Hello everyone!
My boyfriend and I are so excited to be in Japan March 21-April 5 this year for cherry blossom season. It is a bucket list trip that we have been wanting to take since we met 4 years ago. We are both in our 30’s and enjoy food, music (playing/listening) and art. This is my very rough first draft itinerary. I’ve been doing a ton of research and have found this forum to be most helpful. I saw that a lot of stores open later so I planned more of our cherry blossom viewing and park exploring in the mornings. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
**\*\*(Day -1) Thursday, March 21**
*Travel Day: Las Vegas > Tokyo*
​
**\*\*(Day 0) Friday, March 22**
*Arrive in Tokyo 3:20pm*
\-Get pocket Wi-Fi, Exchange $, Suica Card
\-Check into hotel (Shibuya Area)
\-Dinner and walk around
​
**\*\*(Day 1) Saturday, March 23**
*Tokyo*
\-Meiji Jingu Shrine
\-Yoyogi Park
\-Explore Harajuku
* \-Omote-Sando (Vintage Shops)
* \-Takeshita Street (Five G Music Tech)
* \-Roland Store Tokyo -Tokyu Plaza
\-Explore Shibuya
* \-Shibuya 109
* \-Shibuya Crossing
* \-Hachiko Memorial Statue
* \-Shibuya Prado (Pokémon)
* \-Shibuya Sky Observation Deck (pending reservation)
\-Explore Shinjuku
* \-Omoide Yokocho
* \-Kabukicho -Golden Gai
* \-Godzilla Head
NOTE: This days seems super ambitious. Can I move things to a different day that makes more sense? I was thinking these areas could be fun on a Saturday but we will also probably be jet lagged.
​
**\*\*(Day 2) Sunday, March 24**
*Tokyo*
\-Explore Ueno Park
\-Ameyoko Shopping District
\-Explore Asakusa
* \-Senso-ji
\-Tokyo SkyTree
\-Explore Akihabara
​
**\*\*(Day 3) Monday, March 25**
*Tokyo*
\-Meguro River
* \-Sakura Bridge
* \-Starbucks Reserve
\-Explore Ropponggi
* \-teamLAB Borderless (pending reservation)
* \-Mori Art Museum
* \-TokyoTower
​
**\*\*(Day 4) Tuesday, March 26**
*Tokyo*
\-Tsukiji Outer Market
\-Explore Chidorikafuchi Park
\-Hie Shrine
\-Explore Ginza
​
**\*\*(Day 5) Wednesday, March 27**
*Tokyo > Kyoto*
\-Travel to Kyoto in the morning
\-Drop bags off to Inn/Onsen (or luggage forwarding)
\-1pm Traditional Tea Ceremony Maikoya at Nishiki *Reservation*
\-Check into Inn/Onsen (Kawaramachi Area)
\-Enjoy facilities
\-Nishiki Market
\-Sit along the Kamogawa and have snacks/drinks
\-Pontocho Alley
​
**\*\*(Day 6) Thursday, March 28**
*Kyoto*
\-Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (early)
\-Arashiyama Monkey Park
\-Okochi Sanso Garden (optional)
\-Tenryu-ji (optional)
\-Kimono Forest (optional)
\-Shishiku Garden (optional)
\-Kinkaku-ji Temple
\-Enjoy facilities
​
**\*\*(Day 7) Friday, March 29**
*Kyoto*
\-Fushimi Inari Taisha (early)
\-Kiyomizu-dera
\-Sanneizaka & Nineizaka
\-Philosophers Path
\-Enjoy facilities
\-Gion Shimbashi -Hanamikoji Street -Gion Shimbashi Bridge
NOTE: This day seems ambitious. I wish we had more time in Kyoto. Any recommendations? We would love to go to Lake Biwa Canal but don’t think we can make it happen.
​
**\*\*(Day 8) Saturday, March 30**
*Kyoto > Osaka*
\-Travel to Osaka in the morning
\-Check into Ryokan (Namba Area)
\-Explore Osaka
* \-Kuromon Ichiba Market
* \-Hedy Vintage Shop
* \-Umeda Sky Building
\-Nightlife
* \-Dotonbori
* \-Shisaibashisuji
NOTE: I’m not particularly excited about Osaka, but my boyfriend is. Any recommendations for this day?
​
**\*\*(Day 9) Sunday, March 31**
*Osaka*
Nara Day Trip
\-Nara Park (early)
* \-Feed Deer
* \-Todai-ji
* \-Yoshikien Garden
* \-Kasuga Taisha
* \-Kofuku-ji
\-Shopping/Eating
* \-Nakatanidou
* \- Mochi Pounding
* \-MochiiDono Shopping Street
* \-Higashimuki Shopping Street
\-Other
* \-Yakushi-ji (optional)
* \-Toshodai-ji (optional)
* \-Saidai-ji (optional)
* \-Haijo Palace Site Historical Park (optional)
NOTE: Would adding Yoshino for cherry blossom viewing be too ambitious this day?
​
**\*\*(Day 10) Monday, April 1**
*Osaka*
\-Universal Studios Japan
​
**\*\*(Day 11) Tuesday, April 2**
*Osaka > Yokohama > Tokyo*
\-Osaka Castle Park
\-Japan Mint (cherry blossom viewing)
\-Travel back to Tokyo
\-Stop in Yokohama
* \-Lunch in Chinatown
* \-Gundam Factory/Base
* \-Cup noodle museum (optional)
\-Check into hotel (Akihabara Area, may switch to Disney Hilton)
​
**\*\*(Day 12) Wednesday, April 3**
*Tokyo*
\-Disneyland & Sea (pending reservation)
​
**\*\*(Day 13) Thursday, April 4**
*Tokyo*
\-Free Time
​
**\*\*(Day 14) Friday, April 5**
*Travel Day: Tokyo > Las Vegas*
Arrive in Las Vegas 2:35pm
​
# EDITS:
*With the help of my reddit friends, I’ve made some changes. I’m so grateful for this forum. Here is my 2nd rought draft.*
* Moved Shibuya exploration to day 0. We are staying there, so it will be easy to see everything we want to see there and dont necessarily need to plan it out so much.
* I didn’t realize that Disneyland and Sea is not a “park hopper” situation like the US, so we will go to Disney Sea.
* Gundam Factory confirmed to be closed as of 3/31. Because of this, I took the Yokohama stop off to spend more time in Kyoto/spread out the activities I had on the other 2 days.
* Moved Akihabara exploration to the last day since we are staying in that neighborhood anyways.
**\*(Day -1) Thursday, March 21**
*Travel Day: Las Vegas > Tokyo*
**\*(Day 0) Friday, March 22**
*Arrive in Tokyo 3:20pm*
\-Get pocket Wi-Fi, Exchange $, Suica Card
\-Check into hotel (Shibuya Area)
\-Dinner and walk around Shibuya
* \-Shibuya Sky Observation Deck (pending reservation)
* \-Sakura Street
* \-Shibuya Crossing
* \-Hachiko Memorial Statue
* \-Shibuya Prado (Pokémon)
NOTE: Since we’re staying in Shibuya for 5 nights, I’m sure we will get to these things eventually if not this night.
**\*(Day 1) Saturday, March 23**
*Tokyo*
\-Meiji Jingu Shrine
\-Yoyogi Park
\-Explore Harajuku
* \-Omote-Sando (Vintage Shops)
* \-Takeshita Street (Five G Music Tech)
* \-Roland Store Tokyo
* \-Tokyu Plaza
\-Explore Shinjuku
* \-Shinjuku Gyoen Park
* \-Omoide Yokocho
* \-Kabukicho
* \-Golden Gai
* \-Godzilla Head
**\*(Day 2) Sunday, March 24**
*Tokyo*
\-Explore Ueno Park
\-Ameyoko Shopping District (optional)
\-Explore Asakusa
* \-Senso-ji (optional)
\-Tokyo SkyTree
**\*(Day 3) Monday, March 25**
*Tokyo*
\-Meguro River
* \-Sakura Bridge
* \-Starbucks Reserve
\-Explore Ebisu (optional)
\-Explore Ropponggi
* \-2pm teamLAB Borderless \*reservation\*
* \-Mori Art Museum (optional)
* \-TokyoTower
**\*(Day 4) Tuesday, March 26**
*Tokyo*
\-Tsukiji Outer Market
\-Explore Chidorikafuchi Park
\-Hie Shrine
\-Explore Ginza
**\*(Day 5) Wednesday, March 27**
*Tokyo > Kyoto*
\-Travel to Kyoto in the morning
\-Drop bags off to Ryoken/Onsen (or luggage forwarding)
\-1pm Traditional Tea Ceremony Maikoya at Nishiki \*Reservation\*
\-Check into Inn/Onsen (Kawaramachi Area)
\-Enjoy facilities
\-Nishiki Market
\-Sit along the Kamogawa and have snacks/drinks
\-Pontocho Alley
**\*(Day 6) Thursday, March 28**
*Kyoto*
\-Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (early)
\-Arashiyama Monkey Park
\-Okochi Sanso Garden (optional)
\-Tenryu-ji (optional)
\-Shishiku Garden (optional)
\-Enjoy facilities
**\*(Day 7) Friday, March 29**
*Kyoto*
\-Fushimi Inari Taisha (early)
\-Kiyomizu-dera
\-Sanneizaka & Nineizaka
\-Enjoy facilities
\-Gion Shimbashi
* \-Hanamikoji Street
* \-Gion Shimbashi Bridge
**(Day 8) Saturday, March 30**
*Kyoto > Osaka*
\-Kinkaku-ji Temple
\-Philosophers Path
\-Lake Biwa Canal (optional)
\-Travel to Osaka
\-Check into Ryokan (Namba Area)
\-Nightlife
* \-Dotonbori
* \-Shisaibashisuji
**\*(Day 9) Sunday, March 31**
*Osaka*
Nara Day Trip
\-Nara Park (early)
* \-Feed Deer
* \-Todai-ji
* \-Yoshikien Garden
* \-Kasuga Taisha
* \-Kofuku-ji
\-Shopping/Eating
* \-Nakatanidou – Mochi Pounding
* \-MochiiDono Shopping Street
* \-Higashimuki Shopping Street
\-Other
* \-Yakushi-ji (optional)
* \-Toshodai-ji (optional)
* \-Saidai-ji (optional)
* \-Haijo Palace Site Historical Park (optional)
**\*(Day 10) Monday, April 1**
*Osaka*
\-Universal Studios Japan
**\*(Day 11) Tuesday, April 2**
*Osaka > Tokyo*
\-Osaka Castle Park
\-Japan Mint (optional – reservation?)
\-Sakuranomiya Station (optional)
\-Explore Osaka
* \-Aquarium (optional)
* \-Kuromon Ichiba Market
* \-Hedy Vintage Shop
* \-Umeda Sky Building
\-Travel back to Tokyo
\-Check into hotel (Akihabara Area)
**\*(Day 12) Wednesday, April 3**
*Tokyo*
\-DisneySea (pending reservation)
**\*(Day 13) Thursday, April 4**
*Tokyo*
\-Explore Akihabara
\-Free Time
**\*(Day 14) Friday, April 5**
*Travel Day: Tokyo > Las Vegas*
Arrive in Las Vegas 2:35pm
**Another day build that I’m interested in:**
\-Inokishiara
\-Explore Kichijoji
\-Ghibli Museum
NOTE: Would you suggest replacing a day above with this one? If we can get Ghibli museum tix…