Hi everyone, first of all thank you in advance to anyone who’s reading this and could provide any feedback or recommendations for me as I’m struggling a bit towards the end of the itinerary and need some ideas. I’m a relatively young solo traveler who’s traveled quite a lot but have not been to Japan yet. But hopefully my itinerary seems reasonable. I’ve omitted a lot of things to keep it as reasonable as possible and also factored how hot it can be during September. I’m not a huge foodie so I will not include all my food plans so I’m very flexible with that, I rather prefer convenience.
Day 1: Fly to Tokyo, arriving late afternoon/early evening (NRT/HND, will more than likely be HND)
– Get cash at ATM, then IC card if available
– Head to hotel in Shibuya (will be 5 minutes near train station)
– Walk around for a bit, maybe check out a 7-11 before sleeping
Day 2: Central Tokyo
– Tsukiji Fish Market for breakfast
– TeamLab Planets
– Walk through Ginza and go to Art Aquarium Ginza
– Walk through Akihabara, photo op at Hijiribashi/Bridge
Day 3: Eastern Tokyo
– Senso-ji
– Nakamise-dori Street
– open activity/suggestion here?
– Tokyo Skytree @ sunset
Day 4: Western Tokyo/Shibuya
– A Happy Pancake (Omotesando)
– Walk through Takeshita Street in Harajuku
– Tower Records Shibuya (huge J-pop fan)
– Meikyoku Kissa Lion Cafe
– Hachiko Memorial Statue/Shibuya Scramble Crossing
– Shibuya Sky
– Parfaiteria Bel
Day 5: Day Trip for Mt. Fuji Views (hit or miss)
– Mt. Fuji Panoramic Parkway
– Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine
– Arakurayama Sengen Park/Chureito Pagoda
Day 6: Day Trip to Nikko
– Tosho-gu
– Taiyu-in
– Futarasan jinja Haiden
– Shinkyo Bridge
– Kanmangafuchi Abyss
– Train back to Tokyo
Day 7: Travel to Kyoto
– Shinkansen to Kyoto
– Hotel baggage drop off (will be near Kyoto Station)
– Explore Gion (Ninnenzaka, Sannezaka)
– Hanami-Koji
– Photo op of Hokan-ji Pagoda
– Yasaka Shrine at night
Day 8: Arashiyama Area
– Otaji Nenbutusu-ji Temple
– Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
– Okochi Sanso Garden
– Tenryu-Ji
– Monkey Park Iwatayama
Day 9:
– Fushimi Inari Gates in morning
– Kiyomizu-Dera
– Philosopher’s Path/Nazen-ji
– Sanjusangen Do Temple
Day 10:
– Kinkakuji
– Ippodo Matcha Tea
– Nijo Castle
– Nishiki Market
– Pontocho Alley
Day 11: Travel to Osaka
– Hotel will be next to Namba Station
– Yasaka Shrine
– Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street
– Kuromon Market
– Dotonbori/Ebisu Bridge photo op
Day 12:
– Osaka Castle (exterior only)
– Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
– Shitenoji
– Shinsekai District with Tsutenkaku Tower view in the evening
– Umeda Sky Building
Day 13: Day Trip to Nara
– Todal-ji
– Nigatsu-do
– Nara Park
– Kasuga Taisha
– Mochi beating (Nakatanidou)
Day 14: Train to Hiroshima
– Shinkansen train
– Debating on hotel near train station or near Miyajima Ferry
– Peace Memorial Museum/Park
– Atomic Bomb Dome
Day 15: Miyajima Island
– Ferry
– Daisho in temple
– Miyajima Ropeway to Mt. Misen
– Omotesendo Shopping Street
– Itsukushima Shrine
Day 16: Shinkansen back to Tokyo
– Check back into same Shibuya hotel
– Chill evening
Day 17: Free day in Tokyo or another day trip
– Need suggestions
Day 18:
– Meiji Jingu
– ARTNIA Square Enix Cafe
– Teamlab Borderless
– Tokyo Tower
Day 19: Free day in Tokyo
– Aiyana Flower Market Tea House Akasaka
– Need suggestions
Day 20: Fly out, goodbye!
So I can see Day 16 be a stop somewhere between Hiroshima and Tokyo but not sure where, or I can head back to Tokyo on Day 16 and then do a day trip on Day 17 (Kamakura, Hakone?). I’m set on being in Tokyo for Days 18-19 so I can leave in a smooth fashion on Day 20.
I am aware the back-to-back-to back trains from Mt. Fuji, Nikko, Kyoto will be exhausting.
Some things I’ve left out but will consider: Kotoku-in in Kamakura, Mega Don Quijote in Shibuya, private onsen (but have trouble finding a place that does this for solo travelers?), Pokémon Cafe seems hit or miss, Godzilla head, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building exterior. I omitted parks and Gyoen National Garden because of the potential heat. I omitted any animal cafes because I decided not to support them. I do have Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai on my list. For Kyoto, I did have Chion-in, Kodaji but decided to omit them unless anyone thinks I should do them? In regards to JR pass, I think it is not worth it with my itinerary but what do you think?
Again, thank you so much for reading and would love to get feedback or recommendations!
by jaywin91