I’m \~2 weeks away from my first trip to Japan! Going with my wife – we’re late 30s and into food, history, music, and generally wandering around in unfamiliar places. We put together our itinerary with a eye towards seeing a lot but also not overscheduling ourselves. Would love any general thoughts, ideas on how to fill in a few holes, and transportation advice (figuring out all of the trains, buses, and subways in an unfamiliar language sounds daunting!)
**Day 1 – Tokyo**
* Arrive NRT at 4pm
* Check into hotel in Shibuya
* Queue for dinner at Midori Sushi in Shibuya
**Day 2 – Tokyo**
* 9am-1pm: ½ day private custom tour with Japan Wonder Travel. Haven’t set itinerary yet, but definitely plan to hit Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace, Chigorigafuchi Moat, somewhere to see cherry blossoms.
* Lunch: TBD depending on where our tour ends. Will try to get a ramen suggestion from the guide.
* Explore Shibuya and Shinjuku
* 4pm reservation at Mipig Cafe Harajuku (micropig cafe) in Shibuya
* Back to hotel to change
* Dinner TBD – might meet up with a friend if he can get off of work and make it into Tokyo. Otherwise, would love suggestions for a higher-end omakase restaurant that might still have reservations available (most of the places suggested to me so far are booked)
* Evening: bar hop at Golden Gai area in Shinjuku
**Day 3 – Tokyo**
* 8:30-11:30am Tsukiji Fish Market tour with Japan Wonder Travel
* If we’re still hungry after tour, lunch at market
* Wander around shops in Ginza
* TeamLab Planets – admission between 2:30-3pm. Expecting to spend 2-3 hrs.
* Dinner: Street food at Takeshita Street. Really hoping to get takoyaki.
* Evening: TBD
**Day 4 – Tokyo and Kyoto**
* Breakfast: parfaits/smoothies at one of those high-end fruit stores. Open to suggestions as to which one.
* Check out of Tokyo hotel by 11am
* Train to Kyoto
* Check in to Kyoto hotel after 3pm
* 5pm-8pm: Kyoto Night Foodie Tour with Magical Trip
* Evening: TBD
**Day 5 – Kyoto**
* 9am-2pm: walking tour with City Unscripted Kyoto (assume we’ll stop for lunch)
* Afternoon: open to ideas
* 6pm: Reservations at Kushi Tanaka
* Evening: TBD
**Day 6 – Kyoto**
* Get up early to try to get lunch reservation at Kichi Kichi Omurike
* Bamboo Forest, Iwatayama Monkey Park. If we have time before lunch, Tenryuji Sogen Garden and/or Togetsukyo Bridge
* Lunch at Kichi Kichi Omurike (fingers crossed)
* Early afternoon: open to ideas
* 3pm: tea ceremony at Kyoto Nagomi Tea
* Late afternoon: open to ideas
* Dinner: TBD – working with our hotel to find a kaiseki restaurant with availability
* Evening: TBD
**Day 7 – Kyoto to Hakone**
* Morning TBD
* Check out of Kyoto hotel by 12pm
* Train to Hakone
* Check in to Hakone onsen hotel after 3pm
* Relax in onsen
* Dinner at hotel
**Day 8 – Hakone**
* A bit overwhelmed here since we only have 1 full day and want to spend a good amount of time relaxing. Would love to hear favorite between Hakone Open Air Museum, Kowakidani Horaien Gardens, Gora Park, Chisuji Falls, Lake Ashi/Pirate boat on Lake Ashi
* Lunch depending on what we do in the morning
* Relax in onsen
* Dinner at hotel
**Day 9 – Hakone and Airport**
* AM relax in onsen
* Check out of Hakone hotel by 11am
* Train to Tokyo
* Our flight is out of NRT at 4:45pm. Assuming we leave hotel in Hakone at 11am, would there be time to do some light shopping in Tokyo before heading to the airport or should we go straight there? Will obviously have our bags with us.
by EsqRhapsody