MODEL ROUTE Kanto
Route (Day 1)
Tokyo Station → (about15 minutes by train) → Asakusa → (on foot) → Tokyo Skytree → (20 minutes by train) → Kaiseki lunch at Ginza → Walk around central Tokyo → (50 minutes by train) → National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) → (on foot) → Odaiba
Asakusa
Asakusa is famous for its Sensoji Temple. Walking through the imposing red Kaminarimon Gate, you will find yourself on the Nakamise-dori shopping street, lined by shops selling sweets, souvenirs, and traditional Japanese crafts like foldable fans and Japanese paper. We also recommend a ride through Asakusa on a human-pulled rickshaw. The experienced rickshaw driver will also provide commentary and explanations of the various spots to help you enjoy Asakusa more deeply, without tiring yourself out.
Sensoji TempleAddress: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo Skytree
The 634 m tall Tokyo Skytree is among the world's tallest structures, and on a clear day, you can see the magnificent Mt. Fuji from its observation deck. It also has a variety of other attractions such as restaurants and cafés that offer a grand view of the high-rise buildings of central Tokyo, souvenir shops, and several exhibition areas. This tourist attraction is a famous Tokyo landmark known to by everyone.
Tokyo SkytreeAddress: 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
URL: http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/ (English)
Kaiseki lunch at Ginza
Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese full-course meal. Not only are the dishes delicious to eat, they are also lovely to look at, being served on beautiful tableware, providing a distinctively Japanese culinary experience. The dishes are mainly based on vegetables, and there are restaurants that offer vegetarian kaiseki menus without the use of meat or fish if a reservation is made in advance. There are many kaiseki restaurants in Ginza, so we recommend trying a kaiseki lunch here.
Walk around central Tokyo
If you are sightseeing in Tokyo, you must definitely take a tour of some of its central shopping and cultural districts like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ginza. A variety of high-quality products can be purchased at affordable prices at large electronics retailers. You may also want to check out the latest in fashions. In recent years, commercial facilities are increasingly providing foreigner-friendly services, so please do make use of them.
National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)
The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, located in Odaiba, Tokyo, is a science museum where you can check out cutting-edge science and technology in a variety of fields including space, life sciences, and robotics. Some popular attractions include the Geo-Cosmos, which is a spherical screen on which images of the earth are reflected in real-time, the spectacular planetarium Dome Theater GAIA, on which five million stars can be projected, and an area where you can meet different kinds of androids.
National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)
Address: 2-3-6 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
URL: https://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/ (English)
Walk around Odaiba
Tokyo's bay area Odaiba is a popular spot for taking a walk while enjoying panoramic views of the seaside. It hosts a variety of seasonal events such as firework displays and illuminations, which are worth enjoying with a special someone. It is also a great place to go shopping for fashion accessories, knick-knacks, cosmetics, souvenirs, and other items.
Route (Day 2)
Hakone Yumoto → (40 minutes by train) → The Hakone Open-Air Museum → (30 minutes by bus) → Lunch at Hakone Highland Hotel → (30 minutes by bus) → Ride the Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan Station and travel from Owakudani to Ashinoko Lake (Lake Ashi) → (30 minutes by train) → Hakone Yumoto
The Hakone Open-Air Museum
The Hakone Open-Air Museum is an outdoor art museum established with the objective of allowing people to enjoy works of art in the midst of beautiful nature. About 120 delicately and dynamically created sculptures dot the sprawling site in a spectacular and stunning display that will take your breath away. It is a popular attraction in Hakone, greatly enjoyed by both adults and children.
The Hakone Open-Air MuseumAddress: 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
URL: http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/ (English)
Lunch at Hakone Highland Hotel
At the Hakone Highland Hotel's restaurant La Forêt, you can enjoy full-course meals made of ingredients that change according to the season. A large variety of dishes are served, beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. Cooking the ingredients with care over a wood fire concentrates their umami (savoury flavour). A curry made of plentiful seasonal vegetables is one of their popular dishes.
Hakone Highland Hotel (La Forêt)Address: 940 Shinanoki, Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
URL: http://www.hakone-highlandhotel.jp/en/ (English)
Hakone Ropeway (Owakudani to Ashinoko Lake)
To enjoy the beautiful natural scenery of Hakone, take the Hakone Ropeway from Sounzan Station to Owakudani, located at an altitude of 1044 m. Looking down below, you will see volcanic smoke rising from the valley, making for a stunning view that overwhelms you with the power of nature. The ropeway takes you onward to Ashinoko Lake (Lake Ashi), where a picturesque view created by the deep blue lake surface and Mt. Fuji on the far side is breath-taking.
Hakone RopewayAddress: Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa URL: http://www.hakoneropeway.co.jp/foreign/en/index.cgi (English)
Hakone Yumoto
Hakone Yumoto is a bustling tourist destination with a large number of hot-spring facilities, restaurants, and souvenir shops. In addition to over 40 hot-spring hotels, there are also free footbath spots in the town, where you can casually soothe your tired feet after a long stroll. Apart from hot springs, Hakone is also known for its traditional mosaic woodwork called yosegi-zaiku, as well as healthy soba and tofu-based dishes. So please do take a leisurely stroll to enjoy the various attractions.