Day 4-5: 5 Days in Nagano and Tokyo

Day 4

Since this is my last full day in Japan, I woke up early so that I can visit lots of places around Tokyo.

Read the Day 1-2 blog post of my 5 days trip in Nagano and Tokyo here

Read the Day 3 blog post of my 5 days trip in Nagano and Tokyo here

Hie Shrine

This is probably one of Tokyo’s best kept secret that is still unknown to many tourists. Hie Shrine is a Shinto Shrine located on a hill surrounded by lush greenery. If you wanted to see beautiful Torii gates similar to the famous Torii gates of Fushimi Inari-taisha in Kyoto, you should include this in your itinerary.

Getting there:

Take the Tokyo Metro subway line and get off at Tameike-Sanno Station. Take the The Capitol Hotel Tokyo exit.

Since most of the places I listed to visit are not accessible via the JR Line. I purchased a Tokyo Subway Ticket on Klook website. This ticket will allow you unlimited train rides on the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines. I purchase a 24 Hour ticket for only Php389. It is also available in 48 and 72 Hour validity.

Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street and Kaminarimon

Senso-ji Temple is Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple built in 645 AD. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tokyo.

Upon arrival in the area, you will be welcomed by a large gate known as Kaminarimon or the “Thunder Gate”. The actual name of this gate is Fujin Raijinmon which means “The Gate of the Gods of Wind and Thunder”. It was popularly called Kaminarimon because kaminari in Nihongo means thunder.

After passing Kaminarimon you will be welcomed by a row of stores selling Japanese crafts, souvenirs, and traditional snacks. This street is known as Nakamise Dori and it leads you to the main Senso-ji Temple.

Some of the popular activities around Senso-ji Temple are renting a kimono and riding a rickshaw. You can pre-book your kimono or yukata rental on Klook website to same some cash and time.

Getting there:

From Tameike-Sanno Station take the Tokyo Metro Ginza line to Asakusa Station.

Tokyo Skytree and Asahi Beer Headquarter Building

I’m a person who’s always fascinated by beautiful architectures, mega structures, and skyscrapers, and Tokyo Skytree is one of my favorite. With a full height of 634 meters, it became the tallest structure in Japan when it opened in 2010. When I like a tall structure with an observatory, I don’t really like going up for the view. I just want to view and appreciate the structure from afar. Going up to Tokyo Skytree is quite expensive too. But if you really want to go up, you can also purchase your Tokyo Skytree tickets on Klook website.

One of the best places to view Tokyo Skytree is along Sumida River which is just a short walk away from Senso-ji Temple. The unique building by the Asahi Beer Headquarters will also add a unique subject on your photo composition.

Getting There:

Sumida River is located east of Senso-ji Temple.

Roppongi

My main purpose of visiting Roppongi is to view Tokyo Tower. You can view it freely in some parts of Roppongi Hills or you can also go up to Tokyo City View in Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. Admission fee is 1800 yen which already includes access to Tokyo City View, Mori Art Museum and a featured exhibition. You can also access the Sky Deck for additional 500 yen. I opt to view Tokyo Tower for free. Ahah!

Roppongi Hills also houses shopping and dining outlets. The district of Roppongi is also known for night clubs and parties.

Getting There:

From Asakusa Station transfer to Hibya Line at Ginza Station then take the train to Roppongi Station.

Shibuya

Shibuya is also one of the busiest city wards of Tokyo, and has one the busiest train stations in the world, the Shibuya Station. At the Hachiko Exit of the station, you will also find the famous statue of Hachiko.

Shibuya is also known for its scramble crossing which is one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world. When you cross the scramble crossing from Shibuya Station, you may explore Center Gai, a street lined with restaurants, shops and arcades.

Getting There:

From Roppongi Station take the Hibya Line to Ebisu Station then transfer to Yamanote Line for Shibuya Station.

The Tokyo Subway Ticket and JR Pass are perfect combos when traveling around Tokyo.

Harajuku

If you want to experience Japan’s extreme youth culture and fashion trends, visit Harajuku.

Harajuku is famous for Takeshita Dori, a small street lined with vintage stores, beauty stores, cute cafes, food outlets and more. You will also find one of the biggest 100 yen shop, Daiso, in this street.

For high-end and signature brands, Omotesando is for you. This is where you will find brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Jimmy Choo, Burberry, and many more.

One of my favorite spots in Harajuku is the Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku. This building feature a prism like mirror design and it feels like you’re entering a space ship. You got to check the rooftop garden on the 6th Floor too. It’s a nice place to have coffee, beer or just simply rest and relax after long hours of exploring Harajuku.

Getting There:

From Shibuya Station, Harajuku Station is just one stop away on the Yamanote Line.

Day 5

It’s departure time. I had to leave the hotel early because my flight was at 1pm. Travel time from Tokyo to Narita International Airport is about an hour. There are many options to get to Narita International Airport from Tokyo, but since I stayed in Gotanda area, the most convenient for me was to take the Narita Express from Shinagawa Station. This station is only 2 stops away from Gotanda Station via the Yamanote Line. It is also covered by the JR East Pass (Nagano-Niigata Area).

That’s it for my 5 day trip in Nagano and Tokyo. I hope this blog post will help you plan your trip in these areas of Japan. Thank you Klook for sponsoring my JR East Past (Nagano-Niigata Area).