October 2024 Itinerary Review – 10 Days – Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto

Hi everyone, my partner and I are going to Japan for the first time in late October for our honeymoon trip. We'd love feedback on our itinerary. Generally we like doing a mix of sightseeing, museums, trying food, shopping, etc.

My worry is that this itinerary may be a bit packed and that I may not have grouped activities in the right way based on location. I would like this trip to feel relaxed and give room for spontaneity.

Thank you!

Day 1 – Sunday (Tokyo)

• Arrive Tokyo, 4pm
• Stay in hotel in Shimbashi
• Evening:
  • Explore Golden Gai 
• Dinner:
  • Ramen Tatsunoya Shinjuku 

Day 2 – Monday (Tokyo)

• Morning: Tsukiji Market 
  • Arrive by 8am
  • Explore market for 2-3 hours
• Late morning: Edo Castle / Imperial Palace East Gardens
  • Arrive by 11:30am
  • Travel time: 25 mins from Tsukiji
• Lunch: 7/11 or Yoshiborin (soba noodles)
  • Travel time: 20 mins by subway
• Afternoon: Tokyo National Museum / Ueno Park 
  • Arrive by 1:30pm 
  • Travel time: 20 mins by subway
  • Spend 2-3 hours in the national museum, then take a walk through Ueno park 
• Dinner:
  • Check out an izakaya
• Evening:
  • Explore Shinjuku further for nighttime vibes

Day 3 – Tuesday (Tokyo)

• Morning: Senso-Ji Temple & Nakamise Shopping Street
  • Arrive by 7:30am
  • Travel time: 30 mins from hotel
  • Explore Nakamise Shopping Street for souvenirs and snacks.
• Late morning: Walk around Asakusa
• Hatoya Asakusa – bakery 
• Suzukien Asakusa for matcha
• Afternoon in Shibuya / Harajuku
  • 12:30pm – Head to Meiji Shrine 
  • Travel time: 25 mins by subway from Asakusa
  • 2:30pm – stroll through Yoyogi Park
• Late afternoon (4pm): Shibuya crossing
  • Travel time: 10 minute walk 
• Kaiseki dinner
• Evening: dancing at RED Bar (disco) or Mitsuki (electronic)

Day 4 – Wednesday (Tokyo –> Hakone)

• Morning: keep open, explore Ginza for shopping? Shift Shibuya Crossing to today? \*Would welcome suggestions on what to do**!*
• Tokyo Station to Odawara Station (via Shinkansen)
  • leave by 1pm
• Odawara Station to Gora Station
• Hakone Open-Air Museum
• Check in to ryokan

Day 5 – Thursday (Hakone –> Kyoto)

• Train to Kyoto (2 hours)
• Late morning: Nishiki Market 
  • Travel time: 20 mins walk from hotel
  • Have lunch and explore market
• Nijo Castle
  • Travel time: 15 mins by subway or taxi 
  • Plan to spend 1-2 hours here.
• Afternoon: Gogako Matcha
• Afternoon: Gion
  • Travel time: 15 mins walk
  • Explore Gion (geisha district)
  • Visit Kennin-ji Temple, Hokan-ji Temple, and Sannenzaka street 
  • Shirakawa canal 
• Evening: Men-ya Inoichi (ramen)
  • Travel time: 20 mins walk 

Day 6 – Friday (Kyoto)

• Early morning: Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • Travel time: 30 mins by train from central Kyoto
• Travel back to Gion (25 mins by train)
• Afternoon: Eikando temple and Nanzen-Ji 
  • Philosopher's Path
• Lunch: Hafuu Shogoin
• Dinner reservation: 7pm at omakase
• Evening: Higashiyama 

Day 7 – Saturday (Kyoto)

• Morning: Arashiyama District
  • Travel time: 50 mins by train / bus from Gion
  • Tenryu-ji Temple
  • Bamboo Grove
  • Togetsukyo Bridge
• Lunch at local restaurant in Arashiyama 
  • \*any recommendations? or should we just pack 7/11 food**?*
• Afternoon:
  • Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
  • Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple (10 mins walk between temples)
• Late Afternoon: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
  • Travel time: 30 mins by bus from Arashiyama
• Evening:
  • Travel back to Gion (30 mins bus)
  • Walk around Pontocho Alley at night
• Dinner: Tai Sushi (10 mins walk from hotel)

Day 8 – Sunday (Kyoto –> Tokyo)

• Train to Tokyo
• Late morning: Imperial Palace 
• Lunch: Yoshiborin (soba noodles)
  • Arrive by 12:30pm
  • Travel time: 20 mins from Imperial Palace
• Afternoon: shop at Ameyoko Open-Air market
  • Arrive by 2:30pm
  • Travel time: 20 mins by subway 

Day 9 – Monday (Tokyo)

• Morning: Icho Namiki Walk 
  • Morning stroll, admire autumn leaves
  • Travel time: 15 mins
• Late morning: TeamLab Planets
  • Travel time: 35 mins from Icho Namiki
  • 1-2 hours
• Lunch near Omotesando / Harajuku
  • Travel time: 40 mins
  • Have lunch at a cafe in area
• Afternoon: vintage shopping in Harajuku and Omotesando
  • Travel time: 5-10 minutes walk between Harajuku and Omotesando 
• Early evening: TAITO station Akihabara
  • Travel time: 20 mins by subway
  • 1 hour

Day 10 – Tuesday 

• Depart in early evening, use morning to catch up on anything we might have missed