Second trip for myself, first for my husband and 16yo stepdaughter!
My first trip 18 years ago, I was solo, young, and involved in the tattoo scene. This time around will be a little more family friendly. Going for a balance of pop culture, history, and appreciating Buddhist/Shinto sites. But pretty quick, we can’t miss too much school…
We leave LAX April 7th and arrive in Narita the following evening. I have mild claustrophobia, so we will be taking a car service to our hotel in Shinjuku to avoid rush hour on the train. Settle in, find a dinner spot and grab some snacks, hopefully get some good sleep.
Full day 1- Sunday 4/9. (only day we have something truly planned) Train to Yokohama, Tattoo Museum at noon, meet families, hopefully Fudo Myoo temple, then back to Shinjuku.
Day 2- Monday. Failed to get Ghibli tickets (…I thought Taylor Swift was hard) so day is open. Thinking we will explore Harajuku, Kiddy Land, Harry Cafe, Meiji Temple. Daughter wants to eat only from vending machines for one whole day lol, this is probably the spot for that?
Day 3- Tuesday. Shibuya crossing, Hachiko, Kinokuniya. KitKat store! Any tips where to locker our luggage?
Check into our traditional house in Otsuka in the evening.
This is where I am lost as what to do in this area. The place we are staying is our highlight! Yet would love insight into any dining or attraction that is fairly close?
Day 4- Wednesday…….hoping to not venture out too far from Otsuka, but totally open to ideas!
Day 5- Thursday. Check into our hotel in Asukasa near Sky Tower after 1pm. Would love to find a tea class, Sensoji Temple during the day or for a fortune at night? Maybe a river boat tour or a cherry blossom event?
Day 6- Friday. No plans, again! I heard there is a catbus station similar to what we are missing at Ghibli in this area, that would be cool. Husband likes Japanese beer, is the Asahi brewery near this area? Fancy last night dinner in Ginza or something?
Day 7- Saturday. Leisurely morning until we check out and head back out to Narita, our flight home is at 5pm.
Questions-
I am intentionally not over-planning. Is this a mistake? Should I attempt to make at least a few dinner/event reservations?
What have been your teens favorite things in Tokyo?
What was the most difficult thing you had to navigate?
Any vital travel hacks? (ie; bring a towel)
And what was the number one highlight of your Japan trip?
12 comments
I recommend not over planning. On both my trips to Japan, we ended up adjusting things day of based on how we were feeling, how jet lagged we were etc. Harajuku should be fun with teenagers. Make sure you go down the side streets and give yourself time to wander through shops. Lots of little places to eat and get stuff like ice cream crepes. There are some cute cat cafes in harajuku too.
Biggest travel “hack” is bring a portable battery to charge your phone during the day, we always rely on our phones for Google maps and Google translate so it can drain your battery quick.
The most difficult thing I had to navigate on one of our trips was a total anxiety meltdown when I couldn’t figure out how to transfer trains during rush hour lol
We did Ghibli museum in 2018. Nice but not a must do. Very crowded so probably not good if you’re claustrophobic. There’s a Ghibli store at the base of skytree across the river from Asakusa. It’s also near Asahi. You could spend most of a day in the area. We took a boat taxi to Odaiba for dinner and train back to our hotel.
We failed to get Ghibli tickets too 🤣🤣 I’ll be there the week before you! Can’t wait. Our itinerary is similar to yours, but we are spending more time in the parks looking at cherry blossoms and we are also doing team labs (which I’ve heard is a must do)! Have fun!!
I am quite concerned about the fact that you mentioned that you have mild claustrophobia.I’m not sure if you plan on taking taxis everywhere instead of the train but if you do, expect to quickly spend upwards of a few hundred to a few thousand US dollars depending on how often you take a taxi and where. Other than that, I’ve heard the kitkat store in Shibuya is permanently closed. Might want to look that up, not 100% sure if that’s still true. Since you couldn’t get ghibli tickets, maybe check out Sanrio Puroland or even Tokyo DisneySea!
Have you thought about going to Shiro-hige’s Cream Puff Factory?
http://www.shiro-hige.net/main/
On day 2, it’s doable to eat only out of vending machines but I’d recommend also getting some food from conbini stores such as Lawson’s or 7-11 they have pretty good food and are everywhere.
Asahi beer not good
I never really saw vending food machines until I went a bit further out of the centre.
All in the same area I found a Wagyu Beef, Ramen and a seafood type predominantly fish eggs.
This was the Kameari area of Tokyo near Ario mall https://maps.app.goo.gl/AR7ybRCcEAkE3Pkq6
Near this area is like a 6 floor Daiso type mall.
In the city centre I only really saw chicken noodle soup in a can.
Harry Potter Cafe and the Store near Akasaka recommend reservations. As per Harry Potter store I found one also in Tokyo Skytree mall and I literally just walked in zero issue or line.
Narita express goes straight to Shinjuku. Is that train packed during rush hour?
Use luggage delivery service
Otsuka is…not quite a good place to spend a lot of time. It’s on the Yamanote Line so you can basically go anywhere. Just warning you, Otsuka is a bit sleezy.
In Tokyo, tweens/teens might like:
– [10 Real Life Anime Locations in Tokyo](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2022/03/anime-locations-in-tokyo/)
– [Ikebukuro for Anime Shopping at P’Parco, Sunshine City, and Animate](https://travel.gaijinpot.com/ikebukuro-anime-walking-tour/)
– [New Namco Arcade in Akihabara](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/a-massive-new-six-storey-gaming-arcade-is-opening-in-akihabara-in-march-022723)
Р[6 Pok̩mon Centers/Stores in Tokyo](https://jw-webmagazine.com/pokemon-centers-and-pokemon-stores-in-tokyo-fa08ce522cd2/)
– [Who Needs Akihabara When You’ve Got Nakano Broadway](https://tokyocheapo.com/shopping-2/nakano-broadway-akihabara/)
– [Ghibli Lovers Guide to Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/studio-ghibli-guide-to-tokyo)
– [Cute Tokyo: Best Kawaii Things to See and Eat](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/cute-tokyo-best-kawaii-things-to-eat-and-do-in-the-city)
– [Tokyo Character Street](https://trulytokyo.com/tokyo-character-street/)
– [5 Best Hello Kitty Spots in Tokyo](https://jw-webmagazine.com/5-best-hello-kitty-spots-in-tokyo/)
– [Daiba Retro Game Arcade](https://maps.app.goo.gl/gQrQQ27AkcpTw5y69?g_st=ic)
– [Odaiba is a great area for tweens/teens. Shopping and Team Lab Planets.](https://tokyocheapo.com/locations/central-tokyo/odaiba/)
– [Where To See Team Lab Art for Free](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/art/where-to-see-teamlab-art-for-free-in-tokyo)
– [Tokyo Robots and Where to Find Them](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2022/08/tokyo-robots/)
– [Tokyo Godzilla Statues](https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/museums-and-exhibitions/tokyo-godzilla-statues/)
– [Street Art/Murals in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/art/street-art-top-spots-to-see-graffiti-in-tokyo)
– [Cool, not Cruel Alternatives to Animal Cafes](https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/animal-cafes-in-tokyo-alternatives/)
– [Ethical Cat Cafes in Tokyo](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2022/09/ethical-cat-cafes-tokyo/)
– [Meguro Parasitological Museum](https://maps.app.goo.gl/AWe9hZwcLwV9qj6x9?g_st=ic)
– [InterMediatheque](https://maps.app.goo.gl/2a2DJRi1jZ5iNrkv9?g_st=ic)
– [North Korean Spy Ship in Yokohama](https://www.nippon.com/en/features/c04503/amp/)
– [Transparent and other Cool Public Restrooms in Shibuya](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/all-the-new-shibuya-toilets/)
– [Hie Shrine Thousand Tori Gates (great at night too)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/896H3pRdTdDQARxn6?g_st=ic)
– [Nezu Shrine Tori Gates](https://jw-webmagazine.com/nezu-shrine-tokyos-most-underrated-shrine-2d387954c5d4/)
– [Tokyo Teen Checklist](https://bestlivingjapan.com/tokyo-teen-checklist-see-do-eat/)
– [Indoor Activities in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/best-indoor-activities-in-tokyo)
– [Restaurant Ninja Akasaka in Tokyo](https://ninjaakasaka.com/en/experience/)
– [Asakusa Food Hall Inspired by Japan Festivals in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/asakusa-is-getting-a-new-matsuri-themed-yokocho-food-hall-060822)
– [New Yokocho Food Hall in Shinjuku, Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/shinjuku-has-a-new-yokocho-food-hall-with-17-eateries-110122)
– [8 Other Food Halls in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/restaurants/best-restaurant-food-halls-in-tokyo)
– [7 Best Cafes for Latte Art in Tokyo](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/restaurants/best-latte-art-cafes-in-tokyo)
The Kit Kat Chocolatory in Shibuya has closed. For your luggage there are lots of [luggage lockers at Shibuya Station.](https://www.fun-japan.jp/en/articles/11475)
Not sure what time of year you’re going but there’s a retro tram that runs to Otsuka.
– [Tokyo Day Trip: Roses on the Retro Arakawa Streetcar Line (May/Oct)](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/nf7hgc/tokyo_day_trip_rose_spotting_on_the_toden_arakawa/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)