Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Day 1: Walking Tour of Tokyo Tower and Surrounding Shrines
-
Morning:
-
Tokyo Tower: Our day began with a walk around the iconic Tokyo Tower. The weather was exceptionally good, enhancing our experience with clear skies, perfect for sightseeing.
-
Zojoji Temple (增上寺): Next, we visited Zojoji Temple, located right next to Tokyo Tower. It also marks the site of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s funeral.
-
-
Afternoon:
-
Nogi Shrine (乃木神社): Continued to Nogi Jinja, the shrine also attracts many fans of the popular idol group Nogizaka46 (乃木坂46), named after the area, adding a unique contemporary cultural element to this historic site.
-
Hie Shrine (日枝神社): Visited Hie Shrine, notable for its modern amenities, including an escalator that assists visitors in reaching the shrine, which is nestled atop a hill. We waited about 30 minutes to receive the Goshuin.
-
Lunch Break: Stopped at a local restaurant to enjoy cold udon, a perfect choice to escape the midday heat.
-
Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社):
-
Tokyo Daijingu (東京大神宮): Ended the shrine visits at Tokyo Daijingu, famous for its blessings of love. It is especially popular among young women seeking luck in their love lives.
-
-
Evening:
-
Relax: After a full day of exploring, we relaxed and had a light salad to close out the day.
-
Day 2: Exploring Asakusa (浅草) and Ame-Yoko (阿美橫丁) in Tokyo
- Afternoon:
-
Asakusa (浅草) Area: We began our afternoon in the vibrant Asakusa area, wandering through bustling streets filled with shops.
-
Senso-ji Temple (淺草寺):
-
Asakusa Shrine (淺草神社):
-
Walk to Ame-Yoko (阿美橫丁): We then made our way to Ame-Yoko, passing through Kappabashi (合羽橋), where we saw the iconic golden Kappa Kawataro statue.
-
Inspired by the NHK TV series Ama-chan (小海女), I was particularly excited to visit Ameyoko, known for its portrayal in the series where the idol agency is located under the famous TV screen.
-
- Evening:
-
Dinner at Tsujihan Nihonbashi Branch (辻半 日本橋店): Ended our day with dinner at Tsujihan, where we queued for about 45 minutes, mostly among international visitors. The restaurant, staffed by chefs from various backgrounds, served up delicious and hearty seafood bowls that were well worth the wait.
-
Day 3: Shrine Visits and Onsen Experience in Tokyo
-
Morning:
-
Visit to Hikawa Shrine (冰川神社):
-
Tokyo Camii (東京大清真寺): Next, I visited Tokyo Camii, the largest mosque in Japan.
-
-
Afternoon:
-
Exploration in Shibuya: Wandered around the vibrant Shibuya area, visited a Disney store where I found a large Mickey Mouse stuffed toy.
-
Meiji Jingu (明治神宮):
-
Taiyaki Snack: Enjoyed a delicious Taiyaki filled with sweet potato.
-
Visit to Hanazono Shrine (花園神社):
-
-
Evening:
-
Thermae-Yu Onsen Experience: Concluded the day with a relaxing three-hour visit to Thermae-Yu, they offered more than 7 types of onsens. This was especially beneficial after days of extensive walking, sometimes exceeding 30,000 steps, offering much-needed relief and relaxation for tired muscles.
-
-
Dinner:
-
Chazuke (茶漬飯) at Komeraku: After craving Chazuke for a while, I finally found Komeraku in Lumine Est Shinjuku. The traditional Japanese chazuke, a delightful combination of rice and savory tea, tasted exceptionally good!
-
Day 4: Tokyo Tower and Mount Takao Hike
-
Morning:
-
Shiba Toshogu Shrine (芝東照宮): Started the day by visiting Shiba Toshogu Shrine.
-
Tokyo Tower: I began my visit directly beneath Tokyo Tower, capturing the imposing structure from a unique ground-level perspective. Originally, I planned to walk up to the observation deck, but since the walk-up stamping activity was available only on weekends and it was a Tuesday, I opted to take the elevator instead. The observation deck provided expansive views of the cityscape.
-
Tower Dai Shrine (タワー大神宮): Within the Tokyo Tower complex, I also visited the Tower Dai Shrine.
-
-
Afternoon:
-
Hiking Mount Takao (高尾山): After reaching Takao-san-guchi Station, I chose to hike up the mountain via Route 6, which is considered a more challenging path due to its natural terrain. The route was quiet and shaded, with the sun mostly blocked by dense trees, making it a peaceful yet demanding experience.
-
At the Top of Mount Takao: After hiking for a little over an hour, I reached the top, which stands at 599.15 meters.
-
Unfortunately, by the time I arrived around 4 PM, the Yakuo-in temple (藥王院) and nearby shops had already closed.
-
Descent via Route 1: For the descent, I took Route 1, which is easier and well-paved with concrete, making it less demanding compared to the ascent route.
-
-
Dinner:
-
I purchased a small sushi set from Lawson.
-
Day 5: Exploring Kamakura (鎌倉)
-
Morning:
-
Arrival in Kamakura: Arrived at Kamakura around 9 AM, which was quite early, resulting in most shops along Komachi Street (小町通り) still being closed.
-
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (鶴岡八幡宮):
-
Hase-dera Temple (長谷寺):
-
-
Lunch:
-
Enjoyed soba noodles at Sobadokoro Dotecho (そば処 土手長), which included crispy tempura. The combination was very yummy, providing a delightful culinary experience.
-
-
Afternoon:
-
Goryo Shrine (御靈神社): Visited Goryo Shrine, notable for its unique Goshuin featuring a cat! Located near the train tracks, I captured a moment as a tram passed by.
-
Kamakura Daibutsu (鎌倉大佛):
-
-
Mid-Afternoon in Enoshima:
-
Journey to Enoshima (江の島): I took the Enoshima Electric Railway to Enoshima. After arriving at the 片瀬江ノ島駅, I walked across the bridge to the island.
-
Walking through Enoshima Benzaiten Nakamise Street (江の島弁財天仲見世通り): After crossing the bridge, I strolled through the Enoshima Benzaiten Nakamise Street, lined with shops and eateries.
-
Climbing to Enoshima Shrine (江島神社): My journey continued as I ascended the stairs leading up to the Enoshima Shrine.
-
江島神社 辺津宮:
-
Encounter with a Local Cat: Despite its nickname as the ‘Island of Cats’, I only encountered one cat during my visit.
-
Scenic Views from Viewpoint: Continued my walk around the island to a viewpoint, where I enjoyed the stunning views of the blue sky meeting the expansive blue sea.
-
Sunset at Chigogafuchi Marine Plateau (稚兒之淵): I waited at Chigogafuchi Marine Plateau for the sunset, a peaceful hour spent watching the day slowly turn into night. The sunset here was particularly breathtaking.
-
Surprise View of Mount Fuji: Just as I was about to leave, the tip of Mount Fuji appeared from the clouds, providing a spectacular end to my day.
-
-
Dinner:
-
I had dinner at Ichiran and waited for about an hour.
-
Day 6: Last Day in Tokyo
-
Morning:
-
Shopping at Tokyo Station: Started my day by exploring the shops at the Tokyo Station. At the Pokémon Store, I found and purchased 2 limited edition Pikachu plushes, which were exclusive to Tokyo Station.
-
-
Visit to 福德神社: Continued my day with a visit to 福德神社, people often come here to pray for lottery wins.
-
Lunch:
-
Sushi at Ginzo (銀蔵 秋葉原本館): Enjoyed a delightful sushi set for lunch at Ginzo, which was very nice and satisfying.
-
-
Afternoon:
-
Visit to Kanda Myojin (神田明神): My last stop of my Japan trip was the Kanda Myojin.
-
-
Departure:
- Heading to Narita Airport: My trip concluded with a somewhat adventurous journey to Narita Airport, which is a bit further from the center of Tokyo. Originally, I planned to take a coach, but due to a road accident, there was a 3-hour delay. Then, I switched to the train, but mistakenly boarded a local service instead of the express. The train stopped at almost every station, and I found myself rushing to the airport. By the time I arrived, the boarding gate had already closed since it closes an hour before departure. Fortunately, the airport staff were kind enough to let me through, ending my trip on a thrilling yet fortunate note.