Japan Trip 2026

Tokyo Sights

Tokyo is explored neighborhood by neighborhood — no single circuit covers it. See Tokyo Neighborhood Clusters for the day-planning framework.

Temples and Shrines

  • Senso-ji Temple - Temple / Asakusa / Iconic. Tokyo’s oldest temple (645 AD) and busiest. The Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) and Nakamise shopping street lead to the main hall. Atmospheric in the early morning before crowds arrive. Nakamise has good traditional craft shops. 1–2 hours. 📷 C4 Shadowchrome · 23mm+16mm

  • Meiji Shrine - Shinto Shrine / Forest. Built 1920 to honor Emperor Meiji. A 10-minute walk through dense forested path feels like leaving the city. Serene, quiet, and free. Pairs naturally with Harajuku (5-minute walk). 45 min. 📷 C1 Herzawg’s Portra · 23mm

  • Nezu Shrine - Shinto Shrine / Mini Torii / Quiet. A smaller, older Kyoto-style shrine in Tokyo — rows of orange torii gates climbing a small hill. Rarely crowded compared to Fushimi Inari. Late-April azalea blooms are exceptional. Near Yanaka, a preserved historic neighborhood. 45 min. 📷 C4 Shadowchrome · 23mm+16mm

Neighborhoods and Streets

  • Shibuya Crossing - Urban Spectacle / Neighborhood. The world’s busiest pedestrian crossing — 500,000 people per day. See it from street level in the scramble or from above (Mag’s Park rooftop or Starbucks window). Best at dusk when the neon kicks in. Scramble Square observation deck (paid) gives the cleanest aerial shot. 30 min for the view, longer if exploring Shibuya. 📷 C3 Teal Nights · 10-24mm+70-300mm

  • Shinjuku Gyoen - Park / Cherry Blossoms. Large national garden with multiple garden styles (Japanese, French, English). One of Tokyo’s top cherry blossom spots in early April. No alcohol allowed (a feature — it’s calmer than Yoyogi Park). 2–3 hours. 📷 C5 Cherry Blossoms · 23mm+70-300mm

  • Golden Gai - Bar Alley / Nightlife. Hundreds of tiny bars packed into six narrow lanes in Shinjuku — most seat 6–10 people. The experience is the bar itself: dim, intimate, idiosyncratic. Each has its own regulars and personality. Evening only; many don’t open until 8 or 9 PM. Walk in and pick one with a vibe you like. 📷 C3 Teal Nights · 23mm+27mm

Ticketed Experiences

  • TeamLab Planets - Digital Art / Immersive. Water-floor installation where you walk ankle-deep through mirrored rooms of projected light and movement. Truly unlike anything else. 60–90 min inside. Toyosu, short from Shimbashi. Advance booking required — see Decide Later. Ana’s must-do. 📷 C7 Fujipunk · 16mm+23mm

  • Ghibli Museum - Animation Museum / Family. Small, beautifully designed museum in Inokashirame Park dedicated to Studio Ghibli. Lottery tickets required; no walk-ups ever. Window may be closed for April dates — see Decide Later for current status.

  • Unicorn Gundam Statue - Landmark / Free. 19.7-meter RX-0 Unicorn Gundam at DiverCity Tokyo. Transforms on a schedule; evening performances at 19:00 and 20:30 are the highlight. Free. Ana’s must-see. 📷 C7 Fujipunk · 16mm+10-24mm

  • Gundam Base Tokyo - Flagship Store / DiverCity 7F. Largest official Gundam store in Japan — 2,000+ kits, Tokyo exclusives, annex on 2F, on-site Gunpla workshop. Same building as the Unicorn Gundam statue. Jeff & Ana. Plan 1–2 hours; build into the Odaiba evening sequence.

  • Odaiba Waterfront - Neighborhood / Bay Views. Artificial island with a relaxed pace, bay views of the Rainbow Bridge and skyline. Home to teamLab Planets, the Unicorn Gundam, DiverCity Mall, and Venus Fort. Works as a half-day cluster combining multiple destinations. Easy via Yurikamome monorail from Shimbashi. 📷 C7 Fujipunk · 16mm+23mm

Neighborhoods

  • Ginza District - Neighborhood Cluster. Watch dealers (Jeff/Matt), Itoya stationery (Jeannette), free galleries, Ginza Six atrium, Tsukiji Outer Market, Yurakucho yakitori alley. Full-day cluster or half-day combination. 📷 C2 Bright Retro · 23mm+27mm

  • Shimokitazawa - Vintage Shopping / Neighborhood. Tokyo’s best vintage neighborhood — narrow pedestrian streets, 20+ independent curated vintage stores, record shops, lived-in cafes. Ana’s top Tokyo pick. Shops open from noon; 2–4 hours minimum. ~35 min from house via Shinagawa → Shibuya → Keio Inokashira Line.

Day Hikes

  • Day Hikes - Tokyo Area - Outdoor / Half Day or Full Day. Mt. Takao (599m, 90 min from Shinjuku, cable car option, Matt-grade easy), Okutama (remote valley hiking, full day), and others. Weather-dependent; best paired with the weather playbook. 📷 C1 Herzawg’s Portra · 23mm+16mm

14 items under this folder.