Day-by-day
Tokyo · Oct 6–8
Day 1 · Tue Oct 6
Arrive in Tokyo
Tokyo Round 1 · take it slowFriends not in Japan yet — Joey & Bri land Oct 14, Kirby & Johnathan land Oct 16.
~2:20 PM
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Clear the Joint Kiosk with your Visit Japan Web QR. Request station/airport staff assistance if useful.
Flight: AA · GLCWDY📍 Haneda
~3:30 PM
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Easiest option with luggage — drops near major hotels, no stairs or transfers.
Hours 40–60 min, traffic-dependentPrice ¥2,800–¥3,200 (≈ $18–$21)/adult one-wayBook No booking; buy at Haneda counter
AccessRoll scooter on, big bags underneath, seated whole way
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~5:00 PM
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Drop bags, breathe. The hotel is wired into Tokyo Station. Reception is on the 27th floor — elevators throughout.
📍 HotelConf:
AccessTokyo Station hotel — covered, elevators everywhere
Eat nearby
- Tsukiji Sushiko (Yaechika) — fresh nigiri, ¥1,500–4,000, (≈ $10–$26) walk-in, elevator-access mall
- Sushiro conveyor sushi — ¥100–400 (≈ $1–$3)/plate, flat/elevator
- Tokyo Station Character Street + depachika — sweets & character goods, 8:00–21:00
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~7:30–8 PM
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A walk-through digital-art museum where projected art flows across rooms — dry, shoes-on, low-exertion (you can sit while the art moves), open late. Chosen as a gentle "stay awake to a normal bedtime" jet-lag fighter. Skip it guilt-free if the flight wrecked you.
Hours 9:00–21:00, last entry 20:00Price from ¥3,800 (≈ $25) (+¥200 (≈ $1) if bought on-site)Closed Irregular — check official calendarBook Timed-entry ticket, book early: borderless-azabudai.ticket.teamlab.art📍 Azabudai Hills
AccessWheelchairs allowed but some works not accessible + a cap on wheelchairs inside — contact ahead
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Day 2 · Wed Oct 7
Central Tokyo — easy
Indoor, flat, elevator-friendlyFriends not in Japan yet — Joey & Bri land Oct 14, Kirby & Johnathan land Oct 16.
Late morning
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The flagship Pokémon store on the 5th floor of Nihonbashi Takashimaya — indoor, elevators, a flat ~10-min walk from the hotel. (Adjoining Pokémon Café needs a separate reservation ~1 month ahead if you want it.)
Hours 10:30–21:00Price Free entry (retail goods vary)Closed Follows Nihombashi Takashimaya schedule (rarely closed)Book No booking; Pokémon Café next door needs a reservation📍 Nihonbashi
Access5F of modern dept store — elevators, wide, scooter-OK (gets crowded)
Eat nearby
- Nihonbashi Takashimaya depachika — premium wagashi/sweets, ¥500–2,000 (≈ $3–$13)
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Afternoon
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Life-size recreations of Pixar film sets & characters (Toy Story, Coco, Cars, Inside Out…); timed entry. Confirmed running through Oct 12, so this leg is the right time — and it's in Toyosu next to teamLab Planets. Closed Mondays.
Hours Wed 10:00–20:50, last entry 19:00 (Fri–Sun/holidays to 22:50)Price ¥2,400–¥3,000 (≈ $15–$19) adultClosed Mondays · whole exhibition ENDS Oct 12, 2026 (you're fine on Oct 7)Book Timed-entry required — TBS Ticket / Ticket Pia📍 CREVIA Base
AccessModern flat venue, one-way flow, accessible restrooms
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Evening
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Sister venue to Borderless — you walk through water and light installations (some barefoot, ankle-deep water sections). Timed tickets; both Pixar & Planets are in Toyosu so they pair naturally.
Hours ~10:00–20:00, last entry 1 hr before closePrice ¥3,600 (≈ $23) adult · disability discount ticket ¥1,800 (≈ $12)Closed Irregular — check ticket calendarBook Timed-entry, online only: teamlabplanets.dmm.com/en📍 Toyosu
Access⚠ Walk through water, dark + soft-floor rooms — scooter NOT practical in several rooms; contact ahead
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Day 3 · Thu Oct 8
Tokyo DisneySea
ECV day · priority park · just the two of youFriends not in Japan yet — Joey & Bri land Oct 14, Kirby & Johnathan land Oct 16.
All day
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The nautical-themed Disney park (unique to Tokyo) — unhurried, weekday, on a mobility scooter as at home. Buy Premier Access for individual rides in the app on the day.
Hours ~9:00–21:00 (date-based calendar, posted ~3 mo ahead)Price 1-Day Passport ~¥8,900–¥10,900 (≈ $57–$70) (peak up to ~¥12,000 (≈ $77))Book Dated park reservation required · Premier Access ~¥1,500–2,000 (≈ $10–$13)/ride (in app, day-of)📍 DisneySea
AccessWheelchair + motorized ECV rentals in-park (motorized paused in rain)
ConsiderHalloween + Sports Day = very busy Oct 12–13; lock tickets early. (Disney has its own deep-dive research.)
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Kyoto · Oct 9–12
Day 4 · Fri Oct 9
Travel to Kyoto + easy downtown
Kyoto · all flatFriends not in Japan yet — Joey & Bri land Oct 14, Kirby & Johnathan land Oct 16.
Morning
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Bullet train from Tokyo Station (in your hotel's building). Sit on the right side for Mt. Fuji. Big bags forwarded ahead; carry only an overnight bag.
Hours ~2 hr 15–20 minPrice Nozomi Green Car ~¥19,000 (≈ $123)/personBook Reserve early (Smart EX) — Green Car needs a reserved seat; busy on Oct 9
AccessDesignated wheelchair spaces + accessible toilet; station elevators
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Midday
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AccessGreat use of a taxi on a luggage day
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Afternoon
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"Kyoto's kitchen" — a flat, covered arcade of food stalls (~5 blocks). Go slow, graze as you walk.
AccessCovered arcade, flat but crowded — navigate slowly
Eat nearby
- Tsukemono pickles
- Dashimaki tamago (mild rolled omelet)
- Grilled unagi (sweet, not spicy)
- Mochi & wagashi
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Afternoon
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Official Nintendo store on the 7th floor of Kyoto Takashimaya — fully indoor, elevators, rooftop Mario-pipe photo spot.
Hours ~10:00–20:00 (Takashimaya hours)Price Free entry (retail varies)Closed Only when Takashimaya closesBook No booking, first-come📍 Takashimaya
Access7F of dept store — elevators/escalators, scooter-OK off-peak
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Late afternoon
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A seated keepsake activity — you shape a pair of chopsticks to take home with your name engraved. Booked at a Gion studio (Fri Oct 9, 5:00 PM).
seated~¥3,300 pp
🎯Two good fits — pick by time vs. location
Kyomachiya Workshop Waraku Best for the plan
Short, seated, ~40-min session in a 120-year-old machiya townhouse — matches the "quick keepsace" slot you wanted and leaves the rest of the day open. Walkable from Kyoto Station; reserve online. (Higashiyama is a short taxi east of downtown.)
Marumasu-Nishimuraya (Kyo-Yuzen studio) Most central / deeper
Shave Kitayama cedar with a hand plane and decorate a fabric chopstick case with traditional Kyo-Yuzen dyeing. Closest to the Courtyard, but it's a 2.5-hour commitment — pick this only if you want the fuller craft session over a quick keepsake.
My take: on a busy arrival day, Waraku's 40-min session fits the plan better. If you'd rather one slower, hands-on afternoon and skip something else, Marumasu is the richer experience and nearest the hotel.
Day 5 · Sat Oct 10
Shrine + bamboo
Kyoto · iconic, but only the flat partsFriends not in Japan yet — Joey & Bri land Oct 14, Kirby & Johnathan land Oct 16.
Early
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The famous shrine with thousands of vermilion torii gates. Do the flat lower shrine + the first dense stretch of the Senbon Torii for the iconic photos, then turn back — skip the mountain stair-climb entirely. Go early to beat weekend crowds.
AccessLower shrine flat & scooter-OK; torii tunnels quickly get steep/narrow/stairs — your 'lower gates only' plan is right
ConsiderOptional early-morning private guide (lower gates, history, photos) ~¥10,000–20,000 (≈ $65–$129)/group
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10:30 AM
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See the towering bamboo grove and riverside from a seated rickshaw (jinrikisha) — zero walking, and the driver doubles as a guide. The Togetsukyo bridge/river area is flat for a sit-down after.
Hours Ebisuya ~9:30–sunsetPrice 70-min Bamboo Forest tour · $148.41 total / 2Closed Suspends in heavy rain/windBook ✅ CONFIRMED — Ebisuya #9385347, 10:30 AM · meet NW of Togetsukyo Bridge · +81 75 864 2344📍 Arashiyama
AccessMust step UP into the carriage — not wheelchair-accessible; leave scooter at boarding point
ConsiderExtended bamboo + river course = more seated sightseeing, less walking (the main upgrade here)
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↳ If you win the Nintendo Museum lottery: it claims a half-day in Uji on Oct 10 or 11 (closed Tuesdays), and Fushimi/Arashiyama shuffle to the other day. Uji is a 5-min flat walk from Ogura Station, elevators, wheelchair-friendly.
Day 6 · Sun Oct 11
Castle + Gion
Kyoto · ground-level history + lantern strollFriends not in Japan yet — Joey & Bri land Oct 14, Kirby & Johnathan land Oct 16.
Morning
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A flat, ground-level shogun's palace complex with famous "nightingale" floors — gravel paths, no stair-climb. Shoes off inside Ninomaru Palace — bring clean indoor footwear with the height lift.
Hours 8:45–16:00 (castle closes 17:00)Price ¥1,300 (≈ $8) w/ Ninomaru Palace · ¥800 (≈ $5) grounds onlyClosed Dec 29–31 (open on your date)Book No timed entry for grounds/Ninomaru; Honmaru special viewing needs advance web ticket📍 Nijō Castle
AccessGrounds flat gravel; palace interiors have steps + nightingale floors — park ECV, short walk inside
ConsiderPrivate history guide ~¥10,000–20,000 (≈ $65–$129)/group, or Honmaru special viewing, if you want deeper Tokugawa context
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Afternoon
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Covered downtown shopping arcades — flat, weatherproof browsing if you want a low-key block.
AccessCovered arcade, flat, scooter-OK (some shop steps)
Eat nearby
- Don Quijote Shijo nearby for tax-free souvenirs
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Evening
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Kyoto's historic geisha district. Explore from the flat main street (Hanamikoji) in the evening light. Skip the stepped lanes (Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka).
📍 HanamikojiMain street flat; stepped lanes = skip
AccessHanamikoji main street flat; quiet side alleys (Pontocho) atmospheric, low-walking
Eat nearby
- Mild dinner options nearby: yuba (tofu skin), soba, tempura — look for English-friendly Pontocho spots
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Osaka · Oct 12–16
Day 7 · Mon Oct 12
Travel to Osaka
Osaka · ⚠️ Sports Day national holidayFriends not in Japan yet — Joey & Bri land Oct 14, Kirby & Johnathan land Oct 16.
Morning
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Only ~15 min. Move early — it's a national holiday, so sights and trains are busier. Reserve seats.
Hours ~28–30 min on JR Special Rapid (Shinkansen is ~15 min but adds transfer friction)Price JR Special Rapid Kyoto→Osaka ~¥580 (≈ $4) (you do NOT need the Shinkansen here)Book JR Special Rapid is unreserved ordinary — no booking needed
AccessMost Golden-Route guides recommend the regular JR train: almost as fast, far cheaper
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Evening
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Osaka's neon canal-side strip and street-food heaven — flat and walkable. Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, the Glico running-man sign.
AccessPedestrian arcade + neon street, foreigner-friendly
Eat nearby
- Takoyaki Wanaka — crispy, mild option, ¥600–850 (≈ $4–$5)
- Chibo — iconic okonomiyaki, ¥1,500–3,000, (≈ $10–$19) 11:00–23:00
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Day 8 · Tue Oct 13
Ghibli Park day trip
If tickets → Nagoya; else Osaka experiences (flat & low-walking)Friends not in Japan yet — Joey & Bri land Oct 14, Kirby & Johnathan land Oct 16.
The plan
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Studio Ghibli's open-air park near Nagoya — wander beautifully built worlds: the Grand Warehouse (indoor hub), Dondoko Forest (life-size Satsuki & Mei house from Totoro), Mononoke Village, and the Valley of Witches (Kiki & Howl). Tickets: lottery + first-come on the 10th of the month, 2pm JST — book via Klook for international (JP sites need a JP card); apply ~Sept 10. Getting there: ~50 min Shinkansen Shin-Osaka→Nagoya + ~50 min subway/Linimo (~1h50m each way) — long but doable. Mostly accessible (a few forest stairs).
No Ghibli Park tickets? Today becomes a relaxed Osaka Experience Day instead — the flat, low-walking stops below.
Morning
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"Osaka's pantry" — a flat, covered arcade of stalls grilling A5 wagyu skewers, torching uni, and shucking oysters to order. Graze-as-you-go.
Hours 9:00–18:00 dailyPrice Free to enter; pay per stall ¥500–¥3,000 (≈ $3–$19)/itemBook Walk-in📍 Kuromon
AccessCovered, flat paving but narrow & crowded — slow ECV speed, patience needed
Eat nearby
- Uni (sea urchin)
- Grilled scallops
- Wagyu skewers
- Fresh mild sushi/sashimi
- Oysters
ConsiderKuromon guided food walking tour (~¥6,000–12,000 (≈ $39–$77)) — curates stalls, handles ordering. Top-scored upgrade (8/10)
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Midday
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Souvenir HQ — the Don Quijote on the Dotonbori canal (Ebisu Tower Ferris wheel), tax-free and stacked with snacks/cosmetics/oddities — then the flat Shinsaibashi-suji arcade.
Hours Many branches 24h; others ~9:00–23:00Price Tax-free saving on eligible buysBook No booking📍 Donki
AccessMulti-story w/ elevators; aisles tight & crowded — manageable but slow on a scooter
Good to know
- Tax-free needs ¥5,000 (≈ $32)+ before tax in ONE transaction, PHYSICAL passport (no copies), same store same day; items sealed to take out of Japan
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Afternoon
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1950s retro Osaka under the Tsutenkaku tower — kushikatsu skewers, neon, Billiken. Flat and photogenic.
Kushikatsu central📍 Shinsekai
AccessShinsekai flat & photogenic
Eat nearby
- Kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) — mild choices available; no double-dipping the sauce!
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Other Osaka experiences to add or swap (tell me which): Nara deer + Great Buddha (~45 min, mostly flat) · an okonomiyaki/takoyaki cooking class (seated, hands-on) · the National Bunraku Theatre (Osaka's puppet theatre, seated). Experiences over rest, nothing too America-like.
Day 9 · Wed Oct 14
Castle + city + wagyu
Osaka · the headline dinner▸ Joey & Bri land in Tokyo today — but you're in Osaka, so not the same city yet.
Morning
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Walk the flat castle park and gardens for the views — skip the multi-floor keep. The park is free & open 24h; the small Nishinomaru Garden (~¥200) is a flat lawn with the best castle photo.
Hours Park 24h; Nishinomaru Garden 9:00–17:00 (last 16:30)Price Park free · Nishinomaru Garden ¥200 (≈ $1) (free w/ disability cert)Closed Garden closed Mondays (open on your Wed Oct 14)Book No booking for grounds/garden📍 Osaka Castle
AccessPark paths mostly flat w/ some slopes; skipping the keep = comfortable on a scooter
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Afternoon
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Den Den Town is Osaka's flat, walkable otaku/electronics district. Or the Kaiyukan aquarium (one of the world's largest) if you'd rather a calm, seated-friendly afternoon.
Evening
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Grill-your-own premium wagyu (Kobe/Omi/A5). Order the "Wagyu Treasure Box" — it arrives with dry-ice smoke. Grill-your-own means Steven controls his own cook.
Hours ~11:00–23:00 (varies)Price Courses ~¥5,000–¥15,000 (≈ $32–$97)+/personBook Reserve (TableCheck or venue site)📍 Wagyu Kingdom
AccessShinsaibashi area, seated tables, elevator likely, scooter-OK
Eat nearby
- Backups if full: MAIDO, Rokunomiya
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Day 10 · Thu Oct 15
Relax day
Osaka · private onsen + gentle browsing▸ Friends gathering in Tokyo; you're in Osaka. You reunite when you reach Tokyo tomorrow.
Booked slot
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A hot-spring complex at Osaka Bay Tower. A private bath solves both the footwear/mobility concern and the visible-tattoo restriction (public baths bar tattoos). Add a massage. Bring clean indoor footwear.
Hours 11:00–23:00, last entry 22:00Price Entry ¥2,310–3,630 (≈ $15–$23) (night after 17:00 ¥1,980–2,420 (≈ $13–$16)) + ¥150 (≈ $1) bath taxClosed ⚠ Scheduled maintenance closure Oct 14, 2026 — your relax day is Oct 15, so you're clearBook Private bath needs advance reservation (set time slots)📍 Solaniwa
AccessElevators + flat corridors, but bathing areas have steps/slippery/sit-down stations — confirm scooter access for private rooms
ConsiderPrivate room (Standard ¥8,800 (≈ $57) / Deluxe ¥12,100 (≈ $78) / Western+tent-sauna ¥15,400 (≈ $99) per 90 min) + massage add-on ¥4,000–8,000 (≈ $26–$52). Top-scored relax upgrade (8/10)
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Tokyo · Oct 16–21
Day 11 · Fri Oct 16
Back to Tokyo + Shinjuku night
Tokyo Round 2 · bags already forwarded★ Same city! Back in Tokyo with Joey & Bri (here since Oct 14); Kirby & Johnathan land today.
Early
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Into Tokyo by midday. Suitcases were forwarded ahead to the Metropolitan, so you travel light.
Hours ~2 hr 25–30 minPrice Nozomi Green Car ~¥19,500 (≈ $126)/personBook Reserve early — Osaka→Tokyo busy Oct 16–21
AccessWheelchair spaces + accessible toilet; bags already forwarded
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Lunch
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A seated, no-queue sushi spot near the hotel with Steven-friendly cuts. Your hotel is Tokyo Station, so Marunouchi spots are a flat, indoor walk — ideal.
~¥15,000/2Resv:
🎯Best options — all counter-seat omakase, walkable from the hotel
Manten Sushi, Marunouchi Top pick
Edomae omakase, chef's course ~¥6,600 lunch, a Japanese "top-100" pick. Counter seats around the kitchen + a couple of tables; online reservations. Flat, indoor, basically next to your hotel — the easiest reserved lunch on the trip. With omakase, the chef can adjust to Steven-friendly cuts if you flag it.
Sushi & Bar Fujiro Alternative
Stylish sushi bar, lunch omakase ~¥4,000 (gentler on the wallet), counter + open terrace. Directly across from Tokyo Station's Marunouchi exits.
Kushiro Marunouchi (KITTE) Alternative
Omakase-only, Hokkaido ingredients, calm room. Another flat, station-front option if the others are full.
My take: book Manten — best balance of quality, price and a zero-stress walk from the room. Reserve the counter and note any fish preferences in advance.
Afternoon
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Walk-in eyewear — fast, no appointment.
Hours JINS Shinjuku ~11:00–21:00 dailyPrice Frames + lenses ~¥5,500–¥13,000 (≈ $35–$84)Book Walk-in (some stores allow online exam booking)📍 JINS Shinjuku
AccessFlat floors; aisles narrow when busy; ~1–2 hr turnaround
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Sunset
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Free observation decks atop the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building — elevator up, big sunset city views.
Hours South 9:30–22:00 (last 21:30) · North 9:30–17:30 (last 17:00)Price FREEClosed South: 1st & 3rd Tue · North: 2nd & 4th Mon — your Fri Oct 16 is openBook No booking; brief security + elevator line📍 TMG
AccessGround-floor elevators, flat observatory — scooter-OK
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Evening
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A high-energy dinner-spectacle of lights, drumming and performers — seated. 18+.
Hours Evening show, start ~19:00–20:00Price ~¥8,000–¥12,000 (≈ $52–$77)/adult incl. mealBook Advance reservation required (seat-limited)📍 Samurai Restaurant
AccessUsually multi-story w/ elevator — confirm no entry steps & ECV-at-table
ConsiderPremium/drink package available; brand has rebranded over the years — verify the exact venue/URL you book (volatility flag)
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Day 12 · Sat Oct 17
Kawagoe Festival
"Little Edo" · flat streets, but crowded★ In Tokyo with friends — a good window for a hangout before their official group days.
Day trip
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A 370-year-old float festival in a preserved Edo-era town ~30–45 min from central Tokyo. Giant dashi floats parade through flat town streets (friendlier than stair-heavy temples) and face off in music "battles." It's crowded with lots of standing — plan seating/rest breaks and a clear early exit.
Hours All day; floats daytime, Hikkawase battles evening (~18:00 onward)Price Free (festival)Closed Festival runs Sat Oct 17 + Sun Oct 18, 2026Book No booking for street viewing; reserved seats/tours separate📍 Kawagoe
AccessKurazukuri streets mostly flat but crowds build — City Hall & Festival Museum = easier seated viewing
Eat nearby
- Sweet-potato (imo) treats — chips, soft-serve, cakes (Kawagoe's signature)
- Yatai stalls: yakitori, takoyaki, taiyaki
- Coedo craft beer (non-alc options too)
Good to know
- Kurazukuri warehouse street + Toki-no-Kane bell tower
- Kawagoe Festival Museum (Matsuri Kaikan) — ¥300, (≈ $2) 9:30–17:30, free w/ disability cert + 1 carer
- Kashiya Yokocho (Penny Candy Lane)
- Evening Hikkawase float battles at intersections — the #1 must-see
- City Hall area — Sunday's structured 13:30–16:00 parade is the easiest watch
ConsiderGuided festival tour (e.g. Tour Guide Hiro, 6 hr, ~¥24,000 (≈ $155)/group) — curated viewing + crowd navigation. Highest-scored upgrade (9/10)
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Lunch / evening
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Reserve a seated vantage point: Elevato is first choice for the evening; Torisei is the lunch backup. Evening brings lanterns + the Hikkawase float meeting.
Call ~3 weeks beforeResv:
Day 13 · Sun Oct 18
Priority day + Sumo
Tokyo · low-walking by design — driving, posing, sitting★ With friends in Tokyo — their first group day (their plan: Pokémon Center + teamLab Planets).
10:30 AM
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Dress in real samurai armor for photos / a training session — the top-priority experience. Posing & low-walking, all indoors.
Hours Shows ~17:00 / 19:00 (varies)Price ~¥5,000–¥8,000 (≈ $32–$52)/adult + photo/armor add-onsBook Reserve seats + experience slots in advance
AccessElevator access typical; rows can be tight — ask for an aisle/accessible seat
ConsiderVIP seats + armor/sword photo package — high-impact, low-walking. One of the top-scored upgrades (8.5/10)
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🎯Best options — pick one (all reservation-only, all low-walking/indoor)
Samurai Theater Tokyo Your pick
Actors who've appeared in real samurai films teach you to draw, hold and swing a katana, then a simple chambara duel — in an Edo-style dojo lined with armor. Add the armor experience to suit up for photos, or tatami-cutting with a real blade. The experience you asked for: doing it, not just posing.
Samurai Armor Photo Studio Alternative
Seven kacchu designs (incl. Date Masamune); real metal armor (~60 lb chest), movie-grade. Warm, informative staff; strong Tripadvisor ratings. Very similar concept to Sengoku — pick by which armor/location you like.
Samurai Theater Tokyo If you want training/show
If you'd rather a pure armor photoshoot with a cinematic composite background (prints + digital same day) instead of the training, this Yoyogi studio is the best-reviewed for photo quality.
My take: Samurai Theater Tokyo is your pick — it's the hands-on training experience and offers an armor-photo add-on, taught by real film actors. Ask to sit between segments (it's ~1 hr mostly standing).
1:00 PM
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Drive a go-kart through Tokyo streets in costume (this is why you need the IDP). Low-walking, all seated. Routes run through Akihabara, so it folds neatly into the area.
Hours Booked time slots, multiple dailyPrice ~¥10,000–¥15,000 (≈ $65–$97)/personBook Reserve a specific slot; ⚠ IDP (Geneva 1949) or recognized license REQUIRED — strictly enforced📍 Street Kart
Access⚠ NOT wheelchair-accessible — must transfer into a low kart & operate pedals; no scooter during tour
ConsiderPhoto + costume packages add the most value if you do it
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🎯The one to book
STREET KART — Akihabara Official & legal
The legitimate operator (the old "MariCar" lost a Nintendo lawsuit). Bring your IDP + passport + home license — no IDP, no drive, no exceptions. Two heads-ups: costumes are provided but NOT Mario/Nintendo characters (legal reasons), and karts are low to the ground — fine for sitting, but check the step-in works for the mobility need. Book the Akihabara start so it links to your Day 14 plans.
6:00 PM
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Watch sumo up close over dinner — seated, low-exertion, a perfect end to the day. Note: there's no Grand Sumo tournament in Tokyo in October (those are Jan/May/Sept only), so a staged dinner-show with ex-wrestlers is the right call — and they have comfy chair seating, unlike the real arena.
Hours Evening showPrice Standard ¥12,500 (≈ $81) · Premium ¥16,000 (≈ $103) (+¥700 (≈ $5) service fee from 2026); incl. bento/snack + 1 drinkClosed Regularly closed TuesdaysBook Reserved only; order bento 3+ days ahead by 10:00
AccessIn a modern mall — elevators; confirm chair seating + scooter access
ConsiderPremium BL box / front seats for a small group (7/10). NOTE: pricing is for the Hirakuza brand — confirm the Asakusa (Tokyo) branch details vs Osaka
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🎯Best options — pick one (all chair-seated, low-walking)
Sumo Hall Hirakuza, Asakusa Top pick
A dedicated sumo theater with tiered chair seating — real bouts by ex-wrestlers, English commentary, an audience photo/challenge, and a bento/meal. The accessibility winner: proper theater seats, no neck-craning, no floor cushions. (A higher-end Hirakuza Ginza is also opening in 2026 if you want luxe.)
"the SUMO show" — Ryogoku Alternative
Well-reviewed show in the historic sumo neighborhood with the wrestlers' signature chanko nabe hot pot. Chair seating; lively and authentic-feeling.
Asakusa Premium Sumo Experience Alternative
Matches up close, a sukiyaki meal, and a fun (optional) push-the-wrestler challenge. Good if you want more interaction and a hot meal.
My take: Hirakuza Asakusa for the seating comfort and sightlines (best fit for the mobility constraint). Ask for chair seats when booking, and request seats with the shortest step-in. Avoid real Ryogoku Kokugikan tournament tickets even if dates lined up — accessible seats are on the 2nd floor with stairs and no staff assistance.
Day 14 · Mon Oct 19
Akihabara with friends
Tokyo · otaku crawl, thinned & flat★ With friends in Tokyo — your Akihabara crawl; they're around Tokyo (Sensō-ji / Disney).
Day
＋ Save Memories
Tokyo's electronics & anime district — flat and walkable, browsing multi-floor stores (elevators) at an easy pace with your friends.
📍 AkihabaraFlat district; use store elevators
AccessAkihabara flat w/ elevators — good scooter day
Eat nearby
- Akihabara Don Quijote (cosplay floor) for souvenirs
Verified 2026-06-25 via Grok · recheck near travel
Day 15 · Tue Oct 20
Tokyo Disneyland with friends
ECV day · the classic castle park★ With friends in Tokyo — Disney day; they're doing DisneySea / Disneyland this stretch.
All day
＋ Save Memories
The classic castle park (separate from DisneySea — separate single-day ticket; splitting them 12 days apart is no problem). On the scooter, with friends.
Hours ~9:00–21:00 (date calendar)Price 1-Day Passport ~¥8,900–¥10,900 (≈ $57–$70) (peak higher)Book Dated park reservation required · Premier Access in-app day-of📍 Disneyland
AccessWheelchair + motorized ECV rentals in-park — good full-ECV day
ConsiderDisney has its own dedicated research; same Halloween/holiday crowd pattern
Verified 2026-06-25 via Perplexity · recheck near travel
Day 16 · Wed Oct 21
Fly home
Tokyo → Haneda▸ Friends still in Tokyo (heading to Osaka next) — you fly home this afternoon.
Morning
＋ Save Memories
A flat underground row of character shops right in the station — quick last-minute souvenirs, no extra travel.
AccessFully covered, elevators — scooter-OK; last-minute character goods & ekiben
Eat nearby
- Grab ekiben (station bento) for the flight
Verified 2026-06-25 via Grok · recheck near travel
By ~1:30 PM
＋ Save Memories
Be at the airport by ~1:30 PM. Wheels up 4:30 PM.
Flight: AA · GLCWDY📍 Haneda
📋 Bookings — every reservation in one place
Tick Booked to auto-save and collapse an item (it stays in the list — hit ✎ edit to reopen). Each shows an est. price (best guess, mostly for two); log what you actually paid and any follow-ups. Symbols: 🎟️ major · ⏰ time-sensitive (do by the date) · 🔒 conditional (lottery/branch). For every lottery / sell-out item, re-check the official rules the day you book.
Auto-saved to the cloud. Use Back up for a personal copy.
🏨 Hotels — lock these in first
Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo — Stay 1 (arrival)Oct 6–9 · 3 ntsBook soon — Oct is peakest. ¥120,000 (≈ $774) · varies by date✎ edit
Book direct / Marriott / Booking.com. Request a step-free room near the elevator. Separate booking from the return stay.
Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo — Stay 2 (return)Oct 16–21 · 5 ntsBook soon — Oct is peakest. ¥200,000 (≈ $1,290) · varies by date✎ edit
Book direct / Marriott / Booking.com. Same step-free room request. Separate booking from the arrival stay — they don’t link automatically.
Courtyard by Marriott Kyoto Shijo KarasumaOct 9–12 · 3 ntsBook soonest. ¥120,000 (≈ $774)✎ edit
Marriott direct. Larger step-free room — ask for one near the elevator.
Shinsaibashi Grand HotelOct 12–16 · 4 ntsBook soonest. ¥154,000 (≈ $994)✎ edit
Book direct / Booking.com. Central to the arcade; request an accessible room.
🔑 Set up first — these unlock other bookings
International Driving Permits — bothBefore you flyBefore departureest. ¥6,000 (≈ $40) · 2 permits✎ edit
AAA, same-day, ~$20 + photos. Cannot be issued in Japan. Needed for Street Kart. (Also on the Pre-Trip tab.)
Nintendo Accounts + enter museum lottery~3 mo beforeEnter when Oct dates openest. Free✎ edit
Free accounts at nintendo.com; required for the Nintendo Museum lottery.
SmartEX account (Shinkansen)Before SeptemberSet up before tickets openest. Free (account)✎ edit
Register at smart-ex.jp/en so you can grab green-car seats the moment each leg opens (1 month prior).
⏰ Deadline-driven tickets — do on / by the date shown
Shinkansen Tokyo→Kyoto (green car)Fri Oct 9Reserve ~Sep 9 (1 mo prior)est. ¥38,000 (≈ $245) · 2 green-car✎ edit📅 book from Sep 9, 10am (1-mo)
Book on SmartEX (English) the moment the date opens. ~¥19,000 (≈ $123)/person.
Shinkansen Osaka→Tokyo (green car)Fri Oct 16Reserve ~Sep 16 (1 mo prior)est. ¥39,000 (≈ $252) · 2 green-car✎ edit📅 book from Sep 16, 10am (1-mo)
Book on SmartEX (English) — busy stretch Oct 16–21. ~¥19,500 (≈ $126)/person.
Nintendo Museum (Uji)Sat/Sun Oct 10–11Monthly lottery — enter ASAPest. Free (lottery)✎ edit📅 book from ~Jul (Oct lottery)
museum-tickets.nintendo.com — needs a Nintendo Account; free entry, lottery only, ~3 mo prior.
🎯 Aim for: a morning slot (Oct 10 or 11)
Pixar Exhibition (Toyosu)Wed Oct 7Ends Oct 12 — book earlyest. ¥5,400 (≈ $35) · 2✎ edit
Timed-entry tickets (English): Ticket PIA (EN) or the official site. ¥2,400–3,000 (≈ $15–19)/person.
🎯 Aim for: ~2:30 PM (Oct 7)
Tokyo DisneySeaThu Oct 8Buy early — Halloween+holiday sells outest. ¥20,000 (≈ $129) · 2 (+Premier Access)✎ edit📅 book from ~Aug 8 (60-day)
tokyodisneyresort.jp — dated ticket. ~¥8,900–10,900 (≈ $57–70)/person. See your Disney research for Premier Access.
Tokyo DisneylandTue Oct 20Buy early — sells outest. ¥20,000 (≈ $129) · 2 (+Premier Access)✎ edit📅 book from ~Aug 20 (60-day)
tokyodisneyresort.jp — dated ticket required.
Sumo dinner-show (Asakusa Sumo Club)Sun Oct 18Reserve early — only ~80 seats/showest. ¥32,000 (≈ $206) · 2 w/ chanko nabe✎ edit
Asakusa Sumo Club (English) — former-wrestler show + chanko nabe hotpot, English commentary, photo & souvenir. Your 6 PM = the 3rd show (18:00–20:00). ¥16,000 (≈ $103)/adult; reserved seats, also on Klook / Booking.com. In Asakusa (Taito-ku), Tokyo — ~10 min from Akihabara.
🎯 Aim for: 6:00 PM show (Oct 18)
Solaniwa Onsen — private bathThu Oct 15Closed Oct 14 — book the 15thest. ¥21,000 (≈ $135) · entry×2 + private room✎ edit📅 book from ~August (window opens)
solaniwa.com — private rooms need advance reservation. ¥8,800–15,400 (≈ $57–99) / 90 min + entry.
🎟️ Timed-entry attractions
teamLab Borderless (optional)Tue Oct 6est. ¥7,600 (≈ $49) · 2✎ edit
official ticket site — timed entry, book early. ¥3,800 (≈ $25)/person.
🎯 Aim for: ~7:45 PM (Oct 6, optional)
teamLab Planets (Toyosu)Wed Oct 7est. ¥7,200 (≈ $46) · 2✎ edit
teamlabplanets.dmm.com — timed entry, online only. ¥3,600 (≈ $23)/person; disability ticket ¥1,800 (≈ $12).
🎯 Aim for: ~6:30 PM (Oct 7)
Street Kart, AkihabaraSun Oct 18est. ¥24,000 (≈ $155) · 2 (if both drive)✎ edit
streetkart.com — book a slot. IDP required; not ECV-accessible. ~¥10,000–15,000 (≈ $65–97)/person.
🎯 Aim for: 1:00 PM (Oct 18)
🍽️ Reservations — shows, dinners & experiences
Samurai Restaurant (Shinjuku)Fri Oct 16est. ¥20,000 (≈ $129) · 2✎ edit
Reserve via the official site / Klook / GetYourGuide — verify the exact venue (brand has changed). Hotel concierge can call. ~¥8,000–12,000 (≈ $52–77)/person.
🎯 Aim for: 7:00 PM show (Oct 16)
Samurai Theater Tokyo (armor + sword photo)Sun Oct 18est. ¥16,000 (≈ $103) · 2 + photo✎ edit
Reserve seats + the armor/sword photo on the venue’s site / GetYourGuide. ~¥5,000–8,000 (≈ $32–52)/person + photo add-ons. VIP+photo is a top upgrade.
🎯 Aim for: 10:30 AM (Oct 18)
Wagyu Kingdom — the WOW dinnerWed Oct 14est. ¥24,000 (≈ $155) · 2✎ edit
Reserve via TableCheck or the hotel concierge. Backups: MAIDO, Rokunomiya. Courses ~¥5,000–15,000 (≈ $32–97)/person.
Reserved sushi lunch (Manten, Marunouchi)Fri Oct 16Book Aug 16 — rolling 2-mo windowest. ¥12,000 (≈ $77) · 2✎ edit📅 book from Aug 16, 2026 (2-mo rolling)
⏰ Reservations open ~2 months ahead (to the same date), so Oct 16 unlocks around Sat Aug 16, 2026 — book the moment it opens; this branch fills up. Reserve online and pick the Lunch tab: res-reserve.com. Backups: TableCheck (search "Manten Sushi") or the hotel concierge. Marunouchi Brick Square B1F, near Tokyo Station.
Make-your-own chopsticks workshop (Gion · engraving)Fri Oct 9 · 5:00 PM — ✅ BOOKEDest. ¥4,250 (≈ $27.20) · 2 · PAID✎ edit
✅ Booked via GetYourGuide. Kyoto: Gion Chopsticks Making Class with Engraving Option — carve your own pair + name engraving. Fri Oct 9, 2026 · 5:00 PM (30 min), 2 adults, total $27.20 (all taxes/fees in). Meet at Yasaka Koji South (by Yasaka Pagoda / Hōkan-ji), Higashiyama — ~15 min from Nintendo Kyoto at Takashimaya. Free cancellation until Oct 8. View activity. Add your GYG booking ref in the notes.
Arashiyama bamboo rickshaw (Ebisuya)Sat Oct 10 · 10:30 AM — ✅ CONFIRMEDest. $148.41 total · 2 (70-min Bamboo Forest)✎ edit
✅ CONFIRMED — Booking #9385347 (Ebisuya). 70-min Bamboo Forest tour, Sat Oct 10, 10:30 AM, 2 adults, $148.41. Meet at the Ebisuya stand on the river side, ~60 m NW of the Togetsukyo Bridge (arrive 5–10 min early). Contact +81 75 864 2344, or +81 80 8895 9091 (WhatsApp / LINE / KakaoTalk).
Kawagoe float-view seatingSat Oct 17Confirm providerest. TBD✎ edit
⚠ Confirm reserved float-view seating or a tour provider closer to the date. Follow-up.
⭐ Upgrades — book only if you selected them in the Upgrades tab
Kawagoe Festival guided tourSat Oct 17est. ¥24,000 (≈ $155) / group✎ edit
Tour Guide Hiro / GetYourGuide / Klook — ~¥24,000 (≈ $155)/group. Rated 9/10.
Nintendo Museum + Uji tea/temple add-onOct 10–11est. ¥25,000 (≈ $161) / group✎ edit
Private tour operators from Kyoto/Osaka — only if you win the museum lottery. ~¥15,000–40,000 (≈ $97–258)/group.
Osaka cooking class / Kuromon food crawlTue Oct 13est. ¥16,000 (≈ $103) · 2✎ edit
Klook / Viator / GetYourGuide — book a class or guided crawl. ~¥6,000–12,000 (≈ $39–77)/person.
Nijō Castle private guide / Honmaru viewingSun Oct 11est. ¥15,000 (≈ $97) / group✎ edit
GetYourGuide guide, or Honmaru special-viewing ticket: official site.
Shinjuku neon + observatory night walkFri Oct 16est. ¥15,000 (≈ $97) / group✎ edit
GetYourGuide evening walk — optional. ~¥15,000 (≈ $97)/group.
✅ No booking needed — just show up
Free or walk-in: Fushimi Inari (free), Nishiki Market, Nintendo Kyoto & Pokémon Centers, Nijō Castle grounds, Osaka Castle park, JINS Shinjuku, TMG Observatory (free), Don Quijote & arcades, Kuromon & Dotonbori street food, Kawagoe streets (free).
Admin (Pre-Trip tab): Visit Japan Web — register both, activate 6 h before landing. Transport: Haneda Limousine bus — buy on arrival; Takkyubin luggage forwarding — arrange at the hotel each move (~¥2,500 ≈ $16/bag).
Admin (Pre-Trip tab): Visit Japan Web — register both, activate 6 h before landing. Transport: Haneda Limousine bus — buy on arrival; Takkyubin luggage forwarding — arrange at the hotel each move (~¥2,500 ≈ $16/bag).
Hotels
Three hotels, all 4.3★, each chosen for central + step-free access. Tokyo is one hotel split into two stays (both legs). None are booked yet — reserve all three soon and request a room near the elevator / step-free access. Tap to add your confirmation numbers once booked — they save on this device.
Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi 4.3★
To bookTokyo · both legs · Oct 6–9 (3 nts) & Oct 16–21 (5 nts)
Directly connected to Tokyo Station — step off the train and you're basically home. Airport Limousine from Haneda, Shinkansen in the building, Yamanote line to Shibuya/Shinjuku/Harajuku, Akihabara 2 stops. Reception is on the 27th floor; elevators throughout.
📍 1-7-12 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005
Courtyard by Marriott Kyoto Shijo Karasuma 4.3★
To bookKyoto · Oct 9–12 (3 nts)
Downtown Shijo-Karasuma; newer, larger step-free rooms; steps from the subway; central to Nishiki Market & Gion.
📍 668 Nijohanjikicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8412
Dining
The headline meals are below; café and lunch rest-stops are built into every Kyoto block. Two reservations are still open (sushi + you may want to lock Wagyu Kingdom).
Estimated costs
Planning estimates for two people, not quotes — they'll move with dates, tiers, and the Ghibli/Nintendo branches. Flights are already paid and excluded. USD shown at an approximate ¥155 = $1; check the live rate before you budget tightly.
💡 Add a souvenir / shopping buffer (Pokémon Center, Nintendo, Den Den Town, Character Street can add up fast) and keep some cash — festivals, small eateries and taxis still favor it. The biggest swing factors are hotel date-tiers and the USJ Express Pass.
Booked & paid
Flights ✈️
AA · GLCWDY
Per-person, roughly
≈ $3,960
excl. flights & shopping
Daily run-rate
≈ $495/day
for the two of you
⭐ Upgrades — pick what's worth it
Premium experiences that sit on top of what you've already booked, scored by both Grok and Perplexity for your interests + mobility. Tick Add to plan and the cost flows into the Costs tab and tags the event in Day-by-Day. Estimates for two people unless marked "/ group". Choices save on this device.
9/10Top
Kawagoe Festival guided tour
Kawagoe is complex — shrines, float districts, timed Hikkawase battles. A guide (e.g. Tour Guide Hiro, 6 hr) gives curated viewing spots and cuts wasted walking in dense crowds. Biggest single payoff given mobility.
8.5/10Top
Samurai Theater — VIP seats + armor/sword photo
You already plan the show; front-row/VIP plus an armor + sword photo package amplifies it with zero extra walking. Hits your love of photo ops and themed, seated experiences. The 'hero' upgrade for the Tokyo samurai day.
8/10Top
Solaniwa — private room (tent sauna) + massage
Turns the relax day into a true private spa: open-air bath + tent sauna + massage. Seated/lying down, low-walking, indoors — perfect mid-trip recovery. Best 'value per unit of fatigue' upgrade in the whole trip.
7.5/10Strong
Nintendo Museum (Uji) + tea/temple add-on
⚠ Only if you win the Nintendo Museum lottery.
If you win entry, pairing the museum with a guided Uji tea ceremony + Byōdō-in temple makes a deeply Japanese, low-walking, high-culture half-day — a short train from Kyoto. Your one big Kyoto side-experience.
7.5/10Strong
Osaka cooking class OR guided Kuromon food crawl
Hands-on, seated, very 'process & service' on-brand. A class is a structured cook-along; a guided Kuromon crawl curates the best stalls and handles ordering in narrow, crowded aisles. Pick one for the flex day.
7/10Strong
Sumo show — Premium / BL box seats
Seated, indoor show you're already doing — premium or a Premium BL box gives better sightlines for a small group. Easy comfort upgrade. (Confirm the Asakusa branch's seat pricing.)
6.5/10Optional
Extended Arashiyama rickshaw (bamboo + river)
Longer routes (30–60 min) are essentially seated sightseeing — more grove + riverfront, far less walking. Worth it if the step-up transfer into the rickshaw is easy for you.
6/10Optional
teamLab Planets — Premium Pass
Smoother, faster entry on a packed timed day (Pixar + teamLab). Nice convenience, but standard timed queues are usually manageable — only worth it if your slot is peak/sold-out.
6/10Optional
Nijō Castle — private guide / Honmaru viewing
Adds Tokugawa political + architectural context and helps you stick to the flat, low-walking areas. Honmaru special viewing is cool but has more steps. Only if you care about the history.
5.5/10Optional
Street Kart — photo + costume package
⚠ Requires an IDP and is NOT ECV-accessible.
If you do the kart, photo + costume is where the value is. But it's physically demanding (transfer into a low kart, no scooter) and needs the International Driving Permit — treat the whole activity as optional.
5.5/10Optional
Shinjuku neon + TMG observatory night walk
A guided neon/photography walk capped by the free observatory. Fun, but you already have the observatory + Donki + Samurai show that night — risks overloading the evening.
5/10Optional
Samurai Restaurant — premium package
⚠ Brand has rebranded/closed over the years — verify the venue.
Fancier menu / VIP seating exists, but quality varies and you already have Samurai Theater + Sumo. Lower priority unless you find a specific, well-reviewed venue.
💡 The research's top picks: Kawagoe guided tour (9), Samurai Theater VIP + armor photo (8.5), and Solaniwa private room + massage (8). Conditional winners if they happen: Nintendo Museum + Uji add-on and one Osaka cooking class / food crawl.
🗂️ Declined / archived
Things you've ruled out — tucked away here. Hit Restore to bring one back.
🌿 Free time — open windows to fill or rest
Every unstructured block in the trip. Tick Planned once you slot something in, and jot what it is. Saves to the cloud and syncs across your devices. FREE = explore/shop · REST = recover · FLEX = wide-open.
Tue · Oct 6
5:30 PM~1hREST
Rest & freshen up at the hotel
9:30 PMFREE
Early night to reset the clock
Wed · Oct 7
1:00 PM~1.5hREST
Rest — café sit or back to hotel
4:30 PM~2hFREE
Toyosu waterfront / coffee
Thu · Oct 8
2:00 PM~1.5hREST
Rest — seated show / Mediterranean Harbor sit
3:30 PM~3hFREE
Explore DisneySea at your own pace (in-park)
8:00 PMFREE
Easy evening, leave when tired
Fri · Oct 9
1:30 PM~1.25hREST
Rest at the hotel
Sat · Oct 10
9:35 AM~15mREST
Quick café near the shrine
1:15 PM~30mREST
Sit by the river
1:45 PM~1.25hFREE
Gentle Arashiyama browse
3:30 PM~3hREST
Rest at the hotel
Sun · Oct 11
12:45 PM~1hREST
Rest
1:45 PM~1.75hFREE
Teramachi / Shinkyōgoku arcades + Don Quijote Shijo
3:30 PM~2hREST
Rest at the hotel
Mon · Oct 12
12:45 PM~1.75hREST
Rest at the hotel
2:30 PM~4hFREE
Shinsaibashi-suji arcade + Don Quijote Dotonbori
Tue · Oct 13
ALL DAYwide openFLEX
FLEX DAY — your best window for a tour/class/day-trip. Swap-ins: Nara deer + Great Buddha (~45 min, flat) · okonomiyaki/takoyaki cooking class (seated) · Bunraku puppet theatre · guided Kuromon food crawl.
1:00 PM~1hREST
Rest / café
2:00 PM~2hFREE
Don Quijote Dotonbori + Shinsaibashi-suji souvenir haul
Wed · Oct 14
12:45 PM~1hREST
Rest
1:45 PM~2.25hFREE
Den Den Town (otaku/souvenirs) or more Dotonbori
4:00 PM~2.5hREST
Rest at the hotel
Thu · Oct 15
9:30 AM~2.5hFREE
Sleep in, slow morning
1:30 PM~1.5hREST
Massage + soak (the trip's reset)
4:00 PM~2.5hFREE
Gentle America-mura browse
Fri · Oct 16
1:30 PM~1hREST
Rest at the hotel
4:00 PM~1hFREE
MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya/Shinjuku (24h) souvenir haul
Sat · Oct 17
2:00 PM~2hREST
Seated viewing, pace the crowds
4:00 PM~2hFREE
Browse Koedo lanes / Penny Candy alley
Sun · Oct 18
2:45 PM~3.25hREST
Akihabara / hotel — buffer before the 6 PM sumo
Mon · Oct 19
2:30 PM~1hREST
Café sit
3:30 PM~3.5hFREE
Akihabara Don Quijote (cosplay floor) / Nakano Broadway
Tue · Oct 20
2:00 PM~1.5hREST
Grab a flat, shaded parade spot
3:30 PM~3hFREE
Explore Disneyland with friends (in-park)
8:00 PMFREE
Leave when tired
Wed · Oct 21
12:15 PM~1.25hFREE
Last flat browse in the station
Pre-trip checklist
♿ Disability & mobility paperwork
Original handicap placard + DMV letter
Bring the original US disabled-parking placard and the DMV letter / registration form that ties it to you — the paper proof, not just the placard.
Doctor’s letter — 1 page, English
One page on letterhead, signed & dated, summarizing the mobility limitations and needs (limited walking, uses an ECV at the parks, needs seating & accessible routing).
Japanese translation page
A one-page Japanese version that (1) states you have a disability and limited walking, and (2) requests understanding plus accessible routing/seating. Keep it stapled to the English doctor’s letter.
Printed copies + PDFs on both phones
Print everything (placard letter, doctor’s note, Japanese page) and keep PDFs/photos on both phones — so it works offline at gates, hotels, Nintendo Museum, Solaniwa, and the theme-park accessibility desks.
Pre-written Japanese phrase — phone + printed
A short line to show staff to streamline accessible seating/routing (worked well for the Disney guest who used translated sentences):
「障害があり、長く歩くことができません。書類も持っています。バリアフリーの経路とお席をご案内いただけると助かります。」
“I have a disability and can’t walk far. I have documentation with me. It would help if you could guide me to an accessible route and seating.”
Save this on both phones + print a copy.
🛂 Visit Japan Web — register both, ~2 weeks out
One account, add both travelers
One person creates the account and adds the other; each gets their own QR code.
Complete immigration + customs declaration
2026 = a single combined QR for immigration & customs; Haneda has one-stop "Joint Kiosks." ~15 min total.
Activate 6+ hours before landing
The QR needs to be active at least 6 hours pre-arrival. Screenshot both QR codes — they scan from your phone screen and work offline at the gate.
🚗 Driving & accounts
International Driving Permits — both
Same as the countdown item — required for Mario Kart, AAA same-day, ~$20 + photos. Cannot be issued in Japan.
Nintendo Accounts — both
Free; needed for the museum lottery.
SmartEX account for Shinkansen
Set up before Sept so you can grab green-car seats the moment each leg opens (1 month prior).
📄 Documents to pack
Passports — names match every booking
"Steven Crow" & "Michael Crow" exactly. Passport is the only accepted ID for name-matched venues (Nintendo Museum, Ghibli).
US disability documentation + doctor's note
Short note describing the condition & mobility needs, ideally translated to Japanese. Acceptance is case-by-case; have it ready for Nintendo Museum, Solaniwa, theme-park ECV/accessibility.
Clean indoor footwear (with the height lift)
Needed shoes-off at Ninomaru Palace (Nijō), Solaniwa, and some restaurants.
Cash + a tap card
Festivals, taxis and small eateries still favor cash; a Suica/Pasmo (or phone wallet) covers trains.
➕ Add your own
Still to lock in
1 · Kyoto chopsticks workshop
Pick & reserve a specific studio for the seated ~45-min keepsake (Oct 9).
2 · Tokyo sushi lunch (Oct 16)
Choose & reserve a seated, no-queue spot near the hotel with Steven-friendly cuts.
3 · Kawagoe festival-evening seating
Confirm Elevato (Torisei lunch backup), ~3 weeks out.
4 · Ghibli result
Known Sept 10 — updates the Oct 18–19 branch.
5 · Nintendo Museum
Lottery result (~Aug/Sept) + written confirmation of accepted US disability docs & accessible parking.
6 · Solaniwa
Confirm private-bath booking specifics + accessibility in writing.
7 · Pixar exhibition dates ⚠️
Verify it's open in October (listings suggest it may close earlier). If closed, free up the Oct 7 afternoon.
📷 Want photos in here? This file uses original illustrations so it works fully offline. You can drop your own photos onto the day cards anytime — just say the word and I'll wire in image slots, or you can edit the file directly.
➕ Add your own