This is me and two others first time taking a trip to Japan. I have a few last minute questions and really need someone to tell us if this rough itinerary will work out! Our trip starts the 19th of May (this month!). Any suggestions and help are much appreciated. This is my first time planning something like this.
First, a few questions I had:
Is there a reliable site or app to check train schedules on?
Based off of our intinerary, does luggage forwarding seem plausable for the timing? I'll be bringing a decent sized backpack for 1-2 days woth of clothes/misc purchases at stores.
Is there a designated check in time for Ryokans that is different from ordinary hotels?
I was thinking of buying clothes there instead of getting them from here (East-Coast America). Are clothing prices similar? More/less expensive in X?
I wanted to do a nice/fancy dinner night and try wagyu. I figured the best time for this would be during a little day trip to Kobe. Are there any places you recommend? And would we need a reservation?
Is there anything on here that requires a reservation? The only things we have reserved so far are USJ and TeamLabs.
Edit: Grammar / Re-wording
Our Itinerary:
DAY 1 (Asakusa)
- Arrive at airport around 3:30 PM, take the Haneda line to Asakusa station and check into Hotel some time from 5:00 – 5:30
- Find dinner and walk around to stretch our legs to prepare for tomorrow
DAY 2 (Kamakura)
- Tsuruoka Hachimangu
- Myohonji
- Hasedera Temple
- Kotokuji Temple
- If we don't have time to explore all of the above options once it reaches dinner time we will find a place to eat and head back to our hotel
DAY 3 (Asakusa > Teamlabs > Pokemon Center)
- Explore Senso-ji, Asakusa Shrine, and/or Hozomon Gate early in the morning
- Go to TeamLabs a little before 1:30
- Check out Pokemon Center DX afterwards and head back to Asakusa for dinner and rest
DAY 4 (Akihabara)
- Super Potato / Hobby-Off
- Any other stores that pique our anime/gaming interest
- Arcades
- Motenashi Kuroki / Tonkatsu Marugo for lunch and dinner most likely unless we find someplace else
- Prep luggage forwarding for DAY 8 to Kyoto
DAY 5 (Shibuya)
- Hachiko Statue
- PARCO Mall, shop for gifts ideally
- Ichiran Ramen
DAY 6 (Kanazawa)
- Head to Kanazawa via train as early as possible
- Arrive a little before or around noon (?)
- Check out Omicho Market, Ishiura Shrine, Kenroku-en, and/or Castle Park before checking into our Ryokan (it is located minutes away from all of these)
DAY 7 (Shirakawa-go > Takayama)
- Take early morning bus to Shirakawa-go Village
- Walk around for a few hours
- Take a bus to Takayama around 2 or 3
- Check into Hotel
- Find dinner and leisurely look around the area
DAY 8 (Kyoto)
- Take Shinkansen to Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari Taisha or Kiyomizu-dera (Prefferably) if time allots for it
- Check in Hotel
- [Filler]
DAY 9 (Kyoto)
- Walk Fushimi Inari
- Walk though Gion District
- Prep luggage forwarding to Osaka hotel for DAY 11
DAY 10 (Kyoto)
- Philosophers Path
- Ninna-ji
- [Filler]
DAY 11 (Nara > Osaka)
- Go to Nara, for the deer, of course
- Tadaji Temple
- Kasiga Taisha
- Head to Osaka around hotel check in time
- [Filler]
DAY 12 (Osaka)
- USJ / Super Nintendo World
DAY 13 (Osaka)
- Osaka Castle
- Maybe head to Den-Den Town
- Dotombori at night for a few drinks
DAY 14 (Osaka) [Need Suggestions]
- How is the Aquarium? Is it worth it?
- Kiseki No Hoshi botanical garden?
- Shinsekai?
- Prep luggage forwarding to Tokyo for DAY 16
DAY 15 (Osaka)
- Himeji Castle in the morning
- Kobe trip for a nice dinner
DAY 16 (Tokyo) [Need Suggestions]
- Head back to Toyko via Shinkansen
- Idk find something to do before leaving the next day
DAY 17 (Tokyo > Home)
- Make sure everthing is packed
- Last minute exploring / shopping before heading back to Haneda Airport
- Flight leaves around 5:40 PM
by TAwayJPTrip