I will be visiting Japan this November with two of my buddies, this trip will be a first time for all of us. We will pretty much only be having 8 days for the entirety of the trip so we decided to load it up with a bunch of destinations each day. We are all 20 year olds and very active people so walking all day and sacrificing a couple hours of sleep every night will not be an issue. The times in the itinerary are the times we expect to spend at the locations, I tried to put an hour between each stop for extra grace period but I am not sure if that is less/more than enough. Please let me know if some of these days look ridiculous or too unrealistic, and would really appreciate alternative plans! Thank you in advance. Our goals are to just have a lot of fun so I am very open to changing up the itinerary but I am also confident that my friends and I would be able to handle this loaded itinerary as it is.
Day 0, Saturday at 6pm: Arrive.
•Get e-sims, cash, check in Hotel, stop by convenience store for some toiletries. Plans to walk around and explore if we have time.
Day 1, Sunday: Shibuya during day + Shinjuku at night.
Start at Yoyogi Park then Meiji Jingu 8-11am, Find Hachiko statue, Pokemon Center, Shibuya Crossing, 2nd street, Sanrio stores, etc. 11:30am-3:30pm. Next, Shibuya Sky at Sunset 3:30-5:30pm. After sunset, head to Shinjuku and explore Red light district, Godzilla statue, Golden Gai, Shooting Gallery from 6pm-11pm
Day 3, Mon: Minato + Odaiba + Overnight bus.
•Check out from Hotel, Send off luggage to 8-9am, then head to Teamlab Borderless 10am-12pm. Next, Head to Odaiba + Eat 12-1:30pm. Hit up Diver City Plaza (Round 1 stadium 2-5pm, Quick look at stores and take pics with gundam statue 5-6pm). Head to Decks for Daiba mystery school, Chome St shopping, 6-7:30pm. Then, take pics with Statue of Liberty 7:45-8pm. Need to be back to Shinjuku Station by 9:15 for overnight bus.
Day 4, Tue: Arrive in Kyoto + Evening trip to Osaka.
Check in Hotel from 7am-10am. Visit a tattoo friendly Onsen 11am-12pm then visit Ruriko-in temple 1pm-3pm. Next, Travel to Osaka 4-4:30pm (Use Shinkansen). Visit Osaka Aquarium 5pm-7pm and Dotonbori 7:30-11pm. Then, head back to Kyoto near last Shinkansen.
Day 5, Wed: Kyoto Day.
Visit Fushimi Inari from 7am-10am, Taxi to Ippodo Matcha (must visit for gifts) + Lunch near area 10:30-12pm. Walk through Ninenzaka and Hanenzaka 1pm-3:30pm and Kiyomizudera Temple in afternoon
4pm-7:30pm. Lastly, Dinner at Pontocho 8-10pm.
Day 6, Thu: Osaka Day + Overnight bus. back to Tokyo. Check out Hotel, Send off luggage and find breakfast at Station 8am. Travel to Osaka and visit Osaka Castle 9-11am. Next up, Universal Studios 12pm-Close. Overnight bus to Tokyo 10pm.
Day 7, Fri: Arrive in Tokyo + relax day.
Check in hotel and relax 7-11am. Visit Starbucks Reserve 11:30am-1pm. Find snacks at Dagashi store/Conbini 1:30-2:30pm and relax at Shinjuku Gyoen 3-5:30pm. Daikoku PA (Booked tour) Pickup at Shinjuku goes from 6pm-9pm. Explore Akihabara arcades at night 9pm-11pm.
Day 8, Sat: Lake Kawaguchi day trip.
Travel to Kawaguchiko station 8:30-10:30am (Fuji Excursion). First, find rental bikes 10:30-11am, Biking to Maple Corridor 11am-12:30pm then Oishi park + snack at nearby area 12:45-2pm. Bike back to Kawaguchi + Return bikes 2-3pm. Then, Panoramic Ropeway to watch sunset from 3:15-4:45pm. Then, Walk back to station by 5:15pm. Spend the night clubbing at ??.
Day 9, Sun: Flight is at 9:45pm.
Check out Hotel, Souvenir/last min Shopping in the morning at ?? 9am-4pm. Check in Airport 5pm. Visit Haneda Airport Museum 7-8pm. Leave Japan.
by Candice3211