Hello! Would love some feedback for a last minute trip to Japan!
Oct 16 – Arrive NRT around 2:30 PM, get wifi egg and Suica card at airport. Get Shinkansen tickets? Get to Shinjuku, get dinner then sleep early.
Oct 17 – Leave around 8 AM (Kimono photoshoot/tour in Ueno) – maybe might run into terrible rush hour, but I need to be there by 9:30 so I assume this is unavoidable. Then Shinjuku at night
Oct 18 – Yoyogi Park, Meiji Shrine, Gyoen National Park, Harajuku/Omotesando (reservation at MiPig cafe), Shibuya at night
Oct 19 – Asakusa, Akihabara, then Pokemon Cafe reservation for dinner
Oct 20 – Leave for Kyoto via Shinkansen, Nishiki Market, maybe explore Gion? Might not be much to do at night I hear, but staying in Kawaramachi
Oct 21 – Kiyomizudera, Higayshima area, Chion-in Temple, Maruyama Park
Oct 22 – Fushimi Inari, Jidai Matsuri and/or Kitano Odori (see how to get tickets..), then moving hotel to an old style Machiya
Oct 23 – Nijo Castle in morning, back to Tokyo. Put luggage in coin locker in area in Tokyo I want to explore more of, or figure out Takkyubin beforehand. Stay at hotel near Haneda airport due to early flight next day.
​
Have a few questions and worries:
1. Chances of me being turned away at restaurants for being a foreigner? Not sure if there’s xenophobia that was elevated because of the pandemic..
2. Will my Suica IC card work in Kyoto?
3. I don’t have a JR Pass.. can I book a reserved seat on the Shinkansen just on the machines?
4. Is it difficult to set up baggage delivery/Takkyubin as a foreigner? I assume I’d have to set this up on the 21st for it to arrive by the 23rd between Kyoto and Haneda?
5. Has anyone ever bought Odori/geisha performance tickets at Kyoto Station before? Not sure how easy that would be..
Open to any restaurant recommendations as well!
Thank you all 🙂