Itinerary Check – 16 Days in Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka/Nara

Hi all, solo Canadian traveller and this my 2nd ever trip! First trip was to Nepal doing mostly hiking, so this will be a little bit of a different style for me.

I like art, history, nature, and looking to immerse where possible. Not a big shopper, or hugely into fashion BUT I am a little bit into preppy/ivy fashion, and the book Take Ivy was written by a Japanese author… if anyone has any ideas on things to do/see or place to go related to that, I would love to hear it! Not into anime or Disney type stuff.

Looking for feedback on if any days are too busy/not busy enough, and if there are any things here I should NOT do. I have not spent too much time on looking for specific restaurants/cafes/bakeries, so if you have any recommendations (that aren’t impossible to get into) that fit into any of the days, please share!

Thank you in advance!

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**May 2 – Arrive in Tokyo**

* Flight lands at 9pm so no activities planned, maybe wander around hotel area
* Planning on booking a hotel near Shinjuku Station

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**May 3**

* Tokyo Metro Building
* Tokyo Swallows baseball game at 2pm, Meiji Jingu Stadium
* Shibuya Crossing in the evening, and eat dinner/get drinks in this area

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**May 4 – Roppongi**

* Teamlab Borderless, booked for 10am
* Don Quijote
* National Art Centre Tokyo
* Wander Roppongi Hills, possibly go to Mori Art Museum
* Circle back to Tokyo Tower at night

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**May 5 – Shinjuku**

* Meiji Jingu Shrine
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
* Hanazono Shrine
* Omoide Yokocho + Kabukicho for dinner
* Golden gai for late night drinks

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**May 6 – Travel to Kyoto**

* Looking for suggestions on areas to stay in Kyoto. Would be interested in a ryokan.
* Nothing specific planned, possible rest day
* Possible things to do include going to Kinkaku-ji and/or Senko-ji

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**May 7**

* Nishiki Market
* Teramachi
* Nijo Castle
* Kyoto Imperial Palace

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**May 8**

* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
* Arashiyama Monkey Park
* Tenryu-ji
* Gio-ji

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**May 9**

* Toji Temple
* Rengeoin Temple
* Kiyomizu-dera Temple
* Fushimi Inari Temple and Tori Gates, planning to do this later in day/evening

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**May 10**

* Zenrin-ji Temple
* Nanzen-ji Temple
* Ninenzaka
* Ishibeoji Alley
* Hanamikoji Alley, plan to go around 4-5pm

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**May 11 – Travel to Osaka**

* Umeda Sky Building
* Osaka Castle

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**May 12**

* Kuromon Market
* Amerika-mura
* Dotonburi
* Shinsekai

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**May 13 – Day trip to Nara**

* Yoshikien Gardens
* Todai-ji Temple
* Kasuga Taisha

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**May 14 – Travel back to Tokyo**

* Planning on a hotel near Ueno
* JR back to Marunouchi and walk to Hibiya to Yurakucho to Ginza & explore the area

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**May 15**

* Ueno Park
* Tokyo National Musuem
* Other museums in the area OR head to Akihabara to explore, depending on time

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**May 16**

* Sumo tournament

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**May 17**

* Senso-ji temple
* Nakamise-dori
* Kaminarimon gate
* Head to Narita Airport; need to get on train by 12pm or so

by SmallTownPalmTrees

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