Hi everyone! My partner and I will be in Japan from Oct 4-17 and planning to mainly visit Tokyo and Kyoto, with day trips to Nikko, Himeji and Osaka, and Nara. We’d love any recommendations/suggestions on our itinerary. We’d especially appreciate suggestions for the best days to do things in and around Kyoto, since we will be there during Sports Day (Oct. 14).
If there are any can’t-miss restaurants, please let me know.
Oct 4 – Tokyo
- Land at Narita – 3:40pm
- Airport limousine bus to our hotel (Hotel New Otani The Main)
- Does this need to be reserved in advance?
- Check in, then find food and explore near hotel
Oct 5 – Tokyo
- Shopping in Ginza (my partner wants to hit up the Uniqlo Flagship to see about getting a suit?)
- Possibly Tsukiji Outer Market
- Imperial Palace and Hibiya Park
Oct 6 – Tokyo
- West Tokyo highlights
- Shibuya Crossing/Shibuya
- Hachiko statue
- Meiji Jingu
- Yoyogi Park
- Harajuku
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Observation Platform at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
- Kurand Sake Market (Shinjuku)
Oct 7 – Day Trip to Nikko
- Private car tour to Nikko (8am-6pm)
- Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls, Shinkyo Bridge, Lake Chuzenji
- Find food back in Tokyo, explore somewhere in the evening?
Oct 8 – Tokyo
- Teamlabs Borderless, 10am (tickets purchased)
- SW Tokyo sights
- Tokyo Tower
- Zojoji Temple
- Hamarikyu Gardens
- More exploring?
Oct 9 – Tokyo
- NE Tokyo Highlights
- Senso-ji and Nakamise-dori Street
- Ameyoko Market
- Ueno Park
- Tokyo National Museum
- Nezu Shrine
- Rikugien Gardens? (might be too much)
- Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
- Akihabara?
Oct 10 – Tokyo
- Flex day – visit the places we haven’t had a chance to yet
- Send luggage ahead to Kyoto hotel
Oct 11 – Kyoto
- Something in the morning in Tokyo?
- Take Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto Station (~2 hrs)
- Check in to hotel (Hotel Granvia Kyoto) at 3pm
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Explore Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
- Yasaka-jinja?
- Explore Gion
Oct 12 – Kyoto
- NW Kyoto highlights
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (early)
- Tenryu-Ji
- Daihikaku Senkoji Temple
- Iwatayama Monkey Park
- Okochi Sanso Garden & Observation Deck
- Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
- Possibly Kinkaku-ji?
Oct 13 – Kyoto
- Day trip to Nara
- Aoniyoshi sightseeing train from Kyoto to Nara (~50 min)
- Nara Park to visit the deer
- Todai-ji
- Kasuga Taisha
- Nakatanidou mochi shop
- Other shopping
Oct 14 – Kyoto (Sports Day)
- NE Kyoto highlights
- Nanzen-ji
- Eikan-do
- Philosopher’s Path
- Otoyo Shrine
- Higashiyama Jisho-ji
- Nijo Castle?
Oct 15 – Kyoto
- Day trip to Himeji Castle (~2.5 hrs by train)
- Koko-en Garden
- Miyuki St shopping
- Train to Osaka (~2 hrs)
- Explore Dotonbori; have dinner
- Return to Kyoto (~1 hr)
- Send luggage to Tokyo hotel
Oct 16 – Tokyo
- Fushimi Inari in the morning
- Shinkansen to Tokyo (~2 hrs)
- Check in to hotel after 3pm (Hotel New Otani the Main)
- Explore and get dinner?
Oct 17 – Depart
- Last-minute shopping?
- Flight leaves Narita at 5:40pm
by sassyporg