Hey there! My fiancé and I (both 30 and very into architecture and design) will be in Japan for three weeks in November. Hoping for an itinerary check before we start booking our hotels.
Day 1: Tokyo (Arrival)
Arrive at Narita airport at 5pm
Catch a train to our hotel (probably in Ginza and open to recommendations that we can book with Hyatt or chase points)
Explore around the neighborhood
Get drinks at Star Bar
Day 2: Tokyo (Temple Day)
Head to Yoyogi Park early in the morning as we recover from jet lag
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Asakusa Culture and Tourism Building
Senso-ji Temple
Head back to Ginza and window shop / find some famous buildings
Day 3: Tokyo (Tourist Day)
teamLab Borderless at 9am
Lunch at Katsudon-ya Zuicho
Shibuya Scramble and some free alternative to Shibuya Sky potentially
Daikanyama
Dinner at Omoide Yokocho alley
Drinks at Golden Gai
Day 4: Tokyo (Design Day)
Nezu Museum (and gardens)
21_21 Design Sight or Mori Art Museum depending on exhibitions
SunnyHill Minamiaoyama
Omotesando Street
Harajuku
Day 4: Tokyo (Museum Day)
Kayaba Coffee
Asakusa Museum of Sculpture
Tokyo National Museum
Ueno Park Picnic
National Museum of Western Art
Explore Yanaka / Old Town
Day 5: Nikko (Day Trip)
Temples
Nikko National Park
Day 6: Houshi Onsen in Gunma
Quiet and restful night in the mountains
Day 7: Kanazawa
Take buses and trains to Kanazawa
Check in to SHARES hotel
Visit Kenroku-en Garden
Explore at night
Day 8: Kanazawa
Morning trip to Shirikawa-go
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Day 9: Kyoto
Get to Kyoto early afternoon
Check into Hyatt Place (trying to book with points)
Lunch at Honke Daiichi Asahi
Explore Nishiki Market
Explore Pontocho Alley
Dinner at Chao Chao Sanjo Kiyamachi
Day 10: Kyoto
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove early in the morning
Kameyama Area
Togetsukyo Bridge
Kinkaku-ji
Philosophers Path
Gion District at night
Day 11: Kyoto
Walk around Higashiyama in the morning into early afternoon
Tempura Endo Yasaka for lunch
Kiyomizu-dera temple in both the daytime and at night
Day 12: Kyoto
Fushimi Inari early in the morning
Tofuku-ju Temple
Half day trip to Nara
Day 13: Naoshima
Travel to Naoshima Island
See Chichu Art Museum
Day 14: Naoshima
Take an early morning ferry to Teshima
See more Naoshima museums in the afternoon
Day 15: Osaka
Travel from Naoshima to Osaka (not sure the best Osaka neighborhood to stay in)
Visit Osaka Castle
Possibly visit Umeda Sky Building
Day 16: Osaka
Take a half day trip to Minoh to see the autumn foliage
Visit Dontonburi and eat a lot
Day 17: Atami
Travel from Osaka to Atami for another Onsen (open to recommendations here)
Relax in the evening
Day 18: Tokyo
Travel back to Tokyo via Enoura Observatory
Stop by Kanagawa Institute of Technology to see some Junya Ishigami
Visit Shimokitizawa for thrift shopping
Visit Meguro neighborhood
Day 19: Return flight
Visit Akihabara for souvenirs
Any last minute things we missed at the beginning of the trip
Head to airport at 3pm for 6pm flight home
Please share any critiques or recommendations you have based on this itinerary! I like to maximize travel since I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to plan a second trip to Japan, but don’t want to completely burn myself out either.
by Active_Mousse_8554