First time in Japan, charmed and fascinated.
Friendly faces, a foreign yet warm language,
Guiding me through the city’s vibrant swarm.
Streets so clean, they gleam like polished gold.
In this vibrant city, cherished memories are found.
My Japan Tokyo vlog
行前準備 preparation
Flight bookings: Remember to book the tickets correctly, especially the name spelling and passport number, because I typed my girlfriend’s name incorrectly until the day before the flight, and we only realized the mistake then.
hotels: Because the great hotels tend to get fully booked quickly, we used booking.com and agoda.com to compare prices and make reservations.
Weather: When we arrived, it was really hot, but three days later, it became quite chilly, with temperatures at about 20 degrees Celsius.
clothing & Necessity:
What to Pack for Japan: 8 Essential Things for a Hassle-Free Trip | LIVE JAPAN travel guide
Day schedule
Day 1 : Taiwan to Japan
Our plane is departed at 14:25, and arrival time is 18:50.
When we arrived at Japan’s Narita International Airport (成田国際空港), my suitcase was broken. We checked into the hotel first and then went to a nearby barbecue restaurant called一頭牛燒肉 房家
Day 2 : 鎌倉 Kamakura & 江ノ島 Enoshima
It’s a cool coastal town just an hour from Tokyo by train. We kicked off at 8:00 AM, and the streets were still pretty quiet.
We made a stop at this cute bakery inside 品川 Shinagawa station for some yummy mini sandwiches. Can you believe how fresh and tasty they were? Oh, and remember, no munching while walking in Japan, so we sat down to enjoy.
By 10 AM, we hit Kamakura, the weather was kinda cloudy, but it felt nice. As soon as you step out the station, you’ll spot this Torii gate marking the start of the famous 小町Komachi Dori shopping street小町通.
We tried matcha ice cream for the first time in Japan, and it was super tasty on a chilling day like this!
The shops here were adorable, selling local goodies like scents, crystal jewelry, honey, and more.
Further down, we came across the 鶴岡八幡宮Shirahata shrine. It had this ancient, serene vibe that made us feel so calm.
Next up was the Great Buddha at 鎌倉大佛殿高德院Kotokuin temple. This spot is a must-see, full of vibes and history that are totally special.
And then, I tried these sweet soy sauce dumplings. The owner was super kind and even treated us to some free matcha tea.
If you’re into anime, you might recognize the famous 鐮倉高校前Kamakurakokomae crossing. We got there at noon, so getting a pic without someone’s head in it was a bit of a challenge. Tip: for awesome pics, go early on a weekday!
I was starving, so we hit a local ramen shop Enoshima Black Ramen MENGA. My girlfriend went for beef rice, and I got soy sauce ramen - both hit the spot.
Finally, we wrapped up the day at 江之島大橋 Enoshima Island, right around sunset. The view was absolutely breathtaking! The island’s connected by a bridge and has so much to explore. There are tons of souvenir shops by those torii gates and on the road leading to Enoshima Shrine. And trust me, the treats here are unique and totally worth a try!
Heading back to Ueno, we had grilled eel over rice for dinner, it’s really delicious. Let’s call it a day!
Day 3 : 銀座 Ginza & Teamlab
We went to the 皇居 Kokyo Higashi Gyoen Garden near Tokyo Station, right by the Imperial Palace. It’s a super cool and quiet place, but we couldn’t actually go inside the palace, so we just strolled around the garden.
Around 10 in the morning, we visited Ginza and explored the area. There’s a time when the street is only for pedestrians, with no cars allowed. It’s filled with upscale stores and renowned restaurants. We checked out Uniqlo and MUJI, and let me tell you, they have everything you could want. I even bought some clothes there; it’s like a shopping paradise.
For lunch, we tried some local Ramen at 銀座 嚆矢. The soup was quite robust, and I loved it, but my girlfriend found it a bit too salty.
Lastly, we visited TeamLab Planets. Make sure you book your tickets ahead of time, or you’ll have to wait in line forever. It was crowded, but completely worth it. You have to immerse yourself in the entire experience, and it’s kind of mysterious and cool. You can feel the lights and sounds throughout your whole body, even the ground, the water, and the floor. It was my first time experiencing something like that, and it felt like a complete miracle.
Day 4 : 原宿 Harajuku、新宿 Shinjuku + 涉谷 Shibuya
We arrived at 明治神宮 at about 9 in the morning. It’s tranquil but bustling with people, and the shrine itself exudes peace. This place is renowned for the 明治維新 (Meiji Restoration), which aimed to merge “modern advances” with traditional “eastern” values.
Around 10:30, we visited some thrift stores in Harajuku. I didn’t purchase any clothes, but I would definitely recommend checking them out. There are some cool streets and hidden spots in that area.
Lunchtime! We had sushi at this somewhat hidden place, Sanaka. It’s a small restaurant, but the food is fantastic for the price. We didn’t have to wait too long, but when we left, there was a line forming outside.
Later, we swung by Shibuya around 3:30. There were so many people; it felt like the whole world was crossing the Shibuya intersection, 渋谷スクランブル交差点. We visited some stores, including the Disney shop. I ended up finding some affordable shoes at ABC-Mart. We had intended to go to the Shibuya Sky, but it was crowded, so we just relaxed at the Starbucks right above the crossing. Watching everyone pass by was quite enjoyable.
We headed back to Ueno and had some tasty and affordable fried pork chops とんかつ山家 上野店
. That pretty much wrapped up our day.
Day 5: 富士山 Mount Fuji + 歌舞伎町 kabukicho + 藥妝 Drugstore
We joined a KKdays trip that took us from Shinjuku to Mount Fuji. The package included tickets, a tour guide, and transportation, but it did not cover food or drinks.
Our first stop was 新倉山淺間公園 Yamanashi Kankou , just a 5-10 minute walk from Shimo-Yoshida Station 下吉田. I was captivated by the view from the temple, even though the top of Fuji was obscured by clouds, and there was no snow. It didn’t look as spectacular as the photos I had seen.
Next, we hit up Shimoyoshida Honcho Street(Fuji Scenic View)
, a famous spot for photos. But with so many tourists on the road, it was getting tricky for the locals. Let’s all follow the rules and not bother the folks who live here. We managed to snap a few pics, and luckily, the cloud didn’t cover Fuji’s peak.
For lunch, we went to 忍野八海 Shibokusa, where they have a famous pool that’s 8 meters deep and super clear. We had sweet soy sauce dumplings, ice cream, and beef barbecue.
Our final stop was 西湖 療癒之里 根場, famous for 合掌屋Gassho-zukuri. We checked out some stores and strolled through the village. It was so peaceful and made us feel grateful.
We got back to Shinjuku before 5:30 PM and took a walk in 日本〒160-0021 東京都新宿區歌舞伎町. We found a drugstore and went on a shopping spree, spending nearly 40,000 JPY.
For dinner, we chose a place called 炸牛排本村(新宿ALTA後側店). We waited for about an hour, but it was totally worth it. The beef was crispy on the outside and tender inside, and you could cook it to your liking on the iron panel in front of you. It was super yummy.
I loved this trip because it saved us the hassle of booking tickets from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and planning out our day at the tourist spots.
Day 6: DisneySea
We got up at around 6:30 AM and took the subway from Ueno to Disneysea, arriving at about 7:30 AM. The train from Maihama to Disneysea is really cute inside. Since there are a lot of people, I would suggest arriving early. Around 8 AM, the entrance began to open. I strongly recommend going for the popular rides as soon as you enter the park because if you spend too much time shopping or walking slowly, you’ll end up waiting forever. Here are some of the top rides:
- Journey to the Centre of the Earth (9/10)
- Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull (10/10)
- Toy Story Mania! (100/10)
- Soaring: Fantastic Flight (Unfortunately, We did not play because too many people there!!)
* A Guide to Tokyo DisneySea: Best Rides and Snacks
* 14 Best Tokyo DisneySea Rides for Adults
Now, let’s talk about the must-eat stuff at Tokyo DisneyLand. I’ve got some recommendations from others, and trust me, the food there is crazy delicious.
* 9 Must-Try Foods at Tokyo DisneySea | byFood
The fireworks show at night was just incredible. It almost brought tears to my eyes. The action, the characters, the music, and the fireworks all came together perfectly. It reminded me of all those childhood memories, especially The Little Mermaid and Frozen. Those two really touched my heart. I totally recommend that everyone should come and enjoy this moment.
Day 7: 秋葉原 Akihabara + 唐吉軻德 DON DON DONKI
Today, we decided to take it easy, so we got up late at 9 AM. And guess what? It was raining outside! So, we went to this super popular café called EGG BABY CAFE that a local influencer recommended, and let me tell you, the dessert was delicious. But the egg sandwich, well, it was just okay for me.
After brunch, we went back to our hotel and took a nap until 12:00. Then, we headed to 秋葉原 Akihabara, which is famous for all things electronic, anime, and video games. I got an action figure for my brother, and there’s this cool Gacha machine area we spent some time playing at.
Later on, we hit up DON DON DONKI to buy some desserts that influencers raved about. But be warned, some makeup stuff and meds are pricier here.
內行人激推！唐吉軻德必買零食推薦 TOP 10，香濃起士條、卡士達蒸蛋糕美味爆表！
唐吉軻德必買零食、泡麵、生活雜貨40樣+推薦！DON DON DONKI開逛前必看購物指南
For dinner, we had Japanese curry Hinoya Curry Akihabara. I thought it was thick and tasty, but my girlfriend found it a bit too salty for her liking.
Day 8 : 淺草 Asakusa + 東京車站伴手禮 Tokyo station
We got up at around 9 AM and had breakfast at a local Milk Stand near our hotel. The milk’s good, and it’s a cool deal because you give the bottle back to the staff when you’re done.
Around 10 AM, we hit up Asakusa 淺草雷門. There were loads of folks hanging out by the famous gate. The street looked all fancy, and the food was yummy. We took some photos, and the vibe there was so chill, it felt like you could stay forever.
We couldn’t resist trying the famous Matcha ice cream 壽壽喜園, and it was seriously tasty. After that, we did a bit of shopping at Uniqlo and had some fried meat 淺草炸肉餅 Fried Meatballs.
We checked out the park there 隅田公園, and the view of the Skytree was amazing, like breathtaking.
Back at our hotel, we made a quick stop at Tokyo Station. We got several famous desserts 東京必買伴手禮 that you must give a try.
Day 9 : 東京鐵塔 Tokyo Tower + 壽司 Sushi + 銀座 Ginza + 羽田機場 Airport
It’s kind of our last day in Japan, we packed all our luggage and checked out at aroud 10 am.
We put our luggage in a lock store in 濱松町 station. And we move to 芝公園 taking a walk and took photos of Tokyo Tower.
We visited Sushi panchi for lunch, it’s the best sushi I had ever, but also the most expensive.
We took the subway to visit 豐洲市場. However, it’s too late that most of the resturant are closed.
We then visited Ginza to enjoy the moment here again, and visited the garden on top of the department store Roof top garden.
And we headed to airport, prepared to say goodbye to Japan.
Day 10: Japan to Taiwan
We slept in the airport and left Japn at 5:30 am. The view was amazing.
Drugstore selection and the products we bought
The website ranked the drugstore as below.
We bought all the drugs and supplements in 松本清（Matsumoto Kiyoshi，マツキヨ), because we found some products are cheaper than other stores.
75 Helpful Japanese Beauty Products for Every Skin Type
The desert I bought (All Recommend)
- 白色戀人 (8/10)：
This is a famous dessert that everyone would buy, and I love it.
- Captain Sweet Burger (8.5/10):
I bought 3 flavors, and my favorite is original. It’s not too sweet and really yummy.
- Hanako 喫茶店に恋して Honey Toast Sable (8.5/10):
The cominatin if honey and the cream is perfect. It’s tasty.
- New York Perfect Cheese (9/10):
You can buy it in 羽田airport and Tokyo station. The cheese and cream combine with swet cookie amazingly.
- Press Butter Sand (10/10):
My favorite one, it’s really yummy. The cookie outside is not hard to bite, you can easily finished it.
- Hanako 喫茶店に恋して。Creme Brûlée Tart 焦糖布丁撻 (10/10):
Too tasty that I forgot to take photos.
Total Cost and Summary
The total cost is 106,815 NTD, and the exchange rate is about 1 JYD to 0.217 NTD.
This is my first time in Japan, and everything feels so new to me. Experiencing Teamlab, Disneysea, and Mt. Fuji is exciting. But the style of the streets and the atmosphere make me feel like I’ve been here for 27 years.
Everyone is polite and dresses well. I can also tell that people are considerate and don’t want to create any trouble by paying attention to the atmosphere.
Japan is a foreigner-friendly country; they are welcoming, and the train signs are clear and convenient.
