Hi friends, happy Monday. It’s time for part two of our Japan trip recap, and today I’ll be covering our Tokyo itinerary. Our time in Tokyo included two days in the city on either side of DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland (but I’ll share all about those two amazing days separately in a future post). I thought I’d summarize our Japan trip mostly by city, not by day.
Hopefully this method will be easier to follow, as we move around quite often, pack in so many sights and experiences, and don’t stay in one place for long. So, let’s go to Tokyo 😊
Tokyo Itinerary: City Highlights and Trip Recap
Ueno Park
The first stop on our very flexible Tokyo itinerary was Ueno Park. What a perfect way to start, as the atmosphere was calm and exactly what we needed. Oh my, I didn’t know it at the time, but during the days we spent there, my senses got a lot of exercise in colorful and bustling Tokyo!
How lucky were we to be there and witness the end of cherry blossom season? This is the first week we’ve seen some of these — so pretty, right? In the second week, most of the blooms were blown away by the wind.
After that calm start, Tokyo quickly changed direction as we entered busier parts of the city, including Shibuya.
Onitsuka Tiger
Before our trip, I made a mental bucket list of places I wanted to visit. If I see it, it’s a bonus, and if I don’t, that’s okay. Visiting Onitsuka Tiger was one of them, but I didn’t want to waste time looking for the store, especially knowing how busy it was.
When I actually saw it (I couldn’t believe my eyes!) I cleared it with the group and went in. I love traveling with my cousins, and one of the reasons we work so well is because we give each other time and space.
We mostly stay together on these trips, but sometimes we split up to visit places or do things that interest us individually. If one of us sees a place or shop we like, we go in while the others do their own thing, then we meet up again or drop the location pin to meet up again.
In-Store Experience
It was very busy inside, with people trying on shoes and waiting to pay. The upstairs section, where they kept the sneakers I wanted, had about three cashiers in line. That’s crazy!
Luckily, I already knew exactly what I wanted and what size. Then the stars aligned, and I found a lovely sales assistant who helped me try it out and let me pay downstairs, which wasn’t too busy. If that hadn’t happened, I would have had to wait over an hour and probably wouldn’t have bought it.
It was absolutely crazy in there, full of tourists like me, all hoping to get a pair of the iconic Onitsuka Tigers at a better price than I could find in Australia.
I still can’t believe I got the pair I wanted — the same style Uma Thurman wore in Kill Bill. What a win!
Shibuya Crossing
Then, we arrived at the iconic Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest intersections in the world.
We crossed the intersection several times while we were there. In one of the photos, I saw my husband trying to take a photo, so I ran to the middle and posed. A bucket list to check off!
I’m quieter (less so as I get older), and my family says they can clearly see my mom coming out of me when we’re abroad. He’s not quiet, he’s a riot!
Akihabara
On another day on our Tokyo itinerary, we visited Akihabara, a district known for all things anime, consoles, retro games, and Pokémon cards. My goodness, the streets are filled with endless shops, multi-story, full of everything.
Gacha machines are everywhere, and the choice is amazing!
We also came across a variety of animal cafes, from cat cafes and reptile cafes to owl cafes and even hedgehog cafes.
There are also countless maid cafes, where the staff wears costumes and creates a fun, fantasy-like, over-the-top experience for guests. Outside almost every one I saw, there was a waiter standing out front waving and trying to encourage people to come in.
I was very curious because I had read about it when we were planning a trip to Tokyo, and really, where else in the world could you see something like that? I really wanted to get in, but we were running out of time.
Friends in Tokyo
Sam is very friendly, and I say that not just because he’s my son; he actually is. He met some Japanese students when they lived in Sydney last year, and they had returned to Japan, so he contacted them before our trip. They spent a few days with us and are nice guys.
Here they are with Sam when it’s time to say goodbye. They had traveled three hours just to meet us in Tokyo. Even though I had only known them for a short time, I felt sad to see them go.
Don Quixote
In this building there is a shop called Don Quixote, and again it is on my mental Wish List as I saw it on Instagram. So off we went but what I didn’t know was how amazing it would be!
Inside, there is a lineup of everything you can think of. Souvenirs, key chains, shoes, bags, clothes, food, candy, games, you name it, it’s there.
The lighting is also quite strong, the music loud and constant, including the Don Quijote jingle on repeat.
There’s a whole floor of crane games for prizes like plush toys and the usual things you’d expect. What I’d never seen before was a machine that used hook-shaped handles for things like mayonnaise, sesame oil, juice bottles, soft drinks, and even two-minute noodle packets.
It’s not just one level either; I think this store has seven or eight, and we visited them all.
So here’s a friendly warning. If you feel anxious, panicked, or overwhelmed due to sensory overload, you may want to avoid this store. I’m usually okay with busy stores, crowds, and noise, or at least I thought so until my Don Quijote experience. Good grief!
Still, I’m glad I got to experience it because it’s certainly unique, even if it left me feeling a little (or a lot) overwhelmed. Ha ha.
Kabuki Cho
One time, it was just me, Sam, and cousin M, who still had some energy left to explore between sightseeing trips, so Google Maps directed us to Kabuki-cho.
This wasn’t our Tokyo itinerary at all, just a “no, we can’t rest, we have to move on” kind of spur-of-the-moment decision.
King Kong I think??
Godzilla on top of a tall building.
We stopped for a snack.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
On another day, we went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatory to see the view of Tokyo.
Shinjuku Gyoen
One of the last places we visited was Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. It’s really a beautiful and peaceful place right in the middle of the city. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, make sure to include this in your Tokyo itinerary!
And before I wrap up, here are some photos of Tokyo at night, including Tokyo Tower from a distance and a riverside walkway lit up by city lights.
Wow, that’s a lot of places we explored in Tokyo over about three days, and I’m sure we only scratched the surface. It’s truly a city you could explore forever.
The next recap will be about DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland. Thank you so much for stopping by and reading this long one. If you make it to the end, you are a champion!
See you next time 😊
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