My husband and I are going to Japan in March 2025 for 12 full days. I know its super early, but I am already working on our itinerary and would love feedback (flights have been booked)!
It has been so helpful reading other people's posts and we look forward to any comments!
I am hoping to get some clarity on the following:
Are we missing anything important?
Are some of these days (or all of them!) too ambitious? If so, what should i cut out?
Is Nara worth going to if I dont care about the deer park?
I would love any ryokan, onsen, hotel, restaurant, bar recommendations in all 3 cities! Hotels in Tokyo that we are considering are the Kimpton and Hoshinoya, just to give some context.
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate any thoughts / suggestions / ideas you may have.
~Tokyo (Day 1)~
2:20 PM: Arrive HND
no set plans because im not sure how exhausted we will be
~Tokyo (Day 2)~
Sensoji Temple
Walk around Asakusa
maybe lunch on hoppy st.
Ueno park
Explore Akihabara
~Tokyo (Day 3)~
Meiji Shrine
Yoyogi Park
Walk / Shop around Harajuku
Walk around Shibuya: Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Omotesando St.
Dinner & drinks at Shibuya Sky around sunset
Karaoke in Shibuya (open to recs, but have heard about Karaoke Kan or Rainbow Karaoke)
~Tokyo (Day 4)~
Tsukiji Outer Market (planning to go around 730 AM)
TeamLab Planets Museum
Tokyo Imperial Palace
Zojo-ji temple grounds
Explore Ginza
Omakase dinner somewhere
~Day 5: Tokyo – Day trip to Hakone~
~was planning a day trip, but wondering if we should we spend the night here and go from here to kyoto?~
~Kyoto (Day 6)~
Shinkansen to Kyoto
not sure what to add this day? depends on train times…
~Kyoto (Day 7)~
Arashiyama (planning to go super early):
Bamboo Grove
Nonomiya Shrine
Kameyama-Koen Monkey Park
Tenryu-ji Temple
Kinkaku-Ji Golden Pavilion
Dinner in Pontocho Alley
~Kyoto (Day 8)~
Fushimi Inari Taisha (Torii gates) (planning to go super early)
Nishiki Market
Philosophers Path Walk
Traditional tea ceremony (any recommendations where?)
Maiko Dinner
~Kyoto (Day 9) – ?Day trip to Nara (versus spending the day in Kyoto, Tokyo, or Osaka)~
Nara Deer Park
Kasuga-Taisha
Todai-ji temple
Nakatanidou
~Osaka (Day 10)~
Train to Osaka
Osaka castle
Namba shrine
Shinsaibashi-Suji Street
Maybe a food tour?
~Osaka (Day 11)~
Sumo Tournament at Edion Arena (i checked the calendar and we will be there for this)
Tsūtenkaku
Dinner: Dotonbori
~Tokyo (Day 12)~
Train back to Tokyo
Maybe Ghibli Museum? Not sure if time for this.
Drinks in Golden Gai
Tokyo (Day 13)
last minute things?
6:25 PM: Depart HDN
by alyssaelman4