Itinerary Review – Two Weeks End of October Hokuriku route

Hi all, my three best friends and I (all in our early 30s) are visiting the end of October for the first time. Trying to take the “see as much as we can” approach with the intention of ideally hitting 80% of this, as inevitably delays will happen. We’re trying to take advantage of the Hokuriku arch pass ideally but if anyone has any suggestions/edits to make please feel free to add them.

Sunday 10/20 – Leave Boston

• Leave Boston 5:45am

Monday 10/21 – Welcome to Japan & Shinjuku

Travel Info: Arrive Tokyo – 3:24pm – Find hotel near the Tokyo transit loop
Take airport limousine bus
– Check in hotel in Shinjuku
Afternoon: Shinjuku

• Start at Shin Udon or Honolu ramen restaraunt – 5:30ish
• Walk (15 minutes) or take train (12 min) to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (free)
  • Might be something good to do while we wait for shin udon, alternatively if we’re not hungry we can start here
• *if we have time check out Spincoaster Bar, grab a drink there. Really cool bar with hundreds of Vinyl Records)

Night: Shinjuku – Continued

• Metropolitan Government Building
• Omede Yokocho
• Godzilla Head Statue
• Golden Gai

Tuesday 10/22 – Tokyo Bay, Odaiba & Roppongi

Morning: Tokyo Bay

• Street kart tour – 10:00AM
• Alternate: Toyosu Fish Market (good place for Sushi)
• Lunch: Coco Ichibanya Curry
• 1:30pm – 3:30pm – TeamLabs Planets

Afternoon: Odaiba

• Odaiba Statue of Liberty – 3:30PM
  * Visit the replica of the Statue of Liberty and enjoy the views of Tokyo Bay and the Rainbow Bridge.
• DiverCity Tokyo Plaza
  • Explore the shopping and entertainment options at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza (8 floors).
  • Sojibou soba restaurant
  • Don’t miss the life-size Gundam statue outside!
  • Decks Tokyo Beach: Restaurants & shops with themed interiors and diverse cuisines.

Evening: Roppongi

• Roppongi Hills – 7:00PM
• Dinner in Gonpachi (famous for its atmosphere reminiscent of the movie “Kill Bill”) – Need Reservations
• Explore Roppongi Nightlife or go back to Shinjuku for an early night by 11

Wednesday 10/23 – Day Trip Hakone

Early Morning: Travel

• Departure from Tokyo – 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
  • Transport: Take the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station.
• Arrival at Hakone-Yumoto Station – 8:30 AM – 8:45 AM

Morning: Hakone Tozan Bus and Lake

• Hakone Tozan Bus – 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM
• Hakone Shrine – 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
  • Visit the historic Hakone Shrine, located near the shores of Lake Ashi. Explore the serene grounds and iconic torii gate.
• Lake Ashi Cruise – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
  Late Morning: Hakone Ropeway and Owakudani
• Lunch – 11:00-11:45am
  • Have lunch at a restaurant near Togendai Station.
• Hakone Ropeway – 11:45-12:15pm
  • Take the Hakone Ropeway from Togendai to Sounzan, passing over the volcanic Owakudani Valley.
  • Enjoy stunning views of Mount Fuji on clear days.
• Owakudani Valley – 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM
  • Stop at Owakudani to explore the volcanic area, enjoy sulfurous hot springs, and try the famous black eggs for 5 dollars.
  • Take Ropeway to Sounzan around 12:45

Afternoon: Hakone Tozan Cable Car and Railway

• Hakone Tozan Cable Car – 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
• Gora Park – 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
• Hakone Open-Air Museum – 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
  • Travel: Take the Hakone Tozan Railway from Gora to Chokoku-no-Mori Station (a short ride).

• Hakone Tozan Railway – 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM

  • Chokoku-no-Mori to Hakone-Yumoto
    Evening: Travel Back to Tokyo

• Departure from Hakone-Yumoto – 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

• Transport: Take the Odakyu Romancecar from Hakone-Yumoto Station back to Shinjuku Station, Tokyo.

• Arrival in Tokyo – 7:30 PM

Free Night
– Samurai restaraunt – spiritual successor to robot restaurant – must be booked in advance
– Okubo area is koreatown for food and Korean skincare products
– Go to ueno anyone this night instead or to Kabuchiko

Thursday 10/24 – Asakusa, Akihabara, Ginza & Ikebukuro

Morning: Asakusa

• Senso-Ji Temple – 9:00am
  • Visit Senso-ji Temple and explore Nakamise Shopping Street for souvenirs and traditional snacks.

Afternoon: Akihabara

• Brunch at a Maid Cafe in Akihabara – 10:30 AM
  Options:
  • Maidreamin
  • In Akihabara, there is no problem even if a maid from another world serves you! アキバなら異世界メイドがお給仕したって問題ないよねっ！
• Go Shopping at Different Shops in Akihabara
  • Mandarake Complex – Anime
  • Akihabara Radio Kaikan – Anime
  • Super Potato Game Shop – Gaming & Retro Gaming Arcade
  • Game panic arcade
  • Grab a magikarp
  • Taito Gaming Center – Multi floor more modern arcade
  • Don Quijote – Discount Everything Shop Tax Free

Late Afternoon: Ginza

• Cafe De L’ambre – 4pm
  • Well known coffee shop
• Age 3 – fried cream sandwiches super cheap
• Uniqlo Flagship Store
• Muji flagship store
• Nissan Crossing
  • Exhibit of Nissan Racing Cars
• Itsuki Tendon – tempura donburi bowls
• Ginza ginger – famous shaved ice cream kakigori
• Stop for a cocktail at La France – fancy fruit cocktails

Evening : Ikebukuro

• Travel to Ikebukuro – 9PM
• Muscle Girls Bar – 9:30pm
• 10pm onwards – go back to Hotel

Friday 10/25 – Harajuku & Shibuya

Morning: Harajuku

• Meiji Shrine – 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
  • We could check out yo yogi park in the morning as well
• World Breakfast Allday – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
  • (Opens at 7:30 we could go before Meiji tbh or skip this for cafe reissue)
• Takeshita Street 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
  • Description: Explore Takeshita Street for trendy shops, quirky fashion, and delicious crepes.
  • Check out Cat st, less touristy part
• Check out Cafe Reissue for some really cool latte designs!
• Other Shops to Check out in the area
  • Bape Store
  • Sacai Store
  • Undercover Store
  • Supreme Store

Afternoon: Shibuya

• Lunch at Momo Paradise – 12:30
  • Shabu Shabu Lunch Set
• Check out Shibuya Parco mall & LOFT
  • Nintendo store inside!!
• Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko Statue
• Shibuya 109, Shibuya Hikarie, Tokyu Plaza Omotesando, Shibuya AxH,
• If we want to switch it up could head to shimo -kitazawa 6 min train away and then come back to shibuya at night

Evening: Shibuya
* Shibuya Sky
* Dinner at Sushi Nomidori
* Long Queues but supposedly very nice sushi
– Gyukatsu Motomura
– Restaraunts known for Wagyu beef cutlets, affordable
* Nonbei Yokocho & Shibuya Yokocho
* More Drinking and Snacks
* Maybe karaoke?
* Lost Bar
Saturday 10/26 – Day Trip to Nikko

Early Morning: Travel to Nikko

• Departure from Tokyo – 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM

• Arrival at Nikko Station – 8:30 AM – 8:45 AM
  Morning: Explore Central Nikko

• Shinkyo Bridge – 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM

• Toshogu Shrine – 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

• Rinnoji Temple – 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

• Futarasan Shrine – 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM

Afternoon: Natural Attractions

• Lunch in Nikko – 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
• Kegon Falls – 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
• Lake Chuzenji – 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
• Ryuzu Falls – 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Evening: Return to Tokyo

• Return to Nikko Station: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
  • Take the bus back to Nikko Station.
• Departure from Nikko:5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Transport: Take the JR Nikko Line to Utsunomiya Station, then transfer to the JR Tohoku Shinkansen back to Tokyo Station. Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours in total.
• Arrival in Tokyo: Time: 7:00 PM.
  • Another Free Night in Tokyo – Grab snacks & Ekiben for the road tomorrow

Sunday 10/27 – Travel to Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Morning: Travel to Toyama
* Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Toyama – 7:00 AM
* (approx. 2 hours, covered by Hokuriku Arch Pass)
* Figure out Luggage Forwarding to Kanazawa
* Arrive in Toyama. – 9:00 AM

Mid-Morning to Afternoon: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

• Toyama to Tateyama Station – 9:30ish
  • Take the Toyama Chiho Railway
  • (approx. 1 hour).
• Tateyama Station to Bijodaira – 10:30ish
  • Take the cable car (approx. 7 minutes).
• Bijodaira to Murodo: Take the highland bus – 10:45ish-11:45ish
  • (approx. 50 minutes).
  • Explore Murodo and surrounding areas
  • Mount Tateyama is about a 2 hour hike

Late Afternoon: Return to Toyama

• Return from Murodo to Toyama 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
• Arrive back in Toyama – 5:30 PM

Evening – Travel to Kanazawa

• Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Toyama to Kanazawa -6:00 PM
  • (approx. 20 minutes, covered by Hokuriku Arch Pass).
• Arrive in Kanazawa – 6:20PM
• Check into our accommodation and relax.
  • Nakayasu Ryokan

Monday 10/28 – Day Trip To Kanazawa

Morning: Kenro-kuen Garden & Kanazawa Castle

Breakfast at a local café – 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Explore Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle – 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Afternoon – Explore Kanazawa

• Visit the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art – 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
  • Stop At Lawson for a snack before
• Explore Omichiro Market for food and snacks 3:15-5pm
• Explore Higashi Chaya District and enjoy tea at a traditional teahouse – 5PM – 7:00 PM

Evening – Relax and Chill in Kanazawa

• Dinner at a local restaurant – 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
• Try some gold covered ice cream
• Relax and enjoy the evening atmosphere in Kanazawa

Tuesday 10/29 – Kyoto

Morning – Travel to Kyoto

• Take Train from Kanazawa to Kyoto station – 8 am
  • (approx. 2.5 hours, covered by Hokuriku Arch Pass)
• Arrive in Kyoto 11:00 AM
• Check into Hotel

Afternoon – Explore Kyoto

• Fushimi Inari Shrine – 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Fushimi Inari Shrine: Start with Fushimi Inari Shrine as it’s a bit outside the city center and less crowded in the afternoon.
  • This is the famous chain of gates, apparently if you can make it past the first break area the crowds start to thin out so no need to get here super early for cool pictures
• Make Reservations for Kichi-Kichi omurice
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple – 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
• Gion District – 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
• Dinner at Kichi Kichi Omurice -7:30 PM
  • Have dinner at Kichi Kichi Omurice. Make sure to book in advance day of due to its popularity.

Evening

• Free Evening in Kyoto
• Explore Shijo-dori

Wednesday 10/30 – Kyoto Day II

Morning – Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji

• Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
  • Start early to avoid the crowds
  • It’s a bit out of the way, so plan for travel time
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove- 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Afternoon – Nijo Castle & Nishiki Market

• Nijo Castle – 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
  • Nijo Castle: If time permits, visit Nijo Castle. It’s on the way back from Kinkaku-ji to the city center.
• Nishiki Market for lunch and shopping – 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
  • Explore Nishiki Market for lunch and local snacks.

Evening – Free Evening/Potoncho

• Free time to explore Potoncho or revisit favorite spots
• Try gyoza chaochao or yakiniku hiro
• Try maccha house dessert

Thursday 10/31 – Osaka

Morning – Travel To Osaka & Osaka Castle

• Travel from Kyoto Station to Shin Osaka station 8:00AM
  • (approx. 30 minutes by JR train, covered by Hokuriku Arch Pass).
• Drop off Bags in Hotel
• Visit Osaka Castle and its surrounding park – 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
• Brunch – 12PM – 1:00PM
  • Gram Bakery for thick pancakes

Afternoon – America Mura and Namba/Dotonburi

• America Mura – 1:30PM
  • Explore America Mura for vintage clothes shopping and a hipster vibe, buy a Halloween costume?
  • Check out orange st for shopping
• Shinsaibashi/Parco
  • Cool mall with a Ghibli store and other cool stuff
• See what line is like for Mizuno Okonomiyaki in Dotonburi 3:30pm
• Try Rikuro Ojisan Nomise’s famous cheesecake in Namba? 4:30pm

Early Evening – Denden Town & Shinsekai

• Denden Town
  • Check out Denden Town for anime and manga merchandise. 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
• Enjoy Katsudon at Katsudon Chiyomatsu. 7:30-8:30pm
• Take Train to Shinsekai District 8:30 PM – 9:30PM

Evening – Halloween in Osaka 🎃

• Take train back to Dotonburi – 9:45 PM
  • Nightlife, street food, and entertainment.
• Halloween Night
  • 10:30 PM onwards: Celebrate Halloween in Dotonbori or another lively part of Osaka. – Research where people are meeting for this

Friday 11/1 – Osaka Day II

Morning – Cup Noodle Museum

• Cup Noodle Museum – 10:30 am – 12:00 PM
  • Visit the Cup Noodle Museum for a unique and interactive experience.
  • This is kind of out of the way and could be worth skipping

Afternoon

Museum of Housing and Living

• Museum of Housing & Living – 1:00PM – 2:30 PM

  • Explore the Museum of Housing and Living to experience Osaka’s history and culture.
    Late Afternoon: Tenjinbadshi

• Tenjinbashi- 2:30pm-4:30 PM

  • Check out the longest shopping road in Japan – 2.6km long
  • Try some takoyaki at takoyaki wanaka
  • Try some Kushikatsu at Kushikatsu Shichifukijin

Evening – Free Night

• Explore more of Osaka, enjoy the nightlife, or relax before traveling back to Tokyo

Saturday 11/2

• Check out 11:00am
• Leave Tokyo 6:25pm and say sayonara to Japan