KEY TIMES Don’t Miss These
| Time | What |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | Leave hotel |
| 12:30 | Be seated at Marugo (lunch closes 2 PM!) |
| 13:00 | Pedestrian Paradise starts |
| 17:00 | Leave Akihabara for Skytree |
| 17:45 | Be at Skytree 4F Ticket Counter |
| 18:00 | Entry window opens |
| 18:11 | 🌅 Sunset — be on the west deck! |
| 19:15 | ⚠️ Leave Skytree — head to Shinjuku |
| 20:00 | 🍢 Be at Torikizoku — reservation! |
CHECK Before Leaving Hotel
- Phone fully charged
- Skytree QR voucher loaded (confirmation email)
- Torikizoku booking confirmation saved (20:00 JST)
- Pocket WiFi / SIM with data working
- ¥20,000–30,000 cash (Marugo + taxis + shops)
- Credit cards as backup
- Comfortable walking shoes (15,000+ steps today)
- Light jacket for Skytree evening (cooler at 450m)
- Small backpack for purchases
- Water bottles
- Suica/Pasmo topped up (¥3,000+ each)
- Google Maps pinned: Kanda Myojin, Marugo, Skytree, Torikizoku, hotel
- Google Maps offline Tokyo map saved
6:30 Breakfast — Southern Tower Dining
☕ Southern Tower Dining (20F)
6:30–10:30 AM (last order 10:00) · ¥3,800/adult, ¥1,800/kids 6–12
Buffet with panoramic Shinjuku skyline views.
Tip: Arrive before 8 AM for best views & less crowd.
Buffet with panoramic Shinjuku skyline views.
Tip: Arrive before 8 AM for best views & less crowd.
9:15 Morning Walk — Yoyogi
Quick walk around Yoyogi before heading to Akihabara. Railroad crossings, Broadway Diner, morning vibes.
10:00 Train to Ochanomizu
🚃 Shinjuku → Ochanomizu
JR Chuo Line (Rapid) — orange line
Direction: Tokyo / Chiba · ~14 min, 4 stops · ¥170/adult
Exit: Hijiribashi Exit (聖橋口)
Direction: Tokyo / Chiba · ~14 min, 4 stops · ¥170/adult
Exit: Hijiribashi Exit (聖橋口)
- Tap in with Suica/Pasmo IC card
- Runs every 3–5 min on Sunday
- Avoid Sobu Local (yellow) — slower
10:30 Kanda Myojin Shrine
⛩️ 神田明神 · Kanda Myojin
2-16-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda · Free · Always open
~5 min walk downhill from Hijiribashi Exit
~5 min walk downhill from Hijiribashi Exit
- Main hall — beautifully restored vermilion + gold
- Anime ema plaques — famous “anime shrine” from Love Live!
- Shrine shop: anime collabs + IT/tech charms (patron shrine of Akihabara techies!)
- Great family photo spot
Duration: 20–30 minutes
📍 Open in Maps11:00 Ochanomizu Guitar Street
Tokyo’s music gear heart — Meidai-dori has 30+ music shops in 3 blocks. ~5 min walk south from Kanda Myojin.
🎸 Ishibashi Music (石橋楽器)
11 AM–7 PM · THE flagship — 6 floors of guitars, basses, drums, synths
🎯 For Luca: Guitar & bass paradise + drum floor
📍 Maps
🎯 For Luca: Guitar & bass paradise + drum floor
🎧 Audio Union (オーディオユニオン)
11 AM–7 PM · Legendary used hi-fi — vintage amps, turntables, tubes
🎯 For Max: Used hi-fi heaven
📍 Maps
🎯 For Max: Used hi-fi heaven
🥁 Drum Connection
11 AM–7 PM · Specialty drum & cymbal shop
🎯 For Luca: Drum specialist — try kits
📍 Maps
🎯 For Luca: Drum specialist — try kits
🍜 Yoshinoya (吉野家) — Quick Lunch on Guitar Street
We grabbed lunch here between music shops — fast, cheap, and surprisingly great. Gyudon (beef bowls) ordered via tablet, no wait. Perfect fuel for a long day.
⚠️ Budget time — lunch at Marugo closes at 2 PM! Leave by 12:15.
12:30 Lunch — Tonkatsu Marugo
🏆 とんかつ 丸五 · Tonkatsu Marugo
1-8-14 Sotokanda · Tel: +81 3-3255-6595
Sun: 11:30–14:00 / 17:00–20:00 · ~¥2,000–3,500/person
⭐ 4.5 · 3,011 reviews · ~8 min walk from Guitar Street
Sun: 11:30–14:00 / 17:00–20:00 · ~¥2,000–3,500/person
⭐ 4.5 · 3,011 reviews · ~8 min walk from Guitar Street
What to order:
- Tokujo Rosu Katsu set (特上ロースかつ定食) — premium loin, ~¥3,000
- Hire Katsu set (ヒレかつ定食) — leaner tenderloin
- Sets include rice, miso, pickles, cabbage (free refills)
⚠️ Arrive by 12:30 — line can be 20 min at peak, lunch ends sharply at 2 PM.
💴 Bring cash (may not take cards).
📍 Navigate to Marugo
💴 Bring cash (may not take cards).
🌷 Backup: Dan Da Dan Gyoza
3-1-13 Sotokanda · 11 AM–11:30 PM · ⭐ 4.7
Use if Marugo line is 30+ min. Juicy “exploding” gyoza + mapo tofu.
13:45 Chuo-dori Pedestrian Paradise
🚶 Chuo-dori closed to cars: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Sundays & holidays)
~5 min walk east from Marugo. Walk down the middle of the road!
🎮 Yodobashi Camera Akiba
9:30 AM–10 PM · 9 floors — electronics, cameras, toys, hobby, watches
🎯 Entire family — Luca loves hobby/gaming floors
📍 Maps
🎯 Entire family — Luca loves hobby/gaming floors
👼 Radio Kaikan (秋葉原ラジオ会館)
10 AM–8 PM · 10 floors of collectibles, figures, toys
5F Uchuusen = THE Sonny Angel paradise (rare/vintage editions!)
🎯 For Seraphima: Budget extra time here!
📍 Maps
5F Uchuusen = THE Sonny Angel paradise (rare/vintage editions!)
🎯 For Seraphima: Budget extra time here!
🎮 Super Potato (スーパーポテト)
11 AM–8 PM · Legendary retro game shop — Nintendo, Sega, vintage consoles, old arcades on top floor
🎯 Whole family — one of the most iconic Akihabara stops
📍 Maps
🎯 Whole family — one of the most iconic Akihabara stops
📚 Book Off Akihabara Ekimae
10 AM–10 PM · Cheap used manga, books, CDs, games
🎯 For Seraphima: Cheap used books/manga
📍 Maps
🎯 For Seraphima: Cheap used books/manga
🎧 Dynamic Audio 5555
11 AM–7 PM · 5 floors of high-end hi-fi — each floor a different listening room
🎯 For Max: Bucket-list hi-fi shop
📍 Maps
🎯 For Max: Bucket-list hi-fi shop
Everything within 10 min walk. Use Yodobashi for AC, bathrooms, vending machines.
15:15 Beard Papa’s Cream Puffs
🍮 Beard Papa’s (ビアードパパ) — Akihabara
Right near Akihabara Station · Fresh-filled cream puffs made to order
Amazing mid-afternoon treat — crispy outside, silky custard inside.
Amazing mid-afternoon treat — crispy outside, silky custard inside.
15:45 Glitch Coffee & Roasters
☕ Glitch Coffee & Roasters
~20 min walk from Akihabara · Kanda area
Specialty coffee with a beautiful bar counter
Specialty coffee with a beautiful bar counter
17:00 Akihabara → Skytree
🚕 Option A: Taxi (RECOMMENDED)
~15 min · ~¥2,500 for 4 people
Pickup: Akihabara Station taxi stand (Electric Town Exit)
Say: “Tokyo Skytree 4F Sky Arena”
Pickup: Akihabara Station taxi stand (Electric Town Exit)
Say: “Tokyo Skytree 4F Sky Arena”
🚃 Option B: Train (~¥1,040 for 4)
Akihabara → Asakusa (Hibiya Line, ~5 min) → Oshiage (Asakusa Line, ~3 min)
Recommendation: Take the taxi. Easier with kids after a full day. ¥2,500 is cheap for the convenience.
📍 Navigate to Skytree18:00 Tokyo Skytree Entry
🎫 Entry Window: 18:00–18:29 JST
Booking: ARS_SKYTREE_LINK-20260407-Y3MB · Name: Jenssen Maxim
Tembo Deck (350m) + Tembo Galleria (450m) · 3 Adults + 1 Child · ¥14,000
Booking: ARS_SKYTREE_LINK-20260407-Y3MB · Name: Jenssen Maxim
Tembo Deck (350m) + Tembo Galleria (450m) · 3 Adults + 1 Child · ¥14,000
Entry Instructions:
- Go to 4F Ticket Counter (Sky Arena)
- Present the 2D barcode on your phone
- Make sure phone has internet — voucher loads via web
- High-speed elevator goes up at ~600m/min!
Tembo Deck (350m)
- 360° views, café, glass floor section
- Head WEST for sunset at 18:11
- Clear days: Mt. Fuji, Tokyo Tower, Shinjuku, Tokyo Bay
Tembo Galleria (450m)
- Spiraling skywalk — highest accessible point in Tokyo
- Sorakara Point at 451.2m — the absolute top
- Stay 30+ min during blue hour (18:30–19:30) for best city lights
18:11 Sunset & Blue Hour
| 18:11 | 🌅 Sunset — west-facing windows |
| 18:11–18:40 | Golden hour fading to deep orange |
| 18:40–19:15 | 📷 Blue hour — BEST for photos |
Photo tips:
- Turn off flash (reflects off glass)
- Put phone lens directly against glass to kill reflections
- West = sunset + Mt. Fuji silhouette
- South = Tokyo Tower lit up in orange
- North = Asakusa + Sumida River
⚠️ LEAVE BY 19:15 to make the 20:00 dinner reservation at Torikizoku!
19:15 Skytree → Shinjuku
🚃 Option A: Train (~45 min, ~¥500/person)
Hanzomon Line: Oshiage → Shibuya (direct), then JR Yamanote → Shinjuku
🚕 Option B: Taxi (~30–40 min, ~¥5,000–6,000)
Faster if running late. Door-to-door.
⚠️ If running behind, take a taxi. Don’t miss the 20:00 dinner reservation.
20:00 Dinner — Torikizoku
🍢 Reservation: 20:00 JST · Party of 4 · Booked via ebisol/Google
Confirmation sent to [email protected]
Confirmation sent to [email protected]
🍢 Torikizoku Shinjuku South Exit (鳥貴族 新宿南口店)
Large multi-floor chain izakaya · Table seating
All items ¥327 (incl. tax) — extremely affordable
English tablet menu with pictures — kids can order easily
Expected total for 4: ~¥8,000–12,000 (~$55–80)
All items ¥327 (incl. tax) — extremely affordable
English tablet menu with pictures — kids can order easily
Expected total for 4: ~¥8,000–12,000 (~$55–80)
What to order:
- Yakitori skewers (momo, negima, tsukune)
- Karaage (fried chicken)
- Edamame, rice bowls
- Non-alcoholic drinks for kids
Location perk: Shinjuku South Exit — closest exit to Hotel Century Southern Tower. ~5 min walk back to hotel after dinner.
📍 Navigate to Torikizoku22:00 Return to Hotel
~5 min walk from Torikizoku to Hotel Century Southern Tower.
Early bedtime recommended — Monday is Asakusa day with 11:30 AM lunch at Tensan.