Hello everyone, we are a American couple going to Japan for the first time and are beyond excited! To give some context, we are late 20 year olds with a high level of energy and are not afraid to walk a lot and live a day to the fullest even if we are exhausted by night time. We are interested in nature, architecture, technology, and history. Not interested at all in things like shopping or anime. Let me know what you think of the itinerary. First bullet points are things we’re def doing, secondary bullet points are possible ideas but not ideas we are married to doing. Times are also super approximate, and are more just used in planning to let me know what was possible, I don’t plan on living by a strict schedule or anything. I pretty extensively planned and looked in commute times and average times spent at things for everything so I am fairly confident the schedule is possible, but would still love insight!.
**Saturday, (Tokyo Day #1)**
* Arrive in Tokyo in mid afternoon – try to stay up until 10 pm at least to deal with jet lag
* we are staying in Shinjuku area and don’t plan to leave the area first day
* Tokyu Kabukicho Tower: arcades, nightlife,
* Omoide Yokocho (West side of Shinjuku Station): traditional alley (food/drink)
* Golden Gai: narrow alley of bars/food
**Sunday(Tokyo Day #2)**
* 9:30 – Senso Ji Temple
* 10:30 – Walk around Nakemesi Dori street Â
* Asakusa (\~3 hours) just vibe here with no concrete plans options:
* Ride Rickshaw
* Hoppy Street (bar district)
* Tokyo Sky treeÂ
* Asahai beer tower (cool view bar)Â Â
* 2:40 – Board Tokyo Cruise Himiko boat to OdiabaÂ
* 4:00 – Arrive in Odiaba, just vibe and walk around for a hour or so
* The National Museum of Emerging Science and InnovationÂ
* 5:30 – Teamlabs Planet’sÂ
* 7:00- Dinner in Roppongi Area
* Mohri Garden if enough daylight
* Tokyo Tower Red (closes at 10): VR Games
**Monday (Tokyo Day #3)**
* 10:30 – Tokyo Metropolitan building observation deckÂ
* 11:30 – Walk around Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (cherry blossoms)Â
* There are three gardens here, only interested in japanese one
* 1:00 – LunchÂ
* 2:00 – Meji Shrine   Â
* Can add Yogogi park, just start day an hour earlierÂ
* 3:00 – Walk down Takeshita street (possibly do Otter cafe)
* 4:00-6:00 – Stay in Shibuya areaÂ
* Walk Miyashita Park                    Â
* Nintendo worldÂ
* Shibuya scramble (Starbucks for elevated view)
* Hachiko dog statue
* Pepper Parlor robot cafe
* 6:00 – Reservation for shibuya sky sunset
* 7:00 – Dinner/night out in ShibuyaÂ
**Tuesday (Tokyo Day #4)**
* Morning activity???, or just sleep in
* 12:00-4:30 – Lunch and Ueno park
* Walk around Ameyoko shopping districtÂ
* Walk around giant park (2.8 miles total), cherry blossoms
* Go to Zoo (just to see Panda’s rest of zoo has bad reviews)
* Museums- Japan national museum or others
* Ueno Toshogu Shrine
* 4:30 – Walk around AkihabaraÂ
* 6:00 – Tokyo Giants game (probably only stay a few innings)
* 8:00 – Dinner/nightlife
**Wednesday, (Tokyo Day #5)**
* I am honesty stumped on what to do this day. as i feel like i knocked out all the main things i wanted to do the first three days and not sure what to plan here. Might just be a walk around and recover day. Some ideas i have are Art aquarium museum Ginza, watch sumo practice at sumo stable, Harajuku, and teamlabs Borderless.
**Thursday, (Mt Fuji)**
* Take bus up in the morning and stay the night. Small hike, Onsen, just generally take in the beauty.
**Friday, (Osaka Day #1)**
* 1:06 Arrive in Osaka
* 1:30 Kuormon Market for lunch, head over to Namba Yakasha Shrine after
* 3:00 Walk Osaka Castle (don’t go inside as most reviews say it’s not worth it)
* 5:00 Check out America-Mura area
* 6:30 Nightlife and dinner in Dotonbori area (Hozenji Yokocho for dinner?)
**Saturday, (Osaka Day #2/Nara)**
* Day trip to Nara, i still need to plan this
* 4:00 Arrive back from Nara.
* 4:30-7:00 Abeno Harukas observation deck, Shin Seaki area. Leave by 7
* 7:30-8:30 Teamlab botanicals. One hour time limit, has to be this time
**Sunday, (Osaka Day #3/Himeji)**
* Day trip to Himeji, only plan on doing Himeji castle grounds and Koko en garde so should be a quick trip
* 1:52 train arriving back in Osaka at 2:21Â
* 3:00 Osaka AquariumÂ
* Can alternatively do Super Ninteno world, but imagine it will be very busy on a sundayÂ
* 5:00 Tempozan Ferris wheel
**Monday, (Kyoto Day #1)**
* 9:30-12 Higashiyama Temple Area Private Walking TourÂ
* 12:00-2:00 Wrap up Kiyomizu-dera if we want to see more of it (included in tour but worried it might be rushed), walk Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka street grab lunch in area
* Worlds first Tatami starbucks is here
* 2:30 Arrive at Fushimi Inari ShrineÂ
* Consider Fushimi Sake District after if interested, but not a must see
* 4:30 Hanamikoji Street and Gion, consider grabbing dinner in Pontcho food alley
* Gion Corner traditional japanese shows at 6pm and 7pm
**Tuesday, (Kyoto Day #2)**
* 9:00 Arashiyama Bamboo ForestÂ
* 10:30 Tenryuji TempleÂ
* 11:15 Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
* 12:30 pm Lunch in the Arashiyama area
* 1:13 or 2:13 Sagano Scenic Railway
* Consider Toei Kyoto Studio Park, or Hozugawa river boat tour
**Wednesday, (Kyoto Day #3)**
* 9:00 Kinkakuji Golden pavilion (feel like we’ll only need like a half hour here)
* 10:00 Nijo Castle
* 12:00 Nishiki Market for lunch
* 1:00 SAMURAI NINJA MUSEUM KYOTO With Experience
* 2:30 Northern Higashiyama just walk around and vibe visiting many temples in area
**Thursday, (Miyajima/Hiroshima)**
* Arrive in Hiroshima, drop off bags and take 10:10 Ferry to Miyajima
* Miyajima Omotesando Shotengai street for lunch or shrine first depending on tide
* 12:00 Itsukushima Shrine
* 12:30-3:30 Mt Misen
* Go to Momijidani Station, then take ropeway up mt, then 30 minute walk to peakÂ
* Consider going to Daisho-in Temple after Mt if time permitsÂ
* Go back to Hiroshima on 3:55 or 4:25 ferryÂ
* 4:45 arrive back, either go back to hotel or check out hiroshima castle (closes at 6:00)
* Check out Hondori shopping street and just vibe
**Friday, (Hiroshima/Yokohama)**
* 8:30-10:30Â Hiroshima Peace Memorial MuseumÂ
* 10:30-11:30 Hiroshima Peace park
* 11:30-12:30 lunch
* 12:30-2:00 Shukkeien GardenÂ
* 2:00-2:30 depart for airport to make 5:10 flight to HND
* Travel to Yokohoma where we will stay last night
* Grab dinner in China town and check out Yokohoma as much as we can at night
**Saturday (fly home)**
* Likely can do Cup Noodle Museum in morning at flight isn’t until 4:00 out of HND
Any advice is much appreciated!
by mikemjets