Hi! I am traveling to Japan for my first time with 2 other friends. It is all of our first times. I’ve had a lot of time lately to do research (broken foot boooo) and curious about feedback on this itinerary.
I am taking a backpack duffel (for ease/convenience) and a day pack (for personal item on plane & for day adventures). Planning to take only essentials, except for my ski jacket/pants/socks/goggles/balaclava which altogether pack into \~laptop size with a luggage cube. Really looking forward to doing some shopping during the trip!
Not giving exact details on all hotels, but I have done quite a bit of research on making sure they are within 3-5min walking distance from train & bus stations (& making sure they provide sheets lol).
* 12/21/22
* Fly LAX – HND (with friend 2)
* 12/22 (HND)
* (Land 3:10PM) – Clear customs, ATM, pickup JR Pass (preordering a 7 day), SUICA/Sim Card?, Eat in HND?
* **Is it recommended to preorder a SUICA Card and SIM (recommendations on SIMs)?**
* Check in to hotel near Tokyo station; shop, roam, eat/drink, sleep
* 12/23
* Early breakfast & train to Nagano/bus to Hakuba
* Est. 9:50 arrival at hotel (5 min walk from Happo-One gondola), drop bags & eat
* Rent boots/ski or board/helmet from shop near Happo-One
* Ski for afternoon/evening **(anyone know if night-skiing will be a thing at that point?)**
* 12/24
* Breakfast in Hakuba & ski until 11am-2pm
* Friend 2 & I may not even ski depending on conditions from day 1; we are coming back in 2024 for Japow (longer trip late Jan-Feb) and doing backcountry guides after we get our avalanche certs & some more bc experience; this trip is more to check out the vibe of Hakuba & just say we skied in Japan once in case we die in 2023
* Travel (\~3.5-4hrs) to Tokyo (Akihabara)
* Check into hotel near train station, eat/drink/roam/shop until Friend 3 arrives later in afternoon/evening
* 12/25 (Tokyo/Osaka)
* Breakfast/explore Akihabara in morning
* Travel (\~3.5hrs) to Osaka; check in to hotel (Namba/Dotonbori); eat/drink/shop/sleep
* 12/26-27
* Eat/drink/explore Osaka & potential day trip(s) to Nara/Kobe (40-45 min from each)
* May do some of the attractions like aquarium/castle in Osaka, but curious of any suggestions while we are in this are (especially specific to the time of year)
* Travel (1hr) to Kyoto on afternoon/evening of 12/27
* 12/28
* Explore Kyoto for the day
* Travel (3hrs) to hotel in Tokyo (2 min walk from Akasaka station)
* 12/29-31
* Explore wards in Tokyo (shopping, eating, drinking, nightlife, museums, etc)
* Shopping – Urahara/Cat street area, Shimokitazawa, Tokyo midtown, Roppongi Hills, Minami Aoyama, Shinjuku (looking for good vintage/unique styles and potentially bargains)
* Museums & Others – teamLab Planets, Tokyo Metro building, max park building, National Art Museum, Mori Art Museum, Zojoji Temple
* 1/1 – last day of eating & shopping, travel to Haneda in afternoon for flight to LAX
Any specific recommendations for Osaka & Kyoto sections of the trip would be great! Wishing I would have more time in Tokyo as I know this isn’t enough time to check out all of the different wards like I’d like to, but next time.
2 comments
**Is it recommended to preorder a SUICA Card and SIM (recommendations on SIMs)?**
Suica or Pasmo card you can get them in the vending machine at any train/subway station. You can buy Suica from JR, Tokyo Monorail and Rinkai line only and Pasmo from the subway and about every private railway. There is absolutely no reason to preorder one.
SIM, you can always get one at the airport, but I personally got it from the same vendor as my JR Pass last time, so I did not had to pay shipping twice and the sim card the company was offering was a good offer.
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You do not need to change hotel between Osaka and Kyoto, especially if just for a day in Kyoto.
You can easily purchase a Suica and SIM on arrival so it’s up to you if you want to pre-order it.Since you’re spending some time in Akihabara, be sure to check out Den Den town for Osaka’s Akihabara, it’s just right by Namba area. Shinsekai in Osaka at night is great so might want to check that out as well.
If it’s a day trip between Kobe and Nara, I’ll definitely go with Nara, as you’re a first time traveller to Japan and it’s a more unique experience.
Only a day in Kyoto is kind of short too. If extension isn’t possible then definitely check out Kiyomizu dera, Gion areas for the day you are arriving in the afternoon (all close by each other so much easier, also I prefer this area in the afternoon/evenings, recommendation is to find dinner in Pontocho). And another major spot for the next day, perhaps Arashiyama or Kinkakuji, or stuff in Higashiyama. Kyoto isn’t a small city so it takes time to get to places, so better to do stuff specific to an area.
Shimokitazawa and Harajuku is great for the vintage stuff so good picks, other locations with these stuff can also be found in Nakameguro and Daikanyama, not too far from Shibuya.