Hey there, wanted some feedback on my very early projected itinerary for a 2 week trip that I am planning for mid-late Fall next year (pending entry and all that being cool). We’ve never been there, so any changes suggested by the well-traveled folks of this sub would be greatly appreciated. Absolutely nothing has been booked yet.
*Anything in italics* is something that could more easily be replaced in our eyes. **The ideas listed in parenthesis are things we are interested in, but we are not necessarily planning on trying to do everything listed.** Also, for this itinerary, morning represents roughly 8am-1pmish and afternoon represents 1-730ish. With breakfast and lunch fitting into the morning section and dinner in the afternoon. We mostly keep the evenings flexible for just walking around, getting extra rest, or packing for city transfers.
**Day 0-1 – Tokyo**
Arriving around 3pm most likely, so probably won’t do much this day by the time we get to the hotel. We’ll get dinner and maybe explore the area around the hotel a bit. Maybe staying in Shinjuku?
**Day 2 – Tokyo**
Morning: Shibuya (Current ideas include Crossing/Hachiko statue, Nintendo/pokemon store, Shibuya 109, Harajuku, a theme café)
Early afternoon: Shibuya pt. 2 if necessary (finish anything we might want to see)
Mid-Late afternoon: Odaiba (Planets, Observation room, Miraikan, trick art museum, Gundam statue, rainbow bridge) – Will probably stay out later than usual this day in Odaiba.
**Day 3 – Tokyo**
All day – Guided bus tour for Mt. Fuji views. Haven’t picked a tour yet, but there seem like many that do this kind of day trip.
**Day 4 – Tokyo**
All day – Tokyo DisneySea
**Day 5 – Tokyo**
Morning: Shinjuku (Gyoen garden, government building, Korea town)
Afternoon: Akihabara (Arcades, game and otaku shops, booktown (kinda closeby), etc.)
**Day 6 – Kyoto**
Morning: Shinkansen to Kyoto. Hotel check-in and lunch probably goes into early afternoon.
Afternoon: *Toji or Kodai-ji temple? Manga museum? Philosophers path?*
**Day 7 – Kyoto**
Morning: Kiyomizudera + Sannenzaka
Early afternoon: *Manga museum? Gion? General shopping? Philosophers path?*
Late afternoon: Cooking/sushi class
**Day 8 – Kyoto**
Morning: Fushimi Inari Shrine
Early afternoon: Tea ceremony
Late afternoon: Transfer from hotel to Ryokan (possibly/probably in Arishiyama)
**Day 9 – Kyoto – Revitalization Day**
Morning: Arishiyama bamboo grove
Afternoon: Footbath/massage, Take it slow in Arishiyama, enjoy the Ryokan
**Day 10 – Nara**
Morning: Train to Nara. Todai-Ji temple.
Afternoon: Nara park, Higashimuki/Mochiidono shopping and exploring. Take the train back to Kyoto either a bit before or a bit after dinner.
**Day 11 – Hiroshima**
Morning: Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima. Hotel Check-in and lunch probably bleeds into early afternoon.
Afternoon: Atomic bomb sites/museums/memorials.
**Day 12 – Hiroshima/Miyajima**
Morning: Travel to Miyajima. Itsukushima shrine + Tori gate.
Afternoon: Miyajima ropeway. Omotesando street for shopping and snacks. Say hi to a deer.
**Day 13 – Hiroshima**
Fly home through Tokyo.
\*So that’s actually only 13 days, but we have the flexibility to add a bonus day somewhere into the trip, but we haven’t decided yet if we will. Mainly because we aren’t sure where to put it. Most likely, it would be another day in Tokyo to see another part of the city, or take a day trip to a neighboring city. Recommendations?
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Thank you so much for any help that can be provided! Hopefully I didn’t make myself look like a total fool with this plan.
1 comment
Shinjuku is a popular place to stay in Tokyo, but there is other options too that are as valid.
Day 2 : Shibuya is not especially a morning place because most stores open at 10 or 11 am. For me it would make more sense to do Teamlab first as it open at 9am (or 10 depending when). I also do not especially see what is special about Odaiba late in the day, while Shibuya you would have much more bar/nightlife options. Just in general, Harajuku/Shibuya can be a full day in itself, you can add things like Meiji-jingu and Shibuya sky as other things to do in the area. IF you plan late afternoon places, just make sure they are still open.
Day 3 : Tour guide to where exactly ? If you just want a view of Mout Fuji, you can easily just take the bus to Kawaguchiko yourself.
Day 5 : Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is an ok observation deck, especially because it’s free, but would suggest Shibuya Sky or Roppongi Hills Mori Tower if you are ok to pay, in my opinion they are better observation decks.
Day 6 : You will likely only be able to drop luggage at hotel, I would personally stay in the Kawaramachi/Gion/Sanjo area, you can get lunch around Nishiki Market. I would say Kodai-ji and Higashiyama in general rather than To-ji. Manga museum is mostly a big manga collection and unless there is an exhibition about a mangaka you like, not totally sure it’S worth.
Day 8 : If ryokan have kaiseki meal, it may require you to check in before 5pm and if the meal is included, not sure I would do more than one night. Actually what I would consider is first day in Kyoto go to Arashiyama first, check in ryokan and relax/massage at that time or the next morning, then check out and change to other hotel in Kyoto.
Day 10 : Make no sense to go to Nara from Arashiyama, make much more sense either from Kyoto station area or Kawaramachi/Gion/Sanjo as I said earlier.
Day 11 : if you wake up early, you can try to be in Himeji when the castle open, check the castle and garden, eat lunch in the train and afternoon for peace museum.
Day 12 : do you plan to take the train back to Tokyo or fly from Hiroshima to Tokyo. If it’s train, I would try to avoid being in the train for hours before your flight, yes the train is reliable, but you never know. Flying would make it easy if you buy an multi-city ticket, you would not have to transfer luggage to your flight back home.
If you can add a day, for sure there is plenty more to see, either in Tokyo or as a day trip around, there is really a lot of options.