I’m a solo female traveler, planning my first trip to Japan. Very much appreciate any feedback and hotel recommendations! I’m vegetarian, but also super open to food/restaurant recommendations!
I’m also trying to decide where I should stay my last night in Tokyo – I’m flying out of Narita, so was thinking either Shibuya/Shinjuku/Ueno for easy train access? I know I could probably just leave from Osaka April 26 and go straight to Narita, but I’m concerned about potential train delays, and would feel less stressed going back to Tokyo the day before.
Tokyo:
Arrive Monday, April 15/Day 0:
* Land at Narita
* Check-in to hotel Onyada Nono Asakusa
* Conbini dinner
Tuesday, April 16/Day 1: Asakusa neighbourhood
* Senso-Ji Temple
* Nakamise-dori Street
* Benitsuru pancake
* Tokyo Skytree
* Ueno Park and Yanaka
* Gyokurin-Ji
* Ts Tan Tan or Vegan Goza Yu
* Asakusa Naniwaya for taiyaki
Wednesday, April 17/Day 2:
* TeamLabs Planets or TeamLabs Borderless in Roppongi
* Is this worth going to? I see TeamLabs Borderless is newly reopened.
* Stairway of Success at Atago Shrine
* Roppongi Hills Mori Tower
* Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu Shrine
* Explore Harajuku (if there’s time)
* Get mochi at Kanmi Mitsuya
Thursday, April 18/Day 3
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
* Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
* Shibuya crossing
* (Is Shibuya sky worth it? or just stick with Skytree?)
* Lunch at Happy Pancake or Izakaya Masaka or Ichiran Ramen
* Hachiko statue at Shibuya Station (located in Dogenzaka area)
* Explore Harajuku (if I didn’t have time the day before)
* Dinner at Tofu Cuisine Sorano Shibuya or Okonomiyaki Zen (Shinjuku)
Friday, April 19/Day 4
* To Kyoto
* Check-in to hotel Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto-Shijokarasuma
* Any hotel recommendations? This looks a bit father out…
* Following activities if there’s time (otherwise move to next day)
* Nijo Castle (open 8:45am-5pm)
* Nishiki Market
* Shopping (Kyukyodo store and Shoyeido Kyoto Main Store)
* Seimei Shrine (open 9-4:30)
Kyoto: Saturday, April 20/Day 5
* Arashiyama area (get there early)
* Open-air train and Hozugawa River.
* Moss garden at Gio-ji Temple
* Adashino Nenbutsuji
* Tenryuji Temple
* Nonomiya shrine (skip the Monkey park)
* Lunch at Yudofu Sagano or Tenryuji Temple Shigetsu (reservation required)
* Do these things if there’s time/didn’t get to day before
* Nijo Castle (8:45am-5pm)
* Nishiki Market
* Kyukyodo store (incense and stationary) (10-6)
* Shoyeido Kyoto Main Store
* Seimei Shrine (9-4:30)
Sunday, April 21/Day 6
* Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine
* Ginkaku-ji and Kinkaku-Ji temples
* Philosopher’s path way (Testugaku no Michi)
* Higashiyama and Gion districts
* Kiyomizudera Temple
* Maruyama-Koen Park
* Eat at A Happy Pancake or Panel Cafe
* Dinner at Kyotoyu Dofu Kisaaki (need reservation, near Philosopher’s path) or Kichi Kichi Omurice
Monday, April 22/Day 7
Visit Nara
* Todai-Ji Temple, Daibutsu Buddha Statue
* Narak Park
* Kasuga Taisha Shrine
* Isui-en
* Mount Kasuga Primeval Forest
* Eat at Smart Coffee for egg sando or Cafe Yamamoto
Tuesday, April 23/Day 8
* To Osaka
* Check into hotel Osaka: Dormy Inn Premium Namba
* Dotonbori
* Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum
* Tazaemonbashi Bridge
* Tsutenkaku Tower at Shin-sekai
Wednesday, April 24/Day 9
* Himeji castle (go in the morning)
* Umeda Sky Building
Tokyo:
Thursday, April 25/Day 10
* Travel back to Tokyo
* Trying to decide where to stay for my last night. I’m flying out of Narita, so want somewhere with an easy connection (thinking either Ueno, Shibuya or Shinjuku). Was looking at the following places:
* Dormy Inn Premium Shibuya-jingumae
* Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
* hotel MONday Premium Ueno Okachimachi
* Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ueno-Okachimachi
* Granbell Hotel ShibuyaÂ
* Hotel Resol Ueno
* Eat at Ts Tantan or Tofu Cuisine Sorano Shibuya
Friday, April 26/Day 11:
* Shopping in the morning
* Head to Narita (need to arrive at airport around 4pm)
by AnywhereConsistent17