Tokyo Tower + Dandadan Gyoza

• Dandadan Yoyogi reservation confirmed (5 PM, 4 people)
• Credit card for Tokyo Tower + lunch + Tomica + dinner + transit
• Passport for tax-free at Tomica Shop (First Avenue 1F counter)
• Daypack for souvenirs
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Light jacket — partly cloudy, 21°C
• Camera/phone charged for Tokyo Tower + Zojo-ji

Directions:

1. Walk to Shinjuku Station (~5 min from hotel)
2. Take Toei Oedo Line (🔵 magenta ring) direction Roppongi/Daimon
3. Ride to Akabanebashi Station (赤羽橋駅) (~20 min)
4. Take Akabanebashi Exit → 5 min walk south to Tokyo Tower base

Why visit:

• Tokyo’s iconic 1958 Eiffel-style tower — symbol of post-war Japan
• 333m tall, “international orange” for aviation safety
• Main Deck has 360° views + glass floor section
• More retro and architecturally beautiful than Skytree
• Great views of Tokyo Bay, Mt. Fuji on clear days

Tips:

• Buy tickets at counter on arrival (no advance reservation needed)
• Aim for ~45 min to 1 hour at the tower
• Skip the Top Deck (¥3,500) — Main Deck is plenty after Skytree

Quick facts:

• Built 1958 by Tachū Naitō · 333m (taller than Eiffel Tower at 330m)
• “International Orange” + white per aviation safety law
• Appeared in countless films, anime, and manga as Tokyo’s symbol

Why it’s iconic:

• Founded 1393, family temple of the Tokugawa shoguns
• The signature photo: Zojo-ji’s traditional roof framed by Tokyo Tower behind it — one of Tokyo’s most famous views
• 6 Tokugawa shogun graves on the grounds
• Beautiful Sangedatsumon main gate (1622, designated cultural property)

Photo spot: Stand in front of the main hall, frame the temple roof with Tokyo Tower rising directly behind it. ~15 min.

Lunch at Azabudai Hills (~12:30 PM):

Keep it moderate — leave room for gyoza tonight.

• Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B1F — modern food hall, healthy options, sandwiches, cafés
• Soba/udon counter — quick, light, traditional
• Bento at Hills — pick-and-choose Japanese boxed lunch

Getting there from Azabudai Hills:

1. Walk to Kamiyacho Station (神谷町駅) (~8 min from Azabudai Hills)
2. Take Hibiya Line (🟦 silver/gray) direction Kita-Senju
3. Ride to Ginza Station (~10 min)
4. Transfer to Marunouchi Line (🅌 red) direction Tokyo
5. One stop to Tokyo Station (~2 min)
6. Follow signs to First Avenue Tokyo Station B1F → Character Street

Why Luca will love it:

• ~700 Tomica vehicles on display — massive wall diorama
• Kidult Corner for serious collectors (limited editions, premium lines)
• Interactive digital mini-games with exclusive prizes
• Tokyo Station exclusive models you can’t get anywhere else
• Tax-free for tourists (show passport at First Avenue 1F counter)

Plan ~45 min–1 hour. Credit cards accepted.

Directions:

1. From Character Street, follow signs up to JR Chuo Line platforms
2. Take JR Chuo Line Rapid (🟥 orange) direction Takao/Mitaka
3. Ride direct to Shinjuku Station (~14 min)
4. Walk to hotel (~5 min)

Arrive hotel ~3:30 PM — freshen up, relax, repack.

Easy, flat walk — no transit needed. Same building as Futago last night.

Why it’s a great last-night dinner:

• Juicy handmade gyoza — specially developed skin, hand-wrapped by skilled artisans
• Famous for nikujiru (meat-juice) gyoza that bursts with broth when you bite in
• Chicken wing gyoza, beer pairing, all-you-can-drink courses available
• Big, lively gyoza izakaya — perfect family-friendly last-night vibe
• 15-min walk back to hotel after dinner — no trains, no rush

What to order:

• Nikujiru Gyoza (meat-juice gyoza) — the signature, must-order
• Yaki gyoza assortment — grilled variety platter
• Chicken wing gyoza — stuffed chicken wings, a house specialty
• Kimchi, edamame, fried rice, draft beer for the grownups

Easy stroll home after dinner — no trains needed.

• Pack for tomorrow’s departure
• Quick drink at Southern Tower Bar (20F) for sunset/skyline views
• Charge phones, organize souvenirs
• Early sleep — 5 PM departure tomorrow

Tomorrow (Fri Apr 17): ✈️ Departure day · NH8 NRT → SFO 5:00 PM · N’EX Shinjuku → Narita ~2 PM, leave hotel ~1:15 PM