Here’s a summary of my 5 Day trip in Japan where I visited Nagano and Tokyo. You can click on the “Detailed Itinerary” link to know more about these places and how to get there.

Day 1 – Detailed Itinerary

• Arrival
• Tokyo Station
• Nagano Station
• Shiojiri Station

Day 2 – Detailed Itinerary

• Matsumoto Station
• Matsumoto City Museum of Art
• Seikando Bookstore
• Nawate Dori
• Yohashira Shrine
• Matsumoto Castle
• Blueberry Azumino

Day 3 – Detailed Itinerary

• Narai-juku
• Zenko-ji Temple
• Shinjuku
• Do-C Gotanda – my first capsule hotel experience

Day 4 – Detailed Itinerary

• Hie Shrine
• Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street and Kaminarimon
• Tokyo Skytree and Asahi Beer Headquarter Building
• Roppongi
• Shibuya
• Harajuku

Day 5 – Detailed Itinerary

• Shinagawa Station
• Departure

I purchased a JR East Pass (Nagano-Niigata Area) on Klook to explore Nagano and Tokyo Prefectures. This pass allowed me to get unlimited local, rapid, limited express, and shinkansen train rides on the JR East lines. The JR East Pass (Nagano-Niigata Area) is valid for 5 days and it’s perfect for my trip. I purchased it for roughly Php8000, and when I computed my train fares, it would have costed me about Php16000. So I saved about 50% off from train fares!

I was also able to use the JR East Pass (Nagano-Niigata Area) on the Narita Express (NEX) train between Tokyo and Narita International Airport.

If you have a tourist visa in Japan, and planning to visit multiple prefectures, I recommend purchasing a JR Pass to save some money and time from train rides. Train rides is still the best way to explore Japan. Their massive and modern rail system will enable you to explore most parts of country.

I hope this travel guide will help you explore Japan. If you have question, please leave a comment below or message me on my social media accounts.

Other Japan related posts:

10 Day Japan Travel Itinerary
Places to Visit in Matsumoto, Nagano
Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Photo Diary: Hida-Takayama, Japan

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).

You might also like:

5 Days in Nagano and Tokyo Summary
Day 1-2: 5 Days in Nagano and Tokyo
Day 3: 5 Days in Nagano and Tokyo

My first capsule hotel experience was at Do-C Gotanda(read as Degree C, Do in Nihongo is Degree in English) in Shinagawa ward, Tokyo. It’s a fairly new capsule hotel which opened last April 2018. Do-C Gotanda is operated by Nine Hours who owns futuristic and modern looking capsule hotels all over Tokyo, Narita, Kyoto, and Sendai.

I decided to stay at Do-C Gotanda because it’s the cheapest hotel I can find in Agoda. I was able to book a sleeping capsule for 2 nights for about Php1700. On their website, their regular rate is 4900 yen (Php2331) per night. I stayed at Do-C Gotanda for 2 nights during my 5 day trip in Nagano and Tokyo last July 2018.

Do-C Gotanda is a men only capsule hotel located just 3 minutes walk from Gotanda Station. There are many nearby restaurants and convenience stores around the hotel, but the best thing is just outside the station, there’s a supermarket where you can buy food and supplies. From Gotanda Station, Tokyo’s popular wards like Shibuya, Harajuku, and Shinjuku are few stops away. Shinagawa Station where you can take the Narita Express to Narita International Airport is just 2 stops away.

The only downside of the hotel area is that it is surrounded by clubs, and the people looking for customers are annoying. As long as you won’t mind them, you’re okay.

The 7 floor capsule hotel boasts a minimalist-industrial interior design using bare concrete, metal details, and wood finishes. The 1F houses the reception area and big luggage storage, there’s also a vending machine just in case you get thirsty. From the 2F to 6F are the sleeping capsules, each floor has its own locker and shared toilet + sink area. The 7F is a common area for lounging and dining. Please note that there’s no available food inside the hotel. Like any other capsule hotels, Do-C Gotanda has a shared bathroom located at the basement level. The shower area also has a sauna which can be used by guests for free. They also offer sauna + shower package for only 1000 yen or Php480.

Upon check-in, I was given my locker key and capsule assignment. I suggest requesting for a corner lower-level sleeping capsule so that it’s easier to go in and out. I was also given a bag with a lounge wear, room slippers, towels, and dental kit. Guests are not really required to wear the lounge wear, but it is part of the experience.

The Capsules

My sleeping capsule was on the 3F. As soon as you get off the elevator, you will be able to see the sleeping capsules stacked two units high. According to Do-C Gotanda website, their sleeping capsules are 110cm wide by 220cm deep by 110cm tall. Each sleeping capsule has futon mattress, it is not that thick but comfortable to use. It also comes with a pillow and a comforter. Each sleeping capsule also has a flat wall plug, a USB plug, and light which you can control the brightness. It also has a small wall table where you can place your small items like cellphones, keys, and other gadgets. It also has a screen cover that you can close for privacy. Drinking and eating inside the sleeping area is not allowed.

I thought my claustrophobia will be triggered while inside the sleeping capsule, but the space was actually okay. It’s not big, but not too small. It’s good enough for me to sleep comfortably, sit, and even place my bag on the side. At night , it was really quiet until some guest snores. Make sure you bring earplugs to block off the noise.

Also on the floor are wooden lockers, the number of your bed assignment also corresponds to your locker number. I find the locker really small though. My backpack won’t fit that’s why I just decided to keep it inside my capsule. I just stored all my valuables inside the locker. On the 3F, there are also 2 sinks and 3 modern Japanese toilets.

The Shower + Sauna

Like typical capsule hotels, Do-C Gotanda has a shared shower area. You need to exchange your room locker key at the reception area to another shower locker key where you can store your belongings while showering.

If you’re not used to getting naked around people, this place is not for you. The showers are divided by glass panels and don’t have doors to cover you. There’s hot and cold shower, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were also provided. There are also hairdryers and extra towels in the locker area.

I was not able to experience the sauna though because it’s already hot in Japan when I visited during summer.

Check-in / Check-out

Check-in at Do-C Gotanda is at 1pm, and check-out is at 10am. One of the downside of this is that you need to check-out and check-in everyday even though you are booked for multiple nights. The reason behind this is that they clean the rooms and lockers every day.

I stayed at Do-C Gotanda for 2 nights. When I check-out the next day, I didn’t really want to waste 4 hours of my day just waiting for the check-in time at 1pm. Good thing, they allow guests to store bags at the luggage storage area, and then check-in again at a later time.

Overall, my first capsule hotel experience at Do-C Gotanda was fun and relaxing. If you will ask me if I’ll stay again, my answer is yes! On my next visit to Japan, I would like to stay in a capsule hotel with onsen, a Japanese bath house.

After planning and costing for a 5 day trip, transportation alone will cost me about Php15,000. Good thing tourists in Japan have the privilege to purchase a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) which will allow tourists unlimited train, buses and ferry rides owned by Japan Rail Group. You can learn more about the JR Pass on their website.

Since I’ll be exploring Nagano and Tokyo areas only, I decided to get the JR East Pass (Nagano-Niigata Area) which is valid for 5 days. This pass covers JR East Lines in Tokyo, Nagano, and Niigata, plus non JR Lines in Nikko, and Gala Yuzawa during winter. Though you can purchase this pass in Japan, I got mine at Klook website for only 17,000 yen or Php8164 pesos. It’s 1000 yen or Php480 cheaper if you’ll purchase it outside Japan. I also like how convenient it is to purchase on their website.

Let’s start with the journey now and let’s explore Nagano and Tokyo using the JR East Pass (Nagano-Niigata Area).

Day 1

Arrival

Upon arriving at Narita International Airport, I went straight to JR East Travel Service Center located at Basement 1 Floor to exchange my Klook voucher with the actual JR East Pass (Nagano-Niigata Area). The transaction was really smooth. I just provided my printed voucher and passport. The staff is really nice and she can speak good English. Inside the JR office, you can also get brochures and pamphlets that can guide you through your journey.

Please note that there’s another type of JR East Pass which covers the Tohoku Area.

Since I’ll be traveling straight to Nagano from the airport, I also booked my train tickets and reserved seats in the same office. The JR East Pass also allows you to reserve seats for free, so better take advantage of that.

My route will be:

Narita International Airport Terminal 2 & 3 to Tokyo Station via Narita Express or NEX
Tokyo Station to Nagano Station via Hokuriku Shinkansen
Nagano Station to Shiojiri Station via Limited Express Shinano

All these train rides are covered by the JR East Pass including seat reservations for free.

Nagano is a landlocked prefecture surrounded by the Japanese Alps. The train ride to my destination offered a very scenic view of the Japan’s mountain ranges and country side. Nagano hosted the Winter Olympics in 1998 and this made the prefecture a very popular world-class winter sport destination. The prefecture also offers a different charm during other seasons. Since it was summer time, the prefecture is covered with lush greenery of the forests, rice fields, and fruit farms.

Day 2

During my 2nd day in Japan, I explored Matsumoto City and the neighboring Azumino City.

Matsumoto Station

Matsumoto Station is located in Matsumoto City. It is served by Shinonoi Line, Oito Line, Chuo Main Line, and Kamikochi Line operated by Alpico Kotsu, a private railway operator. The station has a high glass panel windows giving passengers a view of the Southern Japanese Alps. Matsumoto Station also has some restaurants and a department store.

Matsumoto City Museum of Art

Built in 2002, the Matsumoto City Museum of Art features works of Matsumoto artists and artworks inspired by the nearby Japanese Alps.

During my visit, a special exhibition of Yayoi Kusama, a Matsumoto City native, was on going. I planned of visiting her museum in Shinjuku but sadly, tickets were already sold out for the succeeding months. I was very happy when I learned that she has an ongoing exhibition in Matsumoto City. Yayoi Kusama’s exhibit features her early drawings, paintings and sculptures. She is known for her hallucinogenic artworks with lots of dots. One of her famous artwork was the Infinity Mirror Room.

Matsumoto City Museum of Arts is a short walk away east of Matsumoto Station. You may also ride a bus or taxi just in case you are not into walking.

On your 2nd day, you may also visit Matsumoto Castle, Seikando Bookstore, Nawate Dori and Yohashira Shrine. You may read more about these attractions on my previous blog post about places to see in Matsumoto City.

Getting There:

Since I stayed at my Mom’s place in Shiojiri City, I just took the train from Shiojiri Station to Matsumoto Station. Using your JR Pass, you can ride the Limited Express trains to save time. Local train will take about 18 minutes.

Blueberry Azumino

Azumino City is located north of Mastumoto City. It serves as a gateway to the Japanese Alps which are popular for hiking during summer and snow sports during winter. It is also home to several farms growing fruits in season.

During my visit, my family drove me to Blueberry Azumino, a small farm where guests can pick their own blueberries. It was my first time and I had so much fun! For 1000 yen, I was able to eat all the blueberries I want and took home 400 grams for free! Blueberries in Azumino City are in season from late June to early October.

Fruit picking is a popular activity in Nagano. Farm owners open their properties to tourists during harvest seasons. Nagano is known for strawberries, apples, grapes, oranges, peaches, blueberries and more.

Getting There:

The nearest train access from Blueberry Azumino is Hitoichiba Station. From the station, it’s about 40 minute walk or less than 10 minutes by car or taxi.

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5 Days in Nagano and Tokyo Summary
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