🇹🇼 🇯🇵

Taiwan & Japan 2026

Lee & Wife · May–June · ~3–4 weeks

✈️ EWR/JFK → TPE → NRT → JFK 🇹🇼 ~3 weeks Taiwan 🇯🇵 7–9 days Japan 2 travelers
Flights
✈️

Getting There

Leg 1
Outbound

JFK → Taipei (TPE)

EVA Air nonstop ~16 hrs. Best option from NYC. China Airlines also flies this route. Budget ~$700–1,100pp economy. Book early for May dates.

Leg 2
Mid-trip

Taipei (TPE) → Tokyo (NRT)

Short ~3 hr hop. EVA Air, China Airlines, or JAL. Usually ~$100–200pp. Book after locking in Japan dates.

Leg 3
Return

Tokyo (NRT) → JFK

EVA Air, ANA, or JAL nonstop ~14 hrs. Often included in multi-city fare. ANA and JAL have excellent service on this route.

Part 1
🇹🇼

Taiwan

~3 weeks
Week 1–3
Family Stay

Staying with Family

Base in Taiwan with family. Great opportunity to explore Taipei deeply, plus day trips around the island. Night markets, hot springs at Beitou, hiking Yangmingshan, day trip to Jiufen and Taroko Gorge.

Part 2
🇯🇵

Japan — 8 Nights

~8–9 days
Day 1
Arrival

Arrive Tokyo

Land at NRT or HND, check in, decompress. Easy first evening: Asakusa and Senso-ji temple at night. Ramen dinner.

Day 2
East Tokyo

Tsukiji · Ginza · Akihabara

Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast — best tamago and fresh sashimi. Hamarikyu Gardens. Browse Ginza. Akihabara if curious. Izakaya dinner in Shinjuku.

Day 3
West Tokyo

Meiji Shrine · Harajuku · Shibuya

Meiji Shrine in the morning (serene, forested). Harajuku and Omotesando for shopping and architecture. Shibuya Crossing at dusk — worth doing. Dinner in Nakameguro.

Day 4
Day Trip

Kamakura or Nikko

Kamakura (1hr south) — Giant Buddha, seaside temples, relaxed vibe. Great for couples. Or Nikko (2hrs north) — ornate shrines, old Japan drama. Back to Tokyo for the night.

Day 5
⭐ Highlight

Hakone — Ryokan Night

Romancecar train Shinjuku → Hakone (~90 mins, scenic). Lake Ashi boat ride with Mt. Fuji views. Check into ryokan: kaiseki dinner, yukata robes, onsen. The highlight of the trip.

Day 6
Kyoto

Hakone → Kyoto

Morning onsen and ryokan breakfast. Shinkansen from Odawara → Kyoto (2.5hrs). Afternoon: Fushimi Inari at dusk. Dinner in Pontocho lantern alley.

Day 7
Kyoto

Arashiyama · Philosopher's Path · Gion

Arashiyama bamboo grove early (7–8am, before crowds). Tenryu-ji garden. Philosopher's Path walk. Nanzen-ji. Izakaya dinner near Gion.

Day 8
Last Night Tokyo

Kyoto → Tokyo · Farewell Dinner

Morning: Nishiki Market or Kinkaku-ji. Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Splurge dinner — omakase sushi (~$80–150pp) or wagyu. Last night in the city.

Day 9
Departure

Fly Home

NRT → JFK. Leave time for airport — NRT is large. Grab airport ramen on the way out.

Budget Estimate
💰

Japan Cost Breakdown

2 people
Category Notes Est. Cost
Flights (2 pax) JFK→TPE→NRT→JFK, economy $1,400–2,200
Hotels (6 nights) Mid-range Tokyo/Kyoto ~$180/night $1,000–1,200
Ryokan Hakone (1 night) Dinner + breakfast included $350–500
Food ~$80/day avg for two $640–720
Transport (in Japan) JR Pass or individual tickets + subway $300–400
Activities & misc Entry fees, souvenirs, etc. $200–300
Total (Japan) ~$3,900–5,300
Tips & Logistics
💴

Cash is King

Japan is still cash-heavy. Get yen from airport ATM on arrival. 7-Eleven ATMs always work.

🚄

IC Card

Get a Suica or Pasmo card. Tap for subway, trains, and convenience stores everywhere.

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Book Ryokan Early

Good Hakone ryokans fill up months ahead, especially for May. Book as soon as dates are set.

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Restaurant Reservations

Omakase and popular spots need advance booking. Use Tableall or Tablecheck for English reservations.

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Pocket WiFi or eSIM

Get a pocket WiFi rental or eSIM before landing. Google Fi works well in Japan too.

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JR Pass Check

7-day JR Pass (~$280pp) covers Shinkansen. Compare against individual ticket prices for your route first.