Hello, hello! I’m going with two friends of mine to Japan at the end of March/beginning of April, and had drafted up a quick itinerary. Mind you, neither of us have been to Japan before, and only one of us has travelled more than once to a country not our own.
It’s not fully finished yet, so suggestions or ideas would be awesome!
We’re planning to stay at hotels or AirBnBs near the center of Osaka, Kyoto Station and Akihabara.
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Also, another question: What kind of transit passes would be worth picking up?
We’ll be travelling around using the metro/train system in each of the cities for as much as possible (unless it’s inconvenient), and will take a single return train-trip to Toyosato from Kyoto, and a oneway shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo.
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╔════ OSAKA ════════════════════════════════════════
28th of March (Tuesday):
Flight from London to Osaka, landing 8:50 the next day in Osaka.
29th of March (Wednesday):
Arrive at KIX, Osaka.
Go sightseeing:
Kishiwada Castle
Mozu Tombs
Check in at hotel
Go sightseeing:
Osaka Castle
Free time
Maybe check out Kuromon Market, Dotonbury and Shinsaibashi. Don’t know better suited for early-/mid-day.
30th of March (Thursday):
Universal Studios Japan
(Around 6PM-8PM) Osaka Aquarium, Tempozan Ferrish Wheel
31st of March (Friday):
Nipponbashi Denden Town
Tsutenkaku
Osaka Tennoji Zoo
Shrine Walk
Isshinji Temple
Horikoshi Jinja
Shitennoji
1st of April (Saturday):
Free day for exploring the city at our leisure, checking out things we missed. (Any suggestions? We’re foodies)
2nd of April (Sunday):
Free day for exploring the city at our leisure, checking out things we missed. (Any suggestions? We’re foodies)
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╔════ KYOTO ════════════════════════════════════════
3rd of April (Monday):
Check out of hotel
Travel to Kyoto, make a stop at Uji Station to see Byodoin
(Would’ve gone to Kyoani & Do Shop. RIP)
Go sightseeing:
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Toji
Kyoto Railway Museum
Kyoto Tower
Check in at hotel
4th of April (Tuesday):
Go sightseeing:
Kinkaku-ji
Ryoan-ji
Tea Ceremony at Camellia Garden?
Toei Kyoto Studio Park
Nijo Castle
Nishiki Market (Better in mornings/afternoons?)
5th of April (Wednesday):
Go sightseeing:
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Heian Shrine
Higashiyama Jisho-ji
Nanzen-ji Temple
Yasaka Shrine
Tatsumi Bridge
Hanamikoji Street
Gion Corner
6th of April (Thursday):
Sagano Sight-seeing Tram —> Hozugawa Kudari (River Boat Ride)
Relax at Tenryu-ji and Kimono Forest
Go sightseeing:
Nineizaka (Ninenzaka)
Sanneizaka (Sannenzaka)
Kiyomizu-dera
We would like to try an onsen, but we’d likely have to try a private one, because we’re LGBTQ+ travelers.
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╔════ TOKYO ════════════════════════════════════════
7th of April (Friday):
Check out of hotel
Take train from Kyoto Station to Toyosato to see the Former Toyosato Elementary School (Big K-On fans!)
Take train back to Kyoto to take the Shinkansen to Tokyo
Check in to hotel
AKIHABARA
Just… anything and everything in Akihabara.
8th of April (Saturday):
Shibuya
Tokyo Anime Center
Animate Shibuya
NHK Broadcasting Center (Possibly, not finalized)
Meiji Jingu
Shinjuku
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Omoide Yokochō
Shinjuku Toho Building (Godzilla)
Samurai Museum (maybe, it’s a bit iffy)
Shinjuku Golden Gai
9th of April (Sunday):
Chiyoda
Imperial Palace
Tokyo Tower
Tsukiji Outer Market
Namiyoke Jinja
Hinode Pier –> Suijobus –> Odaiba Seaside Park
Discount Statue of Liberty
Tokyo Trick Art Museum
Gundam Statue
Diver City Tokyo
10th of April (Monday):
Tokyo DisneyLand / DisneySea
Wander around Akihabara if time allows
11th of April (Tuesday):
Sumida
Kameido Tenjinja
Tokyo Skytree
Asahi Sky Room?
Kaminarimon Gate
Nakamise Shopping Street
Hōzōmon Gate
Sensō-ji
Orange Street / Hoppi Street
12th of April (Wednesday):
Check out and going home!
4 comments
Near Kyoto station would not be my recommended spot for Kyoto, I would check the area around Kawaramachi/Gion/Sanjo instead, more interesting area in general.
For transit pass… none. Well, you can get the Kansai One Pass, but it’s Icoca card with rebate for different attractions, it’s not really a pass that give unlimited access to train for a number of days.
You probably have more than you can do in most days, so just take your time to enjoy instead of trying to run to see everything. You may want to make priority now as I’m sure you will have to drop things.
I think Nishiki market is better around lunch time, if too late in afternoon, many shops might be close.
6th, Arashiyama and Higashiyama are on opposite sides of the city, so not best mix if you ask me.
Being LGBTQ+ does not prevent you from going to a public onsen, only being trans can be more problematic as you would usually have to go in the bath that match your genitals. Also, it’s not as if Kyoto was really known for onsen, so it might be more difficult to find a place that have private bath that is not a ryokan where you have to spend the night.
Samurai Museum in Tokyo is close, nobody know it it will re-open or not.
So for Osaka at least, I’m not sure you’ll be able to fit everything on the USJ day. I would just block out a whole day for USJ and not do anything in the evening because 1. You’ll be exhausted and 2. There’s so much going on at USJ. The time will just disappear from you.
But on the first day Dotonbori will definitely be good at night time, because of all the lights and delicious street foods.
Also can I suggest Sumiyoshi Taisha if you have time on one of your free days, it’s very beautiful.
Also again in Kyoto, Toei Kyoto studio park usually takes up like half a day at least unless you’re practically running around.
I don’t have time to analyse too much more but those are the main things which stuck out to me. Even as somebody who usually packs a lot in your schedule seems very packed and maybe even impossible on some days.
Agreeing with another commenter, the theme parks should exist on their own. Tokyo Disney is about 30 minutes or so from Tokyo proper and you’ll want to make a day out of it. Highly recommend Disney sea as your park!
Same for USJ, the aquarium is gorgeous and huge and shouldn’t be on the same day.
Used Suica rechargeable prepaid card for local transport as it was touch and go where buying individual tickets involved some steps at the vending machine. Believe the Pasmo card works the same.
In Kyoto purchased a 3 day pass for some of the tourist routes they have to get you to main attractions. These are not tourist buses as such but link up at points and let you hop off and on to get to the main attractions. Some for example will drop you off at the front of an attraction where the train or other buses may involve a 20 minute hike each way. The information centre at Kyoto Ststion is worth a visit for tips and assistance, the staff are very friendly and they have dedicated English speakers.
The Kyoto Tower is very small compared to other City Towers you may have been to but Kyoto buildings are not built up so you get an unobstructed view. Would recommend exploring Kyoto Station as well as you can take escalators up high and walk the length along a passage under the roof line to get some views as well, even of the Kyoto Tower across the street.
Your itinerary seems jam packed so there is a chance you may have to miss / rush some things. Plan for that so you don’t miss a must visit.