Destination Tokyo chronicles a voyage of a U.S. submarine on a secret mission to the very shores of Japan. The U.S.S. Copperfin sails under secret orders for Tokyo Bay in the early days of World War II. The submarine's mission is to enter the bay undetected and place a landing party ashore to obtain information vital to the upcoming Doolittle air raid on Tokyo. They are to gather information in advance of the planned bombing of Tokyo. Along the way, the crew learn about each other as they face the enemy and some of them lose their lives. After getting the information they need,they face the harrowing task of getting free once their presence is discovered.