This blog post is a little premature, but I’ve had a lot of friends ask what our plans are.  We’ll be doing less than 2 weeks in Japan (along with every other person I’ve talked to lately!)  Part of it will be in the Hokkaido prefecture to snowboard, but the bulk will be in Tokyo.

This is our first real trip to Japan (though we’ve had intentionally long layovers in Japan, where we explored a bit.) We’ll only have 6 full days, so we’ve broken everything we want to see into regional affairs.

FOOD!

We Norbergs let our stomachs lead the way when we travel. We’ve been a bit slow to book Michelin-starred restaurants, but we’ll see what we can line up soon. I’ll share the best spots here after the trip!

Team Labs & Fish Markets

teamLab in Tokyo is an immersive digital art collective that blends technology, art, and interactivity to create mesmerizing, ever-evolving installations. Using projections, motion sensors, and light, the exhibits respond to visitors’ movements, making each experience unique. With themes of nature, connection, and endless exploration, teamLab’s has 2 exhibitions in Tokyo:  Borderless and Planets.  We’ve heard nothing but good things, and this is right up our artistic alleys, so we’re doing both.

Borderless & Tsukiji

Since each is next to a respective popular fish market, we’re pairing these. When we go to Borderless, We’ll check out Tsukiji Fish Market early. Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market, once the world’s largest wholesale seafood market, closed its inner market in 2018, moving operations to Toyosu. However, the outer market remains a bustling hub of fresh seafood, street food, and local specialties. Visitors can enjoy sushi, grilled seafood, and Japanese delicacies while exploring small shops selling kitchenware and gourmet ingredients.

This spot is said to be the most touristy and expensive, but you can grab many different bites, and the ambiance is supposed to be great. We’ll be walking to Borderless after eating our fill.

Planets & Toyosu

Though it’s said to be more sterile and not as fun, Toyosu Fish Market features high-tech auction areas, fresh seafood vendors, and top-tier sushi restaurants, offering a cleaner, more structured experience than its predecessor. it’s more about the sit down restaurant here, and we intend to try at least one before walking to Planets.

Family-Friendly Places to Stay in Tokyo

Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport

We have a one night stay in Tokyo before heading up to the snow at Niseko. Instead of traveling to a hotel and back, we decided on the Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport. Airport hotels are typically nothing to get excited about, but every airport we’ve visited in Japan has been exceptional. After the long flight, and another flight and long drive coming the next day, it made sense to make things as easy as possible. I’m sure it’ll be great.  The room has plenty of space and everyone gets a bed. Restful sleep is our #1 goal for this night.

Mimaru Tokyo Ueno Okachimachi

After much research, we found that the Mimaru Hotels cater well to families with plenty of space. Though there are many locations within Tokyo, Ueno is in a quieter area, and it walking distance to some of the things we want to see, including the cherry blossoms.  Fingers crossed they’re going when we’re there. We also picked this spot because it was an easy access point for transportation.

Shibuya-ku

Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s 23 special wards, located on the southwestern side of central Tokyo. It’s known as a major commercial and entertainment hub—particularly around Shibuya Station and its famous scramble crossing. Though it’s touristy and crowded, there are a few things we want to explore here, so we’ll spend a day around this area.  Some of these spots include:

• Cat Street – A hip, pedestrian-friendly path between Shibuya and Harajuku lined with trendy boutiques, cafés, and streetwear shops—often less crowded than nearby shopping areas.
• Harojuko Fashion District – Centered around Harajuku Station, famous for avant-garde street fashion, pop-culture boutiques, and youth subcultures, showcasing Tokyo’s latest style trends.
• Takeshita Shopping Street – A bustling, narrow street in Harajuku known for quirky fashion, colorful sweets, and teen-centric pop culture stores—an iconic spot for people-watching.
• Shibuya Crossing – One of the world’s busiest pedestrian intersections, located in front of Shibuya Station. Tourists often watch the scramble from nearby cafés or tall buildings. I really just want to visit one of the roof top cafes and grab a timelapse of the street.
• Tea Ceremony – A traditional Japanese cultural practice focused on the preparation and serving of matcha (green tea) with precise etiquette, emphasizing harmony and mindfulness.
• Meiji Shrine – A tranquil Shinto shrine in a forested area of Shibuya, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Known for its large torii gates and peaceful, wooded grounds.

Taitō Ward

This is where we’re staying, so a lot of this is in walking distance. Ueno is a district in Tokyo’s Taitō Ward, located in the northeastern part of central Tokyo. It’s known for Ueno Park, several major museums, and Ueno Zoo (though we hear it’s bad). It’s also a key transportation hub (Ueno Station), providing easy access to other parts of the city and beyond.

• Cherry Blossoms at Ueno Park – In spring, the park’s pathways are lined with blooming sakura trees, making it a top spot for hanami (cherry blossom viewing).
• Knife District (Kappabashi Dougu Street) – Just a 10–15 minute walk from Ueno or Asakusa, this street specializes in high-quality kitchenware and professional-grade Japanese knives. I’m dying to upgrade our kitchen!
• Akihabara – A short walk or train ride from Ueno, famous for electronics, anime/manga shops, maid cafés, and popular go-kart tours through the city streets. Witty is excited about getting some One Piece and Naruto paraphenalia.
• Asakusa Sumo – Near Ueno, Ryōgoku Kokugikan hosts sumo tournaments. We’ll book tickets in advance to watch matches or morning practice. We’re told to check the sumo schedule. Unfortunately, the dates don’t align with ours.
• Chagohan (Asakusa Classic Ramen and Crispy Gyoza Class) – A hands-on cooking class in Asakusa that teaches you to prepare traditional ramen and gyoza, offering an immersive taste of Japanese cuisine.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji can be admired from various vantage points around the Fuji Five Lakes region (notably Lake Kawaguchiko) and from Hakone’s scenic spots like Owakudani and Lake Ashi. For those interested in hiking, the most popular route is the Yoshida Trail, which typically opens in summer (early July to early September). Other trails—Subashiri, Gotemba, and Fujinomiya—provide alternate ascents with different gradients and views. Outside climbing season, visitors can hike lower-elevation trails or take the Fuji Subaru Line to the 5th Station for partial views without a full summit attempt.

We’re doing a day trip, and though we’re not doing a full days hike, we want to visit some non-touristy viewing points as well as check out some small villages.  Uncle Ken did some amazing hikes and tours with Masaki from Fuji Sunrise (you can see Uncle Ken in some of the pictures!), so we decided to ask Masaki for a unique private tour.  More to come!

Other Ideas if we have time

We don’t have much time in Tokyo, but here are some other options if we find an afternoon or day open.

• Japanese Baseball – Though in Spring Training, we’d like to watch the Giants play some baseball.
• Onsens – We’re hoping to find at least a few natural hot springs (either from the source or fed in.) Here are some tips from our Marie, a frequent visitor of Tokyo: double check to see if they are tattoo friendly. You can find ryokan with a private onsen in the room but that gets expensive. Look for an onsen that has a rotenburo or outdoor bath. If you don’t want to stay overnight at a ryokan but want the Japanese bath experience, you can always find a sento (public bath) just for the day. If you do want to book a ryokan at an onsen town – Check out Jalan. 2 nights stay is nice because then you can fully enjoy a full evening and slow morning. Make sure all meals are included at your stay. Some will be buffet at the bigger ryokans, but I like the smaller ones that serve you the kaiseki course meal — food quality varies based on price.
• Epic Tea Shop – We’re told this spot is amazing. Natalie will want to make this trip, for sure.
• Surf Stadium – I don’t think we’ll have time, but this would be amazing.  I loved my sessions at the Bristol wave pool. It’s just far away enough from the center of Tokyo, that it would likely require it’s own day trip.
• Imperial Palace – The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the primary residence of Japan’s Emperor, situated on the former site of Edo Castle near Tokyo Station. Visitors often explore the East Gardens, open to the public and showcasing remnants of historic castle walls and gates. Guided tours of the inner grounds can be reserved through the Imperial Household Agency but are limited in availability. Strolling around the outer palace area reveals scenic moats, stone bridges like the famous Nijubashi, and a peaceful green space amid central Tokyo’s modern skyscrapers.
• Clearly, we need to come again for longer…

Travel Tips

• Customs Documents – You can fill out customs documents before hand online here. Take a screenshot of the QR codes before departing that way you don’t need to worry about having service to pull up your QR codes when you land. Make sure you have 2 QR codes – one for immigration, one for customs.
• eSim – I’ve had a lot of luck using Airalo when we visited Europe, and I’ve heard from friends it works well in Japan too. You download the app, pay for a plan, Set up your phone properly, then get to use it for data in Japan. Easy.
• Pack Light – Everyone has said to pack light and maybe even bring an extra suitcase (or buy one in Japan) because things are relatively inexpensive, and you can get items not always available in the States.
• Trash Bags – We’re bringing a few small trashbags for each day of our visit. I guess trashcans are hard to find, so everyone brings their own and disposes of rubbish when back at the hotel.
• Duolingo – The whole family started a few weeks ago. 5-10 minutes a day make it fun to pick up at least a few important words. It’s free, but we did the family plan to cut out ads.
• Luggage Delivery – I don’t know if we’ll use it, but luggage delivery is cheap and easy and available all over the place. It’s a common thing to send your luggage from one hotel to the next to save the hassle.
• Yen – We’re told that cash is king in Japan, so we ordered some Yen from our bank to bring (good rate.) If you get it in Japan, we’re told the best deals are at ATMs at 7-11s. We’ve also heard 7-11 is a different beast in Japan. They actually have pretty epic grinds.
• Public Transport – If you want to ride around easy get a pasmo/suica – I think they give out temporary ones now called “Welcome Pasmo or Welcome Suica” they’re basically cards you load with cash and tap when you ride. In Tokyo this is the case for sure because they ran out of mircochips for the pasmo/suica that last forever. You might still be able to get a regular pasmo/suica in Kansai. Get it in the city at the machines in the station, not at the airport. Lines are usually really long. Most buses in major cities accept this form of payment too.
• more to come!