Hey everyone – looking for advice & tips on my solo itinerary in about a month. This will be my second time in Japan, but first time solo traveling – I visited Tokyo / Kyoto / Osaka early last year, and looking to explore some other cities (but still hitting Tokyo because… Tokyo). Would especially love to hear:
- How is my pacing? I like to stay relatively busy, but not totally exhausted. I'm a big fan of visiting restaurants more than anything, can still appreciate sightseeing though. This time around, I'm hoping to buy some cool items, especially table/kitchenware and useful products in Japan.
- Should I go to Kanazawa before Nara, or after? Either way the route looks a little out of the way – the stay at Hiroshima is set in stone, so there's less flexibility with Hiroshima
- Any big attractions / must-dos that I'm missing, especially in the non-Tokyo cities? In Tokyo, I've already been to some of the classic tourist spots (teamLab Planets, Imperial Palace, etc.).
- How does solo traveling differ from a usual trip? Anything I should keep in mind?
Day 1 – Tokyo (Land at HND @ 2:30 PM)
Late afternoon: Explore Akihabara
Dinner @ Tonkatsu Narikura
Evening: Explore Ginza
Day 2 – Tokyo
Morning: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Lunch @ Ginza Hachigo
Afternoon: Studio Ghibli Museum
Dinner @ Toriki
Day 3 – Hakone Day Trip
Morning: Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone, Open Air Museum, then Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani
Lunch somewhere in Owakudani
Afternoon: Hakone Shrine, head to Hakone-Yumoto Station back to Tokyo
Dinner @ Sushi Ryujiro
Day 4 – Tokyo
Morning: teamLab Borderless
Lunch @ Tamawarai
Afternoon: Mori Art Museum
Dinner @ MAZ
Day 5 – Tokyo to Nara
Morning: Tokyo National Museum
Lunch wherever (maybe at train station), Shinkansen to Nara
Afternoon: Todaiji Daibutsuden
Dinner @ Gamushara Nara
Evening: Walk around Nara
Day 6 – Nara to Kanazawa
Morning: Nara Park, walk around / explore Nara
Lunch @ Miwa Yamamoto, then train to Kanazawa
Afternoon: (if time) DT Suzuki Museum
Dinner @ Tori Take
Day 7 – Kanazawa
Morning: Kenrokuen, wander around Omicho Market
Lunch @ Omicho Market
Afternoon: Ninjadera
Dinner @ Menya Taiga
Day 8 – Kanazawa to Hiroshima
Morning: 21st century museum, leave early for train, lunch on train
Afternoon: Peace Park, Peace Memorial Museum if time
Dinner @ Kisetsu Ryori Nakashima
Day 9 – Miyajima Day Trip
Morning: Ferry to Miyajima, Itsukushima Shrine
Lunch @ Yakigaki No Hayashi
Afternoon: Daisho-in Temple, maybe hike up Mount Misen (Daisho-in course)
Dinner at some okonomiyaki I find
Day 10 – Hiroshima to Tokyo
Morning: Peace Memorial Museum and/or Shukkeien Garden
Lunch on train, shinkansen to Tokyo
Afternoon: Explore Akihabara / Ginza / Harajuku
Dinner wherever
Day 11 – Depart from HND at 4:00 PM
Morning: Buy kitchen stuff at Kappabashi Street
Lunch wherever
Afternoon: Shopping at Akomeya, roam around, then leave for airport
by Daneity