Hey there! I posted my [first version](https://reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/my8nz7/14_day_solo_travel_tokyokyotoosaka/) of a 2-week trip a year ago, and got quite a few great suggestions and insights. I’m so excited that it’s finally possible, so I’m hoping I can get your comments on this version since cherry blossoms will be in abundance during the trip, and my focus has altered just a little bit.
Day 0 Mar 17 – arriving around 7:30pm from Manila, staying near Tokyo Stn or Kinshicho
Mar 18-24 – Tokyo
– Shibuya: Meiji Jingu, Shibuya crossing area, Tower Records
– Shinjuku: Shinjuku Gyoen, Bookoff, Omoide Yokocho
– Asakusa-Ueno: Ueno Park, Senso-ji area, Fuglen Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree
– Ginza-Chuo City: Tsukiji Outer Market, Uniqlo Ginza store, Pokemon DX, Tokyo Ramen Street
– Roponggi Hills: Zojoji Temple, Mori Tower (for views of Tokyo Tower)
– Mitaka: Ghibli Museum, Inokashira Park, Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory
– Nakameguro: Starbucks Reserve Roastery, Tsutaya Books Daikanyama, Onibus Coffee
– Kamakura: Shonan Monorail
– Kawaguchiko: Chureito Pagoda, Panoramic Ropeway, bike tour/boat ride
– Coffee shops: Bear Pond, Little Nap, Switch Coffee, Omotesando, Glitch Coffee, Cafe Kitsune, Tajimaya Coffee
Mar 25-Mar 28 – Kyoto, staying near downtown
– Kyoto, general: Philosopher’s Path, Pontocho, Nishiki Market, Kinkakuji, Kyoto Railway Museum, Fushimi Inari
– Higashiyama-Gion: Kiyomizudera, Starbucks Ninenzaka, Ghibli Studios shop, Kodaiji Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Gion District
– Arashiyama: Bamboo forest, Sagano Romantic Car, river cruise, Kimono Forest, Togetsu Bridge
– Coffee shops: Kurasu, Inoda, Here cafe
Mar 29-Apr 1 Nara, Himeji-Kobe, Osaka (based in Osaka, staying near Namba)
– Nara: Nara Park, Todaiji, Kasuga-taisha, Cafe el mundo, Ikoma Cable Car
– Himeji-Kobe: Himeji Castle, Kokoen, Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden, Chinatown
– Osaka: Osaka Castle park, gram pancakes, Denden town, Kurimon Market, Dotonbori, Lilo Coffee, Takamura, Glitch Coffee, Cacao Sampaka, Takashimaya
Apr 2 am – flight back to Manila
Tentatively, I’m looking into getting a slot on the 24th at the Sunrise Seto for Tokyo-Himeji, in which case I will move Kyoto to the next day. I’m also thinking of doing an overnight at Kawaguchiko to catch the sunrise and proceed with the rest of the day there as planned, but will probably decide that closer to the trip depending on available accommodation. Will see how it goes 😉
Questions:
1) Does it make sense to put Meiji Jingu at the beginning of Shibuya day or Shinjuku day?
2) Some recommend Tokyo Skytree towards late afternoon, what’s your take?
3) Do you have recos for Kamakura near Enoshima station? I’m looking at a sushi lesson that starts at 11am and ends at 1:30pm, and I can go back to Tokyo via either the monorail or the regular train route depending on what else to see. I know one of the main attractions is the large Buddha statue, but I’m probably going to limit this trip to just one shrine or temple since I’ll see a lot more in Kyoto.
4) Does it make sense to combine Nakameguro with Shibuya day? When’s the best time of day to view sakura at Meguro river?
5) I’ll probably tack on the Tokyo Tower/Roponggi Hills at the end of another day, would it make sense to come from Mitaka, Kamakura or Chuo? (The train/subway lines are hella confusing)
6) Any recs on where to see Mt Fuji all the way from Tokyo (if weather permits), and what time? Skytree seems so far though it is tall.
Thanks in advance!
2 comments
are you taking the Shinkansen?
1. Yes make sense because Meiji-jingu is open early while stores in Harajuku and Shibuya will only open at 10-11am.
2. Observation deck at the end of the day can be really nice as the night view can be really beautiful. Not sure if Skytree is better than other observation deck at night, but other good deck are Shibuya Sky and Roppongi Hills Mori Tower (Tokyo Tower is an ok choice, but unless there is an even I want to attend, I would go to Mori Tower instead).
3. If you do the buddha statue, then you can check nearby Hase-dera. Otherwise, Enoshima island is where people usually go.
4. Yes, Nakameguro and Shibuya together make a lot of sense. For sakura, you might want to start at Meguro station and walk to Naka-Meguro station, from there you can walk 2km to Shibuya or take the train. I do not think there is a better time in the day for sakura. Sometimes there is food vendors outside during the weekend, but there is also a lot more people going to see the flowers during the weekend.
5. From Mitaka, take the chuo line to Yoyogi then Oedo subway line to Roppongi or Akabanebashi. From Kamakura, I would stop at Hamamatsucho and walk to Zojo-ji, then Tokyo Tower and Roppongi Hills is not that far (trying to get in a subway might save you a couple of meters of walk but it not that much as the station are not super close to the attractions, so might as well walk). Train/subway is not that confusing, let Google Map tell you what train to get.