🇯🇵 Japan Trip Checklist
- 🛂 Visa: Requires financial and employment documents
- 📄 Pre-arrival: Fill out the Visit Japan Web form 48 hours before departure
✈️ Flights
- DAD → NRT (Tokyo)
- KIX (Osaka) → DAD
🏨 Hotels
- Tokyo: Sakura Cross Hotel Akihabara
- Kyoto: Smile Hotel Kyoto Shijo
🧭 Tours & Transport
📶 Connectivity
- 4G SIM: 2GB/day from Shopee
💳 Payments & Transit
- Download Suica App and top up (¥500+).
Use for trains, subways, and vending machines - Credit cards work almost everywhere, but bring ~¥3000 in cash just in case
Day 1: Tokyo Drift – Lost in Translation
I thought I knew Tokyo from movies like Lost in Translation and Fast & Furious, but being here in person? Totally different. I felt like a confused extra in someone else’s film.
🛬 The Grand Arrival
May 2nd. We touched down at Narita, geared up to battle the legendary Japanese train system. First quest: Skyliner tickets to Ueno. I was already disoriented. Khanhu, my navigating angel/wife, somehow had it all under control.
🛍 Ginza
From Ueno, we took the subway to Ginza for some “window shopping”: Uniqlo, Onitsuka Tiger, HANDS Ginza, and of course, the Pokémon Center Tokyo DX.
First, we went to the 12-story Uniqlo so my wife could enjoy her shopping spree. I just carried the bags and pretended to care about fashion.
And… Onitsuka Tiger? Seriously, what the hell is that? I’d never even heard of it before this trip. Yet here I am, watching people line up in the pouring rain just to buy these damn shoes. Are they insane? The shop doesn’t even care—it just lets the queue snake outside while everyone gets soaked. And the biggest idiot in the rain? Yep, that’s me, standing there so my wife can get her precious Onitsuka whatevers. Honestly, they look ugly as hell—about as stylish as “Thượng Đình” back home—and I guarantee they’re not half as comfy as Adidas.
But hey, that’s just one of those “happy wife, happy life” moments. I guess it’s worth it. The pink shoes look good on her, and she’s happy. So I’m happy too.
I was just waiting for the Pokémon moment.
By day’s end, we were utterly shattered. We dragged ourselves to the Sakura Cross Hotel Akihabara. Plot twist: no staff. Just a check-in machine. Very efficient. Very Japan. Very… not what you want when you’re tired and craving a human to complain to. Cool, but zero cozy points.
Day 2: Tokyo - Mount Fuji
My wife booked a Klook tour to Mount Fuji a month ago, so we just followed the plan. We woke up early and went to JR Tokyo Station to meet our tour group.
It was nice to have a bus and a tour guide, but honestly, it’s not the best way to see Fuji. We spent the whole day circling the mountain. I just wanted a photo and then to go back to Tokyo for more exploring.
Luckily, we only booked the Fuji tour for one day. If you like freedom, don’t do a full tour for your whole trip.
🌃 Akihabara Night Life
The plan was to go to Shibuya for Hachiko, the scramble crossing, and another Pokémon Center. But the Fuji tour ran late, so we just had a quiet dinner and onigiri from the convenience store, then explored Akihabara’s nightlife.
Maid cafes? Spotted them. Participated? Hard pass. I’m not sure if I’m too old-fashioned or just too cynical for that particular brand of… hospitality. Give me a quiet coffee shop with my wife any day.
Sometimes, the most romantic thing you can do is know when to ditch the itinerary and just call it a day.
Day 3: Kyoto – Temples, Food
🚄 Taking the Shinkansen
We booked the 11:33 Shinkansen in advance (a must during Golden Week).
May 4th. Time to leave Tokyo and head to Kyoto. We checked out at 8:00, dragged our suitcases to Tokyo Station, and felt pretty confident—after all, we’d over-prepared for everything. But somehow, we still got confused and ended up double-checking with the Japanese staff. I even had to call a friend (Duong) in Tokyo to make sure we were at the right gate.
Honestly, I wish I were more confident and didn’t need all those redundant double checks. Still, better safe than lost in translation.
The Hikari Shinkansen was fast, clean, and had a great view of the countryside. If you want a Fuji view, sit on the right side (seats D, E in cars 1-3, non-reserved). Did we see Fuji? Yes. Did I sleep through it? Also yes.
🚶 Kyoto Arrival & Nishiki Market Ambush
Smile Hotel Kyoto Shijo was much better than the Tokyo hotel. Great location—I’d rebook if I ever come back (which is probably never). We dropped our bags and went out to explore.
First stop: Nishiki Market. This place is heaven for food lovers—matcha ice cream (Khanhu’s favorite, we came back more than once for it), and sushi at Sushi Sho.
🏯 Kamo River & Gion’s Ghosts
After eating, we walked to the Kamo River. People were relaxing, couples were having picnics, and I tried not to drop my phone in the water. Then we went to Gion, the old geisha area. We didn’t see any real geishas, just tourists in costumes. We walked a lot because the scenery was so beautiful. We got hungry again, even though we had just eaten sushi, so we had duck rice for dinner. I don’t remember the restaurant’s name, but I remember Khanhu’s laugh because she was happy to eat again. Sometimes, the best moments are the ones you don’t plan.
Day 4: Kyoto – Bamboo, Temples, and Tired Legs
🍜 Breakfast at Sukiya
Day four started with a surprisingly delicious gyudon (beef bowl) at Sukiya. It may look like an ordinary chain, but it’s a must-try. You order from a tablet, the food arrives, you say “Arigatou Gozaimasu,” and devour. Simple and satisfying.
🎋 Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji & Togetsukyō Bridge
Next, Arashiyama. The bamboo forest is undeniably beautiful, but also undeniably CROWDED. We shuffled through, visited Tenryu-ji Temple (serene gardens, lots of well-fed koi fish), then sauntered across the Togetsukyō Bridge.
My wife was in her element, snapping photos like a pro. I attempted a stoic, samurai-esque pose but probably just looked like I desperately needed a coffee.
⛩️ Fushimi Inari Shrine
Afternoon agenda: Fushimi Inari Shrine—the one with a gazillion red torii gates. It’s iconic and a serious leg workout. After walking through so many gates, her legs were dead (but looked great in the photos). I looked like I needed a nap.
🛍 Dinner and Retail Therapy
We limped back to Kyoto Station for dinner at Yayoi (solid Japanese fare), then engaged in some light window shopping near our hotel.
Day 5: Kyoto – Rain, Matcha, and Pokémon
It rained. All. Day. Long. Kyoto is undeniably poetic in the rain—like Hue—but our motivation to become one with the downpour was, let’s say, minimal. We declared it a “strategic relaxation day.”
☕ Komeda Coffee & Lazy Morning
Breakfast was at Komeda Coffee – famous for its thick toast, perfectly boiled eggs, and coffee strong enough to wake the dead (or at least, a very tired HoangYell). We ventured a short, damp walk, then retreated to the hotel for a glorious nap. Zero shame. Honeymoons are marathons, not sprints.
🍵 Matcha Mission & Doggos
In the afternoon, armed with umbrellas and determination (mostly my wife’s), we braved the elements. The primary objective: acquire matcha from Marukyu Koyamaen. Mission accomplished. Then we wandered around to enjoy the refreshing weather in Japan, capturing some real Pokémon—Japanese doggos.
🍰 Nana’s Green Tea & Pokémon Center Kyoto
Before surrendering to the hotel’s warm embrace, a mandatory stop at Nana’s Green Tea for more matcha-infused desserts. Khanhu was ecstatic. My blood was probably 50% matcha by this point.
And, by a fortunate coincidence, right above Nana’s Green Tea sat the Pokémon Center Kyoto. It felt like there might be a secret national mandate requiring every city to have at least one Pokémon Center to showcase Japan’s playful spirit. We snapped a few photos, then returned to the hotel.
Day 6: Osaka – Castles, Beef
🚉 Train Hopping, Osaka Popping
May 7th. New city, same mildly bewildered tourists. Off to Osaka!
First stop: Osaka Castle. Majestic, historic, blah blah blah. Also, the sun was attempting to sear my retinas. We snapped the obligatory photos, squinted heroically, and then made a swift escape to find some blessed shade.
We checked out Osaka Tower, but honestly, the area felt a bit messy and not very “Japan” at all. Lots of trash on the street, which was a surprise. Not exactly the romantic vibe, but hey, it’s all part of the adventure.
Lunch at Gyukatsu Motomura Namba Midosuji was a spiritual experience—one that fed the soul as much as the stomach. If you love beef, this place is non-negotiable. The gyukatsu was nothing short of divine—crispy, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth perfection. The staff were warm and attentive, making the whole experience feel effortless. We waddled out, blissfully full and deeply content. This, my friends, is the definition of peak honeymooning.
Next up: Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi. We located the iconic Glico Running Man sign. We took the classic tourist photo. If you go to Osaka and don’t get a Glico pic, were you even there? Philosophical questions for another time.
After that, we wandered into Parco Tower to hunt for No Face and Totoro. Turns out, there are actually two towers, so we got a little lost. On the bright side, we took another photo with Pokémon and even found the Hadouken guy. Only in Japan, right?
Day 7: The Grand Exit – Sayonara, Japan!
🚞 The Haruka Dash to Kansai Airport
May 8th. The final curtain. Time to go home. The Haruka Express to Kansai Airport was smooth and easy. No drama, just a quiet ride reflecting on all the hustle, wonder, and excitement we experienced.
So, Was It a “Luxury” Honeymoon? Let’s Be Real.
Did we sip vintage champagne while gazing at Mount Fuji from a private onsen? Nope. You know I don’t drink alcohol. Japan is seriously expensive. We’re just a simple couple who loves to explore. No fancy hotels, no Michelin-star restaurants. And yes, we definitely blew past our budget more than once.
But we had each other. We had a million laughs. And we collected a treasure trove of memories that we’ll cherish/argue about for years to come. My wife acquired a substantial amount of Japanese retail therapy. I acquired… well, I already have Khanhu. She’s the best souvenir, even if she has expensive taste in matcha and questionable taste in shoes.
This trip was more than just checking off tourist spots—it was an education. I learned about Japanese culture, the weather, how to master the subway, how individuals respect the community, and most importantly, how to adventure with my wife.
I like the way they don’t bother others; they’re friendly but still keep to themselves—just like me. One moment that stood out: a girl accidentally dropped her water bottle. No one said a word, but she quietly cleaned up the spill herself, even using her own shirt. It was such a simple, honorable act that spoke volumes about their culture.