Hello everyone!
Would like to get some thoughts on this itinerary for mostly first timers in Japan. Will be travelling as a group of 6 sometime late Feb -> mid March, main idea for Tokyo was to head to a location and just explore the area. Kyoto/Osaka would have more specific things in the schedule like temples etc…
Have scheduled in free days occasionally where we can all do our own things. Some things I have in mind for those days could be Yokohama day trip, Shimokitazawa and Kichijoji for Tokyo. Also considering day trip to Hiroshima while in Osaka although I’m aware overnight is usually recommended.
Have never planned for such a long trip/larger group so main concerns are just whether the schedule is feasible but more importantly will it be rushed.
Another main concern would be restaurants for lunch and dinner. How difficult would it be to get seats for a group of 6? Although I guess it depends on how popular the restaurant is so might be a bit hard to say…
Thanks in advance!
**Day 1:**
* plane lands at Itami airport 8pm
* arrive at hotel around 10pm
**Day 2:**
* **morning**
* Shitennoji
* **morning/afternoon**
* Den Den Town
* Namba Yasaka Jinja
* **afternoon/night**
* Shinsekai/Tsutenkakui
**Day 3:**
* **morning**
* kuromon market
* **afternoon**
* Sennichimae Doguyasuji
* Amerikamura
* Shinsaibashi-suji
* **afternoon/night**
* Houzenji
* Houzenji Yokocho/Dohtonbori
**Day 4:**
* **morning**
* Osaka Castle
* **afternoon**
* Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
* Umeda
* **afternoon/night**
* Tenjinbashi-suji
* **night**
* Tenma
**Day 5:**
* free day, nothing planned
**Day 6:**
* USJ
**Day 7:**
* **morning**
* leave for Kyoto hotel, taking regular train
* drop off bags at Kyoto hotel
* walk down the road to Honke Owariya for lunch
* **afternoon**
* Teramachi dori
* Shinkyogoku dori
* Nishiki Market
* Shijo dori
* Kawaramachi dori
* **night**
* Kyoto station area
**Day 8:**
* **morning**
* Shimogamo shrine
* Ginkakuji (bus to here)
* **afternoon**
* Philosopher’s path
* Eikan-do temple
* Nanzenji-temple
* Kyoto imperial palace (just to see, not particularly important)
* **night**
* Kichi Kichi (if booked). We’re aware its kind of overrated but may as well check it out while we’re there
**Day 9:**
* **morning**
* Kiyomizudera 8:30am (concerned that it will already be packed, but I guess it always will be unless we go really early)
* Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka
* Ishibei-koji Lane
* other things along the way not mentioned, eg Yasaka pagoda
* **afternoon**
* Yasaka Shrine
* Gion
* **night**
* Pontocho Alley
**Day 10:**
* **morning**
* Otagi Nenbutsuji (train from hotel to nearest station, then taxi to there)
* walk down to Arashiyama, [things to see along the way](https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Otagi+Nenbutsuji+Temple/Adashino+Nenbutsuji/Saga+Toriimoto+Preserved+Street/Gi%C5%8Dji+Temple/J%C5%8Djakk%C5%8Dji+Temple/Arashiyama+Bamboo+Grove/Tenryuji+Temple+Shigetsu/Togetsukyo+Bridge/Kimono+Forest,+Arashiyama+Station/@35.0216387,135.6651789,13z/data=!3m1!5s0x6001089687cfa0bf:0x5d17c1eadf97b8cc!4m56!4m55!1m5!1m1!1s0x6001aa3999ac708b:0x57b7af11417a95d2!2m2!1d135.6615546!2d35.0311428!1m5!1m1!1s0x6001aa3d757dea39:0x38e558a8bebffd1c!2m2!1d135.6655837!2d35.0269658!1m5!1m1!1s0x6001aa181d378e23:0x4bc8f926efd33b74!2m2!1d135.6677759!2d35.0257661!1m5!1m1!1s0x6001aa175bdc44b3:0xbe5c2851719aa546!2m2!1d135.6668281!2d35.0234421!1m5!1m1!1s0x6001aa1adb520f1f:0x3e37b5db82dfefa8!2m2!1d135.6686405!2d35.0198102!1m5!1m1!1s0x6001abebbf5c8bad:0xfb9ffc7bbdd67cdd!2m2!1d135.6713013!2d35.0168187!1m5!1m1!1s0x6001aa01a8db60c5:0xef2993b7b6a95254!2m2!1d135.67356!2d35.0152055!1m5!1m1!1s0x6001075300916977:0xec14f8e82496283d!2m2!1d135.6777748!2d35.0128769!1m5!1m1!1s0x6001a9ffc66b3b31:0xc6d982f3d615e1e9!2m2!1d135.6783695!2d35.0152682!3e2?entry=ttu)
* **afternoon**
* Tenryuji Temple
* Togetsukyo Bridge
* Kimono Forest
**Day 11:**
* **morning**
* leave for Hakone via bullet train
* **afternoon**
* arrive at ryokan and drop off luggage
* nothing else planned
**Day 12:**
* **morning**
* leave for tokyo via regular train
* **afternoon**
* arrive at hotel and drop off bags
* Senso ji
* Nakamise Dori
**Day 13:**
* **morning**
* Kappabashi st
* **afternoon**
* Akihabara
**Day 14:**
* **morning**
* Ghibli museum (if booked)
* rest of day unplanned
**Day 15:**
* **morning**
* Tsukiji fish market
* **afternoon**
* Meiji Jingu
* Yoyogi park
* Harajuku/Cat street/Omotesando
**Day 16:**
* Shibuya, nothing specific planned
**Day 17:**
* free day, nothing planned
**Day 18:**
* **morning**
* Metropolitan Government Building Shinjuku
* Shinjuku Gyoen
* **afternoon**
* Kabukicho tower
* wander around Shinjuku, nothing specific planned
* **night**
* Omoide Yokocho
**Day 19:**
* **morning**
* Sunshine city
* **afternoon**
* Koenji
**Day 20:**
* free day, nothing planned
**Day 21:**
* airport -> back home
by GCFSA