Tokyo Anime Tour with Hakone & Mount Fuji Cherry Blossoms

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Single Supplement: USD $420.00

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Ikebukuro is one of the major anime districts of Tokyo, second only to Akihabara in number of anime shops, otaku boutiques, and maid cafes. Ikebukuro is home to Otome Road, which offers stores full of anime, doujinshi (self-published manga), and other merchandise largely geared toward female otakus. Otome Road is also called “Fujyoshi Street”, a term referencing women who enjoy homoerotic romance manga between young men, and while you’ll see plenty of merchandise appealing to this otaku subgroup, but there is something to please any manga/anime fan. Popular stores include the Animate Main Store, Comic Toranoana, Lashinbang (which specializes in character goods), and K-Books Cosplay Pavilion. There is also the Sunshine City shopping complex nearby, known for its Pokemon Center.

Akihabara is, without doubt, the otaku heart of Japan, with countless stores selling merchandise related to anime, manga, and gaming. To some in the anime fan community, Akihabara has become something of an anime pilgrimage site that any true otaku must visit once in their lifetime. Our anime tours visit popular shops such as Animate, Gamers, Radio Kaikan, Lashinbang, Kotobukiya, and Melon Books, which sell a range of collectible merchandise, from character figures and plushies to stationary and everything in-between. But select anime tours include visits to the anime shops hidden in alleys and inside larger stores - rare gems that go missed by tourists and don’t appear on web bloggers’ top 5 lists.

Imagine a world where cute Japanese girls in European- style maid outfits cheerfully greet you in character as their master (or mistress), personally waiting on you and serving you from among a selection of tasty sweets, treats, and drinks. This is the concept of the Japanese maid cafe - an establishment where patrons can enjoy being waited on by a maid for a little while. Guests choose food from a small menu that often includes omurice - a bed of savory rice wrapped in a fluffy omelet. Other dishes are easy comfort foods made with ingredients like hamburger or sweet Japanese curry. They also have cutesy desserts - especially parfaits, and a selection of drinks like coffee, tea, juice, or soft drinks. For an extra fee, customers can usually get a maid to write on their omurice in ketchup (or on desserts with syrup), to make their meal extra “magical”.

Pop Idol groups like AKB48 and Morning Musume are a huge part of Japan’s musical pop culture, and there are even anime (such as Love Live) based on Japan’s pop idol phenomenon. While it is difficult to arrange tickets to see AKB live while in Tokyo, there are “underground idol” groups that play more accessible pop performances throughout the year. Underground idol performances aren’t as professionally manufactured as those of the big name groups, but still maintain their signature cutesy energy and style, so their fans look on underground idols as something like up-and-coming pros, and seeing a performance feels like getting an early look at a music artist before they (hopefully) make it big. So fans of J-Pop Idol groups who want to see a fun and energetic idol performance while visiting Japan can enjoy them at venues in Shinjuku and Akihabara.

The Ghibli Museum is a thorough exhibit showcasing films and art by Studio Ghibli, one of Japan’s largest animation studios. It is renowned as a must see site for all Miyazaki Hayao fans, the creator of celebrated films such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, and many more.

Nakano Broadway is a shopping mall in the Nakano ward of Tokyo. Opening in 1966, it developed over time into one of the top shopping spots to buy various otaku merchandise, especially anime, manga and video game-related merchandise. Three full floors of the shopping center are dedicated to these kinds of cultural goods, which include popular figurines, pop idol CDs, and other collectables. Stores of note include the Mandarake otaku goods chain, which operates no less than twenty-seven different shops in Nakano Broadway alone, with each store focusing on a different category of merchandise, such as a separate store for cosplay costumes, toy robots, and doujinshi books.

Kabukicho is an entertainment district in the Shinjuku region of Tokyo. Originally intended to have a kabuki theater, it now has the reputation of being a red-light district, with a high number of host and hostess clubs, night clubs, and love hotels. Guests visiting Kabukicho on their own should be wary - some of the clubs have hidden fees designed to drain you of your money, but with a good guide you can find some delicious eateries with reasonable prices serving everything from bowls of ramen to grilled yakiniku to quality sushi. Within Kabukicho is Shinjuku Golden Gai - a collection of over 200 small bars and eateries crammed into six narrow alleys. As the streets of Golden Gai are private, photography is restricted and requires a special permit. Some of the bars in Golden Gai are incredibly exclusive, requiring someone who is already a patron to gain entrance, and others cater specifically to locals. But our guides can help you find bars that are open and friendly to foreigners.

The Sensoji Temple located in Asakusa is one of the most popular Buddhist temples to visit. The temple was built and completed in the year 645 and is Tokyo’s oldest temple. The surrounding area offers shopping for souvenirs and food. The Sanja Festival is one of Tokyo’s biggest festivals and is held every May at Asakusa Temple.

Ueno Park is located in next to Ueno Station in Tokyo. This large public park features many museums such as the Tokyo National Museum and the National Science Museum. The entrance of the famous Ueno Zoo is also located in the park. Ueno Park is Tokyo’s most popular location to view the cherry blossoms in the spring, and has a large number of Hanami parties.

Harajuku is known as the center for extreme fashion styles and teenage trends in Japan. The area is located between Shinjuku and Shibuya station on the Yamanote Line. The most famous street in front of Harajuku Station is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street). Along that road there are many trendy shops, secondhand clothes store, and fashion boutiques for shopping. While walking along the street you can see fashionistas dressed up. There are also crepe stands and fast food options for people to enjoy while exploring the street. South of Takeshita Street is Omotesando where more of the famous brand name shops are located. Omotesando is twice the length of Takeshita and is popular among urbanites. The Omotesando Hills is a complex where most of those brands are located including the famed Kiddy Land.

Shibuya Crossing is one of Tokyo's most famous and recognizable locations. Tokyo is a true megalopolis: a city that never sleeps, and the Shibuya Crossing is a perfect example of that endless activity that Tokyo has become known for. Shibuya Crossing sits next to Shibuya Station, and is a multi-directional "scramble crossing" often called the world's busiest intersection, suffering almost no loss of foot traffic no matter the time of day. The Crossing is so iconic that it has been featured in movies, such as Lost in Translation and Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. The crossing is nearby another famous landmark - the statue of Hachiko the Dog sits on one of the corners. And the area has some other nearby attractions to enjoy - go shopping at Shibuya Scramble Square, take in the view from Shibuya Sky, or sit on the second floor of the Tsutaya Starbucks and sip coffee while you watch the bustling crowd on the Crossing below.

Mt. Fuji is a widely-known symbol of Japan. At 3,773 meters, Mount Fuji is Japan’s tallest mountain. “Station (gome)” is the unit representing one tenth of the length from the trail entrance to the top.The fifth station Mt. Fuji is the fifth point from the base at the height of 2,305 meter. Being the end of the Fuji Subaru Line toll road and the highest point that general cars can reach. From the observatory you can see below Komitake Shrine, an ancient place for prayer that has been visited by worshippers and disciplinant, and Yamanaka-ko, the largest lake among the five Fuji lakes.

Lake Ashinoko along with Mount Fuji in the background is the proud symbol of Hakone. One of the best views with the lake and Mount Fuji could be seen from one of the many sightseeing boats. There are a few boat cruises available, but the main two are ran by Hakone Sightseeing Boats and Izuhakone Sightseeing Boats. The best time to come is during the cherry blossom season and when the autumn colors are at its peak.

Owakudani is located in Hakone and is an area around a crater where gaseous fumes, hot springs, and hot rivers exist. Just like most of Hakone, on a clear day, it is possible to see Mount Fuji as well. There are hiking trails available for guests, but these trails are difficult for inexperience hikers.