Afternoon
Haneda (HND) → Hotel
Clear customs at Haneda, pick up eSIMs if not already activated, get IC cards (Suica/Pasmo) for trains, and head to hotel MONday Asakusa. Take the Keikyu Airport Line → Toei Asakusa Line direct to Asakusa Station (~40 min, no transfer), then take a short taxi or walk about 15–20 minutes 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
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.
Dinner Near Sensoji
Asakusa has excellent traditional restaurants — sukiyaki, tempura, sushi, or unagi. Pick something easy and close; you're jet-lagged and there are 12 more days for big sit-down meals.
No-fuss option: No shame in grabbing konbini or a quick bowl of ramen and calling it an early night.
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
No Reservations Needed
Arrival day is intentionally loose. The Micro Pig Cafe is booked for tomorrow (Day 2) — tonight is just Sensoji and a relaxed first dinner.
Family Notes
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