Hello! We have been working on an itinerary for a mid J@n ‘23 trip and I think we’re getting close and wanted wiser eyes on our plans.
Updated a couple of details, please feel free to provide input esp. if we’re missing something cool or I haven’t thought something all the day through.
Thank you in advance!!
Day 1 – Saturday:
– Flight lands at NRT at ~ 4p local
– Check into hotel
– Dinner – ramen street? Anyone have a favorite?
– Mostly just stroll and get our bearings on the first night
Day 2 – Sunday:
– imperial palace in AM followed by the park nearby
– walk through Wadakura Fountain Park nearby
– lunch nearby or in Harajuku
– We’re supposed to spend a couple hours here, like maybe until dinner time. Go to Meiji, grab a snack etc
– Heading to Shibuya crossing and surrounding for the evening. Dinner recs? I’ve seen a bunch of hype about Tokyo ten and others
Day 3 – Monday:
– Would be interested in the early wake up to visit Toyosu. Prob won’t get a lottery slot but still fun.
– Supposed to go over to Asakusa after. Visit a couple of temples and try to avoid buying too much on nakamise
– After lunch we’re slated to visit sky tree, and then head over to Ueno for the early part of the afternoon
– A friend recommended visiting Asahi (the brewery). Has anyone been? I’ve had some of their stuff before and found it ok
– Heading over to Akiba this evening. Have some places we want to shop but taking dinner & drinks recs
Day 4 – Tuesday:
– ??? In morning. We leave today for a ryokan pretty deep into Hakone for one night
Day 5 – Wednesday:
– Moving from our stay in Hakone to Kyoto today
– We’re staying just west of Kamo a little north of the rail line
– More temple stops across the river. Also stroll around Gion. No formal plans this pm, just sightseeing
Day 6 – Thursday:
– Fushimi inari to start this day after breakfast.
– I’ve heard that beyond the Instagram photo of the gates, this is actually also a decent hike. True?
– Nishiki market, and we also want to stop at Nijo castle and the imperial palace.
– Possibly Kinkaku-ji and Ryoanji?
– Explore downtown area + dinner
Day 7 – Friday:
– day trip to Nara
– Stop at Kasuga Taisha
– I was excited about a mountain climb but I read Wakakusa is closed in winter – that true?
– Either way, visit Todaiji after and then visit nara park
– A friend encouraged me to stop at Isuien gardens also
– ??
– Possibly head back?
Day 8 – Saturday:
– Start the day at Arashiyama and visit some of the shrines here also
– Have been cautioned about the macaque park
– Empty afternoon
Day 9 – Sunday:
– return flight from nrt departs late afternoon