My boyfriend and I are traveling in Japan from October 22 to November 5. It’s both of our first time in Japan! I’ve done a lot of research, but want to know what I’m missing out on with our current itinerary. We also want to leave time to explore, find new places to visit, and not be too crazy busy. That said, I’m keeping a lot of free time in our itineraries.
We love Japanese food and sake and are excited to take in the culture. We aren’t planning to book dinners in advance, we intend to see what catches our eye instead. We’re both interested in seeing historic sites and my boyfriend is interested in going to places with heavy anime influence. We both like art museums, and will prioritize early mornings exploring Tokyo and Kyoto to nightlife, though we’d like to go out in Tokyo at least once.
We’re also both heavily tattooed, so as much as we’d like to engage in onsen culture, we may skip it this trip lacking experience in this area.
For hotels: we’ll be staying at APA Hotel Nishi Shinjuku Gochomr Eki Tower in Tokyo and Hotel Amani Kyoto Kawaramachi Gojo in Kyoto.
Day 1 – Wednesday, October 23
Arrive in Tokyo at 2:45 pm local time. Check in to hotel in Shinjuku, get our bearings, take in the surroundings, quick dinner either at a konbini or somewhere close by.
Day 2 – Thursday, October 24
Explore Shibuya. Shibuya scramble, bar hopping in Golden Gai, catch sunset at Shibuya Sky (will book ahead)
Day 3 – Friday, October 25
Teamlab Planets, 1-1:30pm reservation. Leave time in the morning to figure out the train from Shinjuku. Get fish in Toyosu and see Toyosu market either before or after Teamlab depending on timing.
Day 4 – Saturday, October 26
Explore Asakusa. Go to Ueno Park. See Senso-ji temple. Go back to Shinjuku/Shibuya area at night to go out, potentially to Womb nightclub or somewhere else if a DJ we like is playing.
Day 5 – Sunday, October 27
Shinkansen to Kyoto. Explore Gion, Fushimi Inari at night when it’s less crowded.
Day 6 – Monday, October 28
Day trip to Osaka via train. Visit Osaka castle in the afternoon, explore Dotonbori market. Train back to Kyoto at night, stay in Kyoto.
Day 7 – Tuesday, October 29
Nara day trip. Visit Nara deer park, a matcha roastery. Return to Kyoto in the evening. Visit kiyomizu dera.
Day 8 – Wednesday, October 30
Visit arashiyama monkey park. Go to Nanzen-ji, walk on philosophers path.
Day 9 – Thursday, October 31
Return to Tokyo via Shinkansen. Explore Shinjuku/Shibuya for Halloween. Open to cool Halloween suggestions!
Day 10 – Friday, November 1
Ghibli museum, Gotokuji temple
Day 11 – Saturday, November 2
Shop in harajuku, akhibara. Go to don quijote for skincare products. Maybe a spa day? Perhaps another night out in Shibuya/Shinjuku.
Day 12 – Sunday, November 3
MORI Art museum and Teamlab Borderless (3-3:30 reservation)
Days 13 & 14 – Monday, November 4 & Tuesday, November 5
We fly back at 5:30 pm on Tuesday. Leaving the final 2 days in Tokyo to explore and hit the spots we may have missed.
by AnxiousSalad
