I had always dreamed of going to Japan and finally went in March 2018 with my partner, Philip. We started our trip in Tokyo then explored several other cities before returning to Tokyo to explore for a few more days. Here is my 2018 Tokyo itinerary.
Getting to Tokyo
Tokyo has two major airports, Narita and Haneda. I found direct flights to and from LAX through Narita airport.
Where to Stay in Tokyo
Friends generally recommended to stay in either Shibuya or Shinjuku which are two lively neighborhoods in Tokyo. We had points through work and stayed at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi for the first couple days in Tokyo, and then at the Hyatt Regency in Shinjuku for the last few days. I recommend staying near Shinjuku Station to be close to a lot of hot spots. Tokyo’s metro system is amazing, so no matter where you stay it is easy to get around.
Tokyo Day 1
Sensoji Temple
We started our first full day in Tokyo by getting onigiri for breakfast from Family Mart which is a popular convenience store in Japan that has great snacks. Then we took the metro to Sensoji, a Buddhist temple, in the neighborhood Asakusa. Sensoji claims to be the oldest temple in Tokyo with over 1000 years of history.
There is so much going around the temple with tons of visitors, a five-story pagoda, monuments, shops, and more. After exploring Sensoji we walked a few blocks to the Sumida river to get a view of the Tokyo Skytree.
Exploring Akihabara
Next we went to the neighborhood Akihabara which is known as the hub for electronics, anime, manga, and videogames. We wandered into several stores including Yodobashi Akiba which is an enormous electronics store. We also went into a couple arcades which were busy with young teens. Akihabara is where the famous maid cafes are, though we didn’t visit one.
Tokyo Day 2
Tokyo Station & Imperial Palace
On our second day in Tokyo we went to Tokyo Station to sort out our Japan rail pass and eat noodles at Ramen Street. After lunch we walked a short distance to the Imperial Palace which was a let down because you can’t see much. The palace is a huge property that is walled off and has a moat, so you can only catch a glimpse.
Ghibli Museum
That afternoon we took a train to Mitaka, Japan where the Ghibli Museum is located. I grew up watching many of Hayao Miyazaki’s films and was so excited to score tickets to visit the museum. Tickets can be tough to get and must be purchased in advance for a specific day. You are not allowed to take photos inside the museum which keeps it extra special. I did capture a few photos of the outside which is really colorful and has a somewhat fantastical vibe.
Tokyo Day 3
Meiji Shrine
Our third day in Tokyo was our 12th day in Japan after exploring other regions. Day three brought us to Meiji Shrine which is a Shinto Shrine built in the early 1900s to honor Emperor Meiji. The shrine is located in a huge, beautiful park in the neighborhood Shibuya.
Harajuku & Shibuya Crossing
After Meiji Shrine we went to Harajuku which is a bustling district within Shibuya known for fashion and youth culture. Both Takeshita and Cat Street are famous for having unique clothing stores and cafes. We wandered along the packed streets popping into the occasional store and bought a couple treats.
Then we walked 20 minutes south to witness the famous Shibuya crossing which is a large intersection that claims to be the busiest in the world. We went into the Starbucks at the northern end of the intersection to get a bird’s eye view of the intersection.
Pokemon Store + J World
From Shibuya we took the metro north to Toshima to check out the Pokémon Mega Center which is a huge store dedicated to all things Pokémon. Philip and I both grew up trading Pokémon cards, watching the show, and playing the games so we were excited to check it out.
In the same mall is Jump World which is a sort of micro theme park with games and attractions based on popular animes. At the time we visited the featured animes were Naruto, Dragonball Z, and One Piece.
Later that night we had sushi for dinner at the standing sushi bar.
Tokyo Day 4
Kamakura & Enoshima Island
On our fourth day in Tokyo we took a day trip to the coast to explore Kamakura and Enoshima Island. The train ride from Shinjuki Station to Kamakura is 1 – 1.5 hours.
The first thing we did in Kamakura was visit Kotoku-in which is a Buddhist temple famous for it’s 44ft giant Buddha statue. The statue was built in the 1200s! Next we rented bikes and biked ~4 miles along the coast to Enoshima Island making a couple stops at the beach along the way.
At Enoshima Island we explored the gardens, shrines, and enjoyed the fantastic views of the Japanese coast. On our bike ride back to Kamakura we stopped at Good Mellows for an excellent burger!
Golden Gai
Back in Tokyo that night we went out to Shinjuku Golden Gai which is known for it’s 200+ tiny bars. Most of the bars can fit less than 10 people at a time. We enjoyed some drinks and meeting locals!
Tokyo Day 5
Ueno Park and Yanaka District
We did not know it when we booked our trip, but we happened to be in Tokyo during peak cherry blossoms aka Sakura! Cherry Blossoms symbolize the start of spring and are widely celebrated in Japan with parks flooded with people viewing the beautiful blossoms and having picnics.
Our first stop for Sakura viewing was at Ueno Park which is super popular with the locals. Every foot of the park was covered with picnic blankets under the blossoms. Ueno park also has multiple museums and a zoo which we did not make it to.
After wandering among the cherry blossoms in Ueno park we walked through Yanaka Cemetery which had more stunning blossoms. Then we had a beer and snack at Yanaka Beer Hall.
Shiba Park & Tokyo Tower
After the beer hall we got on the metro and went to Shiba Park in the Minato ward of Tokyo. Shiba park had more beautiful cherry blossoms, Zojo-ji Buddhist temple, and other memorials and monuments. The memorial that most stuck out to me is called the 1000 Kosodate Jizo-son which has 1000+ statues of kids wearing colorful hats and holding pinwheels.
From Shiba Park it’s just a few minute walk to Tokyo Tower which is the second tallest structure in Japan after the Tokyo Skytree. We paid the fee to go up to the observation deck which was definitely worth it! The views from the tower are phenomenal.
Night Cherry Blossoms
To wrap up our cherry blossom day we went to Chidorigafuchi park for a night viewing of the illuminated blossoms. There were not as many lights as I expected and even fewer people, maybe there are events on certain nights that draw a bigger crowd?
For our last night in Japan we got a drink and tried our hand at the claw machine. I successfully got a Gengar after a few tries! To end the night we went to Ichiran for late night ramen. We had eaten at Ichiran in Kyoto earlier on our trip and fell in love.
Tokyo Day 6
On our final day in Japan we had an afternoon flight out of Narita airport. In the morning we went to Shinjuku Gyoen, a large park, to see more cherry blossoms. Unfortunately the park is fenced in and had a huge line to get in. We didn’t have enough time to wait, so we wandered the area before grabbing our bags and heading to the airport.
Final Thoughts
My impression of Tokyo is that it is huge! There are endless pockets to explore, it would be hard to get bored. I cannot wait to go back.
Other Things To Do
Some other ideas:
- Tsukiji Fish Market
- Mori Tower for views
- teamLab Planets art exhibit
- Robot Restaurant
- New York Bar in the Park Hyatt (Lost in Translation)
- Clubbing
- Tokyo Disneyland
- Karaoke
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