Tokyo Information | Easy Self-Guided Travel for Retirees (Part 2)
To embark on a self-guided trip to Japan, one can do some research beforehand in China or practice planning the trip on their own. For example, if one lives in Zhejiang, they can plan a self-guided trip to Hainan Province, arrange transportation by high-speed rail or flight, and plan one or two-day tours using public transportation upon arrival at the destination.
Heading to Tokyo for a self-guided tour? Here are a few one-day itinerary suggestions to share~
1. One-day tour to Ueno Park, Asakusa, and Tokyo Skytree.
This area is a typical Edo-style downtown area, and for the elderly, it is the place where they can immediately feel the "Japanese style"!
Breakfast can be arranged at the Starbucks in Ueno Onshi Park, then stroll along the trail to the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo National Museum, and so on. For lunch, you can enjoy Western cuisine at "Ueno Seiyoken".
In the afternoon, take the Ginza Line from Ueno-hirokoji Station to Asakusa Station, take a walk to Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, have some snacks at Nakamise-dori, and climb up to Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center to see the panoramic view of Asakusa.
After nightfall, take the Asakusa Line from Asakusa Station to Oshiage Station and then head to the Skytree. There are many famous foods in the shopping center, so take a stroll and buy souvenirs while enjoying the night view after dinner!
2. One-day tour of Meiji Shrine, Omotesando, and Roppongi.
This area combines the green jungle of the city with modern civilization. In the morning, you can enjoy a Western-style breakfast at an American restaurant in front of Harajuku. The "Meiji Shrine", surrounded by greenery and a quiet atmosphere, is a favorite spot for the elderly. In the afternoon, you can appreciate the beauty of urban architecture on "Omotesando" and have an afternoon tea date. In the evening, you can enjoy dinner in "Roppongi" and then climb the "Mori Tower" to admire the Tokyo night view. (If you are interested in art appreciation, the "Roppongi Art Triangle" includes the Midtown, Roppongi Hills, and National Art Center Tokyo in Roppongi.)
3. One-day trip to the Ghibli Museum, Inokashira Park, and Kichijoji.
The Ghibli Museum is an art museum suitable for all ages. After enjoying breakfast in Tokyo, head to the outskirts to visit the "Mitaka" Ghibli Museum, a great attraction. Lunch can be enjoyed at the "Red Cap Cafe" inside the museum. After lunch, take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful "Inokashira Park" in any season, and even take a swan boat ride. In the afternoon, visit the nearby "Kichijoji Shopping Street" to browse through various shops and taste local snacks. It will surely be a perfect day trip. (If you still have energy, you can return to Shinjuku City Hall at night to enjoy the night view.)
4. Yokohama day trip
A day trip near the suburbs, Yokohama is also a great place to plan. You can go a little further to arrange "Kamakura", or even go to "Shonan Coast" and "Enoshima". Otherwise, you can go to "Akarenga Warehouse" for Bill's breakfast early in the morning, and then stroll around Yamashita Park and the harbor. For lunch, you can go to Chinatown, and after the meal, visit the Western-style buildings in the "Motomachi" and "Yamate area". In the evening, return to the "Yokohama Landmark Tower" for dinner, and then climb to the 70th floor to enjoy the Yokohama night view. This is also a complete day trip.
In Japan, you can see many silver-haired people traveling around after retirement. They start their life at the age of seventy. In Japan, you can also see many silver-haired people who, although retired, return to the workplace to work hard or participate in photography and flower arrangement courses to cultivate new interests. They manage their colorful life even in their old age. With a young mentality, as long as they have energy and time, come and join the silver-haired Tokyo free tour. Whether it's a couple, or with three to five good friends or old classmates, traveling together can bring new joy to life!
At the age of approaching sixty, I have been traveling to Tokyo for more than thirty years. I hope to bring more joy and help to everyone's travels!
Ticket collection is very convenient. If you are afraid that the network is not good, you can pre-save the QR code voucher in your mobile phone. You can get the paper ticket by scanning the code at the ticket collection office at the door. The screenshot must be a complete page, including the date and time, and the entrance is only released to the time point. The ticket collection is on the 4th floor. If you travel by subway, the subway exit will go directly to the 1-4 shopping mall floor. After arriving on the 4th floor, you need to walk to the outdoor platform to see the high tower and the entrance. 2-4 There are many gourmet shops and Chaopin Valley shops on the floor. The food and play are very good. The price is the same as the outside price. The variety is very rich. Recommend the food court on the 3rd floor, the same way as the domestic shopping mall food court, it must be convenient.
All the staff were friendly and helpful. The shop had a number of souvenirs. There is a cafe but this will need booking in advance. Oh, and there is the view. On a good day you can see parts of Yokohama and if you are lucky, Mount Fuji is visible too.
We visited Tokyo Tower on a day when the skies were heavily overcast, which initially made us question whether the trip up would be worth it. Despite our doubts, we decided to ascend to the observation deck. At first, all we saw was a sea of clouds, which, while somewhat ethereal, wasn't quite the panoramic city view we were hoping for.However, our patience paid off spectacularly. As we lingered, the weather began to shift. The clouds started to dissipate, and slowly, a stunning view of Tokyo unfolded before us. From the dense urban sprawl to green patches of parkland and historic sites, the clarity and breadth of the view were breathtaking once the clouds cleared.The experience turned out to be far more rewarding than we initially anticipated. What seemed like a potential disappointment transformed into an unforgettable highlight of our trip, providing a dramatic and beautiful perspective of the city. If you're visiting, I'd recommend waiting out any bad weather at the observation deck—the potential reward is well worth it. Tokyo Tower offers not just a view, but a memorable experience, especially when shared with friends.
tokyo skytree is beautiful no matter what season. i love the atmosphere there, especially during winter when the weather is nice and cold.
You will start out on the medium floor, and if you buy the higher floor tickets, there is another elevator to take you to the compete top. Beautiful views, we went at night to see all the lights of the city. Im sure it's just as beautiful to see it in the daytime as well.
There are photo opportunities to take photos on a glass floor! They have a souvenir coin machine that you can get engraved for free later and two separate gift shops to explore. It's totally worth the visit.
Tokyo Skytree is a prominent broadcasting and observation tower located in Tokyo, Japan. It stands as one of the tallest structures in the world, reaching a height of 634 meters (2,080 feet). Completed in 2012, it offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas from its observation decks at 350 meters and 450 meters. The tower's modern design blends seamlessly with traditional Japanese aesthetics, and it serves as a major hub for television and radio transmission.