Hi everyone!
My partner and I are going to Japan from Australia for 14 days in June for my birthday.
Both of us are quite well travelled and have spent time in Asia already including Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong. Our choice for Japan was based on the fact that neither of us have been before and both have wanted to go for a very long time!
I’m really into music (record collecting/guitar), books, art, design, film and my partner is really into sports, also music and history… we also are coffee fiends and love Japanese food.
We’d both prefer to wander around and soak it in and then do a few touristy bits inbetween… however when planning for specific things, ie baseball or Jimbocho (closed on a Sunday) you kind of have to have a rough plan! May splurge on one or two expensive dinners but for the most part just keen to immerse ourselves in low key experiences where possible!
We live in a warm climate with high humidity so not bothered by the temp in summertime in Japan.
I do want to get some non-touristy experiences with eating at some low key / off the beaten path izakayas so will make time for that.
I am the first one to admit I don’t know the first thing about Buddhism and temples in Japan. I see a lot of itineraries including them at every stop. I would like to educate myself further on the most prolific or historic ones, does anyone have reccs here for either the ‘can’t miss’ temples or further reading so I can educate myself?
Haven’t included random stops like toy shops, donki etc just the major spots really or info about picking up suica cards etc as I’ve done a fair bit of research about those aspects!
I am looking for feedback here about timings, anything not feasible or too crammed?
Looking to you, the experts for any tips or tricks you feel like giving me too, very open to feedback!
**Itinerary (rough draft)**
**Day 0**
Arrive at Narita at 5.30pm from Australia
N’EX to Shibuya
Check in to Shibuya accomm (near the Scramble) approx 9pm
Wander around / get food / crash for the night
**Day 1**
Explore vinyl record stories in Shibuya (disc union, tower records)
Harajuku / Cat street
Yoyogi Park
Afternoon in Shimokitazawa
Shibuya Sky (will pre-book)
Dinner ideas welcome
**Day 2**
(Birthday day, Saturday)
Check out of accomm in Shibuya
Check in to hotel in Shinjuku (Kabukicho Tower)
Shinjuku National Park
Head to Jimbocho and explore book/art shops/get coffee
Pre-dinner drinks at New York Bar Park Hyatt
Dinner booked for Gonpachi in Roppongi (film nerd in me wants to go here haha)
**Day 3 (Sunday)**
Giants game at Tokyo Dome 2pm (will book in advance)
After that, explore Golden Gai /Omiode Yokocho for dinner
**Day 4**
Check out of Shinjuku accomm
Shinkansen to Kyoto (Nozomi)
Nanzenji Tenju-an Temple
Explore Gion & surrounding areas eg Shirakawa district, Hanamikoji Street, Tatsumi Bridge, Shinmonzen-dori (art), Sanneizaka neighbourhood
Pontocho Alley for dinner
**Day 5**
Arashiyama Day – 5am Bamboo Forrest
Explore Arashiyama streets / get coffee
Tenryu-ji temple
Shinkyogoku Shopping Street Union
Dinner
**Day 6**
Nara Park (Kintetsu train)
Philosophers Path
Nishiki Market (closes at 5-6pm)
Dinner
**Day 7**
Fushimi Inari at 5am
Maybe a trip to Lake Biwa?
Sake experience?
Dinner
**Day 8**
Check out of Kyoto accomm
Train to Osaka
Check in to Osaka accomm
Americamura
Teamlab Botanical
Shinsaibashi / Dotonbori for dinner
**Day 9 (Saturday)**
Day trip to Hiroshima (will book private tour in advance) + Miyajama
Shinsekai at night for dinner
**Day 10 (Sunday)**
Kuromon Ichiba Market
Umeda Sky Building
Kamigamo-jinja Shrine Handicraft Market
Dinner?
**Day 11**
Check out of Osaka accomm
Shinkansen to Tokyo (Nozomi)
Check in to accomm in Ginza
teamLab Planets (will book in advance)
Stroll around Ginza (Uniqlo, Ginza Six)
Dinner at Sushi Ryuta (will book in advance)
**Day 12**
Day trip to Mt Fuji / Lake Kawaguchi if we feel up to it
Dinner in Roppongi/Ginza
**Day 13**
Stroll around Ginza / do anything left we didn’t get to do
Museums? Mori or Tokyo National
N’EX to Narita approx 3.30pm
Fly out at Narita @ 8.50PM
Keen to get everyone’s feedback! Like I said, most is pretty fluid but some are locked in due to being specific events…
Thanks so much 🙂
by softersoftest