An Overwhelmed First Timer’s Japan Itinerary Check – 11 days in the big 3

Hi everyone!

Going to Japan soon for the first time! I already booked flights so now I’m trying to make an itinerary that fits the flights! Would love your feedback and tips on any of these spots. It’s my first time in Japan so hitting a lot of touristy places. My travel itineraries have always been quite packed and ambitious (8AM-11PM days, lots of walking), but also want to be realistic as well.

I’ll be spending time in the main three – Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo. Hope to come back and visit the other cities next time at a more leisurely pace ! I do wish I took 1-2 of the days in Tokyo and allocated them to Kyoto instead, but at this point I can’t change the timeframe too much due to pre-booked arrangements. So Kyoto/Osaka are pretty tight.

**KYOTO:**
*Day 1:*

* Landing at 9:30AM assuming with commute will be in Kyoto by 11AM (giving some buffer time of finding directions and getting to hotel)
* Higashiyama Jisho-ji (Silver Pavillion)
* Philosopher’s Path
* Shinsho Gokuraku-ji Temple?
* Otoyo Shrone?
* Tahota Pagoda
* Eikan-do Temple
* Nanzenji Temple
* Heinan Shrine
* Kodaiji Temple at night?
* Daimaru Kyoto Store
* Nishiki Market
* Pontocho Alley, Tatsumi bridge
* Hanmikoji Street and Shinbashi-dori if have time

*Day 2:*

* Sannenzaka road
* Ninenzaka
* Kiyomizu-Deru (before 8AM) -Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavillion) -Ryoanji-Hojo Teien Rock Garden?
* Arashiyama, Monkey Park, Peak Rest House
* Kimono Forest
* Tenryu-ji
* OkochiSanso Garden -Jojakkoji Temple
* Gioki Temple Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
* Adashino nenbutsuji Temple
* Otagi Nenbutsuji temple
* Daikaku-ji Temple

*Day 3:*

* Fushimi Inari
* Tofuku-ji Temple
* Toji Temple?
* Sannenzaka road
* Ninenzaka?
* Hokan-ji Temple
* Kikunoi Honten
* Kodaiji Temple
* Kikunoi Honten
* Maruyama Park: Chion Temple, Shorenin Monzeki, Yasaka Shrine
* Gion
* Pontocho Alley, Tatsumi bridge
* Hanmikoji Street and Shinbashi-dori if didn’t go already
* Travel to Osaka and check into hotel

**Osaka:**
*Day 1:* Universal Studios. A bit confused because seems like Nintendo world has a separate timed entry but I can’t figure out where to set an entrance time. Also when I try to buy express passes, it shows that the options are disabled for the entire month of May???

Universal closes at 8PM. If not tired:

* Shinsekai Market
* Tsutenkaku Hondori
* Shinsekai New World
* MEGA Don Quijote *Day 2:* Unfortunately quite tight because we have a non-negotiable thing at 5PM onwards, and then we’ll be leaving the city after. If this is not doable, would appreciate suggestions on what we can cut.
* Osaka Castle (wake up early, 8AM?)
* Osaka Tenmangu
* Umeda Sky (+Floating Garden) , Kuchu Teien Observatory
* Pokemon Center, Nintendo Osaka
* Hands Umeda Store
* Namba Jinja?
* Namba Yasaka Shrine
* Nipponbashi DenDen
* Shinsekai Market, Tsutenkaku Hondori, Shinsekai New World, MEGA Don Quijote if didn’t do on Day 1
* Shinsaibashi-suji shopping +Daimaru
* Don Quijote Dotonbori
* Nioppon Bashi Bridge
* Tombori Riverwalk
* Hozenji Temple + Yokocho
* Dotonbori, Glico Sign

**TOKYO:** Will be arriving into Tokyo around 3PM.
*Day 1:*

* Capybara Cafe?
* Tokyo Sky Tree
* Senso-ji
* Sakausa Shrine
* Marugoto Nippon
* Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center: observation deck
* Nakamise-dori

*Day 2:* Shibuya

* Meiji Jingu
* Togoshrine
* Takeshita St
* Takeshita Street Square
* Hdgehod Cafe and Pet Store
* Tokyu Plaza
* Miyasihta Park
* Nintendo Tokyo
* Pokemon Center
* Miyashita PArk
* Loft
* MEGA Donquijote
* Shibuya Scarmple
* Hachiko
* Shibuya Sky

*Day 3:* Ginza

* Tsukiji Outer MArket
* Ginza Six
* Ginza Wako
* Atago Jinja
* Zojo Temple
* Tokyo Tower
* Team Labs Borderless
* Wander around Ropongi

*Day 4:*

* Ueno: Ueno Park, Kiyomizu Kannon-do Temple
* Akihabara: Kanda Shrine, Gachapon Hall, UDX
* Team lab planets?

*Day 5:* Day trip somewhere? Haven’t looked too deep yet but thinking Hakone or Nikko. Open to Suggestions

*Day 6:* Shinjuku + Departure

* Shinjuku Gyoen
* Shinjuku Golden Gai
* Omoide Yokocho
* Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
* Flight home at 7PM.

Thank you, any tips, recommendation or feedback is well appreciated!

by Key-Chart5106