Trip report: 10 days in Tokyo, Kamakura/Enoshima, Hakone (with some pictures)

Hello:) First time in Japan. Finished up a nice 10 day trip in early September. Wanted to give a brief overview of things I did + pics + advice!!!

Note: the itinerary I planned was very loose, just the general neighborhood I would be spending my day in and any ‘must sees’. I pretty much checked off everything on my list except for one day due to a typhoon warning/rainfall which luckily, was not that bad and only lasted a day. Also, because I was travelling with a parent, they were easily tired so there were never any super long days, usually around 8am-7pm. And we were usually asleep by 9pm cause we were so tired LMAO (plus jet lag). Averaged around 15-20k steps, although I think I could’ve done more.

This trip was mostly focused around sight-seeing with some shopping (anime, cute & small goods/mascots/souvenirs, etc); then we just ate at any nearby restuarants in the area.

**Day 1**

* We landed at NRT at 3pm. Picked up welcome suica at a machine. (I also used apple pay with mastercard, worked perfectly)
* Took the skyliner access to Asakusa. Takes a bit over an hour but only 1300 yen. Had trouble locating it in the beginning, but you go down two escalators after you leave the arrival area and then follow the signs.
* Checked in at **KANZASHI HOTEL ASAKUSA**. highly recommended! So clean. Stayed for \~$96/night for 6 nights. A bit of a farther walk (10min) with suitcases, but it took us a bit longer since we were unfamiliar with the area. Subsequent trips to the station was much better and you can take a shortcut through the Sensoji temple. They also have an amazing rooftop with views of Tokyo Skytree and Sensoji temple [**Pic**](https://imgur.com/a/AU0nfxT)
* Ate at a local ramen shop close to the hotel, picked up some food at the convenience store for the next morning.

**Day 2: Asakusa**

* I ended up fully waking up at 6am because of the jet lag (12 hour difference). We slept at 9pm so we was okay despite not having the best sleep. But I expected that already so we took advantage of that and made a trip to Sensoji since its only a \~5(!!) minute walk.
* Sensoji Temple at 7am – completely empty of tourists. Just locals strolling through and going to work/school. Very quiet and peacefu**l** [**Pic**](https://imgur.com/a/VFDnOiq). Walked around the whole temple and surrounding areas.
* would recommend visiting Sensoji early if you want pictures. by 9am there were some people, 10am+ it was packed. It’s even worse on a weekend (we walked through the temple every day)
* the nakamise shopping st. opens around 10am. Got some goods + sweets
* these melonpans were good [**Pic**](https://imgur.com/a/OW2YzCh)
* [**I love the Asakusa area**](https://imgur.com/a/vJ9n3q2)
* [Sanrio gift gate](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=573777804&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA862CA862&sxsrf=AM9HkKlEVPgNuLONs0nsr5Ifl88oKYONhA:1697461493863&q=sanrio+gift+gate+asakusa&spell=1&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjm8_Hq0PqBAxW5j4kEHQxvDB8QirwEKAB6BAgIEAE&biw=1536&bih=715&dpr=1.25) is worth checking out if you’re into sanrio, the building is so cute!
* donki
* Lunch at Kura Sushi (asakusa). Conveyor belt sushi. Not bad, worth a try if you haven’t had an experience like this before + cheap
* Took bus to Tokyo Skytree
* visited Kirby Cafe, Donguri Kyowakoku (ghibli merch) and lots of other shops in Solamachi skytree.
* We were quite tired today because of the jetlag and all the walking, don’t remember what we had for dinner LOL but our day ended somewhere around 6pm

**Day 3: Akihabara**

* Brunch at hotel (they have a cafe. it’s ok)
* I had planned for us to go to shibuya+shinjuku all day long, but there was lots of heavy rain and wind due to the typhoon:( so we opted for some Akihabara shopping since it was closer
* [**pic**](https://imgur.com/a/kN3by2R): was looking for the sega but didn’t know it was changed to gigo haha)
* Shopped for a couple hours; one notable store to visit is the Jump Shop.
* Did a buncha gachas
* they also have lots of electronics if you’re into that
* It started to rain again with heavy winds so we decided to head back for dinner
* Dinner @ [**Wagyu Ichinoya Asakusa**](https://imgur.com/a/Yn3m8Zz) **(pic)**
* One of my favourite meals and they had decent prices: 3000yen for a set! There are instructions in english on how to eat the meal.
* According to the reviews there seems to be a lineup most of the times but it was empty when we went

**Day 4: Enoshima Island & Kamakura**

* the best day trip if you’re staying in Tokyo. It is beautiful and <2hrs away !
* Headed out around 10am. Recommend going to enoshima first because kamakura station is closer to tokyo when you go back
* Got off at Katase-Enoshima stn, crossed the bridge to get to the red tori gate + Hetsumiya Enoshima Shrine [**picx3**](https://imgur.com/a/JILziMD)
* \^ came across this bridge at the top
* If you keep walking up the path from Hetsumiya shrine you can reach Okutsumiya Shrine. the street surrounding the area has some nice views [**pics**](https://imgur.com/a/wmoNmFi)
* seems to have less tourists in this area, i think we were the only ones
* had lunch nearby, wish I had the name but it had a nice view out the window (third pic )
* Walked all the way back to the stn, took the Enoden train to Kamakurakokomae station for the views. **very** popular tourist spot. kind of chaotic when I went but I stayed out of the way of traffic and took pictures from the side. [**pic**](https://imgur.com/a/i1Ehbab) still worth the nice view i think
* Headed to Kamakura station, did some walking around Komachi-dori street before going back home
* Dinner @ Kanoya (asakusa). Delicious udon! Had to wait around 30min. the pagoda/sensoji temple is also very pretty at night [**pic**](https://imgur.com/a/DhNKg76)

**Day 5: Ginza**

* We were supposed to check out Tsukiji outermarket but we were too lazy to get up early. oops
* Made a short trip to Akasaka for the Hie shrine first. Since we were not going to kyoto I thought it would be nice to check out the red torii gates there [**pic**](https://imgur.com/a/OhtuP9F)**.**
* Went to Ginza and explored. Notable stores to check out: Uniqlo (12 stories! and half the price compared to north america) and Loft. The rest I do not remember the names as we were just wandering everywhere haha but I think we spent at least 3hours in those two stores for clothes, cosmetics, home goods, and stationery.
* there is also a cafe inside Loft where we had lunch
* Walked to Tokyo Station and checked out the character street. Great place if you’re into mascots, although it was so busy. Kirby, snoopy, rilakkuma, miffy, you name it. Here’s a picture of the [stores](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/926658535058735225/1163468884184141844/IMG_6578.jpg?ex=653fafd6&is=652d3ad6&hm=f1002b5bbf95b1ff73f8a19a81f589974785ea1433d61d9c90400d31c0f81443&)
* Dinner at Tsujihan. Had a lineup, waited an hour. So worth it though, delicious and filling. Must try if its your first time

**Day 6: Shibuya/Shinjuku**

* Was supposed to go to Kawagoe on this day but had to change the plan because of the typhoon on day 3
* Shibuya crossing
* Shibuya109 for clothes. Really nice clothes if you’re into y2k/japanese fashion but kind of expensive. If I could change smth I wish I went thrifting at someplace like Shimatozawa to get a similar style for cheaper
* Lunch inside mall
* Shopping
* Checked out many other stores but these are the ones I planned beforehand: jump Shop (again haha), nintendo store, pokemon center, tower records
* Dessert: Nanaya Aoyama (matcha)
* they have different strengths of matcha icecream you can try. I did the second strongest(no.6). It was yummy!
* Shinjuku
* Explored
* Omoide Yokocho
* Had dinner (ramen)

[**pics**](https://imgur.com/a/dnKm83Q)

**Day 7: Hakone**

* Grabbed a quick matcha drink at Kaminari-Issa (asakusa)
* Was delicious. They also serve matcha desserts that looked very yummy, sad I didn’t try
* Set out for Hakone around 10am. We were worried about rush hour with our luggages and all that so we decided to leave later. The route we took was around 1800yen and took a little more than 2 hours
* Checked in at HOTEL OKADA
* they have a dedicated shuttle bus for only 100yen, but it does not come that often. You can also walk it from hakone yumoto but it takes around 20min. Or just taxi it (8min by car/bus)
* Hotel was ok, facilities are a bit older. For the price we paid ($180CAD for 1 night, breakfast buffet included) it was ok. Room was huge, we got a japanese+western style room on one of the higher floors and it had a nice view which I’m sure is even prettier once the leaves turn colour [**pic**](https://imgur.com/a/WdQZYiS)
* They have 2 public onsens I believe? And one foot bath. We checked out one of the onsens and it was verrry nice. We went at night and there was no one there.
* After resting for a bit we took the shuttle bus back to hakone-yumoto and explored the whole area [**pic**](https://imgur.com/a/OCA0uNp)
* make sure to carry cash, a lot of the stores are cash only
* Had dinner at Nakamuraya [**pic of the 1800yen nigiri set**](https://imgur.com/a/m84gtIG). I thought it was delicious. I was a little confused with the menu but one of the staff members was very kind and helped us out. Had to use google translate but no problems
* Walked back to the hotel. Rested, then went to the onsen

**Day 8: Hakone/Tokyo**

* Breakfast buffet at hotel. Food was okay and there is a large variety of foods to choose from
* We wanted to see Lake Ashi and Hakone-Jinja before heading back to Tokyo; the hotel staff are very kind and they let us store our luggage after check-out for a couple of hours.
* There is a bus stop that is a \~7 min walk from the hotel that takes you to the lake in 20min. At one part the road to get up there is steep (the staff even told us it was difficult) but honestly it wasn’t even that bad , just tiring but wasn’t an issue for either of us.
* I just want to say how impressed I was with the bus driver because the road to the lake is hella winding and I just kept thinking about how if I was him I would’ve hit someone 100 times
* Explored Hakonemachi area and went to Hakone jinja shrine [**pic**](https://imgur.com/a/2CrDZ5m)
* there is a lineup to take a picture, but we only waited about 20 minutes which I think is worth it
* note: I know there is a lot more things to do in Hakone but my mom tires easily, which is why we didn’t do the hakone loop.
* Back to Tokyo and checked in at **HOTEL ORIENTAL EXPRESS KAMATA**
* We had trouble finding the hotel, it is a little hidden despite only being a couple minutes walk from the station. I found the Kamata area a little confusing to navigate (google maps was confused too) but I enjoyed the vibe of the area, it was quiet and I didn’t see many tourists. I chose this hotel because it’s a 20min subway ride to Haneda
* The hotel itself was nice ($98/night), it had a little cafe area with FREE!! drinks including matcha lattes, which were tasty
* Dinner at Tonkatsu Aoki [**pic**](https://imgur.com/a/DXFBkxV)
* Coming from a city where the pork cutlet is skimpy and like 60% breading, the pork cutlets were so huge and generous. I was already full from eating just the cutlets so come with an empty stomach
* Had no idea this restuarant is popular according to google, I was craving tonkatsu and this was the closest place from the hotel. We did not have to wait. You use a machine to order but it was all in japanese, but one of the workers helped me without me having to ask (he saw me struggling lol)
* One thing I noticed is how we were the only women in the restaurant? Maybe it’s the time that we went but it was all businessmen. Some women did come in but they only did takeout. Was wondering about this.

**Day 9: Shibuya + Harujuku**

* Back to Shibuya to do some last minute shopping, souvenirs at Donki and Daiso. Checked out some anime places (parco mall, mandarake). Explored and walked everywhere in general
* Had lunch at a okonomiyaki place
* Headed to Harujuku to check out Takeshita St
* Tbh I didn’t find it that special, but since it was my first time in Japan, I had to check it out. Still had a fun time checking out the stores and eating crepes lol
* Shibuya Sky @ 6:20pm. Book ahead of time. Sunset times are booked full almost immediately so be aware of that. I saw some people trying to buy tickets right there and then but the staff told them it was sold out.
* I was still okay with going at night rather than day time but it’s personal preference I think [**pic**](https://imgur.com/a/FQqrJrD)**.** 100% worth it and great way to end the trip.
* tip: there is this one area where people are lined up to get a picture, there is also a photographer there who takes your picture. Do not do it if there’s a long line. in my personal exp waiting in line WAS NOT WORTH IT. We waited about an hour and I thought the pics we and the photographer took were ugly asf, and because there is a line you are being rushed to take pics. Just take pictures somewhere else. We found a random spot to take pictures and it turned out 100x better than the ones we waited for. Flash pictures at night look really nice at the right angle

**Day 10: Flight @ HND**

* [**Last pics taken of Kamata**](https://imgur.com/a/SmpzBDN). Bye Japan, until next time 🙂

**General Advice & Random Thoughts**

* I loved staying in Asakusa, next time I think I will stay there again. It’s such a peaceful area but still lots of shops and restuarants nearby. The only downside is that it’s obviously not as convenient for commuting than other areas, such as Shinjuku. for example, I didnt’ realize the Romancecar was only from Shinjuku stn, but I had already booked the hotel. But I don’t think I would’ve changed my location regardless if I had known beforehand – it all depends on your travel style (ex. if you’re going to have late nights in shibuya/shinjuku..)
* If I could choose another time to go I would have went in October/November instead. September is still SOO hot and humid (30+) and can sometimes be unbearable especially since you’re walking outside a lot. I could’ve walked/done a lot more if it weren’t for the heat. A dark umbrella does help, but if you’re not a huge fan of the heat then I would go later in the year.
* On a similar note if you plan on going in the summer I would pick up an umbrella as soon as you can just in case it starts to pour. You can find it at any convienice store. Plus you can take some cute pics with the clear umbrella hehe
* When initially browsing this subreddit, I saw so many people doing Tokyo + Osaka + Kyoto in 10 or less days. I really wanted to go to Osaka/Kyoto but I know I’m going to visit Japan again one day, so I didn’t want to stress about it. If you have the opportunity to visit again, more of a lax traveler, and/or travelling with an older adult, I would recommend just staying in Tokyo. Imo there is more than enough things to do in Tokyo and surrounding cities in 10 days.
* Looking back, I feel like we were so busy exploring since it was our first time going, I noticed I didn’t get to try as many places/foods as I wanted to. We aren’t big eaters to begin with (brunch+dinner meals only lmao) so that could’ve contributed to it. plus the tuna mayo onigiris at convinence stores are delicious and such an easy meal HAHA. my next trip will be more food centered :-))
* I’m sure everyone knows this but don quijote is great for souvenirs. I went to both the asakusa and shibuya stores. Daiso is also worth checking out; they have some good snacks and is cheaper than donki. 100 yen unless they put a different $ on the packaging.
* I used **google maps** to navigate, worked great. However for more complicated routes – ex. if you plan on travelling somewhere farther, I used **jorudan & navitime** to figure out the routes before I went to Japan. You can filter it based on time or price.
* I was extremely nervous about riding the trains here because it seemed complicated but it was not that bad! Just follow the directions lol google maps is pretty thorough, and there were signs everywhere in Toyko. I did end up asking staff at the station for help occasionally just to double check if i was uncertain about something. A handful of the staff can speak some english. if not, google translate app is helpful.
* \- The public washrooms. Are. So. Clean. They even smell nice?????? There was only one washroom that I went to that smelled bad lol
* I am east asian so 99% of the time people assumed I was japanese and speak in japanese. Just had to say sorry I don’t speak japanese 😭 Or if there’s a big enough pause they realize I’m not japanese. A little awkward but no big deal.
* You can collect stamps at train stations. I meant to do that but I completely forgot because I was more focused on finding the right entrance/exit smh
* **Luggage**: brought 1 carry-on,1 check-in, 2 backpacks. Do not bring more if you can. There are luggage forwarding services you can pay for, but it’s just easier to pack light. We were not going home after Japan, so my carry-on was full of clothes but I also brought an empty backpack which I stuffed with souvenirs.
* Many hotels will let you store your luggage before check-in or after check-out so just ask 🙂
* **Budget**: we had a budget of $3000-3500 CAD per person including flight.
* Flight was $1400 each.
* Accomodations: $1000 total
* Transport: little under $200 each (did not buy jr pass obv, not necessary for our trip)
* Leaving \~$1000 EACH for food and shopping. Did we spend this much? I don’t think so. I wasn’t able to keep track of everything but I would guess around $900 total OOPS. I’m usually a huge saver so whenever I felt like I was spending too much I would hold back, but I def should’ve done more damage. SO, if you want to buy it, BUY IT! My biggest regret is not buying more things, or buying multiples to stock up.

thanks for reading! sorry if it’s kind of all over the place, I wrote this in one sitting. good luck with your planning and have a good time on your future trip < 3