Solo Birthday Trip! 1st time – Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka Itinerary

Hello lovely people! After a long time of saving I will be visiting Japan from the UK! It is my first time there and I will be travelling solo.

I would love to have some advice on my itinerary on whether anything needs tweaking or things could be in a better order. I have planned 8 days in Tokyo, a trip to Hakone, 7 days in Kyoto and 4/5 days in Osaka. Many thanks in advance!

Tokyo (4th – 12th November)

Monday, November 4th – Arrival in Tokyo

• Narita airport to Ueno -Check-in at Ueno accommodation
• Afternoon: Relax and explore Ameya-Yokocho Market
• Evening: Dinner at Gyumon in Shibuya

Tuesday, November 5th – Tsukiji Market and Shopping

• Morning: Explore Tsukiji Outer Market.
• Afternoon:
  • Visit Itoya in Ginza for stationery shopping.
  • Shibuya Loft shopping.
  • Visit Mega Don Quijote Shibuya.
• Evening: Visit Azabu Juban

Wednesday, November 6th – Tokyo Tower, teamLab Borderless, and Music Shops

• Morning:
  • Visit Tokyo Tower.
  • Visit teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills.
• Afternoon:
  • Lunch
  • Visit Shibuya Tower Records.
  • Explore second-hand music shops (HMV Record Shop, Disk Union, RecoFan).
• Evening:
  • Relax and dinner

Thursday, November 7th – My Birthday in Harajuku

• Morning: Head to Harajuku
  • Explore Takeshita Street and Omotesando.
  • Grab a crepe or street food snack
• Lunch: any suggestions?
• Afternoon:
  • Visit the Meiji Shrine for a peaceful walk.
  • Continue shopping and exploring quirky shops.
• Evening: Dinner at a rooftop restaurant with a view in Ueno.

Friday, November 8th – Explore Tokyo

• Morning:
  • Visit Yanaka and Nezu for a traditional Tokyo experience.
  • Walk through Yanaka Ginza for local street snacks.
• Afternoon:
  • Explore Shinjuku
  • Visit Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho.
• Evening:
  • Dinner
  • Visit Animega Shinjuku Marui Annex
  • If time allows:Visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. It’s a short detour on the Yamanote Line from Ueno.

Saturday, November 9th – Day with Friend

• Morning:
  • Spend the day with my friend in one of these areas:
    • Shimokitazawa: Visit vintage shops and cafes.
    • Kagurazaka: Explore traditional alleyways and hidden restaurants.
    • Kichijoji: Visit Inokashira Park and quirky shops.
• Lunch: Flipper's for pancakes in Shimokitazawa).
• Afternoon:
  • Continue exploring.
• Evening:
  • Dinner: At a casual izakaya.

Sunday, November 10th – Akihabara and Asakusa

• Morning:
  • Start day at the Imperial Palace and East Gardens before heading to Akihabara.
• Mid-Morning:
  • Explore Akihabara: Visit anime shops, arcades, and themed cafes.
  • Lunch: At a themed café like Maidreamin in Akihabara.
• Afternoon:
  • Akihabara to Asakusa – Visit Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Street.
  • Walk to Age.3 for a snack (10 minutes from Asakusa).
• Evening:
  • Dinner: At Motenashi Kuroki

Monday, November 11th – Nakano Broadway and Ikebukuro

• Morning:
  • Explore Nakano Broadway for anime and collectibles.
• Lunch: At Menya Hanabi near Nakano Broadway for mazesoba.
• Afternoon:
  • Nakano to Ikebukuro and explore.
• Evening:
  • Visit Roppongi Hills for dinner

November 12th: Travel from Ueno to Hakone

Afternoon: unwind in ryokan

• Stroll in Yumoto Area

Evening:

• Onsen at Tenzan Onsen
• Dinner: Soba noodles at Hakone Akatsukian

November 13th: Autumn Foliage and Relaxation

Morning:

• Gora Park
• Lunch

Afternoon:

• Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani

Evening:

• Onsen and kaiseki dinner

November 14th: Departure to Kyoto

Morning Travel from Hakone to Kyoto

Kyoto 14th to 21st November

• 11:30 AM: Visit Kyoto Tower (right next to Kyoto Station).
• 1:00 PM: Lunch at a nearby café.
• 2:30 PM: Explore Nishiki Market.
• 4:00 PM: Coffee break at Café du Ciel.
• 6:00 PM: Dinner at Pontocho Kyo Yasai in Pontocho Alley.

15th November: Temples and Shrines

• 9:00 AM: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion).
• 10:30 AM: Ryoan-ji Temple.
• 12:00 PM: Early lunch near Ryoan-ji.
• 1:30 PM: Fushimi Inari Taisha.
• 3:30 PM: Coffee break at Fushimi Inari Café.
• 6:00 PM: Dinner at Gion District.

16th November: Kimono Experience and Concert

• 9:00 AM: Pick up kimono rental.
• 10:00 AM: Nanzen-ji Temple.
• 12:00 PM: Stroll through Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
• 1:30 PM: Lunch and mochi at Kamo River.
• 2:30 PM: Return kimono.
• 3:00 PM: Head to Kyoto KBS Hall for the concert.
• 9:00 PM: Dinner near KBS Hall.

17th November:

• 10:00 AM: Relax and have a leisurely breakfast.
• 11:00 AM: Visit Kyoto Imperial Palace.
• 12:30 PM: Lunch near the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
• 2:00 PM: Return to accommodation for some rest.
• 3:30 PM: 2^nd day Concert at KBS Hall

18th November: Arashiyama and Bamboo Grove

• 9:00 AM: Depart forArashiyama.
• 9:30 AM: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
• 10:30 AM: Tenryu-ji Temple.
• 12:00 PM: Lunch at Arashiyama Soba
• 1:30 PM: Togetsukyo Bridgeand enjoy the riverside view.
• 2:30 PM: Iwatayama Monkey Park.
• 4:00 PM: Coffee break at a local café in Arashiyama.
• 5:00 PM: Return to Kyoto.
• 6:00 PM: Dinner at Kyoto Station area.

19th November: Kyoto Highlights

• 9:00 AM: Tofuku-ji Temple.
• 10:30 AM: Coffee and early lunch at Kiyomizu Sannenzaka.
  • Suggested Spot:Sannenzaka Café
• 12:00 PM: Maruyama Park.
• 2:00 PM: Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
• 4:00 PM: Coffee break at Ginkaku-ji Café.
• 6:00 PM: Dinner at Kyoto Stationarea.

20th November: Day Trip to Nara

Osaka (21st – 25th November)

November 21st: Arrival and Spa Day

Morning:

• Kyoto to Osaka

Late Morning:

• 11:00 AM: Relax at Spa World.

Lunch:

• 1:00 PM: Lunch at Spa Worldor a nearby restaurant.

Afternoon:

• 3:00 PM: Explore Umeda. Visit the Umeda Sky Building.

Evening:

• 5:00 PM: Explore Dotonbori for takoyaki.
• 6:00 PM: Dinner at MizunoorKiji for okonomiyaki.
• 7:30 PM: Enjoy the Midosuji illuminations.

November 22nd: Minoo Park and Cup Noodles Museum

Morning:

• 9:00 AM: Arrive at Minoo Station and start the walk to Minoo Waterfall.

Lunch:

• 12:00 PM: Lunch at a café or restaurant near Minoo Park.

Afternoon:

• 1:30 PM: Return to Osaka.
• 3:00 PM: Visit the Cup Noodles Museum in Ikeda.

Evening:

• 6:00 PM: Dinner at Yakiniku Panga

November 23rd: Spa World

Morning:

• Spa World.

Dinner:

• 7:00 PM: Dinner at a nearby restaurant or within Spa World.

November 24th: Relax and Explore

Morning:

• 9:00 AM: Osaka Tenmangu Shrine.

Lunch:

• 12:00 PM: Lunch at Chano-ma in Namba.

Afternoon:

• 1:30 PM: Take a leisurely stroll through Dotonbori and Amerikamura.

Evening:

• 6:00 PM: Dinner at Kushikatsu Tanaka.

November 25th: Departure to Tokyo

Morning:

• 8:00 AM: Final breakfast in Osaka.
• 9:30 AM: Check out from the hotel.

Lunch:

• 12:00 PM: Light lunch if needed.

Afternoon:

• 1:00 PM: Depart for Tokyo via shinkansen.

Final Night in Tokyo (25th – 26th November)

25th November:

• Arrive in Tokyo
• last minute shopping

26th November:

• Departure from Tokyo