train: Shinjuku – shibuya (fukutoshin line)
Shibuya is one of the twenty-three city wards of Tokyo, but often refers to just the popular shopping and entertainment area around Shibuya Station. Shibuya is one of Tokyo's most colorful and busy districts and birthplace to many of Japan's fashion and entertainment trends. Most of the area's large department and fashion stores belong to either Tokyu or Seibu, two competing corporations.
9:00 shibuya station: take pic with hachiko statueA statue of a loyal dog named Hachiko. According to a famous story, the dog waited for his master every day in front of Shibuya Station, and continued to do so for years even after his master had passed away. It is one of Tokyo's most popular meeting points.
9:30 take photo of humax pavilion building. fancy building, resemble a cartoon rocket. www.humax.co.jp/english/group_intro/index.html
10:00 TEPCO Museum. hands-on museum where you can learn about power. FREE. This museum by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) introduces various aspects of electric energy, such as the process of power generation and the role of electricity in society and everyday life. Information in English is limited. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html11:00 browsing tokyu hands dept store. the most complete DIY dept store in the world. Promoted as "Creative Life Store", Tokyu Hands has everything from do-it-yourself, interior, hobby, crafts, outdoors to stationery and more. The Shibuya store spans eight floors. Open daily from 10:00 to 20:30.
11:30 browsing shibuya 109 mallShibuya 109 is a trend setting fashion complex for young women with more than one hundred boutiques on ten floors. Open daily 10:00 to 21:00 (restaurants from 11:00 to 22:30). Closed New Year's Day.
2. HARAJUKU http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3006.html
train: Shibuya – meiji-jingumae (fukutoshin line)
In order to experience the teenage culture at its most extreme, visit Harajuku on a Sunday, when many young people gather around Harajuku Station and engage in cosplay ("costume play"), dressed up in crazy costumes to resemble anime characters, punk musicians, etc.
12:30 Yoyogi park (punk rock) & olympic stadiums. 5am-8pm. Cosplay-zoku at Meiji Shrine Bridge. costumed.Yoyogi Koen (Yoyogi Park) is one of Tokyo's largest and most pleasant city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds and forested areas. It is a great place for jogging, picnicking and other outdoor activities. Open daily 5:00-20:00 (winter until 17:00). Facility hours vary with most open from 9:00 to 17:00.
1:30 Meiji Shrine (meiji-jingu) - most splendid shrine. dawn-dusk. an idyllic walk, Beautiful cedar and cypress trees.Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. The buildings are surrounded by a beautiful, dense forest. Daily from sunrise to sunset. No closing days. Free admission.
2:30 Takeshita Dori streetThe symbol of Harajuku and birthplace of many of Japan's fashion trends, Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) is a narrow, roughly 400 meter long street lined by shops, boutiques, cafes and fast food outlets targeting Tokyo's teenagers. Shops along Takeshita Dori tend to be open daily from 11:00 to 20:00.
Daiso Harajuku - 100 Yen Shop. This is one of the largest 100 Yen Shops in central Tokyo, offering a wide array of goods, including clothing, kitchenware, food and stationary on multiple floors at 105 Yen per item. It is located only a few steps from Harajuku Station along Takeshita Dori.
3. ASAKUSA http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3004.html
train: meiji-jingumae - Shibuya (fukutoshin line) - asakusa (ginza line)
Asakusa's main attraction is Sensoji, a very popular Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century. The temple is approached via the Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries. Asakusa can be easily explored on foot. Alternatively, you can consider a guided tour on a rickshaw (jinrikisha, lit. "man powered vehicle"). A 30 minute tour for two persons costs around 8000 Yen. Shorter and longer courses are also available.
4:00 kaminari gate to senso-ji temple, via nakamise street. Huge red paper lantern, picture perfect. 6am-5pm. Kaminarimon is the first of two large entrance gates leading to Sensoji Temple. First built more than 1000 years ago, it is the symbol of Asakusa. The Nakamise shopping street leads from Kaminarimon to the temple grounds. Sensoji Temple. Sensoji ("Senso" is an alternative reading for Asakusa and "ji" means temple) is Tokyo's most famous and popular temple. Built in the 7th century, it is also one of its oldest, although the current buildings are postwar reconstructions. 4. AKIHABARA - sales of all things electrical. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3003.html
train: Asakusa – via ueno (ginza line) – akihabara (hibiya line)
Akihabara (short: Akiba) is a district in central Tokyo, famous for its many electronics shops. In recent years, it has also gained fame as a center of the gaming, manga and animation culture. A major redevelopment of Akihabara Station and surroundings is nearing its completion, giving Akihabara a new face. 6:00 browse electronic dept store
6:30 sightseeing maid café. http://www.angelfire.com/id/croon/japan/akihabaramaids.html
Going back to hotel:
Akihabara – via ginza (hibiya line) – shinjuku (marunouchi line)
