Wakkanai Fukuko Market
This waterfront complex offers a full Wakkanai experience-dining, shopping, soaking in natural hot springs, and savvy hacks for sightseeing, all in one place.
You can eat right on site, which is super convenient. The prices are reasonable and not too expensive.
The souvenir area is fun to browse, and the environment is clean and comfortable. It’s a great place to stop by for a walk and some good food.
Tokyo Disneyland
Known and loved as the “kingdom of dreams and magic”, this full-scale themepark is just a 15 min. train ride from Tokyo Station.
Tokyo Disneyland really feels magical. The park is clean and has a great atmosphere, and the parades and fireworks are fantastic. There are lots of different rides, but the popular ones have long lines, so I’d recommend getting in early and spending the whole day there.
Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal
Opened in 2016, Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal stands as one of Japan’s largest highway bus terminals, located at JR Shinjuku Station’s South Exit. With around 90 bus operators serving the terminal, it connects destinations from Aomori in the north to Fukuoka in the south, with over 1,600 bus departures daily.
Taking an overnight bus from here is really convenient. You can board right here without having to go somewhere else, which saves a lot of time. The only downside is that it gets really crowded, especially on holidays, so it can feel a bit packed. Overall, I’d still definitely recommend it.
Owakudani
After changing from the cable car to the ropeway at Hayamiyama Station on the main route of the Hakone tour, While enjoying an aerial walk for a while the scenery suddenly changes.
The ride over by cable car was really impressive, and the overall experience felt very complete. The only downside was that the smell was a bit hard to appreciate.
Edosei Chinatown Main Store
Always bustling with crowds and often drawing long lines on weekends, Edosei in Yokohama Chinatown has been loved for generations. Established as a butcher shop in the Meiji era, the store has over 130 years of history and is now best known as a specialty shop for Chinese steamed buns.
Their pork buns are seriously huge and feel nice and hefty in your hands. The filling is packed and substantial, with lots of juicy meat, but it’s not too greasy. Pretty tasty.
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, located in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama City, is a comprehensive marine leisure facility featuring an aquarium, attractions, restaurants, shopping stores, and hotels.
The aquarium is really big, and the underwater tunnel feels super immersive. Watching the fish swim overhead is so relaxing.
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
A sightseeing ship that operates on Lake Ashinoko, a scenic spot in Hakone. The three ships, Royale II, Victory, and Queen Ashinoko, are characterized by their colorful and luxurious decorations. Each of them has a capacity of about 500 passengers and takes 25 to 35 minutes each way between Togendai Port, Hakone-machi Port, and Moto-Hakone Port. On a sunny day, the open deck is a great place to enjoy the scenery. Enjoy the pleasant breeze and the seasonal views of nature and mountains.
The boat moves slowly across Lake Ashi, and on a clear day you can see Mt. Fuji, which really adds to the view. The ride isn’t very long, so it works well as a relaxed transportation + sightseeing experience.
Hanazono Shrine
From long ago, the shrine located here has held an important Shinto deity for all of Shinjuku. It exists quietly among the shopping malls and eateries lining Shinjuku's downtown streets.
It’s amazing that there’s such a მშვიდful shrine right in the middle of bustling Shinjuku.
The moment I stepped in, it instantly felt so much quieter. Really amazing.