Tokyo in 6 Days: Cherry Blossoms, DisneySea & Family Adventure: Shinjuku → DisneySea → Kamakura → Shibuya → Asakusa → Ginza

Arrive & Check In

Take the Narita Express (N'EX) directly to Shinjuku Station (~80 min, ¥3,070) or the Limousine Bus. Get Suica IC cards at the airport for seamless train travel throughout your stay. Check into your hotel and drop your bags.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Walk off the jet lag in this stunning 58-hectare national garden. In mid-March you may catch the very first cherry blossoms appearing on the early-blooming Kanzan trees. Even without full bloom, the garden is beautiful — manicured lawns, traditional Japanese and French garden sections.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building — Free Observation Deck

Take the free elevator to the 45th floor (202m) for sweeping views over Tokyo, including Mount Fuji on clear days. North and South towers both have decks open in the evening. One of the best free views in the city.

Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane)

Wander the famous narrow alley packed with tiny yakitori stalls, their smoke billowing into the night. Even if you're not eating here (limited veggie options), the atmosphere is pure Tokyo magic — tiny stools, grilling skewers, locals and travelers shoulder-to-shoulder.

Golden Gai — Tokyo's Most Unique Bar Scene

Explore this UNESCO-listed cluster of ~200 tiny bars, each holding 5–10 people. Every bar has its own theme — music bars, movie bars, anime bars, sake bars. Most welcome tourists. Just push open a door that looks interesting. This is Tokyo unlike anywhere else on Earth.

Early Start to DisneySea

Take the JR Keiyō Line from Tokyo Station to Maihama Station (15 min, ¥240). Then ride the Disney Resort Line monorail to DisneySea (10 min). Aim to arrive 30 minutes before park open (usually 9am) to get a great position at the gates.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

DisneySea's most iconic ride. A volcanic rock drill vehicle plunges through glowing crystals and prehistoric creatures before bursting into the lava zone — the final drop is incredible. Inside Mount Prometheus, the park's centerpiece volcano.

Tower of Terror

The DisneySea version is uniquely themed around a cursed 13th floor of the Hotel Hightower — completely different story from the US parks and widely considered more atmospheric. The drop is terrifying in the best way.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

A slow, atmospheric submarine journey through an underwater world — beautiful for all ages. No scares, great theming, often has shorter waits than other headliners.

Sindbad's Storybook Voyage

A classic slow boat ride through vibrant storybook worlds — surprisingly charming and relaxing after the thrill rides. The Compass of Your Heart song will be stuck in your head for days.

Fantasy Springs (New 2024 Area)

DisneySea's brand new themed area featuring Frozen, Rapunzel/Tangled, and Peter Pan. Stunning theming and three new rides (Frozen Ever After, Rapunzel's Lantern Festival, Peter Pan's Never Land Adventure). A separate ticket area — book ahead.

Indiana Jones Adventure

A jeep adventure through an ancient temple in the Mysterious Island area — great physical ride with fun story. Usually has manageable waits mid-afternoon.

Fantasmic! Evening Show

DisneySea's nighttime water spectacular — a water screen light show in the Mediterranean Harbor that uses projection mapping, water jets, and live performers. Absolutely stunning. Check the park schedule and get a spot 30 min early.

Take the Shonan Shinjuku Line to Kamakura

Board the Shonan Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku Station directly to Kamakura (~55 minutes, ¥940 each way). No transfers needed. Sit on the right side of the train for ocean glimpses near the coast. Aim to leave Shinjuku by 8:30–9am.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

Start at Kamakura's most celebrated shrine at the end of the grand Wakamiya-oji boulevard. The approach with its stone torii gates, ponds, and lotus flowers is stunning — especially if early cherry blossoms are starting. Climb the central staircase for views over the shrine grounds.

Hase-dera Temple

One of the most beautiful temples in the Kanto region — perched on a hillside with sweeping views of the Kamakura coastline and, on clear days, the Pacific Ocean. Inside: a massive 9.18m wooden Kannon statue carved from a single camphor tree over 1,200 years ago. The garden and koi pond are stunning.

Kotoku-in — The Great Buddha (Daibutsu)

The 13.4m bronze Great Buddha is one of Japan's most iconic images — serene, enormous, and 700+ years old. You can pay extra to go inside (yes, inside the statue). The surrounding grounds are peaceful and beautiful. The statue sits outside in the open air — its indoor home was destroyed by a tsunami in the 1300s.

Komachi-dori Shopping Street

The pedestrian street leading from Kamakura Station to the shrine is lined with cafés, craft shops, street food stalls, and souvenir shops. Great for matcha ice cream (¥350), handmade accessories, and picking up Japanese ceramics or bamboo crafts.

Enoshima Island (Optional Extension)

If energy allows, hop on the Enoden tram from Kamakura Station to Enoshima (20 min, ¥260) for sea caves, a hilltop shrine with ocean panoramas, and some of the best views of Mount Fuji on clear days. The island's narrow shopping street has excellent seafood and snacks.

Scenic Train Ride Back

Head back to Tokyo in time for dinner. The Shonan Shinjuku Line gets you back to Shinjuku by 6–7pm if you leave Kamakura around 5pm. The sunset over the ocean near Zushi is beautiful from the train.

Meiji Shrine — Peaceful Forest Start

Step into the forested grounds surrounding Tokyo's most famous Shinto shrine, dedicated to Emperor and Empress Meiji. The 70-hectare forest in the middle of the city is stunning — 120,000 trees from across Japan, donated at the shrine's founding. Write a wish on an ema (wooden board) and hang it with thousands of others.

Takeshita Street — Harajuku Pop Culture

Walk through this 350m pedestrian street that's ground zero for Japanese youth fashion, kawaii culture, and creative street food. Crepes with enormous fillings, rainbow cotton candy, gothic lolita shops, anime goods — it's wonderfully chaotic and unlike anywhere else. Great for photos.

Omotesando — Tokyo's Most Beautiful Shopping Boulevard

A tree-lined avenue with zelkova trees (beautiful in any season), housing both luxury brands (Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dior with stunning architecture) and great mid-range shops. Omotesando Hills mall — designed by Tadao Ando — has a spiraling interior atrium that's worth seeing even if you don't buy anything.

Shibuya Crossing — Live the Moment

At street level, you'll join hundreds of people crossing from all directions simultaneously — electric, exhilarating, and uniquely Tokyo. Then go up to Starbucks or Mag's Park above the crossing to watch the spectacle from above. Peak rush hour (5–6pm) is when it's most dramatic.

Shibuya Sky — Open-Air Rooftop

Tokyo's most thrilling observation deck on top of Scramble Square — a large open-air rooftop at 229m with no glass barriers (there's netting), 360° views including DisneySea on the horizon and Mount Fuji on clear days. Way more exciting than a closed observation deck.

Daikanyama & Nakameguro Evening Stroll

A 10-minute walk from Shibuya leads to Daikanyama — Tokyo's most stylish neighborhood, full of boutiques, concept stores, and cafés. Then follow the Meguro River to Nakameguro — the canal banks are lined with cherry trees, and in mid-March you might catch early blossoms lit up in the evening. Magical if the timing works.

Senso-ji Temple at Dawn — Beat the Crowds

Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple (645 AD) is best experienced early morning — the fog, the incense smoke, and the silence are magical before tour groups arrive. Walk through the massive Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) with its iconic red lantern, through Nakamise shopping arcade, into the main temple hall. Toss a coin, bow twice, clap twice, bow once — join the ritual.

Nakamise Dori — Traditional Souvenir Shopping

The 250m approach to Senso-ji is lined with 90 traditional stalls selling senbei (rice crackers), ningyo-yaki (sweet cakes), fans, tenugui (hand towels), and every Japanese souvenir imaginable. The shops open around 9–10am — great for picking up gifts.

Tokyo Skytree — Tallest Tower in Japan

Visible from Asakusa (just walk toward it — it's massive), the Skytree offers two observation decks at 350m and 450m. On a clear day you can see all the way to Mount Fuji. The glass floor section at 450m (Tembo Galleria) is thrilling. The base has a huge shopping mall (Solamachi) with great food.

Ueno Park & Museums

Walk or train to Ueno Park — one of Japan's most famous hanami (flower viewing) sites. In mid-March you may see the very first cherry blossoms opening on the 1,200 trees here. Stroll the main avenue and pond area, and visit the National Museum of Nature and Science (excellent English signage, very hands-on). The Tokyo National Museum has Japan's largest collection of Japanese art and artifacts.

Akihabara — Electric Town (Optional)

If anyone in the group is into anime, gaming, or electronics (or even if they're not), Akihabara is a uniquely Tokyo experience. Multi-story arcades (Round One), retro game shops, anime merchandise floors, maid cafés, and electronics at Japan prices. Great fun for 90 minutes.

teamLab Planets — Immersive Digital Art

One of Tokyo's unmissable experiences. You walk barefoot through rooms that become living artworks — wade through knee-deep water surrounded by holographic koi fish, step into infinite flower installations, lie under pulsing digital universes. It's breathtaking, otherworldly, and works for all ages. Allow 90 minutes.

Tsukiji Outer Market — Final Tokyo Breakfast

The outer market (free, public) is still one of the greatest food markets in the world despite the inner wholesale market moving to Toyosu. Arrive by 8am for the best stalls. Dad can enjoy fresh tamagoyaki (egg omelette cooked in sweet layers — vegetarian and perfect), dashimaki tamago, fresh produce, and Japanese sweets. Others can try tuna, oysters, or sashimi.

Ginza — Last Shopping & Strolling

Walk through Ginza — Tokyo's equivalent of 5th Avenue. On weekends the main boulevard (Chuo-dori) becomes a pedestrian street (10am–6pm in spring) — people stroll, street performers appear, and the atmosphere is festive. Window shop at flagship stores: Uniqlo's global flagship (8 floors), Muji flagship, Dover Street Market.

Tokyo Station Gransta Mall — Last Shopping

Tokyo Station itself is a destination — the beautiful 1914 red-brick building (restored after earthquake damage) houses an underground mall (Gransta) with the best ekiben (train station bento) selection in Japan, dozens of regional food stalls, and the world's best department store food basement. Perfect for buying gifts, snacks, and pickups before departure.

Head to the Airport

From Tokyo Station, the Narita Express (N'EX) takes you directly to Narita Airport (~50 min, ¥3,070). Or take the Limousine Bus from major hotels and Shinjuku. Allow at least 3 hours before your flight for international departures.