Flights, Trains & Hotels
All transportation and accommodation details in one place.
Flights
✈️ Outbound Flight
Atlanta → Tokyo
Fri, July 17, 2026 (arrive Sat, July 18)Flight: Delta DL295
Departure: Atlanta (ATL) — 11:15 AM, Fri Jul 17
Arrival: Tokyo Haneda (HND) — 2:15 PM, Sat Jul 18 (next day)
Duration: ~14 hours
Confirmation: In app
✈️ Return Flight
Tokyo → Atlanta
Thu, July 30, 2026Flight: Delta DL294
Departure: Tokyo Haneda (HND) — 3:15 PM, Thu Jul 30
Arrival: Atlanta (ATL) — 3:05 PM, Thu Jul 30 (same day)
Duration: ~13 hours
Confirmation: In app
Shinkansen (Bullet Trains)
🚄 Train Journeys
Tokyo → Kyoto
Tue, July 21 (Day 4)Train: Hikari 639 — Booked
Time: 10:40 → 13:12 (~2h 30m)
Seats: 4 reserved
Paid: US$430.12 (4 seats)
Note: Departs Shinagawa (not Tokyo Station). Right side for Mt. Fuji views.
Kyoto → Shin-Osaka
Fri, July 24 (Day 7)Train: Nozomi 31 — Booked
Time: 14:25 → 14:39 (14 min)
Seats: 4 reserved
Paid: US$90.96 (4 seats)
Note: Then Midosuji subway from Shin-Osaka to Hommachi (hotel), ~10 min.
Osaka → Tokyo
Tue, July 28 (Day 11)Train: Nozomi 10 — Booked
Time: 10:30 → 12:49 (~2h 20m)
Seats: 4 reserved
Paid: US$457.00 (4 seats)
Note: Arrives Shinagawa — Yamanote line to Ikebukuro for Pokemon Center MEGA.
Cash — Bring Yen!
Temples & Shrines Are Cash-Only
Many temples, shrines, and smaller traditional shops only accept cash. Exchange dollars to yen at the airport on arrival — rates are reasonable and it's the most convenient time to do it. You'll need cash for temple admissions, omamori (charms), shrine offerings, vending machines, and festival stalls.
JR Pass — Skip It
Decision: Buy individual tickets instead
The JR Pass price increased significantly in 2023 and no longer makes sense for our itinerary.
The math:
| Option | Cost (family of 4) |
|---|---|
| Individual shinkansen tickets | ~¥115,000 |
| 7-day JR Pass × 4 | ¥200,000 |
We only have 2 long shinkansen trips (Tokyo↔Kyoto, Osaka↔Tokyo). The JR Pass would cost nearly double.
Notes:
- Kids 12+ pay adult prices (no child discount for our teens)
- JR Pass doesn’t cover Nozomi (fastest train) — we’d have to take Hikari (+15 min)
- Kyoto↔Osaka is a short trip on regular trains, not shinkansen
What to do instead:
- Shinkansen: Book reserved seats at JR ticket counters or via SmartEX app
- Local trains: Get IC cards (Suica/Pasmo) at the airport — load with cash, tap to ride
- Kyoto↔Osaka: Use JR Special Rapid or Hankyu/Keihan lines (cheap, no reservation needed)
Hotels
Tokyo (July 18-21 & July 28-30)
Dates: 3 nights (arrival) + 2 nights (final) = 5 nights total
🏨 Booked Hotel — First Stay (Jul 18–21)
hotel MONday Asakusa
Status: Booked
Area: Asakusa — near Sensoji, Micro Pig Cafe, and Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station
Dates: Sat, Jul 18–Tue, Jul 21 (3 nights)
Guests: 4 adults · 2 rooms
Booked through: Expedia · booked by Daniela
Hotel confirmation: 20***************
Expedia itinerary: 7207**********
Check-in: 3:00 PM | Check-out: 10:00 AM
Changes/cancellation: Only Daniela, the person who booked the stay, can change or cancel it.
🏨 Booked Hotel — Final Stay (Jul 28–30)
Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro
Status: Booked
Area: Ikebukuro — directly at Ikebukuro Station, next to Pokemon Center MEGA (Day 11) and easy for the Day 12 Mt. Fuji pickup
Dates: Tue, Jul 28–Thu, Jul 30 (2 nights)
Guests: 4 adults · 2 rooms
Booked through: Expedia · booked by Daniela
Hotel confirmation: 20***************
Expedia itinerary: 7207**********
Check-in: 3:00 PM | Check-out: 12:00 PM
Changes/cancellation: Only Daniela, the person who booked the stay, can change or cancel it.
Kyoto (July 21-24)
Dates: 3 nights
🏨 Booked Hotel
Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto
Status: Booked
Area: Shijo-Karasuma / downtown — central, walkable to Gion & Nishiki
Dates: Jul 21–24 (3 nights)
Confirmation: In app
Check-in: 3:00 PM | Check-out: 11:00 AM
Osaka (July 24-28)
Dates: 4 nights
🏨 Booked Hotel
Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu
Status: Booked
Area: Hommachi (Chuo-ku) — at Hommachi Station on the Midosuji line, ~1 stop north of Shinsaibashi; central and walkable to Shinsaibashi/Dotonbori
Dates: Jul 24–28 (4 nights)
Confirmation: In app
Check-in: 3:00 PM | Check-out: 11:00 AM
Summary
| Segment | Dates | Nights | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo 1 | Jul 18-21 | 3 | hotel MONday Asakusa |
| Kyoto | Jul 21-24 | 3 | Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto |
| Osaka | Jul 24-28 | 4 | Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu |
| Tokyo 2 | Jul 28-30 | 2 | Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro |
| Total | 12 |
Connectivity
eSIM (one per phone)
Provider: Ubigi or Airalo (recommended)
Setup: Install and activate before departure — eSIM activates when you land
Coverage: 4 individual eSIMs (Papa, Mama, Bubu, Gaby)
Why eSIM over pocket WiFi: Everyone stays connected even when separated. No device to charge, carry, or return. Teens can navigate independently.
Airport Transfers
Arrival (July 18) — Haneda (HND)
DL295 lands at Haneda (HND) at 2:15 PM. First stay is hotel MONday Asakusa:
- Keikyu Airport Line → Toei Asakusa Line (direct): Haneda to Asakusa Station with no transfer (~40 min), then take a short taxi or walk about 15–20 minutes to the hotel
- Nearest stations: Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station (A1 exit, ~6 min walk) or Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station (Exit 1, ~11 min walk)
- Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho, then transfer if heading elsewhere (~15 min to Hamamatsucho)
- Airport Limousine Bus / taxi — simplest with luggage after a 14-hour flight, but slower in traffic
At Haneda on arrival: exchange dollars to yen, pick up/activate IC cards (Suica/Pasmo), and confirm your eSIM is live before leaving the terminal.
Departure (July 30)
Departure (July 30) — Haneda (HND)
DL294 departs Haneda 3:15 PM — be at airport by 12:00-12:30 PM
At the airport (Japan side):
- Tax-free purchases will be verified against passport records
- Keep all tax-free paperwork accessible until after US customs
- Allow extra time if checking inventory-heavy suitcases
Ikebukuro (final hotel) to Haneda (HND):
- Keikyu / Tokyo Monorail via a quick JR hop to Hamamatsucho or Shinagawa (~45–60 min door-to-door)
- Airport Limousine Bus runs from major hubs — simplest with luggage
- Allow 2.5–3 hours before this international flight