Sep 26 (Sat)
TodayIn transit
Depart Calgary 14:50 (WS 80, seats 31C/31D), a 10 h 30 min flight. Overnight in transit.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π¨ Tosei Hotel Cocone Tsukiji Ginza Premier
Arrive Tokyo Narita 16:20 (Terminal 1). Check in Tosei Hotel, Tsukiji/Ginza (check-in 15:00β00:00, so a late arrival is fine).
β
To do
- βChad: get a Welcome Suica card first thing at Narita, before the train. Machines are in the arrivals area; 7-Eleven doesn't issue cards, but its Seven Bank ATMs give yen and can top up a card. Load Β₯2,000β3,000 (loading is cash). It lasts 28 days and any leftover balance isn't refundable.
- βTessa: pay with Suica in Apple Wallet if it's set up (needs a card in Wallet); otherwise get a Welcome Suica too.
- βClear immigration + customs with the Visit Japan Web QR codes (Tessa's is still to do).
π Narita Airport β Tosei Hotel (Tsukiji)
- Follow signs to Keisei Narita Airport Station (Terminal 1, basement).
- Take the Keisei Access Express (γ’γ―γ»γΉηΉζ₯), the one that continues onto the Asakusa Line toward Haneda Airport. Not the Skyliner, which goes to Ueno/Nippori. Check the departure board.
- Ride about 62 min, no change, to Higashi-Ginza.
- At Higashi-Ginza, switch to the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, one stop to Tsukiji, then about a 7 min walk from Exit 1 to the hotel (Tsukiji 6-23-8). Or skip the Hibiya line and walk or taxi from Higashi-Ginza.
- Cost
- Β₯1,318 each on Suica/IC (Β₯1,330 for a paper ticket) = βΒ₯2,640 for two. Add βΒ₯180 each if you take the Hibiya line = βΒ₯3,000 total.
- How to pay
- Tap Suica at the gates. Paper tickets are cash or card at the Keisei machines, but the IC fare is cheaper and faster.
If you're on a train around 17:45, you should reach the hotel around 19:00β19:30. That's an estimate, and immigration is the wild card.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Tokyo (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Tsukiji Outer Market β breakfast sushi & street food
- β’Senso-ji temple & Nakamise shopping street, Asakusa
- β’Shibuya Sky observation deck at sunset
- β’teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless digital art
- β’Meiji Jingu shrine, then Harajuku's Takeshita Street
- β’Golden Gai or Omoide Yokocho for tiny izakaya bars
π¨ Tosei Hotel Cocone Tsukiji Ginza Premier
Tokyo.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Tokyo (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Tsukiji Outer Market β breakfast sushi & street food
- β’Senso-ji temple & Nakamise shopping street, Asakusa
- β’Shibuya Sky observation deck at sunset
- β’teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless digital art
- β’Meiji Jingu shrine, then Harajuku's Takeshita Street
- β’Golden Gai or Omoide Yokocho for tiny izakaya bars
π¨ Tosei Hotel Cocone Tsukiji Ginza Premier
Tokyo.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Tokyo (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Tsukiji Outer Market β breakfast sushi & street food
- β’Senso-ji temple & Nakamise shopping street, Asakusa
- β’Shibuya Sky observation deck at sunset
- β’teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless digital art
- β’Meiji Jingu shrine, then Harajuku's Takeshita Street
- β’Golden Gai or Omoide Yokocho for tiny izakaya bars
π¨ Tosei Hotel Cocone Tsukiji Ginza Premier
Tokyo.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Tokyo (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Tsukiji Outer Market β breakfast sushi & street food
- β’Senso-ji temple & Nakamise shopping street, Asakusa
- β’Shibuya Sky observation deck at sunset
- β’teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless digital art
- β’Meiji Jingu shrine, then Harajuku's Takeshita Street
- β’Golden Gai or Omoide Yokocho for tiny izakaya bars
π¨ Apartment Hotel 11 Yasaka
Check out Tokyo β Kyoto via shinkansen (Nozomi 245, departs Tokyo Station 09:09, arrives Kyoto 11:21 (2 h 12 min), Car 3 seats 7-D/7-E, Klook BGG516118). Check in Apartment Hotel 11 Yasaka.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Kyoto (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Fushimi Inari β the thousand torii gates, early morning to beat crowds
- β’Arashiyama bamboo grove + Tenryu-ji temple
- β’Kiyomizu-dera and a walk through Higashiyama's old streets
- β’Gion district in the evening β chance of spotting a geiko
- β’Nishiki Market for Kyoto-style street food
- β’Fushimi sake district for a tasting walk
π¨ Apartment Hotel 11 Yasaka
Kyoto. teamLab Biovortex, 10:00β10:30 entry slot (2 adults, Β₯9,600, inquiry no. KYAWU47PYUWJR-0001) β 21-5 Higashikujo Higashi-Iwamotocho, Minami-ku.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Kyoto (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Fushimi Inari β the thousand torii gates, early morning to beat crowds
- β’Arashiyama bamboo grove + Tenryu-ji temple
- β’Kiyomizu-dera and a walk through Higashiyama's old streets
- β’Gion district in the evening β chance of spotting a geiko
- β’Nishiki Market for Kyoto-style street food
- β’Fushimi sake district for a tasting walk
π¨ KOKO HOTEL Osaka Namba Sennichimae
Check out Kyoto β Osaka by commuter train. Nothing to book: no reservations, just tap in. Check in KOKO Hotel Namba.
π Option A (easiest from Yasaka): Keihan β Midosuji line
- Keihan Main Line limited express from Gion-Shijo to Yodoyabashi (about 50 min).
- Change to the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line south to Namba.
- Walk to KOKO Hotel Namba Sennichimae.
- Cost
- βΒ₯490 each for the Keihan + βΒ₯240 each for the Metro = βΒ₯730 each, βΒ₯1,460 for two.
- How to pay
- Tap Suica/ICOCA at every gate, all three systems accept it. Or buy paper tickets at the machines (cash).
π Option B (fastest): JR Special Rapid
- From Kyoto Station, JR Special Rapid Service to Osaka Station (28 min, only 4 stops).
- Midosuji Line from Umeda to Namba (about 10 min).
- Cost
- Β₯580 each for the JR + βΒ₯240 each for the Metro = βΒ₯820 each, βΒ₯1,640 for two.
- How to pay
- Tap Suica/ICOCA, or paper tickets at the machines (cash).
Kyoto Station is a further trip from the Yasaka hotel, so add that.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Osaka (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Dotonbori at night β glico sign, street food, canal walk
- β’Osaka Castle grounds
- β’Kuromon Ichiba Market for fresh seafood and skewers
- β’Shinsekai neighborhood + Tsutenkaku Tower
- β’Day trip to Nara for the deer park (1 hr by train)
π¨ KOKO HOTEL Osaka Namba Sennichimae
Osaka.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Osaka (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Dotonbori at night β glico sign, street food, canal walk
- β’Osaka Castle grounds
- β’Kuromon Ichiba Market for fresh seafood and skewers
- β’Shinsekai neighborhood + Tsutenkaku Tower
- β’Day trip to Nara for the deer park (1 hr by train)
π¨ Nest Hotel Naha Nishi (Stay 1)
Check out Osaka β fly KIX β Okinawa OKA (GK 357, 15:25, 2 h 15 min). Check in Nest Hotel Naha (Stay 1).
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Okinawa (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Shurijo Castle grounds, Naha
- β’Kokusai-dori street for shopping & okonomiyaki-style Okinawa soba
- β’Churaumi Aquarium (day trip, ~2 hrs north of Naha)
- β’Snorkeling or a boat trip out to the Kerama Islands
- β’Cape Manzamo cliffs
π¨ Guesthouse Iyonchi
Check out Nest Hotel Naha β ferry to Zamami Island (Ferry Zamami 3, depart Tomari Port 10:00, about 2 h, Reservation #43). Check in Guesthouse Iyonchi.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Okinawa (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Shurijo Castle grounds, Naha
- β’Kokusai-dori street for shopping & okonomiyaki-style Okinawa soba
- β’Churaumi Aquarium (day trip, ~2 hrs north of Naha)
- β’Snorkeling or a boat trip out to the Kerama Islands
- β’Cape Manzamo cliffs
π¨ Guesthouse Iyonchi
Zamami Island. SUP & Snorkel Tour with TINAJUN, 10:00 β staff pickup at Zamami Port (look for the TINAJUN sign after the ferry). Schedule may shift with weather/sea conditions.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Okinawa (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Shurijo Castle grounds, Naha
- β’Kokusai-dori street for shopping & okonomiyaki-style Okinawa soba
- β’Churaumi Aquarium (day trip, ~2 hrs north of Naha)
- β’Snorkeling or a boat trip out to the Kerama Islands
- β’Cape Manzamo cliffs
π¨ Nest Hotel Naha Nishi (Stay 2)
Ferry back to Naha (Ferry Zamami 3, depart Zamami Port 14:00, about 2 h, Reservation #15) β check in Nest Hotel Naha (Stay 2).
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Okinawa (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Shurijo Castle grounds, Naha
- β’Kokusai-dori street for shopping & okonomiyaki-style Okinawa soba
- β’Churaumi Aquarium (day trip, ~2 hrs north of Naha)
- β’Snorkeling or a boat trip out to the Kerama Islands
- β’Cape Manzamo cliffs
π¨ Ginza Capital Hotel Moegi
Check out Nest Hotel β fly OKA β Tokyo NRT (GK 332, arrive 14:55, 2 h 40 min). Check in Ginza Capital Hotel Moegi, Tsukiji.
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.
π‘ Ideas for Tokyo (not booked β tap to see suggestions)
- β’Tsukiji Outer Market β breakfast sushi & street food
- β’Senso-ji temple & Nakamise shopping street, Asakusa
- β’Shibuya Sky observation deck at sunset
- β’teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless digital art
- β’Meiji Jingu shrine, then Harajuku's Takeshita Street
- β’Golden Gai or Omoide Yokocho for tiny izakaya bars
Oct 10 (Sat)
TodayIn transit
Depart Tokyo Narita 18:30 (WS 81, 9 h 10 min) β arrive Calgary 12:40 (same day, thanks to the date line).
π What we're doing
Nothing planned yet.