Upon hearing the news of Japan finally opening up, I immediately looked up flights. I found a really inexpensive nonstop, round trip flight for less than $600 USD from ZIPAIR (owned by Japan Airlines), so I didn’t hesitate to book it.
All I need to do now is book hotels, maybe buy a 7-day JR pass online (I have to check if it’s worth it), buy a pocket Wi-Fi online, and book my final flight from Osaka to Narita.
Please let me know if you would change anything. I feel like my Kyoto plans are too packed, but I’m not sure. Thanks 🙂
**January 9 (Monday) – Flight Departure**
Flight at 10:10 AM
**January 10 (Tuesday) – Japan Arrival**
Arrive in Narita around 2:30 PM
Get cash at ATM, get suica card, pick up pocket wifi, pick up JR pass (maybe)
Travel to hotel and check in
Explore area near hotel and find something to eat
Rest at hotel
**January 11 (Wednesday) – Ginza, Shimokitazawa**
Tsukiji Outer Market
Explore and shop in Ginza
MUJI
Travel to Shimokitazawa
Explore area and go thrift shopping
**January 12 (Thursday) – Asakusa**
Benitsuru (pancakes) (arrive at 8:30 AM for reservations)
Explore area around Senso-ji
Senso-ji
Sumida Park
Asahi Sky Room
Hoppy Street
Go back to Senso-ji and surrounding areas at night
**January 13 (Friday) – Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku**
Shinjuku Gyoen Park
Hachiko, Shibuya Scramble
Explore Shibuya Center-Gai
Shibuya Sky (views)
Explore and shop at Cat Street, Omotesando, Takeshita Street
Meiji Jingu
Yoyogi Park
Explore Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, Golden Gai
**January 14 (Saturday) – Shibamata, Akihabara**
Travel to Shibamata Station and explore area
Shibamata Taishakuten
Travel to Akihabara Station and explore area
Square Enix Cafe (souvenirs)
Radiokaikan
Yodobashi Camera
Maid cafe (maybe)
Arcades, video game shops, anime/manga shops, etc.
Kanda Myojin Shrine
**January 15 (Sunday) – Ghibli Museum, Ikebukuro**
Ghibli Museum (if opened to foreigners)
Travel to Ikebukuro
Explore Sunshine City and nearby area
**January 16 (Monday) – Tokyo**
Revisit places that I enjoyed the most
Or look up new places to visit
Laundry day?
**January 17 (Tuesday) – Hakone**
Tokyo hotel check out, travel to Hakone, drop off luggage at new hotel
Hakone Shrine
Hakano Sekisho (Hakone Checkpoint)
Ferry from Motohakone-ko to Togendai-ko
Eat omurice at Togendai View Restaurant
Cable car ropeway from Togendai to Owakudani
Explore area and buy black onsen eggs
Cable car ropeway to Gora Station
Hakone Open Air Museum
Explore area
Hotel check in and rest in onsen
**January 18 (Wednesday) – Kyoto**
Hakone hotel check out, travel to Kyoto, drop off luggage at new hotel
Explore Gion (Hanamikoji Street, Hokan-ji, Nineizaka Street, Sanneizaka Street, Higashiyama Ward)
Kiyomizu-dera
Nishiki Market
Maccha House
Hotel check in
**January 19 (Thursday) – Kyoto**
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Tenryu-ji
Daihikaku Senkoji
Iwatayama Monkey Park
Take transit to Kinkaku-ji
Ryoan-ji
Pontocho Park
**January 20 (Friday) – Kyoto**
Fushimi Inari
Take transit to Nanzen-ji
Ginkakuji
Heian Shrine
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Nijo Castle
Explore area south of Nijo Castle
**January 21 (Saturday) – Osaka**
Kyoto hotel check out, travel to Osaka, drop off luggage at hotel
Osaka Castle
Thrift shop at Amerikamura
Hotel check in
Dotonburi at night
**January 22 (Sunday) – Nara, Osaka**
Travel to Nara
Kusuga-taisha
Inuien Garden
Todai-ji
Travel back to Osaka
Umeda Sky Building at night (views)
Dotonburi at night
**January 23 (Monday) – Return Home**
Hotel check out
Fly from Osaka to Narita
Fly from Narita to home
3 comments
There are a few days in here which are a little ambitious. My first recommendation is to spend a bit of time mapping out the locations and travel time between some of your destinations on each day. It’s easy to underestimate the distance between places and this will prevent wasting time on the train.
Secondly, the 7 day JR Pass could be worth it if you activate it for the last 7 days and use it for the Shinkansen (and Narita Express if you like). But if it’s cheaper to fly back from Osaka then I wouldn’t bother.
Jan 13 – Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya, plus two parks, all in one day, is ambitious. I would definitely move some to another day or identify where you would really prefer to explore. Parks are better for early in the mornings because many shops don’t open until 11.
Jan 17 – I would recommend the Odakyu Romancecar with the Observation Deck if you’re going from Tokyo to Hakone.
Jan 18 – Hakone to Kyoto is 3 hours minimum, so even if you leave at 9am you’ll only have half a day to work with. With that in mind I would consider moving Nishiki Market to another day, preferably in the morning when it’s not crowded.
Jan 19 – This day is a real whistle-stop tour. Unless it’s near your hotel or you’re going there for dinner, Pontocho is 45 mins away from Ryōan-ji. I worry that you’ll be quite exhausted by then.
In short, yes it is a bit packed, but this gives you an opportunity to figure out what you can prioritise and what you’d be okay with missing. Emjoy your trip!
You plan to arrive in Asakusa early and still be there after sunset. While I love Asakusa and agree to everything you plan there, that’s too much time. Make a trip to Ueno (Ameyoko, maybe Ueno park or zoo) in the afternoon. Alternatively go to Shibamata in the afternoon, and make new plans for the day where you planned that. Or go visit the Skytree (the shopping mall below or the viewing deck high up).
Asakusa at night: after having enjoyed Senso-ji, leave through the gate in the east (Nitenmon) and continue walking straight until you hit the river (there’s a Tully’s just there if you need help finding it on a map, but it will probably be closed already). That’s one of the best spots to see the illuminated Skytree from street level imho. From there, I’d walk along the river to Asakusa station, and make stops to look at the Skytree some more along the way.
When flying from Osaka to Tokyo, make sure the flight actually goes to Narita and not Haneda, unless you want to ride a train or bus from one side of Tokyo to the other.
Hakone = planes, trains, automobiles day, as I remember it. Also, taxis, funiculars, gondolas, giant novelty ferries and buses. Very worth it! The meals we had at the onsen alone were worth the entire visit to the country!