Hello all. Thanks in advance if you take your time to check out my itenerary.
How does the overall route look? Any recommendations to add on the list? or anything on the list thats not very enjoyable? Would appreciate your feedback!
I’ve added a few days in between each place and minimised planned events as I don’t want to be on a strict schedule and will basically be more of an exploration around Japan.
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**05 Apr (Akihabara)**
\- Check in Hotel (Arrive at Airport 4:50pm)
\- Grab Dinner
\- Visit 7-Eleven or FamilyMart
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**06 Apr (Akihabara)**
\- DisneySea
\- Ikspiari Shopping Mall
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**07 Apr (Akihabara)**
\- Ueno Park (Paddle boat ride? Zoo?)
\- Lunch at Asakusa Gyukatsu
\- Sensō-ji
\- Tokyo SkyTree
\- Pokemon Center (Inside SkyTree)
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**08 Apr (Akihabara)**
\- Explore Akihabara
\- Do anything we missed in the previous day
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**09 Apr (Ginza)**
\- Uniqlo
\- Malls (Ginza Six or Tokyu Plaza)
\- Tsukiji Outer Market
\- Tokyo Station
\- Tokyo Character Street
\- Tokyo Imperial Palace
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**10 Apr (Ginza)**
\- Hama Rikyo Gardens
\- Tokyo Tower
\- Once Piece Tower
\- Roppongi
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**11 Apr (Ginza/Odaiba)**
\- Explore Ginza and Odaiba
\- Gundam Base
\- National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
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**12 Apr (Shibuya)**
\- Shibuya Crossing
\- Shibuya Sky
\- Ichiran Ramen
\- Harajuku
\- Yoyogi Park
\- Meiju Jingu (Shrine)
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**13 Apr (Shibuya)**
\- Meiji Jingu Gaien
\- Vending Machines at Meiji Jingu
\- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
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**14 Apr (Shibuya)**
\- Explora Shibuya
\- KFC, Mc Donalds, Starbucks
\- Meguro River
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**15 Apr (Shinjuku)**
\- A Happy Pancake
\- Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane)
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**16 Apr (Shinjuku)**
\- Nakano Broadway
\- Studio Ghibli Museum
\- Inokashira Park
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**17 Apr (Shinjuku)**
\- Explora Shinjuku
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**18 Apr (Yamanashi)**
\- Fuji Five Lakes
\- Chureito Pagoda
\- Arakura Senjin Shrine
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**19 Apr (Yokohama)**
\- Cup Noodle Museum
\- Gundam Factory
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**20 Apr (Kyoto)**
\- Torri Gates / Fushimi Inari
\- Hanamikoji Street
\- Kiyomizu Temple
\- Ginakaku Ji
\- Stay at Ryokan or Onsen
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**21 Apr (Kyoto)**
\- Explore Kyoto
\- Kinkaku-Ji
\- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
\- And anything we might have missed on previous day
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**22 Apr (Osaka)**
\- Universal Studios
\- Explore Osaka
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**23 Apr (Osaka)**
\- Explore Osaka
\- Travel to Kobe to try Kobe Beef
\- Explore Kobe
\- Dinner at Kichi Kichi? Might be too busy
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**24 Apr (Osaka)**
\- Explore Osaka
\- Take picture with Glico Running Man
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The last remaining days we wanted to pass thru
Nara to see the deer park and Todai-ji Datibutsuden and then head back to Tokyo
5 comments
That is a lot of days in Tokyo (relative to non-Tokyo) but lots of people on this sub really love it so I will refrain from critique in this regard, since everyone enjoys different things.
> 20 Apr (Kyoto)
This is a lot of places spread over a large area of Kyoto (where public transport isn’t the swiftest) especially if you still need to travel from Yokohama and make a ryokan check-in deadline.
Also, Kyoto is possibly the worst place in Japan to stay at ryokan/onsen because everyone wants to do traditional stuf in Kyoto (= super expensive) and the city is not even known for naturally occurring hot springs compared to hot water baths or water with artificially added minerals. I would suggest doing the ryokan stay at Fuji five lakes instead, or if you can free up a bit of schedule to take an overnight trip to a true onsen town (Kinosaki, Kusatsu, Kinugawa, Hakone etc.), it’s a more authentic experience
> Kobe
Is not that interesting as a first time visitor to Japan, especially if you have limited time. Fine for the novelty of eating Kobe beef in Kobe, otherwise it’s more a city for business than for sightseeing
> last remaining day**s**
Nara only requires one day
Just to add, the moving gundam will only be there till the 31st of March next year, I’m not sure what they plan to do with it though, in case you were planning to go see it
Lot of back to back days visiting the same area. I’d probably alternate with different locations just to not make it feel like your commuting somewhere.
I’d probably also consider adding another day to Kyoto. Exploring can be a little tricky if you are considering doing it on foot. Most of the major locations are along the perimeter and traversing to different areas may require you to use a taxi for efficient movement.
Kyoto is a beautiful city. It deserves more than 2 days in relation to the length of your stay in Japan.
Just a quick note, One Piece Tower is close. Now there is Red Tokyo Tower around there.