First timer in Japan in his early 30s: solo male traveler from Canada interested in anime, music, food, and culture. Also, I traveled with a group of friends for almost a week. This trip report might be too long to read so feel free to skip to the general info, impressions, and advice. I hope this helps you with your itineraries, especially first-timers.
**General Info:**
\- Before the trip, I studied the most common Japanese words and phrases (speaking only) especially for commuting, ordering at restos/konbini, buying stuff, and dealing with accommodations
\- During weekdays in Tokyo, I mostly start my days after 9 am to avoid the morning rush
\- The majority of my meals and snacks were from the konbini and drinks were from the vending machines
\- Bought my JR pass ($301.35), Skyliner and unlimited Tokyo subway pass combo ($55), USJ ($87.85), and attractions (Shibuya Sky – $21.45, Tokyo Tower – $27.29) from Klook (except the Gundam Factory at Yokohama – booked on the official website for $50)
\- Booked my accommodations through Airbnb and Booking:
\- Airbnbb near Nippori \[Seidokan\] (April 25 – 28): $110
\- Sakura Ryokan Asakusa Iriya (May 26 – 27): $77
\- Airbnb near Keisei Ueno \[Kokoroya\] (May 27 – June 1): $248
\- First Cabin Akasaka (June 1 – 2): $45
\- Guesthouse Soi (June 2 – 4): $128
\- APA Hotel Shin-Osaka Ekimae (June 4 – 6): $117
\- Miyajima Guest House Mikuniya (June 6 – 7): $35
\- Asakusa Ryokan Toukaisou (June 7 – 11): $158
\- Booked all shinkansen trips through the self-serve ticketing machines at eligible JR stations
\- When I was low in yen, I went to Ninja Money Exchange at Shinjuku. Great rates
**Impressions:**
**-** Trains are rarely late and they leave on time
\- Locals try to understand and help me despite my limited Japanese
\- Most washrooms (even the public ones) are clean but I am not used to peeing on the urinals that are almost close to each other and they don’t have a divider between them
\- There are not many trash cans on the street (in some vending machines, there is a bin for the bottles or cans only)
\- I could slurp my ramen loudly. Also, I noticed that locals don’t stay too long after eating unless it was in a coffee shop
\- Food is relatively cheap and most of them are delicious and filling (even the konbini ones)
\- The employees bow when the elevator closes and when the plane is about to take off
\- The country seemed safe that I worried less about leaving my stuff at the table while ordering or walking alone in late evenings
\- During my first week in Tokyo, the directions of the signs in the train stations were confusing for me but I was able to slightly get it in the middle of my trip the second time around
**Advice:**
**-** When picking up a ticket for Keisei Skyliner at the airport, ask for the scheduled departure time they will give you because they will most likely give you the nearest departure time. You could request the next departure time so you have ample time to look for the gate or platform of the train
\- Get a Suica card: This has been my main mode of payment during my trip and it is nice to use it pretty much in almost everything that you purchase. But, still keep some cash for the street food stalls, small stores, and some restaurants
\- Download Navitime and Google Maps: You can filter it by the pass that you have with Navitime and both apps show you which tram number to get into and exit to take so you are near the location you are heading.
\- Bring a plastic bag, tote, or backpack to store your trash until you could throw them properly at your accommodation, konbinis, or vending machines (bottles/cans).
\- Pack a napkin or small towel to dry your hands after washing because either the washrooms have dryers or paper towels that are unavailable
\- If your pieces of luggage are too heavy to drag around, you could send them over using luggage delivery services or ask your hotels if they have takkyubin. I think they calculate the price based on the measurements and not by weight. I paid almost $20 (Yamato Transport / Kuro Neko and Japan Post) for some peace of mind.
\- At USJ, ask the staff if there is a single rider line available as the wait time is lesser compared to the regular ones
\- Start building up your cardio because you are going to walk a lot. I averaged more than 20k steps a day. Also, get comfortable shoes and socks to avoid blisters. A warm bath at the end of the day or just soaking your feet in warm water helps as well.
**Trip Report:**
**TOKYO (I)**
**Day 1 (April 25, Tuesday)**
\- Arrived at Narita airport late afternoon
\- Everything went smoothly with immigration and customs by showing the respective QR codes from Visit Japan Web
\- Took the Keisei Skyliner heading to Nippori station
\- Showed the QR code at the Skyliner and Keisei Information Center
\- Nice views from the left window side of the train
\- Checked in at an Airbnb a couple of minutes away from the station
\- Walked there while dragging two heavy luggage
\- Suffering from jetlag for at least a week when I arrived (Japan is 13 hours ahead of Canada)
**Day 2 (April 26, Wednesday)**
\- The wife of my Japanese host prepared free breakfast (Sando and Meiji Apollo Strawberry Choco snack) until before the check-out date
\- First breakfast: Tamago Sando
\- Purchased an eSIM with data (5GB) from Ubigi for $10
\- Reloaded the max amount on my Suica (¥20K)
\- Activated my Tokyo Subway Unlimited Pass at an eligible ticket machine
\- Asakusa:
\- Walked along the Kaminarimon Gate until Senso-ji
\- Sumida River, Sumida Park: Could spot the Tokyo Skytree as well
\- Ginza:
\- Was planning to get coffee at Turret Coffee Tsukiji but they were closed that day (even though Google Maps said otherwise)
\- Went to Uniqlo instead for some window shopping and was surprised to find out that they have their own cafe shop on the top floor. I tried their coffee and dorayaki for ¥500. It was okay.
\- Akihabara:
\- Looked around for second-hand figurines at A-stop Akibazone and Amiami
\- The figures looked decent even when they were pre-owned
\- Surprised by the amount of maid cosplayers on the street handing out flyers for their cafes
\- Played at arcades: Taito Station (modern) and Super Potato (retro)
\- Dinner at Coco Ichibanya: Chicken curry with veggies (ordered through a tablet) for ¥1,100
**Day 3 (April 27, Thursday)**
\- Second breakfast: Katsu Sando with the Meiji choco snack
\- Shinjuku:
\- Tokyo Metropolitan Govt Bldg – free admission and has a nice overview of the city
\- On my way to Kabukicho, I got lost at Shinjuku station. It was the largest railway station that I have been to. After finding the right exit, I was able to head to Kabukicho. Checked out the Godzilla head on top of the Toho Cinema building and the vibe of the area
\- Shibuya:
\- Checked out the Mega Don Quixote for souvenirs
\- Visited the 6th floor of Shibuya Parco to see character statues from Nintendo (Mario), Pokemon (Mewtwo), Shonen Jump (Luffy), and Capcom (Ryu)
\- Walked Shibuya crossing a couple of times, saw the Hachiko statue, and chilled at Miyashita Park where the Doraemon statue is located
\- Ikebukuro:
\- Went to the largest Animate store – mostly sells stuff from newer anime
**Day 4 (April 28, Friday)**
\- Checked out from the Airbnb
\- The host offered a ride to drop me at Nippori Station to catch the Skyliner
\- Back at Narita for my flight to the Philippines
\- Lunch at McDonalds before departing: Chicken Teriyaki burger for around ¥1,300
\- Instead of a combo, they call it a set. Also, I was amazed that the sweet syrup for my iced tea was in a packet separated from the drink
**TOKYO (II)**
**Day 1 (May 26, Friday\]**
\- Back in the country after a month. Would be exploring Tokyo with my friends for the first week then traveling downwards to different cities.
\- The weather was a little bit warmer this time (around mid-20s degrees Celsius)
\- Picked up pocket wifi (10GB per day for 1 week) from Ninja Wifi at Narita. Ordered it a couple of days before picking it up
\- Claimed my 7-day JR pass at JR East Travel Service Center
\- The staff asked if I would like to book my Shinkansen tickets in advance but I opted to do it by myself in the JR self-serve ticket machines as I wanted to rest at my accommodation because I haven’t slept much earlier that day
\- Took the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno station and checked in at Sakura Ryokan
\- Spacious room with a double bed and private bathroom
\- Dinner from FamilyMart: Katsudon for less than ¥500. Not bad for a konbini meal
**Day 2 (May 27, Saturday)**
\- First day of group travel with two friends
\- Checked out from accommodation then checked in at Airbnb near Asakusa
\- Wandered around Akihabara (mostly killed my time at Taito Station) while waiting for friends to arrive
\- Met up with friends at Keisei Ueno station late afternoon then brought them to our bnb to unload their stuff
\- Dinner at Coco Ichibanya: Pork curry with spinach (no tablet at this branch) for ¥1,100
\- Went to Asakusa for the night views around the area
\- Had fun with the omikuji: got a good fortune (kept it) while one of my friends had a bad one (tied it to avoid misfortune)
**Day 3 (May 28, Sunday)**
\- Around Tokyo Station:
\- Went to Marunouchi Building and Imperial Palace (but the inner grounds were closed on Sundays so we just roamed around the area)
\- Akasaka:
\- Walked up and down the Hie Shrine
\- Lunch at Harry Potter Cafe (reserved beforehand): A friend wanted to try this place. It was slightly expensive at almost $30 (it was charged to the credit card that I used to reserve with them). My food (9 ¾ bread with beans and Stupefy orange drink) was okay but I liked the presentation though
\- Akihabara:
\- Suggested to my friends to do this place on this day because the main street (Chuo Dori) is closed on Sundays
\- Figure shopping at Amiami 2nd
\- Dinner at Masses Tavern Chibachan: Karaage boat for ¥1,518
\- Oh boy, the servings were a lot for the three of us. We were not able to finish it and took the leftovers home. This became our breakfast/snack for the duration of our stay together
**Day 4 (May 29, Monday)**
\- Ginza:
\- Finally, tried the Turret Latte at Turret Coffee Tsukiji but it was bitter for my taste
\- Friends shopped at Uniqlo
\- Lunch at Yoshinoya: Sukiyaki set with miso and raw egg for less than ¥800
\- Shinjuku:
\- Tokyo Metropolitan Govt Bldg again
\- We needed yen so we dropped by at Ninja Money Exchange. One of my friends tried to get his yen by withdrawing from a 7-11 ATM. Less than $5 difference compared to ours but the convenience is there whenever you need yen quick.
\- Explored Kabukicho in the evening. Nice views especially at this time when it was raining that the neon signs were reflecting from the surface
\- Dinner at Hanbey (Izakaya with a Showa Era vibe): Yakitori is cheap at only ¥50. Also had some takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and drinks
**Day 5 (May 30, Tuesday)**
\- Harajuku:
\- The original plan was to eat lunch at Happy Pancake Omotesando (known for its fluffy pancakes) but the line was already long before the opening time so we ate at Afternoon Tea instead
\- Ordered a Strawberry Mille Crepe with Cafe Latte: Loved it.
\- Walked through Takeshita Street then strolled around Meiji Jingu
\- Shibuya:
\- Shibuya Parco, Shibuya Crossing, Hachiko statue, Miyashita Park
\- Dinner at Ramen Tajima: Ordered a Ramen with special toppings for ¥1,100. Best ramen I ever had.
\- Enjoyed the sunset/evening views of the city at Shibuya Sky Observatory
\- Friends shopped souvenirs at Mega Donki
**Day 6 (May 31, Wednesday)**
\- Last day of group travel
\- Tokyo Tower:
\- Morning views of Tokyo from the observatory until the top deck. Audio history guides were provided but some information was outdated because there were new buildings that were blocking some historic sites that were being discussed
\- Odaiba:
\- Watched the Unicorn Gundam do a simple transformation of some parts and the headpiece with some lights
\- Doraemon Times Square with Nobita and Shizuka
\- Should have gone here in the evening for the light show from the Gundam and Rainbow Bridge but could not because the friends were planning to pack later that night
\- Ueno:
\- Strolled around Ameyoko
\- Friends exchanged their Keisei Skyliner return vouchers for their flight tomorrow
**Day 7 (June 1, Thursday)**
\- Back to solo travel. Friends left early morning.
\- Stayed in the AirBnb until checkout just to rest my feet from all the walking the past week
\- Went to Yamato Transport (Kuro Neko) to deliver my pieces of luggage to Kyoto for tomorrow
\- Lunch at Tensuke (known for its egg tempura): Waited in line for almost 45 minutes near opening time. Ordered a set for almost ¥1,500 that consists of an egg and a bunch of different kinds of tempura. The best tempura I ever had
\- Looked for anime figures at Nakano Broadway. A lot of stores of Mandarake here that has their own niche.
\- Checked in at First Cabin Akasaka.
\- First time staying in this kind of compact hotel. It was okay for me but was just super conscious on how I should move inside my space so as not to disturb my neighbors.
**KYOTO**
**Day 8 (June 2, Friday)**
\- first day of JR pass
\- heavy rain throughout the day because of a tropical storm
\- Breakfast at Key’s Cafe: Ordered a morning set for ¥500 that comes with a boiled egg, pancake, and coffee
\- Checked out from the accommodation then went to Tokyo station
\- Bought an ekiben at Ekiben Matsuri Gransta before boarding. Lots of choices, even self-heating ones. – It was my first time knowing that bentos are eaten at room temp so I worried a little bit because it might cause me a stomachache but everything was fine
\- Departed to Kyoto via Shinkansen as the weather worsens: I was lucky that I left a little bit early because the Shinkansen trips got canceled later that day
\- Arrived at Kyoto station late afternoon then checked in at Guesthouse Soi
\- Nice traditional room with tatami mats and futon bedding
\- Luggages that I sent over a day ago arrived within the timeframe that I was at my accommodation
\- Walked around Yasaka Shrine
\- Enjoyed the food at Nishiki Market: Tako Tamago (Kai) and a variety of tempuras at different stalls
\- Also, I had to go back to Kyoto station in the evening to replace my train ticket. I made a mistake booking a special rapid train ticket insead of the Shinkansen going to Osaka. At this time, a lot of people were already in line at the ticket booths especially the big one for tourists because of the train cancellations due to the tropical storm. There was a small booth where the locals lined up (way smaller line than the tourist one). At first, I was slightly discouraged because I was the only foreigner in the line and it was only in Japanese but I continued anyway despite my limited nihongo skills. When it was my turn, I noticed the staff’s worried look but I assured him that I could speak a little bit of Japanese. With some mix of Google translate, I was able to get my Shinkansen ticket in way less amount of time. Thanked the staff so much for his patience and understanding.
**Day 9 (June 3, Saturday)**
\- Woke up early morning to get to Kiyomizu-dera a few minutes before the opening time. Not many people. Definitely enjoyed the peace and sounds of nature.
\- Breakfast at Starbucks Ninenzaka (traditional setting with tatami seats): Wanted to seat on the tatami but it was already full so I just picked a spot on the top floor by the window to enjoy the outside view
\- Walked around Sannenzaka, Yasaka Pagoda
\- Went to Fushimi Inari Taisha early afternoon. Already lots of people
\- Walked until the Yotsutsuji Intersection: the more I went upward the trail, the lesser the crowds were so it was easy to take a solo photo/video of the area and myself
\- Had some yakisoba at a food stall
\- The last stop for the day was Arashiyama. Large crowds too
\- Walked through the Bamboo Grove
\- Ate mitarashi dango and matcha soft serve at the stores near the entrance
\- Dinner at Tsukumo Udon: Ordered an udon with egg and fried chicken cutlet. Tasted good for only ¥750
**OSAKA**
**Day 10 (June 4, Sunday)**
\- Checked out of accommodation then departed for Osaka
\- Left luggages before check-in at APA Hotel Shin-Osaka Ekimae
\- Went to Osaka-jo and walked around the area
\- Tried the trending 10yen pancake (chocolate flavor). It was okay
\- Went back to the hotel to check in and rest for a bit
\- It was a small room compared to the Western style but I liked the efficiency of the space. The controls for the lights, tv, and aircon were just within my reach
\- Shinsekai:
\- Amazed by the large bright colorful signs and huge designs of octopus, tempuras, sushi, etc.
\- Walked through Denden Town (Osaka’s version of Akihabara)
\- Dotonbori:
\- Hanged around near the Glico Sign to watch buskers
\- Ate takoyaki (8pcs. for ¥600) at Takoyaki Wanaka and tried the sushi conveyor belt (¥145 – ¥220 depending on the color of the plate) at Genrokuzushi. Both were good and filling
**Day 11 (June 5, Monday)**
\- Universal Studios Japan:
\- Left early morning. Arrived almost an hour before opening at 9 am
\- A lot of people are already at the entrance gates. The staff opened the gates before the opening time
\- Super Nintendo World:
\- Most of the crowds rushed to this area and I did as well because this was the first area I wanted to see
\- Rode Mario Kart. Took almost 45 minutes in line but it was my mistake not to take the single rider line. Nice exhibits inside Bowser’s castle while waiting. Fun augmented reality interactive ride.
\- Lunch at Kinopio’s Cafe: Ordered the Teriyaki Chicken and Super Star Rice with ? Block Tiramisu for almost ¥3k. Expensive but at least the presentation of the food looked amazing
\- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter:
\- Rode The Forbidden Journey. Took more than an hour. Single rider line was not available at that time. Best ride I had at USJ and cool exhibits inside the castle as well.
\- Looked for souvenirs at Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods
\- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-man 3D:
\- Had a single rider line that took me only 15 minutes to get in the ride. It was alright.
\- No Limit! Parade:
\- The parade was fun and the theme song was so catchy, especially the chorus part (♪ “This party’s got no limit. Woah oh oh woah..” ♪). Enjoyed seeing various characters from Snoopy, Hello Kitty, Minions, Super Mario, and Pokemon
\- Jujutsu Kaisen:
\- Rode The Real 4-D. The single rider was not available, but it took me less than 30 minutes as there were fewer people because some were waiting for the next iteration of the parade. There were no English subtitles but was able to get the context of the story from some Japanese words and phrases I knew
\- Early dinner at Tokyo Jujutsu High Dining Hall: Ordered the Big Tempura Rice Bowl Meal with Tapioca Lemonade Tea for almost ¥5k. So expensive but the food was filling and I got a free random coaster that turned out to be Yuji Itadori (my favorite character from the series)
**HIROSHIMA & MIYAJIMA**
**Day 12 (June 6, Tuesday)**
\- Checked out of accommodation and then asked the hotel staff for takkyubin to deliver my luggages to Tokyo for tomorrow
\- Departed to Hiroshima then arrived in the early afternoon
\- Lunch at Teppei at Okonomimura (a building that has restaurants inside serving their own take of Okonomiyaki): Ordered a Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki for ¥1,200. Tasted good and the staff cooked it in front of me
\- Took the JR train going to Miyajimaguchi. Before boarding the JR ferry to Miyajima, I stopped by 7-11 to buy some food because most restaurants close early on the island
\- Checked in at Guest House Mikuniya
\- Lovely traditional house in a quiet neighborhood. I liked that the deers were just freely roaming around the area
\- Booked their private onsen for the evening
\- Went to Itsukushima Shrine. It was low tide so I was able to go near the shrine.
\- Dinner at Miyajima Hanayashiki: Ordered grilled oysters with a slice of lemon for ¥550. It was nice
\- Went back to the guest house to relax at the onsen. Felt really nice after a long day of walking
**Day 13 (June 7, Wednesday)**
\- Woke up early morning to hike to Mount Misen via the Daisho-in course
\- Took me nearly 2 hours to reach the summit. I almost passed out after an hour so I had to take a lot of mini breaks once in a while. At that time, I wanted to give up and go back down because I was so tired but I was glad that I pushed through and was rewarded with the nicest views of the island. Also, it was peaceful hiking that morning because there was no one there
\- Took the ropeway (¥1,100 – one way, adult) going down from Shishiwa station: From here, I was grouped with other people then we switched to Kayatani station where we could ride alone in different gondolas if we don’t belong to a group. Awesome relaxing sceneries for 10 minutes
\- Checked out of accommodation then went back to Hiroshima
\- Wanted to spend more time in the city to visit the tourist spots but I had to be in Tokyo before the last check-in time for my accommodation to avoid cancellation with no refund. Instead, I hopped on the Sightseeing Loop Bus to check out Peace Memorial Park and A-bomb Dome from looking out the window
\- Departed for Tokyo then arrived just in time for my next accommodation
\- Checked in at Asakusa Ryokan Toukaisou
\- Traditional room with own Japanese-style bath
**TOKYO (III)**
**Day 14 (June 8, Thursday)**
\- last day of JR pass
\- Yokohama:
\- Took the JR Tokaido Line from Tokyo Station
\- Walked around Chinatown then tried the Peking Duck wrap at Chukagai Daihanten for ¥750. Also wanted to try the panda buns at Rouishin but they were closed for vacation
\- Gundam Factory:
\- Larger than the one in Odaiba and could move fully. I have availed the dock view for a close-up view of the Gundam from the top.
\- Ate at the Gundam Cafe: Ordered the Haro Steamed Bun and a chocolate latte with the art of Haro. It was okay but slightly expensive at ¥1,350 for snacks
\- Shibuya:
\- Last stroll around the area
\- Shopped for souvenirs at Mega Donki
**Day 15 (June 9, Friday)**
\- Asakusa:
\- Breakfast at Doutor Coffee: Ordered a set for less than ¥500 with a mocha latte and a slice of cheesecake
\- Had a haircut package with upper body massage and facial hair shave for ¥4,500 at Barbershop Takata. Nice service with attention to detail
\- Lunch at Katsukichi: Ordered a Miso Katsu set for ¥1,800 . Best tonkatsu I ever had. The Japanese owner was kind to explain the dish and she spoke great English. She also gave me an omiyage before I left
\- Ginza:
\- Shopped for clothes at Uniqlo
\- Akihabara:
\- Snacks at Excelsior Caffe: Ordered a set of around ¥500 with a mocha latte (yes, the second one for the day) and a slice of lemon cheesecake
\- Shopped at Amiami for second-hand figures of Nezuko, Tanjiro, and Inuyasha
\- Dinner at Unatoto: Ordered a small-sized Unagi Don for only ¥550. Tasted great
**Day 16 (June 10, Saturday)**
\- Kappabashi:
\- Looked around for a set of Japanese knives but they were so expensive so I bought a single knife (Santoku – multipurpose) at the Mega Donki at Asakusa for less than ¥4,500
\- Shinjuku:
\- Lunch and drinks with a Japanese lady I met online. Talked about Kpop, Jpop, anime, food, culture, and tradition. I also practiced my Japanese while she practiced her English
\- Went our separate ways then I shopped at Animate and Yodabashi for more souvenirs
\- Dinner at Katsuya Akasuka: Ordered the largest katsudon for ¥980 for my last evening in Japan
**Day 17 (June 11, Sunday)**
\- Exchanged my Keisei Skyliner return voucher at Keisei Ueno
\- Flight back to Canada in the late afternoon
\- Before departure, I bought souvenirs I couldn’t find in Tokyo (Tokyo Banana, Hiyoko, Berne Millefeuille) at Fa-So-La. Also, my last meal in Japan at Mcdonalds and snacks and coffees at 7-11
*Bye, for now, Japan. Hoping to come back in 2 years around winter to visit the northern areas.*
