Has anyone tried the new 2025 Japan itinerary yet?

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Reading through it again I’m still so disappointed with how they are (not) covering Tokyo. Pretty much all of day 8 and a good portion of 9 are a waste, in my mind, though I’m hoping there is more to see than what is listed. I’m trying to put together a reasonable 1 day itinerary to cover at least some of what is missing. Unfortunately we’ll really only have time before our adventure starts, so we can’t exactly go back and fill in the blanks afterwards. AI suggests the following options:

Alternative Half-Day Options​

Cultural Immersion Focus (4 hours)​

• Morning: Meiji Shrine + Imperial Palace East Gardens
• Afternoon: Traditional tea ceremony + Harajuku exploration

Modern Tokyo Focus (4 hours)​

• Akihabara electronics/anime district
• Ginza traditional department stores
• Modern food culture (conveyor belt sushi, themed cafes)

Traditional Japan Focus (4 hours)​

• Ueno Park and traditional museums
• Traditional gardens (Rikugi-en or Shinjuku Gyoen)
• Traditional market and tea ceremony

and specifically:

Best Use of Day 9 Free Afternoon​

Since AbD gives you a free afternoon on Day 9, this is perfect timing for:

Recommended 4-Hour Route (1:00-5:00 PM):

1. Meiji Shrine (1:00-2:30 PM) - Spiritual experience missing from AbD
2. Harajuku/Takeshita Street (2:30-3:30 PM) - Youth culture (walking distance from shrine)
3. Imperial Palace East Gardens (4:00-5:00 PM) - Historic Japan (easy return to hotel area)

Perfect timing: Returns you to hotel area by 5:00 PM for your farewell dinner preparation

One-Day Supplemental Itinerary​

Using Day 9's free afternoon or as separate day

Morning Option (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM)​

Sacred Tokyo & Imperial History

8:00-9:30 AM: Meiji Shrine

• Tokyo's most sacred Shinto shrine in peaceful forest setting
• Easy access: 15 minutes from Shangri-La Tokyo via JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station
• Experience Shinto rituals, write wishes on ema (wooden plaques)
• Why essential: Provides spiritual/religious context missing from AbD's focus on art and modern culture

10:00-12:00 PM: Imperial Palace East Gardens

• Only publicly accessible part of Imperial Palace grounds
• Historic Edo Castle foundation stones and traditional Japanese gardens
• Transportation: 10 minutes back to Otemachi Station (3 minutes from hotel)
• Why essential: Japanese Imperial history and traditional garden design not covered in AbD itinerary

Afternoon Option (1:00-6:00 PM)​

Cultural Districts & Modern Japan

1:00-2:30 PM: Traditional Food Market Experience

• Ameya-Yokocho Market (near Ueno) - Traditional market less touristy than Tsukiji Outer Market
• Authentic food culture experience with local vendors and traditional snacks
• Why chosen: Complements AbD's restaurant dining with authentic market food culture

3:00-4:30 PM: Asakusa Traditional District

• Sensoji Temple complex and Nakamise shopping street
• Traditional craft shops and temple snacks
• Why essential: Traditional Japanese temple architecture and shopping culture (different from modern Shibuya experience)

5:00-6:00 PM: Harajuku/Takeshita Street

• Youth culture and kawaii fashion district
• Unique Japanese pop culture and street fashion
• Why essential: Modern Japanese youth culture completely missing from AbD

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

I’m seriously considering bagging all of day 8 (and ignoring the fact that we’re paying more than $1000/pp/day to do it) and doing something else entirely. No one in my family will be interested in visiting 2 art museums (and yes, I have seen pictures of TeamLab Borderless) and doing a craft project.

 

[sayhello]

ABD has always struggled with the Tokyo days. There's SO much to cover, and it's hard to choose.

But this is kind of funny (but not in a Ha Ha funny way). The stuff being suggested by AI is a lot of the stuff the ABD actually used to do the first year when I went (2019). Which I assume people complained about because they changed it.

I think a lot of people were kind of "shrined out" by the time we got to Tokyo, although I still loved them.

I do have to admit, I'm very jealous of the Kintsugi experience they do now! And I did TeamLab Borderless on the afternoon/evening OYO on Day 9, which was totally amazing! It is not a museum, it's an interactive experience, and extremely fun.

This is from the 2019 itinerary (the trip used to be a day longer because there was an extra travel day to Tokyo because we went by motorcoach):

Day 9: Tokyo

Hamarikyu Gardens & Tea House
Enjoy a moment of reflection as you walk amongst the beauty of this large landscape garden located along the
bay in central Tokyo. The peaceful setting offers a tea house as well as a view of some of Tokyo’s towering
skyscrapers that are in stark contrast to the serenity of the lush Hamarikyu gardens.

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
While some tea ceremonies can last for hours and follow strict guidelines, the Hamarikyu tea house offers a
more informal ceremony in a serene setting that allows you to follow the ritual at your own pace and still feel
steeped in Japanese culture.

Sumida River Boat Cruise
Board a water bus and cruise along the Sumida River through the heart of Tokyo from Hamarikyu gardens to the
bustling Asakusa district as you take in Tokyo’s stunning skyline from a unique vantage point.

Sensō-Ji Temple
Visit this striking temple that was completed in 645 A.D., making it Tokyo’s oldest temple. Known for its bright
colors and large red paper lantern, Sensō-ji is one of the most popular temples in the city.

Asakusa District Tour
Discover Tokyo’s past as you tour the Asakusa District with a local expert. Located in the center of the
****amachi, or “low city,” the atmosphere of this district is one of Tokyo’s past decades. Home to the
popular Buddhist temple, Sensō-ji, Asakusa also boasts several shopping areas, including the Asakusa
Underground Street—one of the oldest underground shopping streets in Japan.

Sushi-Making Class and Lunch
Learn the art of Japanese sushi-making in this fun and informative class where you will make—and then
eat—your own sushi.

Afternoon on Your Own in Tokyo
Spend the afternoon exploring Japan’s remarkable capital city of Tokyo, which offers a wealth of
museums, shopping and colorful neighborhoods to explore, featuring a perfect blend of old world
traditions and contemporary culture.

Dinner on Your Own in Tokyo
Discover some of the most unique restaurants in the world that mix eye-popping entertainment and
Japanese delicacies.

Day 10: Tokyo

Meiji Jingu Shrine & Kagura Ceremony
Make a wish, write it down on an Ema (a wooden tablet) and place it on one of the hooks at Meiji Jingu Shrine as
a request to the deities. This is common practice at Meiji Shrine, as is the donation of sake barrels, which can be
seen in a massive, colorful display. The shrine is located just steps from the bustling Harajuku Train Station, but
once on the shrine grounds, you will find yourself amid a lush forest with walking paths for a relaxing stroll.
While at the shrine, you will also watch a traditional Kagura ceremony.

Takeshita Street
Check out the latest fashions on this ultra-trendy street that is lined with shops, boutiques, cafés and fast food
outlets. Although it is largely targeting Tokyo’s teenagers, Takeshita Street has something for everybody—and is
really something to see!

Lunch and Afternoon on Your Own in Tokyo
The splendor of Tokyo, the world’s most populous metropolitan area, is yours to explore! Overload your
senses with a visit to Akihabara, known for its anime, electronic shops, gaming arcades and comic book
stores, or enjoy a serene afternoon wandering through Shinjuku Gardens and its traditional Japanese
landscapes. There’s something for everyone in this vibrant and exciting city. And after you work up an
appetite, there is a seemingly endless number of places to grab a bite that range from Michelin-star
ramen to robot-themed restaurants.

Farewell Dinner at Happō-En
Celebrate the end of a truly magnificent journey in a traditional Japanese garden atmosphere that
includes a central koi pond. You’ll also participate in a Daruma doll painting activity before sitting down to
a lovely catered meal.

Let me know if you have any specific questions about these places.

Sayhello

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I’m seriously considering bagging all of day 8 (and ignoring the fact that we’re paying more than $1000/pp/day to do it) and doing something else entirely. No one in my family will be interested in visiting 2 art museums (and yes, I have seen pictures of TeamLab Borderless) and doing a craft project.

We didn't do the latest itinerary, but we did do a 2024 trip. We probably could have done with a museum/temple less on the trip, but TeamLab was absolutely a unique experience we loved - a top 10 memory on our trip. But if that's not of interest for your family, I'm sure there are day trips to do something else in Tokyo you could find more to your liking. It's a gigantic city filled with things to do and see and experience. You have some great examples presented above. On the other hand, we were glad we didn't miss the museums and temples, as that was part of the reason we went to Japan in the first place - to view and learn their history and culture.

 

[Eastridge]

It all depends on what your family is interested in. There are the activities that @sayhello listed from the original version of the trip. Or if you are willing to go further away from Tokyo, there is the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, elaborate shrines in Nikko, and of course Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.

Or if it were me, there is a live Mario Kart go-kart experience where you drive the streets of Tokyo

 

[AquaDame]

FWIW it sounded like a lot of people added on TeamLab Borderless to their ABDs - it may be that the guides found themselves helping folk set it up so much they went ahead and added it. It gets great reviews! I've yet to go, and I would the next time we're in Tokyo, but we've been there a few times already and as you mentioned I wouldn't be paying $1000 a day for it. If you look at it that way though, honestly you end up whittling these trips down to almost nothing. *Almost* everything can be done OYO for far cheaper.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Thanks. I actually think the original itinerary sounds better because a lot of the experiences are totally unique to Japan, but to each their own I guess.

My son is too young to do Mario Kart but if here older he would totally do that.

 

[Mathmagicland]

I’m seriously considering bagging all of day 8 (and ignoring the fact that we’re paying more than $1000/pp/day to do it) and doing something else entirely. No one in my family will be interested in visiting 2 art museums (and yes, I have seen pictures of TeamLab Borderless) and doing a craft project.

We ended up skipping the Sumida River cruise on the original itinerary, to go to the Ghibli museum in Mikita, because that was the day it was open. No regrets in doing so, it was well worth the visit, and we’d let the guides know of our plans early in the trip so they could also plan accordingly. If you do this, you must get tickets ahead of time as those sell out quickly.

Re Akihabara, we went there on our free afternoon, a short train ride from where we were staying. It is a large area with lots of tall buildings, individual stores on each of the floors of the buildings, and not a lot of visible storefronts for browsing. My DS had friends who had been so he had a plan and a list of where he wanted to go for what he wanted to check out, which seemed necessary to make the best use of our time as we were able to hit a lot shops. My impression was that to go in without some sort of a plan would not feel like it would be worth going.