Andersons in Japan!
Japan 2026 — 10 travellers, 15 days, 1 unforgettable adventure
Sat 19 Sep → Sat 3 Oct 2026
Tokyo → Kanazawa → Takayama → Osaka → Hakone
10 travellers. 15 days. Tokyo to Hakone. Use this site to check today's plan, transport details, where we're sleeping, and what to expect. Bookmark this page — it's your trip dashboard.
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The trip is over — the memories live on. All 15 day cards now tell the trip we actually had, with the original plans tucked away for comparison.
📅 Revisit our tripSeptember–October in Japan: highs 22–28°C, lows 15–20°C. Expect warm days, cool evenings. Rain possible — pack a light rain jacket. Autumn foliage just starting in the mountains.
📍 Live weather: check weather.com or your iPhone weather app for each city as we travel.
Tap any day for the trip as we actually did it — changes and skips are tagged. The original plans are tucked underneath each day. Times in the original plans are not confirmed actual timings. All times are Japan time (JST). 🗺️ Original trip map — includes unvisited ideas ↗
Two families landed in the evening; Nick's family got in later.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Evening | Tim's family and Lou & Maggie arrive and check in at the Keio Plaza, Shinjuku | |
| Dinner | 🏪 Konbini feast — drinks and snacks, and a catch-up with Lou in Tim's room | Instead of dinner out |
| Late | Nick's family arrives and heads straight to bed |
| Time | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 16:20 | ✈️ Tim family arrives NRT T2 (JL774 from MEL) | Likely arrival lobby ~16:55–17:10 in a clean run |
| 17:45 | ✈️ Lou + Maggie arrive HND T3 (JL52 from SYD) | Primary: prepaid Transfeero car after confirmation. Fallback: 19:00 direct bus → hotel 20:05 |
| 18:00 | 🚌 Tim family — Bus #37 T2 → Keio Plaza | 19:55 published; ~19:25–19:40 likely. ¥3,600/adult |
| 19:00 | ✈️ Nick family arrives NRT T2 (QF79 from MEL) | Likely arrival lobby ~19:35–19:50 |
| 20:05 | 🚌 Nick family — Bus #45 T2 → Keio Plaza | 21:50 published; ~21:20–21:35 likely. ¥3,600/adult |
| Plan A · ~20:15 | 🍜 Fumotoya at Keio Plaza — preferred arrival toast and Japanese dinner for the six early arrivals | Ask concierge after check-in · L.O. 21:00 |
| Plan B · ~20:45 | 🐟 Andy's Shin Hinomoto — same-night option only if all six still have energy and the restaurant accepts them | 2 taxis · ~20–30 min · cash only |
| Plan C | 🏪 Deliberately excellent konbini feast — snacks, proper food and arrival drinks | No shame; early night remains strategic |
A soggy first full day — umbrellas from the konbini and an indoor-leaning plan.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 8:40 | Leave the Keio Plaza, armed with konbini umbrellas | |
| Morning | ⛩️ Meiji Jingu — the forested shrine, in the rain | |
| 🌳 Yoyogi Park | Skipped — rain | |
| Late morning | 🛍️ Harajuku — Takeshita-dori, Omotesando and Kiddy Land | |
| Lunch | ☕ Light lunch at Doutor | |
| 15:00 | 🌆 Shibuya Sky | Cancelled — rooftop closed |
| Afternoon | 🚦 Shibuya Crossing in the rain | |
| 18:30 | 🍲 MO-MO-PARADISE — all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and sukiyaki |
| Time | What | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 | Leave Keio Plaza | 15-min walk |
| 8:15–9:30 | ⛩️ Meiji Jingu — forested shrine, morning calm | — |
| 9:30–10:15 | 🌳 Yoyogi Park — Sunday performers, cosplayers, dance troupes | Adjacent |
| 10:15 | SPLIT: Teens → Takeshita-dori (kawaii chaos) | Adults → Omotesando (architecture, cafés) | 2–5 min walk |
| ~12:00 | Reconvene. Lunch — Afuri (yuzu-shio ramen) or Maisen (tonkatsu) | — |
| 13:00–~14:15 | 🟡 COMPACT BREAKOUTS: Monty → Nakano Broadway (figures) | Honey → Shimokitazawa (vintage/jazz) | Rest → Shinjuku Gyoen | Then travel directly to Shibuya |
| ~14:45 | All groups reconvene at Shibuya Scramble Square's 14F entrance | Allow 20–30 min from each breakout |
| 15:00–~16:30 | 🌆 Shibuya Sky — ✅ all 10 confirmed for 15:00–15:19 admission; comfortable daylight visit | No time limit after entry |
| ~16:30–17:30 | Shibuya Crossing, Hachiko and flexible Shibuya wander | Leave ~17:40 for dinner |
| 18:30–20:10 | 🍲 MO-MO-PARADISE Shinjuku Higashi-guchi — ✅ confirmed for all 10. Shabu-shabu and sukiyaki; 100-minute table limit. Be on time. | Shibuya → Shinjuku East ~25 min |
Typhoon weather, so Tsukiji was dropped and we went straight to Asakusa.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 9:15 | Leave the Keio Plaza for Asakusa | |
| Morning | 🏯 Senso-ji and Nakamise-dori | |
| Lunch | 🍜 Department-store restaurant floor | |
| Afternoon | 🤖 Monty figure-hunting in Akihabara; Tim at Bic Camera; others free afternoon | |
| 15:00 | 🎨 teamLab Borderless — the kids' crew left early for café ice creams | |
| 18:00 | 🍽️ Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu — the Kill Bill izakaya (Ubers there, taxis home in the rain) | |
| 🎤 Karaoke | Skipped |
| Time | What | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| 9:15 | Leave Keio Plaza directly for Asakusa | Train ~40–45 min |
| ~10:00–12:15 | 🏯 Senso-ji & Nakamise-dori — Thunder Gate, incense, temple hall, shopping lane | — |
| 12:15 | 🍜 Asakusa lunch/snacks — ramen, melon pan, tempura or konbini egg sando | — |
| 13:00 | SPLIT: Monty → Akihabara (models/figures) | Others → free afternoon (Ueno, Yanaka, or rest) | — |
| 15:00–15:30 entry | 🎨 teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills) — ✅ all 10 tickets confirmed. Tim has the two private live entry links. | Leave Akihabara ~14:30 · Hibiya Line + walk ~28 min |
| 18:00–20:00 | 🍽️ Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu — Kill Bill restaurant. ✅ Enkai course confirmed for all 10 | Walk ~30 min or taxi ~6 min |
| ~20:15 | 🎤 Karaoke — Big Echo Nishishinjuku. Private booth, all-you-can-drink | Taxi ~15 min to Shinjuku |
Blue sky at last, a bullet train, and our first ryokan night.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ~8:15 | Check out and taxi to Tokyo Station | |
| 9:20 | 🚄 Kagayaki 507 → Kanazawa (11:52) | |
| Arrival | 🧳 Sent all our bags from Kanazawa Station → Takitei by same-day delivery | Instead of coin lockers |
| Lunch | 🐟 Omicho Market — seafood bowls and grazing | |
| Afternoon | 🏮 Higashi Chaya geisha district | |
| 15:00 | ✨ Gold leaf workshop at Sakuda — while the mums did perfume-making | Mums swapped to perfume |
| ~16:20 | ⛩️ Tim and the kids explore the forested shrines up the hill (Utatsuyama) | Added |
| ⛩️ Oyama Shrine | Skipped | |
| Evening | ♨️ Takitei — kaiseki dinner in yukata, then the onsen |
| Time | What | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| ~8:30 | Check out Keio Plaza | — |
| 8:45 | 3 taxis → Tokyo Station | ~20 min |
| 9:20 | 🚄 Kagayaki 507 departs Tokyo — ✅ all 10 confirmed in Car 3 | 2h32m Hokuriku Shinkansen |
| 11:52 | Arrive Kanazawa Station. Stash bags in coin lockers (¥700) | — |
| 12:30–13:30 | 🍽️ Omicho Market — late lunch grazing | 15-min walk |
| 13:45–14:45 | 🏯 Higashi Chaya District — geisha district, wooden machiya, gold leaf soft serve | 15-min walk |
| 15:00–16:00 | ✨ Gold Leaf Sakuda Workshop — ✅ 7 places confirmed. Maggie included; final adult participant list to settle. ~¥2,000–2,750/pp | Heart of Higashi Chaya |
| ~16:05 | ⛩️ Oyama Shrine — Dutch stained glass in a Shinto shrine. Free, quick | 5-min walk |
| ~16:45 | 3 taxis (or 2 reserved vans) → Takitei ryokan | ~25 min |
| ~17:15 | Arrive Takitei. Check in. First onsen ♨️ | — |
| Evening | 🍽️ Kaga kaiseki dinner at Takitei (included) | — |
Everyone in kimono for the morning, then a split for the afternoon.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 🍳 Breakfast at Takitei | |
| 9:00 | 👘 Kimono dress-up at Kokoyui — all 10 | |
| ~10:45 | 🌸 Kenroku-en garden, in kimono | |
| 12:00 | 🎨 21st Century Museum — Tim and Beck only; the underground pool slots sold out in two minutes | Tim and Beck only |
| Lunch | 🍔 Quick lunch (McDonald's for some), then the bus back to Kokoyui | |
| 🥷 Ninja Temple and Ninja Weapon Museum | Skipped | |
| Afternoon | Return kimonos, back to Takitei — onsen pyjamas and onsen o'clock | |
| 19:00 | 🍽️ Takitei dinner in the Yamabiko room |
| Time | What | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 | 🔒 Dawn onsen ♨️ — rotenburo to yourself | — |
| 8:00 | 🍽️ Breakfast at Takitei (mixed Western/Japanese) | — |
| ~8:30 | Taxis from Takitei to Kokoyui near Kanazawa Station | ~25 min + arrival buffer |
| 8:55–9:05 | 🔔 Tim + Nick: book the underground Swimming Pool at 09:00 sharp. Tim books 6; Nick books 4; both target 12:00–13:00 and complete email verification. | AirWAIT booking ↗ |
| 9:00–10:00 | 👘 Kokoyui (心結) — ✅ all 10 confirmed: six women and four men. Kokoyui explicitly says plan changes can be handled on the day; choose plans and any hair styling after seeing the garments. | All ready by 10:00 without hair styling; published men's sizing reaches 210–220 cm |
| ~10:00 | Taxis to Kenroku-en | ~15 min |
| ~10:20–11:10 | 🌸 Kenroku-en garden in kimono. ¥320/pp | Holiday crowds |
| ~11:10–11:20 | Walk to the 21st Century Museum. Kanazawa Castle Park is dropped from the formal schedule so the museum is not a sprint. | Short walk |
| ~11:20–11:50 | 🍽️ Early, efficient lunch near the museum; ready the mobile tickets | Protect the fixed museum entry |
| 12:00–~13:05 | 🎨 21st Century Museum Collection Exhibition — ✅ all 10 tickets confirmed. If the separate AirWAIT bookings succeed, enter the underground Swimming Pool when called. | Pool call expires after 20 min; underground visit is 5 min |
| ~13:05–13:35 | Taxi/transfer to Myouryuji | Skip Nagamachi today |
| 13:50 / 14:00 | 🥷 Myouryuji Ninja Temple — arrive for 14:00 tour (40 min), only if Tim secures it by phone | Not booked; call 076-241-0888 |
| ~15:00 | 🥷 Ninja Weapon Museum — throw shuriken (~45 min) | 5-min walk |
| ~15:45 | Taxis back to Kokoyui | ~15 min |
| ~16:00–16:30 | Return kimono and change before Kokoyui's 17:00 closing time | Do not cut this fine |
| ~17:30–18:00 | Back to Takitei — onsen ♨️ | — |
| Evening | 🍽️ Takitei kaiseki dinner | — |
Two vans, all the suitcases, and a thatched-roof village.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 | 🚗 Pick up two Toyota vans at Kanazawa Station — all suitcases fitted | No luggage forwarding |
| ~10:10 | Drive to Shirakawa-go | |
| ~11:50 | 🏃 Car-park mix-up, then a speed-walk through the village to lunch | |
| 12:00 | 🍜 Soba Wakimoto | |
| Afternoon | 🌾 Shirakawa-go village wander; a handful of us went inside Wada-ke farmhouse | |
| 📸 Shiroyama Viewpoint | Skipped | |
| ~15:20 | Drive on to Takayama — Oyado Koto no Yume (Lou & Maggie at Ryokan Asunaro) | |
| ~17:15 | 🍶 Sake-brewery tasting in Sanmachi (Lou, Tim and Nick) | |
| 🏮 Yatai Kaikan festival floats | Skipped | |
| 18:00 | 🔥 Kyo Ya — Hida dinner around the irori hearths |
| Time | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Before 8:30 | 🎒 Send bulk suitcases from Takitei via Yamato for collection at Namba Office (Dotonbori), Sakuragawa location; carry two-night bags | Sales-office code 060302 |
| 9:00 | Pick up 2 × confirmed Toyota W2 cars at Kanazawa Sta. West Ext. | 5 people + overnight bags per car |
| ~10:30 | Arrive Shirakawa-go (Ogimachi). Park near village centre (¥500–1,000) | Leave promptly after 09:00 car pickup |
| ~10:40 | 📸 Shiroyama Viewpoint — shuttle bus (¥300) or 15-min walk. The postcard shot | Non-negotiable |
| ~11:05 | 🏠 Wada-ke House — largest farmhouse, 250+ years. ¥400 | Leave by ~11:40 |
| 11:50 | Arrive and check in at Soba Wakimoto as Anderson | Strict reservation |
| 12:00 | 🍽️ Soba Wakimoto — confirmed for all 10; zashiki at two tables of five; choose individually on arrival | Staff direct both cars · be on time |
| ~13:00 | 🌾 Village wander — suspension bridge, paths between farmhouses, rice fields | 30–45 min |
| ~14:30 | Depart → Takayama | ~50 min drive |
| ~15:20 | Arrive Takayama. Parallel check-in at Oyado Koto No Yume and Ryokan Asunaro | Flexible after the noon booking |
| ~15:40 | 🏮 Sanmachi Suji — Edo merchant houses and sake breweries | Keep flexible after check-in |
| ~16:20 | 🟡 Yatai Kaikan — festival floats, 3–4 storeys tall, gold leaf, karakuri dolls. ¥1,000 | Before 17:00 close |
| ~17:15 | Return to the ryokan for a short reset | Road-trip buffer |
| 18:00 | 🔥 Hida Takayama Kyo Ya — ✅ dinner confirmed for all 10; order individually | Arrive on time |
| ~20:00 | ♨️ Back to Oyado Koto No Yume / Ryokan Asunaro — onsen | — |
Markets, old town, burgers and a temple walk.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 🍎 Miyagawa morning market (Lou's bakery find: sourdough pretzels) | |
| 🏯 Takayama Jinya — everyone except Beck | ||
| 🏮 Sanmachi old-town shopping | ||
| Lunch | 🍔 Center4 Hamburgers | |
| Afternoon | ⛩️ Higashiyama temple walk | |
| ~17:00 | 🚗 Returned both cars a day early — the station is a 5-minute walk | A day early |
| 🏠 Hida Folk Village · 🏮 Yatai Kaikan floats | Skipped | |
| 18:30 | 🥩 Ajikura Tengoku — Hida-beef yakiniku | |
| Evening | ♨️ Last ryokan onsen |
| Order | What | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🍽️ Breakfast at respective ryokan (included) | Start whenever |
| 2 | 🌿 Morning Markets (both) — best 8–9am | 5 min apart |
| 3 | 🏯 Takayama Jinya 🟡 — gauge interest on the spot | Next to markets |
| 4 | 🏮 Sanmachi Suji + Yatai Kaikan | 2-min walk |
| 5 | 🍽️ Lunch — Hida beef buns or sit-down in Sanmachi | — |
| 6 | 🏠 Hida Folk Village — 30+ relocated farmhouses | 10-min bus/taxi |
| 7 | SPLIT: 🔥 Showa-kan (teens/arcade) | 🔒 Higashiyama temples (Tom/Beck) | Central vs east edge |
| 8 | 🥩 Ajikura Tengoku — ✅ confirmed for all 10 at 18:30 under Timothy Anderson | Arrive before 18:30; a late party may lose the booking |
| 9 | ♨️ Onsen — last soak before Osaka. Until 23:00 | — |
Mountain train, bullet train, and our Osaka villa.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ~8:20 | Walk the bags to Takayama Station | |
| 9:36 | 🚃 Hida 6 through the mountains → Nagoya | |
| 13:03 | 🚄 Hikari 709 → Shin-Osaka (ekiben: served cold, on purpose) | |
| Afternoon | 🏠 Straight to the Namba Airbnb with all the luggage | No station storage |
| 19:00 | 🍳 Sennichimae Hatsuse — cook-your-own okonomiyaki. After some ¥600 gin, the adults' table produced mostly scrambled cabbage |
| Time | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ~7:30 | 🍽️ Breakfast at Oyado Koto No Yume / Ryokan Asunaro. Last ryokan breakfast | — |
| ~8:15 | Check out and walk luggage to Takayama Station | ~5 min · cars already returned |
| 8:25–9:15 | Station buffer — coffee, ekiben and final ticket check | No car-return mission |
| 09:36 | 🚃 Hida 6 departs Takayama — ✅ all 10 confirmed in Car 8 | Arrives Nagoya 12:04 |
| 12:04–12:50 | Transfer to Shinkansen gates; collect lunch if needed | 59-min connection |
| 13:03 | 🚄 Hikari 709 → Shin-Osaka — ✅ all 10 confirmed in Green Car 8 | Arrives 13:57 |
| 13:57 | Arrive Shin-Osaka → 🚇 Midosuji Line → Namba | ~15 min, Suica |
| ~14:25 | Arrive Namba with luggage. Use station storage only if early bag drop is unavailable | Airbnb check-in 16:00 |
| ~14:40–15:30 | 🌆 Optional Dotonbori first hit — one takoyaki stop, Glico Man photo, canal wander | Keep it light |
| 16:00 | Check in at Airbnb — 2-15-19 Nihonbashi | Exact-address map pin |
| 19:00 | 🍳 Sennichimae Hatsuse — ✅ private room confirmed for all 10. Seat-only; order cook-your-own okonomiyaki individually | Walk ~5–10 min |
| After | 🌃 Dotonbori neon walk — Glico Man lit, Kuidaore Taro, giant crab sign | — |
A day trip by Nozomi. Honey stayed in Osaka to shop.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 9:41 | 🚄 Nozomi 9 → Hiroshima | |
| Late morning | 🏛️ Peace Memorial Museum | Museum first |
| Afternoon | 🕊️ A-Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park | |
| Lunch | 🍽️ Late lunch at Hiroshima no Kaze | |
| 16:22 | 🚄 Nozomi 42 back to Osaka | |
| 19:00 | 🔥 Rikimaru Tanuki Chaya — robatayaki in a private room | |
| All day | 🛍️ Honey: shopping in Osaka | Honey stayed in Osaka |
| Time | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ~8:00 | Wake, konbini breakfast at Airbnb | — |
| ~9:15 | 🚇 Namba → Shin-Osaka | Midosuji Line ~15 min |
| 09:41 | 🚄 Nozomi 9 → Hiroshima — ✅ all 10 confirmed in adjacent rows | Arrives 11:02 |
| ~11:30 | 🚋 Hiroden streetcar → Genbaku Dome-mae | ~15 min |
| 11:45–12:15 | 🕊️ A-Bomb Dome + Peace Memorial Park grounds | Outside first |
| 12:15–14:00 | 🏛️ Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum — ~2 hrs. Don't rush it | — |
| 14:00 | 🍽️ Nagata-ya only if the quoted wait is ≤30 min; otherwise switch immediately to Mitchan Sohonten at Orizuru Tower | Both walk-in; adjacent tables acceptable |
| ~15:30 | 🚋 Hiroden → Hiroshima Station | — |
| 16:22 | 🚄 Nozomi 42 → Shin-Osaka — ✅ all 10 confirmed in adjacent rows | Arrives 17:43 |
| ~17:50 | Rest at Airbnb — shower, decompress | — |
| 19:00 | 🔥 Rikimaru Robatayaki Tanuki Chaya — ✅ private non-smoking room confirmed for all 10. Seat-only; order grilled seafood, yakitori and vegetables individually | ~8 min walk |
A wet Kyoto day. Lou and Maggie took a rest day and joined us for dinner.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 8:06 | 🚃 Limited express from Nippombashi | |
| ~9:40 | ⛩️ Fushimi Inari — some up to the quieter upper gates, others at Komeda's Coffee | |
| ~11:00 | 🚕 Taxis → Kiyomizu-dera and the Sannen-zaka slopes | |
| 13:15 | 🍜 Omen Ginkaku-ji (by taxi) | |
| Afternoon | 🌿 Philosopher's Path, then Nishiki Market and Shijo shopping (Uniqlo) | |
| 16:30 | 🍏 Regroup at the Apple Store — Beck's pick, much debated | |
| Dusk | 🏮 Gion and Pontocho | |
| 17:30 | 🍽️ Soufuudo Ushinohone — with Lou and Maggie | |
| All day | 😴 Lou and Maggie: sleep-in and chill day in Osaka | Joined for dinner |
| Time | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 | Wake, quick konbini breakfast (slightly earlier today) | — |
| ~8:45 | 🚃 JR Special Rapid → Kyoto (~28 min from Osaka) | — |
| ~9:25 | 🛩️ Fushimi Inari — hike to Yotsutsuji viewpoint (~30–40 min up). Monday sweet spot | JR Nara Line, 2 stops |
| ~11:20 | ⛩️ Kiyomizu-dera + Ninen-zaka/Sannen-zaka — wooden terrace, historic slopes | 15-min uphill walk |
| 13:15 | 🍽️ Omen Ginkaku-ji — confirmed for all 10 under Timothy Anderson | Arrive early · late arrival may forfeit booking |
| ~14:00 | 🌿 Philosopher's Path — 2km canal-side walk. Late Sept = early autumn light | 60–75 min leisurely |
| ~15:45 | 🛍️ Nishiki Market — light grazing before dinner | Stalls thin after 17:00 |
| ~16:30 | 🏮 Gion at dusk — Hanami-koji, Shirakawa canal, lanterns | 35–40 min stroll |
| ~17:15 | 🏮 Pontocho alley — lantern-lit approach along the Kamogawa | — |
| 17:30 | 🍽️ Soufuudo Ushinohone — Noryu Yuka terrace dinner ✅ confirmed for all 10; indoor seating prepared if it rains | Pontocho · early sitting ends ~19:45 |
| ~19:45 | 🚃 Return to Namba after dinner | ~1–1¼ hr |
Rain closed the big coasters early, so we started indoors.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 | 🚇 Leave the Airbnb for the 8:00 opening | |
| Morning | 🎢 Indoor rides first while rain closed Hollywood Dream and the Flying Dinosaur | |
| Afternoon | 🍌 Minion Park, Chainsaw Man 4D (Tim, Monty and Tom) and a coffee break | |
| Late afternoon | 🍄 Super Nintendo World | |
| Dinner | 🍄 Kinopio's Café in Nintendo World | Instead of Discovery Restaurant |
| ~18:45 | Most head home after the last Nintendo ride | |
| To close | 🪄 Tim, Honey, Annabel and Monty stay until closing — Tim nearly wedged in Flight of the Hippogriff | |
| All day | 🛋️ Emily: a rest day at the Airbnb | Day off |
| Time | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7:45 | Wake, grab-and-go konbini. Eat on the train | — |
| ~8:35 | 🚇 Namba → Universal City Station | ~20–25 min |
| ~9:00 | 🎢 USJ gates open — each guest scans their individual Studio Pass QR | No park re-entry after exit |
| Morning–afternoon | 🎢 Free-flow rides using the untimed Express choices | Keep every Express QR available offline |
| ~11:30 | 🍽️ Early lunch — Three Broomsticks; mobile order, no reservation | Beat the lunch rush; Great Feast, British meals + Butterbeer |
| ~15:45 | 🍽️ Substantial early meal — Discovery Restaurant in Jurassic Park | Mobile order; reach Super Nintendo World by ~17:10 |
| 17:20–17:50 | 🍄 Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge | SNW entry 17:20–18:20 |
| 17:50–18:20 | 🍄 Yoshi's Adventure | Stay inside SNW |
| 18:20–18:50 | ⛏️ Mine Cart Madness | Immediately after Yoshi |
| 18:50–~20:05 | 🍄 Explore Nintendo World; optional snack or dessert | Leave in time to cross to Harry Potter |
| 20:30–21:00 | 🪄 Flight of the Hippogriff | Harry Potter area |
| ~21:10 | Depart USJ → Namba; late snack if wanted | ~25 min |
The adults did the castle; the kids slept in and shopped.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 9:17 | 🚄 Adults (Tim, Beck, Nick, Emily, Lou) → Himeji | Adults only |
| Morning | 🏯 Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden | |
| Lunch | 🥩 Quick Kobe-beef lunch on the way back to the station | Instead of Kassui-ken |
| 14:11 | 🚄 Hikari 712 → Osaka | |
| All day | 🛍️ The kids: sleep-in and Osaka shopping missions | |
| 18:00 | 🍢 Kushikatsu Daruma, Shinsekai | |
| Evening | 🛒 Last Osaka shopping and Donki runs |
| Time | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 | Wake, relaxed konbini breakfast. No rush today | — |
| 09:17 | 🚄 Nozomi 7 → Himeji — ✅ all 10 confirmed in adjacent rows | Arrives 09:45 |
| 10:30–11:00 | 🏯 Himeji Castle — ✅ six adult Castle + Koko-en combo tickets confirmed; four under-18s enter free with passport proof | Private live e-ticket required; steep stairs and shoes off inside |
| ~12:10 | 🍱 Kassui-ken inside Koko-en — garden-view Himeji anago lunch. Walk-in; adjacent tables may be needed | Use the ¥1,000 paper town coupons where accepted; exchange digital vouchers first |
| ~13:00 | 🌸 Koko-en Garden — short circuit through 9 Edo-period gardens | Adjacent |
| 14:11 | 🚄 Hikari 712 → Shin-Osaka — ✅ all 10 confirmed in adjacent rows | Arrives 14:46 |
| ~15:00 | 🏙️ Free afternoon — Shinsekai (retro 1950s), Shinsaibashi shopping, or wander | — |
| 18:00 | 🍢 Kushikatsu Daruma Dobutsuen-mae — ✅ confirmed for all 10 with the Shinsekai Set | 90-minute sitting; arrive together |
| ~19:30 | 🌃 Final Dotonbori wander — one last Glico Man photo | — |
Taxi race to the station, a Fuji watch from the train, then an afternoon at Tenyu.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ~10:30 | 🚕 Three cars to Shin-Osaka — first taxi there wins | Taxis, not Metro |
| 12:18 | 🚄 Hikari 650 → Odawara, watching for Mt Fuji | |
| 14:38 | 🚕 Taxis from Odawara up to Kowakien Tenyu | No Freepass — not needed |
| Afternoon | ♨️ Water park, onsen, ice cream and cocktails in the lounge | |
| 19:30 | 🍽️ Buffet dinner in yukata (LL samue for the tall ones) |
| Time | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ~8:00 | Wake, last Airbnb konbini breakfast | — |
| 10:00 | Check out Airbnb | — |
| ~10:50 | Arrive Shin-Osaka. Grab ekiben for train lunch | — |
| 12:18 | 🚄 Hikari 650 → Odawara — ✅ all 10 confirmed in Car 14, adjacent rows | Arrives 14:38 |
| 14:38 | Arrive Odawara. Buy Hakone Freepass (2-day, ¥6,000/pp) | At ticket office |
| ~15:00 | 3 standard taxis → Tenyu | ~25–35 min |
| ~15:30 | Arrive Kowakien Tenyu. Check in and settle | — |
| 15:00– | ♨️ Rotenburo, yukata, explore grounds | Private onsen on each balcony! |
| 19:30 | 🍽️ Dinner buffet + free-flow drinks (beer, wine, sake, cocktails) | Included |
Five kinds of transport and back in time for the onsen.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 9:40 | 🚌 Hotel shuttle → Gora | |
| 10:01 | 🚃 Cablecar → Sounzan | |
| Morning | 🚡 Ropeway over Owakudani's volcanic vents → Togendai | |
| 11:25 | 🏴☠️ Pirate ship across Lake Ashi — first class | |
| Lunch | 🥐 Bakery & Table, Moto-Hakone | |
| Afternoon | ⛩️ Hakone Shrine, then the lakeside path (the floating-torii queue was too long) | |
| ~14:00 | 🚌 Bus back to Kowakien | |
| Afternoon | ♨️ Water park, onsen and drinks in the library lounge | |
| 19:30 | 🍽️ Buffet dinner — and the realisation that nobody ate a longevity egg 🥚 |
| Time | What | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| ~7:30 | 🍽️ Breakfast buffet | — |
| ~9:15 | Leave Tenyu → Gora Station | 5-min bus / 12-min walk |
| ~9:25 | 🚃 Cablecar Gora → Sounzan | 10 min |
| ~9:40 | 🚡 Ropeway Sounzan → Owakudani | 15 min |
| 9:55–10:35 | 🌋 Owakudani — sulfur vents, black eggs (¥500/5), Mt Fuji from gondola | — |
| ~10:40 | 🚡 Ropeway Owakudani → Togendai. Lake Ashi appears | 15 min |
| ~11:30 | 🏴☠️ Pirate Ship Togendai → Hakone-machi | 30 min |
| 12:00–13:00 | 🍽️ café KOMON at HOTORIYA — lake-view curry, hamburg steak, rice bowls, pancakes and grill-your-own dango | At the dock · 106 seats · walk-in only |
| ~13:00 | Walk Hakone-machi → Moto-Hakone. Cedar Avenue, Hakone Checkpoint | 20-min walk |
| ~13:30 | ⛩️ Hakone Shrine + floating torii | 30–45 min, free |
| ~14:15 | 🚌 Bus Moto-Hakone → Kowakien | ~30 min |
| ~14:45 | Back at Tenyu — ♨️ onsen, nothing, everything | — |
| 19:30 | 🍽️ Dinner buffet + free-flow drinks | — |
A slow last morning, then the big goodbye on the train.
| When | What we did | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | ♨️ Breakfast and a final onsen (the longevity-egg run lost to a sleep-in) | |
| 11:00 | 🧳 Check out and leave the bags at Tenyu | |
| ~11:20 | 🎨 Hakone Open-Air Museum — the maze, Picasso Pavilion and sculpture gardens | |
| Lunch | 🍝 CHOKOKU-NO-MORI Dining (Emily at the Yayoi Kusama café) | |
| 14:06 | 🚌 Bus back to Tenyu — hotel foot onsen and ice creams while waiting for taxis | Finale |
| ~15:15 | 🚕 Taxis → Odawara; 16:14 Kodama 828 | |
| Evening | 👋 Tim's family and Lou & Maggie off at Shinagawa for Haneda; Nick's family on to Tokyo for the N'EX to Narita |
| Time | What | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dawn | ♨️ Final rotenburo 🌅 | — |
| ~8:00 | 🍽️ Breakfast buffet (7:00–10:00) | — |
| 11:00 | Check out. Store bags at front desk | — |
| 11:15–12:45 | 🎨 Hakone Open Air Museum — ✅ all 10 tickets confirmed. Sculpture garden, Picasso Pavilion, stained glass | Untimed tickets valid 09:00–17:00; planned 11:15 entry is fine |
| 12:45–13:45 | 🍽️ Bella Foresta — 60-minute museum buffet with soft drinks. Walk-in; adjacent tables may be needed | ¥2,600/pp · fallback: CHOKOKU-NO-MORI Dining |
| ~15:15 | 3 taxis → Odawara Station | ~25–35 min; ask Tenyu to arrange at check-in |
| 16:14 | 🚄 Kodama 828 departs Odawara — ✅ all 10 confirmed in Car 14 | Six leave Shinagawa 16:40; four reach Tokyo 16:48 |
| Family | Route | Arrive Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Tim + Lou/Maggie (6) | Shinagawa → Keikyu Line → HND T3 | ~17:05 (2h35m before shared JL051 19:40) |
| Nick family (4) | Tokyo 17:33 → N'EX 45 → NRT T2·3 | Arrives 18:25 (2h before QF80 20:25) |
The shared map includes every airport, major station, rental-car branch and Hakone transport point. 🗺️ Transport pins ↗
Kanazawa → Shirakawa-go ~1h15m
Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway + Route 156. Scenic Shogawa River Valley drive.
Shirakawa-go → Takayama ~50 min
Mountain road through the Hida region.
🎒 All suitcases fitted in the vans — no forwarding from Kanazawa to Osaka.
Day 4 · Kanazawa Station → Takitei: used same-day station-to-hotel delivery. Day 6: all suitcases fitted in the vans; the proposed Yamato shipment to Osaka was not used. Day 8: went directly to the Airbnb with luggage.
Every traveller needs their own IC card. iPhone users should add Suica to Apple Wallet before departure and test-load it. Confirm Lou and Maggie's setup separately.
⚠️ Some foreign Visa cards fail for Suica recharge. Mastercard/Amex more reliable.
Not bought — we did not need it. Arrival and departure used taxis, and the Hakone loop used individual fares instead.
Arrival: everyone made it to the Keio Plaza on arrival night; Nick's family arrived later and went straight to bed.
Departure: Tim's family and Lou & Maggie got off at Shinagawa for Haneda; Nick's family stayed on to Tokyo for the N'EX to Narita.
Tap-to-call phone numbers, addresses for taxi drivers, check-in/out times. 🗺️ Stay pins ↗
What we booked, and how it actually went.
Shiroyama Viewpoint, the Yatai Kaikan festival floats, Hida Folk Village and the Ninja Temple were skipped. Takayama became markets, Jinya, shopping, Center4 Hamburgers and a temple walk. Adults did Himeji on Day 12 while the kids slept in and shopped locally.
Where we actually ate, plus the original bookings. 🗺️ Original food pins ↗
Show the Japanese text when pronunciation retires injured. Sumimasen + pointing + a smile solves an astonishing percentage of travel.
Point at the item, say the quantity, then kudasai. “Biiru futatsu kudasai” = two beers, please.
Complete around 12 September. Because we arrive in three separate groups, use three lead-adult accounts rather than one account for all ten:
Have ready: every passport, lead-adult email address, flight details, home address/occupation details, and customs answers. Register each person individually—even teenagers—and verify that every traveller's immigration/customs 2D code opens on the lead phone.
First stay: Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo, 2-2-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8330 · +81 3 5322 8000 · stay 19–22 Sep.
Open official Visit Japan Web ↗ · Official step-by-step guide ↗
Ghibli-style trip artwork, created for the original plan — illustrations, not photographs or evidence that every pictured stop was visited.