Wed Aug 9

Today we will do the following:

1.  Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Tower

There are free observation decks in the Tokyo City Hall building.   This building is really close to your hotel.

You can go up and look at the different views of Tokyo city.   You can even eat in their cafeteria!   It has cheap sushi for lunch!

The observation deck

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3011_tocho.html

The cafeteria

When was the last time, a cafeteria had it's own webpage?
http://www.tokyo-jinzai.or.jp/eng/Staffsdininghalls/index.html

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2.  Walk Around Shinjuku Station

After visiting the Government buildings we will walk around Shinjuku train station and learn how to use the trains.

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3.  Nakano Broadway

Nakano Broadway is a mall dedicated to shopping and toys.  It is only a few train stops from Shinjuku station and costs only 160 yen to get there.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3069.html

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4.  Ueno Summer Festival

Summer is the time of festivals in Japan.   There is lots to see and eat at the outdoor festival.  At 5:30 pm, there is a parade that starts from Ueno park.   It will cost 220 yen from Nakano Broadway stn to go to Ueno station.

https://tokyocheapo.com/events/ueno-summer-festival/

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5.  Return to Shinjuku

It only costs 200 yen to go back to Shinjuku station from Ueno station.  We can have dinner in Ueno or Shinjuku.

Sat Aug 12

Today's destinations include the Zozoji temple and Tokyo Tower,  then Tokyo Station - Character Street.

1.  Tokyo Tower

It's very easy to go to Tokyo Tower from Shinjuku.

After taking pictures at Tokyo Tower, we will walk to Hamamatsucho Station.

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2.  Tokyo Station / Character Street

We get on at Hamamatsucho to go to Tokyo Station, where the Character toy street is located.  We can have early dinner here also.

http://tokyo-direct-guide.com/blog/2015/03/tokyo-character-street-in-tokyo-station-kawaii/

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3.  Asakusa Lantern Festival

Then we go to Asakusa to check out the Lantern Festival.

Asakusa Toro Nagashi (Taito-ku) – A quintessential Japanese summer event. Toro nagashi is an ancient Japanese tradition where candle-holding lanterns are released into rivers around the country to guide ancestral spirits during the Obon season. You can experience watching thousands of paper lanterns floating down the Sumida River. You can also purchase your lantern and release it from the Sumida Park Shinsui Terrace near Azuma-bashi Bridge. Asakusa Toro Nagashi Details

Event Date and Time: Saturday, August 12, 2017;
Open ceremony from 18:00, releasing of lanterns from 18:45 Address: Sumida Park Shinsui Terrace, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Walking course between Azuma-bashi and Kototoi-bashi bridges)

Cost: Free. Lanterns cost 1,500 JPY Access: 3 minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line, Tobu Isesaki Line or Toei Asakusa Line Asakusa Station By bus: 3 minute walk from Toei Bus Tobu Asakusa-ekimae

Website: http://e-asakusa.jp/event/5832 (In Japanese)

http://bestlivingjapan.com/august-2017-tokyo-top-activities-events/

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4.  Return to Shinjuku

some different options to return to shinjuku