Hey everyone!
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It’s my second time to Japan, but my wife’s first time so I wanted to bring her to the lovely cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka! I was wondering if I could get some tips or advice on how I did our itinerary. Wanted to mainly make sure if anything is a bit too ambitious or crazy. Really appreciate the help.
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**Monday: Tokyo**
* 1600 : Arrive at NRT
* \~1830: Get out of customs then take taxi/train to hotel that is near Tokyo Station
* 1630-2200: Eat somewhere nearby then maybe explore Tokyo Station a bit if time permits
**Tuesday: Tokyo (Day trip to Yokohama)**
* 1100: Reservation at Omakase sushi near Tokyo Station
* 1300-1400: Train to Yokohama
* 1400-2200: Explore Yokohama
* Shopping, cup noodle museum, giant gundam, ferris wheel (nothing is mandatory only if time permits)
**Wednesday: Osaka**
* 0700-1000: Take bullet train to Osaka then transit/taxi to Hotel in Umeda
* 1030-1100: After dropping off luggage at hotel, train to Osaka Castle
* 1100-1300: Explore Osaka castle exterior (not planning on entering inside)
* 1300-1430: Eat at Izakaya Toyo (if time permits, if too long lineup eat somewhere else)
* 1430-1500:Train back to Umeda
* 1500-1900: Explore Umeda
* Shop, Umeda Sky building, eat early dinner at Okonomiyaki place
* 1900-2200: Train to and Explore Shinsekai
**Thursday: Osaka**
* 0800-1000: Explore Kuromon Market
* 1000-1800: Explore Namba
* Shopping at GU/Uniqlo/Takashiyama, Sennichimae Doguyasuji, Hozenji yokocho
* 1800-2100: Explore Dotombori at night
* 2100: Late night Yakiniku reservation
**Friday: Kyoto**
* 0730-0900: Train to Kyoto and then to hotel in Gion to drop off luggage
* 0900-1100: Walk to and then Explore Kiyomizu-Dera
* 1100-1200: Walk and explore Sannezaka path & Ninenzaka path
* 1200-1330: Kodaiji Temple
* 1400-1530: Eat at Mouriya Gion/Kobe Beef (near kodaiji temple)
* 1600-2200: Explore Gion
**Saturday: Kyoto**
* 0700-0800: Bus to Arashiyama
* 0800-1030: Explore the Bamboo forest and Tenryu-Ji
* 1030-1300: Bus to Kinkaku-ji?
* 1100-1230: Explore Kinkaku-Ji
* Eat something simple around area after
* \* Times before this may change, might stay longer (very flexible with time)
* 1230-2200: Explore Downtown Kyoto
* Shijo street, Nishiki Market, Eat dinner at pontocho, sake bar
**Sunday: Kyoto**
* 0600-0830: Travel to and explore Fushimi Inari
* 0830-1400: Travel to and explore Nara
* Food, Temples, Parks, etc.
* 1400-1700: Travel to and explore Nijo castle
* if we want to spend more time in Nara, might just not go Nijo castle at all
* 1700-2200: Flexible time
* go to places we didn’t get to explore, shopping
**Monday: Hakone**
* 0800-1130: Travel to Hakone
* 1130-1500: Explore Hakone (after dropping off luggage)
* 1500-Night: Relax and enjoy Ryokan/Onsen hotel
**Tuesday: Hakone/Tokyo (Ginza)**
* 0800?: Breakfast included with Ryokan
* 1030-1230: Hakone to Tokyo Station
* 1230-1300: Travel to and store luggage at hotel that is near Tokyo station
* 1230-1400: Eat some local store
* 1400-2200: Explore Ginza
* Go to Muji & Uniqlo MANDATORY for the wife 😀
* Eat somewhere in Ginza
**Wednesday: Tokyo (Shinjuku)**
* 0900-1100: Travel to and explore Shinjuku Gyoen
* 1100-1600: Explore Shinjuku
* Eat, department stores (Isetan etc etc.)
* 1600-1700: Tocho Observation Deck (if time permits)
* 1800-2200: Explore Kabukicho and nearby
* Eat at Omoide Yokocho for some yakitori at night
**Thursday: Tokyo (Shibuya)**
* 0900-0930: Train to Shibuya
* 0930-1000: Look around Scramble Crossing and Hachiko Statue
* 1000-2200: Explore Shibuya
* Shibuya Hikarie, Shimokitazawa, etc
* Booked Shibuya Sky at 1520-1540 and stay there til sunset
**Friday: Tokyo (Harujuku/Ghibli Day)**
* 1000-1300: Studio Ghibli Museum
* 1300-1400: Travel To Harujuku
* 1400-2200: Explore Harujuku
* Meiji Jingu & Yoyogi park first
* Takeshite Street, and other shopping areas
**Saturday: Tokyo ( Asakusa/Akihabara)**
* 0800-1000: Travel to and explore Senso-Ji
* 1000-1100: Explore nakamise shopping street
* 1100-1330: Explore Asakusa and have simple fast lunch
* 1330-1600: Explore Ueno Park
* 1600-2200: Explore Akihabara
* Maybe go back to Ginza if we get bored there.
**Sunday: Tokyo (Going back home)**
* 0700-0900: Tsukiji Market
* 1300: Arrive at NRT
* 1600: Flight to go back home
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Notes
* The main thing my wife wants this trip is SHOPPING
* If anyone has anymore recommends for shopping please let us know!
* I’m really there just to EAT food
* Basically everything is pretty flexible except for the few booked restaurants, most time slots are just estimates and I understand we might spend longer/less in some places.
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Appreciate the help a lot , can’t wait to go!!
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by Asterul