Hello we are both traveling to Japan for the first time in April 04 – April 14. We will be visiting Tokyo, Kyoto and then Osaka. Is our itinerary too ambitious or should the places be moved around? We are both in our mid-20s and trying to see as many places as possible with ample rest time.
We are not sure of where we are staying just yet, but below is a pretty solid outline of our itinerary.
**April 4**: Haneda Airport (land at 2pm) —> Tokyo (roughly an hour by train)
\-Get suica card
\-Get Jr pass at nearest Jr exchange office and reserve seats!
\-Get food and rest
**April 5**: Tokyo
\-**Disneysea**!
**April 6**: Tokyo
\-Explore **Takeshita St**
\-Walk to **Shibuya**
\-**Shibuya 109**
\-Visit **Mega Don Quijote, Tokyu Hands, Shibuya Loft**
\-**Shibuya scramble**
**April 7**: Tokyo
\-**Asakusa Station**
**-Nakamise St**
\-**Sensoji temple**
\-Visit **Kappabashi Dougu st** (if time allows)
\-Visit **Depoin st** (if time allows)
**April 8**:
\-Visit **Akihabara**
\-Visit **Sega, Super potato, Akihabara gamers, Mandarake**
\-Rest day
**April 9**: Tokyo station—> Kyoto station
\-Get train bento box at **Tokyo station**!
\-Check out **food hall** at **Kyoto station** (11th floor)
\-Rest day
**April 10**: Kyoto
\-**Fushimi Inari Shrine aka Senbon Tori** (Open 24h)
\-Visit **Kiyomizudera** Temple
\-Check out shops **matsubara-dori st**
\-Walk to **higashiyama station** to **Kyoto Shiyakushomae (downtown kyoto)**
\-Walk to **Nishiki market** and/or Daimaru Basement Floor
\-**Gion-Shijo station** (geisha district)
\-Matcha ice cream from Tsujiri
**April 11**: Kyoto
\-**Arashiyama bamboo forest**
**-Tenruji temple**
\-**Okochi Sanso Garden**
\-Maybe **Iwatayama Monkey park**?
**April 12**: Kyoto → Osaka (day trip) using JR pass
\-Visit **dontonbori st**
\-Eat Pablo’s egg tarts
**April 13**: Kyoto —> Tokyo
\-Rest day and buy souvenirs?
**April 14**: Tokyo —> Haneda Airport
1 comment
Usage of a 7 day JR Pass at best breaks even. If you don’t get one you can ride on the faster shrinkansen to and from Kyoto. It does offer flexibility though in that if you decide to undertake a shrinkansen day trip when there it will possibly at no cost.
Kyoto Station has an extensive basement of restaurants as also does the linked shopping mall so do not restrict yourself to the food hall. The information centre at the station is very good and includes dedicated English speakers.
I like your plan overall.