Ep.081: Only 2 Days in Tokyo? (Suggested Activities)

Ep.081: Only 2 Days in Tokyo? (Suggested Activities)

Are you planning a cruise from Yokohama? In this episode, we’ll show you some things you could do in Tokyo and Yokohama before you sail. For Canadians and Albertans most especially, there’s even more reason to arrive early in Japan. WestJet now offers year-round non-stop service from Calgary to Tokyo Narrator on their Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Just after over 9 hours and upon landing at Narita Airport, one of the easiest and most convenient ways to reach Yokohama is by taking the airport limusine bus. Tickets are 4,000 yen, which takes you straight to the Yokohama City Air Terminal in about 90 minutes. The buses depart directly from the airport terminals and has spacious seating and plenty of room for luggage. It’s a smooth and convenient way to begin your trip. After one short cab ride, we’re at the hotel. Checking in into the Weston Yokohama places you right into the heart of Minato Marai. Yokohama’s sleek waterfront district. You can head straight and stroll through Yokohama Chinatown, which is the largest in Japan. The variety of restaurants is endless, but one specialty you shouldn’t miss is the Taiwanese fried chicken. M. Crispy, flavorful, and available well into the night. Today, let’s explore a little bit of Tokyo. [Music] From Minatamarai station, you can take a 25-minute train ride to Shin Yokohama Station. [Music] Once you’re in Shen Yokohama Station, you can buy your tickets to ride the Shinkansen to Tokyo Station. Tickets are about 2,000 yen for unreserved seats, and it will take about 18 minutes to reach Tokyo Station. This is a short but great way to experience the Shinkansen, more commonly known as Japan’s bullet train. Upon arrival, spend some time exploring Tokyo station itself. known for its incredible selection of restaurants and shops. We stopped for lunch at this restaurant. Those aren’t noodles. Those are actually finely chopped eggs. So fresh and so yummy. From Tokyo Station, you can enjoy a short walk to the Imperial Palace grounds. Free to visit, the palace offers beautiful gardens and great views of the historic castle walls. Head back to Tokyo station to travel by train to Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s most dynamic districts. For a quick bite, stop at Tendon Tena, a well-known chain specializing in tempura rice bowls. Not to miss is the famous Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest pedestrian intersections in the world. Here you can cross each direction four, six, 10 times or more. I lost count, but I think we crossed it seven or eight times. At peak times, as many as 3,000 people cross from all directions in a single green light. Well, that’s like emptying a small concert venue into one intersection every couple minutes. For locals, it’s just part of daily life, but for visitors, it’s an unforgettable introduction to the city’s energy and rhythm. Besides walking it yourself, one of the best vantage points to watch the crossing is at the sky lobby located at the 11th floor of the Hikaryi building. You can head to Mega Doniote, a short walk from the Shibuya Crossing, which is a multi-story store selling everything from souvenirs, kids, adults toys to a variety of Japanese snacks. While in Shibuya, don’t forget to snap a selfie with Hachiko, the most loyal dog in Japan. He is well known around the world for waiting daily at Shibuya station for his owner who tragically died while away at work. From there we had to cross again to look for dinner. Here we’re ending our day with dinner at Yukatsu Moura where breaded beef cutlets are the house specialty. On our first trip to Japan, we tried yukatsu motoura and loved it so much that we just had to come back. [Music] The perfectly breaded Wagyu beef cutlet is served rare with a hot stone grill so you can cook each bite to your liking. [Music] Today, let’s explore Yokohama. But first, let’s buy our breakfast at 7Eleven. [Music] 7-Eleven in Japan is more than a convenience store. It’s a go-to spot for tasty meals, quick snacks, and daily essentials. [Music] Now we’re headed to Yokohama Landmark Tower Sky Garden located on the 69th floor. You can reach it via Japan’s fastest elevator, zip lifting you from lobby to deck in just 40 seconds. The Sky Garden located on the 69th floor is about 270 m up, offering panoramic views across the city, Tokyo Bay, and even Mount Fuji on clear days. Inside you’ll find comfy seats, a small sky cafe for snacks and sky themed treats, and information displays tracing Yokohama skyline. [Music] Down below you will see the Cosmo World where the Cosmo clock fairs Wheel is located. [Music] Admission tickets to the Sky Garden is 1,000 yen for adults with discounts for students, seniors, and children. [Music] And there she is, Mount Fuji. We’re so lucky to have seen her on this clear day from this vantage point. From this view, you will see the Yokohama Air Cabin, which we will ride later to go to the other side of the harbor. A heads up that the Sky Garden is scheduled to temporarily close from December 31st, 2025 for renovations with a planned reopening sometime in or after 2028. Nearby is the Nikon Maru, a historic sailing ship and museum that reflects Yokohama’s maritime history. She’s often called the Swan of the Pacific because of her elegant white hall and graceful design. You can enter for free, but you have to clean the deck for about 10 minutes. Just kidding. The ticket to enter is really affordable, which is only 400 yen. The ship was launched in 1930 and served as a training vessel for Japanese merchant marine. Over her career, she trained more than 11,500 cadet. She is 97 m long and equipped with 29 sails. [Music] After a short visit to the Nippon Maru, we are now headed to the Yokohama Air Cabin. For only 1,000 yen, you can enjoy a ride on an aerial gondola that takes you across the harbor. [Music] We are headed to World Quarters, a waterfront mall in Manato with over 150 shops and restaurants. Each floor has its own theme from fashion and lifestyle goods to international dining, making it a great spot for shopping and our lunch. [Music] [Music] Just outside World Porters is Cosmo World, a familyfriendly amusement park in Yokohama. It is best known for the Cosmo clock 21 ferris wheel, which we will ride a bit later. [Music] The Cosmo clock 21 is Yokohama’s iconic ferris wheel which stands 112 m tall with a giant clock at its center. A full ride takes about 15 minutes which offers sweeping views of the harbor and at night it glows with colorful illuminations that light up the skyline. [Music] Of [Music] course, no visit to Japan is complete without testing your skills or lack thereof on the famous claw machines. Well, we tried our best, but it looked like a claw machine had other plans. We were desperate to see someone win, so we had to watch this guy who refused to give up. Don’t give up. Don’t give up. Oh, yeah. [Music] We were cheering him on the whole way. So, let’s see if he gets the price. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. [Applause] Hey. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Unbelievable. Oh, how the heck is that hanging on? [Music] [Applause] [Music] Well, at least someone is lucky enough to win something. Our embarcation schedule is not until noon, so we’re having a quick breakfast here at the hotel with 7-Eleven yummy goods. After a short taxi cab ride, now we’re here. We’ve arrived and we’re ready to take on this cruise. Arriving early turns your cruise into more than just a sailing. It becomes a mini adventure in itself. [Music] Stay tuned for more videos and we’re going to do a tour of the entire ship. So subscribe to this channel so you don’t miss it. Keep checking for upcoming videos and live your best life, everyone.

Arriving two or more days before your cruise not only gives you peace of mind in case of travel delays, but it also turns your vacation into a longer adventure. With extra time, you can adjust to the time zone, relax from your journey, and explore your embarkation city. It’s the perfect way to ease into vacation mode while making the most of your destination before you even set sail.

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