Japan 2026

13:50 arrival

Haneda Airport, Edo Market 4F · Wait for parents here

Onitsuka Tiger Ginza Red Concept · BEAMZ Ginza · Uniqlo Ginza Flagship · Gentle Monster Ginza · Itoya — all close 8pm

Tokyo Station Ramen Street B1 · Open until 11pm (last order 10:30pm)

Included with your stay — take it slow before heading out

10:30am · Nihonbashi Takashimaya, 5F

One of Japan's oldest and most iconic department stores — the Ginza branch sits right next to the Pokémon Center. The basement food hall (depachika) is world-class.

13:00 · Toyosu

17:30 · Azabu-Juban · Counter seats ×4

Azabu-Juban

Check-in opens 3pm · they'll hold your bags in the meantime

The busiest pedestrian crossing in the world — up to 3,000 people cross at once from all directions when the lights change. Best viewed from the Starbucks or Mag's Park above. Iconic.

MEGA Don Quijote · Pokémon Center Shibuya · general explore

A labyrinth of ~200 tiny bars each seating 5–8 people, crammed into a block-sized alley in Shinjuku. Each bar has its own theme, regulars, and personality — it's been a bohemian hangout since the 1940s and somehow survived modern Tokyo. One of a kind.

Soft milk bread, perfectly seasoned egg mayo — a ¥300 convenience store sandwich that regularly beats fancy cafés.

Off the Omotesando backstreets

Onitsuka Tiger Omotesando · Blue Elephant Harajuku · Japan Edition · DULTON Jinnan

Arrive at opening 11:30am — expect a queue (Saturday)

Tokyo's fashion subculture epicentre — Takeshita-dori is the narrow street that spawned Harajuku style, packed with vintage, cosplay, crepe stands, and everything gloriously weird.

King, Queen, Kingdom, Artyfarty — the main strip of gay bars in Tokyo's LGBTQ+ neighbourhood. Each bar is tiny and welcoming; just walk in and see where the night takes you.

Check-in opens 3pm

09:30am · Open 9:30–5pm · ~2 hours · Billy's moment

~11:30am · 10 min walk from the museum · A whole street dedicated to professional kitchen gear — knives, ceramics, lacquerware, plastic food models, and every utensil imaginable. Great for picking up quality souvenirs.

After 3pm

6:30pm reservation · One of Tokyo's finest tempura counters — seasonal ingredients, perfectly fried in front of you, course by course. A real treat for the last night in Tokyo.

Nozomi 33 from Tokyo · head to Machiya Fukune to check in

140-year-old sake brewery on Kiyamachi · beautiful garden courtyard café · browse the fragrances while you're there

Preserved stone lanes · lantern-lit geisha district · keep it gentle

Gion institution · everything ¥390 · open kitchen · English menu · no reservation needed · 5 min walk from Fukune · early night

Opens 9am — go early to beat the crowds

Taxi north from Kinkaku-ji (~15 min) · hidden temple, rarely crowded · Billy's moment ✨ · open 9am–4:15pm, closed Wed

Follow the trail down from Otagi through Saga-Toriimoto into Arashiyama

Handmade soba with views over Togetsu-kyo bridge · open 11am–4:30pm

The one on the water in Arashiyama — iconic spot, well worth it

Gion · accessible seasonal kaiseki · not stuffy · open Tue ✓

Check-in is 3pm · they'll hold your luggage

Iconic brutalist residential building with a literal face on its facade · Nakagyō-ku · Billy will love this ✨

Kyoto's kitchen · graze as you go · tofu skewers, tamagoyaki, fresh produce

Urban Research · Beams Kyoto · Katayama Bunzaburo Shoten · Issey Miyake · all near the Ace Hotel area

Gion · handmade hamburg steaks grilled over coal · unlimited rice · register online today! ⚠️ open Wed ✓

Kawaramachi · vinyl bar · donuts · natural wine · DJ curates the night · open Wed ✓

Take your time — aim to leave around 11am

The iconic wooden stage temple · stunning views over Kyoto

Preserved stone-paved lanes · great for browsing crafts and ceramics

Right on Matsubara St · 1 min from Kiyomizudera · watch them prepare each cup · open 10:30–18:00

Continue walking toward the city center

Gion · classic Kyoto tempura in a beautiful machiya setting

2km canal walk lined with cherry trees · runs from Ginkakuji south to Nanzenji · peaceful, beautiful, gentle on the legs

Traditional teahouse right on the Philosopher's Path · matcha with seasonal Japanese sweets · perfect mid-walk rest

Stunning Meiji-era brick aqueduct · zen gardens · free to wander · one of Kyoto's most impressive temple complexes

Open 24/7 · free · thousands of vermillion torii gates winding up Mount Inari · go in the afternoon for golden hour light · or early for the full hike

Wander the narrow lantern-lit alley along the Kamo River · rec: Yamatomi (100+ dishes from ¥500, Kyoto classics, totally casual) · or Pontocho Masuda (Michelin-listed obanzai, soulful father-son cooking)