Hi everyone, my wife and I (mid 30s) will be traveling to Japan for the first time in about a month. We value experiences, vibes, good food (and especially a great cocktail), and are particularly interested in live events / shows. We know we’re going at a high tourist time, and crowds are unavoidable. With that said, for the sake of our sanity, we’re planning on hitting most major temples/attractions either early in the morning (7am) or at night.
I would love any feedback as to how doable this is, recommendations for swapping “this for that”, or anything else. Thank you so much.
Sending luggage from Tokyo > Kyoto, carrying from Kyoto > Osaka, sending from Osaka > Kanazawa (packing a day bag for Takayama).
**TOKYO**
**March 30th (Saturday)**
\-Land in HND mid afternoon
\-Travel to hotel (Aoyama area)
\-Dinner at a nearby konbini or ramen shop
\-Magic Show at Half Moon Bar (Penn & Teller said it “might be the best magic show we have ever seen”)
**March 31st (Sunday)**
\-Aoyama Cemetery for (hopefully less crowded) sakura viewing
\-Cat Street / Omotesando for architecture and vibes
\-Yoyogi Park, hope to see some Rockabilly dancers
\-Loft Shibuya / Shibuya scramble crossing
\-SG Low (reservations at 6pm)
\-Shimokitazawa for live music (Basement Bar, Three, or Live Haus)
**April 1st (Monday)**
\-Chidorigafuchi Boat Rental
\-Imperial Palace
\-Akihabara for vibes and arcades
\-Asakusa Rockza burlesque/strip show
\-Hoppy St for dinner / drinks
\-Sensō-ji Temple for night illumination
**KYOTO**
**April 2nd (Tuesday)**
\-Travel to Kyoto
\-Sannenzaka Path
\-Kiyomizu-dera
\-Pontocho Alley for dinner
\-L’escamoteur cocktail bar
\-Fushimi Inari around 9pm for night illumination and to avoid crowds
**April 3rd (Wednesday)**
\-Wake up 5:45am
\-Arashiyama Bamboo Forest by 7:15am
\-Tenryu-ji Temple
\-Iwatayama Monkey Park
\-Senkoji Temple
\-Rilakkuma Cafe
\-Back to hotel to nap
\-Dinner in Gion
\-Karaoke
**April 4th (Thursday)**
\-Nishiki Market for breakfast
\-Philosopher’s Path
\-Miyako Odori Geisha performance
\-Dinner
\-Nijo Castle Night Illumination (Naked Flowers exhibit)
**April 5th (Friday)**
\-Kinkaku-ji Temple
\-Kurama to Kibune Hike
\-Travel to Osaka
**OSAKA**
**April 5th (Friday) (cont’d)**
\-Check into hotel
\-Teamlabs Botanical Garden
\-Dinner and drinks in Dotonbori area
**April 6th (Saturday)**
\-Osaka Aquariam
\-Amerikamura for vibes and thrifting
\-Bunraku at The National Bunraku Theater
**TAKAYAMA / RYOKAN EXPERIENCE**
**April 7th (Sunday)**
\-Travel to Kakurean Hidaji Onsen
\-Onsen / dinner
**April 8th (Monday)**
\-Shin-Hotaka Ropeway
\-Lunch in Takayama
\-Hida Folk Village Museum
\-Travel to Kanazawa
**KANAZAWA**
**April 8th (Monday) (cont’d)**
\-Oyama Shrine
\-Dinner Katamachi area
**April 9th (Tuesday)**
\-Omicho Market for breakfast
\-Kanazawa castle
\-Kenroku-en (castle gardens)
\-Shigure-tei tea ceremony
\-Gold leaf ice cream
\-21st century museum of contemporary Art (time permitting)
\-Sushi for dinner
by BandaidsOfCalFit