Hi to everyone in this group!
I’ll be visiting Japan for the first time this coming November 13-24 to attend my cousin’s birthday in Okinawa but before going to Okinawa, I am planning to travel alone in Tokyo on November 14-18. I am first time solo traveler and I’ll truly appreciate it if you can help me improve my itinerary and check if I did the right way on grouping the places that I’ll visit each day
November 13 – Departs USA
Day 1 November 14 – Around 3pm (Asakusa and Akihabara region)
* Arrival in my hotel in Asakusa
* Visit Senso-ji
* Kaminarimon Gate
* Nakamise- dori
* Denboin Street
* After Asukasa I plan to explore Akihabara region
* Try maid cafe? They said that this is iconic in this place. Do I need to book in advance before I eat here?
* Check out and buy the camera for my trip in Yodobashi Camera store
* Buy otaku goods
* Visit Trader 2
* Find good dinner spot around the area
* On the Way home check out Tokyo Skytree. I was planning to tour the tower but everything is sold out for the month of November.
Day 2 November 15 (Shinjuku and Harajuku)
* Meiji Jingu Gyoen and Yoyogi park
* Takeshita street
* Explore shibuya and try shibuya crossing as a first timer lol
* Shibuya sky
* Hachiko monument
* Check out Shinjuku night life
Day 3 November 16
* I am still deciding if I’ll just relax and explore Tsukiji Market and Ginza area or Try Disney Sea.
Day 4 November 17 (Hakone)
* Check in a Ryonan overnight and enjoy hotspring
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Day 5 November 18
* From Hakone go to Yokohoma and visit Hakkejima Sea and Explore chinatown before my 5pm flight going to Okinawa.
First time traveler questions about my trip:
1. Did I group the places accordingly?
2. Do I need a JR pass?
3. Where to get a Shiawase pancake?
4. Any tips for first time solo traveler?
Thanks in advance!
4 comments
You can find the locations of Shiawase no Pancake here: [https://magia.tokyo/shop](https://magia.tokyo/shop)
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Judging from your itinerary, probably no JR pass. you could try getting the Hakone Romancecar pass. Otherwise an IC card would suffice.
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Highly recommend Disney Sea. It was definitely a highlight.
You might consider going to a duty free store when you buy your camera (if it’s an expensive one). It’ll save you a few thousand jpy 🙂
*Check out and buy the camera for my trip in Yodobashi Camera store*
There is a website that compare prices in Japan, [kakaku.com](https://kakaku.com) ok, it’s in Japanese, but it could help find the cheapest store. Then you might have to check if the best even have physical stores, then see where they are located. Finally, check if they can do tax free and if not, you might have to compare with store that offer tax free (you need to have a temporary visitor status and bring your passport). The “problem” with big stores like Yodobashi is that they have points system, if you only get the discount for tax free and you do not use the point, then you overpay for it and it would require to negotiate to have a lower price and no points.
*Did I group the places accordingly?*
Yes. I do not see any problem. However, when is your arrival time ? You listed a full day of activity there. If you land in the afternoon, you will have to make a choice.
*Do I need a JR pass?*
No…. JR Pas cost like 30 000 yen for 7 days, even if you decide to take the shinkansen to Hakone, it’s 4000 each way (can be cheaper depending on your start point as well as train choice).
*Where to get a Shiawase pancake?*
At one of the Shiawase no Pancake store ? [https://magia.tokyo/shop](https://magia.tokyo/shop) Like Omotesando, Shibuya, Ginza and Yokohama. If you mean soufflé pancake in general, I guess there is other places.
*Any tips for first time solo traveler?*
Not different than if you travel with other people.
On day 1, you’d likely be quite tired from your flight. If you arrive at your hotel at 3pm, I would only try to do one of Asakusa or Akihabara on this day, probably Asakusa.
If you really have to do both I would recommend Akihabara first and Asakusa on the way back, so that you can visit the camera shops etc before they close. Sensō-ji can be quite atmospheric and photogenic in the evening, even if the shops on Nakamise-dori are closed. Asakusa would also be much better for finding dinner than Akihabara.
If you are doing Shibuya Sky I don’t think you also need to do Tokyo Skytree.
As for a maid cafe, I wouldn’t personally call it iconic, i would only recommend it if you like that maid aesthetic. That’s just me though. If you do go, there are plenty in Akihabara that take walk-ins.
On Day 4, it’s possible to fit in Tsukiji Outer Market in the morning before you head to Hakone. You will still have enough time to explore Hakone in the afternoon and the morning after.