Hello! I previously posted a first-time trip itinerary on this sub which got quite a bit of attention (for both good and bad reasons) and have now produced the below following the advice given.
The previous post can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/17c6ro7/first\_time\_japan\_trip\_itinerary\_2024\_critique/
The overarching advice from my previous post was that we were biting off more than we could chew. We have now cut down our expectations of what we can achieve in one day quite significantly and I hope this is reflected in the below. We also understand the point of just going with the flow and seeing what happens but it’s nice to have a rough idea of what to do and when that makes most sense, hence the detail in the itinerary. Any of the days in each destination can be swapped around depending on how we are feeling and other things such as the weather.
A question we are still looking for advice on is whether we finish the trip in Kamakura or just go back to Tokyo. Is the slight detour worth it? Kamakura looks lovely however we don’t know if our time would be better spent back in Tokyo as we only have a few days there at the beginning of the trip.
While we are aiming to do this trip on a somewhat ‘budget’, we are still looking for a special place to go for Omakase, any suggestions on the below route would be much appreciated.
To note, all of our accommodation is booked however we have free cancellation on it so we still have lots of flexibility.
Any other recommendations and suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks for your help, I’ll be sure to post a trip report later in the year.
**W Day 1: Tokyo**
Land in Tokyo in the evening + travel to hostel in Shinjuku
**T Day 2: Tokyo**
**Shibuya/Shinjuku Day**
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
From the National Garden walk to Shibuya going through Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingo
Shibuya Scramble
Mid-afternoon – Subway to Shimokitazawa Neighbourhood to explore.
Head back to Shinjuku
**F Day 3: Tokyo**
**East Tokyo Day**
Early start to head to Asakusa for Sensoji Temple
Walk back towards Ueno, past Kappabashi Dougu Street to find some cool souvenirs.
Chill and have takeaway lunch in Ueno Park
Walk to Akihabara
**S Day 4: Tokyo**
**Central Tokyo/Ginza Day**
Head out early to Tsukiji fish market and eat lots of food.
Check out Jimbocho Book Town
Explore Golden Gai (Shinjuku) in the evening.
**S Day 5: Tokyo**
Free day to Rest, Explore or tick off anything we still would like to do if we have energy.
Shopping in Harajuku?
**M Day 6: Travel Day**
Shinkansen to Kyoto
Chill in the Evening
**T Day 7: Kyoto**
**Gion Day**
Kōdai-ji Temple
Yasaka Shrine
Hanami Koji Street
**W Day 8: Kyoto**
**Arashiyama Day**
Rent bikes and follow route. https://www.japan-guide.com/map/?id=arashiyama\_full
**T Day 9: Kyoto**
**East Kyoto**
Philosopher’s Path
Higashiyama Jisho-ji
KYOCERA Museum of Art
**F Day 10: Travel Day**
Shinkansen to Hiroshima
Chill in the Evening (eat okonomiyaki)
**S Day 11: Hiroshima**
**WW2 Day**
Peace Park and A-Bomb Site
Shukkeien Garden
**S Day 12: Hiroshima**
**Miyajima Island Day**
Momijidani park
Check in to Seaside Ryokan
**M Day 13: Travel Day**
Shinkasen to Osaka
Chill in the Evening
**T Day 14: Osaka**
**Central Osaka**
Kuroman Market
Dotonburi
**W Day 15: Osaka**
**South Osaka**
Korea Town
Shinsekai in the Evening
Tsutenkaku Tower
Jan Jan Yokocho
Eat at Kushikatsu stands (Daruma restaurant)
**T Day 16: Osaka**
**Minoh Park Day**
**F Day 17: Osaka**
Teamlab botanical garden/Baseball game Orix Buffaloes?
**S Day 18: Travel Day**
Shinkansen to Hakone-Yumoto
Relax for the rest of the day.
**S Day 19: Hakone**
Hakone-Tozan Switchback Train to Gora
Check in to Onsen
**M Day 20: Hakone**
**Lake Ashi day**
Hakone Ropeway
Togendai Station
Sightseeing ferry to Hakonemachi-Ko
Onshi-Hakone Park
**T Day 21: Kamakura or Tokyo**
Travel to Kamakura or Tokyo
Have a chill day in Kamakura or return to Tokyo to do anything we missed at the trip’s start.
**W Day 22: Kamakura or Tokyo**
Check out the beach and do some last-minute souvenir shopping.
Travel to Tokyo in the late afternoon if in Kamakura
**T Day 23: Home**
Afternoon flight from Haneda