Traveling from Canada, I’m traveling as a solo male, my dates are May 14 to the 26th, I’ve made hotel bookings already, just looking to see if there’s anything I should probably adjust.
Itinerary:
Tuesday – Recovery Day
Goal: Arrive safely, and recover from flight
Arrival: Tue 6:55am @ Haneda Airport
Get Suica/SIM
Transit+Airport time, Arrive in Asakusa(1 day hotel to recover) @9:30ish
Sensoji Temple
Spend day in Asakusa until check-in time at 3pm, recover from flight. Possibly go to manga Cafe during day as short term rest
Wednesday – Transit Day
Goal: Make it to kyoto and get settled
Transit to Kyoto, aiming to arrive by noon. Take it easy through day, explore area near station, hotel near kyoto station
Potential Places: Sanjuusangendo, National Museum, Hoganji Temple, Kyoto Aquarium
Thursday – Higashiyama
Goal: Historical/cultural experience focused on shrines/temples
Higashiyama:
Kiyomizu Dera – 7am
Kodaiji
Gion -Tea Ceremony@2pm
Shogunzuka Mound if I’m feeling up to it in evening
Friday
Goal: Fushimi, deer and buddha. Some of the things I’m most looking forward to.
Fushimi Inari Taisha – 7am – 10am
Train to Nara (Approx 11am)
Nara Park
Todaiji
Explore area for rest of day before taking train back to kyoto
Saturday
Goal: Castle!
Kyoto – Himeji Day Trip
-kokoen garden
Sunday
Kyoto – Free Day
Arashiyama? Mixed whether it’s worth it, I don’t think the monkey park is really for me, and I’ve heard the bamboo forest is a bit overly crowded/overrated so not sure.
Monday
Goal: Unwind after all the moving around
Transit to Yugawara, check in to ryokan, relax – likely take shinkansen to atami, local line to yugawara.
Tuesday
Goal: Light exploration, relaxation
Yugawara – head into town and explore?
Possibly rent bike or just go hiking
Wednesday
AM: Return to Tokyo – Ueno hotel
-ueno park
-tokyo national museum
PM:
Skytree?
Thursday
Goal: Anime culture
Tokyo – akihabara
-arcades (HEY Hirose Entertainment Yard)
-maid cafe?
Not sure if this will be a full day or whether I should be aiming to add more, Tokyo is a bit intimidating to plan for, there’s just so much there that I’m not sure how much time I’ll spend
Friday
Nikko Day Trip
Toshogu shrine
Kegon Waterfall
I really love the look of toshogu, and pictures of the Waterfall, but I’m not sure if this is a realistic day trip, will I have enough time?
Saturday
Goal: personal interest shopping/experiences
Tokyo – harajuku
Ikebukuro – pokemon center
meiji jingu/yoyogi park
Takeshita street
Tokyo snake center
Sunday
Free day, any final Tokyo I want to do
Flight Departs 10:45pm
Planning to pack light, and do laundry at hotels a couple times. Might buy an extra bag for purchases in Tokyo, as that’s where I expect to actually buy souvenirs the most.
I’ve heard that food everywhere is really good, and I don’t plan to spend too much on famous restaurants, just explore options wherever I happen to be, though I have lots of things I want to try while I’m there.
I’m able to speak some japanese, and though it’s limited, along with Google translate I don’t think it will be a gigantic barrier to me
by theeorlando
