Thanks for the advice in advance! I will be solo traveling Japan for 2 weeks (from USA) and am leaving in exactly two weeks! Looking for advice on my itinerary as well food, experience, and location recommendations. For background, I am a 25 year old male, first timer to Tokyo (I have solo traveled before elsewhere).
Please let me know what you think about my current plans and if there are any “can’t miss” things I should add! I listed specific dates, so please let me know if there are any festivals going on! Also down to meet up if anyone has overlapping plans. Planning on mostly traveling at night to max out enjoyment of day. I tried to plan my days so that I am not moving all around the place, and minimize transit time. If you stayed/ate somewhere along my journey that you loved, please let me know!
August 25th: I will arrive 4pm local time at HND. It's a 13 hour direct flight, so obviously the entire goal of this day is simply to get to my hotel, sleep. Only thing I have really booked so far is a three night stay in Asakusabashi.
August 26: Plan to get up early most mornings (6/7am).
- Start morning off at Sensoji Temple.
- Explore Asakusa After: nakamise shopping(for lunch), Japense tea ceremony, Tokyo sky tree, river cruise (any recommendation for things to do here would be appreciated :)!!
- Team Labs planets in the evening
August 27th:
- Shinjuku Garden in the morning
- Miyashita park
- Pokémon store
- Shibuya Skydeck or Tokyo Metropolitan Government building (free viewing area)
- Shibuya scramble
- Drink/ dance(recommended spots? I am thinking piss alley)
August 28th: last day in Tokyo. Keeping this open for any recommendation you guys give/ stuff I realize I want to do after getting there. Only thing I have planned this day is Team Labs borderless (not, I will be leaving at night time for Hakone(Im thinking like 9/10pm after a full day)
August 29th(Hakone): I will need lodging that allows late check in!
- Onsen recommendation?
- Looks like there are cruises from here that have views of Fuji! Maybe take a midday dip, seeing as it will be hot.
- Let me know if you all think there's anything else in Hakone that is a must do! Leave for Kyoto at night
August 30th: Kyoto
- Fushimi Shrine at the crack of dawn. I know this get busy, so early on a weekday seems to be my best bet!
- Kiyomizu-Dera
- Nishiki Market (Lunch)
- Nijo Castle
- Nanzen Ji-Templ
- Philosopher Path for sunet
August 31: Kyoto
- Bamboo forest
- Arashiyama along the river; there are some boats that operate during summer
- Togetsukyo Bridge
- Tenryu-ji and the street shops outside
- Otagi Temple (closes at 4:30 pm, will go back to hostel, grab stuff and head out after), probably go out this night in Osaka since it is a Saturday after all!! Any recommendation for where to dance and drink in Osaka? Dotombori?
Sep 1st:
Will wake up in Osaka but tbh, the city itself doesn't super excite me so I am considering a day trip to himeji and engyoji. Wortth the trip? Garden, Castle anything else??
Sep 2nd:
The REAL reason I am going to Osaka, you guessed it.. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Life long Nintendo game lover, so this is a must. Going on a week day on purpose, assume crowds lighter than on weekend. After I nerd and out and probably have dinner in Osaka, head over to Nara in the evening.
September 3rd: Nara
Don't have a ton planned, but this town seems so cool and is close. I know there are like 59488945924 temples, so please let me know if any stood out!
- Isuien Garden and Neiraku Musuem
- Yoshiekien Garden
- Nara National Musuem
- Heading back to Osaka at night to catch an early flight to Okinawa!
Sep 4th: Okinawa looking at an early a$$ flight, getting into OKA around 9 am. This is my least thought out leg of my trip, so please give feedback if it sounds dumb! and please give me more ideas!
Sep 4th:
- Okinawa Art Musuem
- Shuri Castle
- Explore Kokusai-dori
Sep 5th:
- Scuba dive in Maeda (I am certified already)
Sept 6th:
- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium/ beach day. Drink and dance on the beacg
Sept 7th:
Peach memorial park/ more chill beach time in the morning, flying back on Tokyo in the evening. At night, looking to stay at party area! (piss alley comes to mind but open to recommendations! I think doing the mario-cart think could be fun send off lol
Sep 8th: Have to be at airport around noon to fly home!
I could potentially look into flying back to Tokyo on the 8th early morning *flight leaves 2pm* and just going home from there, would give me an extra day in Okinawa but if my flight get cancelled or delayed too long I am boned!
Let me know what yall think! Thanks so much to those that read all of this lol. I AM SO EXCITED
by natedurg