Hello everyone, I recently posted an outline of my group’s itinerary a few weeks back and we have updated it enough with as accurate as possible travel times from and to specific locations. So we’re looking for more input from other people.
**A Little Summary of our group**
We are a group of 6 and from March 29 – April 13 we will be in Japan. We will be going from Tokyo -> Osaka/Kyoto/Nara -> Hakone. For the 1st day, we decided on capsule hotel near Ueno station. Then airbnb at Arakawa City next to Mikawashima station until Osaka. Osaka airbnb is in Namba right above Dotonbori and our Ryokan in Hakone is in Gora.
**Two questions**
Does day 4 look busy going to meguro river after Ginza?
Am I putting enough time for some of these locations such as nishika market, osaka castle, etc? Maybe I’m putting TOO much time for some of these locations?
**Itinerary**
This is the google calendar that my group is using for the itinerary since it’s more organized and honestly I think is easier to look at. Our days will start at 9 A.M. and end by 10 P.M. For areas with “explore” and “free” we’re still thinking about what specific things we want to do. The images go in order from top to bottom.
[Our group’s google calendar](https://imgur.com/a/QrmvDJq)
Also we haven’t map out all the stations so not all of the “train to \_\_\_\_” include specific stations.
Day 1 (March 29): Group 1 arrives at HND and Group 2 arrives at NRT
\-Grab cash, suica/pasmo card, pocket wifi or sim, Jr pass (7 day)
\-Get keikyu line one way trip 3 day pass
\-Check in capsule hotel (5 mins walk from Ueno station)
\-Explore around area and dinner
\*Planning to activate JR pass when we leave for Osaka\*
​
Day 2 (March 30): Akihabara
\-check out capsule, walk to ueno station and store luggage in coin locker
\-train to akihabara station
\-explore akihabara
\-take train to Mikawashima station to check in airbnb nearby then rest for a bit
\-dinner around area
\-explore akihabara some more
​
Day 3 (March 31): Ueno Area and Asakusa with some Akihabara at night
\-train to Komgome station check out rikugien garden
\-nezu shrine
\-kotori cafe
\-train to asakusa for sensoji temple
\-explore asakusa for a bit
\-dinner then train to akihabara
​
Day 4 (April 1): Ginza Area with meguro river
\-Train to tokyo tower or roppongi hills (still debating which one we should go to)
\-buy food nearby for picnic
\-train to chidorigafuchi moat and have a picnic
\-walk to imperial palace
\-walk to and explore Ginza area
\-train to meguro river
\-dinner around area
​
Day 5 (April 2): Sunshine City and Shimokitazawa
\-train to sunshine city
\-sunshine aquarium
\-lunch
\-explore sunshine city
\-train to shimokitazawa and thrift shop
\-dinner around area
Day 6 (April 3): Shibuya
\-Train to yoyogi park
\-walk meiji jingu
\-walk to shibuya crossing
\-lunch
\-walk to travelers factory
\-train/walk back to explore and shop at cat street/omotesando/takeshita street
​
Day 7 (April 4): Ghibli (praying it to be open to foreigners by the time we go) then Shinjuku
\-train to ghibli museum
\-lunch
\-train to shinjuku and explore
\-dinner and bars
​
Day 8 (April 5): Osaka Castle/Dotonbori
\-Activate JR Pass and use luggage forwarding service
\-take shinkansen to Osaka and head to osaka castle
\-walk to airbnb in Namba and check in
\-rest
\-walk to dotonbori and dinner/explore
​
Day 9 (April 6): Universal Studios
\-Just universal the whole day
Day 10 (April 7): Arashiyama
\-Train to arashiyama station
\-bamboo forest first so crowds aren’t as bad
\-walk to tenryuji temple
\-lunch then walk to monkey park
​
Day 10 (April 8): Nishiki Market and Potocho District
\-train to kyoto
\-rent kimono
\-tea ceremony
\-explore nishiki market and lunch
\-explore potocho district and dinner
​
Day 11 (April 9): Fushimi Inari Taisha and Umeda Area
\-train to fushimi inari taisha
\-lunch around area
\-train back to osaka
\-umeda sky building
\-explore umeda area
\-dinner
​
Day 12 (April 10): Nara and Kiyomizu Dera
\-train to nara
\-nara koren park
\-explore a bit
\-catch scenic train (looking at Aoyinoshi or Blue symphony) to kyoto
\-lunch then train to kiyomizu dera
\-explore area
\-dinner
​
Day 13 (April 11): Hakone
\-check out and use luggage forward service
\-train to Mishima area then train to mishima skywalk
\-check in ryokan in Gora
\-dinner then onsen
​
Day 14 (April 12): Owakudani and Open air Museum
\-cable car from gora to Owakudani
\-explore a bit
\-train to hakone open air museum
\-chill (free time that we don’t know what to do yet)
\-dinner and onsen
​
Day 15 (April 13): Train back to Tokyo
\-catch flight
2 comments
For accommodation location, mostly fine, Mikawashima Station would not be my first choice, but if the price you get there is good and despite not being on the Yamanote, it does run on a line that is parallel up to Shinagawa, so that’s not bad at all.
I see that your calendar is done with allocated time, I’ll give notes regarding that first.
Technically, you could start your days a bit earlier, check opening hours of things, several places open at 9am.
Getting to Akihabara at 7:30 mean you would have about 30 minutes for shopping (if the shop you want to visit is not already close) then the only thing that will be open is likely going to be arcade, karaoke and maybe some maid cafe.
You asked about Meguro after Asakusa… but there is no Asakusa on day 4.
You noted luggage forwarding and Airbnb… those often do not work well together. Usually the hotel staff will help you to call the company and they will be there a the reception desk to receive it… thing is, there might be nobody at the Airbnb to help you send it or to receive it.
Really overkill with Pontocho, just go there for dinner, you won’t spend the afternoon there.. That is way too long. And if you are to rent kimono, it would make more sense to wear them to go around shrines and temples in Higashiyama like Yasaka shrine, Kodai-ji, Kiyomizu-dera or go to sannenzaka… rathen than going to a maket where there is food… and risk to drop some on the komino… I mean, it would make more sense than to return again in the same area in the afternoon of the Nara day.
​
Ok Now I’ll review the posted itinerary.
If there is a line to change the pass at the airport, change alter in Tokyo, for example at Ueno station.
I have doubts about the Keikyu + Subway ticket… the problem is that you will stay next to a JR only station on day 2-3, this mean that you will not be able to use the subway ticket as much as you might be expecting, unless you decide to walk to Nippori or Nishi-Nippori to ride the subway there.
Between Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Tower, I would vote for Roppongi Hills, it got the best view, you can go on the roof and you will have a view on Tokyo Tower. Tokyo Tower can be ok if there is an event or if you want to climb the stairs or for the new Red Tokyo Tower.
I guess you know but the scenic train Aoyinoshi and Blue symphony are not covered by JR Pass because they are Kintetsu trains.
Us this estimator to see if the JR pass is worth it. [JR estimate](https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/)