Japan 2026

January 5–17 • Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka → Tokyo

Overview

• Tokyo (Part 1): Jan 6–10
• Kyoto: Jan 10–11
• Osaka: Jan 11–15
• Tokyo (Part 2): Jan 15–17

Day 1: Departure

Monday, Jan 5

• 11:05 AM: Depart Los Angeles (LAX)
• Note: I lose a calendar day crossing the International Date Line.

Day 2: Arrival in Tokyo

Tuesday, Jan 6

• 3:55 PM: Arrive Narita Airport (NRT)
• Logistics: Pick up WiFi, get cash (Yen), board the Keisei Skyliner
• Lodging: APA Keisei Ueno Ekimae (Tokyo)
• Evening: Easy dinner at a local konbini and recovering from jet lag

Day 3: The Hunt

Wednesday, Jan 7

Retro games, rare collectibles, cafe culture

• Morning: Coffee at Kayaba Coffee in the historic Yanaka district
• 11:00 AM: Walk to Akihabara (“Electric Town”)
  • Stops: Mandarake Complex (8 floors of vintage goods), Radio Kaikan, Surugaya
• 2:30 PM: Café Mai:lish — experiencing a classic Victorian-style maid café
• Dinner: Go Go Curry (famous Kanazawa-style curry)

Day 4: Views & Neon

Thursday, Jan 8

Skyscrapers, chaotic crossings, city lights

• 10:00 AM: Shibuya Sky observation deck — the famous open-air glass rooftop with 360° views of Tokyo
• Afternoon: Walking through Harajuku (Takeshita Street) and into Shinjuku
• Evening:
  • Seeing the giant Godzilla head in Kabukicho
  • Walking through Omoide Yokocho (“Memory Lane”) — narrow alleys of lantern-lit food stalls

Day 5: Art & Waterfront

Friday, Jan 9

Digital art immersion and giant robots

• 8:30 AM: teamLab Planets TOKYO — an interactive museum where you walk barefoot through water and digital flowers
• Late Morning: Scenic monorail ride to Odaiba (Tokyo Bay)
• Afternoon: Viewing the Unicorn Gundam statue (it transforms a few times a day)
• Late Afternoon: Free time to revisit shops in Ueno or Akihabara

Day 6: The Move to Kyoto

Saturday, Jan 10

High-speed trains and ancient temples

• Morning: Shinkansen to Kyoto (~2.5 hours). Weather permitting, I’ll look for Mt. Fuji on the right side of the train.
• Lodging: Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto-Hachijoguchi
• Afternoon: Nanzen-ji Temple — featuring a massive brick aqueduct running through the temple grounds
• Dinner: Walking the atmospheric Pontocho Alley by the river

Day 7: Spiritual Morning & Move to Osaka

Sunday, Jan 11

Thousands of red gates and bright city lights

• 6:30 AM: Fushimi Inari Shrine — beating the crowds to hike the famous “Thousand Torii Gates”
• Late Morning: Sanju-sangen-do — a hall containing 1,001 life-size golden statues of Kannon
• Afternoon: Train to Osaka
• Lodging: Hotel Hillarys (Nippombashi area)
• Evening: Dotonbori — eating takoyaki under the neon “Glico Man” sign

Day 8: Holiday Shopping

Monday, Jan 12 (Coming of Age Day)

The “Akihabara of the West”

• Location: Den Den Town (Osaka’s electronics district)
• Staying in the middle of this district, so today is dedicated to finding retro treasures at Super Potato and local shops
• Note: National Holiday — the streets will be lively

Day 9: The Deep Blue

Tuesday, Jan 13

Ocean life and vintage clothes

• 10:00 AM: Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan) — seeing the whale sharks in the massive central tank
• Afternoon: Free time, likely exploring Americamura (Osaka’s center for vintage fashion and youth culture)

Day 10: Deer & Nature

Wednesday, Jan 14

Giant Buddhas and polite bowing deer

• Morning: Short train ride to Nara
• Activity: Todai-ji Temple — the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world
• Fun: Feeding the “bowing deer” in Nara Park (they roam freely!)
• Evening: Final dinner in Osaka. Packing bags for tomorrow.

Day 11: The Return to Tokyo

Thursday, Jan 15

Transit and Sumo culture

• Morning: Shinkansen back to Tokyo
• Lodging: APA Asakusabashi Ekikita
• Afternoon: Nakano Broadway via the “Yellow Train” (Chuo-Sobu Local) — a famous covered shopping arcade known for rare toys and anime cels
• Dinner: Ryogoku (Sumo District) — chanko nabe, the hot pot stew eaten by Sumo wrestlers

Day 12: The Buffer Day

Friday, Jan 16

No fixed plans

This day is left open intentionally. I may return to a favorite shop, visit the Imperial Palace, or just relax in a cafe.

Day 13: Departure

Saturday, Jan 17

• Morning: Easy breakfast near the hotel
• Afternoon: Train to Haneda Airport
• 7:40 PM: Flight departs for home ✈️

How to Reach Me

Time Difference: Tokyo is 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles.

Example: When it’s 5:00 PM on Friday in LA, it’s 10:00 AM on Saturday in Tokyo.

Best way to chat: iMessage or email. I’ll upload photos when I’m back at the hotel in the evenings.