Hey everyone! Thoughts on an itinerary my friends and I put together for my friend’s 30th birthday? There will be a total of 6 of us going, we are ok having to branch off if a place cannot accommodate larger groups. Don’t mind being out and about by around 6 or 7AM, are ok walking 20-30K steps a day & typically leave evenings open to wander aimlessly.
Any recommendations for local pastries or foods to try? Melon pans, Ningyoyaki, Soufflé pancakes are currently on my list. Looking into places we can buy calligraphy brushes & ink, chop sticks & maybe a tea ceremony set.
**Day 0:**
Land in Tokyo around 9PM (HND), stay the night in a hotel. Considering luggage forwarding at the airport to a location near our Kyoto Airbnb, most of us have purchased AirTags for our luggage.
**Day 1: Kyoto** \- *6AM Shinagawa Station to Kyoto Station*
Fushimi Inari Shrine & food from shops along the way > To-ji Gojunoto (**skip?**) > Nijō Castle > Kyukyodo (nice stationery store) > Check-in/dinner > Walk along Kamogawa/Gion District/Yasaka-jinja Shrine & Maruyama Park area to adjust to the time change.
**Day 2: Kyoto**
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove/Okochi Sanso Garden/Kameyama observation decks > Monkey Park > Uber/taxi/train to Toriimoto Preserved Street area > Adashino Nenbutsuji temple/Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple > Kinkakuji/Golden Pavilion (**skip?**) > Kyoto Imperial Palace > Kyoto Pokemon Center/Nintendo Store > Nishiki Market > 7PM reservation for Gion Corner performance.
Considering stopping by a luggage forwarding place to Osaka in the evening.
**Day 3: Kyoto/Osaka**
Philosopher’s path > Ginkakuji/Silver Pavilion (**skip?**) > Garden of Fine Arts > Kōdaiji Temple > Ninen Zaka/Yasaka Pagoda (walk by since it will be closed)/Sannen Zaka > Kiyomizudera Temple Area until we have to catch a train to Osaka from Kyoto Station at 4PM > Dōtonbori/Hozenji area in Osaka.
**Day 4: Osaka**
USJ in the morning, teamLab Botanical Garden in the late evening. We have purchased tickets for both in advance.
**Day 5: Osaka**
Nishinomaru Garden before the castle opens/Osaka Castle > Nakanoshima Museum of Art > Pokemon Center > Umeda Sky Building > Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street > Kuromon Ichiba Market > Denden Town Shops: Super Potato Retrokan/Jungle/Animate/Mandarake
**Day 6: Nara** \- *6/6:30AM train to Nara Station*
Wakakusayama Hill (**skip?** ^(might be hung over)) > Kasuga Taisha > Nara Park > South gate/Tōdai-ji/Bell Tower/February Hall > Isuien Garden/Yoshikien Garden & Tea? > Sagiike pond/Suikinkutsu > Kofuku-ji > Higashimuki Shopping Street/Nakatanidou/Mochiidono Shopping Street > Lattice House?
Considering stopping by a luggage forwarding place to Tokyo in the evening.
**Day 7: Tokyo** \- *6AM Train to Tokyo*
Stop by Hiroko Taki Plaza/Tokyo Institute Library on the way to Tokyo > Pigment Shop in Tokyo > teamLab Planets > Zuishō-ji (Kengo Kuma) > Hibiya Park > Harry Potter Shop & Cafe/Tokyo Tower/Check-in & drop off stuff
**Day 8: Tokyo**
Tokyo International Forum > Hibiya Park (might fit better here?) > Imperial Palace/Edo Castle Ruins/East Garden/Kita-no-maru > Tsukiji Outer Market > Asahi Group Head Office Building Rooftop Bar > Nakamise-dori Street > Sensō-ji/Melon Pan > Ueno Park > Akihabara: Gachapon Hall/Don Quijote/Animate/Taito Arcade (**skip?**) > Mandarake.
**Day 9: Mt Fuji Tour**
Booked a Mt Fuji tour for the morning, Yakatabune Dinner Cruise for the evening.
**Day 10: Tokyo**
Meiji Jingu/Yoyogi Park > Takeshita-doori: Harajuku area/Omotesando Street/SunnyHills (Kengo Kuma) > Miyashita Park > Shibuya Scramble Crossing > Shibuya Sky (**skip?**) > Mega Don Quijote > Shibuya Pokemon Center > wander aimlessly in Shinjuku area in the evening.
**Day 11: Departure :(**
by Odd_Contribution_681