad rail pass will automatically save money. Compare the current fares for the journeys you expect to take before purchasing one; general Japan transit guidance recommends making that calculation rather than treating a pass as the default (Backroad Planet’s transit-planning overview).

A mapping app’s train time does not represent the whole transfer. Allow time to:

• Reach the correct platform.
• Identify the appropriate service and direction.
• Walk between lines.
• Find an elevator when needed.
• Locate the correct station exit.
• Reorient yourself after reaching street level.

Build deliberate buffers around timed admission, major stations, meals at busy periods, walk-in restaurants, the evening journey back to the hotel, and the first trip of the morning.

One Tokyo planning source identifies commuter pressure as particularly likely around approximately 8–9 a.m. and 5–7 p.m., while noting that conditions vary by line, direction, weekday, and events (The Foodellers’ Tokyo planning guidance). You do not need to restructure every day around those periods, but avoid placing a fragile, luggage-heavy transfer there when an easy alternative exists.

Common reservation priorities for this route are Shibuya Sky and teamLab Planets. Shinjuku Gyoen may also use date- or season-specific admission arrangements. Check each attraction’s current official procedure rather than relying on a booking window quoted by a travel article.

Reserve a restaurant when eating there is essential to your trip. Otherwise, save nearby walk-in alternatives. A resilient plan should survive a long queue, temporary closure, or restaurant that cannot seat your group.

Expect substantial walking even though the days are geographically clustered. One writer estimates 15,000–25,000 daily steps for her own demanding neighborhood-based Tokyo itinerary, but that range describes her route—not a guaranteed total for this one (Svadore’s Tokyo itinerary).

To reduce the physical load:

• Remove one afternoon branch.
• Take a train instead of walking between adjacent districts.
• Use a taxi selectively when it avoids a difficult transfer.
• Schedule a seated lunch or café break.
• Return to the hotel before dinner.
• Stop after completing the day’s anchor.

Wear practical walking shoes that you already know are comfortable. Travel with light luggage where possible, especially if you will use trains and navigate large stations. A modular carry-on packing system can keep the bag manageable by using layers, repeatable combinations, and one sensible weather buffer.

The available evidence does not support one definitive tourist transit pass or a reliable total trip budget. Compare current official fares for your actual journeys, then add the current prices of the paid attractions you select. A traveler skipping teamLab and paid observation decks will spend differently from someone booking several timed experiences.

How to Adapt the Itinerary for a Day Trip, Bad Weather, Closures, or Low Energy

For a first visit focused on a broad introduction to Tokyo, the Tokyo-only version is the recommended default. Replacing one of four full sightseeing days with an excursion uses one quarter of the available city schedule—a direct consequence of allocating one day from a four-day plan.

A day trip is still reasonable when the destination is a stronger personal priority than another Tokyo district. Replace Day 4 rather than adding the excursion on top of four already full days.

The principal alternatives offer different emphases:

• Mount Fuji or Lake Kawaguchiko: Choose this for the possibility of mountain scenery and time outside central Tokyo. Visibility is weather-dependent and cannot be promised.

• Nikko: Choose this for a longer excursion centered on shrines and temples.

These destinations are commonly presented as alternative day trips rather than parts of one combined route (Truly Tokyo’s four-day itinerary). Research current transport, reservations, seasonal conditions, and realistic return arrangements before choosing.

For a Mount Fuji-area trip, use the forecast as one planning input, not a guarantee. If your arrangements remain flexible, retain the Shinjuku day as a fallback when poor weather makes the excursion less appealing. Do not assume that last-minute transport or attraction availability will remain open.

Rain Strategy

Do not cross Tokyo in search of a perfect indoor substitute. Keep the original neighborhood and remove its most exposed optional layers.

• Day 1: Keep Asakusa, shorten outdoor wandering, and choose one verified indoor stop in Ueno or Akihabara.
• Day 2: Reduce the shrine approach and shopping streets; use indoor retail, cafés, or a currently open museum.
• Day 3: Keep Tsukiji only if conditions and business operations make sense, then spend longer indoors in Ginza or use your timed teamLab booking.
• Day 4: Emphasize indoor Shinjuku, food, shopping, and the observatory only if it remains worthwhile.

Monday or Closure Strategy

First verify the day’s anchor. If it is unavailable, choose another open attraction in the same geographic cluster rather than rebuilding the entire itinerary.

A museum closure in Ueno does not require abandoning eastern Tokyo; choose Yanaka or Akihabara. A garden closure in Shinjuku does not require crossing to Asakusa; use the observatory, indoor attractions, shopping, and food instead.

The neighborhood remains the structure even when an individual venue disappears.

Low-Energy Strategy

Use the same rule every day: complete the anchor, eat nearby, and remove the evening.

• Day 1: Senso-ji, lunch, and perhaps a short Kappabashi browse.
• Day 2: Meiji Jingu followed by either Harajuku or Shibuya.
• Day 3: Tsukiji and a seated break in Ginza.
• Day 4: Shinjuku Gyoen or the observatory, not necessarily both.

If your energy falls during the trip, removing a stop is better than carrying exhaustion into the following day.

The available evidence is insufficient for firm wheelchair-, stroller-, or elevator-aware route claims. Check official accessibility information for each station and venue, including accessible exits, elevator locations, surface conditions, restroom access, and whether assistance must be arranged. A route that looks compact on a map may still involve long station passages or difficult crowd conditions.

For a personalized version, make four decisions:

1. Day 1: Yanaka for a slower walk, Ueno for a park or museum, or Akihabara for games and anime.
2. Skyline: A reserved paid deck or the free Shinjuku observatory.
3. Evening: Nightlife in Shibuya or Shinjuku, or an early finish.
4. Day 4: Tokyo-only or a deliberate day-trip replacement.

This structure follows a broader flexible-itinerary framework: protect one purpose for each day, keep alternatives nearby, and leave enough buffer for the trip to change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are four full days enough for a first visit to Tokyo?

Yes, four full sightseeing days can provide a varied first introduction, but not comprehensive exploration. You can experience several major neighborhoods, traditional and modern districts, a food market, a garden, and a skyline view.

The schedule becomes less realistic if those four days include arrival and departure, every evening is filled, or several distant districts are added. Keep one anchor per day and make secondary stops removable.

Should I spend all four days in Tokyo or take a Mount Fuji day trip?

Keep all four days in Tokyo if your priority is a broad city introduction. A Mount Fuji-area excursion replaces one of four sightseeing days, or one quarter of the schedule, and mountain visibility cannot be guaranteed.

Choose the excursion if the Fuji area matters more to you than a day in Shinjuku. Replace Day 4 rather than compressing the Tokyo route into three overloaded days.

Which Tokyo attractions should I consider booking in advance?

Check current advance-admission procedures for Shibuya Sky and teamLab Planets first. Also verify whether Shinjuku Gyoen has any admission arrangements that affect your dates.

If a restaurant is central to the trip, reserve it when possible. Booking procedures and availability change, so confirm everything through the venue’s official website and keep a nearby alternative.

Where should I stay for a four-day Tokyo itinerary?

Choose one hotel near a well-connected station. Shinjuku suits active evenings and Day 4; Shibuya fits the western Tokyo day; Asakusa offers a convenient Day 1 start; and Ginza or the Tokyo Station area provides a central base for several clusters.

The best choice depends on your airport route, budget, noise tolerance, preferred evening atmosphere, comfort with large stations, and the real walk between the platform and hotel.

How can I make this Tokyo itinerary slower or easier?

Keep only the essential anchor each day:

• Senso-ji on Day 1.
• Meiji Jingu on Day 2.
• Tsukiji on Day 3.
• Shinjuku Gyoen or the observatory on Day 4.

Choose one afternoon branch, take trains or occasional taxis instead of walking every connection, schedule a seated break, and remove evening plans.

The four anchors are eastern Tokyo, western Tokyo, the central waterfront, and Shinjuku. Protect one priority in each area and treat everything else as optional. Removing a stop is not a failed itinerary; it is what keeps four days in Tokyo useful when weather, crowds, reservations, and energy differ from the original plan.