Key Places:

Shinjuku Train Station 新宿駅

Ochanomizu Station 御茶ノ水駅

Kyoto Station 京都駅

Nara Station 奈良駅

Yokohama Station 横浜駅

Maihama Station 舞浜駅

Harajuku Station 原宿駅

Tokyo Station 東京駅

Shinkansen (bullet train) 新幹線

Haneda Airport 羽田空港

Shimbashi Station 新橋駅

Airport arrival

Shimbashi station to Park Hotel

Airport return

Or

Central Tokyo

Koishikawa Korakuen (小石川後楽園, Koishikawa Kōrakuen) is one of Tokyo's

oldest and best Japanese gardens. It was built in the early Edo Period (1600-1867) at the Tokyo residence of the Mito branch of the ruling Tokugawa family. Like its namesake in Okayama, the garden was named Korakuen after a poem encouraging a ruler to enjoy pleasure only after achieving happiness for his people. Koishikawa is the district in which the garden is located in.

Hours

9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)

Closed

December 29 to January 3

Fees

300 yen

Akihabara district - Central

Shopping area/techo geek etc

Themed cafes – Gundam, AKB48

Tokyo Anime Center

Akihabara, also called Akiba after a former local shrine, is a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops. In more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan's otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district. On Sundays, Chuo Dori, the main street through the district, is closed to car traffic from 13:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October through March).

Akihabara has been undergoing major redevelopment over the years, including the renovation and expansion of Akihabara Station and the construction of new buildings in its proximity. Among these newly opened buildings were a huge Yodobashi electronics store and the Akihabara Crossfield, a business complex with the aim of promoting Akihabara as a center for global electronics technology and trade

Hundreds of electronics shops, ranging from tiny one man stalls specializing in a particular electronic component to large electronics retailers, line the main Chuo Dori street and the crowded side streets around Akihabara. They offer everything from the newest computers, cameras, televisions, mobile phones, electronics parts and home appliances to second-hand goods and electronic junk.

A few chain stores such as Sofmap and Laox each operate multiple specialized branches along the main roads, while small independent shops can be found in the side streets. The only mega sized store is the Yodobashi Camera complex on the east side of the station.

Note that some of the electronics on sale are only intended for use in Japan due to voltage and other technical differences, Japanese language documentation and limited warranties. However, several stores also feature a selection of international models intended for overseas use, and most also offer tax free shopping to foreign tourists.

Maid Cafes

Maid cafes are cosplay themed restaurants where guests are served by waitresses

that are typically dressed as French maids. In addition to serving food, the maids

engage in conversation and games with the customers and treat them with the care

and respectful language due to the master of a house. Maid cafes are popular with

both men and women, and some cafes, like the @Home Cafe, offer English

speaking maids

Tokyo Anime Center

Hours: 11:00 to 19:00

Closed: Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)

The Tokyo Anime Center is found on the fourth floor of the UDX Building of

Akihabara Crossfield. It stages anime related exhibitions, hosts anime related

events and contains a shop selling toys, stationery and other souvenirs.

Gundam Cafe

Hours: 10:00 to 22:30

Closed: No closing days

The Gundam Cafe is themed after the extremely popular Mobile Suit Gundam anime

series. The cafe serves gundam themed dishes and is decorated with art and

themes from the series. A gift shop is attached and sells character goods and

souvenirs

From Shinjuku Station

Take the JR Chuo Line (orange colored rapid service) from Shinjuku to Ochanomizu Station (10 minutes) and make a quick and easy transfer to the JR Sobu Line (yellow colored local service) for one more station to Akihabara (2 minutes). Alternatively, take a yellow colored train without transfer all the way from Shinjuku to Akihabara (17 minutes). The one way fare is 170 yen in either case.

Orientation in Tokyo

Shibuya

Shibuya crossing

Shinjuku

Robot restaurant

Gyoen National Garden

Hanazono Jinya Shrine

Alice Fantasy Restaurant

Samurai museum

Metropolitan Government building – free to go up for views

West of the station is Shinjuku's skyscraper district, home to many of Tokyo's tallest buildings, including several premier hotels and the twin towers of the Metropolitan Government Office, whose observation decks are open to the public for free.

Northeast of the station lies Kabukicho, Japan's largest and wildest red light district, while department stores, subterranean malls and electronic shops surround Shinjuku Station on all four sides, including the redeveloped Southern Terrace.

Grab a bite in Piss Alley

Piss Alley (Shomben Yokocho), or Memory Lane (Omoide Yokocho) as it is also known, is home to over 60 ramshackle bars and closet-sized food stalls. Located in a dingy backstreet of Shinjuku, Piss Alley is so named for its previous lack of toilet facilities and the tendency for heavy drinking patrons to relieve themselves wherever possible. Every evening this local hotspot is packed with people and the smoky smells and sounds of grilling meat. Here you can sample a variety of Japanese street food such as the popular yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and motsunabe (pork or beef offal stew). Most of the menus are in Japanese only, but a good rule of thumb for curious foodies is to go where the crowds are. The braver among us might stop by Asadachi, one of Piss Alley’s most infamous restaurants, where patrons can expect to dine on delicacies such as grilled salamander, frog sashimi, and raw pig testicles.

Reflect at Todoroki Valley in the heart of the city

Tokyo’s last remaining natural gorge lies in a valley lush with greenery and dotted with mossy stone shrines. There is a quiet peace to the place and the only sounds to be heard come from the birds and the rushing of the water. It is quite surreal to imagine that a place like Todoroki Valley could exist in the middle of the densely populated Setagaya ward. A path follows the creek for a distance of roughly 1km, passing small colorful bridges and a stunning Japanese garden until it comes to an end at Buddhist temple Fudo Yodoroki, near Tatsuzawa Fudo no Taki waterfall. This is the perfect place to clear one’s mind after the hustle and bustle of the city.

Bar Hop in Golden Gai

Golden Gai is a neighborhood in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo that squeezes in over

200 miniature bars into a network of six narrow alleys, made only for pedestrians.

Spend the evening bar hopping in the section of town where most of the drinking

holes only seat 8-12 people total.

Bars usually have a theme. Most bars usually levy a cover charge (between 500 –

1500 yen)

Attend a Kabuki Theater Show

Kabuki is a unique form of Japanese theater where they combine song, mime,

dance, costume design and elaborate makeup that is typically performed solely by

men. At Kabuki-za you can buy Single Act tickets just to get an introduction to the

style of theater

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office

Hours: 9:30 to 23:00 (South Observatory until 17:30)

Closed: Dec 29 to Jan 3 (except Jan 1) and occasional inspection days, the 2nd and

4th Mondays (North Observatory) and the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays (South

Observatory) of each month except on holidays

Admission: Free

The 243 meter tall twin towers and surrounding buildings contain the offices and the

assembly hall of the metropolitan government of Tokyo, as well as observatories on

the 45th floor of each tower. The view from the southern tower is considered slightly

more interesting.

Shinjuku Station is Japan's busiest railway station, served by about a dozen railway lines, including the JR Yamanote Line.

KYOTO

Gion – Geisha district

Kinkaku-Ji – Golden Pavillion – Y400 each

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Kiyomizu-dera

Iwatayam Monkey park?

Arashiyama bamboo forest

Fushimi Inaritaisha

Tea ceremony

Kobo-san Market – held on 21st of each month – To,ji

Toei Kyoto Studio Park – Y2200 each

The Toei Uzumasa Eigamura (東映太秦映画村, Tōei Uzumasa Eigamura; also

known as Kyoto Studio Park or Movie Land) is a film set and theme park in one. Essentially a small town from the Edo Period, the park features a collection of various traditional buildings which are occasionally used as a backdrop for filming historical movies and television dramas.

The park includes entire streets depicting town scenes, including a replica of the old Nihonbashi Bridge, a traditional court house, a Meiji Period police box and part of the former Yoshiwara red light district. Park attendants dressed in historic costumes add to the atmosphere of the town. Actual filming takes place occasionally in various parts of the park, and visitors are welcome to observe the action.

Eigamura also has several other attractions and amusements for guests to experience including ninja performances, a ninja maze, a 360 degree 3D theater, filming demonstrations, and a haunted house that is claimed to be one of the scariest in Japan. Some of these require additional entrance fees. There are also exhibitions about popular TV series, video arcades, games, restaurants and souvenir shops

The Toei Eigamura is a five minute walk from Uzumasa-Koryuji Station on the Keifuku Arashiyama Line (10 minutes, 210 yen from Shijo-Omiya or Arashiyama) or a 15 minute walk from JR Hanazono Station (10 minutes, 200 yen from Kyoto Station).

It can also be reached in about half an hour by Kyoto City Bus 75 or Kyoto Bus 71, 72 or 73 from Kyoto Station or by Kyoto City Bus 11 or 91 or Kyoto Bus 61, 63 or 64 from Shijo Avenue in central Kyoto.

Hours and Fees

Hours

9:00 to 17:00 (March to November)

9:30 to 16:30 (December to February)

Longer hours during some holiday seasons.

Admission ends one hour before closing time.

Closed

Infrequent irregular closures for maintenance

Fees

2200 yen (some attractions require additional entrance fees)

How to get to and around Kyoto

Nara

Nara park

Toda-ji Temple – Y500 each

Mount Wakakusayama – Y150 each

Harajuku

Visit on a Sunday for cosplay etc

Meiji Shrine

Yoyogi Park

Harajuku

Harajuku (原宿) refers to the area around Tokyo's Harajuku Station, which is

between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. It is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights.

The focal point of Harajuku's teenage culture is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined by many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend conscious teens.

Just south of Takeshita Dori and over twice its length is Omotesando, a broad, tree lined avenue sometimes referred to as Tokyo's Champs-Elysees. Here you can find famous brand name shops, cafes and restaurants for a more adult clientele. The stylish Omotesando Hills complex was opened in 2006 and targets fashion conscious urbanites in their 30s and 40s, while Kiddy Land has hundreds of unique toys for kids of all ages.

Harajuku is not only about teenage culture and shopping. Meiji Jingu, one of Tokyo's major shrines, is located just west of the railway tracks in a large green oasis shared with the spacious Yoyogi Park. Beautiful ukiyo-e paintings are exhibited in the small Ota Memorial Museum of Art, and the Nezu Museum has an impressive collection of various Asian art as well as a traditional Japanese garden.

Takeshita Dori

Shops along Takeshita Dori tend to be open daily from 11:00 to 20:00

Disney Sea

Tokyo DisneySea is a fantasy theme park in Tokyo Disney Resort that is unique to Japan. Inspired by the myths and legends of the sea, Tokyo DisneySea is made up of seven themed ports of call: Mediterranean Harbor, Mysterious Island, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery and American Waterfront.

While suitable for all ages, Tokyo DisneySea was designed to specifically also appeal to a more grown up audience. The park addresses the Japanese visitors' strong interest in good food by providing a wider selection of table service restaurants than Tokyo Disneyland and by serving alcoholic beverages, which are unavailable at the neighboring park.

Get There and Around

From Maihama Station, take the Disney Resort Monorail to Tokyo Disney Sea Station (10 minutes, 260 yen). Alternatively, you can walk to the park from Maihama Station in about 20 minutes.

Hours and Fees

Hours

Varying hours. Typically from 9:00 to 22:00 (from 8:00 on weekends and holidays).

Admission ends one hour before closing.

Closed

No closing days

Fees

6900 yen

Yokohama

Yokohama (横浜) is Japan's second largest city with a population of over three

million. Yokohama is located less than half an hour south of Tokyo by train, and is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture.

Towards the end of the Edo Period (1603-1867), during which Japan maintained a policy of self-isolation, Yokohama's port was one of the first to be opened to foreign trade in 1859. Consequently, Yokohama quickly grew from a small fishing village into one of Japan's major cities.

Ramen museum

The "Shinyokohama Raumen Museum" is a unique museum about ramen, a very popular Japanese noodle dish which was originally introduced from China.

In a gallery on the first floor, the Ramen Museum presents the history of ramen noodles in Japan, including the big success of instant ramen. It displays the variety of noodles, soups, toppings and bowls used across Japan, and shows how the noodles are made.

On the two basement floors, visitors can explore a 1:1 replica of some streets and houses of Shitamachi, the old town of Tokyo, of around the year 1958, when the popularity of ramen was rapidly increasing. Nine ramen restaurants can be found there, each featuring a ramen dish from a different region of Japan.

For visitors who wish to try multiple ramen dishes, every store offers "mini ramen", a small portion of the feature dish. Tickets for the meals are purchased at vending machines in front of each stores before entering.

The Ramen Museum is a 5-10 minute walk from Shin-Yokohama Station.

Hours and Fees

Hours

11:00 to 22:00 (from 10:30 on Sundays and holidays, longer hours on some days)

Closed

Few irregular maintenance days

Fees

310 yen

How to get to and around Yokohama

Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街, Yokohama Chūkagai) is Japan's largest

chinatown, located in central Yokohama. A large number of Chinese stores and restaurants can be found in the narrow and colorful streets of Chinatown. Various events and festivals such as Chinese New Year around the beginning of February are also held at chinatown.

Yokohama Chinatown quickly developed, after the port of Yokohama had been one of the first Japanese ports to be opened to foreign trade in 1859. It became the residence of the many Chinese traders who settled down in the city. Today, there are more businesses than actual residents living in the area.

Four colorful gates stand at the entrances to Chinatown, and five more gates can be found within. The Kanteibyo is a gaudily colored temple in the center of Chinatown. Constructed in 1873 by Chinese residents, it is dedicated to the Chinese god of good business and prosperity.

The main attraction of the Yokohama Chinatown, however, is the cuisine offered at its many restaurants and food stands. Popular favorites include steamed buns (manju), ramen noodles and a wide array of other Chinese dishes, many of which have been Japanized to a certain degree.

JR PASS

Eligibility

You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing, under the

entry status of "temporary visitor."

Temporary Visitor entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows

a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc."

If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel

will stamp your passport as "Temporary Visitor," as shown below. *In order to

receive or use JAPAN RAIL PASS, your passport must bear this stamp or

sticker.

Validity period

・ The validity period of a JAPAN RAIL PASS is the consecutive 7, 14, or 21

days period beginning on the date the PASS is first used.

・ Within three months from the date the Exchange Order was issued, you

must turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS (for

example, an Exchange Order issued on April 15 would have to be turned in

by July 14).

At that time, you have to specify the date that you want to start using the

PASS. It can be any date within one month from the date the PASS is

received.

・ Once a starting date has been assigned to the PASS, it cannot be changed

Terms of use

1) When you begin using your pass, present it to the attendant at a

manned ticket gate. The attendant will apply a stamp in the space

provided for official use. When passing through the gate, always present

your pass to the attendant so that the period of validity is visible.

2) While using JAPAN RAIL PASS, you must carry your passport and be

prepared to present it to a station attendant or car conductor if

requested.

3) The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for reserved and non-reserved ordinary

car travel on all Japan Railways (JR) Group Shinkansen “bullet trains”

(except for the “Nozomi” and “Mizuho” services), limited express trains,

express trains, and local trains (Green Car passes are valid for Green

Car travel) and the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit system). The pass is also

valid for travel on the JR Miyajima Ferry between Miyajima and

Miyajimaguchi Station, buses operated by JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Tohoku

Bus, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR

Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, JR Kyushu Bus, and the Tokyo Monorail.

However, please note that JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for travel on

JR Group buses that travel on expressways and some local bus routes.

Tips for using stations and rail cars

・ Indications of station names

All JR stations display station names in both Japanese and romanized

English on their platforms. A given station's name appears at the top center

of the signboard in large letters; the names of the previous station and next

station are at the bottom of the signboard in smaller letters.

Avoid rush hours in the morning and evening

In major cities, it's best to avoid traveling during the morning and evening rush

hours (7:30-9:30 and 17:00-20:00)

Buying Train Tickets

Train tickets can be purchased at ticket machines installed near the gates at each

station. All machines have an English display menu

Those who do not understand Japanese can easily buy tickets with touch-screen

ticket machines, which have an English display option. While most of the machines

accept 1,000-yen notes, some machines also accept bills in larger denominations,

including 5,000- and 10,000-yen notes, so purchasers do not need to change notes

in advance. No coins smaller than 10 yen are accepted at ticket machines.

1. Ticket machines are installed opposite or beside wickets. First, confirm the fare to your destination on the fare table or the route chart on the walls above the machines.

2. Put the stated fare into the machine and press the appropriate button. If using a touch-screen machine, you can first press the fare to your destination and then insert the money. (You can put up to six coins at the same time into a touch-screen machine, but you should insert bills one by one. As some machines do not accept wrinkled bills, please make sure that you have bills in good condition)

3. Take your change and ticket, and head to the ticket gates.

PLACES TO EAT - Tokyo

NAGI – 2nd floor, Goldaen Gai,G2, 1-1-10 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku

Noodle joint. Usually a wait (can get snack from vending machine) Look for sign with

red circle

Tokyo Ramen Street – in the basement arcade on the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station

Depachika – department store food basements

KARAOKE

Festa Likura – Azabudai – 3 hr room and meal plan 5000 yen

Shidax Village – Shibuya-Ku – per 30 mins 580 yen

Big Echo

Karaoke-Ken

Fun Quirks

OMIKUJI – a paper fortune that you can get when visiting a shribe. Get from an

analogue vending machine, grab a silver canister and shake it. Extract a stick and

not its number, then find the matching drawer and withdraw a paper fortune (put the

stick back!)

Jingu Baseball Stadium - night games start at 6pm. Cost betwwen 1600-4600 yen)

AIR BNB INSTRUCTIONS

This time,you will get the key by YOURSELF (Key) Go straight the hallway right next

to the entrance to the bicycle-parking place at back left. There is an orange bicycle.

A keybox is tied to the front basket of it. Set the number 「0210」 on the left side of

key box ※