Hello, y’all! My fiance and I just purchased our flights to visit Japan for our honeymoon in late June/ early July of this year.
We’d love your feedback on our itinerary – we’re both in our mid-twenties, are in reasonably good shape, avid hikers, and enjoy cultural experiences, delicious food, and beautiful nature.
Day 1: Tokyo
* Arrive at Tokyo Haneda Airport at 3:00 PM, check into Shinjuku-area hotel by 4:30 PM
* Rest + refresh then go on a Shinjuku food tour around 7:00 PM
Day 2: Tokyo Shinjuku
* AM | National Gyoen Garden + Metropolitan Government Office Observation Deck + Juniso Kumano-jinja Shrine
* PM | Omoide Yokocho + Golden Gai District
Day 3: Tokyo Harajuku + Shibuya
* AM | Meiji Shrine + Yoyogi Park + Harajuku Shopping/Dining
* PM | Shibuya Scramble + Ometsando Shopping/Dining (Nintendo Store, Mega Don Quijote, Starbucks Reserve) + *Potentially Take a Cooking/Pottery Class*
Day 4: Tokyo DisneySea
Day 5: Tokyo –> Kyoto
* AM | Take Shinsakken to Kyoto + Explore Kyoto Station + Higashi Honganji
* PM | Gion District + Tea Ceremony w/ Kimono Rental & Maiko + Nishiki Market + Pontocho Alley + Kamo River + *Potentially Fushimi Inari Temple at night*
Day 6: Kyoto
* AM | Arashiyama Bamboo Forest + Monkey Park + Teahouse + *Potentially Boat Ride/Scenic Train Ride?*
* PM | Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple) + Zen Garden
Day 7: Osaka Day Trip from Kyoto
* AM | Osaka Castle + Lunch at Blue Bird Terrace Restaurant Overlooking Castle
* PM | Osaka Aquarium + Dotonbori District Shopping/Dining + *Potentially Umeda Sky Building + Nintendo/Ghibli Stores*
Day 8: Nara Day Trip from Kyoto
* AM | Todai-ji + Nara Park + Mt. Kasuga
* PM | Do anything in Kyoto we missed or want to see again
Day 9: Kyoto –> Hakone
* AM | Train to Hakone *+ Potentially do Open Air Museum and/or Okada Museum of Art*
* PM | Relax at private onsen + enjoy ryokan dinner
Day 10: Hakone –> Tokyo Ginza
* AM | Train to Tokyo + Imperial Palace Gardens or Kokyo Gaien National Gardens
* PM | Ginza Shopping/Dining + *Potentially do Art Aquarium* \+ Tokyo Tower
Day 11: Tokyo
* AM | Do anything in Tokyo we missed or want to see again
* PM | Flight home from Haneda airport
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Questions for y’all:
* During our first two days in Tokyo, are there particular restaurants you had in the Shinjuku/Harajuku/Shibuya neighborhoods that were absolutely to die for? We love sushi, ramen, steak, etc. and would definitely appreciate recommendations for local spots!
* Are we missing out by not doing Team Labs or other museums/cultural experiences these two days in Tokyo? I figured walking around these neighborhoods is cultural exploration itself but am open to suggestions!
* Are these days doable? I try to plan trips around doing 1-2 things in the morning and 1-2 things in the afternoon/evening so we’re not attempting to do too much and have time for rest/exploration.
* I keep seeing posts about how hot/humid Japan will be in the summer. My fiance and I are from the southern U.S., where summers regularly reach over 90 degrees F and humidity is often over 90%. Will Japan be more brutal than what we are used to?
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We’re so excited to start our marriage with a visit to Japan, as it’s been on our bucket list for some time now! Thank you in advance!
by mono_probono