This will be my first time traveling to Japan, I will be staying for 2 weeks (Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka). I’m a little overwhelmed and worried that my first week is a little too ambitious. This is also my first time doing an itinerary. My dates are March 22nd – April 7th, I’m hoping those dates are good for cherry blossom season. any and all advice/comments are appreciated!!
I have a couple of questions along the way and have closing and opening times for some places. If there’s any more parks or areas you guys recommend for viewing cherry blossoms, please let me know!
Also has anyone used a Wise card to travel or anything similar? I’m looking for the best currency exchange option. Would a card or cash be better?
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Day 1: Arrive to NRT airport on the 23rd around late afternoon
· Pick up IC card, JR pass, pocket wifi or sim card
· Locate hotel, check in.
· See what’s around the hotel
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Day 2: TeamLab Plants & Shibuya city (Friday 24th)
· TeamLab plants (10am)
· Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
· Shibuya scramble (inside Shibuya sky observation deck)
· Mags park rooftop for Shibuya crossing
· Shibuya center-street
· Miyashita Park
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Day 3: Shibuya City (Saturday 25th)
Meiji Jingu Shrine (6am-4pm) and Yoyogi park(24hrs)
· End in Harajuku: tokyu plaza, Daiso Harajuku, Takeshita street
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Day 4: (Sunday 26th) Asakusa, Akihabara
· Starting at Asakusa station
· Explore Asakusa: Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise shopping street, Senso-ji temple
· Explore Akihabara (anime, games, manga…)
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Day 5: (Monday 27th) Shinjuku
· Explore Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (cherry tree area)
· Explore Shinjuku in the evening: Shinjuku Golden Gai, Kabukicho, don quijote Shinjuku
(Feel like this day is very short but maybe that’s a good thing?)
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Day 6: (Tuesday 28th) Chill day
· Ueno park & Tokyo Museum (930-5pm)
· Get ready for Hakone
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Day 7: (Wednesday 29th) Hakone (By Odakyu Railway, is getting there complicated?)
· Check in our hotel
· Open air museum (9am -5p)
· Lake ashi (if not too tired)
· Explore onsens and relax
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Day 8: (Thursday 30th) Kyoto (start using JR pass)
· Travel to Kyoto and check in hotel
· Explore Maruyama park & Yasaka shrine
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Day 9: (Friday 31st) Kyoto (I will be there during the weekend, what’s the best time to start the day?)
· Wake up early for the thousands torii gates (Shinto shrine) (are there different entrances?)
· Gekkeikan Okura Sake museum (9:30-430) (if there’s enough time)
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Day 10: (Saturday April 1st) last day Kyoto
· Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
· Kimono forest in evening
· Get ready to leave for Osaka
(Would it be possible to fit a trip to amanohashidate viewland /chairlift ? in any of the days?)
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Day 11 (Sunday April 2nd) Osaka
· Check out of Kyoto and travel to Osaka
· Check in hotel
· Visit Osaka Castel (9am- 5pm)
· Explore Minami (namba) in evening
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Day 12 (Monday April 3rd) Osaka
· All day Universal Studios JAPAN!!!!
(Is the USJ express pass worth it? Also is there a separate ticket to enter Nintendo World?)
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Day 13 (Tuesday April 4th) last day Osaka
· Naruto Park (10am-8pm)
· Explore cherry blossom views in Osaka, explore Shinsekai
(Any other recommendations in Osaka?)
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Day 14 (Wednesday April 5th) Tokyo
· Check out, travel back to Tokyo
· Check in hotel
· Look for souvenirs and have an easy day.
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Day 15 (Thursday April 6th) Tokyo
· Chidorigafuchi boat ride / kitanomaru garden (will cherry blossoms still be blooming?) should I move it to another day instead?
· Prepare for next day departure
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Day 16 (Friday April 7th ) travel back to US
I’m so nervous but extremely excited for this trip!! hopefully I didn’t mess up too much!! THANK YOU!
1 comment
Osaka castle definitely won’t take that long. There’s a sweet museum across the street from it that you should check out while you’re there though.
And on your Akihabara day, go to Nakano Broadway as well.
I’d honestly suggest just doing Tokyo if it’s your first trip. There is more than enough to do, see, and eat for 2 weeks. Osaka and Kyoto are rad too though, so you do you. You’ll love it all.