Pop Japan Travel

We meet up at LAX to depart for Japan. Trust me, the plane ride will be the least interesting ride of this trip. ^_^

After arriving in Tokyo and clearing customs, we'll check in at our hotel and rest. Those of you who haven't succumbed to jet lag are invited to check out the superb evening city views from the observation deck of Tokyo Tower!

We'll spend our first day on the home ground of two of Japan's most famous cultural emissaries! First up: Hello Kitty and friends will welcome you to Puroland, the Sanrio theme park where you can explore the world of the Sanrio characters firsthand. If that isn't enough cute for you, don't worry - our next stop will be the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, where Totoro and his tree-dwelling friends will capture your imagination over 4 floors of exhibits and limited-edition films. If that isn't enough wonder for you, perhaps the toe-tapping, head-turning performance of the "babes" at the Roppongi Kingyo drag cabaret will do the trick!

Today we begin our journey at Meiji Jingu shrine before jumping back to
the present with a visit to Harajuku's fashion boutiques, crepe shops,
and goods stores, such as the famous toy store "Kiddy Land." After that,
we'll head over to the otaku paradise of Akihabara, where the giant
"game center" arcades will give you a chance to fight your friends in
giant tanks, throw virtual tables around, and play the world's largest
game of Tetris. Finally, we'll venture over to the Granvia Restaurant,
where guests dine in the atmosphere of an old-school RPG and can
complete "missions" for points!

We venture to the man-made island of Odaiba today, where we'll attend a local event (TBA) before going to the Jump Shop to check out the latest in Shonen Jump character goods! You can also spend the afternoon exploring the "Joypolis" video arcade or taking a relaxing stroll through old-school Edo to the hot springs at Oedo Onsen Monogatari!

Put on your pirate hat and prepare to set sail as we embark on a day long journey to Tokyo's exclusive Disney resort, Tokyo Disney Sea!

The regular tour ends here, but for those of you who would rather press "continue" than face "game over," you can join us for a special 4 day, 3 night extension to the Kansai area! After taking the shinkansen ("bullet train") to Osaka, we'll sample some of the excellent local cuisine before going downtown to the gigantic Shinsaibashisuji Shopping arcade, where a wealth of arcades await your yen. You can also visit the Denden Town "otaku" area here to check out the latest in character goods!

Today we visit a completely different theme park: the Toei Eigamura, a park used for filming samurai films where ninjas skitter across wires and visitors can try their hand at challenges and games that give new meaning to the term "old school." After that, we'll check out a more authentic slice of Japanese culture with a visit to the famous Kiyomizu Temple. While the majesty of the temple may captivate you, trust us when we say the mysterious "path through darkness" under the temple can be a ride all its own!

For our last full day in Osaka, get "lost in translation" with us as we get a new view of the movie stars from back home at Universal Studios Japan! If seeing Doc Brown tell you how to operate the Delorean in Japanese isn't enough of a thrill for you, worry not - there's one more ride in store after we leave USJ. We'll board a ferry for Kobe's iconic "Harborland" where we'll spend our last night in Japan having a relaxed dinner by the bay.

Time to head home and tell your friends how much fun you had!