My boyfriend and I (cis male) are traveling to Japan this October. This is my first time going on sightseeing in Japan. My boyfriend has been there once and mainly stayed in Tokyo. We are mainly interested in nature/historical places of interest, but we will stay in Tokyo 1.5 days to experience city life too! My boyfriend can speak some Japanese (N2 level) but I just started my Duolingo lessons.
Oct 21
– Arriving KIX (Osaka) at 2:30
– Expect to arrive at the hotel near Osaka station around 4
– City walk/shopping/eating for the rest of the day.
Oct 22
– Depart for Kyoto early in the morning
– Arrive at Arashiyama （嵐山） around 9-10
– Brief hiking around the area
– Lunch
– Leave for Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺) towards noon
– Leave for Kifune Shrine （貴船神社） towards late afternoon for golden hours
– Leave for Gion by 5:30-6pm, after dark
– Dinner around Gion district
– Night time visit Yasaka-jinja Shrine （八坂神社） and Ninen Zaka Path （二年坂）
– Hotel in Gion district
Oct 23
– Watching sunrise around Kiyomizu-dera （清水寺）
– Visit temples around the area
– Leave for Fushimi Inari Taisha （伏見稲荷大社） and finish hiking by late afternoon
– Depart for Nara late afternoon
– Dinner in Nara or Kyoto
– Evening Onsen in Nara hotel
Oct 24
– Early morning walk in Nara Park
– Visit Kasugataisya春日大社 and the forest
– Visit Tōdai-ji 東大寺
– Visit Tōshōdai ji 唐招提寺
– Dinner
– Depart for Uji 宇治 in the evening
– Evening Onsen at the Ryokan
Oct 25
– Morning hike around Uji River
– Visit Byodo-In Temple 平等院
– Tea ceremony at Taihoan
– Lunch
– Matcha Factory tour at Marukyu Koyamaen (I’ve always wanted to go since I love their matcha!)
– Unplanned downtime in the afternoon)
– Depart for Tokyo at 4pm
– Hotel in Shibuya
– Dinner/Night time sightseeing in Shibuya/Shinjuku
Oct 26
– Morning city walk
– The national art center in Roppongi
– 21_21 Design Sight in Roppongi
– Mori Art Museum in Roppongi
– Azabudai Hill JP Tower for golden hour view of the Tokyo tower (heard this is the latest built sky scraper in Tokyo and best place to watch the Tokyo tower)
– Unplanned nighttime sightseeing
Oct 27
– Morning walk/shopping in Shibuya/Harajuku (vintage Japanese apparel n stuff)
– Narita Express to NRT from Shibuya at 1
My biggest concern is that the Oct 22 itinerary might be too much, since places in Kyoto are pretty spread out and I heard the public transit in Kyoto to not be reliable.
I am not a diehard anime fan so I’m skipping Akihabara. It’s also the only place I would’ve visited in the north east area of Tokyo. So I don’t think it’s worthy of traveling north just for it.
Skipping Senso-Ji because I will have seen so many temples in the Kyoto prefecture. Skipping parks in Tokyo for similar reasons.
Would love to get recommendations for what to do in Osaka late afternoon/evening. Wouldn’t stay up too late since we leave first Kyoto early next day.
Jet lag is a nonissue since I’m flying into Osaka from China.
Would also love to hear about restaurant recommendations and LGBT friendly places!
by DirectorOpen851