Hi! My bf and I are a mid-20s couple who are planning our first trip to Japan from February 2-11 (yes, I know…we are planning til the last second!)
We are really excited and I think we need to fine-tune our itinerary as it is very ambitious. We want to know what is skippable and what can we add. We are very open to suggestions. Our vibe is basically to NOT relax lol. We want to see everything we can manage to. We both love food, shopping, and the bar scene!
**Day 1: Tokyo**
\- We land at noon, will take the train to the hotel in Shimbashi, check in and settle down.
\- Go to nearby convenience store for all of the necessities.
\- Go back to hotel and get ready for dinner, maybe do a little exploring in Ginza before heading to a restaurant and bar.
\- Catch some zzz’s. We have a packed week ahead of us.
**Day 2 : Tokyo (Tsukiji, Asakusa, Akihabara, Ginza)**
\- Take the train to Asakusa to check out the Senso-ji and Asakusa temples
\- Walk around Nakamise shopping street for street food (grab small bites and go to an omakase for noon lunch), shop for souvenirs
\- Walk along sumid river, check out sumida park
\- Take the train to Akihabara, go to Owl Cafe in Akiba
\- Back to the hotel to prep for dinner
**Day 3 : Tokyo (Shibuya, Shinjuku)**
\- Take the train to Shibuya
\- CAFÉ Mori no Terrace
\- Meiji Jingu Shrine & Meji Shrine Imperial Garden
\- Shopping in Takeshita Street
\- Hachiko statue
\- Shibuya Crossing
\- Gotta narrow down on Shibuya Activities – Shibuya 109, Shibuya Parco, Shibuya Scramble Square, Shibuya Sky, Nezu Museum
\- Head to Shinjuku for dinner and nightlife
\- Shinjuku Southern Terrace to see winter illuminations
\- Golden gai
\- Omoide yokocho
\- Kabuchiko
**Day 4 : Tokyo (Ginza, Chuo City)**
\- Head to Zojo-ji temple and Tokyo Tower
\- Eat Kaiseki (traditional japanese dishes) meal at Shofukuro
\- Walk to Tokyo Station and explore Central Tokyo
\- Wadakura Fountain Park
\- Ramen Street
\- Tokyo Imperial Palace
\- East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
\- Tokyo National Museum
\- Kitte Shopping Mall
\- Train to Teamlab planets (2-2.5 hours there should be enough)
\- Dinner near Teamlab – any sushi recs? 🙂
**Day 5 : Osaka (Shinsekai, Umeda)**
\- Train: Tokyo -> Osaka, check into hotel
\-Cafe Annon (souffle pancake)
\- Kuromon Market (street shopping)
\- Pomme no Ki Cafe (omurice)
\- Namba Yasaka Shrine
\- Shinsaibashi street
\- Mipig Cafe Osaka
\- Dotonbori Bridge, Dotonbori
\- Amerikamura
\- Dinner in Namba
**Day 7 : Kyoto (Day Trip) – JAM PACKED DAY!! we need to reduce this… lol**
\-Early 7am train from Osaka to Kyoto
\- 8am: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji Temple (30 min train from Kyoto Station)
\- 10am: Kinkakujii (Golden Pavilion) – Kinkakuji (30 min train+bus) – skippable?
\- 12pm: Nishiki Market (41 min bus)
\- 2pm: Kyoto Tower (13 min train)
\- 3:30pm: Fushimi Inari Taisha (12 min train) – not planning to hike
\- 6pm: Higashiyama District (26 min train). Rent a kimono here for beautiful pictures.
\- Kiyomizu-dera Temple (walk on specifically Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka st).
\- 8pm: Gion District (12 min bus)
\- 8:30pm: dinner at Pontocho Alley (10 min bus),
\- 11PM Kyoto -> Osaka
**Day 7 : Osaka**
\- Hozenji Temple
\- LiLo Coffee Roasters
\- Den Den Town
\- Namba Yasaka Jinja
\- Shopping at Namba Parks
\- Dendentown
\- Osaka Tower
\- Dinner at Sushi Kazuma
**Day 8 : Nara – Day Trip**
\- Kintetsu-Nara station: Osaka -> Nara
\- Head to Nakatanidou to see mochi pounding, walk around, eat at Okaru
\- Kofuku-ji temple (Kōfuku-ji)
\- Maybe: Isuien Garden and Neiraku Museum (1-2 hours there)
\- Lunch at Kitahara Soba, just a five minute walk from Todai-ji Temple
\- Explore Nara Deer Park and Mt. Wakakusa
\- Shop on Higashimuki Shopping Street & Mochiidono Shopping Arcade
\- Before evening: take the train back to Osaka
\- Dinner & Bar in Osaka
**Day 9 : Osaka -> Seoul**
\- Check out hotel and board flight to Korea 🙂
