Aptive in Japan Guides

- Arrive into Tokyo - Flight Arrivals
- Airport to hotel transportation will be waiting for you
- Checkin to Villa Fontaine Grand Tokyo Ariake - Rooming List
- Tokyo free time suggestions (below are some activity suggestions to do in your free time at your own expense)
- Shibuya crossing (world’s busiest pedestrian crossing. Up to 2,500 people cross every two minutes. Such a vibe at night! Surrounded by Tokyo’s dazzling neon lights and energy, look for the statue of the famous dog Hachiko)
- Onitsuka Tiger Shibuya (Super popular flagship store, showcasing iconic Japanese sneakers)
- UNIQLO (Popular Japanese clothing retailer offering affordable, high-quality everyday essentials and basics)
- MEGA Don Quijote (A seven-storey shopping paradise with countless KitKat flavours, Japanese snacks, and unique souvenirs)

- Breakfast open from 6am
- Free time to explore Tokyo (ask Tripio guides for recommendations)
Tokyo free time suggestions (below are some activity suggestions to do in your free time at your own expense)
- Everyone should stop in at a 7-eleven, they are famous for their egg salad sandwich, fried chicken and rice balls. We recommend the strawberry sandwich, corn dogs and smoothies!
- Kimono matcha tea ceramony
- Foot Spa (A really fun 1 hour break off your feet. They have them all over)
- Arashio-beya Sumo Stable (outside on the street, there's a large window which you can watch the Sumo wrestlers train for free. Early mornings from 7.30am to 9.30am)
- Sumo Show (Interactive sumo wrestling experiences introducing Japanese culture, techniques, and traditions)
- Mario Kart Racing (Guided street go-kart tours through Tokyo’s iconic streets and landmarks)
- Tokyo Drift Experience (Tokyo car culture tours featuring iconic JDM cars, exclusive meets, and drift experiences)
- Tokyo DisneySea (Unique Disney theme park featuring immersive worlds with ocean-inspired attractions)
- Tokyo Disneyland (Classic Disney theme park featuring beloved characters, enchanting attractions, and spectacular parades)
- Meiji Shrine Jingu (honours Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken, featuring sake barrels offered by brewers and French wine barrels gifted as a symbol of international friendship)
- Harajuku, Takeshita street (famous for quirky fashion, rainbow cotton candy, giant crepes, colourful sweets, and unique Japanese street food)
- Senso-Ji Temple (Tokyo’s oldest temple, famous for its giant red lantern, traditional shopping street, incense, and vibrant Buddhist culture)
- Tsukiji Fish Market (Tsukiji Outer Market is a food lover’s paradise, packed with fresh sushi, seafood, Japanese street food, sweet treats, and traditional market stalls)
- Teamlab Planets (An immersive digital art experience featuring glowing lights, mirror rooms, floating flowers, and barefoot walks through water)
- Shimokitawa station (has a ton of vintage thrift shops for people interested in shopping)
- Ginza district (Will have all of the luxury shopping)
- Mini pig cafe (Of all of the animal cafes this one is on several “ethical” lists)
- Happy Pancake (several locations and is a viral fluffy pancake spot)
- Gluten-free fluffy pancakes
- Age.3 ASAKUSA (Viral crispy fried sandwiches packed with indulgent, delicious fillings)
- Gyukatsu Motomura (This is a very popular, very highly rated katsu spot.They have several so look up the name for the one closest to you)
- Menchirashi (This udon noodle spot is famous for their udon carbonara, everything else gets average reviews)
- MO pippi (famous for their creme brulee sweet potatoes)
- ICHIRAN (so famous it came to some big cities in the states a few years ago like din tai fung but it started in Japan- in multiple locations)
- Ninja Tokyo (steak and sushi in a ninja hideout)

- Breakfast open from 6am
- Physically checkout at the desk
- Be ready and on the bus at 11:15am fully checked out and with luggage (Bus and Van will take group from the hotel to the bullet train station)
- Bullet train to Kyoto
- Arrive into Kyoto - Walk over to the hotel - offer for people to take an Uber there if they want to. (Red and Gemma walked it)
- Checkin to Kyoto hotel - Mercure Kyoto Station- Rooming List
- Kyoto free time suggestions (below are some activity suggestions to do in your free time at your own expense)
-Explore Sanneizaka (Sannenzaka is a charming historic Kyoto street lined with traditional wooden buildings, souvenir shops, tea houses, and delicious local treats, with beautiful views of pagodas)
- Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (Famous for thousands of vibrant red torii gates winding up the mountain, dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, prosperity, and business. Fox statues act as Inari’s messengers)
- Glanta ring making or Musubi coin ring making (unique hands-on workshop creating personalised rings)
- Sumo (Interactive sumo wrestling experience exploring Japan’s national sport)
- Kimono tea ceramony (Traditional Japanese tea ceremony with kimono dressing)
- Nishiki Market (bustling food market, packed with Japanese street food, local delicacies, and souvenirs)
- SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM (Interactive museum exploring samurai and ninja history, featuring weapons, armour, and hands-on activities)
- kimono rental (Rent beautiful traditional kimonos for exploring Kyoto’s historic streets and temples)
- teamLab Biovortex (Immersive digital art museum featuring interactive light installations and mesmerising sensory experiences)
- Musashi knife shop (Japanese knife shop showcasing handcrafted kitchen knives that you can get personally engraved)
- Barcode (Karaoke bar)
- Mochi Mochi (watch them pound traditional Japanese mochi)
- Ramen Alley (is a dedicated ramen food hall located on the 10th floor of the Kyoto Station Building)
- Gyukatsu (Popular Kyoto restaurant serving crispy, breaded beef cutlets with sizzling stone-grill cooking)
- Seikaen (restaurant serving handmade gyoza dumplings)
- Nishiki Sushi Shin (Intimate Kyoto sushi restaurant serving expertly crafted fresh sushi)
- Wagyu Kobe Ramen (Kobe wagyu ramen restaurant serving rich beef broth)
- Wagyu teppanyaki steakhouse (premium Japanese wagyu, expertly grilled before your eyes)
- Taku Sando Sanjo (serving thick, fluffy fruit sando and savoury gourmet sandwiches)
- Motoi Gyoza (Kyoto gyoza specialist serving crispy, juicy Japanese dumplings with flavourful fillings)
- Happy pancake (several locations and is a viral fluffy pancake spot)

- Breakfast open from 6:30am
- Free time to explore Kyoto (ask Tripio guides for recommendations)
- Kyoto and Osaka free time suggestions (below are some activity suggestions to do in your free time at your own expense)
- Nara Park - (famous for its hundreds of free-roaming deer, considered sacred messengers of the gods. Visitors can feed them special deer crackers and explore beautiful temples and gardens)
- Dotonbori - (Osaka’s lively food and entertainment hub, famous for neon lights, giant 3D signs, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and the iconic Glico Running Man)
- Unique ferris wheel Dotonbori (Iconic Osaka Ferris wheel offering panoramic city views from its unique oval-shaped design)
- Dotonbori food recomendations:
-Kani Doraku (Famous Osaka crab restaurant known for its giant moving crab sign and fresh crab dishes),
- Takoyaki or Takoyaki Wanaka (Popular Osaka street-food stall serving crispy, creamy takoyaki octopus balls with savoury toppings)
- Naruto Taiyaki (Japanese street-food favourite serving freshly baked fish-shaped taiyaki filled pastries)
-Gyozaoh! (crispy Japanese gyoza dumplings with delicious dipping sauces)
- Daiou Cheese 10 Yen Bread (Viral Dotonbori street food serving crispy, coin-shaped cheese bread with stretchy mozzarella)
- Osaka Universal studios Japan (World-famous theme park featuring Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and thrilling rides)
- Kimono Forest (Hundreds of colourful illuminated pillars wrapped in traditional kimono fabrics, creating a magical walkway and a fountain in which you can submerge your hands for good luck)
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (pathway surrounded by towering bamboo stalks, creating a peaceful atmosphere and one of Kyoto’s most iconic photo spots)
- Arashiyama Monkey Park (quite a hike up-hill so wear comfortable shoes and be prepared, see wild Japanese macaques up close while enjoying panoramic views of Kyoto. Bring some Japanese yen coins or cash to buy  monkey food!)
- Golden Kinkaku-ji Temple (Iconic Golden Pavilion, covered in gold leaf and surrounded by beautiful gardens and a reflective pond.)

- Breakfast open from 6am
- Physically checkout at the desk
- 8am be ready in the lobby, fully checked out and with all luggage to leave for Kyoto station - Walking to Kyoto station, mention that they can if they want to take an Uber to the station.
- Bullet train to Tokyo - Will be getting off the train to transfer to buses to the airport. - Flight Departures
- Board bus to respective Tokyo airport
- Say "see ya laters" (the group will be so close at this point it won't be "goodbye")
- Leave Japan with memories to last a lifetime