Can you guys give me some suggestions on my itinerary? This is a very makeshift list as I haven’t booked anything yet. I just wanted to get an idea of what’s doable before booking everything. My main go to area I want to visit are Shibuya, Akihibara, Odaiba, Ginza, Kyoto, and Nara. I plan on visiting korea afterwards. Not sure how flights work, but if anything Kyoto can simply be done first and then Tokyo second. I pretty much have can go to Japan for as long as I like. I do plan on going back later. These are just my must see places for now. Is there anything here that I should lengthen or shorten? I’m mostly concerned with whether a part should be lengthened or shortened. Most of what I listed in paranthese are must visit/things I want to do. Otherwise I plan on walking around and stopping at whatever interests me when I get there.
Day 0: Arrive in Tokyo+rest or do random stuff depending on arrival
Day 1: 1/2 day Ginza + Imperial Palace. 1/2 Odaiba (see rainbow bridge, daiba park, beach)
Day 2: 1/2 day at Akihibara. 1/2 day Ueno (park/zoo).
Day 3: Explore Shibuya for whole day (visit shibuya crossing/restaurants/visit a manga cafe/just walk around)
Day 4: Do whatever day when I learn more about Tokyo when I’m there (maybe sensoji + tokyo tower). Travel to Kyoto.
Day 5: 1/2 day at Inari Shrine. 1/2 day Kiyomizu temple
Day 6: day trip/guided tour to nara
Day 7: Do whatever day when I learn more about Kyoto when I’m there. (maybe see imperial palace/philosopher’s path)
Day 8: Fly to XXX (Jeju island or seoul pending….)
7 comments
* Explore Shibuya whole day? What does this entail?
* Explore Ginza whole day? Is your intention to spend the entire day shopping?
* One day for Kyoto is way too short. Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizudera will not take up and entire day together.
* Why a guided trip of Nara?
You should do more research, or list what you’re interested in for recommendations.
Make sure you visit kinkakuji in Kyoto. The studio park was fun, and gion at night was awesome.
Day 1: 1/2 a day for Odaiba is perfect. Gives you a chance to check out all of the sights, and at night, you could pop into Oedo Onsen Monogatari after 6PM and take advantage of the cheaper entry free to soak a bit and relax.
Day 4: Yeah, check out Sensou-ji, it’s pretty neat. You can also chill around Asakusa, and walk around the shopping arcades. Try to be there before noon, though, because at 12PM, it gets super packed. We went around 10AM, and it was pretty tranquil, shops were still closed. When we left at 12PM, everything was open by then, so you can still check all the stores out. Since you are leaving for Kyoto, grab lunch in the area too, before heading to the station.
Day 5: Depending on how you structure your visits, you might see different things. For example, visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha during the day gives you access to the side street, which is filled with street food. Visiting it during the night lets you enjoy excellent views at night, fresh breeze, and overall, a really awesome experience, walking around the mountain at night.
Just my notes for Kyoto…
Get to Fushimi Inari early in the morning, like 8ish (if not earlier). You’ll best most of the crowds and get sine great relaxation time/ photos without purple everywhere. Though you may miss out on some of the local vendors since they might not be open yet. You’ll probably be done in about 2 hours and ready to move on.
Kiyomizu Dera is a great sight but prepare for a long walk up some steep and narrow streets (especially if you take a public bus). The temple is fantastic and the stage/ balcony is breathtaking. That being said you can probably do the walk up, explore, and walk back with some shopping and snacking in about 3 hours.
I have done both of these sites in the same day, though the noon heat didn’t help climbing up to Kiyomizu. Depending on when you travel the temple may be open at night (It was last spring when I went for the first time). This could help give you more time for exploring.
If you get out to Fushimi Inari early, then I’d suggest going to Nishiki Market lunch followed by an afternoon visit to Kiyomizu Dera.
Also if you do go to Sensoji temple in Tokyo, check out Kappabashi Street (kitchen street) for some great cooking supplies and fun shopping.
Enjoy your trip!
I think your itinerary is basically good.
Day 1: Do imperial palace first then enter Ginza from the Western end, Nipponbashi or Kyobashi then move to the East. Some interesting areas are, Central Ginza, (Tsukiji), Yurakucho, Miyuki- dori, Hibiya (park), Sukiyabshi, Shinbashi. Don’t miss the depachikas of the flag ship department stores.
From Shinbashi you can get on the Yurikamome line to Odaiba.
Ginza used to be the place for higher end shopping. Lots of brand/ shops do have their flag ship stores in Ginza but now there are shops like Uniqlo and Yodobashi and lots of fast food chains and izakayas, so now days there’s pretty much everything in a wide price range.
After Ginza the shopping malls of Odaiba can be less interesting but Ooedo onsen will be a nice visit to chill and refresh. Also the night sceneray is good. Food option is somewhat limited in Odaiba. Remember you can return to Shinbashi/ Ginza for wider range of food options.
Day 3: Start at Ebisu or Nakameguro, then move on to Daikanyama- central Shibuya- Meiji Shrine- Harajuku (Minami- Aoyama).
Hiroo/ Nishiazabu or Shinjuku is a good option for night life after Shibuya.
Enjoy!
>Day 3: Explore Shibuya for whole day (visit shibuya crossing/restaurants/visit a manga cafe/just walk around)
You need to change this. I recommend exploring Shibuya, along with Harajuku since they’re connected, in the afternoon. It’s pretty much dead in the morning. It doesn’t require a day to explore that whole neighborhood in my opinion
I recommend you explore Asakusa first. It’s a unique neighborhood in Tokyo and it’s home to Senso-ji, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo
It’s also near Tokyo Sky Tree.
So, I recommend, you visit Asakusa first then head to Shibuya/Harajuku around 2 or 3 in the afternoon
You don’t need a guide in Nara. Just do it yourself as a half day trip from Kyoto with an early morning start. Return to Kyoto and continue sightseeing there.