Hi all,
With the borders open, I’m planning a solo trip to Japan from 3/1-3/12. Would love your feedback on my itinerary.
**Tokyo (2 nights)**
* Day 1 – Arrive in NRT late afternoon. Travel to hotel in Shibuya. Walk around, get dinner, rest
* Day 2 – Explore Shibuya during the day. Walk around Shinjuku at night.
**Hakone (2 nights)**
* Day 3 – Check out of Shibuya Hotel. Maybe explore more Tokyo in the AM. Travel to Hakone, explore area until check-in to Ryokan
* Day 4 – Continue exploring Hakone (Lake Ashi, hikes, outdoor stuff, etc…)
**Kyoto (4 nights)**
* Day 5 – check out of Ryokan continue exploring Hakone during the day, then travel to Kyoto, check in to hotel (Gion area), get dinner
* Day 6 – Explore temples in Eastern Kyoto, check out Fushimi Inari. Walk around Gion at night
* Day 7 – Explore Arashiyama in the AM. Would love to do Kurama –> Kibune Hike in the afternoon.
* Day 8 – Nara day trip (maybe do half day, and explore another area in Kyoto for the remaining time)
**Back to Tokyo (2 nights)**
* Day 9 – Check out of Kyoto Hotel. take first train from Kyoto to Tokyo in AM. Travel to hotel in Ueno/Akihabara area. Go to Team Lab Musem before dinner
* Day 10 – Explore Ueno/Asakusa during the day, spend evening in Akihabara
* Day 11 – last minute shopping in the AM, then travel to NRT for 6PM flight home
My theme for this trip is more R&R, which is why i’m leaning more on Kyoto/Hakone. But, I am wondering if I might be too rushed in Tokyo. Couple questions I have:
* I have two nights at a Ryokan in Hakone. I want time to explore the area and not feel rushed there. Is that overkill? Also, Hakone’s timeframe is inflexible with the Ryokan I booked. I would have preferred to lump more Tokyo days together, but the Ryokan had limited availability.
* Is it too much to plan things on travel days from Tokyo to Hakone and Kyoto back to Tokyo? I’m wondering if I can squeeze the Team Borderless museum in on Day 3 before going Hakone, or if it would work to do it on Day 9 when I travel back to Tokyo from Hakone.
* On Day 8, would it make sense to do a Nara half day trip on the way back to Tokyo, so that I have an extra full day back in Tokyo?
Any feedback would be appreciated!
2 comments
Check out the art museum in hakone. I don’t think you have an overkill schedule. Whenever you are finished on the 3rd day you can directly move to Kyoto. No need to time gates by your own plan.
Arashiyama+ Kurama-Kibune won’t work unless your done before 13:00-14:00 at latest. I prefer that you spend one more day in Kyoto or go early from hakone so you can stuff in kibune hike.
You basically spend 2 days on Akihabara. Why not check out ikebukero after being in borderless.
Akihabara is nice, but from what I’ve experienced and heard, the nightlife there is nothing special. Other areas have more/better bars/restaurants and also have arcades and specialty bars if you look for them.
Unless you want maid cafès, other places are better.