Tokyoland Travel Portal
August 23 - 29, 2026
Hey Tokyoland fam!
You're in. This page is your home base for everything happening August 23 to 29, whenever you need a refresher on the itinerary, what to pack, or where we're staying, this is the place to come back to.
Save this link. Bookmark it, screenshot it, whatever works for you. We'll keep it updated as we get closer to go time.
Exclusive experiences
Go-karts through the streets of Tokyo. A hands-on sushi-making class. A matcha-making class. A full day at Tokyo Disneyland to embrace your childlike joy. Temple visits, ramen eating, and a real taste of Japanese culture woven throughout the week.
Important Reminder:
If you plan to drive a Go-kart through Shibuya, you must get an int'l driver's license at a AAA office.
Mandatory
THE COOKS: MEET YOUR HOSTS
The Couple Behind it All
Amirah and Jarrell Cook are the husband-and-wife team behind Hosted by The Cooks. Jarrell is a fine artist who has painted murals in countries around the world, and that same eye for detail shows up in everything he brings to a trip, from the vendors he sources to the guides he designs for every group.
Amirah brings the guest experience together, the planning, the pacing, the small touches that make a week feel effortless instead of managed.
Together, they've hosted trips across Bali, Morocco, Tokyo, Thailand, and Italy, curating each one around the specific feeling that destination is best known for.
Where You're Staying
ANA InterContinental Tokyo
For the VIP Tokyo Adventure, home base is the ANA InterContinental Tokyo -- one of the most celebrated luxury hotels in the city. Centrally located, impeccably appointed, and overflowing with amenities, this hotel does not just set the tone for the trip. It is part of the experience.
Note: At check-in, the hotel places an incidental hold of about $70/day (roughly $450 for the full stay) on a credit card. This isn't a charge, it's a hold that gets released after checkout as long as there's nothing extra to settle.
- 13 on-site restaurants, bars, and lounges - from traditional Japanese kaiseki and teppanyaki to French dining, a steakhouse, sushi counter, dim sum, cocktail lounges, and a rooftop bar with panoramic views of the Tokyo skyline
- Outdoor pool -- a 20-meter open-air swimming pool available complimentary to all in-house guests, with a separate children's pool for younger travelers
- Fitness center
- Full-service spa
- Daily housekeeping
- Wi-Fi throughout
- On-site parking available
And for the connoisseurs in the group - Main Bar Da Vinci on the third floor offers over 200 whiskies from boutique and rare distilleries, imported cigars, live nightly entertainment, and an intimate atmosphere that is worth every minute of an evening in.
Daily breakfast is included with your stay. Pool access is complimentary for in-house guests. Spa, dining, and all other amenities are available at guests' own leisure and are not included in the trip package price.
A VIP Trip For Our Return Guests
This trip is filled with our VIP return guests, and in addition to everything the hotel already offers, it comes with something extra, a true VIP upgrade we've never included in a trip before.
Club InterContinental Lounge Access
New this trip, and something we've never had access to before: your stay includes full access to the hotel's exclusive35th floor Club InterContinental Lounge. Think traditional Japanese craftsmanship meets modern luxury, origami-inspired design. A space most hotel guests never even know exists.
What that means for your week:
- A full breakfast experience each morning, Ã la carte and set menu options, beyond the standard buffet
- Afternoon tea, every afternoon
- Evening cocktails and canapés, every evening
- A dedicated Club InterContinental concierge
- A spa upgrade program at THANN Sanctuary Spa
- Complimentary Tokyobike experience
- Complimentary pressing of two articles of clothing per stay
- Soft refreshments available all day
Daily
Afternoon High Tea
Nightly
Cocktails & canapés
Once
2 Articles of Clothing
Our itinerary For The week
Settle In
You've made it. Check in, unpack, and take a breath. The hotel is home for the week. Explore every corner of it, unpack, and let the fact that you're actually here sink in.
Meet Your People
This is where the magic starts. Meet your host and the other guest who said yes to this week. No awkward icebreakers. Just good energy and great conversation.
Welcome Dinner
Your first evening ends with a group dinner. Try different or familiar flavors for your first meal in Tokyo at the full range buffet offered at The Cascade restaurant on the first floor of the hotel.
Hotel & Neighborhood Tour
Explore the many amenities, restaurants, and stores in and nearby the hotel. Evenings are yours to select your own dining option, but there are plenty of options to choose from all within a short walk in the hotel and neighboring building.
Matcha Making Class
A fun matcha-making class. Hands-on, low-key, and genuinely fun, not overly ceremonial. Learn the history, ingredients, and process of making authentic matcha. You will also have the opportunity to purchase all ingredients and tools used in the class.
Sightseeing
Tour through Tokyo's most iconic landmarks and shrines, including a stop at one of the city's most breathtaking temples, a first real taste of the culture beyond the city lights.
Go-Karts in Shibuya
Go-karts through the streets of Tokyo, iconic, ridiculous fun. You will need your international driver's license beforehand. So, be sure to get one from your local AAA office. Find a location here.
Exploring on Foot
An afternoon exploring a cool Tokyo neighborhood, vintage shops, cafes, local energy. Personal shopping and specialty stops are a la carte and at your own pace.
Vintage Shopping
Due to knockoffs being illegal in Japan, their vintage shopping is full of authentic gems at all price points. From designer bags to unique Kit Kat flavors, there's something for everyone in this shopping experience.
Hands-On Sushi Class
A hands-on sushi-making class where you make sashimi, the traditional Japanese version, as well as the rolls more popular in America.
Temple Visit
A stop at one of Tokyo's most beautiful temples, with the option to rent a kimono for a photoshoot right there. Kimono rentals range from $35 (for the thinner fabrics reserved for spring and summer seasons) to $350 (for the very thick materials typically worn in the winter months).
An Evening to Explore
The rest of the evening is free, eat, wander, or just take it easy.
An Early Start
We'll head to the park early to make the most of the day ahead. While Amirah would like everyone to ride her favorite ride together, afterwards you can wander at your own pace or continue to move as a group. Either way, it is sure to be a fabulous day filled with laughter and fun.
A Full Day at Disneyland
Tickets are fully coordinated by us as well as the metro ride to the park. A completely different Disneyland experience from anything in the States. Meals in the park are at guests' own expense, but very affordable, as are the Disney ears and other souvenirs available for purchase..
End the Night with Fireworks
The night closes out with the park's nightly parade and fireworks, the kind of ending that makes the whole day feel like a movie. We'll head back to the hotel around 8 PM. However, if you'd prefer to leave earlier, you can do that.
Do What You Want!
This is your day. No schedule, no plan, just whatever you want it to be. Sleep in. Swim. Shop. Book a spa treatment. Do absolutely nothing at all.
Explore More, Or Not
Want to add an activity? We've listed a few suggestions below. Private excursion, salon appointment, a day at a spa. Or, simply relax in the hotel, swim in the pool, order room service and do nothing.
All White Finale Dinner
On our final night, dress in white. One final group dinner will be hosted in the steakhouse in the hotel. We'll dine together to close out the most unforgettable week.
One Last Breakfast
Checkout comes with a breakfast to send you off right. Afterwards, easily schedule your airport transfer using Uber, the airport shuttle (if running), or a local taxi.
Checkout @ 11:00 AM
If you have a later flight, contact the front desk for a late checkout. No reason to rush from breakfast straight to the airport when you could squeeze a few more hours out of Tokyo first.
Staying Longer?
Not ready to say goodbye yet? Book your transport on to your next destination simply using Uber or a local taxi. Check with the hotel concierge for assistance.
Potential Bonus Activities
Friday is your free day, and it's completely yours. You'll set up your own reservations and transportation, which might sound like a lot right now, but trust us, after a week with Hosted by The Cooks, you'll feel like a total pro navigating Tokyo. And keep in mind, your evenings the rest of the week are typically wide open too, so if something on this list catches your eye, you don't have to save it for Friday alone. Here are some suggested activities with links to book, but of course, doing nothing is always an option. Relax in your room, swim in the pool, order room service, and enjoy a day with nothing on the calendar. These are just a starting point, so feel free to look into more options on your own.
How to Complete your activity reservation
To complete your reservation, simply click on the activity. It will lead you to a page. On most activities, you can select a time, and then complete your purchase.
What's Included in the retreat
Luxury Accommodations
Daily In-House Housekeeping
Breakfast Every Morning
Local Transportation
Activity Entry Fees
Here's exactly what your trip price covers, and what to plan for on your own, so there are no surprises between now and the moment you land in Tokyo.
- Accommodation for six nights
- Daily breakfast
- City tour
- Temple visit
- Matcha-making class
- Go-karts
- Sushi-making class
- Tokyo Disneyland tickets
- Transportation to all scheduled activities
What's Not Included in the retreat
Flights to and from Tokyo
Travel/Health Insurance
Shopping + Souvenir Expenses
Cash Tips
Bonus Activities
Not everything is built into your trip price. Here's what to plan for on your own so you can budget with confidence before you arrive.
- Flights to and from Tokyo
- Airport transfers
- Travel insurance
- Lunches & Dinners
- Personal shopping and specialty stops
- Kimono rental for the temple photoshoot (optional add-on)
- Extra activities not included in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
Downloadable Guides
Style Guide
Tokyo Etiquette
Final Details
Frequently Asked Questions
The easiest option is right in the hotel, there's a currency converter machine and an ATM in the lobby. 7-Eleven ATMs around the city work too and accept most international debit and credit cards at a good rate. Airport currency exchange counters work in a pinch, but the rate is usually worse. You can also request yen from your own bank before you leave, if you'd rather have some in hand before you land.
Sometimes. Bigger restaurants, department stores, and the hotel all take cards without issue. A lot of the best small, local spots and street food are cash only, so it's smart to keep some yen on you at all times.
Some traditional onsens still turn away visible tattoos, it's a longstanding rule tied to their association with yakuza. That said, tattoo-friendly onsens are becoming more common in Tokyo, and private or family bath rooms are always an option if you want the experience without worry. The concierge at the hotel can point you toward tattoo-friendly options nearby.
Not at all. Friday is yours to spend however you want. Sleep in, hang by the pool, explore on your own, or pick something off our suggested list, it's completely up to you.
No dinners are included in the trip price, but there are plenty of options to choose from at varying price points. The hotel has 13 restaurants on-site and connected right to it, everything from casual to special-occasion, plus a genuinely delicious room service menu if you'd rather stay in. We'll walk you through all of it on our hotel tour together the first day, so by the time dinner rolls around each night, you'll already know exactly where to go. Sunday's welcome dinner is a buffet at the hotel (own expense) and Friday's all-white dinner at the hotel steakhouse is a la carte (also on you). Every other night is yours to choose based on your mood, your taste, and whatever you're in the mood for that day.
Check-in at ANA InterContinental Tokyo starts at 3:00 PM. If you land earlier, the hotel can hold your luggage at the Bell Desk so you can head out and explore before your room's ready.
Things to Remember When Packing
For the Flight
For The Week
- Comfortable walking shoes, you'll be on your feet a lot
- Weather-appropriate layers, late August in Tokyo is hot and humid outside, cooler indoors
- A day bag for excursions
- A rain-friendly layer just in case
- Cash (yen)
- Portable charger
- Toiletries and any personal medications
- Outlet adapter, if you're coming from a country that doesn't use US style plugs
- A white outfit for Friday's finale dinner
For Disneyland