Itinerary Check – 9 Days Solo Travel in Dec

Good morning, everyone. I’m traveling solo to Japan on the 15th of Dec to the 25th (11 days total, but 9 days in Japan). It will be my first major solo journey. Traveling for games, anime, food, sights and local culture in that order. I’ve prepared a rough itinerary. Is there anything I should add (especially for days where I’ve added ”need recommendations”) and is my itinerary too heavy/too light? Is there anything else I should add to this list and anything else I need to keep an eye out for?

Also any other recommendations regarding hotels, traveling withing Japan welcome as well. Thanks in advance and apologies for any grammar errors.

​

**Day 1 and 2 – Arrive in tokyo,**

rest, and walk around hotel, shibuya and shibuya crossing,

Asakusa

akihabara, anime sites, stores, video games, food

super potato, Kotobukiya, mandarake, Book Off, hard off, Sofmap, Trader #2 (3 branches total), Radio Kaikan, Liberty #13 and #8 (one of several branches), Mulan, Akiba Culture Zone, and Hey! Arcade

Hanasuba inari shrine – in akihabara

Shinujuku (Go in the morning), goen national garden, Kabukicho

Studio Ghibli museum

Suginami Animation Studio

​

**Day 3** \- need help with recommendations

Ueno and Ginza, Sony museum, Kabuki Za theater, Food stalls nearby,

​

**Day 4 – Ikebukuro**

Shopping, anime, sake, food, NAMJATOWN Otome Road, Fukuroshosabo

Visiting a live house – Ikebukuro chop

Temples – Zoshigaya Kishimojindo Temple, Gokokuji Temple

Shrines – Ikebukuro Mitake Shrine, Sanja Shrine

Bic Camera Ikebukuro

Mensobo Mutekiya Rich Tonkotsu Ramen, Torinoana’s Chicken Paitan Ramen, Torinoana’s Chicken Paitan Ramen and Blue Seal Ice Cream

​

**Day 05 – Kyoto**

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)

Maruyama Park

**Day 06 -** need recommendations

Shopping street in Sanjo/Shijo in Kyoto

**Day 07 – Osaka** need recommendations

Dotenbori – explore, check out food (*takoyaki, okonomiyaki* and *kushikatsu*), bars, video game and anime areas, – esp at night

Hozenji Temple

**Day 08**

Umeda ward – anime and gaming stores – Kiddyland in Sanbangai

Nipponbashi/Den Den Town area. Mandarake in Amerikamura.

Shinsaibashi – indoor complex called OPA and animega store

Can try and go to kobe (hot springs) or Nara – temples and zoos

​

**Day 09 – Tokyo** \-

Disney land, explore around the area,

see anything I’ve missed or want to go back to,

nakano broadway, capcom bar – if still open

and final fantasy cafe