Days 12-14

last days in tokyo:
new neighborhoods and new experiences

legend

✴️ = best choice!

Day 12

back to tokyo

We set off again for Tokyo. After returning to Gokurakubashi Station, we take the Nankai Limited Express train again (remember: reservations are required!) bound for Osaka Namba Station.

Here we make an unexpected food stop: the best McDonald’s sandwich we have ever tasted, with an irresistible teriyaki sauce.

After lunch, we take the subway (Midosuji line) to Shin-Osaka station, where the shinkansen depart.

Aboard the Tokaido-Sanyo shinkansen we reach Tokyo, specifically Shinagawa Station.

From here, by the Yamanote line, we arrive at Akihabara Station in about 10 minutes.

After days of exhausting shopping, it’s time to please the male half as well: tonight we’re going on a tour of Japanese car culture!

We have booked an experience through Get Your Guide designed for all Fast & Furious nostalgics: a tour to discover iconic locations from the film and into the heart of Japanese race car culture.

Prima, però, ci concediamo una tappa in un posto del cuore: il ristorante Uzushio – Sushi go round, che ci aveva conquistati nei primi giorni. Una scelta che si riconferma azzeccata.

The time for the experience finally arrives, but the start is more comical than adrenaline-pumping: we were expecting a roaring supercar, but instead we are met by a beat-up van (okay, slightly elaborate, but still a van).

We board our vehicle and speed through the main streets of Tokyo while our driver watches a movie on a mega-screen mounted next to the steering wheel. Yes, it seems to be business as usual here.

First stop is Autobacs, an iconic auto parts store, then we head to Daikoku, a nighttime hotspot for the city’s most spectacular cars. Last stop: Tokyo Tower. No, this is not Paris and it is not the Eiffel Tower, but its Japanese counterpart, red and used for telecommunications as well as a viewpoint.

after the experience, we return to our new accommodation in Tokyo, located in the Ginza district, known for luxury and high-fashion boutiques. Our hotel, The B Ginza, is conveniently located and well served.

Honorable mention to the coffee machine in the reception: it prints your cappuccino with the design you want. It wins hands down.

travel info

There are 3 types of ‘Tokaido-Sanyo’ shinkansen:
Hiraki, Kodama and Nozomi

Nozomi: is the fastest (2.30 hours) but we do not recommend it as it is not included in the Japan Rail Pass!

Hiraki: takes 3 hours, reservation is not necessary and is included in JRP. One passes every 30 minutes or so.

Kodama: it takes 4 hours.

day 13

last day in tokyo

This morning we go to see the Sumo Museum: we take the Yamanote line to Akihabara and walk for half an hour until we reach the Ryogoku Stadium. In fact, the museum is located inside the arena that twice a year, in January and September, hosts a tournament that lasts several days. Apparently today is not our lucky day: as soon as we arrive we discover it is closed for an event. We fall back with a sushi feast at the old Tsukiji market.
Here, until a few years ago the famous tuna rod (as of 2018 visible at Toyosu Market in Odaiba Bay) was held early in the morning. Although the rod is now discontinued, the market lives on, remaining the most distinctive of the two… and it is here that we get to taste the best fish in the city! We had lunch at Sushi Dai and chose an omakase, which is a chef’s selection that is served bite by bite. Each piece is carefully presented, accompanied by the sushiman’s directions on how best to enjoy it – with or without soy sauce or wasabi. A true sensory journey! No need to say: this was the best sushi we have ever tasted, both in quality and price (only €25 each). Here we tasted many special varieties including sea urchins and tuna belly. ✴️ We get back on track: we take the subway (Hibiya line) and take a walk around the surroundings of the Imperial Palace, which can only be visited from the outside. We then continue to Tokyo’s most eccentric and colorful district: Harajuku. In the famous Takeshita Street, the home of youth fashion and quirky trends, it is not uncommon to run into some cosplayers. Last stop of the day: Yurakucho (reached in 35 minutes by the Yamanote line). Just below the train tracks runs an iconic street, Gado-shita – which literally means “under the railway” – filled with clubs where, at the end of the day, many salarymen gather to relax and celebrate. We dined at Hakatagekijo Yurakucho: a large izakaya specializing in gyoza and udon. Unique atmosphere and excellent dishes, although the wait was long and sweaty: we were the only foreigners and to reserve a seat we almost had to beg them!

we recommend

If you are passionate about the world of Sumo,
we recommend watching the Netflix series Sanctuary.

glossary

Salaryman
Term for a businessman, who works too many hours a day. As is well known, the work situation in Japan is particularly stressful.

Izakaya
Local place to drink, have fun and taste simple and popular dishes.

Udon
Thick wheat noodles typical of Japanese cuisine.

Day 14

back to italy

We take the Yamanote Line to Hamamatsucho Station, from where we continue by Tokyo Monorail (Haneda Express) to Haneda Airport. The total journey takes about 35 minutes.

Our flight, this time with Lufthansa, is scheduled for 11:15 a.m.

As soon as we get on board, the difference is immediately noticeable: the German stewardesses and stewards do not have quite the same kindness and gentleness as the Japanese staff … and the nostalgia for this country is already beginning to be felt.

We landed in Frankfurt for a stopover at 3:40 p.m., departed at 5:00 p.m., and landed in Venice at 6:10 p.m. local time (when it is 10:40 p.m. in Tokyo).

The return trip, including stopover time, took a total of 18 hours and 15 minutes. Final curiosity: this time, instead of flying over Russia, our flight tracked over Greenland – a small change of perspective to close out this incredible journey.

Thank you for sharing this journey with us,
there are many more adventures waiting for you on the site…. discover the next destination!

Linda & Mattia