Japan Trip

Index - Link to Dates

Day 1 | 7 Jan 2026 | Travel

Depart: Durban on 7 Jan 2026 at 07:00am; arriving Joberg at 08:0am.

Depart: Joberg on 7 Jan 2026 at 09:10; arriving Abu Dhabi at 19:45pm.

Depart: Abu Dabhi on 7 Jan 2026 at 21:05.

Day 2 | 08 Jan 2026 | Arrive | Richmond Hote, Chiba

The Details

• Arrive: Narita Airport on 8 Jan 2025 at 11:45am.
• Buy a SUICA card for the trains.
• Travel to Keisei Narita Station.
• Walk to hotel (about 10 min).
• Accommodation: Richmond Hotel
• Find something to eat at a cafe.

Day 3 | 09 Jan 2026 | Explore | Richmond Hotel, Chiba

The Details

• Breakfast in the hotel.
• Walk to Naritasan Shinsho-ji temple.
• Visit Museum of Calligraphy (on-site) - R80 entrance fee.
• Will likely take the whole morning.
• Lunch in the area.
• Walk to the Narita Yokan Museum (aka Nagomi-Yoneya Flagship Shop), open morning to afternoon, no charge.
• Dinner in the area somewhere.

Day 4 | 10 Jan 2026 | Explore | Richmond Hotel, Chiba

The Details

• Breakfast in the hotel.
• Catch the bus/train to Sawara Station; it's about an hour's journey.
• Start with the visitors center.
• Visit Seibundo Bookstore.
• Visit Suwa Shrine
• General Exploration with lunch in the area; lots of historic old buildings.
• Plan to return at around 3pm.
• Dinner in the area.

Day 5 | 11 Jan 2026 | Travel | APA Hotel, Kiba

The Details

• Breakfast in the hotel and then check out.
• Transfer to APA Hotel.
• Walk to Keisei Narita station (10 min).
• Train to Keisei-Funabashi (46min).
• Transfer from Keiseu-Funabashi to Nishi-Funabashi.
• Transfer from Nishi-Funabashi to subway (Tozai line) to Kiba Station (27min).
• Walk to APA hotel (10min) and leave luggage.
• Time permitting, walk to Museum of Contemporary Art.
• General exploration.

Day 6 | 12 Jan 2026 | Explore | APA Hotel, Kiba

The Details

• Start by finding breakfast (none at hotel).
• Travel to Yamamoto Tei; plan for the whole morning there.
• On the way back visit the following as they are all in the same area.
• Kasai Shrine.
• Also Shibamata Taishakuten Shrine.
• Also Taishakuten Sando (food and stores).
• Return in the afternoon to APA Hotel.
• Dinner nearby.

Day 7 | 13 Jan 2026 | Explore Kawasaki | APA Hotel, Kiba

The Details

• Leave early and find breakfast on the way.
• Destination is the open air museum and exploring the general area.
• Walk to Kiba station (20 min).
• Catch the Tozai Line to Otemachi Station.
• Walk from the station to Tokyo Metroe Chiyoda Line.
• Catch train to Yoyogi-Uehara Station.
• Catch train to Odakyu Line to Mukogaoka Yuen stations, walk the rest.
• Total Time: 90min.
• Visit Nihon Minka-en, open air museum.
• Explore area
• Return.

Day 8 | 14 Jan 2026 | Travel | Shangri-La, Kanagawa

The Details

• Leave early and find breakfast on the way.
• Head to Kanagawa.
• Check out and walk to Tozai Line, catch train to Toyko Station.
• From Tokyo station catch a train direct to Kamakura Station.
• Try drop off luggage - explore and relax today.

Day 9 | 15 Jan 2026 | Explore | Shangri-La, Kanagawa

The Details

• Leave early and go to Tully's for breakfast (30min walk) or
• 17 Min by rail ( see Google Maps)
• Visit Kotuku-in Temple - Buddhist Temple (30 min walk).
• Head to the beach for a picture of Mount Fuji.
• Optional 2 hour calligraphy class
• General exploration
• Make today a relaxed day.

Day 10 | 16 Jan 2026 | Travel | Kyoto

The Details

• Checkout early, get breakfast alongthe way.
• Head to Kita-Kamakura Station, follow Google instructions.
• Entire trip should take around 3 hours.
• Head to the Waka Kyoto Kawaramachi hotel
• Drop off luggage and explore a little.

Day 11 | 17 Jan 2026 | Explore | Nara

The Details

• Leave early and find breakfast on the way.
• Head to Nara (only an hour away).
• Feed the deer at Nara Park.
• Visit Todaiji Temple.
• Visit Kasuga Taisha shrine on the east side of the park
• Catch a bus down to visit Byodoin Temple.
• Return to Kyoto.

Day 12 | 18 Jan 2026 | Explore | Kyoto

The Details

• Leave early and find breakfast on the way.
• Start with the famous Fushimi Inari Taisha and the red gates - get there early!
• Next head to the Bamboo Forrest and visit Okochi Sanso Garden.
• Now just relax and stroll and enjoy before the final day of travel back to Tokyo.

Day 13 | 19 Jan 2026 | Travel | Tokyo

The Details

• Check out and return to Tokyo
• Link to Google maps directions.

Day 14 | 20 Jan 2026 | Travel | South Africa

The Details

• Check out and begin the journey back to SA
• Flight Details

Accommodation

Flight Details

General Costs