Lois in Tokyo: 7 autumn days with a Mt Fuji day (Nov 14 to 20)

The week

Seven days at a glance

This follows Lois's draft day for day. Her flights: landing at Narita 08:30 on Sat 14 Nov, flying home 16:40 on Fri 20 Nov. The private driver covers both airport runs and the Fuji day. The hotel isn't in the draft, so the plan assumes one base in Shinjuku for all six nights.

Date	Area	Plan	Getting around	Overnight
Nov 14 (Sat) Arrive 08:30	Narita, then Shibuya	Land at Narita 08:30, driver to the Shinjuku base to drop bags. Afternoon in Shibuya: Hachiko, the Scramble Crossing and shopping. Dinner in Shibuya. Kept loose after the flight.	Private driver, then JR Yamanote	Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Nov 15 (Sun) Traditional Tokyo	Asakusa, Skytree, Ueno & Akihabara	Senso-ji and Nakamise early, Skytree or Ueno, then Akihabara in the evening for anime, games and electronics.	Metro, JR and walking	Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Nov 16 (Mon) Fuji day	Lake Kawaguchiko	07:00 pickup. Lake Kawaguchiko Fuji views, Oishi Park and the autumn maple corridor, the Panoramic Ropeway, and Oshino Hakkai if time allows. Back in Tokyo in the evening.	Private driver (~2h each way)	Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Nov 17 (Tue) Outlets	Gotemba Premium Outlets	Most of the day at Gotemba Premium Outlets: sportswear, brands, bags and shoes, with Fuji views on a clear day.	Highway bus from Busta Shinjuku	Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Nov 18 (Wed) Harajuku & Shinjuku	Meiji Shrine to Shinjuku	Meiji Shrine, Harajuku and Takeshita Street, afternoon shopping in Shinjuku, then the night view from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.	JR Yamanote and walking	Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Nov 19 (Thu) Tokyo highlights	teamLab Planets & Ginza	teamLab Planets in the morning, Ginza in the afternoon for department stores, cosmetics and souvenirs, then a final Japanese dinner. Pack that night.	Metro, Yurikamome	Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Nov 20 (Fri) Fly 16:40	Shinjuku to Narita	Breakfast and a short walk near the hotel, then the driver to Narita. Leave by 12:30 for the 16:40 flight.	Private driver (80–120 min)	Fly home to Singapore

The itinerary

Day by day, with food picks for each day

Each day lists timings, seasonal temperature ranges and Tabelog picks checked against that weekday's opening hours, with notes on getting a table for five. Prices show yen and Singapore dollars at 1,000 JPY = S$8.10. Click a header to collapse a day.

Weather & layers

Low 9°C/High 18°C

Mild afternoon for walking; cool after the 16:35 sunset, so keep the jacket out of the suitcase.

Seasonal outdoor estimates, not forecasts. Recheck weather before travel.

Heads-up

Arrival and logistics

Visit Japan Web: register each traveller's immigration and customs details before flying and screenshot all 5 sets of QR codes.Driver meet point: get the exact terminal, meeting spot and name on the board, plus a WhatsApp or LINE contact, from the driver company in advance.Bag drop: check-in is usually 15:00. Pack a daypack with a jacket, chargers and anything you need for the afternoon so you can leave the suitcases.Moving 5 people: a standard Japanese taxi takes 4 passengers. Take two taxis, or book a large car in the GO app.Cash: bring about ¥20,000 (S$162) per person. Kiraku, Chatei Hatou and VIRON are cash only; MAG8 is cashless only. 7-Eleven ATMs take foreign cards.Plugs: Japan uses 2-pin Type A sockets at 100 V, so Singapore Type G plugs need an adapter.

Getting around

Private driver NRT to Shinjuku (75–110 min)

Overnight: Tokyo (Shinjuku)

Before departure · packing for 5 adults10 items

Item	Per adult	Total for 5	Usage notes
Light down or padded jacket	1 piece	5 pieces	Main warm layer for Tokyo evenings (about 9 to 12°C) and the Fuji morning (near 2°C). Packs into a daypack
Thermal base top and leggings	1 set	5 sets	Mainly for the Mon 16 Nov Fuji day; Fuji Five Lakes runs about 2 to 13°C
Fleece or knit sweater	1 piece	5 pieces	Mid-layer to add or remove between heated trains, shops and outdoor viewpoints
Long-sleeve tops	3 to 4 pieces	15 to 20 pieces	Daily city wear for 9 to 18°C days; layer under the jacket
Broken-in walking shoes	1 pair	5 pairs	Expect 12,000 to 18,000 steps on city days. Easy to slip off for temples and tatami rooms
Beanie, touchscreen gloves and scarf	1 set	5 sets	For the early Fuji start and windy evening plazas such as the Tocho observatory forecourt
Warm socks	4 to 5 pairs	20 to 25 pairs	Thicker pair for Fuji; useful on cold floors where shoes come off
Compact umbrella	1 piece	5 pieces	For passing autumn showers. Convenience stores also sell clear umbrellas if one breaks
Power bank and charging cable	1 set	5 sets	Maps, eSIM data and Suica drain phones. Power banks must go in cabin baggage, not checked bags
Coin purse and Type A plug adapter	1 each	5 each	Coins pile up fast and some ramen shops and yokocho bars are cash only. Japan uses 2-pin Type A sockets

08:30 to about 11:30

Morning

Land at Narita, meet your driver, drop bags at your Shinjuku base

You land at 08:30. Check your booking for the terminal: Singapore Airlines and Scoot use Terminal 1, but other airlines differ. Show your Visit Japan Web QR codes at immigration and customs, switch on your eSIM, and set up a Suica: iPhone users can add one in Apple Wallet or the Welcome Suica Mobile app; Android users can buy a physical Welcome Suica card at the JR station in the airport basement. Allow 45 to 75 minutes from landing to the arrivals hall, where your driver meets you. The drive to Shinjuku takes about 75 to 110 minutes depending on traffic, so expect to reach your base around 11:00 to 11:30. Hotel check-in is usually not before 15:00, so plan on leaving bags at the front desk, pulling out a jacket and a small daypack, and heading straight out.

TipSend the driver company your flight number so they track delays, and message them when you reach baggage claim. Confirm the vehicle fits 5 adults plus 5 large suitcases: a 7-seat minivan can be tight on luggage, a HiAce-type van is safer.
TipEmail your base before you fly to confirm they will hold 5 bags from about 11:00, and ask if early check-in is possible (some hotels charge for it). If the base is an apartment with self check-in, ask the host where to leave luggage before check-in time.

11:30– 13:00

Late Morning

Est. 13–17°C · Shinjuku, midday

Early lunch near your base, then 7 minutes on the JR Yamanote Line to Shibuya

You will likely have had an early or overnight flight, so eat first. Tempura Funabashiya in Shinjuku 3-chome opens at 11:30 and has 126 seats and tatami rooms, so 5 can sit together for a tempura set or tendon. Then walk to Shinjuku Station and ride the JR Yamanote Line (green line, toward Shibuya and Shinagawa) three stops to Shibuya, about 7 minutes. Tap in with Suica. If you would rather eat in Shibuya, go straight there and have wonton noodles at Chuka Menten Kiraku on Dogenzaka, which also opens at 11:30 on Saturdays.

TipIf everyone is flagging after lunch, it is fine to go back to the base, rest in the lobby until 15:00 check-in, and start Shibuya later. Everything below works from about 15:30 onward, and the shops stay open until 21:00.

13:15– 15:00

Early Afternoon

Est. 15–18°C · Shibuya Crossing, afternoon

Hachiko statue, Shibuya Scramble Crossing & the view from above

Leave Shibuya Station by the Hachiko Exit. The bronze of Hachiko, the Akita dog who kept meeting his owner's train for years after the owner died, stands in the small square outside, with a photo queue on Saturdays. Walk across the Scramble Crossing a couple of times, then look down on it. MAG8, the rooftop of MAGNET by SHIBUYA109, sits right over the crossing: ¥1,800 (S$15) per person including one drink, open 10:00 to 22:00 (last entry 21:30), first come first served, cashless only. For a cheaper view, buy a drink at the Starbucks on the 2nd floor of SHIBUYA TSUTAYA, or sit at a window in Shibuya Nishimura Fruit Parlour on the Dogenzaka corner over a seasonal fruit parfait. The 11th-floor Sky Lobby of Shibuya Hikarie gives a free, more distant view from the east side of the station.

TipWatch two or three light cycles from above before you decide on a photo. The crossing fills from all corners at once, then empties for traffic about every two minutes.
WarningWindow seats at the Starbucks and the fruit parlour are first come, and a drink does not guarantee one. MAG8's rooftop can shorten hours or close in bad weather, though it has an indoor lounge.

15:00– 17:30

Afternoon

Est. 12–16°C · Shibuya, late afternoon

Shopping, with an optional Shibuya Sky sunset slot

Pick the stores that suit the group, all within 10 minutes' walk of the crossing. Shibuya 109 (10:00 to 21:00) for Japanese women's fashion. Shibuya Parco (shops 11:00 to 21:00) for designer labels, with Nintendo TOKYO and the Pokémon Center on 6F (10:00 to 21:00). Miyashita Park (shops 11:00 to 21:00), a long low mall with a rooftop park and the Shibuya Yokocho food alley. Shibuya Scramble Square (shops 10:00 to 21:00) above the station, plus Tokyu Plaza Shibuya and Hikarie ShinQs nearby. Pick up a snack at VIRON, a French bakery a few minutes past Shibuya 109. If you still have energy, go up to Shibuya Sky on top of Scramble Square in the 15:40 or 16:00 slot: sunset is about 16:35, and on a clear day you can see Mt Fuji to the west.

TipShibuya Sky is optional on purpose: you will have been up since before dawn. Only book it if the group is keen, and check the cancellation terms first. MAG8 needs no booking and is the easier fallback for a view at dusk.
WarningOn the Shibuya Sky roof, bags, backpacks, hats, tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed. Use the lockers before you go up. The roof is colder and windier than the street and can close without notice in strong wind or rain.

18:00– 21:30

Evening

Est. 10–13°C · Shibuya streets, evening

Dinner for 5 in Shibuya, a last hour of shopping, then the Yamanote back

Book dinner for 5: wagyu, thick-cut tongue and horumon on smokeless grills at Arai Ya on Dogenzaka, or Osaka-style okonomiyaki at imari in Sakuragaoka, 4 minutes from the station's south side. Most department stores and malls close at 21:00, so shop before dinner or squeeze in a short loop afterwards. If you want coffee and cake late, Chatei Hatou near the East Exit takes last orders at 22:00. Walk back through the Center-gai lights and take the JR Yamanote Line to Shinjuku, about 7 minutes, then collect your keys.

TipIf everyone is tired, a regular taxi takes only 4 passengers, so 5 of you need two taxis or a large car booked in the GO or JapanTaxi app. The Yamanote Line is usually quicker on a Saturday night.

Shibuya Scramble Crossing with lit screens at dusk — Crossing at nightShibuya Scramble Crossing: The crossing after dark, under the video screens. Photo: Rs1421, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Arrival and logistics

Visit Japan Web: register each traveller's immigration and customs details before flying and screenshot all 5 sets of QR codes.
Driver meet point: get the exact terminal, meeting spot and name on the board, plus a WhatsApp or LINE contact, from the driver company in advance.
Bag drop: check-in is usually 15:00. Pack a daypack with a jacket, chargers and anything you need for the afternoon so you can leave the suitcases.
Moving 5 people: a standard Japanese taxi takes 4 passengers. Take two taxis, or book a large car in the GO app.
Cash: bring about ¥20,000 (S$162) per person. Kiraku, Chatei Hatou and VIRON are cash only; MAG8 is cashless only. 7-Eleven ATMs take foreign cards.
Plugs: Japan uses 2-pin Type A sockets at 100 V, so Singapore Type G plugs need an adapter.

Booking alert: Shibuya Sky (optional)

Shibuya Sky sells tickets only two weeks ahead. Tickets for Sat 14 Nov go on sale at 00:00 JST on Sat 31 Oct, which is 23:00 on Fri 30 Oct in Singapore. Sunset slots sell out first, so if you want it, book all 5 adult web tickets in one order for the 15:40 or 16:00 slot.

Web price: ¥2,700 (S$22) for entry until 14:59, ¥3,400 (S$28) from 15:00, so ¥17,000 (S$138) for 5 at sunset.
Counter price is ¥300 more. When web tickets sell out, the counter has none either.
Open 10:00 to 22:30, last entry 21:20. Your ticket has a fixed 20-minute entry window.

Booking alert: Saturday dinner for 5

Saturday night in Shibuya fills up, so book a week or more ahead.

Arai Ya: book on Tabelog. Only 20 seats and a maximum party of 6, and bookings are cancelled if you are more than 15 minutes late. Open from 12:00 on Saturdays, so an 18:00 table is easy.
imari: book by phone, Instagram DM or Tabelog. ¥300 (S$2) seat charge per person.

Dining suggestions

Tempura FunabashiyaChuka Menten KirakuShibuya Nishimura Fruit ParlourChatei HatouVIRON ShibuyaArai Ya yakinikuimari okonomiyaki

食べログ Tabelog dining picks

Tempura near your base, Shibuya noodles, a fruit parlour over the crossing, a kissaten, bakery snacks and yakiniku or okonomiyaki for 5

7 dining picks

Tempura Funabashiya Shinjuku Honten signature dish

LunchTempura Funabashiya Shinjuku Honten天ぷら船橋屋新宿本店

百名店3.49

Tempura • 11:30–21:00, L.O. 20:30 (Sat)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16) lunch

Signature Tempura sets and tendon (tempura rice bowl)

Open126 seats, so 5 usually sit together at the 11:30 opening. Private tatami rooms for 5 to 10 can be reserved if you want a quiet first meal.

LunchChuka Menten Kiraku中華麺店喜楽

百名店3.75

Ramen, Wonton & Gyoza • 11:30–20:30 (Sat)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Bean sprout wonton noodles (¥1,100 / S$9) in a light soy broth, with grilled gyoza (¥600 / S$5)

OpenNo bookings and cash only. 27 seats: counter downstairs, tables upstairs including one for 5 and one for 6, so ask for upstairs. Continuous hours, so it also works as a late lunch.

Shibuya Nishimura Fruit Parlour Dogenzaka signature dish

CafeShibuya Nishimura Fruit Parlour Dogenzaka渋谷西村フルーツパーラー道玄坂店

百名店3.67

Fruit Parlour • 10:30–21:00, L.O. 20:20 (Sat)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Seasonal fruit parfaits; in autumn expect grape and fig

OpenNo bookings, but 124 seats, so 5 can usually sit together. Ask for a window table to look down on the crowds. Cards, Suica and QR payments accepted.

CafeChatei Hatou茶亭羽當

百名店3.75

Kissaten (Japanese Coffee Shop) • 11:00–23:00, L.O. 22:00 (Sat)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Hatou Original Blend hand-drip coffee (¥900 / S$7) with maple chiffon cake (¥600 / S$5)

OpenNo bookings and cash only. 50 seats (40 at tables), so 5 can usually sit together. Good for a slow afternoon coffee or after dinner.

TakeawayVIRON Shibuyaヴィロン渋谷店

百名店3.84

French Bakery • 08:00–21:00 (Sat)

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature French-style baguettes, croissants and pastries

OpenCash only. Grab a pastry to eat while shopping, or a baguette and pastries for breakfast at your base tomorrow.

Yakiniku Horumon Arai Ya Shibuya signature dish

DinnerYakiniku Horumon Arai Ya Shibuya焼肉ホルモン新井屋渋谷

百名店3.66

Yakiniku & Horumon • 12:00–23:00 (Sat)

¥6,000–7,999 (S$49–65)

Signature Thick-cut beef tongue, wagyu and fresh horumon on smokeless grills

OpenBook a table for 5 on Tabelog for 18:00. Only 20 seats (18 at tables), maximum party 6. Bookings are cancelled if you are more than 15 minutes late. Since June 2026 a 5% adjustment fee is added to the bill. The Standard Course is ¥8,800 (S$71) per person.

Okonomiyaki imari Shibuya signature dish

DinnerOkonomiyaki imari Shibuyaお好み焼きいまり渋谷

百名店3.54

Okonomiyaki & Teppanyaki • 17:00–24:00, food L.O. 23:00 (Sat)

¥4,000–4,999 (S$32–40)

Signature Osaka-style okonomiyaki, tonpei-yaki pork omelette and negi-yaki, cooked on the teppan

Open31 seats (23 at tables). Reserve for 5 by phone, Instagram DM or Tabelog. There is a ¥300 (S$2) per person seat charge. The omakase 'Marunage' course is the easy order for a group.

Day 01 route & dining map

Weather & layers

Low 9°C/High 17°C

Cold 07:30 start at Senso-ji; mild midday by the river; cools quickly after the 16:35 sunset in Akihabara.

Seasonal outdoor estimates, not forecasts. Recheck weather before travel.

Day focal stop

Senso-ji & Akihabara

Overnight: Tokyo (Shinjuku)

Getting around

Metro / Rail

Overnight: Tokyo (Shinjuku)

07:00– 10:00

Early Morning

Est. 9–13°C · Asakusa early morning

Senso-ji before the crowds, breakfast, then Nakamise snacks

Leave your Shinjuku base around 07:00: JR Chuo Rapid line to Kanda, then the Tokyo Metro Ginza line to Asakusa, about 35 minutes door to door. Walk in through Kaminarimon while the approach is still quiet. The temple grounds are open around the clock and the main hall opens at 06:30 from October to March, so by 07:40 you can see the hall, the five-storey pagoda and the incense burner with only a few locals about. Breakfast at Royal Coffee Ten around 08:15 (opens 08:00, 60 table seats, so 5 fit together). From 09:00 the snack shops open: jumbo melon pan at Asakusa Kagetsudo (09:00), warm kibi dango at Azuma on Nakamise (09:30) and menchi katsu at Asakusa Menchi (10:00). Many Nakamise souvenir stalls open between 09:00 and 10:00; times vary by shop.

TipBy 10:00 on a Sunday Nakamise is shoulder to shoulder. Do the temple first and the snacks second, and agree a meeting point (Hozomon gate is easy to find) in case the group of 5 gets split in the crowd.
TipEating while walking is frowned on along Nakamise. Most snack shops have a small standing area by the counter; finish your melon pan or menchi katsu there.

10:00– 12:45

Late Morning

Est. 12–16°C · Sumida riverside walk

Sumida River Walk to Tokyo Skytree, monja lunch at Solamachi

Walk east past Azuma-bashi and cross the Sumida on the Sumida River Walk, the footbridge beside the Tobu railway bridge, then follow Tokyo Mizumachi under the tracks to Tokyo Skytree, about 20 minutes. Eat an early lunch at Tsukishima Monja Daruma in Tokyo Solamachi (opens 10:30, no reservations) before the Sunday lunch queue builds; you cook monjayaki and okonomiyaki yourselves on the table griddle. Go up the Tembo Deck only if the sky is clear. On a hazy day, skip it and head to Ueno early.

TipSkytree tickets: Tembo Deck (Floor 350) from ¥1,800 (S$15) per adult and the combo with Tembo Galleria (Floors 350 and 450) from ¥3,000 (S$24), bought online. The 4F ticket counter and machines add ¥500 (S$4) per ticket, so booking online saves the group of 5 ¥2,500 (S$20). Prices vary by date; check 15 Nov when you book, and confirm the day's opening hours on the official calendar.
TipShort on energy? Lois's draft says Ueno or Skytree. Skipping the deck saves about an hour and keeps the 15:30 Akihabara arrival easy.
WarningKappabashi kitchenware street is off the plan today: the shopkeepers' association says only about 30% of its stores open on Sundays. Save it for a weekday if anyone wants knives or kitchen tools.

13:15– 15:15

Early Afternoon

Est. 12–17°C · Ueno Park afternoon

Ueno Park, Shinobazu Pond, anmitsu and Ameyoko

From Oshiage take the Toei Asakusa line to Asakusa and change to the Ginza line for Ueno, about 25 minutes. Walk up through Ueno Park, which is free and always open; its ginkgo trees are usually turning yellow in mid-November, with the peak later in the month. Drop down to Shinobazu Pond and walk the causeway to Bentendo hall. Around 14:15, rest at Mihashi for anmitsu (70 table seats, so 5 fit together), then walk south through Ameyoko, the market street under the JR tracks, for dried fruit, snacks and street food. Ameyoko ends at Okachimachi, which points you straight down Chuo-dori to Akihabara.

TipIf legs are tired after Skytree, take a taxi to Ueno instead of the train. With 5 people you need two standard taxis or one large JapanTaxi/GO car (book in the GO app).

Autumn leaves around Bentendo hall on Shinobazu Pond — Shinobazu PondShinobazu Pond and Bentendo: Autumn colour around the pond at the south edge of Ueno Park. Photo: Nesnad, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

15:15– 17:30

Late Afternoon

Est. 11–15°C · Akihabara late afternoon

Akihabara on foot: the car-free Sunday Chuo-dori, retro games, manga and arcades

From the Okachimachi end of Ameyoko, walk south on Chuo-dori for about 10 minutes to the Sotokanda 5-chome crossing. On Sundays the police close the road from there to Mansei-bashi, about 570 m, to cars: from October to March this runs 13:00 to 17:00, so you get about 90 minutes of walking down the middle of the street. Shops to cover along the way: GiGO Akihabara 3 on Chuo-dori for crane games and photo booths (10:00 to 23:30); Super Potato, three floors of retro consoles and cartridges with old arcade machines at the top (11:00 to 20:00); Mandarake Complex, a tall black building of second-hand manga, anime goods and figures (12:00 to 20:00); and Akihabara Radio Kaikan by the station for figures, trading cards and hobby shops (10:00 to 20:00; some tenants differ). Sunset is about 16:35, so the signs are lit by the time the road reopens.

TipThe Akihabara Electric Town Association says the pedestrian zone runs on Sundays only, 13:00 to 17:00 from October to March, and is cancelled in rain or strong wind. Selling, street performances and cycling are not allowed on the closed road.
TipShops here are tall and narrow, with stairs and small lifts. Split the 5 into pairs by interest (games, manga, figures, electronics) and regroup at a fixed time at the Electric Town exit of Akihabara Station.
WarningBefore buying anything that plugs in: Japan runs on 100 V with flat two-pin plugs, Singapore on 230 V with three-pin plugs. Japanese consoles and many retro cartridges are also region-locked, so check that games will run on the console you own.

17:30– 20:30

Evening

Est. 10–13°C · Akihabara evening

Yodobashi Akiba, dinner for 5, then the Sobu line home

Cross to the east side of Akihabara Station for Yodobashi Akiba (09:30 to 22:00), a single store with floors of cameras, phones, games, toys and household electronics. Dinner, both open on Sunday evening and both taking reservations: Una Sho on Yodobashi's 8F restaurant floor for Nagoya-style hitsumabushi eel (open to 23:00, a semi-private room for 6 to 8), or Kanda Yabu Soba, a soba house open since 1880, about 6 minutes' walk south-west of the station (closes 20:30, with private rooms upstairs). Then ride the yellow JR Chuo-Sobu local line from Akihabara straight to Shinjuku, about 20 minutes with no change.

TipReserve dinner for 5 a week or two ahead through Tabelog or by phone. At Una Sho, ask for the semi-private room (it must be reserved). At Kanda Yabu Soba, book 18:00 so you are done well before the 20:30 close.

Booking alerts for Sunday

Dinner for 5: book Una Sho (Yodobashi Akiba 8F) or Kanda Yabu Soba through Tabelog or by phone. Reviewers put dinner at about ¥4,000–4,999 (S$32–40) a head at both.
Tokyo Skytree (optional): buy timed tickets online to skip the ¥500 (S$4) per-ticket counter fee. Decide on the morning based on visibility.
Akihabara pedestrian zone: Sundays 13:00 to 17:00 (October to March), Chuo-dori from Sotokanda 5-chome to Mansei-bashi. Cancelled in bad weather; the shops stay open either way.
Kappabashi: only about 30% of shops open on Sundays, so it is skipped today.
Sunday crowds: Asakusa and Ameyoko are busiest from late morning to late afternoon. The early start is what keeps Senso-ji calm.

Dining suggestions

Royal Coffee Ten HontenAsakusa KagetsudoAsakusa Kibidango AzumaAsakusa MenchiTsukishima Monja Daruma SolamachiMihashi Ueno HontenUna Sho Yodobashi AkibaKanda Yabu Soba

食べログ Tabelog dining picks

Asakusa breakfast kissa and street snacks, monja at Skytree, anmitsu in Ueno, and an Akihabara dinner that seats 5

8 dining picks

BreakfastRoyal Coffee Ten Hontenローヤル珈琲店本店

百名店3.67

Kissa (Japanese coffee shop) • 08:00–20:00 (Sun)

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature Breakfast sets with coffee; reviewers also mention the cheesecake

OpenNo reservations. Arrive around 08:15 after the temple; with 60 table seats, 5 people usually sit together. Cash only.

TakeawayAsakusa Kagetsudo浅草花月堂本店

百名店3.57

Melon pan & Japanese sweets cafe • 09:00–17:00 (Sun), until sold out, usually around 16:00

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature Jumbo melon pan, crisp outside and soft inside

OpenGo at the 09:00 opening, before the queue builds. There are 18 seats inside, but takeaway is quicker for a group.

TakeawayAsakusa Kibidango Azuma浅草きびだんごあづま

百名店3.56

Japanese traditional sweets • 09:30–19:00 (Sun)

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature Warm kibi dango skewers rolled in kinako (roasted soybean flour)

OpenOrder at the counter and eat in the standing area beside the shop.

TakeawayAsakusa Menchi浅草メンチ

百名店3.49

Croquette / menchi katsu • 10:00–19:00 (Sun)

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature Fried minced-meat cutlet, crisp outside and juicy inside

OpenOpens at 10:00, a good last stop before the walk to Skytree. There is a bench and a small eating corner next to the shop.

Tsukishima Monja Daruma Solamachi signature dish

LunchTsukishima Monja Daruma Solamachi月島もんじゃだるま東京スカイツリータウン・ソラマチ店

百名店3.47

Monjayaki & okonomiyaki • 10:30–23:00 (Sun), last order 21:45

¥2,000–2,999 (S$16–24)

Signature Tsukishima-style monjayaki with a rich dashi base, cooked at your table

OpenNo reservations. Arrive by 11:00 to beat the Sunday lunch queue, and ask for a table for 5 or two tables side by side.

CafeMihashi Ueno Hontenみはし上野本店

百名店3.55

Japanese sweets cafe (anmitsu) • 10:30–19:30 (Sun)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Anmitsu and cream anmitsu; seasonal chestnut shiratama in autumn

OpenNo reservations. A short wait is common on Sunday afternoons, but the large room moves quickly and seats 5 together.

DinnerUna Sho Yodobashi Akibaうな匠ヨドバシ秋葉原店

百名店3.47

Unagi (eel), hitsumabushi • 11:00–23:00 (Sun), last order 22:00

¥3,000–3,999 listed; reviewers' dinner average ¥4,000–4,999 (S$24–32 / S$32–40)

Signature Nagoya-style hitsumabushi with Mikawa Isshiki eel, eaten in stages: plain, with condiments, then with dashi

OpenReserve the semi-private room for 5 (Tabelog or phone, 050-5868-7461); the room is by reservation only. Walk-in waits can be long at peak times. Cards, Suica and PayPay accepted.

DinnerKanda Yabu Sobaかんだやぶそば

百名店3.49

Soba • 11:30–20:30 (Sun), closed Wednesday

¥1,000–1,999 listed; reviewers' dinner average ¥4,000–4,999 (S$8–16 / S$32–40)

Signature Seiro soba with a sharp Edo-style dipping sauce, seasonal tempura, and duck seiro

OpenReserve a private room for 5 by phone (03-3251-0287) for 18:00; last order is 20:00. Cards and Suica accepted, no QR payments.

Day 02 route & dining map

Weather & layers

Low 2°C/High 13°C

Cold morning wind on the pagoda deck and the ropeway summit; the lakeshore cools fast after 16:00.

Seasonal outdoor estimates, not forecasts. Recheck weather before travel.

Heads-up

Driver charter: hours and overtime

Fuji charters are often priced on a fixed block (10 hours is common). This plan runs 11.5 to 12.5 hours from the 07:00 pickup, depending on Oshino Hakkai, so book a 12-hour block or confirm the overtime rate per 30 or 60 minutes before the day.Confirm that tolls, parking (Chureito, the lakeside car park for the ropeway, Oishi Park and Oshino) and the driver's meal are included or billed separately.Make sure the vehicle seats five adults plus day bags comfortably (an Alphard or HiAce-class van, not a sedan).

Private driver

~4h return by private car

Overnight: Tokyo (Shinjuku)

07:00– 09:00

Early Morning

Pickup at your Shinjuku base and the Chuo Expressway west

The driver collects all five of you at 07:00. The run to Fujiyoshida and Lake Kawaguchiko is about 1h45 to 2h on the Chuo Expressway, longer if Monday morning traffic around Hachioji is heavy. Grab onigiri and hot drinks at a konbini near the hotel the night before or at 06:45, or ask the driver for a 10-minute stop at Dangozaka SA, about an hour out of Tokyo, which has bakery and coffee counters. Tell the driver the night before whether you are doing the Chureito Pagoda add-on: if yes, the first stop is Fujiyoshida; if not, go straight to the ropeway at the east shore of the lake.

TipCheck the Fuji live cams the night before and again at 06:00 (search "Kawaguchiko live camera"). If the forecast for Monday is cloudy all day, ask the driver the evening before whether the charter can swap with another day.

09:00– 10:15

Morning

Est. 3–9°C · Arakurayama Sengen Park morning

Recommended early add-on: Chureito Pagoda and Honcho-dori

Not on Lois's list, but worth the hour: Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida is about 10 minutes' drive from Lake Kawaguchiko, and its view of the red five-storey pagoda in front of Fuji is best in morning light, when Fuji is most often clear. Climb the 398-step stairway (15 to 25 minutes at an easy pace) to the observation deck; a gentler sloped path runs alongside for anyone who prefers to skip the stairs. The park's maples are turning in mid-November. On the way back to the car, stop for the shot of Fuji at the end of Honcho-dori, the old Shimoyoshida shopping street. FabCafe Fuji, in a converted storehouse just off the street, is the coffee stop. If the group would rather keep the day simple, skip this and be at the ropeway by about 09:15.

WarningHoncho-dori is a working street with steady traffic. Fujiyoshida city says stepping into the road for photos is illegal; shoot from the pavement and follow the crossing guards at the Honcho intersection. Residents live here, so keep voices down.
TipThe city asks drivers not to take cars up to the plaza in front of the pagoda, and it has posted bear-sighting warnings for the park this year. Stay on the main paths.

10:30– 13:15

Late Morning

Est. 5–11°C · Mt Tenjo summit, late morning

Lake Kawaguchiko east shore: Mt Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, then hoto lunch

The Mt Fuji Panoramic Ropeway (also called the Kachi Kachi Ropeway) climbs from the lakeside station at 856 m to Fujimidai station at 1,075 m on Mt Tenjo in about 3 minutes. The deck at the top looks across to Fuji on one side and down over the whole of Lake Kawaguchiko on the other; the ropeway's own guide says the summit leaves usually peak from early to mid November. Look for tanuki dango, the ropeway's local snack. Allow 60 to 90 minutes in total, including the queue. Then eat hoto, Yamanashi's flat noodles stewed in miso with pumpkin and vegetables, at Kosaku near Kawaguchiko Station (250 seats) or Hoto Kura Funari on Route 139. Both open at 11:00 and seat five together.

TipFares changed on 1 November 2026: an adult round trip is now ¥1,200 (S$10), so ¥6,000 (S$49) for five. There are no reservations; everyone queues for the gondola in order, and the operator lists November as one of its busy seasons. Buying online saves only the ticket-window line.
TipHours vary by season, so check the official site on the day. In the regular season the last car up leaves at 17:00 and the last car down at 17:20. Strong wind or thunder can pause or stop the ropeway without notice.
TipThe ropeway has very little parking of its own and asks visitors to use the free prefectural car park by the lake. Ask the driver to drop you at the station and wait there.

13:30– 15:45

Afternoon

Est. 7–13°C · Kawaguchiko north shore afternoon

Lake Kawaguchiko north shore: Momiji Kairo and Oishi Park

Cross to the north shore for the Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival (7 to 29 November 2026). The Momiji Kairo maple corridor follows the Nashikawa stream with big old maples overhead, plus food and craft stalls during the festival. Then drive five minutes west to Oishi Park for Fuji across the water, the main lakeside view of the day. Pick up bread at Lake Bake or a fruit parfait at Budoya's Hana Terrace cafe, both next to the park (the cafe's last order is 16:00).

TipMonday crowds are far lighter than the weekend, but the lakeside road still backs up in the afternoon during the festival. Ask the driver to drop you at the Momiji Kairo and pick you up at Oishi Park rather than parking twice.
TipThe festival light-up runs from sunset to 21:00 according to the Fujikawaguchiko town site (some listings say 21:30). Staying for it means leaving after about 17:15, which adds overtime on the charter.

15:45– 19:30

Late Afternoon

Est. 4–10°C · Oshino village late afternoon

If time allows: Oshino Hakkai, then the drive back to Shinjuku

If the group still has energy at 15:30, drive about 30 minutes to Oshino Hakkai, a village of eight spring-fed ponds filled by Fuji snowmelt, with thatched roofs, a water mill and Fuji above the fields. The ponds are free to walk; one pond (Sokonashi-ike) sits inside a small museum with its own entry fee. Forty-five minutes is enough, and sunset is around 16:35, so go straight there. Ikemoto Chaya by the main pond sells snacks (meals stop at 16:30). Otherwise, leave from Oishi Park at about 16:00. Either way, expect 2h to 2.5h back into Tokyo: the Chuo Expressway inbound often slows at the Kobotoke tunnel and into Hachioji. For an early dinner before the drive, the hoto places from lunch stay open into the evening.

WarningWith Oshino Hakkai you are back around 19:00 to 19:30, about 12 to 12.5 hours after pickup. Leaving from Oishi Park at 16:00 gets you back around 18:30. Book enough hours up front or confirm the overtime rate in writing.
TipIkemoto Chaya takes QR payments but no cards, and the Yoshida udon shops are cash only. Carry yen for the day.

Driver charter: hours and overtime

Fuji charters are often priced on a fixed block (10 hours is common). This plan runs 11.5 to 12.5 hours from the 07:00 pickup, depending on Oshino Hakkai, so book a 12-hour block or confirm the overtime rate per 30 or 60 minutes before the day.
Confirm that tolls, parking (Chureito, the lakeside car park for the ropeway, Oishi Park and Oshino) and the driver's meal are included or billed separately.
Make sure the vehicle seats five adults plus day bags comfortably (an Alphard or HiAce-class van, not a sedan).

Fuji visibility and weather plan

Fuji hides in cloud on many November days, usually clearing best in the early morning. That is why Chureito and the ropeway come first. Check the live cams and forecast the night before and at 06:00.
On a fully cloudy forecast, ask the driver if the Fuji day can swap with another day.
Expect 2 to 13°C, colder in the wind on the pagoda deck, the ropeway summit and the lakeshore. Bring down jackets, gloves and a hat.

Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival 2026

Dates: 7 to 29 November 2026 (Fujikawaguchiko town). Mid-November is usually around peak colour at the Momiji Kairo.
Light-up: sunset to 21:00 per the town site; some listings say 21:30. Free to enter.
Festival stalls are listed as 9:00 to 19:00. Check the 2026 details on fujisan.ne.jp the week before.

Gotemba Premium Outlets is close by

Gotemba Premium Outlets, planned for Day 4, is about 40 minutes by car from Lake Kawaguchiko.
Some groups fold the outlets into the driver day to free up a Tokyo day. With this plan that would mean dropping Oishi Park or Oshino Hakkai and paying for more charter hours, so decide before you book the driver. Check the outlet's closing time for 16 Nov if you go this way.

Dining suggestions

FabCafe FujiMiura UdonMenkyo KaidenKosaku KawaguchikoHoto Kura FunariLake BakeBudoya Kofu Hana Terrace cafeIkemoto Chaya

食べログ Tabelog dining picks

Shimoyoshida coffee and Yoshida udon with the Chureito add-on, hoto by the lake, Oishi Park bakery and fruit cafe, and snacks at Oshino

8 dining picks

CafeFabCafe Fujiファブカフェフジ

百名店3.40

Cafe in a converted storehouse • 08:00–17:00 (L.O. 16:30, Mon)

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature Coffee and vegetable-focused breakfast plates, with vegetarian options

OpenCoffee stop around 10:00 after the Chureito climb, only if you do the add-on. 20 seats, so five may need two tables. Cards accepted (Visa, Master, JCB); no e-money or QR. No parking, so the driver waits nearby.

LunchMiura Udonみうらうどん

百名店3.66

Yoshida Udon (local noodles) • 10:00–14:00 (Mon)

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature Very firm hand-made Yoshida udon topped with boiled cabbage and seasoned meat

OpenAn alternative to hoto: eat an early lunch here at 10:00 straight after Chureito, instead of coffee, and keep hoto for dinner. 45 seats including three tables for five, so the group can sit together. Cash only: no cards, e-money or QR.

LunchMenkyo Kaiden麺許皆伝

百名店3.65

Yoshida Udon (local noodles) • 11:00–14:00, until sold out (Mon)

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature Yoshida udon with firm noodles in a soy-miso broth

OpenUdon backup if Miura has a long line, or for lunch after the ropeway (about 15 minutes' drive from the lake). Tables seat four (plus a 5-seat counter), so expect a 4 + 1 split. Closes early when noodles run out. Cash only.

LunchKosaku Kawaguchiko小作河口湖店

百名店3.49

Hoto (miso noodle stew) • 11:00–20:00 (L.O. 19:30, Mon)

¥1,000–2,999 (S$8–24)

Signature Hoto with pumpkin in miso broth, served in an iron pot

OpenThe easiest place for five to sit together at short notice. Walk in around 12:00 after the ropeway, or at 16:00 for an early dinner before the drive home. Cards accepted (Visa, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners); no e-money or QR.

Hoto Kura Funari Kawaguchiko signature dish

LunchHoto Kura Funari Kawaguchikoほうとう蔵歩成河口湖店

百名店3.49

Hoto (miso noodle stew) • 11:00–21:00 (L.O. 20:30, Mon)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Hoto in an iron pot: flat noodles, pumpkin and vegetables in miso broth

OpenSecond hoto option for lunch, or the later dinner stop because it is on the road out to the expressway. Large restaurant with parking. Cards, e-money and PayPay accepted.

TakeawayLake Bakeレイクベイク

百名店3.62

Lakeside Bakery • 10:00–17:00 takeaway (Mon)

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature Bread from the lakeside bakery to eat at Oishi Park

OpenPick up bread around 15:00 at Oishi Park, as a snack for the lakeshore or the drive back. No credit cards; e-money and QR accepted.

Budoya Kofu Hana Terrace cafe signature dish

CafeBudoya Kofu Hana Terrace cafe葡萄屋kofu ハナテラスcafe

百名店3.56

Fruit Parlour & Soft Serve • 10:00–17:00 (L.O. 16:00, Mon)

¥2,000–2,999 (S$16–24)

Signature Yamanashi fruit parfaits and soft serve

OpenQueue tickets are issued from 09:30. Take a number on arrival around 14:30, walk Oishi Park, and come back before the 16:00 last order. Cards, Suica and PayPay accepted.

TakeawayIkemoto Chaya池本茶屋

百名店3.45

Soba and snacks at Oshino Hakkai • 09:00–16:30 (Mon; meals from 10:30)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Soba and local snacks by the spring ponds

OpenOnly if you make it to Oshino Hakkai: a snack while walking the ponds. Meals stop at 16:30; the shop is listed until 18:00. The Ikemoto shop runs a car park beside the ponds that is free for customers. No cards or e-money; QR payments accepted.

Day 03 route & dining map

Weather & layers

Low 5°C/High 15°C

Gotemba is cooler than Tokyo and the bridges are exposed; bring a warm layer.

Seasonal outdoor estimates, not forecasts. Recheck weather before travel.

Heads-up

Book the bus now: 5 reserved seats each way

Odakyu Highway Bus: ¥2,000 (S$16) adult one way, cheaper with online payment (net discount). Book on Japan Bus Online (route: Shinjuku ⇔ Gotemba Premium Outlet).JR Bus Kanto: ¥1,900–2,000 (S$15–16) on weekdays; the Hayauri 5 fare is 10% off if bought 5 or more days ahead (limited seats). Book on kousokubus.net.Weekday times (Tue 17 Nov): to the outlet, Odakyu 08:05, 08:35, 09:05, 10:05 and JR 07:55. Back to Shinjuku, Odakyu 16:20, 17:20, 18:20, 19:20 and JR 19:00, 20:00.JR suspensions: JR's 08:25, 08:55 and 09:25 outbound and 16:00, 17:00 and 18:00 return buses are suspended from 1 Nov 2026 until further notice.No return-trip discount on either company, so book two singles.

Getting around

Metro / Rail

Overnight: Tokyo (Shinjuku)

07:45– 10:15

Early morning

Highway bus from Busta Shinjuku to Gotemba Premium Outlets

Walk to Busta Shinjuku, the highway bus terminal above JR Shinjuku's New South exit, and board on the 4th floor. Two companies run direct buses to the outlet: Odakyu Highway Bus and JR Bus Kanto. On weekdays the Odakyu 08:05 reaches the outlet at 09:55 (calling at Gotemba Station first) and the Odakyu 08:35 runs straight there by 10:15. JR's 07:55 is due at 09:35. Adult one-way fare is ¥2,000 (S$16) on Odakyu and ¥1,900–2,000 (S$15–16) on JR on weekdays, so about ¥10,000 (S$81) for the 5 of you each way. Every seat is reserved, and the outlet says passengers on outlet-bound buses get a coupon sheet.

TipBook all 5 seats in one booking, both ways. Odakyu sells through Japan Bus Online (English) and Hassha Orai Net; JR Bus through kousokubus.net. Sales open about a month before travel, so seats for 17 Nov are on sale now. JR adds ¥100 for same-day purchase and charges a flat ¥2,500 (S$20) if you pay on board.
WarningJR Bus Kanto has suspended its 08:25, 08:55 and 09:25 departures from Busta Shinjuku, and its 16:00, 17:00 and 18:00 returns, from 1 Nov 2026 for the time being (its crews are covering a rail replacement service). Plan around the Odakyu times and recheck JR before booking.
TipSawayaka, the lunch pick, opens its smartphone queue at 09:00 through LINE and may ask for your location. Try from the bus so lunch is sorted before you arrive.

Odakyu Highway Bus in Gotemba Premium Outlets livery outside Busta Shinjuku — Odakyu outlet busOdakyu Highway Bus: one of the outlet-route coaches, photographed in front of Busta Shinjuku. Photo: 江戸前鰻 (ja.wikipedia), Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

10:00– 12:30

Late morning

Est. 6–12°C · Gotemba outlet, morning

Coupon book, then the West and East zones via the Yume no Ohashi bridge

The outlet is open 10:00 to 20:00 in November. It closes only one day a year (next on 25 Feb 2027), so Tuesday 17 November is a normal trading day. Start at the Welcome Center (Hill Side, in front of the bus terminal): show passports for the free tourist coupon booklet and take a map. The Information Center (West Zone, next to Tory Burch) handles other questions. Fuji is usually clearest in the morning, so cross the Yume no Ohashi bridge between the West and East zones early. The bridge points straight at the mountain and is one of Gotemba city's listed Fuji viewpoints. The East Zone is the one to target for sportswear, outdoor gear and family shops. For a pastry and coffee first, FAUCHON in the West Zone bakes its bread in store.

TipCoin lockers: the West Zone bank next to Gap is the largest, ¥400 to ¥1,200 (S$3–10) per use, including extra-large lockers that take a carry-on. Smaller banks are in the East Zone (near Swarovski) and Hill Side (near Tully's Coffee). Drop the morning's bags there instead of carrying them all day.
TipCarry passports all day: tax-free purchases need them (¥5,000 / S$41 or more before tax, per store, per day), and so does the coupon booklet.

12:30– 16:45

Midday to late afternoon

Est. 10–15°C · Gotemba outlet, afternoon

Lunch at Hill Side, afternoon shopping and Fuji from the Kibo no Ohashi bridge

Hill Side, the newest area, has most of the sit-down restaurants. Sawayaka serves Shizuoka's charcoal-grilled 'genkotsu' hamburg steak (¥1,680 / S$14 for 250 g) and is the busiest restaurant here. If its wait is too long, Numazu Uogashi Sushi (fish from Numazu port) and Hyorokutei (grilled eel) are in the same block, and the Shizuoka Gotouchi Gourmet Yatai food court counter has 100 seats, which makes sitting 5 together easy. In the East Zone, Gyukatsu Motomura serves beef cutlet you finish on a hot stone. After lunch, walk the 180 m Kibo no Ohashi bridge from Hill Side to the West Zone for a second Fuji view, then finish the shops you shortlisted. Sunset is around 16:35, so take photos before then.

TipOptional onsen: Konohana-no-Yu, the day spa inside the outlet grounds by Hotel Clad, is open 10:30 to 22:00 (last entry 21:00). Weekday adult entry is ¥1,800 (S$15) with towels included. From Hill Side, take the P4 car park lift to the Clad front floor. If you go, move to a later bus (Odakyu 18:20 or 19:20).
TipBulky buys: a few stores (Callaway, Coleman, Dunhill, Etro, Ferragamo, Gallardagalante, Isaia, TaylorMade) ship purchases home overseas, card payment only and one store per shipment. Otherwise pack a foldable duffel each so the bags fit on the bus.

17:20– 21:00

Evening

Est. 10–14°C · Shinjuku South exit, evening

Bus back to Busta Shinjuku, dinner by the South exit

The Odakyu 17:20 from the outlet is scheduled into Busta Shinjuku at 19:00; Odakyu buses back board at stop B. Later weekday options are Odakyu 18:20 (due 20:00) and 19:20 (due 21:20), and JR 19:00 (due 20:40) and 20:00 (due 21:45, run only when the outlet closes at 20:00). Dinner is a short walk from Busta: Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi is on Takashimaya 13F across the road from the New South exit, or walk 5 to 10 minutes to the West exit for Gyutan Ara's grilled beef tongue. Then walk back to your Shinjuku base, or take two taxis if the bags are heavy.

WarningEvening traffic: the Tomei Expressway has renewal works from 24 Sep to 18 Dec 2026, and Odakyu warns journeys may take longer than scheduled. Book dinner for 19:45 or later, and call ahead if the bus is running late.
TipTrain option that skips the Tomei: take the free outlet shuttle (West Zone bus terminal, stop 1, departs at :10, :25, :40 and :55) to JR Gotemba Station, about 15 to 20 minutes, then the limited express Fujisan 6 at 17:23, direct to Shinjuku at 19:07 with no change (weekday timetable from 14 Mar 2026). Fare ¥1,310 plus ¥1,560 for the online limited-express ticket, about ¥2,870 (S$23) per adult. All seats are reserved; book on Odakyu's e-Romancecar from 10:00 one month ahead, and take the 16:40 shuttle.

Takashimaya Times Square building beside Shinjuku Station — Takashimaya Times SquareTakashimaya Times Square: the department store by the New South exit; Tsunahachi is on the 13th-floor restaurant level. Photo: MaedaAkihiko, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Book the bus now: 5 reserved seats each way

Odakyu Highway Bus: ¥2,000 (S$16) adult one way, cheaper with online payment (net discount). Book on Japan Bus Online (route: Shinjuku ⇔ Gotemba Premium Outlet).
JR Bus Kanto: ¥1,900–2,000 (S$15–16) on weekdays; the Hayauri 5 fare is 10% off if bought 5 or more days ahead (limited seats). Book on kousokubus.net.
Weekday times (Tue 17 Nov): to the outlet, Odakyu 08:05, 08:35, 09:05, 10:05 and JR 07:55. Back to Shinjuku, Odakyu 16:20, 17:20, 18:20, 19:20 and JR 19:00, 20:00.
JR suspensions: JR's 08:25, 08:55 and 09:25 outbound and 16:00, 17:00 and 18:00 return buses are suspended from 1 Nov 2026 until further notice.
No return-trip discount on either company, so book two singles.

Tax-free shopping changed on 1 Nov 2026

Stores now charge the full price including 10% consumption tax. Show your passport at the till so the purchase is recorded as tax-free (¥5,000 / S$41 or more before tax, per store, per day).
On departure from Narita on Fri 20 Nov, scan each passport at a tax-free kiosk. Green means done; red means customs wants to see the goods, so keep them where you can reach them until then.
The store refunds the tax after customs confirms the export. Ask each store how it pays the refund.
If even one item from a receipt is missing at the check, the whole receipt loses its refund. Do not use or give away tax-free items before you fly.

Outlet practicalities

Hours: 10:00 to 20:00 (March to November). Annual closure is next on 25 Feb 2027.
Coupons: free tourist coupon booklet when you show a passport at the Welcome Center (Hill Side, in front of the bus terminal).
Money: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB and Diners at most stores. Seven Bank ATMs take international cards (West Zone at Seven-Eleven, East Zone near Swarovski, Hill Side by Seiko).
Free shuttle: outlet to JR Gotemba Station from the West Zone bus terminal, stop 1, every 15 minutes; last one 40 minutes after closing.
Free Wi-Fi covers the whole outlet.

Dining suggestions

FAUCHON bakerySawayaka hamburgNumazu Uogashi SushiHyorokutei eelShizuoka Gotouchi Gourmet YataiGyukatsu MotomuraTsunahachi tempuraGyutan Ara

食べログ Tabelog dining picks

Outlet bakery, Shizuoka hamburg, Numazu sushi and eel at Hill Side, then tempura or beef tongue back in Shinjuku

8 dining picks

FAUCHON Gotemba Premium Outlets signature dish

CafeFAUCHON Gotemba Premium Outletsフォション御殿場プレミアムアウトレット店

百名店3.23

Bakery & Tea Salon • 10:00–20:00 (Tue)

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature Bread baked in the in-store kitchen, with freshly brewed FAUCHON tea

OpenGrab bread and a tea or coffee on arrival, then head for the Yume no Ohashi bridge while Fuji is clear. The shop also sells FAUCHON teas and jams at outlet prices.

Sumiyaki Restaurant Sawayaka Gotemba Premium Outlets signature dish

LunchSumiyaki Restaurant Sawayaka Gotemba Premium Outlets炭焼きレストランさわやか御殿場プレミアム・アウトレット店

百名店3.54

Charcoal-grilled Hamburg Steak • 11:00–21:00, L.O. 20:00 (Tue, per Tabelog). Sawayaka's own site lists 10:30–20:00, last order 19:00 (March to November).

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Genkotsu hamburg steak, 250 g, ¥1,680 (S$14); the 200 g onigiri hamburg is ¥1,520 (S$12)

OpenThe busiest restaurant at the outlet. Take a smartphone queue ticket through LINE as soon as it opens at 09:00 (location may need to be on) and check the live wait on the Sawayaka site. It can stop taking new names before closing when the queue is long.

Numazu Uogashi Sushi Gotemba Outlet signature dish

LunchNumazu Uogashi Sushi Gotemba Outlet沼津魚がし鮨御殿場アウトレット店

百名店3.35

Sushi & Seafood Bowls • 10:30–20:00, L.O. 19:30 (Tue)

¥3,000–3,999 (S$24–32)

Signature Nigiri and seafood bowls with fish sent direct from Numazu port

OpenNo reservations. Walk in before 12:00 or after 13:30 to get a table for 5. Takeaway can be ordered by smartphone through the outlet's takeout page.

Hyorokutei Gotemba Premium Outlets signature dish

LunchHyorokutei Gotemba Premium Outlets瓢六亭御殿場プレミアムアウトレット店

百名店3.44

Unagi (Grilled Eel) • 10:00–20:00 (Tue)

¥3,000–3,999 (S$24–32)

Signature Unaju (grilled eel on rice); a January 2026 review paid ¥5,390 (S$44) for the jo grade

OpenNo reservations; 72 seats, so 5 usually sit together. Reviewers mention a Fuji view from the dining room, so ask for a window table.

Shizuoka Gotouchi Gourmet Yatai signature dish

LunchShizuoka Gotouchi Gourmet Yatai静岡ご当地グルメ屋台御殿場プレミアムアウトレット店

百名店3.32

Shizuoka Local Dishes (Food Court) • 10:00–19:00 (Tue)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Yakisoba, okonomiyaki and beef bowls

OpenThe fallback if Sawayaka's wait is long: order at the counter and share a food-court table, which is the easiest way to keep 5 together.

Gyukatsu Motomura Gotemba Premium Outlets signature dish

LunchGyukatsu Motomura Gotemba Premium Outlets牛かつもと村御殿場プレミアムアウトレット店

百名店3.37

Beef Cutlet • 11:00–20:00 (Tue)

¥2,000–2,999 (S$16–24)

Signature Crisp, medium-rare beef cutlet you grill to your liking on a hot stone

OpenNo reservations. Handy if you are shopping the East Zone at lunchtime; go before 12:00 to avoid a queue.

Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi Shinjuku Takashimaya signature dish

DinnerTempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi Shinjuku Takashimaya天ぷら新宿つな八新宿高島屋店

百名店3.27

Tempura • 11:00–22:00, L.O. 21:00 (Tue)

¥4,000–4,999 (S$32–40) listed; dinner reviews ¥10,000–14,999 (S$81–121)

Signature Tempura, fried to order, as set meals or à la carte

OpenReserve a table for 5 on Tabelog for 19:45 so a late bus does not cost you the booking. Last order is 21:00.

Gyutan Ara Shinjuku Nishiguchi signature dish

DinnerGyutan Ara Shinjuku Nishiguchi牛たん荒新宿西口店

百名店3.51

Grilled Beef Tongue • 11:30–14:00, 17:00–23:00 (Tue)

¥3,000–3,999 (S$24–32) listed; dinner reviews ¥6,000–7,999 (S$49–65)

Signature Grilled beef tongue set meals

OpenBook a table for 5. Open until 23:00, so it is the safer choice if you take a later bus. A ¥440 (S$4) per-person charge applies unless you order a course.

Day 04 route & dining map

Weather & layers

Low 9°C/High 18°C

Mild walking weather. Cooler after the 16:35 sunset, so carry a jacket for the Tocho plaza.

Seasonal outdoor estimates, not forecasts. Recheck weather before travel.

Heads-up

Booking alert: Wednesday dinner for 5

Book a 19:30 table for 5 about a week ahead.Yakiniku Ushigoro: book on Tabelog and ask for a private room. On weekdays it opens at 17:00 (weekday lunch is suspended).Kanae: parties of 5 or more must book by phone (+81-3-3352-7646). Ask your hotel to call.Ningyocho Imahan: online bookings only; the phone line does not take reservations. A 10% service charge applies.

Getting around

Metro / Rail

Overnight: Tokyo (Shinjuku)

08:15– 10:00

Morning

Est. 10–14°C · Meiji Jingu forest, morning

Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) forest walk

Take the JR Yamanote Line from Shinjuku to Harajuku (two stops, about 5 minutes) and walk in through the big wooden torii by the station. In November the shrine gates open at 06:10 and close at 16:10, and entry is free. It takes about 10 minutes on the gravel path from the entrance to the main shrine, and a gentle loop with the main hall takes about 90 minutes. Weekday mornings are quiet, which is the main reason to start early: Harajuku gets busy from late morning.

TipHave a light breakfast at your base or a konbini first. The proper late breakfast is BREAD, ESPRESSO & in Jingumae after the shrine.
TipBow once at each torii on the way in and keep to the sides of the path; the centre is traditionally left for the deity.

10:00– 14:00

Late Morning to Early Afternoon

Est. 14–18°C · Harajuku and Omotesando on foot

Harajuku: Takeshita Street, Omotesando and lunch

Walk down Omotesando avenue to Jingumae. Pick up mame daifuku at Mizuho (opens 09:00, closes when sold out) for later, then have French toast and coffee at BREAD, ESPRESSO &. Browse the zelkova-lined Omotesando, where most shops open at 11:00, and walk back up to Harajuku Station for Takeshita Street, the narrow lane of youth fashion, character goods and crepe stands. Get a crepe at SWEET BOX near the station end (opens 11:00). Have a late lunch at Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama, near Omotesando Station, after the noon rush. Then take the Fukutoshin Line from Meiji-jingumae to Shinjuku-sanchome (two stops), which comes up next to Isetan.

TipOptional detour, about 1 hour: from Maisen, walk 15 minutes east along Aoyama-dori to the Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue (Icho Namiki). Its 146 trees are usually part yellow in mid-November, with full gold in late November. It is a free public road. The far end by the domed Picture Gallery may be fenced off for redevelopment. From there, the JR Sobu Line from Shinanomachi takes about 10 minutes to Shinjuku.
TipMizuho is cash only, has no seats, and closes Sundays and Mondays; Wednesday is fine. BREAD, ESPRESSO & has 20 seats and no bookings, so 5 of you may sit as 3 + 2.
WarningTakeshita Street is packed by early afternoon. Keep the group together with a meeting point (the Harajuku Station Takeshita Exit) in case someone drifts into a shop.

14:15– 17:30

Afternoon

Est. 13–17°C · Shinjuku streets, afternoon

Shopping in Shinjuku: Isetan, Uniqlo and Bic Camera, Kinokuniya, Lumine, NEWoMan, Takashimaya, Don Quijote

Split up by interest and meet again at 17:30. Around Shinjuku-sanchome: Isetan Shinjuku (10:00 to 20:00) for fashion, cosmetics and the B1 food hall; the global flagship UNIQLO Shinjuku on 1F to 3F of the old Bicqlo building, with Bic Camera Shinjuku East Exit on the other floors (both 10:00 to 22:00) for electronics, cameras and toys; and Kinokuniya main store (10:00 to 21:00), eight floors of books and stationery. By the South Exit: Lumine Shinjuku (11:00 to 21:00), NEWoMan (11:00 to 20:30 on weekdays) and Takashimaya Times Square (Takashimaya department store 10:30 to 19:30). Don Quijote Kabukicho is open 24 hours for snacks, cosmetics and souvenirs, so leave it for after dinner. For a sit-down break, CAFE AALIYA in Shinjuku 3-chome serves thick French toast until 20:00 last order.

WarningTax-free shopping changed on 1 November 2026. Stores now charge the full price including 10% tax, and you get the tax back at Narita by scanning your passport at a tax-free kiosk before you check in your luggage. Keep tax-free items and receipts in your carry-on, and do not open or use consumables such as cosmetics or snacks before you leave. The minimum is ¥5,000 (S$41) before tax per store per day. Bring all 5 passports.
TipYour base is in Shinjuku, so drop the shopping bags there at about 17:30 before walking to the Tocho.

17:45– 19:15

Evening

Est. 11–14°C · Tocho Citizens' Plaza, evening

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building: 45F night view & TOKYO Night & Light

Walk about 10 minutes from Shinjuku Station West Exit, or take the Oedo Line to Tochomae, to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government No.1 Building. The South Observatory on the 45th floor, 202 m up, is free and open until 22:00 (last entry 21:30). Sunset is about 16:35, so the city is lit by the time you arrive. The North Observatory closes at 17:30, so at night only the South one is open. Come down by about 18:50 and stand in the Citizens' Plaza on the building's east side for TOKYO Night & Light, a free projection mapping show on the tower's facade. On weekdays from 1 November 2026 the 15-minute shows start every 30 minutes from 17:30 to 21:30. The Godzilla programmes only run on weekends and holidays.

TipThere is a security check before the observatory lift, and the TMG says the wait is often 20 to 30 minutes. Go up first, then catch the 19:00 show (or 18:30 if the queue is short) before a 19:30 dinner booking.
WarningThe observatory closes at short notice in bad weather (announced on the @tocho_tenbou X account), and shows are cancelled in storms. Check tokyoprojectionmappingproject.jp for today's show times before you set out.

19:30– 22:00

Dinner

Est. 10–13°C · Shinjuku streets, late evening

Dinner for 5 in Shinjuku 3-chome, then Omoide Yokocho

Take two taxis (about 10 minutes) or the Marunouchi Line from Nishi-Shinjuku to Shinjuku-sanchome for a booked dinner: A5 wagyu yakiniku in a private room at Yakiniku Ushigoro, fish and sake at the long-running izakaya Kanae, or sukiyaki and shabu-shabu at Ningyocho Imahan on Takashimaya 14F. Afterwards, stop at Don Quijote Kabukicho for snacks and souvenirs if you still have energy, then walk west under the tracks to Omoide Yokocho, the narrow post-war alley of yakitori stalls and tiny bars beside the West Exit. From there it is a short walk back to your base.

TipA standard taxi takes only 4 passengers, so 5 of you need two taxis or a large car booked in the GO app.
TipMost Omoide Yokocho stalls seat fewer than 10 and many are cash only. With 5, treat it as a walk-through, or split 2 and 3 across neighbouring stalls for one drink and a few skewers. Some bars add a small seat charge.

Booking alert: Wednesday dinner for 5

Book a 19:30 table for 5 about a week ahead.

Yakiniku Ushigoro: book on Tabelog and ask for a private room. On weekdays it opens at 17:00 (weekday lunch is suspended).
Kanae: parties of 5 or more must book by phone (+81-3-3352-7646). Ask your hotel to call.
Ningyocho Imahan: online bookings only; the phone line does not take reservations. A 10% service charge applies.

Tax-free shopping from 1 November 2026

You pay the full price including tax in the store and show your passport. The tax is refunded after a customs check when you leave Japan.
At Narita, scan your passport at a tax-free kiosk in the departure lobby before checking in bags, with all the tax-free items in hand. A red result means customs will inspect the goods.
Minimum ¥5,000 (S$41) before tax per store per day. Items you have used or eaten in Japan do not qualify.
The refund is paid by each store or its refund agent, so ask how you will be paid when you buy.

Opening hours on Wednesday

Meiji Jingu: 06:10 to 16:10 in November, free.
Isetan Shinjuku: 10:00 to 20:00. Kinokuniya main store: 10:00 to 21:00.
UNIQLO Shinjuku and Bic Camera Shinjuku East Exit: 10:00 to 22:00.
Lumine Shinjuku: 11:00 to 21:00. NEWoMan: 11:00 to 20:30. Takashimaya department store: 10:30 to 19:30.
Don Quijote Kabukicho: 24 hours.
Tocho South Observatory: 09:30 to 22:00, last entry 21:30, free. TOKYO Night & Light: 17:30 to 21:30, every 30 minutes.

Dining suggestions

Mizuho and SWEET BOX take cash only. The rest take cards.

BREAD, ESPRESSO &Mizuho mame daifukuSWEET BOX crepesTonkatsu Maisen AoyamaCAFE AALIYAYakiniku Ushigoro 3-chomeKanae izakayaNingyocho Imahan Takashimaya

食べログ Tabelog dining picks

Harajuku French toast, daifuku and crepes, Omotesando tonkatsu, a Shinjuku cafe break and dinner for 5 in Shinjuku 3-chome

8 dining picks

BreakfastBREAD, ESPRESSO &パンとエスプレッソと

百名店3.57

Bakery Cafe • 08:00–19:00, L.O. 18:30 (Wed)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Thick French toast made from the shop's cube-shaped Mou loaf, with espresso

Open20 seats and no bookings. Arrive around 10:00, after the shrine, and expect to sit as 3 + 2 or take bread to go.

TakeawayMizuho瑞穂

百名店3.79

Wagashi & Daifuku • 09:00 until sold out (Wed)

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature Mame daifuku: soft mochi studded with salted red peas around red bean paste

OpenGo in the morning, because it closes when it sells out. Cash only, no seats. Daifuku are best eaten the same day.

TakeawaySWEET BOX

百名店3.35

Crepes • 11:00–21:00 (Wed)

Under ¥1,000 (under S$8)

Signature Made-to-order Harajuku crepes with fresh cream, fruit and ice cream

OpenOrder at the window and eat as you walk. Cash only.

Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama Honten signature dish

LunchTonkatsu Maisen Aoyama Hontenとんかつまい泉青山本店

百名店3.43

Tonkatsu • 11:00–22:00, L.O. 21:00 (Wed)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Kurobuta pork loin or fillet katsu set with shredded cabbage, rice and miso soup

Open203 seats, so 5 can usually sit together. Reservations are accepted but not on every day; otherwise go after 13:00 to miss the noon queue. Cards and Suica accepted.

CafeCAFE AALIYAカフェアリヤ

百名店3.75

Cafe & French Toast • 09:00–20:30, L.O. 20:00 (Wed)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Thick French toast, the dish most reviewers come for

OpenNo reservations. 46 seats, mostly tables, so a mid-afternoon break for 5 usually works; tables of 4 may need a second table pulled over.

Yakiniku Ushigoro Shinjuku 3-chome signature dish

DinnerYakiniku Ushigoro Shinjuku 3-chome焼肉うしごろ新宿三丁目店

百名店3.67

Wagyu Yakiniku • 17:00–23:30, L.O. food 22:30 (Wed)

¥10,000–14,999 (S$81–121)

Signature A5 Kuroge wagyu yakiniku courses

OpenBook for 5 on Tabelog and request a private room (it has private rooms for up to 8). Set courses are the easiest way to order for a group.

DinnerKanae鼎

百名店3.58

Izakaya, Seafood & Sake • 16:00–23:30, L.O. food 22:30 (Wed)

¥6,000–7,999 (S$49–65)

Signature Seasonal sashimi and grilled fish with a long list of Japanese sake

OpenParties of 5 or more must book by phone (+81-3-3352-7646). Ask your hotel to call for a 19:30 table for 5.

Ningyocho Imahan Shinjuku Takashimaya signature dish

DinnerNingyocho Imahan Shinjuku Takashimaya人形町今半新宿高島屋店

百名店3.51

Sukiyaki & Shabu-shabu • 11:00–15:00, 17:00–22:00, L.O. 21:00 (Wed)

¥10,000–14,999 (S$81–121)

Signature Wagyu sukiyaki with raw egg dip, or wagyu shabu-shabu

OpenReserve online for 5 at 19:30; the phone line does not take bookings. Staff cook the first serving at the table. A 10% service charge applies.

Day 05 route & dining map

Weather & layers

Low 8°C/High 17°C

Cool early start at Tsukiji, mild afternoon on Chuo-dori; teamLab and most of Ginza are indoors.

Seasonal outdoor estimates, not forecasts. Recheck weather before travel.

Heads-up

Booking alert: teamLab Planets for 5

Buy online only: no tickets on site. Use the official ticket store and book all 5 in one order for the 09:00 to 09:30 slot.Price: adults from ¥3,800 (S$31), dynamic pricing. The Premium Pass (no fixed time, priority entry) is ¥12,000 (S$97).Changes: no refunds; official-store tickets can be moved up to 3 times, until 2 hours before entry, but only as a whole order.Open on Thursday 19 November: 08:00 to 22:00, last entry 21:00. The only closures this season are Thursday 5 November and Thursday 3 December.

Getting around

Metro / Rail

Overnight: Tokyo (Shinjuku)

07:00 to 08:30, optional

Early Morning

Est. 8–12°C · Tsukiji market lanes, early morning

Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast

If the group is up for an early start, leave your Shinjuku base around 06:35 and take the Toei Oedo line straight to Tsukijishijo (about 20 minutes, no change). Thursday 19 November is a normal opening day on the official Tsukiji market calendar. Get a hot stick of tamagoyaki each at Tsukiji Yamacho (opens 06:50), then sit down for a tuna set or kaisen-don at Sushi Zanmai Honten, which is open 24 hours and has 66 table seats on its 3rd floor, so all 5 can sit together. At 08:30 walk about 8 minutes to Shintomicho station and ride the Yurakucho line 2 stops to Toyosu. If you would rather sleep in, eat at the hotel and go straight to Toyosu instead: Oedo line to Tsukishima, then 1 stop on the Yurakucho line.

TipTrade buyers get priority until 09:00, so keep out of their way. The market also asks visitors to eat at the stall rather than while walking, to move in small groups and to leave large bags in a locker.
TipYamacho takes cash or PayPay only. Sushi Zanmai takes cards and Suica.

Slices of sweet Japanese rolled omelette (tamagoyaki) — TamagoyakiTamagoyaki: The sweet, layered omelette that Tsukiji stalls sell hot on a stick. Photo: jetalone, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

09:00– 11:00

Morning

teamLab Planets TOKYO, Toyosu (book the 09:00 to 09:30 slot)

From Toyosu station Exit 7 it is a 10-minute walk; Shin-Toyosu on the Yurikamome is 1 minute away. teamLab Planets is open 08:00 to 22:00 (last entry 21:00), and its only closures in November and December are Thursday 5 November and Thursday 3 December, so Thursday 19th is open. A weekday morning slot is usually the quietest. You walk barefoot through the rooms: knee-deep water with digital koi, a dome of falling flowers, a room of light spheres and a garden of hanging orchids. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours inside. Afterwards, ride the Yurakucho line from Toyosu to Ginza-itchome (3 stops, about 6 minutes) for lunch.

WarningTickets are not sold on site. Buy timed tickets for all 5 on the official store in one order: adults from ¥3,800 (S$31) each, so from ¥19,000 (S$154) for 5, with dynamic pricing on busy slots. No refunds, but official-store tickets can be moved to another slot up to 3 times, no later than 2 hours before entry. Tickets in one order cannot be changed one at a time.
TipWear trousers that roll above the knee, or use the free rental shorts. Shoes and socks go in free lockers, and some floors are mirrored, so skirts are a bad idea. Re-entry is not allowed.
TipteamLab warns that the To-05-2 public bus from Tokyo Station, Ginza and Tsukiji to Shin-Toyosu is very crowded. Use the train, or two taxis (about 10 minutes from Ginza; taxis take 4).

11:30– 17:00

Midday to Late Afternoon

Est. 13–17°C · Ginza Chuo-dori, afternoon

Lunch, then Ginza: department stores, cosmetics, stationery, toys and depachika souvenirs

Start with lunch at Renga Tei (1895 yoshoku, the home of pork katsu, 110 seats, no bookings) or eel at Chikuyotei Ginza (70 seats, no bookings). Then work along Chuo-dori. Ginza Mitsukoshi (10:00 to 20:00) and Matsuya Ginza (11:00 to 20:00) have cosmetics counters on their lower floors and food halls in the basement, where Mitsukoshi's Ginza Food Garden fills two floors (B2F and B3F) with wagashi, senbei and gift boxes. Itoya (10:00 to 20:00 on weekdays) has 12 floors of stationery. GINZA SIX (shops 10:30 to 20:30) has a free rooftop garden open 07:00 to 23:00. The 12-floor Uniqlo Ginza flagship and GinzaNovo (the former Tokyu Plaza Ginza, renamed in December 2025) are both open 11:00 to 21:00. Hakuhinkan Toy Park (11:00 to 20:00) has four floors of toys and character goods and a slot-car track at ¥200 for 5 minutes. For Japanese drugstore cosmetics and skincare, Matsumoto Kiyoshi and other drugstores have branches along Chuo-dori; hours vary by branch. Take a parfait break around 15:00 at Shiseido Parlour Salon de Cafe.

WarningTax-free shopping works differently from 1 November 2026. You now pay the full price including tax at the till, show your passport, and the tax is refunded after customs checks the goods when you leave Japan. Keep tax-free purchases unused and with their receipts. Food or cosmetics you open before the flight lose the refund for the whole receipt.
TipSplit up for the afternoon and agree a meeting point, such as the Mitsukoshi lion statue at the main entrance on Ginza 4-chome crossing. GINZA SIX has a tourist service centre with a tax-free counter and hand-luggage storage (10:30 to 20:30) if bags get heavy before dinner.
TipMatsuya does not open until 11:00, so do Mitsukoshi and Itoya first if you finish lunch early. Renga Tei is cash only; the rest take cards.

17:30– 21:30

Evening

Est. 10–14°C · Ginza, evening

Final Japanese dinner in Ginza, then back to Shinjuku to pack

Book one of three options that seat 5 together. Zakuro Ginza, between Mitsukoshi and Matsuya, is the restaurant that says it introduced shabu-shabu to Tokyo (founded 1955); it serves wagyu shabu-shabu and sukiyaki and has private rooms for 6. Tenichi Honten (founded 1930) fries Edo-style tempura in front of you; ask for a row of 5 at the counter or the 8-seat tatami area. Ginza Kyubey is the splurge: a sushi kaiseki in a private counter room with your own chef. Book an 18:00 table, finish by about 20:00, and walk to Ginza station for the Marunouchi line straight to Shinjuku (about 16 minutes). Pack tonight: the driver collects you around 12:00 to 12:30 tomorrow for the 16:40 flight.

WarningBook dinner as soon as dates are firm and say clearly that you are 5. Kyubey charges ¥10,000 (S$81) per person for a same-day dinner cancellation, so confirm numbers the day before.
TipPacking: keep tax-free purchases and their receipts together in a bag you can open at Narita. Do the tax-refund step at the airport (kiosk or Visit Japan Web) before you check bags, because customs may ask to see the items. Allow extra time for this tomorrow.

Booking alert: teamLab Planets for 5

Buy online only: no tickets on site. Use the official ticket store and book all 5 in one order for the 09:00 to 09:30 slot.
Price: adults from ¥3,800 (S$31), dynamic pricing. The Premium Pass (no fixed time, priority entry) is ¥12,000 (S$97).
Changes: no refunds; official-store tickets can be moved up to 3 times, until 2 hours before entry, but only as a whole order.
Open on Thursday 19 November: 08:00 to 22:00, last entry 21:00. The only closures this season are Thursday 5 November and Thursday 3 December.

Booking alert: final dinner for 5

Zakuro Ginza (shabu-shabu and sukiyaki): book by phone on 03-3535-4421 and ask for a private room for 6; ask your hotel to call if you need Japanese. Ask about the room fee when booking.
Tenichi Honten (tempura): instant booking on Tabelog or the official site, but the English Tabelog page cannot set seating. Call 050-5589-5297, or ask your hotel to, to request a counter row of 5 or the tatami seats. Dinner courses from ¥16,500 (S$134) plus a 15% service charge.
Ginza Kyubey (sushi): closed Sundays and Mondays, open Thursday. Book through My Concierge Japan (official English booking partner, adds a 10% booking fee) or IKYU. A private room at dinner needs the IGA course or above, ¥25,300 (S$205) per person, plus a room fee and 10% service charge. Same-day cancellation is ¥10,000 (S$81) per person.
Getting back: Marunouchi line from Ginza to Shinjuku, about 16 minutes. For a taxi, 5 people need two cars or a large car in the GO app.

Tax-free shopping and packing (new rules from 1 November 2026)

At the shop: pay the full price including tax, show your original passport (copies are not accepted), and follow the shop's steps for the refund. The minimum is ¥5,000 excluding tax, per person, per shop, per day.
At Narita tomorrow: complete the tax-free procedure before checking your bags. A green result means you are done; a red result means you take the goods to the customs inspection area.
Keep the goods unused: if anything on a receipt is eaten, opened or given away, that whole receipt loses its refund.
Pack tonight: put tax-free items and receipts in one bag you can open easily, and check your airline's baggage allowance before buying more.

Dining suggestions

Tsukiji YamachoSushi Zanmai HontenRenga TeiChikuyotei GinzaShiseido Parlour Salon de CafeZakuro GinzaTenichi HontenGinza Kyubey

食べログ Tabelog dining picks

Tsukiji tamagoyaki and sushi, a Ginza yoshoku or eel lunch, a parfait stop, and three final-dinner options that seat 5: shabu-shabu, tempura or sushi

8 dining picks

BreakfastTsukiji Yamacho築地山長

百名店3.48

Tamagoyaki stand • 06:50–15:30 (Thu)

Up to ¥999 (up to S$8)

Signature Kushi-tama: a thick slice of sweet tamagoyaki on a stick, cooked in front of you

OpenQueue at the window for a hot stick each; the line moves fast. Eat at the benches in front or the rest area next door. Cash or PayPay only.

BreakfastSushi Zanmai Hontenすしざんまい本店

百名店3.46

Sushi • Open 24 hours (Thu)

¥3,000–3,999 (S$24–32)

Signature Tuna nigiri sets and kaisen-don; order otoro by the piece

OpenNo reservations. Ask for a table upstairs so all 5 sit together; at 07:30 on a weekday the wait is usually short. Cards, Suica and PayPay accepted.

LunchRenga Tei煉瓦亭

百名店3.49

Yoshoku (Japanese-Western) • 11:15–15:00, 17:30–21:00 (Thu; L.O. 14:00 / 20:00)

¥3,000–3,999 (S$24–32)

Signature Original pork cutlet (the Meiji-era katsu) and the Meiji omurice with rice mixed into the egg

OpenNo reservations, but 110 seats, so a group of 5 is usually seated together. Arrive by 11:45 to beat the office lunch crowd. Cash only.

LunchChikuyotei Ginza竹葉亭銀座店

百名店3.53

Unagi (eel) • 11:30–15:30, 16:30–21:30 (Thu; L.O. 14:30 / 20:00)

¥4,000–4,999 (S$32–40)

Signature Unaju (grilled eel over rice in a lacquer box) and tai-chazuke, sea bream over rice with tea

OpenNo reservations. 70 seats over three floors (tables in the basement and 1F, tatami upstairs), so 5 can usually sit together; arrive at 11:30 to avoid a queue. Cards accepted.

Shiseido Parlour Salon de Cafe signature dish

CafeShiseido Parlour Salon de Cafe資生堂パーラー銀座本店サロン・ド・カフェ

百名店3.51

Cafe & parfaits • 11:00–21:00 (Thu; L.O. 20:30)

¥3,000–3,999 (S$24–32)

Signature Seasonal fruit parfaits and cakes

OpenNo reservations; 46 seats. Mid-afternoon on a weekday is usually manageable for 5, but expect a short wait. Cards accepted.

DinnerZakuro Ginzaざくろ銀座店

百名店3.68

Shabu-shabu & sukiyaki • 11:00–15:00, 17:00–22:00 (Thu; L.O. 14:30 / 21:00)

¥20,000–29,999 (S$162–243) dinner, by reviews

Signature Wagyu shabu-shabu and sukiyaki; Zakuro says it introduced shabu-shabu to Tokyo

OpenCall 03-3535-4421 (or ask your hotel) and book a private room for 6 at 18:00 for your 5. 125 seats, with rooms for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 to 20; ask about the room fee. Cards accepted.

DinnerTenichi Honten天一本店

百名店3.52

Tempura • 11:30–22:00 (Thu; L.O. 20:30)

¥20,000–29,999 (S$162–243) dinner, by reviews

Signature Edo-style tempura courses fried at the counter: prawns, seasonal fish and vegetables

OpenInstant booking on Tabelog, but the English page cannot set seating, so call 050-5589-5297 to ask for 5 together at the counter (14 seats on B2F), at a table, or in the 8 tatami seats on B1F. There are no private rooms. Cards accepted.

DinnerGinza Kyubey銀座久兵衛銀座本店

百名店3.66

Sushi • 11:30–14:00, 17:00–22:00 (Thu)

¥20,000–29,999 (S$162–243) dinner, by reviews

Signature Nigiri and sushi kaiseki; the restaurant is credited with creating gunkan-maki for uni and ikura

OpenBook through My Concierge Japan or IKYU. For 5, ask for a private counter room (the 5th floor has rooms of 6 and 7 seats); at dinner that needs the IGA course, ¥25,300 (S$205) per person, or above, plus a room fee and 10% service. Same-day cancellation is ¥10,000 per person.

Day 06 route & dining map

Weather & layers

Low 9°C/High 17°C

Cool morning for the garden walk. Wear a light jacket you can carry onto the plane.

Seasonal outdoor estimates, not forecasts. Recheck weather before travel.

Heads-up

Booking alert: driver pickup and vehicle

Set pickup for 12:00 to 12:30 at the latest on Fri 20 Nov, and send the driver company the flight number and terminal.Ask for a vehicle that holds 5 adults, 5 large suitcases and shopping bags (HiAce class), and confirm in writing.Reconfirm on Thu 19 Nov: pickup time, meeting point at your Shinjuku base, the base's address in Japanese, whether tolls are included, and whether you may eat in the car.

Getting around

Shinjuku → Narita: 80–120 min (~75 km), leave by 12:30

Overnight: Home (flight 16:40 to Singapore)

08:00

Breakfast at NEWoMan Shinjuku

Eat breakfast near your Shinjuku base at NEWoMan, above the station's New South Exit. Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura on 2F serves breakfast plates from 07:00 to 10:00. Le Pain de Joël Robuchon on 1F opens at 08:00 and has a small eat-in cafe; if it is full, take pastries back to the base. Keep it to about an hour so the walk has time.

TipPack the suitcases before breakfast and leave them in the room. The rest of the morning is then free, and check-out at 11:30 takes ten minutes.

09:30 to 11:30

Est. 9–15°C · Shinjuku Gyoen morning

Short walk: Shinjuku Gyoen garden, or last souvenirs at Isetan B1

Option 1, a last autumn garden walk: Shinjuku Gyoen is open on Friday (it closes on Mondays) from 09:00 to 16:30 between 1 Oct and 14 Mar. Entry is ¥500 (S$4) per adult, and the gates take Suica. Shinjuku Gate is about 10 minutes' walk from the JR Shinjuku South Exit, or 5 minutes from Shinjuku-sanchome Station exit E5. An hour on the paths around the Japanese garden and the lawns is enough. Tokyo's autumn colour usually peaks in late November, so expect some trees turned and others still green. Option 2, last buys: Isetan Shinjuku opens at 10:00 (10:00–20:00), and its B1 food hall has boxed sweets that travel well, such as the financiers at noix de beurre. The two fit together: leave the garden by about 10:30 and walk 10 minutes north to Isetan. Don Quijote Shinjuku Kabukicho is open 24 hours for snacks, cosmetics and KitKats.

TipEach person needs their own passport at the till for tax-free purchases, and the ¥5,000 minimum (before tax) counts per person, per shop, per day. Keep each shop's receipts together with the goods: at the airport, a receipt with even one item missing loses the refund for everything on it.
TipBuy baked sweets rather than chilled cakes, since they will sit in a car and a plane for 10 hours. Food bought tax-free must leave Japan unopened, so do not snack from the tax-free bag.

11:30 to 12:30

Est. 12–17°C · Shinjuku midday

Check out, early lunch or a bento, driver leaves by 12:30

Check out of your Shinjuku base around 11:30 and leave the bags at the front desk. For a sit-down meal, Tempura Funabashiya Shinjuku Honten opens at 11:30 and has private tatami rooms upstairs, so book a table for 5 at 11:30 sharp and you can be done by about 12:15. If that feels tight, buy bento boxes at the Isetan B1 food hall during the morning and eat them in the car or at the airport. Then load the car. The latest departure is 12:30; leaving at 12:00 gives more slack for Friday traffic.

TipIf you plan to eat in the car, ask the driver company in advance whether food is allowed in the vehicle.
WarningConfirm the vehicle with the driver company in writing. An Alphard or Vellfire with 5 passengers usually fits only 3 or 4 large suitcases once the back row is in use. For 5 large suitcases plus shopping bags, ask for a HiAce (Grand Cabin or similar) or a second car.

12:30 to about 14:15

Private driver: Shinjuku to Narita Airport

The drive is about 75 km on the Shuto Expressway and Higashi-Kanto Expressway and normally takes 80–120 minutes. Friday traffic out of central Tokyo can be heavy, so plan on the long end: leaving at 12:30 puts you at Narita around 14:15. Which terminal depends on the airline, so check your booking before the driver sets off. Singapore Airlines, Scoot and ANA use Terminal 1, South Wing (ZIPAIR uses the T1 North Wing). JAL and many other airlines use Terminal 2. Tell the driver the airline and terminal so he drops you at the right departures curb.

TipOn a codeshare, the airline that flies the plane decides the terminal and counters. For example, an SQ flight number operated by Scoot checks in at the Scoot counters. Search your flight number on the Narita Airport departures page on the morning to see the terminal and counter row.

About 14:15 to 16:40

Narita: tax-free kiosk, check-in, then food

Do things in this order. First, take every tax-free purchase to the tax-free procedure terminals in the departure lobby, before baggage check-in, and scan each passport. A green result means you are done; a red result means you show the goods at the customs inspection area. Then check in. Counters usually open 2.5 to 3 hours before departure, so they will be open when you arrive, and most airlines on this route close international check-in 60 minutes before departure (15:40 for a 16:40 flight); check the exact time in your booking. Narita asks passengers to be at the airport at least 2 hours before departure, which this plan covers. Eat after check-in. At T1, KAWATOYO (unagi) and Tocho Tosho Men (113 seats) are on 4F before security, and IPPUDO is airside on the Central Building 3F. At T2, Mendokoro Tsuruhan (udon and soba, 54 seats) is on the 4F restaurant floor before security. Aim to be through security and passport control by about 15:30.

WarningOnce a suitcase is checked in, the airline cannot give it back for the tax-free check, and that receipt's refund is lost. Keep tax-free goods out until the kiosk shows green, then pack them and check in.
TipLiquids over 100 ml bought in Shinjuku (sauces, sake, jam) go in the checked suitcase. Bottles bought airside after security can go in the cabin.

Booking alert: driver pickup and vehicle

Set pickup for 12:00 to 12:30 at the latest on Fri 20 Nov, and send the driver company the flight number and terminal.
Ask for a vehicle that holds 5 adults, 5 large suitcases and shopping bags (HiAce class), and confirm in writing.
Reconfirm on Thu 19 Nov: pickup time, meeting point at your Shinjuku base, the base's address in Japanese, whether tolls are included, and whether you may eat in the car.

Check your terminal and check-in deadline

Terminal 1 South Wing: Singapore Airlines, Scoot, ANA. Terminal 1 North Wing: ZIPAIR. Terminal 2: JAL and many other airlines.
The operating airline on your ticket decides the terminal, not the flight number you booked under.
Most airlines close international check-in 60 minutes before departure (Scoot and JAL both state 60 minutes). For a 16:40 flight that is 15:40. Check your own airline's time in the booking.
Check-in counter rows at Narita change day to day; check the departure boards or search your flight on the Narita Airport website.

Tax-free shopping: refund at departure (from 1 Nov 2026)

Purchases made on or after 1 Nov 2026 use Japan's new refund method, so this whole trip is covered by it.

At the shop you pay the full price including 10% consumption tax. Show your passport. The minimum is ¥5,000 (before tax) per shop, per day.
When you leave Japan (within 90 days of purchase), scan your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal in the Narita departure lobby before check-in, with all the goods on you. Green: done. Red: show the goods at the customs inspection area.
At Narita you can also complete the step online with Visit Japan Web, on the dedicated Wi-Fi in the departure lobby before security.
The refund itself is paid by the shop or its refund agent, not by customs. Ask each shop how it pays (for example back to your card) when you buy.
Food, drink and cosmetics no longer come in sealed bags, but anything opened or used in Japan is not refunded. If you finished an item, do not use the terminal for that receipt; tell a customs officer at the counter instead.

Source: Japan Tourism Agency and JNTO.

Departure checklist

Repack the night before: one tax-free bag per person with its receipts, kept out of the suitcase until the kiosk.
Passports: all 5 in carry-on for check-in and the tax-free kiosk.
Liquids: sauces, sake and jars go in checked bags. Power banks go in carry-on, never checked.
iPhone Suica: keep it in Wallet. Spend any small balance at the airport konbini or leave it for the next trip.
Rubbish: follow your base's sorting rules (burnable, plastics, PET bottles, cans). Empty the fridge and leave keys as instructed.
Driver: pickup time reconfirmed, Japanese address ready, terminal known.
Airport food: all the airport picks below are open through the afternoon, so eat after check-in. Boarding starts well before 16:40 (JAL asks passengers at the gate 30 minutes before, Scoot opens its gate 60 minutes before), so keep the meal to about 30 minutes.

Dining suggestions

Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura ShinjukuLe Pain de Joël Robuchon NEWoMannoix de beurre Isetan ShinjukuTempura Funabashiya Shinjuku HontenKAWATOYO Narita T1Tocho Tosho Men Narita T1IPPUDO Narita T1 (airside)Mendokoro Tsuruhan Narita T2

食べログ Tabelog dining picks

NEWoMan Breakfast, Isetan B1 Sweets, an 11:30 Tempura Lunch & Narita T1/T2 Food

8 dining picks

Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura Shinjuku signature dish

BreakfastBakery & Restaurant Sawamura Shinjukuベーカリー&レストラン沢村新宿

百名店3.62

Bakery & Cafe • Restaurant 07:00–10:00 & 11:00–23:00, bakery 07:00–21:00 (Fri)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Breakfast plates with bread from the Karuizawa bakery's own ovens

Open50 seats (42 at tables), so 5 can usually sit together at breakfast. Bookings are only taken for lunch courses, so walk in; at 08:00 there is time before breakfast service ends at 10:00.

Le Pain de Joël Robuchon NEWoMan Shinjuku signature dish

BreakfastLe Pain de Joël Robuchon NEWoMan Shinjukuルパンドゥジョエル･ロブションニュウマン新宿店

百名店3.78

Bakery • 08:00–21:00 (Fri)

Under ¥999 (under S$8)

Signature French breads and pastries from the Robuchon bakery

OpenNo reservations. 36 eat-in seats at the cafe in front; if it is full, take pastries back to the base.

noix de beurre Isetan Shinjuku signature dish

Takeawaynoix de beurre Isetan Shinjukuノワ・ドゥ・ブール新宿伊勢丹店

百名店3.79

Pâtisserie & Baked Sweets • 10:00–20:00 (Fri)

Under ¥999 (under S$8) per piece; gift boxes cost more

Signature Browned-butter financiers and madeleines, boxed for gifts

OpenGo soon after the 10:00 opening before queues form. Baked goods travel better than chilled cakes on the flight home.

LunchTempura Funabashiya Shinjuku Honten天ぷら船橋屋新宿本店

百名店3.49

Tempura • 11:30–21:00, last order 20:30 (Fri)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16) at lunch

Signature Tempura set meals at a Shinjuku tempura house with private rooms

Open126 seats, with private tatami rooms on 2F and 3F. Reserve for 5 at 11:30, the opening time, and tell them you need to leave by 12:15 for the airport.

LunchKAWATOYO Narita T1川豊成田空港店

百名店3.61

Unagi (Eel) • 08:00–20:30, last order 20:30 (Fri)

¥4,000–4,999 (S$32–40)

Signature Unaju: grilled eel over rice, from the Narita eel shop of the same name

OpenNo reservations and 38 seats, so 5 may wait or be split between tables. Go straight after check-in; mid-afternoon is usually quieter than meal times.

Tocho Tosho Men Narita T1 signature dish

LunchTocho Tosho Men Narita T1唐朝刀削麺成田空港店

百名店3.49

Knife-cut Noodles (Chinese) • 10:30–21:00, last order 20:15 (Fri); breakfast porridge 08:15–10:30

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Hand-shaved daoxiao noodles in soup or stir-fried

Open113 seats, the easiest place at T1 for 5 to sit together before security. Reservations are possible but rarely needed.

IPPUDO Narita T1 (airside) signature dish

LunchIPPUDO Narita T1 (airside)一風堂成田空港店

百名店3.32

Ramen • 08:00–21:00, last order 20:30 (Fri)

¥2,000–2,999 (S$16–24)

Signature Hakata tonkotsu ramen

OpenUse it if the check-in queue runs long and you would rather eat after passport control. Check the T1 airside map for the walk to your gate and keep an eye on boarding time.

Mendokoro Tsuruhan Narita T2 signature dish

LunchMendokoro Tsuruhan Narita T2麺処つるはん成田国際空港店

百名店3.46

Udon, Soba & Rice Bowls • 07:00–20:30 last order, daily (per Narita Airport and the shop; Tabelog lists no hours)

¥1,000–1,999 (S$8–16)

Signature Dashi udon and soba, plus katsu-don and oyako-don rice bowls

Open54 seats and the shop takes reservations and groups, so 5 can sit together. Walk in after check-in, or phone ahead (+81 476-34-6130) if you want a table held.

Day 07 route & dining map

Where

Map of the week

Click a marker for the day and what to do there. The line is the private-car route for the Fuji day; Gotemba is by highway bus.

Fuji day · Shinjuku to the Fuji Five Lakes by private car

Travel notes

Good to know for a group of five

Taxis, payments, daylight and the bookings worth making before you fly.

Moving around as five

A standard Tokyo taxi takes 4 passengers, so five people need two taxis, or a large car booked in the GO or Uber app. Trains are usually faster anyway. For dinners, reserve for 5 a few days ahead on Tabelog, Omakase or TableCheck. Counter-only ramen and sushi spots may seat you split, so pick tables for group meals.

Suica and payments

Add a Suica or PASMO card to Apple Wallet (Google Wallet on supported Android phones) and top up with a card; it covers trains, buses, konbini and many cafes. Carry some cash too: small eateries and market stalls in Tsukiji, Asakusa and Fujiyoshida are often cash only.

Short November days

Sunset in Tokyo is around 16:35 in mid-November and it is dark by 17:00. Put outdoor viewpoints (Lake Kawaguchiko, the Panoramic Ropeway, Fuji from Gotemba) in the morning or early afternoon, and keep evenings for food, shopping and night views.

Bookings to make before you fly

teamLab Planets (Day 6), the Gotemba highway bus (Day 4) and any Shibuya Sky sunset slot (optional, Day 1) sell out; buy them as soon as your date opens. Book the dinners marked reserve ahead on each day. Confirm with the driver: the 08:30 pickup, van size, Fuji-day hours, the 12:30 airport run, and whether the Fuji day can swap on a cloudy forecast.

Tokyo & Fuji
in Autumn

Seven days at a glance

Day by day, with food picks for each day

Nov 14 (Sat): Arrive Narita, Hachiko, Shibuya Crossing & Shopping

Nov 15 (Sun): Senso-ji, Skytree, Ueno & Akihabara

Nov 16 (Mon): Mt Fuji Day (Lake Kawaguchiko, Oishi Park & Panoramic Ropeway)

Nov 17 (Tue): Gotemba Premium Outlets & Mt Fuji Views

Nov 18 (Wed): Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shinjuku Shopping & Tocho Night View

Nov 19 (Thu): teamLab Planets, Ginza Shopping & a Final Japanese Dinner

Nov 20 (Fri): Breakfast, a Last Walk & Narita Departure

Map of the week

Good to know for a group of five

Moving around as five

Suica and payments

Short November days

Bookings to make before you fly