Day 4: Sumida Park Bullet Train to see the Snow Monkeys

Before saying goodbye to Tokyo, I took a peaceful stroll through Sumida Park, a beautiful riverside park near our Airbnb. The cherry blossom trees were starting to show hints of pink, and the morning air was crisp—a perfect farewell to this interesting city.  

From there, our journey continued! We left Tokyo Station and boarded our very first Shinkansen—Japan’s legendary bullet train, which reaches speeds of over 200 miles per hour. We watched the city skyline blur past as we sped toward the mountains…

Before leaving the station, we stocked up on Bento boxes to eat on the train; this is the first of many:

After arriving at Nagano Station, we transferred to the Nagano Dentetsu Line, which took us to Yudanaka Station. 

From there, a short bus ride brought us to our much-anticipated destination: Jigokudani Monkey Park, home to Japan’s famous snow monkeys.  

Seeing these wild macaques up close was so cool! In the winter, despite not being naturally drawn to water, the monkeys soak in the steaming hot springs to stay warm—a sight that has made them world-famous. When they weren’t enjoying their natural spa, we saw them huddled together in tight groups, their fluffy fur dusted with snow. Watching their interactions, from playful chases to relaxed lounging in the warm water, was very entertaining.  

After our visit with the snow monkeys, we continued on the train to our absolutely lovely hotel in Kanazawa, where we kicked back and enjoyed a cozy happy hour together. Most of the group then set off in search of a local ramen spot, eager to warm up with a steaming bowl of Japan’s beloved comfort food.  

A perfect day filled with breathtaking scenery, wildlife, and delicious food!  

Day 3: Uemo Park and the Tokyo National Museum

While half of our group spent the day experiencing the magic of Tokyo DisneySea, Scott and I opted for a different kind of adventure—exploring the cultural treasures of Ueno Park.  

Scott headed to the National Museum of Western Art, eager to check out the architectural design of a famous Le Corbusier building. Meanwhile, I spent a couple of hours at the Tokyo National Museum, learning about Japan’s rich history. The museum was really well-signed, making it easy to navigate and absorb fascinating details about Japan’s art, samurai culture, and ancient traditions. I loved the opportunity to learn more about the country beyond what I’d seen so far.  

I had hoped to attend the 2:30 PM English Mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, which was either a 40-minute walk or a 24-minute train ride away. However, since I would have been venturing out on my own without internet access, I ultimately decided against it. The idea of getting lost in the world’s largest city with no way to call or text anyone was a little too daunting! Instead, I returned to our Airbnb and joined Fr. Mike Schmitz’s online Mass—not the same as in person but adequate given the circumstances.  

Interestingly, only 1% of the Japanese population is Catholic, so Catholic sites in Japan are not prevalent. Inspired by Hallow’s Pray40 Lenten series, I’ve been listening to “Song for Nagasaki” (this audiobook is available for free on FORMED), which outlines the powerful conversion story of Takashi Nagai, a scientist, convert and survivor of the atomic bomb. It tells the moving story of his spiritual journey from Shintoism to atheism to Catholicism. It’s a great read/listen; I highly recommend!

The Disney crew returned around 9:30 PM, full of excitement and stories about their day. Hearing about their adventures made me wish I could be in two places at once—but felt good about my peaceful, history-filled day in Ueno!

Day 2: Tokyo

The adventure for the day was navigating the subway system here in Tokyo, the largest city in the world! 

Our first stop was teamLabs Borderless—a fascinating interactive virtual museum—an awe-inspiring digital art museum that completely immerses you in a world of light, color, and motion. I’ve never experienced anything like it—stepping inside felt like entering a dream where art moves, breathes, and responds to your touch.  

On the way, we walked by Tokyo Tower and the evidence of the start of cherry blossom season:

From there, we hopped on the subway toward Shibuya, home to the world-famous Shibuya Crossing—the busiest pedestrian intersection on the planet. Watching the sea of people surge in all directions when the lights changed was mesmerizing! Just a short walk away, was the Hachiko Statue, a tribute to Japan’s most loyal dog. If you ever want a heartwarming (and tear-jerking) movie based on a true story, I highly recommend “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale”.  

Next, we passed through Shinjuku Station, the busiest train station in the world, where over 3.5 million commuters move through its maze of platforms and corridors each day. 

Just a few blocks away, we arrived at Shinjuku Gyoen, once an imperial garden and now a beautifully maintained public park. The cherry blossoms were just beginning to emerge, delicate pink buds hinting at the breathtaking bloom to come. We enjoyed a peaceful stroll through the park, soaking in the contrast between nature’s beauty and the towering city skyline beyond.  

After our relaxing walk, I set off on an ambitious 9-mile walking tour of Tokyo! Highlights included the interesting St. Mary’s Cathedral, several serene Shinto shrines, and the vast green spaces of Ueno Park. I had hoped to attend Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral at 4:30 PM, but after waiting for about ten minutes with no sign of a service starting, I decided to return to our Airbnb. I would have loved to find another location for a Saturday evening Mass, but my Verizon international plan had been acting up since I arrived, leaving me unable to search for nearby options. Instead, Id try again tomorrow—would love to attend a Japanese mass!

After a short break, I headed back out with David, Maria Rose, and Josie for one last adventure of the night: ascending Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in Japan and one of the most impressive structures in the world.  

Fun Facts About Tokyo Skytree:

- Tallest Structure in Japan– At 634 meters (2,080 feet), it is the tallest tower in the world and the second tallest structure overall, behind only the Burj Khalifa.  

- Broadcasting Hub – Built to replace Tokyo Tower, it now serves as the city’s primary television and radio broadcasting  center.  

- Architectural Marvel– Designed to withstand earthquakes, its structure blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with cutting-edge seismic engineering, inspired by ancient pagodas.  

- Panoramic Views – Its two observation decks offer breathtaking 360-degree views of Tokyo, and on a clear day, you can even spot Mount Fuji in the distance

- Cultural Significance– The name “Skytree” reflects Japan’s harmony between nature and innovation. Its height, 634 meters, is also a reference to history—"634" can be read as “Musashi,” the old name for the region around Tokyo.  

Standing at the top of Skytree, looking out over the twinkling cityscape, was the perfect way to end our first full day in Tokyo.  

Day 1: Arrival into Tokyo, Japan

 Arrived into Tokyo, Japan around 7:30pm Friday night (after departing DTW at 5pm). Unfortunately, we arrived minus one person as a result of Nancy grabbing an older, expired version of her passport. Randy Schaffer made a valiant effort to grab her passport from the Theis house in Lansing, but ended up overheating the engine with his 80+ mph speeding, attempting to get Nancy her passport before the doors to the airplane closed.

David made wonderful arrangements to have a car and driver pick us up to take us to our VRBO in Asakusa. After a long day of travel, we barely had time to drop our bags at the Airbnb before excitement pulled us out the door—Sensoji Temple was practically in our backyard! Just a short stroll down the lantern-lit street, and there it was: Tokyo’s oldest and most breathtaking temple. The crowds had thinned, leaving behind a peaceful atmosphere.  

After soaking in the temple’s beauty, we wandered the neighborhood in search of food and stumbled upon a tiny ramen joint tucked away in a quiet alley. The kind of place you’d never notice unless you were looking for it—the best kind. We ordered steaming bowls of ramen with deep flavors and rich broth—nothing like the cheap 25 cent ramen packets we all know and love from home!

Huge props to Dave for picking a great Airbnb in such convenient location!  

The Sensoji temple:    

Ramen!:

Good night!