Hi All! Me and my boyfriend are college students planning to visit Japan as soon as covid permits. We are both fully vaccinated and hoping to go in May 2022 for two weeks.
We really enjoy museums, parks, anime, and definitely food! We are also very interested in trying out the hot springs and experiencing Japanese nightlife. Our budget is around $5,000 USD and we are planning on getting the 14-Day JR Pass. We have come up with a rough draft of an itinerary and would really appreciate some feedback.
My boyfriend also wants to visit a pokemon center but i am not sure where to put it in our itinerary and where it would make sense logistically. If you have any ideas that would be helpful too!
Day 1: Arrive in Japan at Haneda Airport, Check-in at Hotel, Dinner in Shinjuku
Days 2-5: We are planning on staying in Shinjuku and have designed our time in Tokyo around that.
– Day 2 (Western Tokyo): Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Shopping/exploring Shinjuku and Shibuya, and finish the day off in Kabukicho
– Day 3 (Northern/Central Tokyo): Mori Art Museum, The National Art Center Tokyo, Imperial Palace, Ueno Park, Senso-ji
– Day 4 (Day trip to Nikko): Shinkyo Bridge, Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple, Toshogu Gojunoto, Nikko Toshugu, Dinner in Nikko
– Day 5 (Day trip to Kamakura): Hasedera Temple, Great Buddha of Kamakura, Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine, Genjiyama Park, Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū, Komachidori Street, Dinner in Kamakura
Days 6-7: Tokyo to Hakone
– Day 6 (Arrive in Hakone): Hakone Open Air Museum, Gora Park, Hakone Museum of Art
– Day 7 (Full day in Hakone): Pola Museum of Art, Okada Museum of Art, Old Tokaido Road, Narukawa Art Museum, Hakone Shrine, Hakuryu Shrine
Days 8-12: Hakone to Kyoto
– Day 8 (Arrive in Kyoto): Nijo Castle, Kyoto Goyen National Garden, Kyoto Manga Museum, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Samurai and Ninja Museum, Hanamijoki Street
– Day 9 (Eastern Kyoto): Ginkakuji, Philosopher’s Path, Nanzenji, Heian Shrine, Kodaiji Temple, Kiyomizudera
– Day 10 (Northern Kyoto/Arashiyama): Kinkakuji, Ryoanji, Ninnaji, Bamboo groves, Monkey park
– Day 11 (Day trip to Narra): Kofukuji Temple, Nara National Museum, Todaiji Temple, Nara Park
– Day 12 (Day trip to Osaka): Shinsekai, Nipponbashi Denden Town, Hozenji Yokocho, Dotonbori
Days 13&14: Return to Tokyo
– Day 13 (Kyoto to Tokyo): *Open*
– Day 14: Leave Japan
13 comments
That looks very good, though your days are a bit on the busy side. It’s a very logical itinerary. Day 8 is probably over-crowded given it will take at least half a day to get from Hakone to Kyoto.
You might not want to see Nikko, Kamakura, Kyoto and Nara on the one trip, as they each have a broadly similar set of attractions. I really liked Nikko and Nara, found Kamakura to be good and disliked Kyoto. Nara is my pick of the bunch.
Can you get a flight home from Osaka? It would give you a whole extra day in Japan.
I would probably add an extra day in Osaka.
I like the itenerary. It is a alot to do, so be physically prepared to walk alot! Since you will be walking to train stations/ shopping/ to and from attractions, you may be walking up to 10 miles a day. So at the end of the trip you will be worn down if you are not in shape.
Pokemon Center: Day 2 , you wrote that shopping in shibuya and shinjuku, there is a Center located in a mall 4 minute walk from Shibuya Station. [https://www.pokemon.co.jp/shop/pokecen/shibuya/](https://www.pokemon.co.jp/shop/pokecen/shibuya/)
Day 3 you have another chance to go to the largest Center with a Cafe. Located near Tokyo Station. You could probably do it after Imperial Palace, on your way to Sensoji.
[https://www.pokemon.co.jp/sp/pokecen_tokyodx/english/](https://www.pokemon.co.jp/sp/pokecen_tokyodx/english/)
​
Day 13. If its open and you return to Tokyo. But I do recommend flying out of Kansai, since you will already be there.
Do not waste your money on JR Pass it is not worth a 14 days pass at all.
The only shinkansen you have is the round trip Tokyo-Kyoto that cost less than the 7 days pass. You can do Nikko using the Tobu pass and to go to Hakone you can use the Odakyu train or the romancecar to go a bit faster.
On top of being cheaper, you will be able to take Kintetsu to go to Nara and there is different options between Kyoto and Osaka depending on where your hotel is.
Then if you fly out from Osaka, you can even pay the equivalent of 13 000 yen more for the flight and it will be the same price as going back to Tokyo by train.
​
I personally think that day 3 is a bit full. I do not especially see a problem for the Hakone part, but I think I would take the train at the end of day 7 (as most attractions close around 5 pm). So it’s kind of a choice to make between a second night in Hakone for the onsen, or more time for Kyoto as you could start day 8 earlier.
I too was planning a 14 day trip to Japan this past month but I’m moving it till next year, and we were also going to utilize the JR pass, however I’m basically going to be going from Tokyo, to Hakodate, back all the way down to Osaka then back to Tokyo within that span so the JR Pass is essential.
They have a Pokémon Center right next to Tokyo Station, so I suggest visiting it during Day 3 or Day 13. There’s also one in Kyoto that you can visit if you end up having some extra time.
If you want to travel cheap, the overnight bus is also not a bad idea. (¥2000~¥5000 from Kyoto to Tokyo depending on seat space) I used to take it for trips between Tokyo and the Kansai Area as college student and use the extra money for a good bento to eat during the trip. Though, it might be difficult to get quality sleep, especially if you’re not used to buses or taller than 6 feet.
You probably don’t need any JR Pass for this itinerary. You very well might spend less if you just buy tickets out of pocket, and you’d be working with more freedom in terms of which trains you can take if you did so.
>Day 2
This day could end up being too much, especially if you’re intending to do a lot in Shinjuku or Shibuya. If you’re staying in Shinjuku I really do like the idea of walking from Shinjku through Meiji Shrine and maybe Yoyogi Park to Harajuku and Shibuya, but considering it’s your first day and possible jet lag, you may find yourself running low on energy after half a day. And Shinjuku Gyoen is kind of in a different direction and quite big on its own.
>Day 3
I would skip the Imperial Palace given your time constraints. Start at Senso-ji, then go to Ueno. Eat lunch at Ameya Yokocho, then go to the National Art Center, then do the Mori Art Museum last along with the Roppongi Hills Observatory (included in the ticket price) for arguably the best view in the entire city. Going later in the day means you’ll have the option to see it around sunset.
If you think you’ll be running short on time (very possible)–cut Seno-ji. There are dozens of more interesting temples in Kansai that you won’t have time for, so skipping Senso-ji isn’t the end of the world. Personally I would choose Yanaka or something over Senso-ji unless you’re going there for the Sanja Festival (in which case–know what you’re walking into before you show up).
>Day 4
I feel like repeated day trips can get exhausting and your time in Tokyo proper is pretty short. For this reason I would personally consider skipping Nikko and spending an extra day in Tokyo. Either that, or I would see about extending the trip a few more days.
>Day 5
I would just stay the night in Kamakura and then move to Hakone directly from Kamakura the next day rather than doubling back to Tokyo. It’ll save you time (and money if you’re not using the JR Pass), and it’s less stressful than going back through major stations and busy commuter lines in Tokyo.
>Day 7
Personally I would leave this evening or late afternoon to arrive in Kyoto so that you have at least 3 full days there. Losing the morning hours on day 8 is a pretty big loss considering how early many of the sights open and close in Kyoto.
>Day 8
>Day 9
>Day 10
I recommend breaking days 8 and 9 into two and combining things differently. Rent bikes to do the Northern half on one day, doing something like the Imperial Palace–>Demachimasugata Shoutengai–>Shimogamo Jinja–>Ginkaku-ji–>Philosopher’s Path–>Nanzen-ji–>Heian Jingu, filling in smaller things that you find in between. The southern half (including Kiyomizu-dera, Kodai-ji, Yasaka, Chion-in, Shoren-in, Gion, Pontocho, Kiyamachi, Nishiki Market/Teramachi/Shinkyogoku, and the Samurai + Ninja Museum) is all in one walkable area–start at one end and work your way to the other. Maybe throw in Furukawacho too if you have time. Note that Pontocho and Kiyamachi really come alive in the evening, whereas the temples, shrines, and shopping streets (Nishiki, Teramachi, Shinkyogoku, Furukawacho) mostly close down in the evenings. That said, Gion and Higashiyama is still really cool to walk around at night, so I recommend it if you have time.
For day 10, note that Kinaku-ji, Ryoan-ji, and Ninna-ji aren’t really in Arashiyama–in fact they’re quite a ways away. Arashiyama alone could fill most of a day, so adding three additional temples that aren’t directly adjacent to Arashiyama nor to each other may end up being too much. Not saying it’s impossible, but you may end up skipping a lot of Arashiyama if you try to cram in everything here. That said, Kitanotenmangu and Kamishichiken are in that same north-west corner of the city with aforementioned temples and also very worth going to if you were to have time.
Overall these days are very full and there’s still so much more that could be done (which is why I usually recommend 3 full day just as a starting point for Kyoto). I would skip the Manga Museum given your time constraints, but I would definitely add Fushimi Inari Taisha (perhaps in the evening just before sunset since it’s open 24 hours). Also, knowing your exact dates would make it possible to give advice about specific events.
>Day 11
Add Nigatsudo.
>Day 12
Add Kuromon Market for breakfast/brunch/lunch and then walk from there, through DenDen Town, to Shinsekai (also good for lunch). Consider adding Umeda or Tenjinbashisuji earlier during the day if you have time. Dotonbori/Namba should be saved for later in the day.
>Day 13
I definitely think Tokyo could benefit from more time (see notes about Nikko above), and there’s loads more to do in Kyoto (though you could definitely spread what you’ve already got there over 4 days and still be plenty busy), but I my number 1 recommendation for this day would be a day trip Himeji (for both the Castle and Koko-en) with the afternoon/evening spent either in Kobe (Chinatown, Iijinkan), or in Kyoto or Osaka or Tokyo. Alternatively, Hikone is also a nice castle and it’s right along the route to Tokyo.
Have you guys decided which hotel you’re gonna stay in Tokyo? If you’re looking for a cool but cheap place for young people you can check out this place: https://tokyo-hub.com. I highly recommend it!
Re: Pokemon Centers, there’s a ton so you’ll probably stumble upon one anyway. The one in Shibuya is really cool, and is in a shopping centre with a bunch of other anime and videogame stores, including the Nintendo store, so I’d recommend checking that one out.
​
Oh, I wouldn’t just settle for visiting one Pokemon Center though, they’re all pretty unique and well worth checking out, even if its just five minutes on the way to somewhere else to see the different statues and stuff they have.
I loved my trip to Japan! JR pass is completely worth it. I also highly recommend getting the Japan travel – route, map, JR if you haven’t already. Made finding the right trains and times easy.
You think travel will be open by then?
For Pokemon Centers:
* Pokemon Center Shibuya is probably best for your itinerary since you will be shopping/exploring the area.
* Pokemon Center Tokyo DX is close to Tokyo Station, so stop by on your way elsewhere. Make room in your schedule if you want to do the Pokemon Cafe.
* Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro is out of the way, but [Pikachu Sweets](https://thebestjapan.com/pikachu-sweets-by-pokemon-cafe/) may tempt you.
* Pokemon Center Kyoto is near Nishiki Market, between the Manga Museum and the Samurai and Ninja Museum. It’s smaller than the Pokemon Centers in Tokyo but has Kimono Pikachu!
And don’t forget the Pokemon Vending Machine at Haneda Airport!
Definitely check out Harajuku if you’re into fashion and Akihabara if you’re into Video games, Anime and electronics. It might be hard to fit in, but it’s worth it. Be careful in Kabukicho especially at night if you’re bar hopping it can be dangerous. One thing to note I personally loved Osaka and it might be hard to do everything in a day trip there. I will plan my fourth trip to Japan when we hear news on them opening. Hope you get to go soon and enjoy!