Hello! My sister and I are traveling to Japan for the first time in <2 weeks. Neither of us has traveled extensively, so feedback on our 2-week itinerary would be much appreciated. Please feel free to pick apart any/all of it. Is it realistic? Do you recommend adding any specific stops/activities on the days that are less full?
Some things to note:
* We’re on a low-to-mid-range budget.
* I’m of legal drinking age in Japan, but my sister is 18. So, we won’t be doing a lot of drinking but we want to experience the nightlife as much as possible!
* We decided not to stay in Osaka. The only day we’re planning to be there is our USJ day, but we are considering going for another 1/2 day if time allows.
**Day 1, Sun – Arrival (3 days)**
* 3:30 PM – Arrive at Narita
* Take public transit to hotel in Asakusa
* Check in/eat dinner/crash
**Day 2, Mon – This day in particular involves a lot of jumping around the city, but I’m not sure where else to squeeze in these activities :/**
* Toyosu fish market early for some breakfast sushi
* 9:00 AM – TeamLab Planets
* Check out the Rainbow Gundam Statue and have lunch nearby
* Yasukuni Jinja Shrine to watch the Sumo tournament
* Clothes shopping in Ueno (Uniqlo/GU/Muji)
* Dinner in Ueno or near hotel
**Day 3, Tues**
* Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum
* Senso-ji and lunch/shopping at Nakamise Street
* 5:00 PM – Skytree
* Akihabara at night?
**Day 4, Wed**
* Shibuya
* Shibuya Scramble
* Hachiko Memorial
* Yoyogi Park
* Harajuku
* Takeshita Street/Cat Street
* Shinjuku
* Gyeon National Garden (if still open)
* Metropolitan Government Building for the views
* Golden Gai – **would it be possible for me to grab a drink at one of the bars with my sister present?**
* Karaoke
**Day 5, Thurs – Tokyo > Kanazawa**
* Breakfast near hotel
* 10:30 AM – Shinkansen to Kanazawa
* 1:30 PM arrive, late lunch at Omicho market
* Walk to Kazumachi Chaya district & explore
* 3:00 PM – Check into nearby Airbnb
* Explore Higashi Chaya District
* Utatsuyama Park (if time allows)
* Dinner at Sushi Takashima
**Day 6, Fri – Kanazawa > Kyoto**
* Breakfast in Higashi Chaya
* Kanazawa Castle Park/Kenrokuen Garden
* Get tea in the gardens
* This may come before or after we check out, depending on how early we wake up
* Check out of Airbnb by 11:00 AM
* Shinkansen to Kyoto
* Check into hotel in the Shimogyo ward
* Explore downtown Kyoto
* Nijo Castle
* Nishiki Market
**Day 7, Sat – Fushimi Inari/Half-Day Trip to Nara**
* Get up EARLY and head to Fushimi Inari
* Shinkansen to Nara
* 10:30 AM – Arrive at Kintetsu-Nara Station
* Nara Park
* Todai-ji
* Isuien Garden and Neiraku Museum
* View the mochi pounding
* Lunch
* 3:00 PM – Quick stop at Uji on the way back to Kyoto to buy matcha from the source
* Byodo-in
* Tsuen Main Branch
* Evening – open to suggestions!
**Day 8, Sun – Arashiyama/Northern Kyoto**
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Monkey Park
* Lunch nearby
* Kinkaku-ji
* 4:45 PM – Tea Ceremony near Kinkaku-ji
* Evening – again, no specific plans
**Day 9, Mon – Gion**
* Kimono rental?
* 4:30 PM – Miyako Odori Performance
* 6:00 PM – Return Kimonos
* 6:30 PM – Sunset at Kiyomizu-dera
As you can tell, our schedule is pretty empty here – I’m open to just exploring Gion, but am not sure if that will take up an entire day.
**Day 10, Tues – USJ/Osaka**
* Leave for USJ early
* 9:00 AM – USJ opens
* Dinner at the JJBA-themed ramen shop in Osaka
* Explore Osaka nightlife!
**Day 11, Wed – Kyoto > Hakone**
* Early Shinkansen to Hakone
* If we have the time, we’d like to complete the Hakone loop, but I definitely want to ride the Lake Ashi pirate boat and visit the Open Air Museum. Is this doable if we arrive around 10:00-11 AM?
* Check into our Ryokan and relax
**Day 12, Thurs – Hakone > Tokyo**
* Check out by 11 AM, grab lunch in town
* 12:00 – Shinkansen or Romance Train to Tokyo
* Check into hotel in Chiyoda
* Thrifting at Amekoyo & last minute souvenir shopping at Donki
* Again, no specific after dinner plans right now
**Day 13, Fri**
* Tsukiji Market?
* Train to Mikata
* Kichijoji Petit Mura (Ghibli-themed cat cafe)
* 2:00 PM – Studio Ghibli Museum
* Fancy final dinner?
**Day 14, Sat – Departure**
* Finish packing, early lunch
* Leave for Narita by 12:30, arrive by 3:00
* 5:50 PM – Departure
by idk3637373