🌸 JAPAN 2027✦MARCH 28 – APRIL 8✦🏯 TOKYO · KYOTO · OSAKA · MT. FUJI✦🎌 11 DAYS · CHERRY BLOSSOM SEASON✦🌸 JAPAN 2027✦MARCH 28 – APRIL 8✦🏯 TOKYO · KYOTO · OSAKA · MT. FUJI✦🎌 11 DAYS · CHERRY BLOSSOM SEASON✦
💗 This itinerary is a guide, not a schedule
You do NOT have to do everything listed here. This is a reference so we always have something to fall back on as a group. Do what excites you, skip what doesn't, split off when you want, and add your own things. Everyone moves at their own pace — the goal is a great trip, not checking every box.
Tokyo DisneylandFull park day — rides, shows, shopping
Apr 1 Thu
🌸
Kyoto Day TripFushimi Inari · Kiyomizu-dera · Gion · Nishiki
Apr 2 Fri
🍄
Osaka + Universal Studios JapanSuper Nintendo World · Mario Kart · Yoshi
Apr 3 Sat
💕
Shibuya Day + Night OutCrossing · Nintendo Tokyo · Pokémon Center · clubs
Apr 4 Sun
🎮
AkihabaraAnime · Dragon Ball · gaming · gachapon
Apr 5 Mon
🏎️
Tokyo Experience DayStreet Kart · teamLab Planets · premium sushi · Wangan Drive
Apr 6 Tue
🗻
Mt. FujiChureito Pagoda · Oshino Hakkai · Lake Kawaguchi
Apr 7 Wed
💗
Free Day + Tokyo FinaleShopping · karaoke · farewell dinner
Apr 8 Thu
✈️
Fly HomeSayonara, Japan! 🥹
Where we're staying
Our Home Base
✅
My room is reserved — March 29 – April 8, 2027 🎉
Booked through Expedia's Reserve Now, Pay Later — no charge upfront, you pay at check-in. If you want to stay at the same hotel, book your own room below!
Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu
Haneda Airport, Tokyo · ⭐⭐⭐⭐ · March 29 – April 8 · 10 nights
Location
Directly connected to Haneda Airport Terminal 2 — literally walk off the plane and you're at the hotel. 386 rooms, some with runway views. Best airport access in Tokyo.
Getting to Tokyo
🚆 Keikyu Line → Shinagawa: ~20 min — connects straight to Shibuya, Shinjuku, Asakusa & more
🚆 Tokyo Monorail → Hamamatsucho → Tokyo Station: ~40 min
🚗 Drive to central Tokyo / Shibuya area: ~20–30 min
🎢 Tokyo Disney Resort by bus: ~30–50 min
Check-in / out
Check-in from 2:00 PM · Check-out by 11:00 AM
Perks
Free Wi-Fi · Flyer's Table restaurant & bar on-site · Breakfast buffet available · Excellent soundproofing — quiet despite the airport location
Booking
Want to stay at the same hotel? Use Expedia's Reserve Now, Pay Later — no payment upfront, you pay when you check in at the hotel.
✈️ We're staying at Haneda Airport — fly into HND. The American Airlines nonstop JFK → HND is the move. You land, walk 5 minutes, and you're at the hotel. No trains, no transfers, no dragging luggage across the city.
💡 Flight Booking Tips
✈️ Go with JFK → HND (Haneda) — since we're staying at the airport hotel, this is the only flight that makes sense. We are literally staying inside the airport — best arrival experience possible.
📅 Book by November 2026 — cherry blossom season drives prices up. Earlier = better rate.
📉 Keep an eye on prices — set a free alert on Google Flights or KAYAK for JFK → HND March 28. You'll get an email if prices drop — current rate is $1,678 so anything lower is a win.
Day by day
The Itinerary
📌 Reminder: You don't have to do everything listed — tap any day to see what's planned and pick what works for you. Split off, sleep in, explore solo — all good. This is just so we always have a plan to fall back on.
1
🇯🇵Arrival in Tokyo
Monday · March 29
▾
Afternoon
✈️ Land at Haneda Airport (HND)
🏨 Hotel is connected to Terminal 2 — 5 min walk to check-in
🏪 7-Eleven run for snacks & drinks
Evening
🍜 Easy dinner near the hotel
🚶 Explore the neighbourhood
No big plans tonight 💗 — easy arrival day. Best part: the hotel is literally in the airport so no long transfers after a 14-hour flight!
2
👘Asakusa + Cherry Blossoms
Tuesday · March 30
▾
Morning
👘 Kimono rental in Asakusa — book in advance, opens at 9 AM
⛩️ Senso-ji Temple — Tokyo's oldest
📸 Asakusa photos · Japanese snacks 🍡
Afternoon
🌸 Ueno Park — cherry blossom photos
🗼 Tokyo Skytree observation deck
Evening
🍣 Dinner
💗 Free time
Vibe: traditional Japan meets peak cherry blossom season 🌸
Tokyo has incredible food at every price point. These are the must-tries — from $2 street snacks to our two special group dinners. No reservations needed for most of these.
Actual 2027 event lineups will be checked closer to the trip — venues stay the same, DJs change!
What to bring
Packing List
🛂
Passport
Required everywhere — and for Street Kart
🪪
Physical driver's license
Required for Street Kart
🪪
1949 Geneva Convention IDP
GET FROM AAA BEFORE YOU LEAVE!
💳
Credit + debit cards
Notify your bank before travel
📱
Phone + all chargers
🔋
Portable charger
Essential for long park days
🔌
Travel adapter
Japan uses Type A (same as US plug)
👟
Comfortable sneakers
You will walk SO much — bring your best pair
🧥
Light jacket + layers
Warm days, cool evenings in spring
🧴
Toiletries + skincare
💊
Medication
🕶️
Sunglasses
⚠️
Street Kart — Don't Forget
Drivers must bring: physical U.S. driver's license · 1949 Geneva Convention IDP · passport.
Get the IDP from AAA before leaving home: aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html
💗 These are options, not requirements. Pick what you're excited about and skip the rest — no pressure to do it all.
⚠️ For anything you do want to book — do it before March 2027. Cherry blossom season sells out fast. Prices below are current estimates and may vary slightly.
🏰 Tokyo Disneyland — Day 3 (Mar 31)
~$50–$75 / person
Tickets use dynamic date-based pricing — March 31 (Wednesday) should fall in a mid-tier bracket. Prices vary by date and are displayed in USD when you book online. Book date-specific tickets in advance — you cannot buy at the gate on busy days.
💡 Tip: Download the Tokyo Disney app before arrival to grab ride time slots the moment you walk in. Express passes are available for an extra ~$25–$45.
1-Day Studio Pass: ~$76/person. Super Nintendo World requires a separate Timed Entry ticket — grab it free in the USJ app the moment the park opens (morning slots vanish in minutes). For guaranteed Nintendo World entry, the Express Pass 7: ~$120+/person includes it.
💡 Tip: Book the Studio Pass in advance online or via Klook. The Express Pass is optional but worth it if you want to skip every line including Mario Kart.
Timed-entry tickets start at ~$24 on weekdays, slightly more on weekends. Book a specific time slot in advance — popular evening slots sell out 2–3 weeks ahead. Operates on rolling 30-min entry windows. Note: teamLab Planets is confirmed open through end of 2027.
💡 Tip: Go barefoot-friendly — you walk through water installations. Wear clothes you don't mind getting slightly wet at the bottom.
Prices vary by tour length and route. The 2-hour Tokyo Bay route (~$121) passes Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower — perfect for our Wangan night vibe. 1-hour tours from ~$86. Book well in advance, especially for weekend slots.
⚠️ Every driver must bring: physical U.S. driver's license + 1949 Geneva Convention IDP (from AAA) + passport. No IDP = no kart. Get it before you leave the US!
Guided day tours from Tokyo are the easiest option. Basic bus tour (Chureito Pagoda + Lake Kawaguchi): ~$39–$50. Tours with Shinkansen return: ~$70–$100. Departs from Tokyo Station or Shinjuku. Lunch optional add-on. Cherry blossom season makes this extra scenic — book early.
💡 Tip: Klook's "Mt. Fuji Popular Scenic Spots" tour is highly rated and includes Chureito Pagoda, Oshino Hakkai, and Lake Kawaguchi — exactly our itinerary.
Tokyo ↔ Kyoto: ~$90 round-trip reserved seat. Tokyo ↔ Shin-Osaka: similar pricing. Book through Smart EX app — you can reserve seats with a foreign credit card and use your phone as your ticket. Book at least a few weeks ahead for peak cherry blossom season.
A guided JDM night tour through Tokyo's most iconic car culture spots — the Wangan Expressway, Rainbow Bridge, Daikoku Parking Area (Tokyo's legendary underground car meet), and Tokyo Tower. You ride as a passenger in a real JDM sports car (GT-R, RX-7, Supra, and more) with an English-speaking guide who knows the scene. Drops you back at your hotel.
💡 Tip: The Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift experience on Headout starts at ~$163/person and covers the full Wangan + Rainbow Bridge + Daikoku route — exactly our late-night vibe on Day 8. Book in advance, popular slots fill up.
Japan runs heavily on cash. Aim for ~$330–$530 per person total for the trip in spending cash. Many restaurants, shrines, and local spots are cash-only. You can exchange money at the airport when you land (exchange counters are right in the terminal — rates are fine), or withdraw from 7-Eleven ATMs in Tokyo which are the most reliable for US cards, 24/7.
Best options for exchanging money:
Wise or Revolut — best rates, load before you fly, use like a debit card anywhere
Airport exchange counters at Haneda (HND) — rates are decent at the airport in Japan (better than US airports). Fine to exchange $200–$300 on arrival if you didn't prep beforehand
7-Eleven ATMs in Japan — withdraw cash with your US debit/credit card, good rates, no issues with foreign cards
Charles Schwab debit card — refunds all ATM fees worldwide. Best card to bring if you have one
Tell your bank before you travel. Call your bank and cards — let them know Japan, March 28 – April 8. Cards without foreign transaction fees: Chase Sapphire, Capital One, Schwab.
Get a Suica card — easiest way to get around. Rechargeable tap card for all trains, subways, buses, and convenience stores. Load $20–$35 to start. iPhone users: add Suica directly to Apple Wallet — no physical card needed. Open Wallet → tap + → search "Suica" → done. Android users can use Google Pay with Suica too.
📋 Documents, Apps & Connectivity
🛂
Register on Visit Japan Web before flying — fills out your arrival card digitally, speeds up immigration. vjw.digital.go.jp ↗
🌐
Check your passport is valid through at least April 8, 2027. US renewals take 6–8 weeks — do this now if needed.
🪪
Get your IDP from AAA if you're driving the Street Kart. 1949 Geneva Convention IDP only. Takes minutes in-person. aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html ↗
📶
Sort your data plan. T-Mobile includes Japan. Otherwise, grab a Japan eSIM on Klook before you fly — cheap and instant.
📱
Download before you fly: Google Translate (offline Japanese pack) · Google Maps (offline Tokyo) · Tokyo Disney App · USJ App · Smart EX · Wise or Revolut
📅 When to Book What
Now → Nov 2026✈️ Book your flight (JFK → HND) · 🏨 Book your hotel room if staying with us · 🪪 IDP from AAA · 💳 Set up Wise/Revolut · 🌐 Check passport validity
November 2026🏰 Disneyland tickets · 🍄 USJ tickets · 🏎️ Street Kart · 🚄 Shinkansen via Smart EX · 🗻 Mt. Fuji tour · 🍣 Reserve group dinners (skip Dec — it's the holidays!)
Jan – Feb 2027🪐 teamLab Planets · 📱 Download all apps · 🛂 Register Visit Japan Web · 📶 Sort eSIM or data plan · 💳 Load Wise card
Early March 2027🌙 Check Apr 3 nightlife lineups · 💰 Set up Apple/Google Pay Suica · 🧳 Pack · 💴 Get cash at airport on arrival