Vol.03A Photogenic Journey Featuring Classic Sights in Tokyo and Yamagata

Day One

8:30 A Luxurious Breakfast at Tsukiji Market Featuring Tasty Seafood

Tsukiji Market is ideal for travelers who want to be active in the morning.

While heading on a stroll, how about indulging in a luxurious breakfast at Uogashi Senryo? The popular menu item is the Original Kaisen Hitsumabushiーa dish heaped with over twelve different kinds of fresh seafood (see photo above). This rare dish is also called “a jewelry box from the sea.” Of course, you can enjoy it just as it is. But why not try mixing the uni (sea urchin) and eating it? Or perhaps pour some in the miso soup and have it ochazuke-style (tea-soaked rice)? In other words, diners can enjoy three different flavor profiles!

10:00 Cutting-Edge Entertainment with Sound, Lights, Video, and Living Creatures

After a satisfying breakfast, head to Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa to enjoy state-of-the-art entertainment.

This is an enjoyable aquarium featuring sound and light production. At Jellyfish Rumble, the charm of jellyfish is enhanced through music and lighting, and visitors can enjoy a fantastical display.

In addition, there is a space where technology fuses with water tanks and attractions. So visitors can fully enjoy the fantastic ocean world!

12:00 Enjoy Lunch and Photogenic Japanese Confectionery in Ginza

We’ve already enjoyed many things from the morning, and now is the ideal time for a short break.

SALON GINZA SABOU is located in Tokyu Plaza Ginza’s Basement 2F. At this cafe, guests can enjoy sweets and meals that conjure up present-day images of Japan and food culture from the past. For lunch, you can order a set meal plan and choose your main dish and side dish with a side of Koshihikari-brand rice that’s been cooked in an earthenware pot (donabe).

We’d like to recommend the Sabou Parfaitーa matcha parfait served in a square wooden box. The dessert sits inside a fairly large wooden box, looking like an artwork! Enjoy some relaxing time with this world-class Japanese matcha tea.

14:30 Meet Up with Countless Beckoning Cats at Gotokuji Temple

Next up is Gotokuji Temple. This temple is said to be the birthplace of maneki neko, the beckoning cat known for being a Japanese good luck charm.

The maneki neko is a figurine of a cat with one paw raised. Since ancient times, it’s been a Japanese talisman believed to usher in good fortune. At Gotokuji Temple, there are beckoning cat figures of various sizes, so purchase one, make a wish, and take it home. If your wish comes true or something good happens later, consider making an offering to show your appreciation.

16:30 Enjoy the Excitement at Neon-Lit Kabuki Yokocho

After leaving the temple, let’s head to KabukichoーTokyo’s main shopping and entertainment district!

Shinjuku Kabuki Hall-Kabuki Yokocho is a new spot in Kabukicho that opened in 2023. It covers 1,000 square meters (10,764 square feet) and is home to 10 restaurants. The theme of this food town celebrates the unique atmosphere of Japanese festivals (matsuri) by combining food with visual images.

Visitors can savor gourmet specialties found throughout Japan from Hokkaido down to Okinawa. Additionally, the excitement level of this place builds up with the various performances and events held every night. Don’t miss out on this lively space decorated with neon lights!

18:00 Baumkuchen: The Perfect Souvenir!

For those who’d like to pick up a slightly environmentally friendly souvenir, we recommend CLUB HARIE e-challenge, located along First Avenue Tokyo Station.

The interior features decorative plastering, giving the space a sense of craftsmanship. This shop’s philosophy embodies an eco-friendly theme by aiming to reduce food loss and the use of plastics. At CLUB HARIE e-challenge, they’ve created a new product called MIMI*, fresh on the market. When their popular Baumkuchen gets sliced, the crust portion usually gets discarded. However, they’ve intentionally used this potential food loss to create a new taste sensation.

*In Japanese, the crust of bread and pastry is called “mimi,” or “the ear of the bread.”

Despite having an uneven shape, this new product is light, fluffy, and moist. The deep flavor is sure to make this a popular souvenir among shoppers.

*Limited sale

18:30 Take Memorable Photos at Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi Building

Tokyo Station, the gateway to Tokyo, includes the Marunouchi Station Building, a popular photo spot in recent years. The brick building’s original appearance was restored and has a romantic air.

In particular, the station building is lit up in the evening, adding to the mystical atmosphere. Take a photo of this stunning night view as a cherished memory of our trip!

19:00 Spend the Night at Tokyo Station’s Historic and Prestigious Hotel

Our recommended accommodation for the first evening is The Tokyo Station Hotel. It’s located inside the Marunouchi Building and is a Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property.

This is a prestigious hotel with a history of over one hundred years. Especially appealing is the hotel’s quiet and calm space, making it hard to believe that it’s inside a bustling station filled with many travelers coming and going. Guests can spend some quality time in a classical atmosphere.

Day Two

10:30 Purify Your Soul at Scenic Yamadera (Risshakuji Temple)

On the second day, wake up a little earlier than usual and go to Haneda Airport for a flight to Yamagata. From Yamagata Airport, you can reach the first recommended destination on this itinerary via an airport shuttle bus and city bus.

Our Yamagata excursion starts with Risshakuji Temple, also known as Yamadera. The nearby mountainーcomposed primarily of unusually shaped rocks and stonesーhas become a place for mountain worship and religious training. The spectacular scenery will leave you in awe when you reach the peak, at the top of a long flight of stairs with 1,015 stone steps.

It’s said that climbing these steps will banish your worldly desires. Even partway up the stairs, there are many highlights to enjoy, including historic sites and amazing scenery. Furthermore, visiting Risshakuji Temple, Tendo City’s Jakushoji Temple, and Sagae City’s Jionji Temple on the same trip is very popular. This route is called the “Three Famous Temples of Yamagata”. Completing the trio may even bless visitors with finding a good marriage partner.

12:00 Relax at a Cute Cafe Decorated with Handmade Japanese Accessories

If you’re worn out from climbing all those steps, you can take a well-deserved break at the Sakanoue Cafe. This shop sits in a renovated storehouse built some 180 years ago.

You can enjoy an exceptional coffee with some homemade sweets. Once inside the calm and relaxing interior, you might end up staying longer than anticipated! Also, the shop premises are decorated with Japanese-style accessories handmade by the owner. Some items can also be purchased. These include elegant dolls and accessories made from kimono cloth, which exude an air of Japanese-ness.

13:00 Savor Local Sweets While Enjoying the River View

Lunch is at Taimenseki Rock, a scenic location offering great views of the Tachiyagawa River.

Our menu recommendation is Sansai Tenzaru, a dish made with locally picked seasonal wild plants and vegetables. Guests can enjoy the delicious and nutritious flavor of the wild plants enhanced by the crisp, deep-fried tempura.

Visitors can also enjoy items that can’t be found anywhere else. These include Nanafu Zunda Mochi (domyoji mochi wrapped in wheat gluten) and yaki-dango (grilled mochi dumplings) in various miso flavors.

16:30 Experience the Nostalgic Evening Townscape of Ginzan Onsen

From Yamadera, head to Ginzan Onsen via train and bus.

This hot spring town features wooden ryokans (traditional inns) lining both banks of the Ginzangawa River. At dusk, the gas lamps are lit up, giving the area a nostalgic Japanese atmosphere. The scenery is photogenic no matter where you take a picture. So please take some commemorative photos as you go for a stroll. This hot spring town is home to multiple dining establishments. You can also eat Yamagata’s local specialty, soba (buckwheat noodles).

18:00 Enjoy the Hot Spring Waters in Relaxed Privacy

Among the many ryokans in Ginzan Onsen, we chose Ginzan Hot Springs Fujiya Inn for our accommodation. Stained glass, bamboo, and Japanese washi paper combine to create a beautiful, unique space. Here, a special time filled with extraordinary feelings gently passes by.

The hotel’s pride and joy is, of course, their hot springs! There are five baths offering unique features and distinct atmospheres. Plus, all are private spaces! For 24 hours every day, guests can fully enjoy the hot spring of their choice without being disturbed by anyoneーa luxury, indeed!

Day Three

10:00 Go for a Stroll Wearing Taisho Era Clothing

For the final part of our journey, we’ll stroll around the Ginzan Onsen hot spring resort wearing Taisho Period (1912-1926) clothing from a shop called Irasugayna-Taisho Era Classical Clothing.

These clothesーwhich have a Taisho romance* feelーhave been slightly altered so that they’re easy to put on. Shop staff will assist you in completing the dress-up process and looking your best. You’ll blend in with the local streetscape, feeling just like the main character in a movie. In the evening, the town takes on a different look, so be sure to capture the moment in lots of photos!

*Taisho Romance: During the Taisho Era (1912-1926), Japan’s culture flourished, with clothes and architecture combining Western and Japanese styles adding an air of romance to this particular period.