Hello all. This will be my second trip to Japan, first solo. Last year’s trip was based exclusively in the Kansai region, so I will be forgoing that in favor of the Tokyo area and day trips to nearby cities. 16 days including arrival and departure from April 3 – 18. I was thinking about visiting Nikko during this trip, but now deciding that going during autumn season would be preferable. I think that a countryside/rural excursion would be something of a focus for a future trip.
I would prefer to not visit multiple cities in one day and to take in experiences at a leisurely pace. Planning to wake up very early (\~5:00 AM) for the day trips to Odaiba, Yokohama and Kamakura. Also not necessarily clamoring for the common “must see” places that several other itineraries contain, even though the itinerary has a fair share of those. No specific restaurants in mind for the most part.
I realize that some of these days vary in expected amount of time spent for the bulleted locations. Could use some suggestions.
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**Day 0** \[arrival at Haneda Airport @ 19:45\]
* Pass through customs into Terminal 3
* Recharge ICOCA with ¥5000
* Get to and check into hotel
* Walk around for \~1hr at most
* Get dinner/snacks from Mini Stop and crash on hotel bed
**Day 1 \[Asakusa\]**
* Sensoji Temple / Houzoumon Gate / Asakusa Shrine
* Hotel is within \~5min walking distance from these
* Streets (window shopping)
* Denboin St, Nishi-Sando Shoutengai, Orange Street, etc.
* Denboin Garden
* Sumida River/Sumida Park
* Asahi Group Head Office Building
**Day 2 \[Ueno\]**
* Ameya Yokocho
* Ueno Park (about half of the day?)
* Ueno Zoo
* Toshogu Shrine, Hanazono Shrine, Gojoten Shrine, Bentendo Temple, Shinobazu Pond
* Yushima Shrine
**Day 3 \[Asakusa\]**
Free day. Not sure what to do; open to suggestions. I’d like to stay in the Asakusa area for the entirety of the day. Might play entirely by ear and go with non-touristy side quests. Skytree is a pass for me. Perhaps the Sumida Aquarium would be recommended?
# Switch hotel
**Day 4 \[Shibuya\]**
* Meiji-Jingu
* Shibuya Crossing
* Yoyogi Park (*optional*)
* Shibuya Sky
* Tokyo Metropolitan Building (*optional*)
* Nonbei Yokocho
**Day 5 \[Shinjuku\]**
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Park
* Godzilla statue (Toho Cinemas)
* Kabukicho, in order to get to…
* Omoide Yokocho (primary time spent for the night)
**Day 6 \[Odaiba\] (day trip)**
* Sushi Dai (*optional, likely won’t be possible*)
* teamLab Planets
* Fuji TV Deck
**Day 7 \[Yokohama\] (day trip)**
* Yamashita Park
* Yokohama Chinatown
* Sky Garden Tower
# Switch hotel
**Day 8 \[Shimokitazawa\]**
* Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory (take out)
* Explore shopping area
**Day 9 \[Kamakura\] (day trip)**
* Meigetsu-In
* Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
* Houkokuji
* Komachi Street
* Kotoku-In
* Shichirigahama Hamabe
**Day 10 \[TBD, maybe another day in Kamakura?\]**
* **TBD, maybe a hiking trail?**
# Switch hotel
**Days 11 – 14 \[shopping in various cities; doing activities on the fly\]**
* **Day 11 \[Shibuya\]**
* **Day 12 \[Shinjuku\]**
* **Day 13 \[Nakano\]**
* **Day 14 \[TBD\]**
**Last day** \[depart Haneda Airport @ 20:15\]
* Check out of hotel
* Head to Haneda Airport
* Check one bag (personal items/clothes), leave other to carry on for…
* Spending day checking out shopping areas and restaurants to use up remaining Yen
* Use spa/bath
* Rent a capsule hotel to rest for a few hours before flight (*optional*)
* Use 7-11 or equivalent to stock on snacks for plane ride home
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Thank you for taking the time to read this itinerary. I’ll update the above schedule as necessary.
by YouCatTabbyKittenMe
