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2025 - Travel - Hawaii and Japan

Travel

Planning My Next Adventure: Hawaii & Japan

Two weeks of relaxation, re-discovery, and exploration

15
Total Days
3
Destinations
4
Hotels
Table of Contents
① Overview
② Honolulu — 4 Days
③ Osaka — 4.5 Days
④ Tokyo — 6.5 Days
 
The Trip

Overview

I'm gearing up for another exciting trip to Hawaii and Japan, this time for two weeks of relaxation, exploration, and re-discovery. Having visited both destinations multiple times, this trip will be more about unwinding and exploring new places, rather than the usual tourist checklist.

What makes this year even better is that the prices are surprisingly affordable, and the exchange rates are favorable — meaning it's actually more budget-friendly than my 2023 trip.

Destination Duration Hotel
Honolulu 4 days Hilton Hawaiian Village
Osaka 4.5 days Hotel Keihan Universal Studios Japan
Tokyo 6.5 days Tokyo Maihama Bay Hotel → Hyatt Regency Shinjuku → Art Hotel Narita
Total 15 days
Stop I — HNL

Honolulu 4 Days

Flying in on a Delta Boeing 767-300. I've been to Hawaii several times, but there's something about the islands that always feels like home. Staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village — my go-to spot for its relaxed atmosphere and great discount rates. It's the perfect place to ease into vacation mode.

  • → Day 1 — Ala Moana
  • → Day 2 — Waikiki
  • → Day 3 — East Honolulu
  • → Day 4 — HNL → ITM
Stop II — ITM

Osaka 4.5 Days

Flying from Honolulu on ANA's Jumbo Airbus A380-800, arriving at Osaka Itami Airport (ITM). Staying at the Hotel Keihan Universal Studios Japan (USJ), which places me in the heart of the action.

  • → Day 1 — Hotel
  • → Day 2 — USJ
  • → Day 3 — USJ / Dotonbori
  • → Day 4 — Osaka / Shinsekai
  • → Day 5 — Osaka Aquarium / Shinkansen
Stop III — TYO

Tokyo 6.5 Days

After wrapping up in Osaka, I'll be boarding the Shinkansen Nozomi from Shin-Osaka Station to Tokyo Station, marking the final stretch of my Japan journey. In Tokyo, I'll be staying at a few different places to match each leg of my plans: starting with Tokyo Maihama Bay Hotel for convenient access to the Disney parks, then moving to the Hyatt Regency Shinjuku for a central city experience in one of Tokyo's liveliest districts, and wrapping up with a night at Art Hotel Narita before flying home.

Tip — Takkyubin: Use Yamato Transport's luggage forwarding service to send your suitcase a day in advance and avoid carrying it on the Shinkansen. Highly recommended for stress-free transit days.
  • → Day 1 — Shinkansen / Ginza
  • → Day 2 — Disneyland
  • → Day 3 — DisneySea
  • → Day 4 — Shibuya / Harajuku / Shinjuku
  • → Day 5 — Ueno Zoo / Akihabara / Shinjuku
  • → Day 6 — Shinjuku / Narita
  • → Day 7 — NRT → LAX

15 days, 3 cities, 4 hotels — Honolulu to Osaka to Tokyo, with favorable rates all around.

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