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Hotel
Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo · Conf# 27044SG361935
2-2-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-8330
Friday, Aug 14 — Arrival
~2:15 PM
Arrive Haneda (HND)
Private airport transfer to hotel · 45–60 min
$100–160
Evening
Obon Festival (Bon Odori)
Lantern displays · Bon dancing · Taiko drumming · Festival food
Dinner
Rokkasen — Wagyu BBQ
3-34-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
$60–120/person
Saturday, Aug 15 — Tokyo Highlights
8:00 AM
Senso-ji Temple
2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito City
Free
9:30 AM
Nakamise Shopping Street
Asakusa, Taito City
12:00 PM
Lunch in Asakusa
$20–40/person
2:00 PM
Meiji Shrine
1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City
Free
3:30 PM
Harajuku / Takeshita Street
Free entry · shopping
5:30 PM
Shibuya Crossing
Free
6:30 PM
Shibuya Sky — sunset views
Shibuya Scramble Square, 2-24-12 Shibuya
~$18–25/person
Sunday, Aug 16 — Action Day
Early morning · ~6:00–9:00 AM
Sumo stable practice (keiko)
Watch wrestlers train up close — book well in advance, strict early start
Book in advance
Afternoon
Street Kart
Go-kart through Tokyo streets in costume · International Driving Permit required
IDP required
Evening
teamLab Planets
Immersive digital art museum, Toyosu · timed entry — book in advance
Book in advance
Monday, Aug 17 — Mt. Fuji & Hakone Day Trip
Morning · early departure
Chureito Pagoda
Iconic five-story pagoda framing Mt. Fuji — go early for best light
Mid-morning
Lake Kawaguchiko & Oishi Park
Lakeside views of Mt. Fuji · lavender fields in season
Afternoon
Hakone Ropeway & Owakudani
Aerial gondola over volcanic valley · try the black sulfur eggs
Late afternoon
Hakone Yuryo — private onsen
Reserve in advance · perfect wind-down after a full day on your feet
Reserve in advance
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Hotel
Hilton Kyoto · Conf# TBD
416 Shimomaruyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto 604-8006
Aug 18–19 — Temples & Culture
Gion District
Traditional geisha district, evening walk
Free
Nishiki Market
"Kyoto's Kitchen" — local food stalls
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Free
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Thousands of torii gates
Free
Wednesday, Aug 19 — Andrea's 54th Birthday 🎂
Kimono rental & professional photographer
Stunning portraits in historic Kyoto
Kaiseki birthday dinner
Kikunoi Honten or Gion Karyo recommended
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Hotel
Waldorf Astoria Osaka · Conf# 3483115427
Grand Green Osaka North Tower, Kita Ward, Osaka
Aug 20–21 — Osaka Exploration
Osaka Castle
Free grounds
Kuromon Ichiba Market
Fresh seafood, street food galore
Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi
Iconic canal district · neon signs · street food
Free
Umeda Sky Building
Floating Garden Observatory
Friday, Aug 21 — Frank's 50th Birthday 🎂
Kobe Beef dinner
Kobe Beef Steak Mouriya Lin · the ultimate celebration meal
Tombori River Cruise
Dotonbori canal cruise at night — magical city lights
Late night · ~11:00 PM
GHOST Ultra Lounge — first stop
Upscale VIP lounge · hip-hop & R&B · bottle service · LED dance floor · English-speaking staff
2-17-3 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-ku · near Shinsaibashi & Namba stations
Late night · ~1:00 AM
PURE OSAKA — finish the night
20+ year hip-hop & Black music institution · New York club culture · international crowd
Near Dotonbori / Shinsaibashi · bring passport for entry at both clubs
Saturday, Aug 22 — Departure
Nozomi Shinkansen → Tokyo HND
Allow plenty of time before 6:25 PM departure
6:25 PM
DL0274 — HND → DTW → RDU
Arrive Raleigh 11:25 PM