Hi everyone!
I’m an art student traveling to Japan with my mom (early 60s) as a pit stop to China from April 23rd to May 1st. **I want to make sure what I have planned is feasible since we’ll also be clashing with the front end of golden week.** Our hotels are already booked, but I’m willing to adjust tourist destinations before finalizing booking to accommodate for time as well as to make sure my mom doesn’t have to walk too much. My main goal is to have \~1 hour everyday to do some sketching and also be able to collect eki stamps!
With that being said, here’s the itinerary I have planned:
# Day 1-3: Tokyo
>*4/23 – Tuesday*
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>*3PM Arrival*
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>*Check-in to hotel in Ginza*
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>*Ginza Shopping (optional)*
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>*Tokyo Tower*
I saw a thread saying imigration could take up to 4 hours, but I’m assuming that’s without a Visit Japan online submission?
>*4/24 – Wednesday*
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>*Ueno Park*
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>*National Museum of Western Art*
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>*Akihabara (optional)*
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>*Artizon Museum*
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>*Ginza Shopping (optional)*
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>*TeamLab Planets*
This is the most jumbled day for me, I originally was going to go to TeamLabs Borderless on 4/23 but it’s closed, so I’m not sure how feasible this schedule is especially with Tsukiji on the next day. If I had to drop something it would probably be Planets. Or I could move planets to 4/23?
>*4/25 – Thursday*
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>*Tsukiji Outer Market*
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>*Shinjuku Cat Cafe Mocha, shopping, JJK KFC,Suga Shrine (optional)*
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>*Check-in to hotel in Shibuya*
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>*Shibuya Sky at/post sunset*
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>*Shibuya Shopping*
I’m honestly not sure what else I can do in Shinjuku besides shop, we’re not really interested in bar culture and if I fail to get a good Shibuya Sky slot then we would have more time to dwaddle around.
# Day 4: Hakone
>*4/26 – Friday*
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>*Hakone Loop (Train, Ropeway, Steam Vents, Ferry, Hakone Shrine, Ferry, Ropeway)*
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>*Gora Park*
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>*Onsen in Ryokan*
Is the Hakone Open-Air museum really that worth it? I wasn’t planning on going but looking at Reddit posts, people seemed to love it. Praying that the weather is clear!
# Day 5-6: Kyoto
>*4/27 – Saturday*
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>*Check-in to hotel in Kyoto (Omiya Station)*
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>*Saiin Kasuga-Jinja Shrine (optional)*
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>*Arashiyama Bamboo Forest*
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>*Arashiyama Monkey Park (optional)*
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>*Kinkaku-Ji*
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>*4/28 – Sunday*
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>*Okazaki Shrine*
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>*Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka Path/Kiyomizudera + Kimono Rental*
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>*Fushimi Inari*
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>*Nishiki Market*
Where is it better to rent a kimono: Kiyomizudera or Fushimi Inari?If it rains, do people still wear kimono?
# Day 7: Nara/Osaka
>4/29 – Monday
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>Nara Park
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>Check-in to hotel at Namba
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>Namba Yasaka Shrine
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>Shinsekai Market
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>Tower slider (Tsutenkaku)
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>Dotunburi + Shopping
Most of the stuff in Osaka for this day is optional, I personally prefer exploring Nara Park over seeing something like the Namba Yasaka Shrine.
# Day 8-9: Osaka
>4/30 – Tuesday
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>Osaka Castle
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>Umeda Sky Building
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>Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
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>Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel
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>5/01 – Wednesday
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>12PM Departure
Apologies if the formatting is weird, I don’t post on Reddit often. Regarding time slots & getting around, I have most of it planned out going from early morning to evening but would be happy to elaborate on specifics! I just didn’t include it for clarity. Most of the booking will be done through Klook, besides Shibuya Sky which I probably will have to fight for.For food, I’m not as picky so it’s more come and go & sampling local specialties (Volcano Eggs in Hakone, Takoyaki in Osaka, etc). I’m willing to take must try recommendations though!
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by yeetmypoop