Afternoon
Airport → Hotel
Clear customs, pick up eSIMs if not already activated, get IC cards (Suica/Pasmo) for trains, and head to the hotel.
Get Yen: Exchange dollars to yen at the airport — highly recommended! Many temples, shrines, and smaller shops are cash-only. Airport ATMs (7-Eleven) also work great with foreign cards.
Hotel Check-in
Get settled, drop bags, freshen up after the long flight.
Konbini Snack Run
Welcome to Japan! Hit up 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson for your first taste of Japanese convenience store magic.
Must-try: Onigiri, egg sandwich, melon pan, Japanese iced coffee
🐷 Micro Pig Cafe (Asakusa)
Short, low-key animal cafe experience right in Asakusa — a fun, AC-cooled jet-lag-friendly stop on the way to Sensoji. Book a late-afternoon timed slot via Klook.
Tip: Pick a slot ~5 PM so you can roll straight into Sensoji + dinner. Plan for ~30 min inside.
Evening
Sensoji Temple
Tokyo's oldest temple is stunning in the evening — fewer crowds and beautifully lit up. Walk through the Thunder Gate (Kaminarimon), browse Nakamise shopping street, and take in the temple grounds.
Why evening? Less crowded, cooler temperatures, and the lanterns are gorgeous after dark. The shops on Nakamise close around 5-6 PM, but the temple grounds are open and atmospheric.
🥋 Asakusa Sumo Club — Show + Chankonabe Dinner
Live sumo demonstration with retired wrestlers, audience interaction, and the traditional chankonabe hot pot dinner sumo wrestlers eat to bulk up. Perfect Day-1 anchor: in Asakusa already, structured timing, and dinner is handled.
Why this works for Day 1: No decisions to make jet-lagged, AC venue, and an actually memorable "we're in Japan" first night.
Fallback: Dinner Near Sensoji
If jet lag wins or the sumo show doesn't book: The Asakusa area has excellent traditional restaurants (sukiyaki, tempura, sushi) — or no shame in grabbing konbini food and calling it early. You have 12 more days for sit-down meals!
Tips for Day 1
- Don’t fight jet lag too hard — Stay up until a reasonable local bedtime (8-9 PM is fine)
- Hydrate — Long flights are dehydrating
- eSIM — Should be activated before landing (set up at home before departure)
- IC Card — Get a Suica or Pasmo card at the airport for trains
Family Notes
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