Japan 2023 - Week 1 of 2

We have been planning a trip to Japan since 2020, us together with our Luzon and Maduli friends. However, it's been postponed again and again due to various reasons. This time though, because of my impending chemotherapy which can potentially run up to end 2025, Lani and I decided we'd push this trip forward and have a last hurrah before we face on this health trial.

And so right after we confirmed the cancer diagnosis on the 14th of Sep, we quickly planned our itinerary and started booking all that we could. We found cheap direct flights on 26 Sep returning 11 Oct so we drew up a 16-day, 4-legged holiday to Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka, with a day trip to Hiroshima. Sixteen days to really enjoy Japan, and boy we did!

Day 1 - Sep 26, Tue

Left home at 8am. Thanks to ka Dennis for ubering us to the airport.
At airport check-in we had a bit of a scare because the kids' passports where expired in Mar 2024, 5 months away. So the crew had to check if we will be allowed in. Thankfully, Japan didn't have any restrictions on passport validity.
After clearing immigration and baggage checks, we had our breakfast inside the airport. McDo, KFC, and sandwiches.
Flight left a little past 12pm. The ANA plane had entertainment systems on each seat and had really good legroom. Luckily our flight wasn't full as we were very comfortable.
We arrived at Haneda Airport around 8:45pm
Outside the airport, we bought our Suica cards and left at 9:30pm via monorail and 2 train transfers.
The kids quickly learned of the numerous vending machines and how easy it is to buy stuff using their Suica cards. Buying drinks would be a common theme throughout the trip. Erin took a liking to one particular apple juice brand and she's walk to every vending machine to find that juice.
Arrived at Kinschicho train station and walked about 750m to our Airbnb.
Bought food from the convenience stores along the way and checked in at around 10:30pm in Unit 1303.

Day 2 - Sep 27, Wed

Disneyland day!
Left airbnb at 8:30am and walked to the train station.
Headed to Tokyo station to exchange our JR rail passes, which will be our train tickets for the next 14 days.
At 9:50am, we were back on the train headed to Disneyland
There were very little queues getting to Disney so we were able to enjoy the rides right away.
Around 1pm, we watched the parade along the main street. After the parade, we were buying food when I realised I lost my JR Rail Pass - a $450 ticket which I needed for the next 14 days, and one that was not refundable and non-exchangable. Gosh!
Thankfully, a kind Japanese person found my ticket and returned it to lost and found.
After the 8:30pm fireworks, we left Disneyland and headed back home.
Dinner was bought from the stalls at Tokyo Station
Arrived home at 10:00pm

Day 3 - Sep 28, Thu

We decided to move our DisneySea trip to Saturday coz we were so tired of walking the whole day. Little did we know, we were gonna do the same every day for the rest of the trip. We averaged 26,000 steps daily throughout our holiday.
Left home at 8am to catch the 11am worship service at Local of Tokyo.
During one of the train transfers, we met with the Timbang family who were also in holiday and on the way to worship service.
After church, we enjoyed an authentic Japanese Lunch at Tokyo station with the Timbangs
After that, we went our separate ways. We headed to the Emperial Palace.
We didn't know where the right entrance is, so we ended at the East Garden which was huge.
We got tired of all the walking so we headed back to airbnb at 5pm
Lani and me went out and around Kinshicho shopping district
At 7:30pm we went out with the kids again, this time heading to Akihabara to enjoy the anime shops
We ate dinner at Jonathan’s on the way back. I love this place. Free-flow drinks - and there were plenty to choose from - a robot serving the food, and great food!

Day 4 - Sep 29, Fri

Left at 9am to walk more than a kilometer to Skytree
After viewing at the Skytree deck, we went and enjoyed the Sweets Event and Mcdo at the mall downstairs
Took the train to Asakusa to visited Senso-ji Temple and enjoyed the food at the street market
Train and bus to Teamlabs Planet
Train again to Ochanomizu Guitar Street to look for a guitar. Didn't buy anything though.
Early dinner at Lottera where Ethan and I had 4-dan burgers.
Train again to Shibuya Crossing to see Hatchico the loyal dog and walk around the shops.
Train back to Akihabara to buy toys and souvenirs
Back to airbnb at 9:30pm

Day 5 - Sep 30, Sat

Early rise to catch the train to Disneysea
We learned our lesson, so we took the monorail to the park this time. There was a longer queue to the entrance as it was a Saturday
Enjoy a lot of the rides here, specially the Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
The kids learned that they can skip the queue if they go as single riders, so they did that a lot
After enjoying the rest of the park, we headed back and got to our Airbnb at 8:30pm

Day 6 - Oct 1, Sun

Checked out of our Airbnb at 8am as we were moving on the Hakone
Train to Nishi-oi to attend worship service at Local of Shinagawa
I though all stations had coin lockers. Unfortunately, this one didn't, so we ended up pulling all of our luggage through the 1km, 17mins walk to the church. And back to the train after.
Train to Shinagawa at 11:30am to catch the Shinkansen
Shinkansen to Odawara, entrance to Hakone
Train to Hakone-Yumoto station.
Scenic train to Gora. Oldest mountain railway in Japan
Cable car to Sounzan, then ropeway to Togendai with views of Mt Fuji and Sulphur Mines
Took the Sightseeing Cruise from Togendai to Hakone Machiko Checkpoint
Then rode the 22-min Bus back to Hakone Yumoto station
Dinner at 7-11
Then 34-min bus to our Airbnb
After a brief walk in wilderness, we arrived around 7:30pm at Ryokan Chojuyu Hakone, an old Japanese style accommodation with 3 onsen hot spring baths.
A settled in room 202 and were asleep on the floor mattresses by 9pm

Day 7 - Oct 2, Mon

Early rise from me and Lani to enjoy the onsen bath
Left accomodation at 9:30am to continue our Hakone tour
Short bus ride to Togendai
10am Breakfast at Togendai View Restaurant. Good food and atmosphere. Limited choices thought until 11am
Boarded the sightseeing cruise to the checkpoint at 10:45am
Took the bus to Mishima Sky Walk to try the 400m hanging bridge with views of Mt Fuji.
Ice creams, ice shaves, and cheesecake drinks at Skywalk park
Around 2pm, we took the bus to Mishima Station and then train to Odawara to collect our luggage from the coin lockers
We then took the Shinkansen to Kyoto and transferred towards Nijo station
We arrived 7:30pm at Urban Hotel Kyoto, room 4022.
Then had dinner at Teoshoku Yayoi restaurant near Nijo station