Hi all–my partner and I are preparing for our first trip to Japan end of March through early April. We’ll be sticking to the standard “Golden Route,” as we intend to take several trips to Japan across seasons, venturing to different areas each time as we get more comfortable with navigating the country.
We have lodging, flights, and Miyako Odori already booked. We will be arriving just in time to see the Gundam in Yokohama before it closes, so that’s a priority in our first couple days. We also would like to see the Hanshin Tigers play, and the only time our locations align is when they play the Giants at the Tokyo Dome at the end of March, so we are also somewhat locked in there. We are big video game/anime fans as well, with an interest in learning about the culture and history of the country. My partner and I are also very casual hobby photographers.
Aside from the things outlined above, we could move days around in either given city depending on when we can get reservations for things like the Pokemon Cafe and Ghibli Museum. I would love some insight on our itinerary, as I’m curious if some days are too packed and others too light. I also tried to account for things being crowded as it’s a peak travel season.
Day 1:Land NRT @ 4:00PM
Customs, PASMO, Transit to Hotel
Dinner, early to bed
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Day 2:
Inokashira Park
Ghibli Museum
Nakano
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Day 3:
Serigaya Park (Pokelids and cherry blossoms)
Yokohama (Minatomirai, Red Brick Warehouses, Gundam Factory)
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Day 4:
Imperial Palace
Tokyo Dome City/Tigers vs. Giants @ Tokyo Dome
Nakameguro Cherry Blossoms
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Day 5:
Ueno Park
Nezu Shrine
Yanaka Ginza
Ikebukuro
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Day 6:
Breakfast near hotel
Explore Tokyo Station (Character Street, etc.)
Shinkansen to Kyoto
Check in to hotel, find somewhere to watch the sunset
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Day 7:Early morning for photography at Yasaka Pagoda
Kiyomizu-dera
Ghibli Store
Yasaka Koshindo
Rengoin Shrine (could drop)
Miyako Odori @ 4:30pm
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Day 8:
Morning walk along Philosopher’s Path to Ginkakuji
Okazaki Shrine
Kyocera Museum of Art (Takashi Murakami exhibition)
Heian Shrine
Nijo Castle
Pokemon Center Kyoto
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Day 9:
Kinkakuji
Arashiyama Iwatayama Monkey Park
Tenryuji
Pass by Bamboo Grove/Nonomiya
Explore Arashiyama Neighborhood
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Day 10:
Osaka Castle
Pokemon Center Osaka
Umeda Sky Building
Namba Yasaka Shrine
Shinsekai
Den Den Town
Dotonbori
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Day 11:
Early morning @ Fushimi Inari
Anything we missed or want to revisit (recommendations?):
\-Imperial Palace
\-Daruma-dera Shrine
\-NanzenjiDay
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12:
Forward luggage to Tokyo
Half-day in Uji
\-Tsuen Tea House
\-Byodo-in
Half-day in Nara
\-Todaiji
Overnight Nara
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Day 13
:Early morning walk in Nara Park
Nakatanidou Mochi
Transit back to Kyoto to catch Shinkansen back to Tokyo
Laundry night, maybe wander near hotel
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Day 14:
Gotokuji Temple
Shiro Hige’s Cream Puffs
Shimokitazawa Photo Walk
Shibuya
\-Shibuya Parco
\-Shibuya Crossing
\-Hachiko & Hachiko’s Compass
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Day 15:
Walk Sumida River
Tokyo Skytree Village (not going up)
\-Try to reserve Kirby Cafe
Kaminarimon and Sensoji at night
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Day 16:
Meiji Jingu
Shinjuku
\-Godzilla
\-Shinjuku Crossing
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Day 17:
Pokemon Cafe
Ginza
\-Godzilla Crossing
\-Ginza Crossing Photo
Ghibli Clock
Tokyo Tower
Roppongi Hills Mori Tower
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Day 18:
Akihabara
Tennozu Isle
Odaiba
\-Small Worlds Tokyo
\-Diver City
\-Gundam Base (Unicorn Gundam)
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Day 19:
Revisit favorite areas
Recommendations?
Leaving a day open in case weather aligns to visit Mt. Fuji
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Day 20:
Breakfast and morning walk
Tokyo Station again
Head to NRT for flight home