Hi all! It’s our (me and my girlfriend) first trip to Japan next month (late-Feb) and I’ve been looking at Reddit threads, different blogs with itineraries and watching YouTube videos too! I feel like it is SO HARD to plan for Japan purely because there’s a gazillion things to do.
I’d love some feedback on the itinerary. I’m expecting to drop a few things for sure as I have a feeling we’ve packed too much in.
Some things I’m a bit stuck on before I jump into the plan.
* What to do on the Friday (public holiday) and what time to head to Kyoto. We’re tossing up checking out the fish markets and seeing the imperial palace but they’re quite far from each other; OR we’re thinking of looking at the museum as its near our hotel.
* Wondering if we should ‘plan’ more around the Shibuya area?
* We’d love to include the romantic train in Kyoto, but I just can’t seem to make it work and the return trip back to Kyoto is seeming tricky.
* I’m worried we have too many temples and not enough ‘new world’ Japan. We’re getting in some bars/eating, not that big on shopping (especially luxury), but would be keen to ‘soak it in’ a bit more.
* Bit unsure on what to do on the final 1.5 days in Tokyo before we head home!
Here goes:
**Day 0 – Tuesday)**
Flight lands at 5pm, catch train from T1 to Monorail Hamamatsuchō, change to JR-East to go to Okachimachicatching. Hotel is in Ueno (about 5 mins from the station) – assuming worst case we’ll get there by 7pm, settle and wander around local area for a bit.
**Day 1 – Wednesday)**
AM: Breakfast near the hotel. Early, 15min train or 30min walk to Senso-Ji Temple, go to Asakusa Shrine next door, and then Nakimise Dori Market. Get lunch around here and suss the river.
PM: 1hr train and walk to Meiji Jingu, 20min train or 40min walk to Shibuya Scramble via Yoyogi Park. Explore the area (Centre Gai) and have dinner in Shibuya.
**Day 2 – Thursday)**
Mt Fuji bus tour from 8am-6pm.
Dinner in the Golden Gai area.
**Day 3 – Friday (Emporer’s Day))**
AM: Bit stuck on this morning, if we check out the fish market and explore that area, if we head to the Imperial Palace and have a look at any ‘celebrations’ (if any), or if we have a look at the Tokyo National Museum as its near the hotel.
Also unsure what time we should head to Kyoto, assuming ~3 hours.
PM: Hotel in Kyoto is in Gion, so we’re thinking of checking out Chion-In, the Yasaka Shrine, Kagizen Yoshifusa Shijo Main Branch, and potentially doing a Gion Night Tour.
**Day 4 – Saturday)**
Unsure of timings for this day (and wondering how we can squeeze in the Romantic Railway).
Thinking early we check out Kiyomizu–dera as it’s a ~20 minute walk from the hotel. Then we have breakfast, head across to Kinkaku-ji, Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama Iwatayama Monkey Park, Tenryuji Temple, Gioji Temple, Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple, and then in the evening head to Pontocho Alley.
**Day 5 – Sunday)**
Head to the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrines early, come back for breakfast and check-out. Then head to the Ginkakuji, Philosopher’s Path, Nishiki Street Market, Nanzenji Temple and Zenrin-Ji. What time would it be recommended to catch a train down to Osaka based on the above?
Train to Osaka and either do a night river cruise or explore near the hotel. Hotel is at the Ibis Umeda.
**Day 6 – Monday)**
Namba Yosaka, Osaka Castle, Osaka Museum of History, Ohatsu Tenjin Shrine, Umeda Sky Building and the Mega Don Quijote in the area.
**Day 7 – Tuesday)**
Universal studios! Still unsure if we should buy the express pass. We are really keen for Harry Potter World but might pass on the Super Nintendo World?
**Day 8 – Wednesday)**
Den Den Town, Sumiyoshi Taisha, Shitenno-ji Temple, Isshin Ji, Explore Shinsekai, Kuromon Market and Dotonbori.
**Day 9 – Thursday)**
Probably wander around Osaka in the morning and catch a train around early arvo back to Tokyo. Staying at Andon Ryokan near Minowa Station, will explore the area.
**Day 10 – Friday)**
Unsure what to do on this day, flight is at 5pm so will probably leave the area at 12-1pm. Will most likely. Might check out Akihabara and Koishikawa Korakuen.
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We’re super excited for the trip and there’s a few gaps, but would love some feedback on what we’ve got.