Day 0 - Wednesday, 20th May 2026
Arrival at Haneda International Airport
Quick immigration at RGIA, no questions. Sandwich at Subway. Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong at 02:40. Quick transfer security. Five hour layover in airport. Gate change 1hr before flight. Flight to Haneda International Airport. Arrive at 21:45. Use Immigration QR codes. Quick immigration. Luggage takes some time to arrive. Get 2 Suica Welcome cards from machine (for 5000 yen each). Villa Fontaine Haneda Grand connected to Terminal 3 via bridge. Snack at Lawson store. Scan passports to Checkin. Small cozy room. Nice toilet. Have bath. Sleep wearing complementary Yakuta. Drizzly weather.
Day 1 - Thursday, 21th May 2026
Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, Harajuku and Takeshita Street
Checkout at 9-ish. Take Airport Limousine bus to Kabukicho Tower area, Shinjuku (get ticket from vending machine, near T3, 1400 Yen each). 1 hour ride. Arrive at Kabukicho tower. Drizzling. Buy small umbrellas from 7/11. Blueberry Kitkat. Walk/stroll to Imano Tokyo Hostel. Leave luggage. Borrow 2 big umbrellas and go to Meiji Shrine. Matcha latte on the way. Visit shrine and buy talismans (2, for 1000 Y each). Exit near Harajuku. Matcha Brulee and drink. Forget umbrella. Metro to Shibuya. Shibuya Sky closed, apply for refund. Go to Shibuya square. Coffee at excelsior. Metro to Harajuku. Go to Takeshita street. But tshirt and cap. Metro to Shinjuku station. Go to 3F and collect tickets for Fuji excursion train tomorrow.
Day 2 - Friday, 22nd May 2026
Kawaguchiko
Wake up early and walk to Shinjuku Bus station for highway bus to Kawaguchiko. 2 hrs ride in drizzle.
Day 3 - Saturday, 23rd May 2026
Kyoto, -dera, Tawaramachi, Gion
Day 4 - Sunday, 24th May 2026
Kimono Tea ceremoney and calligraphy, Gion
Day 5 - Monday, 25th May 2026
Arashiyama bamboo forest
Day 6 - Tuesday, 26th May 2026
Osaka Kaiyukan aquarium, Dotonborii
Day 7 - Wednesday, 27th May 2026
Namba shopping
Rainy day in Osaka. Go to Namba for shopping. Got Onitsuka Tiger shoes. Books and Magazines had a whole section on trains! Bought Frixion pens. Wife left bag in Gu changing room. Arigato festival at Uniclo. Got prebooked tickets from machine for next days trains.
Day 8 - Thursday, 28th May 2026
Kanazawa: Nagamachi samurai dist
Morning metro to Osaka-shin. Thunderbird express to Tsuruga. Trurugi Shinkansen to Kanazawa. Loop bus to Korinbo hotel (Henn na Hotel with the dinasaurs at reception). Burger lunch at Godburger in Nagamachi. Evening drizzling & rain. Dinner at Didi pizza.