We depart the urban sprawl of LA on a flight to Tokyo!

After changing our money into yen, we'll take a bus to our hotel and get checked in. If the jet lag isn't getting to you, join us for a trip up scenic Tokyo Tower to catch a glimpse of the city around you.

Today, we'll head to Harajuku to our first traditional culture stop, Meiji Shrine. Next it's time to explore the pop culture side of town when we visit the world's largest 100 Yen store (it's amazing what you can get for just 100 yen...) and other shops on Harajuku's famous Takeshita Street.

We start our day at the Tokyo Toy Show, a convention showcasing all kinds of figures, games, and other merchandise at the Tokyo Big Sight Convention Center in Odaiba. If walking around the show leaves you tired, join us for a relaxing visit to Oedo Onsen Monogatari, a modern hot spring near Big Sight. You can also explore Odaiba, shop, or check out some of the game centers or cafes on the island. 

Experience the sights and sounds of Akihabara, the otaku capital of the world. Your tour guide will point you towards all the popular shopping spots, as well as a few less-traveled locations where deals are good. If you're curious, we'll have a seat saved for you at a local Maid Cafe. If you want a true once-in-a-lifetime straight out of anime experience, join us for a meal at a maid cafe where the waitresses will teach you how to enchant your food and you can take a picture in the cutest pose you know.

Once you've shopped until you've dropped, we'll head to Yokohama for a tour of the bayfront area, the Shonen Jump shop, the Pokemon Center, and more. Oh, and did I mention that one of Japan's largest fireworks shows will be happening in Yokohama that night?

If you love sushi you'll want to make an early start and join us on a trip to Tsukiji Fish Market - we'll see the world's biggest and freshest seafood market and have breakfast at a nearby sushi restaurant. 

The same day we'll head to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, a multi-storied attraction dedicated to the anime produced by Hayao Miyazaki's famous Studio Ghibli. In the afternoon, we'll make a visit to a Anime Studio! Get an inside look at how anime is created & produced, and see some of today's hit shows and leave with an exclusive gift!
After our visit, we'll make our way to the otaku shopping paradise of Nakano Broadway. If you're looking for something rare, chances are pretty good that you'll find it here. After perusing the stores in the shopping arcade, we'll head out for a little karaoke to let off steam from the busy day.

Get ready to step away from the bustling city on the optional extension to Nikko! This city by the Daiya River is know for its extremely ornate Chinese influenced shrines and buildings. First stop we'll journey into the forest for nature's finest, Kegon Waterfall - considered to be one of the top three ranked waterfalls in Japan!

It's temple time! Whip out those walking shoes because today we'll be doing a full tour of the best of Nikko's cultural monuments. We'll make stops at Rinnoji Temple, Toshogu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine, and Taiyuinbyo Masoleum.

We head back to the airport for our flight home, and to gloat to our friends about how much fun we had!