Hello friends, happy Monday. It’s time for part two of our Japan trip recap, and today I’m covering our Tokyo itinerary. Our stay in Tokyo included two days in the city on either side of DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland (but I’ll share these two incredible days separately in future posts). I thought I would recap our trip to Japan primarily by city rather than by day.
Hopefully this path will be easier to follow, as we moved around a lot, filled with so many sights and experiences, and didn’t stay in one place for long. So let’s go to Tokyo 😊
Tokyo Itinerary: City Highlights and Trip Summary
Ueno Park
The first stop on our very flexible Tokyo itinerary was Ueno Park. What a perfect way to start, as it was peaceful and just what we needed. Oh my goodness, I didn’t know it at the time, but as the days we spent there went by, my senses got a real workout in colorful and bustling Tokyo!
How lucky are we to be here and witness the end of the cherry blossom season? This was the first week we saw some of them – so pretty, right? By the second week, the flowers were mostly floating in the wind.
After this calm start, Tokyo quickly shifted gears as we headed towards the busier parts of the city, including Shibuya.
Onitsuka Tiger
Before our trip, I made a mental wish list of places I’d like to visit. If I saw them, that was a bonus, and if I didn’t see them, it was okay too. 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 spotted it (I couldn’t believe my eyes!), I cleaned it with the group and went inside. 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 stayed together most of the time on this trip, but occasionally split up to visit places or do things that interested us individually. If one of us spotted a place or store we liked, we’d go in while the others did their own thing, then meet up or drop a locator pin to find each other.
Inside the in-store experience
It was very busy inside, with people trying on shoes and waiting to pay. The upstairs section, where they stocked the sneakers I wanted, had a line for the cashier about three times. It was crazy!
Luckily, I already knew exactly what I wanted and in what size. Then the stars aligned and I found a lovely saleswoman who helped me try them on and let me pay downstairs where it wasn’t too crowded. If this hadn’t happened, I would have had to wait over an hour and probably wouldn’t have purchased them.
It was a madhouse there, full of tourists like me, all hoping to get their hands on a pair of iconic Onitsuka Tigers at a better price than I could ever 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 victory!
Shibuya crossing
Later, we found ourselves at the iconic Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest intersections in the world.
We passed through the passage several times during our stay. In one, I saw my husband trying to take a photo, so I ran straight to the middle and struck a pose. Bucket list wish checked!
I’m more reserved (less as I get older), and my family has said they can clearly see my mother coming out in me when we’re abroad. She wasn’t reserved, she was a riot!
Akihabara
On another day of our Tokyo itinerary, we visited Akihabara, the district known for all things anime, consoles, retro games, and Pokémon cards. Oh my God, the streets were lined with countless stores going up so many floors, absolutely filled with everything.
Gacha machines were everywhere, and the choice was incredible!
We also came across a whole mix of animal cafes, from cat cafes and reptile cafes to owl cafes and even hedgehog cafes.
There were also many maid cafes, where staff would dress up in costumes and create a fun, fantastical, over-the-top experience for guests. In front of almost everyone I saw, there was a cleaning lady standing out front, waving and trying to encourage people to come inside.
I was so curious because I had heard about them on our Tokyo itinerary, and really, where else in the world do you see something like this? I really wanted to go, but we ran out of time.
Friends in Tokyo
Sam is so nice, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my son; he really is. He met some Japanese students while they were living in Sydney last year, and they had since returned to Japan, so he made contact with them before our trip. They spent a few days with us and were really lovely guys.
It’s them with Sam when it was 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 is a shop called Don Quixote, and again, it was on my mental wishlist as I saw it on Instagram. So off we went, but what I didn’t know was how overwhelming it was going to be!
Inside there are rows and rows of everything you can think of. Souvenirs, key chains, shoes, bags, clothes, food, candy, games, whatever, it’s all there.
The lighting is also quite bright and the music is loud and constant, including the Don Quijote jingle on repeat.
There was a whole floor of crane games for prizes like stuffed toys and the usual things you expect. What I had never seen before were machines using a hook gripper for items 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 had seven or eight, and we went through every single one.
So here’s a friendly warning. If you’re anxious, panicked, or overwhelmed by sensory overload, you may want to avoid this store. I’m generally fine with crowded stores, crowds, and noise, or at least I thought I was until my Don Quijote experience. Yeah !
Still, I’m glad I was able to experience it because it’s certainly unique, even if it left me a little (or a lot) overwhelmed. Haha.
Kabuki Cho
One time, it was just Sam, me, and my cousin M, who still had enough energy to explore between sightseeing, so Google Maps took us to Kabuki-cho.
This wasn’t on our Tokyo itinerary at all, just a “no, we can’t rest, we have to move on” decision.
King Kong, I think??
Godzilla on top of a tall building.
We stopped for a snack.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Another day, we went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory to admire the view of Tokyo.
Shinjuku Gyoen
One of the last places we visited was Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. It was truly a beautiful and peaceful place right in the middle of the city. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, be sure to put this on your Tokyo itinerary!
And just before we wrap up, here are some photos of Tokyo at night, including Tokyo Tower from afar and a riverside walkway lit by the city.
Whoa, we covered a lot of places in Tokyo over about three days, and I’m sure we only scratched the surface. It truly is a city you could explore forever.
The next recap will focus on DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland. Thank you so much for stopping by and reading this long article. If you made it to the end, you are a champion!
See you next time 😊
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