Tue Aug 8

1.  Arrive in Tokyo

Flight from YYZ lands at HND on Tue Aug 8 at 15:35 PM

Usually takes about 30 mins to 1 hr to clear Japan Customs/Baggage.

Important:  We need to pickup a reloadable cash card for everybody before we take the train to Shinjuku because it will save us money every time we use it.

http://tokyohk2017.blogspot.ca/p/pasmo-card.html


So we plan to take local transit to Shinjuku Stn from Haneda International airport.  Below is a sample route from Haneda to Shinjuku.  The trip takes approx 45 mins and costs 610 yen per person.
This information can be found on the Japanese travel website called hyperdia.com/en.

This information is from the Haneda Keikyu website.  They show the discounted fare when using IC card.

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2.  Here is how to get to the Keikyu line at Haneda airport.

Note:  follow the instructions below except that we will buy a Pasmo card instead of buying a train ticket.

http://www.haneda-tokyo-access.com/en/transport/international.html

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3.  Shinjuku / Kabukicho

Go out for a bite to eat around Shinjuku Station.  Goto the 100 yen shop at Pepe Mall.
Then walk to Kabuki-cho to see the neon lights.

We can go check out the giant Godzilla head.
https://www.shinjukustation.com/hotel-gracery-shinjuku/

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4.  Hello Kitty

Then we will go check out the largest Hello Kitty monument and store in Shinjuku.

https://www.sanrio.co.jp/english/store/sh1129000/

Then, walk back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.

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.

Thu Aug 10

Today we will spend the day in Yokohama.  It is a big city like Tokyo and it is closeby.  They have a nice waterfront where there's lots of activities, shopping and eating.

UPDATE:  reschedule to Mon Aug 14 to coincide with pikachu parade day.  Will  go to Harajuku and Omotesando today.

1.  Pickachu Event in Yokohama

We are lucky because they are holding a special Pickachu event in Yokohama while we are there.  There's supposed to be 1500 Pickachus.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3200.html

http://www.pokemon.co.jp/ex/pika_event/#/boards/pikachu

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2.  Return to Shinjuku

We can have dinner in Yokohama or in Shinjuku.

Fri Aug 11

So, today will be a unique experience that you can only find in Japan.

1.  Harajuku

We will head over to Harajuku which is the main tourist hangout.  You can find all of your snack places here and lots of kawaii cute things on sale.   We will visit Kiddyland too which is the giant toy store.  The giant 100 yen store called Daiso is here too.

http://souvenirfinder.com/2017/01/23/crazy-shopping-cosplay-tokyos-harajuku-district/

KiddyLand
Daiso 100 Yen Shop
Takeshita Dori

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2.  Cat Street

There are lots of clothing shops on Cat street, this is the connector street between Harajuku and Omotesando.

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3. Omotesando Hills

When we make our way to Omotesando, this is where the Line Friends store is.  BTW there's lots of places to eat,  like the Shakey's Pizza buffet.   The Japanese pizza is different than anything you can get in Canada.   Omotesando Hills mall has lots of shops like Laduree.

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4.  Shibuya

Later, we can visit Shibuya and see the scramble crossing.  There's also lots of shopping and eating there.  We can have dinner here.

There's also NHK Studio Park.
https://www.tsunagujapan.com/try-visiting-a-japanese-tv-station-nhk-nhk-studio-park/

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5.  Return to 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

Tue Aug 15

Today, we will spend the whole day in Odaiba.

Here, you can see:

The giant Ferris wheel at Palette Town.
The Megaweb Toyota car showroom and exhibits.
Venice style Mall (like Las Vegas)
Fuji TV Building and tour
Miraikan Science Museum
Rainbow Bridge
Statue of Liberty

You can find everything about Odaiba here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3008.html

To go to Odaiba

It takes about 30 mins and costs 500 yen per person on the train.

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=SHINJUKU(JR)&arv_node=TOKYO%20TELEPORT&via_node01=&via_node02=&via_node03=&year=2017&month=08&day=11&hour=10&minute=03&search_type=0&search_way=&transtime=undefined&sort=0&max_route=5&faretype=0&ship=off&lmlimit=null&search_target=route&facility=reserved&sum_target=7

Wed Aug 16

I haven't planned anything for this last day in Tokyo, so if there's anything you want to see or do, just let me know.

Hello Kitty in Ikebukuro

There is another Hello Kitty store in Ikebukuro if you want to go visit there.

https://www.sanrio.co.jp/english/store/sh4431100/

While we are there, we could go for Kura Sushi

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Other places we can visit are:

The train museum in Omiya

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6527.html

http://www.railway-museum.jp/en/information.html

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Ueno Zoo

https://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/ueno/

Thu Aug 17 - Tokyo to Hong Kong

Tokyo to Hong Kong

The flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong departs at 10:35 am from Haneda airport.

You must be at the airport around 7:00 am to 7:30 am since it is an international departure.

There are two methods to go back to Haneda airport, either by Train or by Airport Bus.

Via Train Option 1

This is the sample train route and time that will get you back to Haneda airport.  Make sure you have enough money on your Pasmo card to cover the trip, around 610 yen each person.

You need to walk from your hotel to Shinjuku station, approx 15 to 20 min.   Then you can get on JR Yamanote line train to go to Shinagawa.   Make sure you are headed towards Shinagawa.

At Shinagawa station, you have to switch to Keikyu Airport Express line and then get off at Haneda International terminal.   If you get to Shinjuku station at 5:30 am, you should be ok.   That means you have to check out of your hotel at around 5:00 am.

Via the Train option 2

You guys could also take the train from Nishi-Shinjuku Gochome station to our hotel, and then we can go together via Train Option 1 or Airport Limobus.  It would only take you about 5 minutes from your hotel to our hotel but will cost you 180 yen each person.

Via Airport Bus Option 1

The Airport bus leaves from the Hilton Tokyo hotel.   The bus departure schedule can be found here: https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/platform_searches/index/3/22.

If you choose the airport bus, then you have to check out of your hotel a bit earlier, because you have to walk to the Hilton Tokyo hotel, where you buy your ticket for the airport bus.   You can catch either the 5:15 am bus or the 6:25 am bus.   You would have just enough time to get to the airport at 7:30 am.

The cost to ride the airport bus is 1230 yen per person which can be paid by cash or credit card at the Hilton Tokyo.

Via Airport Limo Bus Option 2

If we take the airport limobus from Century Southern hotel.   There is a bus that leaves at 5:55 am and gets to Haneda airport at 6:50 am.  We can buy tickets from Century Southern front desk.

https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/platform_searches/index/3/16