DAY TRIP FROM TOKYO BASE

A journey to experience the nature and traditions of several regions and strengthen your body and mind

This plan is full of experiences that will bring you in touch with the nature, culture, and history unique to each area. In Tokyo, you will try bonsai and ikebana flower arrangement, and in Shizuoka, you will experience a tea ceremony at a tea plantation. After exploring the Kanagawa forest, enter an ocean sauna to refresh your body and mind. Stay at an inn at a historic temple in Yamanashi, and enjoy a pairing of Yamanashi wine and food the next day. After returning to Tokyo, you will take some time to be soothed by the nature of the Akigawa Valley.

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Tokyo is a dynamic, world-leading city that attracts people from around the world.
In addition, by using public transportation such as the Shinkansen bullet train, express trains, and highway buses, visitors can enjoy a more enjoyable one-day tour of tourist attractions throughout Japan, starting in Tokyo.

9:10am: TOKYO STATION

Sobu Line / Chuo-Sobu Line: Tokyo → Shin-Koiwa → Koiwa
Bus: Koiwa → Keiyo-guchi Exit

10:00am: SHUNKAEN BONSAI MUSEUM

First you will visit a museum celebrating the traditional Japanese art and culture of bonsai. More than a thousand bonsai plants are located around the grounds of this Japanese garden and sukiya-style house, where you can admire plants in each season. You can also learn about the unique Japanese aesthetic through a bonsai experience that is easy even for beginners.

Bus: Keiyo-guchi Exit → Ichinoe Sta. Kannana Ave. Exit
Shinjuku Line / Tozai Line: Ichinoe → Kudanshita → Nakano

3:00pm: ICHIYO SCHOOL OF IKEBANA

The Ichiyo School of Ikebana is a flower arrangement school that values the fundamentals of ikebana while respecting the freedom of inspiration, allowing each ikebana artist to fully utilize the individuality of the plants and his or her own sensibilities.
In this hands-on class you will learn the basic ikebana arranging techniques and concepts that form the foundation of ikebana, as well as how to view and enjoy the artwork. The time spent in deep contact with flowers and plants will quietly and richly stimulate your senses.
The main location of classes is in Nakano, Tokyo. For more information, please feel free to contact the organizer, Ichiyo School of Ikebana, or visit https://www.ichiyo-ikebana-school.com/e/

Tozai Line / Asakusa Line: Nakano → Nihombashi → Kuramae

6:10pm: TSURISHIN

Dinner time is on a yakatabune, which has been popular since the Edo period. Cruise the Sumida River, passing by Tokyo’s major landmarks including the Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower, and TOKYO SKYTREE®. Along with the night view, you can enjoy carefully selected seasonal delicacies such as sashimi and tempura made from fresh fish.

7:00am: TOKYO STATION

Shinkansen / Tokaido Line: Tokyo → Shizuoka → Kanaya
Taxi: Kanaya → Tea Museum, Shizuoka

9:00am: TEA MUSEUM, SHIZUOKA

This tea museum, located on the Makinohara Plateau, one of the largest tea plantations in Japan, exhibits the industry, history, and culture of tea. You can also experience a tea ceremony and taste matcha and Japanese sweets prepared by a tea ceremony instructor in an authentic tea room. If you wish, you can even make your own matcha.

Taxi: Tea Museum, Shizuoka → All Day Dining The Terrace

12:00pm: ALL DAY DINING THE TERRACE

Lunch is at a restaurant in Nippondaira Hotel. The lunch buffet, which features a variety of Japanese and Western dishes, offers a choice of dishes from appetizers to desserts in a course format. You can also choose from meat and fish for the chef's recommended main dish, which is prepared in the open kitchen.

1:30pm: NIHONDAIRA YUME TERRACE

Enjoy a view of Mt. Fuji, Suruga Bay, and the Izu Peninsula from the observation floor on the third floor of Nihondaira Yume Terrace, located at the top of Nihondaira Mountain. There is also an exhibition area on the first floor that introduces the history, culture, and topography of Nihondaira, and a lounge on the second floor where you can enjoy the view while sipping tea from Shizuoka Prefecture.

Nihondaira Ropeway: Nihondaira → Kunozan

3:00pm: KUNOZAN TOSHOGU SHRINE

Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who established the Edo shogunate (1603-1868), and is the origin of all Toshogu shrines in Japan. After passing through the vermilion-lacquered tower gate, a national important cultural property, you will proceed to the rear of the grounds to visit the shrine hall, which is a national treasure. The shrine hall’s structure is the original model that the many Toshogu shrines built throughout Japan have been based upon.

Nihondaira Ropeway: Kunozan → Nihondaira
Bus: Nihondaira Ropeway → Shizuoka Station

5:20pm: SHIZUOKA STATION

Tokaido Shinkansen: Shizuoka → Tokyo

7:10am: SHINAGAWA STATION

Keikyu Main Line / Keikyu Kurihama Line: Shinagawa → Misakiguchi
Bus: Misakiguchi→ Hikibashi

9:00am: KOAJIRO FOREST

Located at the tip of the Miura Peninsula and facing Sagami Bay, is this 70-hectare nature-rich forest. It is said that Koajiro Forest is the only place in the Kanto region where the natural environments of a forest, wetlands, and ocean are all connected. Enjoy viewing the nature in a forest inhabited by creatures including rare species such as the red-clawed crab.

12:30pm: SPACE KEY POINT (Ocean Sauna)

Experience an ocean sauna at a marina on the Miura Peninsula, where cruisers and yachts are moored. You can also try DIY löyly in an eco-friendly tent sauna with biomass flares. Once warmed to your core, dive into the ocean! The time you spend being invigorated in the ocean is an exquisite moment.

3:00pm: SPACE KEY POINT (Glamping & BBQ)

After the sauna, next you will enjoy a barbecue. The rich local produce, including the famous Miura turban shells, Shonan shirasu (baby sardines), and other seafood, as well as vegetables grown in Miura and Japanese beef, will satisfy both your stomach and your heart. Experiencing this barbecue on a private deck while listening to the sound of waves, feeling the sea breeze, and watching the sunset is exceptional.

Bus: Seabornia-Iriguchi → Misakiguchi

6:40pm: MISAKIGUCHI STATION

Keikyu Kurihama Line / Keikyu Main Line : Misakiguchi → Shinagawa

9:00am: TOKYO STATION

Shinkansen / Tokaido Line / Minobu Line: Tokyo → Mishima → Fuji → Minobu
Bus: Minobu → Motomachi

12:00pm: FARM CAFE ZENCHO

This cafe is located at the entrance to the approach to Minobusan Kuonji Temple. It is located in a renovated house that is more than ninety years old and was originally used as a sake brewery. Based on the concept of local gastronomy, the cafe offers dishes and desserts made with local ingredients, contributing to the revitalization of the community.

1:30pm: KAKURINBO (guided tour of Mt. Minobu)

Take a guided tour of the Sanmon Gate and Gobyojyo, the main spots on Mt. Minobu, to experience the traditions and history of the mountain. While enjoying the rich natural scenery of the mountains, you will hear interesting stories about Mt. Minobu directly from the monks.

2:30pm: KAKURINBO (kimono experience)

Experience being dressed in a kimono that you can select from the twenty patterns displayed in the lodging. Wearing a splendid kimono that has been worn in traditional Japanese wedding ceremonies will allow you to experience the profound comfort of the kimono and the beauty of the design, which is like a work of art. Be sure to take commemorative photos.

3:00pm: KAKURINBO (Shukubo accommodation experience)

Experience Shukubo accommodation with an overnight stay in the temple. Originally intended to accommodate monks visiting for ascetic practices, the shukubo developed into its current form as the number of worshippers increased. Another feature of the shukubo experience to enjoy is the vegetarian cuisine, which is prepared using only plant-based ingredients and no meat or fish.

7:30am: KAKURINBO (morning yoga)

Experience morning yoga with a yoga instructor in the main hall of the lodge. Starting early in the morning with the clear air of the mountains and the pleasant sunlight, this yoga time will give you the opportunity to look inwards to your mind and body. Start the day with a sense of calm and new energy.

Bus: Minobusan → Minobu Station
Minobu Line: Minobu → Kofu

12:20pm: SADOYA RESTAURANT REAL D'OR

For lunch, you will go to a restaurant serving French cuisine. The dishes made with local ingredients are well-balanced in flavor and elegance, and go perfectly with wines from Sadoya, a long-established winery in Kofu, Yamanashi.

1:50pm: SADOYA WINE BOUTIQUE

Sadoya, which began producing wines in the style of French winemaking, has been making wines to be enjoyed with food since its establishment in 1917. You can taste the wines at the attached wine boutique. Find a wine you like and take it home as a souvenir!

3:10pm: KOFU STATION

Chuo Line: Kofu → Shinjuku

8:20am: SHINJUKU STATION

Chuo Line / Ome Line / Itsukaichi Line: Shinjuku → Tachikawa → Musashi-Itsukaichi

10:00am: AKIGAWA VALLEY (TOKYO URAYAMA BASE)

Upon arrival at Musashi-Itsukaichi Station, you will rent an electric bicycle at Tokyo Urayama Base and set out on the trip. You will be soothed by the feeling of the pleasant breeze as you cycle and the nature and rural scenery of the Akigawa Valley. The guided cycling tour is recommended if you want to enjoy the area more fully and learn about its appeal.

Electric bicycle: Tokyo Urayama Base → Chairing & lunch

11:45am: AKIGAWA VALLEY (CHAIRING & LUNCH)

After cycling along the valley and finding your favorite spot, it's time for lunch with a special sandwich you purchased at Tokyo Urayama Base. A chair and lunch box will be provided if you are on the guided tour, so you can relax while listening to the murmuring of the Akigawa Valley's river.

Electric bicycle: Chairing & lunch → Akigawa Valley river trekking

1:00pm: AKIGAWA VALLEY RIVER TREKKING

Putting on special waterproof clothing and shoes then splashing your way through the mountain stream to the depths of the valley is a unique activity. Follow your guide to a secret waterfall that can only be visited by river trekking!

2:30pm: KANOTO ROCK

This huge rock, about 80 meters high, can be seen upstream along the Kanoto River. There are places to climb up ladders, walk through tunnels, and use chains to walk along the way, creating a sense of adventure in the thrilling rocky terrain.

4:00pm: ISHIBUNEHASHI

This 96-meter pedestrian suspension bridge over the Akigawa River offers a spectacular view of the Akigawa Valley from the bridge. The scenery is beautiful no matter the season, with the green of the mountains soothing you in summer and the brilliant autumn leaves looking like a painting in the fall.

Itsukaichi Line / Ome Line / Chuo Line : Musashi-Itsukaichi → Tachikawa → Shinjuku

Content Creator

Lucie Rose Donlan
Luke Mabbott

Lucie:

Luke:

Lucie Rose Donlan and Luke Mabbott are British content creators with a shared love of the outdoors and adventure. Lucie, from Newquay, is happiest in the water surfing, supporting sustainability and marine conservation.
Luke, from Redcar is a keen DIY enthusiast who brings creativity and hands on energy to everything he does. They first captured audiences on their respective seasons of Love Island (2019, 2020), and now share their adventures, lifestyle and travels with a combined community of over 3.3 million followers, working alongside brands that align with their values.

Lucie Rose DonlanLuke Mabbott

Lucie Rose Donlan
Luke Mabbott