The Japan Travel Series

• Part 1: Planning, Packing & Booking Our Dream Japan Trip
• Part 2: 5 Days in Tokyo: Shibuya Sky, TeamLab Planets & ASMR Head Spas (You are here)
• Part 3: Coastal Kamakura: Bamboo Forests, Mt. Fuji & Traditional Onsens
• Part 4: Kyoto & Nara Realities: Bullet Trains, Deer Parks & Cultural Sights
• Part 5: Tropical Okinawa & The 26-Hour Journey Home: Is It Worth Visiting?

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Introduction

After months of planning, packing, and anticipation, the moment finally arrived: touchdown in Tokyo. Watching YouTube vlogs and scrolling through Instagram reels in our living room in Wales was one thing, but stepping off the plane into the hum of Tokyo was something else entirely.

Over five whirlwind days, we packed in as many bucket-list moments as possible – from crossing the iconic Shibuya Scramble to getting lost in digital art exhibitions and experiencing a real-life earthquake on the 12th floor of our hotel. Here is the honest breakdown of our time in Tokyo: what we did each day, the unforgettable highlights, and the lessons we learned along the way.

Day 1 (22 June 2026): Travel Day

Our journey officially began at London Heathrow for our 13-hour direct flight to Tokyo Haneda with Japan Airlines. We had stayed overnight at the Radisson Blu near the airport, parked our car at Purple Parking, and headed through security to spend some time in the No.10 Lounge before boarding our long-haul flight east.

Best Moments:

• Japanese Politeness: Approaching the steps to board the aircraft was surprisingly emotional. All of the Japan Airlines flight attendants came out to the top of the stairs and bowed to us as we boarded. Experiencing that level of warmth and respect before even leaving UK airspace was our very first glimpse into Japanese culture (omotenashi).
• Food: The inflight catering was genuinely some of the best food we have ever had on a flight, paired with exceptionally attentive service from the cabin crew.

Lessons Learned:

• Purple Parking Navigation: Purple Parking was surprisingly difficult to locate. With limited signage on approach, it was far too easy to input the wrong address into Google Maps. Compared to Heathrow-owned options, it sits much further away from the terminals than expected – definitely factor in extra buffer time.
• No.10 Lounge: We booked the lounge at Heathrow before departure, but in our opinion, it wasn’t worth the money. Food choices were quite limited, and the bar area was so crowded that getting a drink felt like a real effort.

Day 2 (23 June 2026): Our First Moments in Japan

We arrived at Haneda Airport around 8:00 AM. After clearing immigration and collecting our bags, a pre-booked car took us straight to our hotel, Daiwa Roynet Hotel Nishi-Shinjuku PREMIER. Because our room wasn’t ready until 2:00 PM, we dropped our bags in the reception storage room and headed out to kick off our itinerary. First, we popped into a nearby Starbucks to set up our eSIMs and get connected. From there, we headed over to Capyneko Harajuku – a capybara and cat café – before wrapping up our afternoon with a sukiyaki (hot pot style) lunch.

Best Moments:

• Baggage Claim Precision: Watching the luggage carousel at Haneda was so cool – exactly like you see on Instagram, where all of the luggage is carefully lined up on the belt with the handles all facing the exact same way.
• Capyneko Harajuku: Mike and I have always loved capybaras, with our first interaction being at Folly Farm around a year into our relationship. Getting to see them up close alongside adorable cats was so special. All of the animals appeared really well cared for, with plenty of private spaces to escape visitors if they wanted time alone.
• Airport Taxi Experience: The private taxi that picked us up from the airport was amazing – fully adjustable electric leather seats, spotlessly clean, lots of space, and a very kind driver who helped us with our luggage.

Lessons Learned:

• Sukiyaki Lunch: While the food was really good at the restaurant we visited, we felt it was slightly more “touristy” than we would have liked, and we definitely had more unique culinary experiences as the trip went on.
• Takeshita Street: Takeshita Street was where the capybara/cat café was located, and although lots of people recommend a visit to the area on social media, I’d say it’s definitely skippable if you’re not interested in animal cafés and crowds bother you.

Day 3 (24 June 2026): Bucket List Moments

We started the morning walking to the Shibuya area for a traditional Japanese kimono photoshoot. Afterwards, we walked over to the famous Shibuya Crossing, paid a visit to the Hachiko statue, and then headed inside a nearby café for some much-needed air-conditioning and a breather. During the afternoon, we explored the Pokémon Centre and BIC Camera before heading up to Shibuya Sky. Once we finished taking in the views, we caught the train back to our hotel.

Best Moments:

• Exploring on Foot: Walking to the photoshoot and exploring Shibuya on foot was an amazing way to see Japan. We tried out random vending machine drinks along the way and admired so much interesting architecture.
• Kimono Photoshoot: The photoshoot itself was done inside a professional studio rather than out on the street. It was a fantastic experience—the studio had incredible sets that you could choose from ahead of time, and I’d 100% recommend it to anyone visiting.
• Shibuya Crossing: Seeing Shibuya Crossing was such a bucket-list moment for me, having only ever seen it on TV or in films like Fast & Furious. Although, I will say that it actually looks a bit smaller in real life!
• Viewpoint Café: The café we went to near the crossing was one I found on Instagram – all-you-can-eat and drink for one hour. We paid around £14 each, which we thought was really good value, and it offered brilliant, elevated views over the crossing.
• Shibuya Sky: Shibuya Sky was amazing. I highly recommend the champagne booking option as it gives you access to the bar seating area where you can sit back, relax, and take in the skyline.

Lessons Learned:

• Pokémon Centre Queues: The Pokémon Centre was so packed it was impossible to actually look at or buy anything, as the checkout queues looped all the way around the store. We left quite quickly after arriving.
• BIC Camera Deals: I’d heard from others that you could get incredible deals on tech (I love my cameras, so I was excited to see what BIC Camera had to offer), but I personally didn’t feel the prices were overly better than what you see online, despite favourable exchange rates.
• Shibuya Sky Booking: It’s true what they say – to get a sunset slot at Shibuya Sky, you need to be online like it’s a high-demand concert ticket as soon as the timeslots drop. We missed out, but we were really happy with our slot regardless (we left as it was getting dark and all the city lights were coming on; plus, it was cloudy anyway, so there was no sunset to see!).
• Shinjuku Station: When travelling through Shinjuku Station, you will get lost at some point. Always allow extra time for it!

Day 4 (25 June 2026): TeamLab Planets and Lost Bar

In the morning, we made our way over to TeamLab Planets for their immersive digital art experience, leaving around midday. We then ducked into a local shop for a hot bowl of ramen before spending the afternoon resting. In the evening, we got ready and took a trip out to Lost Bar in Shibuya.

Best Moments:

• Rainy Day Ramen: Heading into the ramen shop in the pouring rain was such a movie-like experience. We followed the golden rule of “go where the local salarymen go,” and it was a brilliant piece of advice because the ramen was incredible.
• TeamLab Planets: I loved seeing TeamLab Planets in real life after seeing it on Instagram for so long. My absolute favourite parts were walking through the water where digital koi fish were projected all around your legs, and the room filled with floating, real-life orchids dangling from the ceiling surrounded by mirrors. It was completely breathtaking.
• Lost Bar: Visiting Lost Bar was another huge bucket-list moment for me. Getting to visit the bar owned by YouTube creator Abroad in Japan was surreal – I loved the drinks, the vibe, and seeing all the funny pictures on the wall.

Lessons Learned:

• TeamLab Crowds & Transit: TeamLab Planets was incredibly busy; people aren’t wrong when they suggest booking an early morning slot, as the crowds make it a little difficult to fully enjoy some of the exhibits. We were also surprised by how far it was to walk from the train station we got off at – we may have miscalculated our route, but I’d probably just hail a cab next time.
• Taxis in Japan: Lots of people say that taxis are ridiculously expensive in Japan, but from a UK perspective, that wasn’t true at all. We found them very reasonable, if not cheaper than some journeys back home. We took a cab to Lost Bar when our timings got squeezed later in the day, and it was a great decision – it gave our feet a break and kept us dry from the heavy rain.

Day 5 (26 June 2026): Relaxation, Car Culture & An Earthquake

Our final full day in Tokyo was all about balance. First thing in the morning, we arranged for our heavy luggage to be forwarded ahead to our next hotel in Kamakura. Then, I headed off to my appointment at ASMR Twix’s head spa, while Mike went to a massage appointment at Male Massage Masotera Tokyo. Afterwards, we met up to explore Shinjuku – spotting the giant Godzilla statue, watching the 3D cat billboard, and grabbing some sushi. In the evening, we got ready for a Fast & Furious-style JDM car tour, making stops at Daikoku PA, A PIT Autobacs Shinonome, and Tokyo Tower, before finishing up with a late-night McDonald’s run to try out their Japanese menu. Late that night back in our room, we experienced a real earthquake.

Best Moments:

• ASMR Twix Head Spa: The head spa was incredible and everything I hoped it would be. As a long-time viewer of ASMR Twix on YouTube, visiting her head spa was a major personal goal. I can honestly say I have never been so relaxed or wowed by hospitality.
• Shinjuku Landmarks: As silly as it sounds, I really loved getting to see Godzilla peering over the buildings and seeing the famous 3D cat billboard in person – they’re just so cool to see in real life.

Lessons Learned:

• JDM Car Tour Realities: As much as I enjoyed the car tour, I’m not sure it was fully worth the money. Online, you get the impression you’ll be riding in a flashy, movie-replica car and tearing along the highway. Our car turned out to be a fairly plain, silver vehicle – it was likely heavily modified under the bonnet, but visually it looked quite normal compared to the colourful JDM cars other tourists were pulling up in! Our driver was great, but he had to obey local speed laws, so the high-speed thrill you see online isn’t a true representation. Plus, heavy rain from an incoming typhoon limited our photos at Tokyo Tower.
• Shinjuku Sushi: The sushi we stopped for in Shinjuku felt quite expensive for what it was. In hindsight, I wish I’d taken more time to research places in advance rather than picking somewhere on the fly.
• Experiencing an Earthquake: While Mike thought it was a funny bucket-list story to experience an earthquake in Tokyo, I found it absolutely terrifying! Being up on the 12th floor when the tremor struck meant the entire skyscraper swayed gently like a boat – a sensation we definitely don’t get back home in the UK.

Part 2 Summary: Amazing, But Exhausting!

There is no place on Earth quite like Tokyo. The contrast between ancient tradition, modern technology, and quirky subcultures makes it a city you have to see to believe. We loved every single moment of our five days here, but there is one thing people don’t talk about enough: it is utterly exhausting.

The energy of Tokyo is relentless. Everyone walks at a serious power-walk pace, the train stations require miles of walking every day, and the constant sensory input of neon lights, sounds, and crowds eventually catches up with you. By the end of Day 5, as amazing as Tokyo had been, I was genuinely craving a change of pace. I was so ready to leave the high-voltage energy of the capital behind and trade it for the slower, coastal calm of Kamakura.

Ready for Part 3?

In the next post, we leave the giant skyscrapers behind as we head south to coastal Kamakura to explore quiet bamboo forests, giant Buddha statues, coastal views of Mt. Fuji, and traditional onsens!