Hey everyone, I’m planning a trip to Japan and could use some feedback on my itinerary. I know the time isn't exactly ideal with New Years closures, but I can't really change the dates of the trip. Tried my best to work around what attractions are closed, I think it turned out pretty well.
December 26th – Travel
- Arrive in Narita at night and stay overnight
December 27th – Osaka
- Take a 7 AM flight to KIX and travel to Osaka, check into hotel (Namba) or use luggage storage service if check-in isn't available yet
- Minoh park/falls
- Tenma district
- Osaka Castle (still thinking about going inside or not)
- Dotonbori
December 28th – Osaka
- Tennoji Ward
- Namba Yasaka Jinja
- Shitennoji
- Sumiyoshi Taisha
- Mozu Tombs
- Tsutenkaku (just outside)
- Shinsekai district
December 29th – Nara
- Check out of Osaka hotel, bring luggage to Nara and use storage service
- Todaiji
- Kasuga Taisha
- Horyuji
- Yoshkien Garden
- Grab luggage and travel to Kyoto and check into hotel
December 30th – Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Sanjusangendo
- Higashiyama Ward
- Nidec Kyoto Tower (just outside)
December 31st – Himeji
- Day trip to Himeji from Kyoto
- Himeji Castle
- Kokoen Garfden
- Engyoji
January 1st – Kyoto
- Kiyomizudera
- Sannenzaka
- Gion
- Yasaka Pagoda (just outside)
- Heian Shrine
- If we have time: Ginkakuji, Philosopher's Path
January 2nd – Kyoto
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
- Gioji Temple
- Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
- Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple
- Togetsukyo Bridge
January 3rd – Kyoto
- Kifune Shrine
- Kuramadera Temple
- Shimogamo Shrine
- Kamigamo Shrine
January 4th – Kyoto
- Nijo Castle
- Kitano-tenmangu Shrine
- Kinkakuji
- Ryoanji
January 5th – Tokyo
- Check out of Kyoto hotel and travel to Tokyo — check into hotel or use luggage storage service
- Akihabara
- Kanda Myojin Shrine
- Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
- Rikugien Gardens
- Ueno Shopping District
- Ueno Park
January 6th – Tokyo
- DiverCity Plaza
- Odaiba Marine Park
- Sengakuji
- Hamarikyu Garden
- Zojoji
- Teamlabs Borderless
- Tokyo Tower (don't go inside)
January 7th – Tokyo
- Imperial East Garden
- Tokyo National Museum
- Kappabashi Kitchen Tools
- Imado Shrine
- Sensoji
- Nakamise-dori
- Kaminarimon
January 8th – Fujiyoshida
- Day trip to Fujiyoshida
- Fuji Five Lakes
- Arakura Fuji Shrine
- Chureito Pagoda
- Arakurayama Sengen Park
January 9th – Tokyo
- Godzilla Head
- Shinjuku Golden-Gai
- Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
- Meiji Jingu
- Yoyogi Park
- Harajuku
- Takeshita Street Square
January 10th – Tokyo
- Miyashita Park
- Nintendo shop
- Pokemon center
- Shibuya 109
- One Piece shop
- Shibuya Crossing
- Hachiko statue
- Shibuya Sky
January 11th – Tokyo
- Flight back at night
Any suggestions or feedback would be greatly appreciated!
by Anthonyy232
6 comments
The Tokyo National Museum is in Ueno Park, so you might want to consider adding it to your plans for going Ueno. Also, I’d recommend visiting Koishikawa Korakuen and Rikugien on different days. When you go to Koishikawa Korakuen, consider visiting [Kagurazaka](https://www.gotokyo.org/en/destinations/central-tokyo/kagurazaka/index.html) as well, and when you visit Rikugien, it’s a good idea to check out [the Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street](https://digjapan.travel/en/blog/id=11843) too.
im so happy you have kokoen garden it’s one my favorite traditional gardens ever :’)
ok bad news first: it’s gonna be. hell for january first at kiyomizudera and just kyoto in general. almost everyone in japan that day is going to their family shrines for opening of the year. good news is: DONT LET THAT DETURE YOU!!!! Honestly it’s so fun to be in the feeling of it all: temples also will have even more street food and just activity around that you can’t enjoy any other time of the year.
id say just mentally prepare yourself for the masses but enjoy it ! i always love going with my family or friends in those first three days :’)
i think you should just embrace the chaos and go: it won’t be a tourist crowd but local crowd which is a different buzz. also places tend to thin out as the day goes by as many only go for the temple then dip.
shopping districts that are open is going to be wild too: it’s the biggest sales and also blind boxes for even electronics or fashion so it’ll be busy as well!! but also lots of amazing deals so it might be worth checking out.
tbh it’s only bad from the 1st to around the 5th so after that people will be going back to routine for the most part. so your trip during this time will be very nice
Wayyyyy too many shrines and temples.
However much you feel you will like them, and I’m sure you will, nobody can go to 4 shrines/temples per day and not get tired of it.
Many of the ones you listed are totally skippable. I worry that you’ll tire of them before you see the genuinely amazing ones (like Kiyomizu, for example)
Hi OP, I’m traveling to Japan in 2 months. Seeing as you’re landing in a non -Tokyo airport as well (I’m landing at Osaka), I’m trying my luck here to have a query addressed.
I recently read that we can’t get a PASMO or SUICA card at a non-Tokyo airport/city. Is that true?
If that’s the case, how can I travel about in Osaka or Kyoto, which I’ll be visiting before Tokyo.
Hi! Did you do something special to be able to post your itinerary? When I try to post mine, it always gets auto-removed 🙁 thank you!