✦ Family Journey

Japan · 冬の旅

東京 & 越後湯沢
10 – 22 December 2026  ·  13 days
👨‍👩‍👧 You · Samantha · Daisy (10)
13
Days
12
Nights
3
Destinations
2
Flights
✈️
ANA
🇯🇵
Winter

📅 Trip Timeline

Flights & accommodations
✈️Day 1 · Thu 10 DecSingapore → Tokyo
NH842 · ANA
Booking FD3YM4
10:45 18:25 6h 40m
Changi T2 → Haneda
Outbound
🛬 Arrive Tokyo
🏙️Days 1–310–13 Dec · 3 nights

Hotel Groove Shinjuku

A Parkroyal Hotel · 新宿
Premier Suite King — Shinjuku's beating heart. Steps from Shinjuku Station, Golden Gai, and Christmas illuminations.
Tokyo · Shinjuku
🚄 Shinkansen · ~1.5h to Yuzawa
♨️Days 4–913–19 Dec · 6 nights

Echigo Yuzawa Onsen

湯沢グランドホテル · 越後湯沢
Room with Half Open-Air Bath — Niigata's legendary snow country. Ski slopes, sake, hot springs.
Yuzawa · Snow Country
🚄 Shinkansen · ~1.5h back to Tokyo
🗼Days 9–1219–22 Dec · 3 nights

Back to Tokyo

Accommodation TBD
⏳ Two options — decide later
• Hotel Groove Shinjuku — Garden Suite King
• Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya — King w/ Sofa Bed
To Be Decided
🛫 Depart Tokyo
✈️Day 13 · Tue 22 DecTokyo → Singapore
NH801 · ANA
Booking FD3YM4
18:20 00:55+1 7h 35m
Narita T1 → Changi T2
Return

🏙️ Tokyo · Shinjuku

10–13 Dec · 3 nights · Hotel Groove Shinjuku (Premier Suite King)
🎨

TeamLab Borderless

Azabudai Hills · 15min taxi
ACTIVITYINDOOR
Immersive digital art wonderland — Daisy will love walking through water, flowers, and light projections. Book tickets early.
🎡

Shibuya Sky

Shibuya Scramble Square · 5min train
ACTIVITYOUTDOOR
Rooftop 360° view. Go at sunset with Christmas illuminations below.
🌸

Shinjuku Gyoen Garden

5min walk from Hotel Groove
ACTIVITYFREE
Spacious Japanese garden with late autumn colours. Peaceful stroll, greenhouse, café.
🎀

Kiddy Land Harajuku

Takeshita Street · 5min train
ACTIVITYFREE
5 floors of Sanrio, Ghibli, Pokémon goods. Free to browse.
🍜

Afuri Ramen

Shinjuku & Shibuya locations
VIRAL EATSRAMEN
Yuzu-shio ramen — light citrus broth. Not too heavy, Daisy will love it.
🥞

Harajuku Crepes

Takeshita Street
VIRAL EATS
Over-the-top crepes stuffed with fruit, ice cream, whipped cream. Daisy's dream dessert.
🍣

Gonpachi Nishiazabu

Shibuya · 10min taxi
ICONICIZAKAYA
The "Kill Bill" restaurant — dramatic interior, lively family-friendly dinner.
🐷

Mipig Café

Shibuya · 10min walk
VIRALINDOOR
Micro pig café! Cuddle and feed mini pigs. Book ahead.
💡

Christmas Illuminations

Various locations
FREE
Shinjuku Terrace City, Shibuya Blue Cave, Roppongi Hills. Free and stunning.
🍫

KitKat Chocolatory

Isetan Shinjuku · 5min walk
SOUVENIR
Custom KitKat bars — matcha, sake, strawberry. Perfect omiyage.
🥪

Age.3 Ginza

Ginza · ¥100 sandwich
VIRAL EATS
Japan's cheapest sandwich — ¥100 (~$0.67)! Featured by Strictly Dumpling. TikTok/IG viral spot.
🐷

Hakata Tenjin Shinbashi

Shinbashi · ¥650 tonkotsu ramen
RAMENBUDGET
Classic Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen for just ¥650. Famous yellow sign with pink pig. Open till 3:30am — perfect late-night bowl near Ginza/Shinbashi.
🥩

Wagyu Dedesuke

Ginza/Hibiya · A5 Wagyu
ICONICWAGYU
"A5 Amazing Wagyu" specialist — claims better & cheaper than Kobe & Matsuzaka. Must-try.

♨️ Yuzawa Snow Country

13–19 Dec · 6 nights · Echigo Yuzawa Onsen Grand Hotel (Half Open-Air Bath)
🎿

Naeba Ski Resort

20min bus from Yuzawa
SKIFAMILY
Gentle slopes, kids' snow park with tubing & sledding. English instructors.
🏂

Kagura Ski Resort

30min bus · High altitude
SKIFAMILY
Reliable early-season snow. Kids' area, gentle runs, snowshoeing tours.
🚡

Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel

25min bus · Winter walk
SCENERYINDOOR
Frozen waterfalls viewed through tunnel windows. Easy walk for kids.
⛩️

Ponshukan

Across from Echigo Yuzawa Station
LOCAL
Sake tasting for parents, snow play for Daisy. Niigata rice crackers.
🍣

Kappa Sushi

Echigo Yuzawa Station
KID-FRIENDLY
Conveyor belt sushi — fun for kids. Touchscreen ordering, English menu.
🍜

Matsuzaka Soba

10min walk from hotel
LOCAL
Handmade soba — hot or cold. Kids love kake soba. A Yuzawa institution.
🍚

Yukiguni no Tabi

Near station shopping centre
KID-FRIENDLY
Heated tatami seats, kids' sets (curry, udon). Niigata's best rice.
🥟

Bimiya Ramen

Near station
RAMEN
Rich tonkotsu ramen, mild options. Warm bowl after snow play.
♨️

Hotel Onsen

Echigo Yuzawa Onsen Grand Hotel
ONSEN
Open-air rotenburo with snow views. Gender-separated 3-9pm.

🗼 Tokyo · Final Chapter

19–22 Dec · 3 nights · TBD (Groove Shinjuku Garden Suite vs Hyatt House Shibuya)
🐭

Tokyo DisneySea

30min from Shinjuku
FULL DAYFAMILY
Unique Disney park, less crowded in December. Winter events & Christmas decor.
🎀

Sanrio Puroland

Tama Center · 40min train
ACTIVITYINDOOR
Hello Kitty indoor theme park! Parades, rides, meet-and-greets.
🕹️

VR Park Tokyo

Kabukicho · Shinjuku
ACTIVITYINDOOR
VR roller coasters, adventure, zombie shooters. Kid-friendly.
🌳

Moomin House Café

Shinjuku Flags Building
CAFÉINDOOR
Moomin-themed café with character-shaped food. Beloved by kids Daisy's age.
🍰

Dominique Ansel Bakery

Omotesando
VIRAL EATS
Cronut creator — seasonal winter flavours. Go early.
🍱

Pomunoki

Takashimaya Shinjuku · 12F
KID-FRIENDLY
Japanese home cooking — ramen, curry, set meals. Reliable family dinner.

💡 Tips & Reminders

For a smooth family trip
🌡️
Winter Weather

Tokyo 5–12°C / Yuzawa -2–6°C. Pack layers, waterproofs, thermals, gloves. Snow boots for Yuzawa.

🎟️
Book Ahead

DisneySea, TeamLab, Mipig Café — reserve 1 month early. Shinkansen Green Car tickets too.

🚄
Getting Around

Tokyo→Yuzawa: ~1.5h Joetsu Shinkansen. Suica/Pasmo cards work everywhere. Taxis take cash.