My husband and I (late twenties) are traveling to Japan (from the USA) for the first time at the end of February, 2024 for 8 nights/7 days! This is our dream trip – we love food, shopping, and just exploring new places! We have an itinerary with general areas to explore and will find spots to eat along the way. I have a ton of spots pinned on Google Maps and will use these as a guide if we happen to be in the area.
**My questions:**
* Do you have additional suggestions for locations I can pin on Google Maps in the areas I will already be in? Especially looking for coffee/dessert shops, art shops, and cocktail bars.
* Tsukiji and Nishiki markets aren’t explicitly on our itinerary, although we will be in the areas of both. Are they worth checking out? I have FOMO but also have heard these places are overrated.
* Do most restaurants have queues for a ticket with a time to come back? Or are you actually in line for a seat?
**Day 0 – Saturday – Travel**
* Arrive at Haneda Airport around 6pm
* Get some essentials and snacks/dinner at a konbini near our hotel in Ginza and relax for the night
**Day 1 – Sunday – Tokyo**
* We have Teamlabs Borderless tickets for the morning
* Shopping in Ginza and explore Tokyo Station
* Yarakucho izakayas under the train tracks
**Day 2 – Monday – Tokyo**
* Disneyland all day
* Ship luggage with all of the shopping goods to our next hotel in Tokyo to arrive on Day 6
**Day 3 – Tuesday – Kyoto**
* Shinkansen to Kyoto – hotel is right by Higashiyama Station
* Go up to Ginkakuji and walk down via Philosopher’s Path back to Gion/Higashiyama
**Day 4 – Wednesday – Kyoto**
* Arashiyama morning-early afternoon — any food recs here?
* Pontocho and Shinkyogoku afternoon-evening
**Day 5 – Thursday – Kyoto**
* Start at Kyomizu-dera and walk back up through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
* Pass through Kodaiji and Yasaka
* Visit Hanamikoji and Shinbashi Streets
**Day 6 – Friday – Tokyo**
* Shinkansen to Tokyo – hotel is in Shinjuku
* Explore Asakusa – Nakamise-dori, Senso-ji, Kappabashi Street
* Shinjuku nightlife
**Day 7 – Saturday – Tokyo**
* Shibuya Parco
* Last minute shopping
**Day 8 – Sunday – Travel**
* Flying out of Haneda Airport early afternoon