From Seoul to Tokyo for a week

Our Tokyo Adventure: A Family Trip Full of Wonder

Our Tokyo trip was a whirlwind of excitement, surprise, exploration, and unforgettable moments. We surprised our girls with a day at Disneyland and packed our week with everything from ancient temples and lush gardens to panoramic views, pirate cruises, and the 100-meter-tall Godzilla!

Day 1 – Arrival and Unwinding in Nature

After arriving in Tokyo, we went straight to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden—an oasis of calm in the heart of the city. It reminded us of Hyde Park, but with a serene Japanese twist: peaceful lawns, a blooming tulip tree, traditional gardens, and families picnicking. We even had a little snooze under the trees to recover from the flight. The garden is a beautiful blend of Japanese, English, and French styles and truly set the tone for the trip—nature and city living in harmony.

Day 2 – Disneyland Surprise!

We surprised the girls with a trip to Tokyo Disneyland—less than an hour from Shinjuku by bus and reasonably priced. The joy on their faces was unforgettable. We met Disney characters like Minnie, Stitch, and Thumper, and went on rides including Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, It’s a Small World, and Star Tours. At night, we saw the Light Parade and Reach for the Stars show at the castle—magical! The queues were manageable, thanks to the Disneyland app showing wait times. One downside: not enough coffee shops or restaurants! The buffet we hoped to try had a 1.5-hour wait, so sadly, no “all you can eat” for us. Still, we spent a joyful 12 hours there—an absolute highlight for the whole family.

Day 3 – Temples, Traditions, and Tower Views

We explored Asakusa, starting with Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, dating back to 645 AD. The air was rich with incense smoke as we joined locals in waving it over ourselves for health and blessings. We offered coins, bowed, made quiet wishes, and drew omikuji (paper fortunes). I was lucky enough to get the best one, which promised business success and good health - a humble and hopeful moment for me.

Through the Kaminarimon Gate with its massive red lantern, we entered Nakamise Shopping Street, sampling green tea ice cream and picking out pretty chopsticks. Later, we ascended the Tokyo Skytree - the tallest tower in the world at 634 meters. A super-speed lift took us to the Tembo Deck and Galleria in under 90 seconds. The dizzying 360° views of the sprawling city were breath-taking. We also spotted anime features like Detective Conan, and just soaked in the surreal heights. A must-see Tokyo highlight!

Day 4 – Urban Icons and Sacred Calm

We began with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building—a hidden gem offering free panoramic views up to 202 meters. On clear days, you can see Mt. Fuji!

Next, in the rain, we visited Meiji Jingu Shrine, a peaceful spiritual retreat nestled in a forest. There, we drew a poem omikuji - written by an emperor or empress, offering reflection instead of fortune.

From there, we walked through Yoyogi Park past towering torii gates and decorative sake barrels before diving into Takeshita Street - a teen fashion hotspot full of quirky shops and crepes. We saw pet cafés with dogs, pigs, otters, and cats all next to each other! Later, we braved the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing—in the rain, bumping umbrellas with strangers, then watching the chaos from Starbucks above.  Traffic Halt for Pedestrians every 2 minutes - all vehicles stop for about 55 seconds to let pedestrians flood the intersection. At peak times, up to 3,000 people cross during a single light change. Up to 3,000 people cross at once every two minutes. With its neon lights and giant screens, Shibuya felt like Tokyo’s heartbeat.

Day 5 – Hakone Day Trip: Mt. Fuji, Pirate Ship, Lake Ashi & Active Volcano

We took a 10-hour adventure to Hakone using the Hakone Free Pass - a scenic, unforgettable loop about 2 hours from Tokyo. It was a fantastic deal at around £80 for our whole family, covering eight different modes of transport! One highlight was boarding a pirate ship cruise across Lake Ashi, where we were treated to breath-taking views of Mt Fuji. As we continued our scenic loop through Hakone, more and more of the majestic mountain revealed itself. Mt Fuji - Japan’s tallest peak at 3,776 meters and a UNESCO World Heritage site is famously shy, visible on average only about 90 days a year due to cloud cover. We felt incredibly lucky to witness such clear and beautiful views.

Then we took the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani (the Great Boiling Valley), and saw active steam vents from an ancient volcanic eruption. The sulphur smell was strong and eggy, but the views of the active volcano was all worth it.

I highly recommended this day trip from Tokyo.

Evening Highlights – Godzilla & Monorail with Rainbow Bridge Views back in Tokyo

That evening, we experienced “Attack on Tokyo”—the 100-meter-tall Godzilla lighting up the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in the world’s largest free projection mapping show. It was a jaw-dropping mix of tradition and technology. Later, we sought out the Rainbow Bridge and found it glowing red and white. We rode the Tokyo Monorail over Tokyo Bay with stunning skyline views. Built for the 1964 Olympics, it’s still a symbol of Japanese efficiency.

Day 6 – Saying Goodbye to Tokyo

On our last day, we visited Tokyo Station, beautifully preserved with its red-brick facade before walking through the Imperial Palace East Gardens, calm and sculpted, with vast moats and trimmed trees. We ended with lunch in a tiny restaurant on stools before heading to Narita Airport.

Final Reflections: Tokyo vs. Seoul

We loved Tokyo. Its blend of nature and urban life is remarkable: gardens like Shinjuku Gyoen, Yoyogi Park, and the Imperial Palace are seamlessly woven into the city. Everything felt tidy and polite, and the hot seat bidet toilets in every public bathroom were a comfortable addition.

That said, some things were harder. Restaurants and cafés seemed to be smaller and harder to find than in Seoul. We missed Seoul’s cosy, family-friendly dining spots. Tokyo’s metro was also more confusing as it is run by multiple companies, so we needed different tickets after our 72-hour pass expired. Having a Suica card can make travelling more convenient. Google Maps helped (unlike in Korea where Naver is better), but Seoul’s integrated system felt simpler.

Tokyo’s food was excellent—sushi, sashimi, noodles, katsu curry—but we noticed less variety than Seoul’s fusion-rich options. With more time, we might have uncovered more hidden gems.

We had hoped to take the Shinkansen to Kyoto, but the cost (about £600 for a family) was steep. Instead, we’ve decided to come back another time, fly into Osaka, explore Kyoto, and maybe even make it to Okinawa for some beach and sunshine.

Japan has so much more to offer, and this trip has only deepened our desire to return. As we flew home, tired but full of memories, we knew one thing for sure: this wouldn’t be our last trip to Japan.

Tokyo Itinerary – 6 Days – Summary

Day 1 – Arrived and unwound at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, then enjoyed a delicious sushi and sashimi feast to kick off the trip.

Day 2 – Magical family day at Tokyo Disneyland.

Day 3 – Explored Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple, and Nakamise Street. Took in sweeping views from Tokyo Skytree, and visited Tokyo Tower for a classic photo op.

Day 4 – Free panoramic views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, a serene visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine, a walk through Yoyogi Park, and wrapped up the day in Shibuya and the Shibuya Scramble Crossing.

Day 5 – Day trip to Hakone for beautiful views of Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi, and the active volcano at Owakudani.

Day 5 Evening – Light show at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building featuring Godzilla and others, followed by a monorail ride over Rainbow Bridge.

Day 6 – Explored Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace Gardens, then had our final meal in a cosy local restaurant before flying back to Seoul.

Next time in Japan – Trip 2: Kyoto and Osaka. Trip 3: Okinawa.