Fez Files

Itinerary

​

• ​Day 0: Departure from Dubai
   

​We departed Dubai at 7:00 PM on Singapore Airlines, with a short 50-minute layover in Singapore. Everything was smooth and well organized, and before we knew it, we were on our way to Tokyo. The overnight journey worked well, and we arrived feeling tired but excited rather than exhausted. 

​​

• Day 1: Arrival in Japan & Yokohama
   

​We landed at Haneda Airport around 3:00 PM and took the Keikyu Line straight to Yokohama Station. To use the Keikyu line, we had to purchase individual Suica cards and load it up with enough balance for at least a week. We decided to top it up again at a later date. Our hotel, Richmond Hotel Yokohama Ekimae, was right next to the station, which made things incredibly convenient after a long flight. 

We didn’t plan anything major for the first evening. Instead, we walked around the nearby streets, grabbed a simple dinner, and slowly eased ourselves into Japan. It was our first real exposure to the country; the streets, the people, the atmosphere; and it already felt very different from anywhere we’d been before. Yokohama felt calm and welcoming, a nice contrast to the scale of Tokyo.​​

​

• Day 2: Day Trip to Lake Kawaguchiko & Mt. Fuji
   

​This was our first proper day trip, and one of the highlights of the entire journey. We left Yokohama at 7:30 AM on a pre-booked bus via Willer Travel and reached Lake Kawaguchiko by around 10:00 AM. The weather was cold but sunny, and we were lucky enough to get incredibly clear views of Mt. Fuji.

We spent most of the day simply walking around the lake and Oishi Park, stopping often to admire the views and take photos. There was no rush, just enjoying the scenery, having lunch nearby at a local restaurant, and soaking in the moment. Seeing Mt. Fuji in such perfect conditions felt surreal. We headed back in the evening, reaching Yokohama around 8:30 PM, just in time for a quick dinner before everything closed for the night.

​

• Day 3: Kamakura, Yokohama & Chinatown

​​

We started the day slowly since there was no tight schedule. Kamakura was about a 45-minute train ride away, and once we arrived, we headed straight to Hokokuji Bamboo Forest. It was peaceful, beautifully maintained, and a great way to start the day.

From there, we walked back toward Kamakura Station, stopping at several temples and shrines along the way, including Sugimoto Temple and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. After lunch, we took the Enoden Line to Hase and walked to Kotoku-in, where the Great Bronze Buddha sits quietly in the open air.

Back in Yokohama later that evening, we visited the Pokémon Center Yokohama and a few nearby stores, including the Nissan Global Headquarters, which was a pleasant surprise if you’re even slightly interested in cars. We ended the day in Yokohama Chinatown, which looks especially striking at night, had a wonderful dinner in the area before heading back to the hotel.

​

• Day 4: Shinjuku & Shibuya

​

We decided to explore Shinjuku during the day rather than at night, and it turned out to be a great decision. We started at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, where the free observatories offer fantastic views of the city. On this day, the skies were incredibly clear, and we could even see Mt. Fuji in the distance.

After that, we wandered through Shinjuku, stopping to see the Godzilla head and the animated cat billboard, before visiting Hanazono Shrine. Lunch was at a local ramen chain, simple, and delicious, albeit slightly pricey. Later, we spent a good amount of time walking through Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Since it was autumn, the trees were full of green, yellow, and red leaves, and the entire place felt calm despite being in the middle of the city.

In the afternoon, we made our way toward Harajuku and Takeshita Street, which was busy but fun to explore. We ended the day in Shibuya, watching the famous scramble crossing and wandering around the area before having dinner and heading back to Yokohama.

​​

• Day 5: Cup Noodles Museum & Kanazawa

​

We checked out early and headed to the Cup Noodles Museum, which turned out to be far more interesting than expected. Learning about the history behind instant noodles was surprisingly engaging, and we completely lost track of time.

That nearly made us miss our Shinkansen to Kanazawa, which we had booked weeks in advance. The journey took about three and a half hours, and we arrived in Kanazawa around 5:00 PM. Our hotel, Smile Hotel Kanazawa, was just a short walk from the station. After checking in, we visited the Pokémon Center Kanazawa and nearby stores before grabbing some snacks from FamilyMart and calling it an early night.

​

• Day 6: Shirakawa-go, Gokayama & Takayama
   

This was an early start, with the pre-booked Kousoku bus departing at 7:30 AM. Our first stop was Gokayama, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its traditional gassho-style houses. We visited the Murakami House, where we were treated to a short folk singing and dancing performance, which gave a nice glimpse into local traditions.

Next was Shirakawa-go, where we spent a few hours walking around the village, climbing up to the Ogimachi Observation Deck for panoramic views, and sampling the famous local pudding. It was easily one of the most picturesque places we visited in Japan.

In the afternoon, we continued to Takayama, a small city with a beautifully preserved old town. Walking through the narrow streets and traditional wooden houses felt like stepping back in time. After a few hours, we headed back to Kanazawa, passing through an impressive stretch of tunnels, including the massive Hida Tunnel, a reminder of Japan’s incredible engineering.

​​

• Day 7: Kanazawa & Kaga Onsen

​

We started the morning with a visit to Kenrokuen Garden, one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan. Autumn foliage made it even more special. Right next to it is Kanazawa Castle Park, which we explored briefly before heading back to the hotel to collect our bags.

Getting to Kaga Onsen turned into an unexpected adventure due to a public holiday and train disruptions. What was supposed to be straightforward ended up involving multiple train changes, but eventually we made it.

Our destination was Kagari Kisshotei, a traditional ryokan overlooking a river. Despite being a three-star property, it felt luxurious. We had a private onsen bath in our room, enjoyed a beautifully presented kaiseki dinner, and spent the evening simply relaxing on tatami mats. It was easily one of the most memorable nights of the trip.

​​

• Day 8: Kaga Gorge Walk & Osaka

​

We woke up early to enjoy one last soak in the private onsen, followed by an excellent Japanese breakfast. Before leaving, we walked along the Daishoji River through the Kakusenkei Gorge. The paths, bridges, and surrounding nature made for a peaceful morning.

Unfortunately, it started raining, and I ended up catching a cold, which slowed things down a bit. We then traveled to Osaka, changing trains at Tsuruga. The total journey took about three hours. After checking into S-Presso Namba, we decided to stay in for the evening and rest. Our forwarded luggage from Yokohama arrived right at our door, which once again proved how efficient Japan’s delivery services are.

​

• Day 9: Nara & Osaka Shopping
   

Feeling much better after  well deserved rest, we headed to Nara, about 45 minutes away. From Kintetsu Nara Station, we walked toward Nara Park, visiting Kofuku-ji Temple and Todai-ji along the way. The deer were everywhere — calmly walking among visitors, occasionally bowing in hopes of getting a cracker.

After spending time in the park, we returned to Osaka and explored the Sennichimae area, walking through Kuromon Market and Nipponbashi DenDen Town. It was a long but enjoyable day, and we headed back to the hotel for a good night’s rest.

​

• Day 10: Kyoto Day Trip

​

We spent the day exploring Kyoto, starting with Pontocho Alley and a walk along the Shirakawa Canal. From there, we wandered through Nishiki Market, stopping at shrines and temples along the way.

Later in the day, we visited Fushimi Inari Taisha. It was extremely crowded, and the weather was cloudy with light rain, but walking through the endless torii gates was still a unique experience. We then headed to Sannenzaka and Kiyomizu-dera. Despite the crowds and rain, the views from the temple were fantastic.

By the time we headed back to Osaka, we were tired, wet, and ready to rest. The journey back took longer than expected, but we eventually made it back and called it a night.

​​

• Day 11: Shinsekai, Shinsaibashi & Dotonbori

​

We took it easy in the morning and started the day in Shinsekai, a colorful district built around Tsutenkaku Tower. From there, we ended up at Mega Don Quijote, where most of our shopping happened.

After packing and forwarding our luggage to Tokyo, we spent the rest of the day walking through Shinsaibashi and eventually made our way to Dotonbori in the evening. It was crowded, bright, loud, and exactly as iconic as it looks online. After dinner, we headed back to the hotel to prepare for our departure the next day.

​

• Day 12: Back to Tokyo & Odaiba
   

We returned to Tokyo and checked into Henn-na Hotel Hamamatsucho, which is famous for its robot receptionists. It was a fun and quirky experience.

We spent most of the day in Odaiba, visiting the Small Worlds Miniature Museum and the Gundam Base Tower. With only a couple of days left in Japan, we started feeling that familiar sadness that comes near the end of a great trip.

​

• Day 13: Asakusa & Akihabara

​

We began the day in Asakusa, walking through Nakamise Street toward Senso-ji Temple. As expected, it was busy, but still worth seeing.

In the afternoon, we headed to Akihabara. Between Yodobashi, BicCamera, Animate, Radio Kaikan, and countless other stores, we spent hours exploring. By evening, the neon lights were fully on, and the area looked incredible. It’s a must-visit if you enjoy anime, electronics, or just want to see a very different side of Tokyo.

​

• Day 14: Pokemon Center Tokyo DX, Seiko House Ginza
   

Today was the last day in Japan. Unwilling to depart, we packed up our bags, left them at the hotel and headed towards Pokemon Center Tokyo DX, which was much larger than the other Pokemon centers we visited, After having our fill of Pokemon plushies and getting some merchandise, we headed towards Ginza, the fancy shopping district of Tokyo. Over there we visited the Seiko house Ginza clock tower and just roamed the area nearby. Also went to a popular Mochi store, Ginza Akebono, which had some amazing flavored Mochi. After that we headed back to our hotel to wind up and departed to Haneda airport.