Hi, first and foremost, this will be our first trip to Japan in a group of 3, and we’re planning on doing more trips in the following years if we like the general experience (Tohoku, Hokkaido, Okinawa, ..).
As this is our first trip though we want to do a mix of some of the more touristy places and also try to see some stuff we think might be good. We’re kind of a relaxed group so we have a rough plan but didn’t plan to much for each day – at least that’s what I hope. And we aren’t fixed on doing all the below each day, so anything that takes too much time or is too crowded it might get canceled on the spot. I know, crowded places are hard to avoid with those big locations, but we’ll make do as best as we can. We’re generally not very active people and love video games, anime, good food and nice landscapes.
Looking for feedback on what to cut or what to change, maybe even another castle to visit (only have Kumamoto castle), and maybe even some recommended places to eat. Whatever comes to your mind.
**Day 1 -** ***Apr 3*** **- Tokyo**
Landing in Tokyo. Our hotel is in the heart of Akihabara, so we’re not planning too much here, especially because we don’t know how rough jetlag gets to us.
* Checking out some stores (Radio Kaikan, Animate)
* GiGO arcade
* Monster Hunter cafe
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**Day 2 -** ***Apr 4*** **- Tokyo**
Thinking of doing some Shibuya & Harajuku stuff here. General question.. We don’t wanna carry our stuff that we buy all around Japan. Think it’s better to cram all the shopping the last few days or should we just send the stuff to the airport? Keep it somewhere else? Any tips much appreciated.
* Checking out some some stores (Shibuya Parco, anything we see and like)
* Shibuya Sky
* Maybe Harajuku unless we scream in agony from all the masses
* Harinezumi Harry Harajuku Terrace (or are these places (animal cafes) worse than their reviews?)
**Day 3 -** ***Apr 5*** **- Fujiyoshida (day trip)**
Day trip to Mt. Fuji. Not much else planned here. Any recommended places to eat?
* Fujiyoshida sengen
* Taking photos in the town
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**Day 4 -** ***Apr 6*** **- Yokohama (day trip)**
Day trip to Yokohama. Cup noodle museum is booked out sadly. Gundam factory closes at the end of March. So here’s what we planned.
* Red Brick Warehouse food hall
* China town
* Isezaki mall
* Checking out the harbor + park
* Ferris wheel
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**Day 5 -** ***Apr 7*** **- Kanazawa**
Packing in Tokyo and taking the Shinkansen to Kanazawa to our second hotel of the trip. If you have more than one suitcase, is that okay on the train? Also I heard of transferring luggage with services from one hotel to another, but will those arrive on the same day? Otherwise it wouldn’t make much sense for us.
* Higashi chaya
* Omicho market
* Naga-michi
* Oyama shrine
* Kenroku-en
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**Day 6 -** ***Apr 8*** **- Kyoto**
Packing up again and taking the Shinkansen to Kyoto to our third hotel of the trip.
* Checking out the KyoAni store at train station
* Kyoto tower
* Higashi Hongan-ji
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**Day 7 -** ***Apr 9*** **- Kyoto**
Northwest day.
* Kinkaku-ji
* Arashiyama (monkey park, bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji)
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**Day 8 -** ***Apr 10*** **- Kyoto**
Southeast day.
* Checking out the Nintendo HQ
* Nintendo museum (opens up tomorrow!)
* Kiyomizu dera (I always wanted to go there but I heard it’s crazy with people.. when’s a good time?)
* Yasaka pagoda area
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**Day 9 -** ***Apr 11*** **- Osaka**
Packing up again and taking the Shinkansen to Osaka to our fourth hotel of the trip.
* Checking out the Dotonbori area
* Eating at Kani Doraku
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**Day 10 -** ***Apr 12*** **- Osaka**
Taking some time to exploring the other flashy areas of Osaka.
* Nipponbashi Denden Town
* Tsutenkaku
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**Day 11 -** ***Apr 13*** **- Nara (day trip)**
Day trip to Nara. Hearing so many mixed things about Nara lately. You think it’s worth a day trip?
* Feeding deer
* Kasuga taisho
* Todai-ji
* Nara park
* Getting some confectionary at Nakanidou
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**Day 12 -** ***Apr 14*** **- Kobe (day trip)**
Day trip to Kobe. I think I could go to Kobe just for the food for a month straight. Please help us pick the best place to eat Kobe wagyu as we only planned a single day there. Maybe even other places to see.
* Eating steak (where)
* China town
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**Day 13 -** ***Apr 15*** **- Universal Studio Japan (day trip)**
We are planning to checking out USJ here as its Monday and we are hoping for fewer crowds. Still haven’t understood the way to get into Super Nintendo World, so if anyone has any tips, I would love to hear them. We bought a day ticket for each of us and snagged a time slot for the Monster Hunter VR experience so far.
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**Day 14 -** ***Apr 16*** **- Hiroshima**
Packing up again and taking the Shinkansen to Hiroshima to our fifth hotel of the trip.
* A-bomb dome
* Peace memorial museum
* Comparing Hiroshima okonomiyaki to the Osaka okonomiyaki
* Eating some oysters maybe..? Where?
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**Day 15 -** ***Apr 17*** **- Fukuoka**
Packing up again and taking the Shinkansen to Fukuoka to our sixth hotel of the trip.
* Hakata port tower
* Eating at some yatai in the evening.
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**Day 16 -** ***Apr 18*** **- Fukuoka**
We’re still unsure what we should do here. Another day trip? Check out Fukuoka? Anyone has any pointers for us?
* (Possibly) Nanzoin temple
* (Possibly) Ohori park
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**Day 17 -** ***Apr 19*** **- Kumamoto (day trip)**
Day trip to Kumamoto.
* Checkout out the One Piece Luffy statue
* Kumamoto castle
* Eating some basashi (any recommendations? Read Kenzo is a good place, but idk)
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**Day 18 -** ***Apr 20*** **- Tokyo**
The big train ride all the way back to our seventh hotel in Tokyo (the same as the first one). Going the more direct Shinkansen route through Nagoya this time. Will arrive probably in the evening so not much time to do anything meaningful besides drinking.
* Roppongi
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**Day 19 -** ***Apr 21*** **- Tokyo**
Thinking of checking out Nihonbashi on that day. Any recommendations there?
* Tsukiji fish market
* Pokémon Center DX
* Pokémon cafe
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**Day 20 -** ***Apr 22*** **- Tokyo**
Thinking of checking out Shinjuku on that day. I’m a big RGG fan so I’m looking forward to exploring “Kamurocho” (Kabukicho).
* Exploring Kabukicho
* Golden Gai
* Singing some Karaoke
* Maybe the Ninja trick house?
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**Day 21 -** ***Apr 23*** **- Tokyo**
Thinking of checking out a bit of Shinbashi on that day.
* Tokyo Tower
* Checking out the Bandai Namco HQ
* Maybe doing some last minute shopping in Akihabara/Shibuya to burn those last yen if we have any left.
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**Day 22 -** ***Apr 24*** **- Going home**
Saying goodbye to Japan!
by Saphir0