Tokyo Dash: One Day, Endless Discoveries

Tsukiji Fish Market - The Tsukiji Outer Market (築地場外市場, Tsukiji Jōgai Shijō) is located next to the former Tsukiji Wholesale Market. It features several blocks of wholesale and retail shops, along with restaurants lining narrow streets. Visitors can find fresh and processed seafood, produce, and food-related items like knives.

A trip to the Tsukiji Outer Market is best paired with a fresh sushi breakfast or lunch at one of the local eateries, which typically operate from 5:00 AM until around noon or early afternoon. Since most of the fish served and sold here is sourced directly from Toyosu Market, it is one of Tokyo’s top spots for fresh seafood.

Senso-ji Temple - Sensoji (浅草寺, Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a vibrant and popular Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Tokyo.

Legend has it that in 628, two brothers discovered a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, in the Sumida River. Despite returning it to the river, the statue always came back to them. As a result, Sensoji was constructed nearby for the goddess Kannon. Completed in 645, it is Tokyo’s oldest temple.

Tokyo Skytree - The Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー) is a television broadcasting tower and a prominent Tokyo landmark. It is the focal point of Tokyo Skytree Town in the Sumida City Ward, close to Asakusa. Standing at 634 meters (634 can be read as “Musashi,” a historic name for the Tokyo Region), it is Japan’s tallest structure and was the world’s second tallest at its completion. A large shopping complex with an aquarium is located at its base.

Imperial Palace - The current Imperial Palace (皇居, Kōkyo) is situated on the former site of Edo Castle, a vast park area encircled by moats and massive stone walls in central Tokyo, a short walk from Tokyo Station. It is the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family.

Edo Castle was once the seat of the Tokugawa shogun, who ruled Japan from 1603 until 1867. In 1868, the shogunate was overthrown, and the capital and imperial residence moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. The new Imperial Palace was completed in 1888. It was destroyed during World War II and later rebuilt in the same style.

Meiji Jingu Shrine - Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Located next to the JR Yamanote Line’s bustling Harajuku Station, Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park form a large forested area within the city, offering walking paths for a peaceful stroll away from the urban environment.

The shrine was completed and dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the emperor’s passing and six years after the empress’s. The shrine was destroyed during the war but was rebuilt shortly after.

Emperor Meiji was the first emperor of modern Japan. Born in 1852, he ascended the throne in 1867 during the Meiji Restoration, when Japan’s feudal era ended, and the emperor was restored to power. During the Meiji Period, Japan modernized to join the world’s major powers by the time Emperor Meiji passed away in 1912.

Harajuku Osamu Owl & Mameshiba Cafe - Harajuku (原宿) refers to the area around Tokyo’s Harajuku Station, situated between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. It is the hub of Japan’s most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historical sites of interest.

The heart of Harajuku’s teenage culture is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, lined with trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothing stores, crepe stands, and fast-food outlets catering to fashion-conscious teens.

Shibuya Crossing - Shibuya Crossing is one of Tokyo’s most iconic sights, featured in numerous films, magazines, and blogs. During peak times, an estimated 1,000 to 2,500 people cross this intersection every two minutes, enough to fill a football stadium quickly.

This phenomenon has earned it the nickname “scramble,” as pedestrians cross from all directions. Shibuya Crossing balances between chaotic energy and perfect synchronization. Exploring Tokyo will inevitably lead you here to experience the crossing and enjoy Shibuya’s abundant shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Tokyo Tower - Rising 333 meters in central Tokyo, Tokyo Tower (東京タワー) is the world’s tallest self-supported steel tower, standing 3 meters taller than its model, the Eiffel Tower. A symbol of Japan’s post-war resurgence as a major economic power, Tokyo Tower was the country’s tallest structure from its completion in 1958 until 2012 when it was surpassed by the Tokyo Skytree. Besides being a popular tourist attraction, Tokyo Tower serves as a broadcast antenna.

The tower’s main deck at 150 meters is accessible via elevator or a 600-step staircase (both require a fee). Thanks to its central location, the observatory offers a captivating view of the city despite its moderate height. There are also “lookdown windows” in the floor to stand on, a souvenir shop, and a cafe.

Fuji Feels: Hakone Vibes and Iconic Views

Hakone Shrine / Kuzuryu Shrine Singu - Hakone Shrine (箱根神社, Hakone Jinja) is located at the base of Mount Hakone along Lake Ashinoko’s shores. The shrine buildings are nestled in the dense forest, marked by its large torii gates, one prominently standing in the lake and two others over the main street of Moto-Hakone.

A path leads from the torii gate in Lake Ashinoko up a series of steps flanked by lanterns through the forest to the main building, which sits peacefully among the tall trees. The shrine is beautiful year-round and is particularly stunning when enveloped in mist.

A second shrine, Mototsumiya (“original shrine”), is located at the summit of Komagatake, one of Mount Hakone’s peaks. It is accessible by the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway from Hakone-en or via hiking trails.

Lake Ashinoko - Lake Ashinoko (芦ノ湖, Ashinoko) was formed in Mount Hakone’s caldera after the volcano’s last eruption 3000 years ago. Today, the lake with Mount Fuji in the background symbolizes Hakone. The lake’s shores are mostly undeveloped except for small towns in the east and north and a few lakeside resort hotels.

The best views of the lake combined with Mount Fuji can be enjoyed from Moto-Hakone (a few steps south from the sightseeing boat pier), from the Hakone Detached Palace Garden, and from the sightseeing boats cruising the lake.

Owaku-dani Valley - Owakudani (大涌谷, Ōwakudani) is the area around a crater formed during Mount Hakone’s last eruption 3000 years ago. Today, much of the area is an active volcanic zone where sulfurous fumes, hot springs, and hot rivers can be experienced. Additionally, Owakudani offers excellent views of Mount Fuji on clear days.

Eggs cooked in Owakudani’s hot spring pools, with their shells blackened by the sulfur, are available for purchase at local shops, and eating one is said to extend one’s life by seven years.

A short walking trail leads from the ropeway station into the volcanic zone to several steam vents and bubbling pools. The walk takes about 30 minutes in total. Admission to the trail requires advance reservations and costs 800 yen.

Lake Kawaguchiko - Lake Kawaguchiko (河口湖) is the most accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes, with train and direct bus connections to Tokyo. A hot spring resort town with various tourist attractions and views of Mount Fuji is located around the lake’s eastern end, while the northern and western shores are mostly undeveloped.

The best views of Mount Fuji can be enjoyed from the lake’s northern shores and are particularly breathtaking during the cherry blossom season around mid-April and the autumn colors around early November. One of the nicest spots for cherry blossoms is the lakeside promenade near the Kawaguchiko Music Forest, while photographers will enjoy the “Momiji Tunnel” for autumn colors, a maple tree-covered road section further west.

Mt. Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station - The Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station (富士スバルライン五合目, Fuji Subaru Line Gogōme, also known as Yoshidaguchi 5th Station or Kawaguchiko 5th Station) is located approximately halfway along the Yoshida Trail, which leads from Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine at the mountain’s base to Mount Fuji’s summit.

It is the most popular of the four 5th stations on Mount Fuji and the best developed and easiest to access by public transportation from Tokyo. The Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station is accessible almost year-round, snow conditions permitting, and is a popular sightseeing spot even outside the climbing season.

The station is reached by the Fuji Subaru Line, a scenic toll road up Mount Fuji’s lower northern slopes, beginning in Fujikawaguchiko Town. The toll road costs 2100 yen and may be partially closed in winter during heavy snow. Additionally, the road is closed to private vehicles during most of the climbing season (July 5 to September 10, 2024).

Oshino Hakkai - The Five Lake region, located between Lake Kawaguchiko and Lake Yamanakako, is on the site of a former sixth lake that dried out several hundred years ago. The eight ponds are fed by snowmelt from nearby Mount Fuji’s slopes, filtering down the mountain through porous lava layers for over 80 years, resulting in very clear spring water revered by locals.

Next to one pond, visitors can drink the cool water straight from the source. The ponds are quite deep and have interesting freshwater plant life and large fish. Although the ponds have been developed into tourist attractions and can become crowded with visitors, they maintain a pleasant atmosphere as long as you do not expect untouched nature.

Many restaurants, souvenir shops, and food vendors surround the ponds, selling vegetables, sweets, pickles, crafts, and other local products.

Sacred Nikko Shrines, Spirits, & Scenic Beauty

Kegon Falls - The nearly 100-meter-tall Kegon Waterfall (華厳の滝, Kegon no taki) is the most famous of Nikko’s waterfalls. It is ranked among Japan’s three most beautiful falls, alongside Nachi Waterfall in Wakayama Prefecture and Fukuroda Waterfall in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Kegon Waterfall is the only outlet for Lake Chuzenji’s waters. It can be viewed from a free observation platform easily accessible on foot, as well as from a paid platform at the falls’ base. The paid platform is accessed via a 100-meter-deep elevator and offers more impressive views. The sight of the waterfall combined with Lake Chuzenji can be enjoyed from Akechidaira Observatory, accessible by ropeway from Akechidaira Plateau.

Kegon Waterfall is also a popular spot for autumn colors. The trees around the waterfall are usually most colorful from mid to late October. In winter, the waterfall is impressive when it freezes almost completely solid.

Chuzenjiko Lake Boat House - Lake Chuzenji (中禅寺湖, Chūzenjiko) is a picturesque lake in the mountains above Nikko town. It is located at the base of Mount Nantai, Nikko’s sacred volcano, whose eruption blocked the valley below, creating Lake Chuzenji about 20,000 years ago.

Chuzenjiko’s shores are mostly undeveloped and forested, except at the lake’s eastern end, where the small hot spring town of Chuzenji Onsen was built. The town is also the site of Kegon Waterfall, the most famous of several waterfalls in Nikko National Park. Another popular waterfall, Ryuzu Waterfall, is located on Lake Chuzenji’s northern shores, where Yukawa River flows into the lake.

Shinkyo Bridge - The Shinkyo Bridge (神橋, Shinkyō, “sacred bridge”) stands at the entrance to Nikko’s shrines and temples and belongs to Futarasan Shrine. The bridge is ranked among Japan’s three finest bridges, along with Iwakuni’s Kintaikyo and Saruhashi in Yamanashi Prefecture.

The current Shinkyo was built in 1636, but a bridge of some kind had marked the same spot for much longer, although its exact origins are unclear. Until 1973, Shinkyo was off-limits to the general public. It underwent extensive renovations in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and visitors can now walk across the bridge and back for an entrance fee.

Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park - Tamozawa Imperial Villa (田母沢御用邸, Tamozawa Goyōtei) combines traditional Edo and early modern Meiji Period architecture throughout its 106 rooms. The villa was constructed in Nikko in 1899, using parts of a residence that originally stood in Tokyo.

Before being moved to Nikko, the building served as the Tokyo residence of a Tokugawa family branch and was later temporarily used as the Imperial Palace. In Nikko, it was expanded into a summer residence for the Imperial Family but suffered neglect after World War II. In 2000, the villa was opened to the public after extensive renovations.

Nikko Tosho-gu - Toshogu Shrine (東照宮, Tōshōgū) is a magnificent tribute to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868. Ieyasu is enshrined at Toshogu as the deity Tosho Daigongen, “Great Deity of the East Shining Light.” Initially a simple mausoleum, Toshogu was expanded into the spectacular complex seen today by Ieyasu’s grandson Iemitsu during the first half of the 17th century.

The lavishly decorated shrine complex consists of more than a dozen buildings set in a beautiful forest. Countless wood carvings and large amounts of gold leaf were used to decorate the buildings in a way not seen elsewhere in Japan, where simplicity has traditionally been emphasized in shrine architecture.

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Expertly Curated Itinerary. This itinerary offers a perfect blend of iconic landmarks, hidden treasures, and cultural experiences, allowing travelers to explore the best of Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Hakone, and Nikko without feeling hurried.

Local Insight, Personal Touch
Friendly local guides enrich each location with captivating stories, helpful tips, and insider knowledge that can’t be found in a guidebook.

Comfortable, Hassle-Free Travel
Travelers can relax and enjoy the journey with pre-arranged transportation, skip-the-line access at major sites, and seamless transitions from city to countryside.

Small Group Experience
Escape the crowds by traveling in a small group for a more personal and flexible experience, with opportunities to ask questions, explore at your own pace, and savor each moment.

All-in-One Value
No need to worry about planning or stress—every detail has been taken care of.

Unforgettable Photo Spots
From Shibuya Crossing and the majestic silhouette of Mt. Fuji to Nikko’s sacred shrines and waterfalls, travelers will return home with stunning photos.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.