This will be my first time in Japan, and this trip is my 30-year-old birthday present to myself. I had the option of buying plane tickets with layovers in China so I took it. I´ll land in Shanghai on the day of my birthday, stay the night, and then head to Japan for two weeks before returning to Germany via Beijing.
Since I will be solo so I am packing more things than I usually do when I plan trips with friends, but I hope it is all realistic.
***Trip Overview***
**• Shanghai** 1 night
• **Osaka** 2 nights
• **Kyoto** 4 nights + Day trip to Nara
• **Nagano** 2 nights
• **Tokyo** 5 nights
• **Beijing** 13hrs Layover
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***Pre-Trip***
• **Buy E-sim Japan** – Arialo Moshi Moshi 10GB (currently 50% sale for US $9)
• **Buy E-sim China** (with VPN) – Arialo Chinacom 5GB (US $16.50)
• **Download Navitime app + Google maps** for all cities
• **Set up WeChat** payment
• Create **Spotify playlist :)**
**.**
***Booking in advance***
• **TeamLabs**
Book 1 to 2 months in advance for early entry at 09:00
\*Choose between Borderless Tokyo, Planets Tokyo, Borderless Shanghai, or Botanical Garden Osaka (I don´t mind going to more than one if worth it but going with Planets for now)
*3,800 JPY = 23,81 EUR for Planets*
• **Ghibli Museum Tokyo**
Book on the 10th of the month before at 10:00 JST
\*Closed on Tuesdays
*1,000 JPY = 6,27 EUR*
• **Shinkansen via SmartEX**
• **Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN**
Book 1 month in advance
*2,700 JPY = 17,01 EUR*
**• Himiko/Hotaluna Cruise in Tokyo**
Reservations possible 1 month in advance
Hotaluna – Asakusa to Odaiba Seaside Park (10:00 / 13:10 / 15:30)
\*Apparently only with Hotaluna is it possible to go outside the boat
*1,720 JPY = 10,78 EUR*
• **Sightseeing Limited Express “Aoniyoshi” from Osaka to Nara**
Book 1 month in advance
Departing from Osaka-Namba (A01) at 09:15
*1,460 JPY = 9,15 EUR*
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***Itinerary***
**11. April, Frankfurt** – Travel day
* Night Flight FRA-PVG
**12. April, Shanghai** – Friday
* Arrival **PVG-Shanghai** at **12:55**
* Check-in at the Hotel (Tip: if you are traveling AirChina, and have a long layover in China, the company can pay for your Hotel and transport between the Hotel and the Airport)
* Eat many too many dumplings (**Sheng Jian Bao, Xiao Long Bao**)
* Visit **The Bund, Yu Garden**, and **Jin Mao Tower**
* Celebrate birthday clubbing at **SYSTEM Club** or any EDM/Techno Club alternative
**13. April, Osaka** – Saturday
* Pray I am still alive for the flight **PVG-KIX** at **11:30**
* Arrival in **KIX-Osaka** at **15:00**
* Check-in at Hotel
* **Recovery day – No plans**
* *Alternative: Rest in Shanghai and go clubbing in Osaka instead*
*Notes: The original plan was to club in Shanghai because it is my birthday, but the videos I found made it look like clubbing in China is just a bunch of people standing (no dancing?). Are clubs in Osaka also like this?*
**14. April, Osaka** – Sunday
* Wake up a new girl and eat something at **Kuromon Ichiba Market** (right next to Hotel)
* Head to **Osaka Castle** and walk around the gardens (apparently not worth going inside)
* Visit **Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN** at **16:30**
* Head to **Dotonbori/Namba** in the evening. Eat **Okonomiyaki**, and **Takoyaki**
**15.April, Nara + Kyoto** – Monday
* Check out from the Hotel in Osaka, ship luggage to the Hotel in Kyoto, and take the **Sightseeing train Aoniyoshi to Nara** at **9:15am**
* Arrive at **Kintetsu-Nara** at **09:51**
* Watch (and eat) **mochi pounding at Nakatanidou**
* Walk to **Kofuku-ji**
* Head to **Nara Park** and feed Deer. Once there, walk to **Tōdai-ji** (see the Great Buddha here) then walk to **Isuien Garden**
* Stay in Nara as long as I want -possibly the whole day, then **head to Kyoto**
* Check in at the Hotel in **Downtown Kyoto**
* Wander around or eat around **Potoncho** at night
**16. April, Kyoto** – Tuesday ***OPTION 1***
* Visit **Fushimi Inari** early morning
* attend the **Heian Jingu Reisai Festival** (start at 10:00 to 16:00)
* Visit **Ginkakuji**
* Walk down the **Philosopher’s Path** (follow signs to Nanzenji)
* Visit **Nanzenji**
* Walk to **Gion** in the evening and explore the area
* *Alternative if I am lazy in the morning: Visit Fushimi Inari at night*
**16. April, Kyoto** – Tuesday ***OPTION 2***
* Visit **Kiyomizu-dera** early morning
* Attend the **Heian Jingu Reisai Festival** (10:00 to 16:00)
* Visit **Fushimi Inari** – arrive before 17:00, catch the sunset halfway up the hike, finish it and descend when it is dark
* Walk through **Gion** on my way back to the Hotel and explore the area
*Notes: I have massive FOMO for Kiyomizu-dera since it is on everyone’s list, but also want to take advantage of the Festival happening while I am there. I am so unsure of what to do on this day…*
**17. April, Kyoto Arashiyama** – Wednesday
* Arrive at **Arashiyama Station** early morning (**06:00/07:00?**)
* **Bamboo Groove** first to avoid extreme crowds
* Take a taxi up to **Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple**
* Walk down checking out the temples on the way to **Togetsukyo Bridge** and, if I have the time, check out **Okochi Sanso Villa**
* Hike to **Monkey Park Iwatayama** and see cute monkeys
**18. and 19.April, Nagano –** Thursday and Friday
* Leave Kyoto by noon and take a **Shinkansen to Nagano**
*\*This is a small stop to visit my aunt, so I will not micromanage this and just enjoy her company*
**20. April, Tokyo** – Saturday
* Leave Nagano by noon and take a **Shinkansen to Tokyo**
* Check in at super cute **Capsule Hotel in Shinjuku**
* See the **Shibuya Crossing**, and explore **Shibuya** during the day
* Head back to **Shinjuku**, go up the observation deck of the **Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices**
* Drink something at **Golden Gai,** and check out **Kabukicho** at night – party a bit if I meet cool people
**21. April, Tokyo** – Sunday
* Go **Flea market/Second hand hunting** (maybe **Tokyo Oedo Antique Market** – located outdoors at Tokyo International Forum)
* Take a train to **Ashikaga**, and visit the **Ashikaga Great Wisteria festival** (get there around the end of the afternoon and stay until evening illumination)
* **Head back to Shinjuku** at night and eat izakaya food at **Omoide Yokocho**
*Notes: The Ashikaga Great Wisteria festival has been on my list since the very beginning because it looks STUNNING, but I am unsure if the 3-hour trip is worth it considering how much there is to do in Tokyo…*
*Alternative to the festival, I could make it a shopping day and choose either to:*
* **Explore Harajuku** (Shop at Kiddyland, Lush, eat some cute snack…), and visit **Meiji-jingu Shrine**
*Or*
* **Head to Saitama** for the big **BookOff Bazar** and hunt for deals on bags/clothes
*The BookOff Bazar in Saitama is a tip I found on TikTok and the girls found some too good to be true stuff. If anyone actually went there can tell me if it is really worth it, I would appreciate it.*
**22. April, Tokyo** – Monday
* Check out from Capsule in Shinjuku and Check in at bigger and fancier **Capsule in Asakusa**
* Take the train to **Mitaka** for the **Ghibli Museum** (if I get a ticket)
* Head back to Tokyo, and explore **Akihabara** – (Shop at 2k540 Aki Oka artisan alley, M’s-7-floor sex shop)
**23. April, Tokyo** – Tuesday
* Visit **TeamLab Planets** at **09:00**
* Visit **Toyosu Market** or **Tsukiji Market**
* Head to Ginza and visit **ART AQUARIUM MUSEUM GINZA** at **16:00**
* Stay in Ginza for **Shopping -** cute stationary at **Loft** or **Hands** Ginza, and the big **Uniqlo** store (Closes 21:00)
**24. April, Tokyo** – Wednesday
* Visit **Senso-Ji** early morning
* Head to **Kappabashi Kitchenware Town** and shop a little
* Do the **Hotaluna Cruise** from **Asakusa to Hinode Pier at 13:10**
* Check out the **Tokyo Tower**
* Spend the remaining Japan budget at **Don Quixote** and **Japanese drugstores** (buy another suitcase if necessary)
**25. April, Beijing** – Thursday – 13hrs Layover
* Check out and head to **Haneda Airport**
* Flight **HND-PEK** at **08:30**
* Arrive in **PEK-Beijing** at **11:20**
* Decide between visiting the **Forbidden City/Beijing** or the **Great Wall**
* Go back to the airport and chill/sleep/shower in the Lounge until the Flight to Frankfurt
**26. April, Home** – Friday
* Flight **PEK-FRA** at **02:30**
* Arrive in **Frankfurt** at **06:50**
* Take the train home and sleep for two days straight, then cry about not being in my twenties anymore.
***The End.***
***Extra – Shopping List:***
* Tabi shoes and socks
* Uniqlo stuff
* Onitsuka Tiger shoes
* Ajinomoto glass (weird item but they do not sell anymore in Brazil or Germany)
* Japanese Stationary
* Ceramics and Chopsticks/Chopsticks holders
* Paper lamp and maybe a Noren (Kagetsudo in Osaka)
* Prescription glasses!! (JINS)
* Nikkapokka pants for boyfriend if I come across one
* Japanese Skincare, Haircare and Makeup:
* Biore UV Aqua Rich Sunscreen
* Shiseido Lash curler
* Heroine Make’s Liquid Eyeliner + Mascara
* Fino Hair mask
* Honey hair oil
* Lycee eye drops (let’s see what the hype is about)
* Melano CC Moist Lotion + Vitamin C Serum
* Hatomugi 1L toner
* Hadalabo premium lotion
* Face masks (Keana Nadeshiko rice essence mask, Saborino facial mask,)
* Matomage Hair styling stick
Thank you so much for reading, I really appreciate your input 🙂
I am open to any suggestions for cool attractions I missed. I am just not much of a Disney person and although I would love to see a capybara or owl cafe I question their quality of life in a city like Tokyo.
by japzilian_de