I have contacted and conducted research on various tour operators. I only recommend land tour packages I would join, would put my own loved ones on, or have actually gone on myself.

This uniquely themed tour is perfect for pop culture lovers looking to enjoy modern and traditional Japan during the cool colorful autumn season. Take the stress out of planning and focus on having a fun time with other like-minded travelers and a knowledgeable guide!

✿ June 16, 2024 — June 25, 2024 (US$3598 per person, per twin/double/triple room)

✿ September 1, 2024 — September 10, 2024 (US$3598 per person)

✿ March 24, 2025 — April 2, 2025 (US$3798 per person)

✿ June 16, 2025 — June 25, 2025 (US$3598 per person)

✿September 1, 2025 — September 12, 2025 (US$3598 per person)

✿ Message me for available discounts 🤫

✿ US$200 per person deposit

✿ Remaining balance is due 2 months prior to departure

✿ Transportation and travel fees between destinations are included

✿ Breakfast everyday and some lunches are included

✿ Flights are not included, but can be booked separately

Itinerary at a Glance:

Day 1 Arrive in Tokyo

Day 2 Tokyo
Day 3 Tokyo
Day 4 Tokyo—>Hakone
Day 5 Hakone—>Nagoya
Day 6 Nagoya
Day 7 Iga Ueno—>Kyoto
Day 8 Kyoto
Day 9 Osaka
Day 10 Tour ends

May's Highlights:

✿ Sake tasting 🍶

✿ Exploring popular districts in Tokyo 🗼

✿ Kimono wearing in Kyoto 👘

✿ Unique cafes ☕️

✿ The right amount of shrines, temples, & castles ⛩️

✿ Golden Gai & izakaya 🍻

✿ Super Potato & gaccha gaccha machines 🕹️

✿ Shopping! Shopping! Shopping! 🛍️

Got a question? Fill out this form to contact me!

✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿

Check out the tour experiences HERE

Day 1 - Arrive in Tokyo:

Dedicated to arrival only! Check into your hotel around 2:00PM-3:00PM and enjoy the rest of your day.

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ikebukuro Higashiguchi or similar class

Day 2 - Tokyo:

Asakusa - Sensoji Temple / Nakamise District
Akihabara - Anime District / Conveyor Belt Sushi / Anime Stores / Anime Cafes {Optional} / Maid Cafés {Optional}

In the morning, travel using public transportation to Tokyo, starting with Asakusa Kannon Temple. Enter through the Kaminarimon “Thunder Gate” underneath an enormous red paper lantern. Walk through the Nakamise Market – a street lined with shops selling traditional goods of all kinds, before approaching Sensoji Temple; Tokyo’s oldest temple and shrine complex.

Next, head to Akihabara Electric Town and enjoy colorful characters and flashy displays from stores and arcades lining the streets. Begin with lunch at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. Lastly, explore various shops and find merchandise related to your favorite anime.

Optional (costs are not included) - Visit a cafe that celebrates Akihabara's anime culture, with cool or kawaii decor and food or drinks designed after popular anime characters. Some cafes are themed to a particular anime, such as the Gundam Cafe. Akihabara also has the best maid cafes around, so you have the option to experience an otaku subculture where you will be served kawaii food and drink by a cute maid in a cafe.

Breakfast / Lunch

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ikebukuro Higashiguchi or similar class

Day 3 - Tokyo:

Ikebukuro - Ramen Tour {lunch on own} / Sunshine District / Otome Road / Animate Ikebukuro / Sunshine City / Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo
Shinjuku - Pachinko / Kabukicho & Golden Gai Food Tour {Dinner on own}

Begin a tour of the Ikebukuro and Shinjuku areas using public transportation. Enjoy a Ramen Tour of Ikebukuro where your guide will show you the best, tastiest ramen spots in town, after which you are free to choose the ramen lunch that you find most appetizing. Next, walk down the famous Otome Road which is the best place to find popular shoujo manga and anime. Nearby is the Animate Ikebukuro store - one of the largest anime, manga, and otaku stores in Tokyo. From there go to Sunshine City entertainment complex – featuring department stores, an aquarium, museum, planetarium, indoor theme parks, and more. Pokémon otakus will enjoy the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo store.

Finally, travel to Shinjuku, first to try our luck at Pachinko, a form of legal, low-stakes gambling on a machine that plays like a mix between a colorful arcade pinball machine and a modern slot machine. After, take a Food Tour of Kabukicho and Golden Gai, a red-light district that is the center of the Tokyo nightlife scene with its collection of old fashioned izakaya restaurants. Here, your guide will show you the very best izakayas in the area, after which you will be free to find dinner that appeals to you the most.

Breakfast

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ikebukuro Higashiguchi or similar class

Day 4 - Tokyo:

Tsukiji Outer Market / Imperial Palace East Garden / Nakano Broadway
Harajuku - Takeshita District / Omotesando
Shibuya - Shibuya Crossing / Hachiko Statue

After breakfast, make your way to the Tsukiji Outer Market, filled with shops and restaurants where you can try fresh produce and other food-related goods. Then visit the Imperial Palace East Garden, where the ruins of old Edo castle sit near a Japanese landscape garden. We proceed from there to Nakano Broadway, where you will be able to explore different anime and otaku shops such as Mandarake.

Next, visit the fashion district of Harajuku, where Takeshita District and Omotesando beckon to visitors to shop in their trendy stores.

Make way to Shibuya to see hundreds of people cross the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing and see the statue of the loyal dog Hachiko. In the afternoon, transfer to Hakone to check in at the hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening including dinner and a local onsen hot spring.

Breakfast / Dinner

Itoen Hotel Hakone Yumoto or similar class

Notes: We will courier your big baggage from Tokyo to your hotel in Nagoya (Included for up to one piece of baggage per person). Please pack your essentials for 1 night in a small bag to carry with you to Hakone.

Day 5 - Hakone:

Lake Ashi Cruise Pirate Ship / Hakone Ropeway / Owakudani / Evangelion Store
Shinkansen Bullet Train to Nagoya.

Today, visit Hakone, a part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which is known for its breathtaking natural beauty. Fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion will recognize it as the location of Tokyo-3. Take a cruise of Lake Ashi on a replica Pirate Ship and appreciate Hakone's landscape, which includes the vermillion red gate of Hakone Shrine, and iconic Mount Fuji (if the weather is clear). Next, ride the scenic Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani, where visitors will have the chance to see hot springs and sulfurous fumes along the trails of an active volcanic zone. Then visit the Hakone Yamato Evangelion Store, to find various souvenirs commemorating Neon Genesis Evangelion.

From there we take a Shinkansen bullet train to a hotel in Nagoya, and check in for a relaxing evening.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Sunroute Plaza Nagoya or similar class

Day 6 - Nagoya (free for leisure):

Visit the Ghibli Park on your own (we can help you purchase the tickets in advance but not guaranteed) or join your guide for a food and anime store-hopping tour in Sakae and Osu area.

Today is free to explore Nagoya on your own, but there are day itineraries for you to choose ; a day on your own at the new Ghibli Park to explore one or more of the three areas: the Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest, and Ghibli Grand Warehouse (each ticketed separately). AJT is able to help you purchase tickets, though obtaining them is not guaranteed due to Ghibli Park's guest capacity limits.

Alternatively, join a guide on a special walking tour that is part foodie tour / part anime store- hopping tour, in the Sakae and Osu areas. Sakae is Nagoya's downtown district; a center for shopaholics with a broad variety of dining and entertainment options. Visit top local anime stores like the Shonen Jump Store and Pokémon Center Nagoya. In Village Vanguard, you'll find (in addition to books) a broad array of odd, eccentric items including novelty pillows plush backpacks, nifty character keychains, and much more. The Nagoya Book Off is the best place to find Japanese manga at super-low prices. After exploring Sakae, stroll down to Osu Shopping Street, full of shopping arcades near Nagoya station, including Mandarake, Super Potato, Jungle Nagoya, Gee! Store Nagoya, and Capsule House. Mandarake sells otaku goods including manga and old- fashioned 80s-style figurines. Super Potato is devoted almost exclusively to Nintendo-related merchandise. Jungle Nagoya is the perfect place to find the figurines to round out your collection. Gee! Store Nagoya sells a broad variety of otaku goods, including a section devoted to cosplay outfits. Capsule House is stacked wall-to-wall with "gacha" capsule machines, where you'll find an impressive array of cute oddities.

Breakfast

Hotel Sunroute Plaza Nagoya or similar class

Day 7 - Iga Ueno & Kyoto:

Iga Ueno - Iga Ninja Museum
Kyoto - Kiyomizu Temple / Kimono Experience / Gion Geisha District

After breakfast, travel to the Ninja Museum of Iga Ueno which consists of a ninja residence, two exhibition halls, and a stage which hosts ninja shows. The ninja residence have been devised with revolving walls, trap doors, and hidden compartments.

Then visit the famous Kiyomizu Temple, best known for its wooden stage that juts out 13 meters above the hillside below and offers a beautiful view of trees and of Kyoto in the distance. Experience wearing traditional clothing of Japan—Kimono—which are still widely popular to wear for important and formal events. It is also common to don the Kimono when visiting Kyoto to further enjoy the traditional atmosphere of the city. We will end our day in the Gion Geisha District, where its streets are lined with ochaya (teahouses), exclusive establishments where guests are entertained by the mysterious Geisha and Maiko.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Keihan Kyoto Hachijyoguchi or similar class

Day 8 - Kyoto:

Kosanji Temple / Arashiyama Bamboo Grove / Golden Pavilion / Fushimi Inari Shrine / Fushimi Sake District Sake Tasting

After breakfast, visit Kosanji Temple, a Shingon Buddhist Temple that is home to the Choju-jinbutsu-giga, also known as "Scrolls of Frolicking Animals and Humans," which is considered the oldest manga in Japan. Next, visit the Arashiyama district and walk a path through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, a densely packed forest of towering bamboo stalks. Then visit the Golden Pavilion, an iconic Zen Buddhist temple built by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. The upper stories of the temple are covered entirely in gold, and topped with a shimmering gold phoenix. The tour will continue to the picturesque Fushimi Inari Shrine, known for its long tunnel of vermillion torii gates, which were featured in the film "Memoirs of a Geisha." From there, head to the Fushimi Inari Sake District, one of Japan’s preeminent sake producing districts for hundreds of years. The district is home to rows of old-fashioned buildings housing over 40 traditional sake breweries. Many of these breweries offer limited sake tasting opportunities for visiting guests eager to try the delicious local brews.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Keihan Kyoto Hachijyoguchi or similar class

Day 9 - Osaka:

Osaka Castle / Kuromon Market / Shinsekai Street Food Tour (2 street foods & 1 dessert included) / Nipponbashi Den Den Town / Dotonbori

Today travel from Kyoto to Osaka, at first to tour magnificent Osaka Castle, built by the legendary samurai warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It is one of Japan's most iconic castles and is considered a National Treasure. Next, we go to Kuromon Market to experience Osaka’s food culture. Osaka is known as the city of “Kuidaore” or “to eat until you drop,” and you will be able to stroll Kumaon’s covered outdoor shopping arcade and sample the fresh and delicious seafood delicacies, produce, and sweets throughout the vibrant market area. Then we take a Food Tour of Shinsekai, or "New World," a nostalgic shopping district inspired by the Western cities Paris and New York, and features Tsutenkaku Tower. Then we visit Nipponbashi Den Den Town, the Akihabara of Osaka, where anime fans can find excellent manga and anime merchandise within colorful shops. Finally, we visit the colorful, neon-lit entertainment district of Dotonbori. This area is popularly known for being the heart of the city's food culture, filled with numerous restaurants and eye- catching billboards, including the world-famous Glico "Running Man."

Breakfast

Ibis Osaka Umeda Hotel or similar class

Day 10 - Tour ends

After breakfast, a guide will be available for assistance to the airport or onward travel in Japan.

Breakfast

✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿

Cancellation Policy:

You may cancel the Reservation in writing at any time. If you cancel the Reservation or fail to pay the price in accordance with the payment terms above, then the right to charge cancellation fees as follows:

The US$200 per person deposit is non-refundable; however, we can transfer the deposit to a future tour for up to 2 years.

If cancelling more than two months before departure, then a full refund minus the deposit is issued. 30 days to 59 days before Departure date: 50% of the price 15 days to 29 days before Departure Date: 75% of the price 14 days or less before Departure Date: 100% of the price

The date of cancellation shall be deemed to be the date on which written notice of cancellation is received.

Travelers insurance is highly recommended. In the event that you are unable to go or finish your tour due to COVID or natural disaster, we can provide the necessary documents so that you can file a claim with your insurance

✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿❀✿

What’s next?

Please provide your name, total number of party members (including yourself), and the airport you plan to fly in and out . I will send you a quote. If all is fine and dandy, I’ll send you a secure link asking about traveler and payment information so that I can secure your spot on the tour. In about 2 business days, I will send the confirmation invoice along with any additional steps. I can book flights at anytime (although 4-5 months prior is ideal). Two months prior to departure, the remaining balance is due. One month before your tour, you will receive a tour package complete with local emergency contacts in Japan, your very own detailed itinerary, and a handy travelers handbook. Then you go and enjoy your tour woohoo!!!

Why travel with an agent instead of booking directly?

I act as your advocate and ensure that the entire booking process is smooth and within your goals. Plus, my services are FREE! Utilize my knowledge and experience. All you have to do is reach out and get excited for your adventure!

If you’re ready to join, fill out this form or send me an email :)

- May Hamamoto

hellomayfieldnotes@gmail.com

An Independent Affiliate of A. S. A. P. Cruises Inc., Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No. ST15578 - CST 2090937-50 – Washington UBID No. 603189022

Home