10 day itinerary check: Tokyo & Kyoto

Hi everyone, my husband and I are travelling to Japan together for 10ish days in the last 2 weeks of July. We would love feedback on our itinerary below: What should we change, add, remove etc.  

About us: We are big foodies and would love recommendations on sushi, ramen, sashimi, uni & beyond!

We will be staying in Tokyo & Kyoto and maybe making a few day trips elsewhere as it’s our first main time exploring (aside from me being a high school exchange student years ago).  We are love to walk & run and are more than fine with 20,000-30,000 steps/day.

Looking for suggestions on where to buy a cute anime/character hoodie, skincare, snacks, an ethical cat café, manga cafe w/ english reads, the best coffee shops, matcha cafes and matcha soft serve + daifuku, where and how to book Shinkansen tickets, where to get acupuncture (we are big fans) or shiatsu massage, secret hole-in-the-wall amazing eats as well as food tour & day trip suggestions.

We are also into otaku culture & wondering if there is a place somewhere where we could rent/dress up in cosplay & get our make-up done and photos taken! Where should we fit this into our itinerary?

Thank you so much for your advice!

Day 1 – Arrival
•Arrive at Narita airport at 12:30pm and rest at airbnb in Iidabashi

•Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens

•Konbini eats + find amazing local hole-in-the-wall ramen

•Ahikhabara + walk along river

Day 2 – Tokyo

•5K run around Tokyo Dome

•Shinjuku: Metropolitan building, Gyoen Garden, Kabukicho Tower, Cosme, Loft, Samurai museum, Isetan Department store, Don Quijote

•Ikebukuro – K-books

•Omoide Yokocho izakayas & Golden Gai – maybe do a cheap food tour – suggestions?

•Nakano Broadway shopping complex?

Day 3 – Tokyo

•Shibuya: Shibuya crossing, Mega Don Quixote, Shibuya Parco, Loft, Hands

•Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi Park

•Harajuku: Takeshita street

•Shimokitazawa: vintage shopping, Village Vanguard, jazz bars (we don’t drink alcohol but love the vibe)

•Omotensando

•Manga and/or ethical cat cafe – where?

•Shibuya Sky – evening

Day 4 – Kyoto

•Travel to Kyoto – still need to book bullet train

•Check into airbnb in Minami Ward, near To-ji temple

•July 24 – check out if festival activities are happening

•Kiyomizu-dera

•Sannenzaka: Ghibli Studios shop, Yasaka Shrine

•Pontocho Alley

Day 5 – Kyoto

•5km run around Kyoto’s Imperial Palace park

•Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-Ji Temple, monkey park

•Lunch at riverside restaurant – where?

•Nishiki Market

•walk along Philosopher’s Path canal at sunset

Day 6 – Kyoto + Day Trips
•Kinkaku-Ji temple, Ryoan-Ji

•Fushimi Inari Taisha

•It’s my birthday so looking for a great dessert option!

•Option 1 – Travel to Osaka Dotonbori for street food

•Option 2 – Nara & Uji: Todai-Ji Temple, Nara Park, Manyo botanical gardens

•Option 3 – Himeji Castle

Day 7 – Tokyo

•Bullet train to Tokyo

•Check into hotel in Asakusa

Day 8 – Tokyo

•5km AM run by Sumida river

•Asakusa: Sensoji, Nakamise Street, Tokyo Sky Tree, Kappabashi Street

•Yanaka – Yanaka Cemetery, Tennoji Temple

•Get acupuncture/shiatsu massage – suggestions?

•Ueno Ameyoko Shopping District

•Anniversary Dinner – need cheap yet great omakase suggestions!

Day 9 – Tokyo

•Tsukiji Outer Market

•Ginza & Tokyo Station: Uniqlo, Muji, Itoya

•Imperial Palace: Hamarikyu Gardens, East Gardens

•Teamlab Borderless

•Azabudai Hills More JP Tower

Day 10 – Tokyo

•Option 1: Day Trip to: Mt. Fuji or Kamakura

•Option 2: Spread out our Tokyo itinerary & do more here

Day 11 – Departure

•Morning suggestions?

•Flight from Narita at 3:30pm, be at airport by 1:30pm