Before you go
- Local mobile SIM card – order online before the trip or buy from Mobal (local operator)
- Train planning: http://www.hyperdia.com/
- Train/Metro ticket – Buy IC ticket and top with 2000Y (incl. 500Y deposit) – cash only!
Arrive Osaka
- Train from airport to Kyoto (~1 hour)
Kyoto (3 nights)
Sleep: The Share Hotels Tsugu Kyoto
See/Do
- Visit Kyoto temples and shrines
- Sanjusangendo Temple
- Kennin-ji Temple
- Yasaka-jinja Shrine
- Shorenin Temple
- Free Walking Tour in the geisha quarters of Gion (Kyoto old town)
- Forever Museum of Contemporary Art. Gion-Kyoto
- Admire interior design in Sfera building
- Take a cooking class: http://www.kyoto-cooking-class.com
- See Geisha dance show at Miyako Odori (need to book in advance)
- Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony
- Shop and dine in Nishiki Market
Eat
- Ouchi Gohan Kokoraya Iseyacho (traditional Japanese)
- Mumokuteki Cafe (delicious Vegetarian café in a chic setting)
- Veg Out (Vegetarian café with a nice atmosphere)
- Daniel’s Sole (Italian)
- Cafe Bibliotic Hello! (Café and a library)
Drink
- Cinematik Saloon (Speak easy bar, hidden on the 7th floor)
Getting to Hakone
- Shinkansen train (Bullet Train) between Kyoto and Odawara (~2 hours)
- Bus from Odawara to Hakone (~30 min)
Hakone (2 nights)
Sleep: Hakone Retreat Fore
- Hakone Open Air museum
- Motohakone harbor (views of mount Fuji, cruise in lake Ashi, Hakone-jinja Shrine)
Tokyo (5 nights)
Sleep: The Square Hotel Ginza
See
West – Roppongi, Shibuya and Shinjuku
- Roppongi – Mori building (museum and view point)
- Omote-Sando – posh and pleasant shopping street with beautiful architecture
- Free Walking Tour
- Meiji Jingu Temple
- Harajuku (young and fashionable district, Takeshita dori st., omotesando blv. with Oriental Bazaar souvenir shop, Cat st.)
- Yoyogi park (the city’s main park, good for the morning)
- Shibuya crossing
- Shimokitazawa neighborhood (Aka Shimokita, access from Shibuya station) * – Brooklyn of Tokyo
- Vintage stores: Flamingo Shimokitazawa and Stick Out
- Shinjuku (CBD)
- ISETAN and Takashimaya foodhalls
- Shinjuko Gyoen National Park (the prettiest in the city)
- Night Free Walking Tour
- Omoide Yokocho (a narrow alley near Shinjuku Station West Exit with over 50 small restaurants and Izakaya clammed)
- Golden Gai (bohemian, bars)
- Kabukicho (red light district)
- Shinjuku Ni-Chuma (gay district with cafes, restaurants and bars)
- View point on Tokyo from Metropolitan Government Office (free)
Eat:
- Dominique Ansel Bakery Omotesandō
- KAITEN ZUSHI
- hanno daidokoro bettei
- Odakyu (department store with food hall)
- Mylord (department store with food hall, Mosaic-Dori lane)
- Yoshuku no Teppen Otoko Dojo
- Shirube
Central – Ginza district
- Admire retail and architecture in Ginza district (central shopping area)
- Visit Muji flagship store (including Muji Diner and Muji Hotel)
- Visit Tokyo International Forum building on the way to Maronouchi district
- Tokyo Imperial Palace (book a tour)
- Imperial East Gardens, Kusunoki Masashige statue
Do:
- Kabuki theater at Kabukiza Theater (shows last 4 hours so the best option is to see just one act, 20-30 mins)
- Afternoon tea: https://www.imperialhotel.co.jp/e/tokyo/facility/tokoan.html
Eat:
- Sukiyabashi Jiro (Sushi, for lunch, the son of Jiro from the Netflix documentary). Only the concierge of your hotel can book, need to ask them looong in advance (sometimes a year!)
- Jomon Roppongi (Yakitori)
- Ginza Six (chic shopping centre with restaurants on the 6th floor + roof garden on top floor)
North – Akihabara, Asakusa
- Free Walking Tour
- Akihabara (Electronic district, centre for Manga and Anima)
- Ueno and Ameyoko markets
- Senso-ji temple, Nakamise-dori avenue
- Tokyo National Museum
- Asahi Brewery Building
- Senso-ji Temple / Five Stories Pagoda
- Ryōgoku Sumo Hall
South
- teamLab – the first digital art museum in the world. Note there are two exhibitions in two different locations (not too far from one another). Book in advance.
- Toyosu fish Market (see live auction everyday 5.30-6.30am)
- Unicorn Gundam statue
- Rainbow Bridge
LDNT /// London by Tal 