Tokyo and Mount Fuji: Shibuya, Shinjuku and TeamLab Planets
3 daysAugust 2025Mount Fuji and Tokyo
I arrived in Japan from Bangkok and the first thing I did was go see Mount Fuji. After exploring Osaka, Kyoto and Nara I went back to Tokyo to close the trip between Shibuya, Shinjuku and TeamLab. Japan was country 32 of my list, after completing my challenge of 30 countries before turning 30.
Mount Fuji, from Kawaguchiko.
My first 24 hours, straight to Mount Fuji
I traveled from Bangkok, in Thailand, to Tokyo, and the first thing I did was go see Mount Fuji. I was in Japan from August 18 to 26, 2025. If you want to know how my week in Thailand was, I tell it in Thailand in 7 days.
The welcome to Japan, at Narita airport.
From Narita airport I took a train to Tokyo Station and then, from Shinjuku, a bus to Kawaguchiko, a trip of almost two hours. When you arrive you pass by the famous Lawson from where you can see Mount Fuji. My reaction on seeing it for the first time was to say it was beautiful and that it was huge.
Trip facts
Duration3 days
Trip dateAugust 2025
Approx. temperature~28 °C in Kawaguchiko and ~31 °C in Tokyo
What I loved mostThe giant 3D cat in Shinjuku
Then I walked to my accommodation, the Kagelow Mt. Fuji Hostel Kawaguchiko, and explored the surroundings a bit. For a solo traveler, Japan is the best destination of all. Already at night, when I was heading back to the hostel, there was lightning over the mountains and I joked that it was Pikachu. It looked like it was going to rain, but the storm stayed only over the mountains.
From the Naruto train to the bullet train
I was very tired and the only thing I could do the next day was go back to Tokyo, because I had to get to Osaka and there's no direct route from Kawaguchiko. On the way to the station I came across a train decorated with Naruto, a surreal moment, because Naruto is my childhood and Gaara is my favorite.
The Naruto-decorated train.
Back on the road I took the Shinkansen, the bullet train, and there you can see how fast we were going. I was heading to Tokyo to be able to go to Osaka, the next destination on my route through Japan. My day in Osaka and Nara I tell in Osaka and Nara in two days and my day in Kyoto in Kyoto in one day.
The Shinkansen ticket office.
Tokyo, Akasaka and TeamLab Planets
After my days in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara I went back to Tokyo, again by bullet train, which covers the trip in about two and a half hours. I stayed at Live Max Akasaka Grande, near the Akasaka area, which I explored at night.
Akasaka at night.
The next day what I had planned was to go to TeamLab Planets Tokyo, an incredible immersive experience.
TeamLab Planets Tokyo.
Shibuya, Shinjuku and Omoide Yokochō
I continued the day in Shibuya. First I crossed the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing to reach the Hachiko statue. The idea was to go up Shibuya Sky to see the sunset, but tickets were sold out, so if you want to go you should buy them in advance.
The Hachiko statue in Shibuya.
I decided to go to the Shibuya Parco shopping center, where I visited Nintendo Tokyo and the Pokémon Center, as well as other related stores, like Sega's.
Nintendo Tokyo, in Shibuya Parco.
I continued my route through Shinjuku to see the Giant 3D Cat, which excited me enormously as a marketer. For me it was a dream to see it live. Then I came across the famous Don Quijote store, where you find everything on entire floors of products, and further on the Godzilla head on top of a building.
After exploring the surroundings I continued to Omoide Yokochō, where I had street food like gyoza and its standout yakitori.
Yakitori in Omoide Yokochō.
My last day in Tokyo, from Sensō-ji to Nakamise
On my last day in Tokyo the first stop was Sensō-ji. Then I walked along Nakamise Shopping Street because I wanted to buy souvenirs, and it was the best decision because I found exactly what I was looking for at a good price and even took more things than I needed.
Sensō-ji, in Asakusa.
The return and my first trip back in time
That night my flight back to the Americas left. I went back to Lima via Los Angeles, in the United States, and there I had my first experience of going back in time. I left Tokyo in the afternoon and arrived in Los Angeles at noon of that same day, because at that time of year Los Angeles is 16 hours behind Tokyo. It's memorable for me because it was the first time in my life that I experienced it.
My tips for Tokyo and Mount Fuji
01
Buy your Shibuya Sky ticket in advance. I wanted to see the sunset from there and tickets were already sold out.
02
Do a full day to Mount Fuji and come back to sleep in Tokyo. I stayed one night in Kawaguchiko, but in a single day you can see everything and the tours also take you everywhere.
03
Buy your souvenirs at Nakamise. I found exactly what I was looking for at a good price.
04
Save a night for Omoide Yokochō. There I tried gyoza and yakitori in its alleys.
What I take away from Tokyo and Mount Fuji
Japan was, for me, the best destination for a solo traveler. From Mount Fuji to Shinjuku, every day left me something to tell.
Custom map
Dreaming of Tokyo?
If Tokyo and Mount Fuji are on your list, I'll prepare you a tailor-made map with the places and criteria you choose, so you arrive with every day organized.
In Tokyo I stayed at Live Max Akasaka Grande and in Kawaguchiko, near Mount Fuji, at Kagelow Mt. Fuji Hostel Kawaguchiko.
Is it worth staying overnight at Mount Fuji?
My recommendation is to do a full day and come back to sleep in Tokyo. In a single day you can see everything and the tours also take you everywhere.
How do you get from Tokyo to Mount Fuji?
I took a train from Narita airport to Tokyo Station and then a bus from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko, a trip of almost two hours.
Where to see Mount Fuji in Kawaguchiko?
When you arrive you pass by the famous Lawson, from where you can see Mount Fuji.
How long is the bullet train between Osaka and Tokyo?
About two and a half hours.
Is it worth buying Shibuya Sky tickets in advance?
Yes. I wanted to go to see the sunset and tickets were already sold out.
What to see in Shinjuku?
The Giant 3D Cat, the Don Quijote store, the Godzilla head on top of a building and Omoide Yokochō, with its street food.
Is Japan a good destination for traveling solo?
For me it's the best destination of all for a solo traveler. I tell what I look at before traveling in my article about safe countries.
Going to travel solo for the first time? Subscribe and I'll send you my free checklist: what I check before booking, what I always pack and how I build the budget.
