๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต

Japan Trip 2026

Justin, Lorraine & Liam

May 29 โ€“ June 10, 2026

Last updated: May 26, 2026
โœˆ๏ธ

Flights

LegFlightDateDepartsArrivesDetails
SFO โ†’ NRTZip Air ZG025May 294:45 PM SFOMay 30, 8:00 PM NRT T1Invoice: A9U44P ยท Check-in Aisle 7, closes 2:45 PM
NRT โ†’ KIXJetstar GK215May 3112:00 PM NRT T31:45 PM KIX T1Ref: JKJFNF ยท Seats 6D, 6E, 6F ยท Bag drop closes 11 AM ยท Boards 11:30 AM ยท Gate closes 11:35 AM
NRT โ†’ SFOZip Air ZG026June 109:30 PM NRT2:45 PM SFO (same day)Invoice: A9U44P
๐Ÿจ

Hotels

May 30โ€“31
Conf: 1015138913 (Chase) ยท +81 476-33-1661
Shuttle from T2 Bus Stand 26, departs :00 & :30 every hour. Family Mart lobby.
May 31โ€“Jun 4
Conf: 80923404 ยท +81 6-6448-1121
Free shuttle to Osaka Station (Sakura-bashi Exit west side) every 15 min, 7:45 AMโ€“10:15 PM. USJ shuttle free (reserve night before). Sugi Pharmacy 1F, 7-Eleven basement.
Jun 4โ€“6
Conf: 1015718644 (Chase) ยท +81 3-5783-1111
Direct covered walkway to Shinagawa Station. Floors 26โ€“32. Welcome drink & towel. โ˜• THE CITY BAKERY Shinagawa (opens 7 AM)
Jun 6โ€“10
Conf: 23780052 ยท +81 3-6837-1234
No shuttle. Walk 5โ€“10 min to Yurakucho โ†’ 1 stop JR to Tokyo Station (~ยฅ160) or 5 min taxi. Free snacks/drinks 24hr, gym, salmon breakfast. โ˜• ZEN PUNK MATCHA โญ4.7 (8 AM) / Cloud Club Matcha โญ4.7 (9 AM, queue)
๐Ÿ“‹

Pre-Departure Checklist

๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ“ถ Buy eSIM from Ubigi (use referral code first, then refer Lorraine) โ†’ Set up Mobile Suica on both iPhones via Apple Wallet โ†’ Load ยฅ3,000โ€“5,000 ยท ๐Ÿ’ก Liam rides FREE under 6!
๐Ÿ”ด๐ŸŽŒ Register on Visit Japan Web for fast-track immigration at NRT
๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿฅฉ Reserve Ginza Steak for June 6th
๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿฃ Reserve Sushi Inase for June 7th โš ๏ธ Very popular โ€” book NOW!
๐ŸŸก๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Book TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka tickets online โ€” sells out!
๐ŸŸก๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Book TeamLab Planets Tokyo tickets on Klook โ€” sells out!
๐ŸŸก๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Book Tokyo Skytree tickets on Klook
๐ŸŸก๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Book USJ tickets + Express Pass on Klook โ€” no on-site sales!
๐ŸŸก๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Make June 2nd dinner reservation (Lorraine to choose from 6 options)
๐ŸŸก๐Ÿ“ž Reserve New Babe Toyosaki for June 3rd lunch โ€” saves ยฅ220/person
๐ŸŸก๐Ÿ“ฑ Download Google Translate offline (Japanese)
๐ŸŸก๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Download Google Maps offline (Osaka + Tokyo separately)
๐ŸŸก๐Ÿ’Š Download coupons from taxfreeshops.jp for extra discounts at drug stores
๐ŸŸขโœ… Confirm stroller policy on RIHGA hotel shuttle at check-in
๐ŸŸขโœ… Confirm coin laundry availability at RIHGA front desk
๐ŸŸขโœ… Check Chase booking for Hotel Mystays breakfast inclusion
๐ŸŸข๐ŸŽฎ Decide activity for you & Liam during Lorraine's June 7 omakase at Sushi Inase
๐ŸŸข๐Ÿณ Find breakfast spot in Nara for June 4th
๐ŸŸข๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Plan June 9 dinner near Ginza (all together)
๐ŸŸข๐Ÿณ Plan June 10 breakfast before checkout
๐Ÿผ

Stroller Tips

๐Ÿ’ก In Google Maps, enable "Wheelchair accessible" under route options โ€” automatically routes via elevators!  ยท  Tokyo Metro Lifts  ยท  Osaka Metro Lifts  ยท  Always use the wide ticket gate (wheelchair/stroller symbol)  ยท  Ask any station staff โ€” they'll escort you to the elevator!
๐Ÿ“…

Daily Itinerary

TimeActivity
2:45 PMArrive SFO โ€” Check in at Aisle 7
4:45 PMโœˆ๏ธ Depart SFO โ€” Zip Air ZG025 (A9U44P)
TimeActivity
8:00 PM๐Ÿ›ฌ Arrive Tokyo Narita (NRT) Terminal 1
~8:30 PM๐ŸšŒ Free inter-terminal shuttle T1 โ†’ T2 (landside, no security needed)
~8:45 PM๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Dinner โ€” Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu โ€” T2, 2F Japan Food Hall โš ๏ธ Leave by 9:15 PM!
~9:30 PM๐ŸšŒ Hotel Mystays shuttle from T2 Bus Stand 26 โ€” departs :00 & :30, ~10 min ride
Night๐Ÿจ Check in Hotel Mystays ยท ๐ŸŽฐ Capsule Toy Gacha โ€” T2 B1F, 24hrs, 300+ machines for Liam!
TimeActivity
~9:15 AMCheck out Hotel Mystays โš ๏ธ Ask front desk for shuttle timetable
~9:20 AM๐Ÿช Family Mart (hotel lobby) โ€” grab snacks for the flight
~9:30 AM๐ŸšŒ Free hotel shuttle to NRT โ€” drops T2 first, then T1, ~20 min
~9:55 AMโœ… Check in bag โ€” bag drop closes 11:00 AM
~10:15 AM๐Ÿณ Breakfast at NRT T3 โ€” MATSUYA (beef bowl) / HAKATA ITTENMON (ramen) / Sendai Tanya Rikyu (beef tongue)
~10:50 AM๐Ÿฑ Pick up lunch bento โ€” convenience store or Narita Bento inside T3
~11:00 AM๐Ÿ›‚ Head through security โ€” gate closes 11:35 AM
12:00 PMโœˆ๏ธ Depart NRT T3 โ€” Jetstar GK215 (JKJFNF) Seats 6D, 6E, 6F
1:45 PM๐Ÿ›ฌ Arrive KIX Terminal 1
~2:00 PM๐Ÿš— Private driver โ€” Ref: GUW263032 ยท Toyota Alphard/Honda Odyssey ยท T1N near Gate C or T1S near Gate D โš ๏ธ Verify name, keep phone connected
~2:45 PM๐Ÿจ Check in RIHGA Royal Osaka โš ๏ธ Ask about stroller policy & coin laundry
~4:00 PMโš ๏ธ Ask front desk to reserve USJ shuttle for June 1st morning!
~4:15 PM๐Ÿฅ Sugi Pharmacy 1F โ€” pick up bug spray ๐ŸฆŸ
~4:25 PM๐Ÿช 7-Eleven hotel basement โ€” grab room snacks ๐Ÿซ
~5:30 PM๐Ÿข Dinner โ€” Torisuke Namba Honten โญ4.4 โ€” yakitori & kushiyaki, Namba 2F ยท Private booths, English menu โœ…
7:30 PM๐ŸŒฟ TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka โ€” last entry 8:30 PM โš ๏ธ Book tickets in advance! ยท Adults ยฅ1,800 / Kids ยฅ500 / Under 4 FREE
TimeActivity
~7:30 AM๐Ÿช Breakfast โ€” Family Mart hotel basement
~8:00 AM๐ŸšŒ Free hotel shuttle to USJ โ€” departs 1 hour before park opening
9:00 AM๐ŸŽข Park opens โš ๏ธ Head straight to Super Nintendo World โ€” get timed entry on USJ app ยท ๐ŸŽฎ Minion Park for Liam! ยท ๐Ÿง™ Harry Potter ยท ๐Ÿฆ• Jurassic Park ยท ๐Ÿ’ก June = off-peak!
~4:00 PMLeave USJ โ€” Option A: Train โ†’ Osaka Station (~25 min) โ†’ Hotel shuttle ยท Option B: Taxi (~ยฅ2,500โ€“3,000) if Liam is tired
~6:00 PM๐Ÿฃ Dinner โ€” Conveyor Belt Sushi: Sushiro Dotonbori โญ4.6 ยท CHOJIRO Hozenji โญ4.1 ยท Kan Taro Grand Front โญ4.0
TimeActivity
~8:45 AM๐ŸšŒ Hotel shuttle to Osaka Station (Sakura-bashi Exit)
~8:55 AM๐Ÿšƒ Train Osaka โ†’ Namba Station (Midosuji Line, ~5 min)
9:30 AM๐Ÿ™ Onigiri Gorichan โญ5.0 โ€” Nankai Namba Station 3F ยท Order pork soup!
~10:30 AM๐Ÿ›๏ธ Shinsaibashisuji Arcade ยท ๐Ÿ’Š Drug store haul โ€” Cosmos & Sundrug โ€” tax-free 10%+7% off ยท Use taxfreeshops.jp coupons ยท ๐ŸŽฐ Gashacoco Namba & EDION 6F for Liam!
2:05 PM๐ŸŽฎ Pokรฉmon Cafe Osaka โ€” Daimaru Shinsaibashi 9F (90 min) ยท Res: ZqJzVPdNrjkexGYv ยท ๐Ÿ’ก Pikachu show โ€” don't leave early!
~3:35 PM๐Ÿ›๏ธ Uniqlo Shinsaibashi โ€” tax-free ยท Custom T-shirt top floor ยท GU Shinsaibashi โ€” tax-free 5F
~6:30 PM๐Ÿฒ Dinner โ€” Shabu Shabu / Sukiyaki (Lorraine to choose): Yanagiya โญ4.9 ยท Wagyu to Buta โญ4.8 AYCE ยท Taishu Hokuto โญ4.7 ยท Kobe Beef Ushimaru โญ5.0 ยท Shabuzen Umedaten โญ4.4 AYCE open 10:30 PM โœ…
~8:30 PM๐Ÿก Kajitsu no Hana โญ4.8 โ€” fresh fruit mochi, open until 11 PM โœ…
~9:30 PM๐Ÿšƒ Train Namba โ†’ Osaka Station โ†’ ๐ŸšŒ Hotel shuttle from Sakura-bashi Exit
TimeActivity
Morningโš ๏ธ Drop 1 bag at RIHGA front desk โ€” Yamato Takkyubin to Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo, 6-6-7 Ginza, Chuo-ku 104-0061 ยท ~ยฅ2,200โ€“2,500 ยท Arrives June 5 ยท Yellow van, black cat logo
~8:00 AM๐Ÿช Breakfast โ€” 7-Eleven hotel basement
~9:20 AM๐Ÿšƒ Train Osaka Station โ†’ Ogimachi Station (Sakaisuji Line, ~10 min)
~9:20 AM๐Ÿง’ Kids Plaza Osaka โ€” Exit 2, opens 9:30 AM ยท Adults ยฅ1,500 / Ages 3โ€“5 ยฅ500
12:30 PM๐Ÿฑ Lunch โ€” New Babe Toyosaki โญ4.8 ยท Salt & fresh wasabi ยท Reserve โ€” saves ยฅ220/person!
~2:00 PM๐Ÿก Hitokuchi no Shiawase โญ4.9 โ€” mochi ice cream โš ๏ธ Cashless only!
~2:45 PM๐Ÿ›๏ธ Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street โ€” Japan's longest covered arcade! ยท ๐ŸŽฐ #C-pla at 4-chome for Liam!
~5:30 PM๐Ÿœ Dinner โ€” Ramen: Kuso Oyaji โญ4.1 ยท Ramen Chonmage โญ4.3 ยท Tori Soba ZAGIN โญ4.5
~8:00 PM๐Ÿงบ Baluko Laundry Place โญ4.2 โ€” ยฅ400 wash + ยฅ100/10 min dry ยท Open 24 hrs โœ… ยท ๐Ÿ’ก Bring ยฅ100 coins!
TimeActivity
~9:00 AMCheck out RIHGA Royal Osaka (travel light โ€” bag already sent!)
~9:20 AM๐Ÿšƒ Train Osaka โ†’ JR Nara Station (~50 min, JR Yamatoji Rapid) โ€” East Exit
~10:15 AM๐Ÿณ Breakfast โ€” TBD in Nara near the park area
~10:25 AM๐Ÿ˜ Deer Cracker Store โ€” ยฅ200/pack โš ๏ธ Buy multiple for Liam! ยท ๐Ÿ’ก Skip vendors near station โ€” more further up with zero wait!
~10:30 AM๐ŸฆŒ Nara Park โ†’ head east toward Kasugataisha ยท Walk past Nara National Museum โ€” calmer deer! ยท Look for mochi pounding (mochitsuki) for Liam! โš ๏ธ If mating season, give deer extra space!
~12:15 PM๐Ÿฎ Mahoroba Daibutsu Pudding โญ4.4 โ€” Kintetsu Nara Station B1F ยท Custard / rare cheese / matcha ยท Great souvenirs! Open until 7 PM โœ…
~12:45 PM๐Ÿšƒ JR Nara โ†’ Kyoto Station (~45 min)
~2:15 PM๐Ÿฑ Bento at Kyoto Station โš ๏ธ Buy Shinkansen tickets if no JR Pass
~2:30 PM๐Ÿš… Shinkansen Kyoto โ†’ Shinagawa (~2 hrs 15 min)
~5:00 PM๐Ÿจ Check in โ€” The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo ยท Welcome drink & warm towel!
~6:30 PM๐Ÿœ Dinner โ€” Noodle Dining Takanawa โญ4.6 โ€” ~5 min walk, shoyu ramen + A5 wagyu tableside!
TimeActivity
~8:00 AM๐Ÿšƒ Train Shinagawa โ†’ Asakusa (~30 min)
~8:30 AMโš ๏ธ Queue before Kukurihime Coffee opens!
9:00 AM๐Ÿฅž Kukurihime Coffee Asakusa โญ4.6 โ€” fluffy soufflรฉ pancakes โš ๏ธ Closed Mondays โ€” Friday โœ…
~10:00 AMโ›ฉ๏ธ Senso-ji Temple โ€” FREE ยท Waft incense for good health ยท Try omikuji โ€” ยฅ100
~11:00 AM๐Ÿ›๏ธ Nakamise Shopping Street โ€” 90 shops! ยท Ningyo-yaki cakes for Liam! ยท ๐ŸŽฐ Gachapon!
~12:00 PM๐Ÿšถ Walk to Tokyo Skytree via Sumida River Walk (~20 min) โ€” glass floor bridge!
~12:30 PM๐Ÿ—ผ Tokyo Skytree โ€” Adults ยฅ2,600 / Under 5 FREE ๐ŸŽ‰ โš ๏ธ Book on Klook!
~1:30 PM๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Lunch โ€” Solamachi Food Court Floor 3
~2:30 PM๐Ÿฌ Niki no Kashi Solamachi โญ3.8 โ€” souvenir snacks, KitKat flavors!
~3:00 PM๐Ÿ›๏ธ Solamachi Mall (300+ shops) ยท Kappabashi "Kitchen Town" (~10 min walk)
~5:30 PM๐Ÿค Asakusa Amairo โญ4.4 โ€” tempura tendon โš ๏ธ Arrive at opening to avoid 45 min queue!
~7:00 PM๐Ÿšƒ Train back to Shinagawa
TimeActivity
~7:45 AMโš ๏ธ Get virtual queue ticket at Ginza Cafe Hanon โ€” opens 8 AM, fills fast!
8:00 AM๐Ÿฅž Ginza Cafe Hanon โญ4.2 โ€” fluffy soufflรฉ pancakes ยท Try French cheese pancakes!
~9:00 AM๐Ÿจ Drop bags at Hyatt Centric Ginza โ€” room not ready, they'll hold
~9:20 AMCheck out The Strings by InterContinental
~9:45 AM๐Ÿšƒ Train Shinagawa โ†’ Harajuku (Yamanote Line, ~15 min)
~10:00 AMโ›ฉ๏ธ Meiji Shrine โ€” FREE ยท 700,000 sqm forest!
~10:45 AM๐Ÿ›๏ธ Takeshita Street โ€” cotton candy, crepes, gachapon! โš ๏ธ Leave stroller โ€” too crowded!
~11:30 AM๐Ÿšƒ Train Harajuku โ†’ Shinjuku (1 stop, ~3 min)
~11:45 AM๐Ÿœ Soba House Konjiki Hototogisu โญ4.1 โ€” clam & truffle shio soba ยท Download Line app for queue ticket
~1:15 PM๐Ÿšฆ Shibuya Scramble Crossing ยท Photo with Hachiko ยท ๐ŸŽฐ #C-pla Shibuya 300+ machines!
~3:15 PM๐Ÿจ Check in โ€” Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo (23780052)
~3:30 PM๐Ÿ‘“ JINS Ginza LOFT โ€” 3F Ginza Belvia Bldg โš ๏ธ Bring prescription! ~1 hour
~4:30 PM๐Ÿ›๏ธ MUJI Ginza โ€” world's largest ยท Tax-free 4F ยท Fresh bakery 1F for Liam!
~5:30 PMโœ… Pick up glasses from JINS!
~5:45 PM๐Ÿž Age.3 GINZA โญ4.7 โ€” viral cream sandwich โš ๏ธ Closes 7 PM, ~30 min queue!
~7:30 PM๐Ÿฅฉ Ginza Steak โญ4.5 โ€” A5 wagyu teppanyaki ~ยฅ8,000/person โš ๏ธ Reserve!
TimeActivity
~8:00 AM๐Ÿช Breakfast โ€” hotel convenience store
~9:00 AM๐Ÿšถ Queue at Onitsuka Tiger Ginza Red Concept Store โ€” opens 11 AM โš ๏ธ Drop off shoes before 2 PM! ยท โ˜• TORA CAFร‰ 75 (2F) while waiting
11:00 AM๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Store opens โ€” buy Mexico 66 & drop off for FREE embroidery!
~11:30 AM๐Ÿ’Š Welcia Kyobashi โ€” best prices in Ginza ยท Then Matsumoto Kiyoshi Ginza ยท Use taxfreeshops.jp coupons!
~12:30 PM๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Lunch โ€” TBD near Ginza
~1:30 PM๐Ÿ›๏ธ MUJI Ginza ยท Itoya Ginza โญ4.4 โ€” 12-floor stationery wonderland ยท Don Quijote Ginza โ€” tax-free, open 24 hrs
~4:30 PM๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Pick up customized shoes at Onitsuka Tiger โš ๏ธ Closes 7 PM!
~7:00 PM๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Split dinner: ๐Ÿฃ Lorraine: Sushi Inase โญ4.9 omakase โš ๏ธ Reserve NOW! ยท ๐Ÿ› You & Liam: Sapporo Dominica Ginza โญ4.3 โ€” Hokkaido soup curry
TimeActivity
~7:30 AM๐Ÿช Breakfast โ€” hotel snacks or convenience store
~8:00 AM๐Ÿšƒ Train Ginza โ†’ Tokyo Station (~5 min) โ†’ JR Keiyo Line โ†’ Maihama (~20 min) โ†’ Disney Resort Line โ†’ DisneySea (~5 min)
~8:45 AM๐ŸŽก Arrive Tokyo DisneySea โ€” queue before gates open
9:00 AM๐ŸŽก Park opens ยท ๐Ÿ  Mermaid Lagoon ยท ๐Ÿช„ Jasmine's Flying Carpets ยท ๐ŸŽ  Caravan Carousel ยท ๐ŸŽฏ Toy Story Mania! ยท โ„๏ธ Fantasy Springs โš ๏ธ Download Tokyo Disney Resort app ยท Premier Access Pass ยฅ1,500โ€“2,500 saves hours!
~9:00 PM๐ŸŽก Park closes โ†’ ๐Ÿšƒ Train back to Ginza
TimeActivity
~7:00 AM๐Ÿšถ Walk to Tsukiji Outer Market (~10 min from hotel)
7โ€“10 AM๐ŸŸ Kitsuneya โญ4.1 โ€” gyudon & horumon, opens 6:30 AM โš ๏ธ Cash only! Closed Wed & Sun โ€” Tuesday โœ… ยท Kitani Suisan โญ4.4 โ€” live tuna filleting demos! FREE
~10:45 AM๐Ÿœ Tokyo Ramen Street โ€” B1F First Avenue ยท Must try: Rokurinsha tsukemen! โš ๏ธ Cash only! Vending machine!
~12:30 PM๐ŸŽจ TeamLab Planets Tokyo โ€” Adults ยฅ4,200 / Under 3 FREE โš ๏ธ Book on Klook โ€” sells out! ยท Go barefoot, wade through water โš ๏ธ Hold Liam's hand!
~6:30 PM๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Dinner โ€” TBD near Ginza (all together!) ยท ๐ŸŽฐ #C-pla Premium Ginza for Liam!
~8:30 PM๐Ÿ’ก Tokyo Night & Light โ€” FREE ยท Shows every 30 min, 7:30โ€“9:30 PM ยท ๐Ÿ’ก Check for Pokรฉmon show for Liam!
~9:15 PM๐Ÿšƒ Train Shinjuku โ†’ Ginza (~20 min)
TimeActivity
Morning๐Ÿณ Breakfast โ€” TBD near Hyatt Centric Ginza ยท Check out
~12:00 PM๐Ÿฃ Lunch โ€” Sushi no Midori ้Š€ๅบงๅบ— โญ4.2 โ€” open 11 AM โœ… ยท Fatty tuna & famous anago! โš ๏ธ Take a queue number โ€” arrive early!
EveningHead to Tokyo Narita (NRT)
9:30 PMโœˆ๏ธ Depart NRT โ€” Zip Air ZG026 (A9U44P)
2:45 PM๐Ÿ  Arrive SFO (same day, SF time)