I’m planning a trip to Singapore and Japan late May to Mid June next year and hoping to get some feedback on how it’s shaping up!
This will be my second time in Japan, and I’m hoping to double back on some places to enjoy things a bit more slowly (My last trip was was with a group of **SIX** and we moved *fast*). While exploring some new areas as well. This is also my first solo trip so I’ll be able to move at much more comfortable pace. I marked places I haven’t been to already as ***NEW***. I’m 100% a morning person, and plan to get up around 6am daily to maximize my exploration time.
Also a couple of priorities here:
* **See new developments!** It looks like there’s been a few openings since lockdown started, and I want to see what they’re about!
* **Experience Sentos!** One thing I wasn’t able to do last time around was sento culture, so if there’s a sento you’d recommend in one of my stops, please let me know! (both traditional and modern sentos are cool!)
* **Hikes!** I’m no professional athlete, but I developed an interest in nature/outdoors/hiking over the past three years
* **Coffee, Tea!** — One of the things I regret not doing in Japan as well is checking out the Coffee/Tea culture. If there’s any cool cafes you’d recommend, I’d love to check them out. Otherwise I’ll be winging this as I go
* **Temples?** are at the bottom of my priority list. I was temple’d out after my last trip, but if there’s any notable ones that might be worth a stop — especially in areas I haven’t been to before — please let me know!
Lastly, I know that I’ll be visiting during rainy season. Looking forward to seeing some Hydrangeas, but any tips on how to prepare would be great!
Day # | Location | Time | Notes
—–|——–|—-|—–
1 | Tokyo [Shibuya] | Morning | Start day off at Shibuya Crossing, people watching from MAGNET by SHIBUYA109. After that, prioritize stops at Tower Records, Miyashita Park, and Shibuya PARCO
– | Tokyo [Shimokita] | Day | Walk around, prioritize stops at Soma, Flash Disc Ranch. Explore new developments in the area such as Mikan Shimokita, Bonus Track and/or Reload
– | Tokyo [Shinjuku] | Evening | General exploration, prioritizing a stop at Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. After that a walk along Kagurazaka, maybe find a bar to end the day
2 | Yokohama ***NEW*** | Morning /Day | Start the day easy at Yamashita Park with a coffee from nearby before exploring Chinatown. After that, prioritize stops at Gundam Factory and Red Brick Warehouse.
– | Tokyo [Harajuku] | Evening | OPTIONAL: Explore if I have the energy
3 | Nikko ***NEW*** | All Day | Get my fill of Japanese Historical Sites, prioritizing stops at Shinkyo Bridge, Rinnoji Temple, and Toshogu Shrine. After that, explore Kanmangafuchi Abyss
4 | – | Morning /Day | Start the day with a coffee before heading over to Senjougahara Hiking Trail
– | Kyoto [Central] | Evening | Explore Central Kyoto, specifically Pontocho. End day with a visit to Ume-yu
5 | Kyoto [Arashiyama] | Morning | Start day in Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. After, make a stop at Tenryu-ji, and circle back to Okochi Sanso Villa for tea
– | Kyoto [Higashiyama] | Day | Make stops at Kiyomizudera and Kennen-ji, with an optional break at Maruyama Park. After, walk along Philosopher’s Path to Ginkaku-ji. Hike up Daimonjiyama for sunset
– | Kyoto [Gion] | Evening | Explore Gion with the little energy I’ll have remaining
6 | Kinosaki ***NEW*** | All Day | Ropeway Hiking Course with a stop at Onsen-ji. After that, take it easy and explore the town, ducking in and out of Sento as I go (no specific ones in mind, so recos here would be helpful since ther’s a few!). End the day with dinner at the Ryokan
7 | Osaka | All Day | No real goals for this day aside from teamlabs Botanical Garden Osaka at night. Until then, taking it easy and exploring Shinsaibashi, Amerikamura, and Shinsekai during the day.
– | – | Evening | OPTIONAL: If I’ve got energy after teamlabs, explore Dotonbori
8 | Himeji ***NEW*** | Morning /Day | Take a day trip to Himeji and visit Himeji Castle and Koko-en
– | Osaka | Evening | OPTIONAL: If I’ve got energy after, explore Dotonbori
9 | Koyasan ***NEW*** | All Day | Explore Koyasan, prioritizing stops at Okunio-in, Okuno-in Cemetary, and Kongobu-ji. End day with dinner at Shukubo
10 | – | Morning | Try to catch Morning Prayers at Shukubo
– | Nagoya ***NEW*** | Day | Visit Ghibli Park
– | Tokyo [Yurakucho] | Evening | OPTIONAL: After checking into Asakusa hostel, skip over to Yurakucho and end day in Yakitori Alley
11 | Kamakura ***NEW*** | All Day | Day trip In Kamakura, prioritizing stops at Hasedera, Meigetsuin for Hydrangeas and Kotoku-in. After, explore Komachi Street, then end day at to Yuigahama Beach to c h i l l.
– | Tokyo [Asakusa] | Evening | OPTIONAL: End day in Hoppy Street
12 | Tokyo [Ginza] | Morning | Make way to Tsukuji Outer Market for Breakfast
– | Tokyo [Akihabara] | Day /Evening | Spend the rest of day exploring, prioritizing stops at Mandarake and Animate. Maybe visit a Maid Cafe?
13 | Tokyo [Ueno] ***NEW*** | Morning | Start Day at Ueno Park, then skip over to Ameyoko to explore
– | Tokyo [Asakusa] | Day | Prioritize stop at Senso-ji, and then explore Nakamise-dori. Lastly make stop at Tokyo Rakutenchi Asakusa Building
– | Tokyo [Oshiage] ***NEW*** | Evening | Visit Tokyo Skytree for Sunset, then end day with a visit to Kogane-yu
14 | Tokyo [Chiyoda] ***NEW*** | Morning | Start day at the Imperial Palace, then make a stop at the Imperial Palace East Gardens
– | Tokyo [FREE] | Day /Evening | FREE Time to double back on some areas, potentially explore Harajuku if I didn’t do it early.
15 | – | Morning | Pack? If I didn’t do that earlier
– | – | Day | BYE JAPAN!
