First Time Traveler – 14 Days Kanto/Kansai September 2022

8 comments

1. Doesn’t look too bad. Just be aware that a lot of things aren’t open until about 10am. And the day you get to Kyoto you say you are only going to see Kinkakuji. It probably won’t take very long to see this and most likely you will travel past the Nijo-jo on your way to it or back from it, So you might want to visit that on the same day.

2. You’ve already figured out that you can save a few bucks on the good old Kodama, so you will do well.

   I wouldn’t visit Osaka for the day then go back to Kyoto at night, that seems like a waste of time and it’s cheaper to stay in Osaka cause it’s not so touristy. If you have some baggage and no where to keep it that day get a locker at the train station until you can check in. If you already have a phone there will be more lockers to choose from because some use phones to unlock and pay for them. But at the shinkansen station you should find some normal money ones.

   When in Asakusa why not visit the sky tree as well? You’ll have time. It’s actually kind of cool.

   If you love animals, I’d give Ueno zoo a miss…

   Have fun!

3. August 31. Are you staying in Narita town? That’s fine, but make sure you’re not staying at the airport. There’s nothing to see there.

   September 4. Trip to Kansai! (Not Kanto)
   Recommend Dormy inn. This is a chain all over Japan that has very nice features. Free onsen, ice cream, Coffee and tea, Ramen and morning probiotic drinks. They also have free washing machines, and it’s ¥100 to use the dryer. This one is very close to the station so it’s easy to drop your bags when you get there and start sightseeing right away. Note that Japanese hotels come with lots provided, sleepwear, slippers, toothbrush, toothpaste, Hot water pot.

   Dormy Inn Premium Kyoto Ekimae
   075-371-5489
   https://goo.gl/maps/8LdDQipaCrf5oikz7

   At least add Ginkakuji to your day. Famous for beautiful rock garden or Toji with its five story Pagoda.

   September 6. You must go to Todaiji. I’m assuming you will go because you are feeding the deer, but just in case. It was until recently the largest wooden building in the world, and made completely by joint work. Not a single nail

   September 7. If you want to see a great castle then go to Himeiji instead of Osaka. You can see the castle at Himeji, then come back to Osaka for the evening. Osaka castle is just a modern recreation with a museum inside. If you want to see a real castle with original interior, then you go to Himeiji. You have to take your shoes off and climb some narrow steep stairs to get to the top, so as long as you are not physically challenged you will be fine. Unlike Osaka, there is no elevator or anything designed to help you get up to the top

   I would check out of the hotel in Kyoto, go to Himeiji and leave your bags at the station, see the castle then go back to Osaka for the night, staying there. Next day you can easily travel back to Tokyo from Osaka

   September 9. There is nothing to see in Shinjuku Kabukicho in the morning. You should go here at night.

4. It is a shame that Edo-Tokyo Museum is temporary closed.
   If you have time and can reserve a ticket, I recommemd Tokyo Skytree. The most special feature of Tokyo is its largeness. I want you to feel from the tower how large the city is, which is said to be the biggest city in the history of humanity by some statistical study.

5. From my experience flying from the East Coast that is 13 h difference, the jetlag was not that bad. Actually, you do not want to try to go to bed at the same time you usually do back home. Actually you might not be able to see that much because many shops will close around 5pm, but I would still check to walk around.

   Why ride on the Kodama and not on the much faster Nozomi ? If you say it’s to save money with a discount ticket like the Platt Kodama, ok… however that would make no sense with a 15 000 budget for hotel, you can spend way less than that, I would just suggest something in the Sanjo/Kawaramachi/Gion area. There is a lot of hotels available for your dates with good rating for 7000 yen and less. Easy to find with booking website like [booking.com](https://booking.com) also you might want to drop your bag and not properly check-in otherwise, you would not have much time to go to Kinkaku-ji. I would try to be in Kyoto as early as you can to do a bit more.

   Nara, do not miss Todai-ji. Most people focus on Nara park for their trip, so the “imperial palace”, by that I assume you mean Heijo palace, il that case, I see it as a full day in Nara and would not expect to be back in Kyoto early enough to see Nijo castle. If you are early enough in Kyoto on your first day, I could see dropping the bag at hotel, going to Nijo-jo then Kinkaku-ji.

   For a single day, Osaka can easily be a day trip, but if you want to go out and drink up to late in the night, then for sure having a hotel in Osaka could be better. You can drop your bag in a coin locker around Namba station on your way to Kuromon market, get your bag and check in once you return around Namba for dinner. Also, time of the last train would also depend on where you are staying in Kyoto, does it require transfer to reach the hotel, etc. I would expect you yo have to leave between 11:15 and 11:45 depending on where you go and what train line you use.

   In my opinion, the Gov. Building is only nice because it’s free, there is better observation deck like Roppongi Hills Mori Tower or Shibuya Sky. Your order is also a bit strange, you want to go to Kabukicho at night, not in the middle of the day. Also, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya in a single day is a bit much, you will only have an overview. I guess you will have other chances to return as you are studying in Japan.

   Note that shop usually open around 10 or 11am, so shopping oriented area like Akihabara, Shibuya, Ginza might not be as interesting early in the morning, so if you plan that kind of area first, just check to find some specific things that are open earlier, for example temple/shrine, park, garden. etc. For example you could go to Hama-rikyu garden that open at 9am before going to Ginza.

   I would personally move Akihabara day to Sunday, as they close the street to car in the afternoon. So switch the Akihabara and Ginza day (as the street in Ginza is close both days).

6. Make sure you don’t run into your past self while time traveling, we don’t want any paradoxes

7. Make sure you go to 7 eleven and get Choco monaka jumbo.

8. If you like to learn about ancient Japanese culture.

   A visit to Kyoto is recommended. Hyogo. It will be easy to find some historical sites and temples.