# Narita Airport Arrival
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Day Schedule:
**Guests: 5 people including myself.**
**August 7,** Monday Arrive in Narita International Airport:
J Pass, IC Card, Pocket Wifi, Anything else?
Take the train to Tokyo by using JR N’Ex (Narita Express)
It takes an hour on train to get to Tokyo Station i.e 6:30pm
Reservation is required to board the train. (JR Holders) can reserve a seat at any JR ticket office in Narita Airport, before boarding the train and without any additional payment.
We will be at Tokyo Station around 6:30pm
Get to our AirBnb
Get something to eat
Visit an Onsen, which one?
Can we do anything else?
Call it a day?
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Day Schedule: Region: Kanto
Prefecture: Tokyo
**August N/A**,
Breakfast
1. Walk to the train station and get off at Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station.Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory is a 15 min walk from the stationIt opens at 9:30am-9:30pmTake pictures and enjoy the sunrise
2. Walk to Tochomae Station from the building which is an 8 min walk.Train: [https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Tokyo-Metropolitan-Government-Building-2-Chome-8-1-Nishishinjuku-Shinjuku-City-Tokyo-Japan/Isetan-Shinjuku-Store-3-Chome-14-1-Shinjuku-Shinjuku-City-Tokyo-Japan#r/Subway](https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Tokyo-Metropolitan-Government-Building-2-Chome-8-1-Nishishinjuku-Shinjuku-City-Tokyo-Japan/Isetan-Shinjuku-Store-3-Chome-14-1-Shinjuku-Shinjuku-City-Tokyo-Japan#r/Subway)\- Take the train from the station and get off at Shinjuku-Sanchome Tokyo- Walk towards the Isetan Shinjuku Store (Shopping Centre)I- t’s open from 10:00am-8:00pmDescription: This department store is one of the trendiest in Japan, and its flagship Shinjuku store houses the finest in clothing, accessories, and homeware. It is also known for its impressive variety of foods.- Free WIFI- Free delivery to your hotel- Apply for your GUEST CARD at any Tax-Free Counter for 5% OFF- Tax-Free discount if you bring your Passport- Must spend a minimum 5000 Yen = $46. 52 to be eligible for a discount.**Question: Can your Guest Card and Tax Free be stacked together?**
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Day Schedule:
Region: Kanto
Prefecture: Tokyo
**August N/A**,
Breakfast
1. “Your Name” IRL Spots with best times to take photos
[https://www.tofugu.com/japan/your-name-locations/](https://www.tofugu.com/japan/your-name-locations/)
Iconic Stair Photo SUGA SHRINE STAIRS (3:20–4:00 P.M)
\- Description: The map goes through every real life location that is seen in “Your name” also including what the best times are to visit for pictures to mimic its anime counterpart
2. Dinner: Gonpachi Nishiazabu (Roppongi) – A popular izakaya featured in the movie “Kill Bill.”
3. Lunch: Tsukiji Outer Market (Tsukiji) – Try fresh seafood and sushi from various stalls.
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Day Schedule:
Region: Kanto
Prefecture: Kanagawa
Hakone is a town in Kanagawa prefecture
**August N/A, (Spend 2 days here or 3 days),**
Breakfast
2 day pass 6,100 yen = $56.57 CAD
3 day pass 6,500 yen = $60.27 CAD
[https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358\_008.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html)
1. Hot Springs
Description: Hakone is famous for Hot Springs.
Book a Ryokan for overnight stay that offers rooms and kaiseki meals and hot springs
**Question: What’s the difference between the round trip and inside the free area ex Odawara Station?**
\- Distance: Romancecar train from Tokyo station to Hakone station
\- duration 2 hours of a scenic journey towards Hakone town.
\- Check in with your Ryokan, get the Hakone free pass
\- Free pass gives access to all four modes of transportation needed for the Hakone loop.
\- Start the loop at the Hakone Shrine where there’s a red Tori Gate stationed by the water. Then proceed to board on to the paris ship for a scenic cruise across Lake Ashi to get to the rope car that takes us to Owakudani Volcanic Valley
**Question: What do you do there other than taste black eggs and try black ice cream?**
\- Finish the loop by taking the cable car down then bus back to our Ryokan where we’ll eat dinner and enjoy the springs!
Note: While there are Romance Cars that stop at Tokyo Station (Ootemachi, 1\~3 trains per day), I would recommend taking the Romance Cars that leave from Shinjuku Station as they depart every 30 minutes or so from there.
Plan: [https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kanto/kanagawa/hakone-and-around/#:\~:text=The%20town%20of%20Hakone%20is,stunning%20views%20of%20Mt%20Fuji%20](https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kanto/kanagawa/hakone-and-around/#:~:text=The%20town%20of%20Hakone%20is,stunning%20views%20of%20Mt%20Fuji%20)
Plan: [https://youtu.be/XpuGU\_2zNuQ](https://youtu.be/XpuGU_2zNuQ)
**Note:** The Hakone Freepass from Odawara costs 5,000 yen, which is cheaper than the one from Shinjuku (Tokyo) which costs 6,100 yen. Once you’re in the town of Hakone, though, the passes are essentially identical (details here: [https://www.odakyu.jp/english/passes/hakone/](https://www.odakyu.jp/english/passes/hakone/)). The Free pass can also get you discounts on certain museums and shops in Hakone, if memory serves.
If you’re planning to do the full loop around Hakone, the Freepass usually ends up saving you some money. It’s also convenient, especially if you’re a first-time traveler or don’t speak/read Japanese, because it eliminates the need to figure out fares and deal with ticket machines. Just show the pass and you’re good.
As for must-sees, Owakudani and Lake Ashinoko are the top two, as they’re both beautiful symbols of the city. Visiting a hot spring is also a must-do, but which one depends on personal preference, budget, and whether you’re staying overnight or just going for the day.
Info: [https://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+176263](https://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+176263)
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Day Schedule:
Region: Kanto
Prefecture: Kanagawa
Yokohama,
**August N/A**,
Breakfast
1. Gundam Factory Yokohama
\- Time: 10:00 to 20:00 (last admission 17:00)
\- Distance 7 minutes walk from Exit 4 (Marine Tower Exit) of Minatomirai Line from Motomachi-Chukagai Station
\- Price: 1650 yen = $15.32
\- Must be pre purchased
Description: The best time to go see the GUNDAM is around sunset in my opinion. The GUNDAM performances are hosted every 20 \~ 30 min with a slightly different story. However, the stories before sunset and after sunset, and the moves of GUNDAM are huge different. Besides, at night, the story is coming with illumination shows belonging to music as well.
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Day Schedule:
Region: Kansai
Prefecture: Kyoto
**August N/A**,
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1. Sagano Bamboo Forest (time: 24/7). Distance: 15 minute walk Saga-Arashiyama Station which is 20 minutes on San-in or Sagano lines from Kyoto Station
Seems like a nice thing to do after first activity and before lunch at Nishiki Market
2. Nishiki market (Kyoto Kitchen) Time: 10:00 to 18:00 closed Sunday and Wednesday. Distance: five minutes from Shijo Station on the Karasuma Subway Line which is 4 minutes from Kyoto Station
3. Toei Kyoto Studio Park (Time: 9:00 to 17:00) Distance: 15 minute walk from Hanazono Station which is 15 mins from Kyoto station
Seems like a good place to spend time after lunch, and it would be fun to check out the “scariest haunted house” in japan
Dinner: Gion Karyo (Gion) – A traditional restaurant offering kaiseki cuisine in a beautiful setting.
4. Philosopher’s Path, duration 30 minutes.
Description: Summer: During summer, a magical event takes place along the water, with fireflies appearing as dusk falls. As the hot days begin to cool, these glowing beauties transform the Philosopher’s Path into an anime-esque scene. Bring something to sit on and keep your eyes peeled — whether you’ve seen them before or not, the fireflies are pretty amazing.
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Day Schedule:
Region: Kansai
Prefecture: Osaka
**August N/A,**
Breakfast
1. Super Nintendo World
Nishikujo Station to Sakurajima Station (7 min by train every 15 minutes)
5 minute walk from the station to Super Nintendo World
Dinner
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Day Schedule:
Region: Kansai
Prefecture: Osaka
**August 15,**
Breakfast
1. Fukuyama Ashida River Fireworks Festival
\- 75 minute fireworks display featuring 16, 000 fireworks
\- Time: 7:30pm – 8:45pm
\- The Kitchen of Japan
\- Explore the street vender alleys selling food.
2. Dōtonbori (Time: Night) (Shin- Osaka station -> Midosuji Line -> Namba Station -> 5 min walk)is Osakas entertainment district known for its over the top neon light signage and ramen shops
Dinner: Kushikatsu Daruma (Osaka) – A popular spot for kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers).
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Day Schedule:
Region: Chugoku
Prefecture: Hiroshima
**August N/A,**
Breakfast
1. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park: Pay your respects at the Peace Memorial Park, which includes the iconic Atomic Bomb Dome
2. boat ride to Miyajima Island: 20$ A short ferry ride from Hiroshima takes you to Miyajima Island, known for its iconic floating torii gate and Itsukushima Shrine
3. Visit Shukkeien Garden: Enjoy a tranquil time at Shukkeien Garden, a traditional Japanese garden that changes its appearance beautifully throughout the year.
4. Engage in Hiroshima’s traditional craft activities like making Hiroshima-style lacquerware or trying your hand at pottery.
Dinner
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Day Schedule:
Region: Okinawa Island
**August N/A,**
Breakfast
1. Horseback riding
おきなわ乗馬倶楽部【公式】 | Okinawa Horse Riding Club
Price 17, 600 Yen = $163.87
Duration: One hour.
2. Churaumi Aquarium
Description: unequivocally Japan’s best aquarium. Its massive tank, home to several whale sharks, is one of the largest aquariums in the world.
Price 2,180 yen = $20.39
Time: 8:30 – 21:00
3. Visit Cape Manzamo
Description: breathtaking cliff formations and panoramic views of the East China Sea at Cape Manzamo. It’s a popular spot for photography and sunset watching.
4. Snorkelling
\- Perhaps we can also get a massage here or figure out other things we can do on the island?
Dinner
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Day Schedule:
Region: Kanto
Prefecture: Tokyo
**August 21, Monday**
Fly back to Tokyo and then fly back home
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Questions:
1. Do you have to reserve seats when traveling on the train i.e Jpass, is it possible to reserve a seat at the station or is there an app that’s more convenient?
2. What’s the difference between the round trip and inside the free area ex Odawara Station?
3. Owakudani Volcanic Valley: What do you do there other than taste black eggs and try black ice cream?
4. We are thinking about purchasing a casual yukata to help with the summer heat and humidity, any suggestions? I know that traveling during the summer is gonna be difficult with the tempeorature but hopefully there will be tons of ways for us to stay cool.
5. We want to visit a Ryokan should we get one with Hakone only? we don’t mind get Ryokan twice as long as we stay in the location for more than 2 days to make it worth it.
6. Kana-boon is performing on August 9, some of us fans of Naruto!! and we can’t find any tickets online would it be possible to buy the tickets in person somewhere? (5 tickets)
7. How do we reserve our spots for watching fireworks and would it be better to simple stand somewhere and watch?
8. Should we skip our trip to Hiroshima?
9. We were told to get a Jpass for the first week of our trip as the trains are going to be really busy however what about the second week? Is it worth it for us to get a JPass for 2 weeks?
**Dear Reddit community, we’re aware our itinerary isn’t perfect. We’re looking forward to hearing suggestions and input in making our trip more memorable and as relaxing as possible.**
**EDIT: GO Karting has been removed. :)**
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3 comments
It’s going to be super super hot and humid, so take it easy and make sure everyone stays hydrated, wear sunscreen, and make sure you eat. Also, don’t do the Mario karts. A lot of locals here hate it, including me. They’re loud, disruptive, and just outright dangerous. Please rethink doing them.
Going to Japan around the same time period as you. I’m currently keeping watch on the typhoon forecasts since a lot of what I wanted to do depended on decent weather…
Let’s see I believe I can answer some of your questions.
1) Unless a train is reserve seat only (Like I believe the Romance Car to Hakone, the NEX or some specific shinkansens) you do not have to reserve a seat. If reserved seats are available you can book them at some machines at stations or from a ticket reservation office. You are traveling during Obon and a school holiday, so there is the potential that all reserved seats will be booked in which case you will need to travel non-reserved. For non reserved it helps to get to a starting station early and to line up on the platform for a non-reserved seat. I did this on 1/2/23 because all reserved seats were booked.
2) A round trip would be going from Shinjuku to Odawara via Odakyu. If you live in Tokyo, it can be handy. If you plan to use JR, which if you have a pass makes sense, then you want to use a pass that starts in Odawara, the last JR station, assuming you plan to do a round course, The round course is the Odakyu line to Hakone-Yumoto, the Tozan line to Gora, the funicular to the ropeway, the ropeway to Owakudani, the boat to Moto Hakone and then a bus somewhere else.
3) There use to be some easy hikes.
4) I can’t help you with the Yukata. Most people only wear them for special occasions. They use to sell some at Uniqlo, but I didn’t see any when I was there in June.
5) i would look for a ryokan based on availability and convenience to your itinerary. I think finding a place in Hakone will be hard.
6) If the band is popular tickets are sold out. you could try going to the venue and see if they are for sale, but don’t be upset if that doesn’t happen.
7) If you are just in Tokyo, I am unsure why you would want a rail pass. It isn’t cost effective.
I can’t speak for Isetan, but I know Takashimaya lets you stack the Guest Card and the Tax free card as long as you are spending enough money. Usually, the Guest Card only works for items not on sale, though tax free is anything over 5000 yen. You must get your tax refund that day though, so make sure you know when the tax free office closes, sometimes it is earlier than the store, like in the Muji in Ginza.
Don’t go Go Karting. No one is going to wave at you or smile or want to take your picture. I am a tourist and don’t even live in Japan, and when I saw the carts go past me in Nihombashi in 2019, all I thought about was the giant lawsuit they were trying to fight and how they deserved to lose it. My daughter who was 8 at the time didn’t wave or smile either, she just thought all the adults looked dumb.
If you go to Miyajima and you have any sort of JR pass, just take the train to Miyajimaguchi and then the free ferry to Miyajima. It takes a similar amount of time as the paid ferry and is free.
Depending on your exact route and plans will tell you if you need a JR Pass of any variety.
Generally, they are a good value if you do enough shinkansen trips in a short amount of time. So a JR West Kansai Hiroshima Pass will save you money if you are doing a round trip between Osaka and Hiroshima within a 5 day period.
No pass saves you money just taking regular trains (like the Yamanote in Tokyo) that is when you use an IC Card. (It’s a pre-paid card not a discount card.) The Yamanote also has no seat reservations ever, so the train is as crowded as it is going to be. Some of the places you want to go are near the subway, so are not covered by JR at all because JR doesn’t own Tokyo Metro. (or Toei Metro, the other owner of a few subway lines.)
Depending on where in Tokyo your AirBnB is, taking a NEX might not be the fastest route.
Good luck!