This is my first time ever travelling outside of the United States and it’s my first time going on vacation in a very long time. I know a decent amount of Japanese, I can read hiragana and katakana and I know maybe about 100? kanji.
I used to practice Kendo when I was a kid. I like Final Fantasy and retro anime. I am also a jazz drummer, I practice nearly three hours everyday and I play regularly in my hometown. **PLEASE RECOMMEND ME THINGS TO DO.**
I don’t really know how to plan an itinerary and I don’t really know what to do or if what I have makes sense. I’m using the Wanderlog app to organize.
I’m mostly concerned about:
1. How much I should pack? Should I pack light and buy luggage in Japan to bring back home?
2. How do I take the train to Nara and Nikko? I want to do day trips but I’m intimidated by the train system and apparently there are travel packages to visit both.
3. Where do I get SUICA and should I get a train pass still? I feel like I could just read FAQ and get these answered.
4. Am I planning my intinerary correctly? Some days seem very obvious but I have no idea what I want to do in Akihabara, just that I want to go.
Food that I want to try:
I haven’t given it that much thought. But I want to eat like the Japanese do so I want to hit Lawson and cheapo spots as well as maybe something nicer.
I want to eat unagi, omurice, ramen, sushi, a Japanese style breakfast.
**TOKYO**
**Saturday 8/17**
Arrive at Narita at 3PM
All I plan on doing is getting to my hotel. It will also be my *\~\*birthday\*\~* so maybe I’ll do a little something for it. Power through the jetlag.
I got a hotel in Kanda on recommendation of someone else.
**8/18**
ARTNIA Square Enix – I know I want to go here.
Shinjuku – To be completely honest I have no idea what is here, I just know Jazz Spot Intro and ARTNIA are generally here.
Jazz Spot Intro – I want to go here first night because I want to see if it will be something that I’ll want to go to multiple times.
**Monday 8/19**
Nikko – I want to take a day trip to here, I hear there’s a whole package to travel out there and visit. If I go early, will I have time left over?
**8/20**
Imperial Palace
Akihabara – I’m not sure how long I want to be here, I don’t like modern anime.
NARU Jazz Livehouse
**8/21**
Takadanobaba – Jazz Spot Intro is in this area and it seems like a cool lowkey area. I looked up what was in the area and saw the following.
Takadanobaba Mikado Game Center – A Japanese arcade might be fun?
Cafe Cotton Club – If I get tired of Jazz Spot Intro, I could check out this club.
Tonkyu – Recommended restaurant.
Waseda University – I once went to college, it’d be nice to just walk around the campus if possible.
Jazz Spot Intro
**8/22**
Ueno – I guess this day I will just go to Ueno? All I know is that I want to hit a Museum.
Tokyo National Museum
**8/23**
Tokyo Dome – I intend on seeing a baseball game this day. I need to buy the tickets in June I believe. I wanted to see soccer but it seems like my trip dates do not line up.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Meiji Jingu
Sankaku Chitai
**YOKOHAMA**
**Saturday 8/24**
Check into next hotel.
Yokohama Chinatown
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
Cosmo Clock 21
To me this seems like a well-planned day, I could hit all of these things.
**Sunday 8/25**
Asahi Jazz Festival, I intend on being there the whole day.
**OSAKA**
**8/26**
Check into next hotel.
I have no idea what I want to do here but I do want to go to the big crab place, I heard one day is enough for most people.
Dotonbori – I just want to see the building with the big crab and eat there. That’s my main goal.
Osaka Castle
Tenjinbashi-suji
I’d gladly take other recommendations.
**KYOTO**
**8/27**
Check into next hotel.
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama – I love monkeys, I must go here.
Gion – Just explore.
**8/28**
Nara day trip, I am worried about getting out there. If I go to Nara early will I have no time left over?
**TOKYO**
**8/29**
Check into next hotel.
Shinjuku Pit Inn?
I was thinking these two days I could do some shopping.
**8/30**
I don’t know what to do, I wrote down a unagi place called Aikawa.
Jazz Spot Intro again?
**8/31**
Flight leaves at 5PM. Which I believe was a mistake… oh well… not sure what to do with all that dead time if I have to leave the hotel at 11AM lol.
by FedChad