Hello again everyone! I say again because [back in March of 2021 I made a post](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mckko8/two_week_trip_in_late_october_2021_sanity_check/) looking for the same thing I’m looking for now.
Obviously, October 2021 wasn’t possible for most, if not all of us. Now though, the flood gates have opened.
Before I get into the details, I’d like to tell you all some things about me that might influence my trip and or your suggestions:
I’m 27, male, traveling alone, I’m pretty active and I am very capable of walking a lot so I don’t mind and even enjoy long days of walking. I have zero dietary restrictions, so I’m able and willing to eat anything. I’ve eaten Milt (or [白子](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milt) , look it up for a laugh) before, I’m generally not grossed out by stuff, and eating unique food is part of the traveling experience! My Japanese language ability is probably equivalent to a drunk elementary school student. So while I’m not able to have complex or even simple conversations, I can absolutely handle asking for help and understanding things around me. I’m hoping my Japanese knowledge will maybe open up more opportunities for me. I have tattoos, most of my chest is covered as well as some random spots all over my body. So most onsens are off limits but not all. My Japanese tutor (living in Tokyo) said she doesn’t know of any onsens that would allow me entry given the amount and size of mine. But if anyone knows of any that might, please let me know! I do know of [one near Narita](https://goo.gl/maps/kgTgapLTPeCiT2FWA), but I don’t think I’ll have time to venture out that far just for an onsen.
I’ll put a lot of my interests down at the bottom of this post in case anyone has some cool things I don’t know about that I could do or see based on them.
With that out of the way I also want to mention that this draft isn’t set in stone, but I do plan on meeting up with some friends in Japan. So depending on what days and times they’re available, some days may be blocked out and changing things around could be difficult. I’ve looked a lot into what things are open and when, and generally it seems like every museum, art gallery, and experience will all be open when I’m near them. So there’s definitely some wiggle room there.
The rough outline of the trip is as follows:
Date | Location | Date | Location
—-|——–|—-|——–
Tue 3/7/23 | Tokyo | Thurs 3/16/23 | Kyoto
Wed 3/8/23 | Tokyo | Fri 3/17/23 | Kyoto→Osaka
Thurs 3/9/23 | Tokyo | Sat 3/18/23 | Osaka
Fri 3/10/23 | Tokyo | Sun 3/19/23 | Osaka
Sat 3/11/23 | Tokyo | Mon 3/20/23 | Osaka
Sun 3/12/23 | Tokyo | Tue 3/21/23 | Osaka→Hiroshima→Osaka
Mon 3/13/23 | Tokyo→Hakone→Nagoya| Wed 3/22/23 | Osaka→Tokyo
Tue 3/14/23 | Nagoya→Kyoto| Thurs 3/23/23 | Tokyo
Wed 3/15/23 | Kyoto | Fri 3/24/23 | Tokyo
Individual days have been scheduled as follows:
**Day 1 Tuesday 3/07/23 Tokyo:**
* Land in Tokyo NRT at 3:30pm
* Clear customs, get JR Pass and anything else I may need
* Head to AirBnB
* Rest of the night free for random walking around and fighting jet lag
**Day 2 Wednesday 3/08/23 Tokyo:**
***Main Goals: Ueno Park, SkyTree, Taito area***
* Ueno Park/Museums all day
* Lunch somewhere close (I’ve heard the option inside Ueno aren’t great so suggestions are welcome!)
* Tokyo Sky Tree in time for sunset (5:42pm) so get to skytree around 5pm
* Explore Taito area for rest of the night
**Day 3 Thursday 3/09/23 Tokyo:**
***Main Goals: Explore Shinjuku, Gyoen Nat. Park, Government Building, Golden Gai***
* Walk to [Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (Opens at 9am)](https://goo.gl/maps/GnNVLx69K3Cef4NP6)
* Spend morning in Park
* Lunch somewhere in Area
* [Tokyo Metro Government Building Observation Deck](https://goo.gl/maps/Y8tC43jn8zTgZ7x59)
* Explore surrounding area
* Nightlife stuff at [Golden Gai](https://goo.gl/maps/y9KKiTPaTbJcCy7aA)
**Day 4 Friday 3/10/23 Tokyo:**
***Main Goals: Explore Imperial Palace, night in Akihabara***
* Tour [Imperial Palace in Chiyoda City](https://goo.gl/maps/dZhyXBC68wE6wd5x6)
* Lunch around the area. Might check out a cafe suggested by a friend, [Cafe de l’ambre,](https://goo.gl/maps/mH5tQ1kfkuqz4ac56) or other cafes in the area.
* [Explore Hamarikyu Gardens](https://goo.gl/maps/RM4C4KLyxcYWJ9Js9)
* Dinner and night out with a friend in Akihabara or Shibuya if they’re free (Possibly save for saturday)
* Alternate plan if they aren’t free:
* Go to [Mori Art Museum](https://goo.gl/maps/ryoFtUgKSQcSGHER7) for drinks and views (1500¥ entry fee)
* Head back near AirBnb and aimlessly walk around until bedtime
**Day 5 Saturday 3/11/23 Tokyo:**
***Main Goals: TeamLabs Planets, Daigo Fukuryū Maru Museum, Bike around***
* Go to [TeamLabs Planet](https://goo.gl/maps/fzC6QRy9NxzEGh3z9)
* [Rent a bike](https://goo.gl/maps/npeMao4Hnhijvr3A8)
* Bike leisurely towards [Daigo Fukuryū Maru](https://goo.gl/maps/EP8oqHSCXTrVugo98)
* Head towards Shibuya and explore there (don’t know of much to do there except see [Hachiko statue](https://goo.gl/maps/6oqYZkBxnPDAn9Cd6)
* Dinner and night out with friend in Akihabara or Shibuya if they’re free (Possibly already done on Friday)
* If haven’t gone already, I’ll go to the Akihabara area this night
**Day 6 Sunday 3/12/23 Tokyo:**
***Main Goals: Lazy Sunday, doing random things I didn’t get to, maybe cafe hop or random exploring***
* Do things I possibly missed out on during previous days
* Onsens
* Random exploring of not well known areas (Recommendations appreciated!)
**Day 7 Monday 3/13/23 Tokyo→Hakone→Nagoya:**
***Main Goals: Hakone Open Air Museum***
* Take train from Tokyo to Hakone
* [Open Air Museum](https://goo.gl/maps/G73cusrrQ67HBzZM8) for roughly 3ish hours
* Lunch in Hakone (recommendations appreciated!)
* Train to Nagoya (will arrive anywhere from 6 to 8pm)
* Need Nagoya recommendations
**Day 8 Tuesday 3/14/23 Nagoya→Kyoto:**
***Main Goals: Explore Nagoya, head to Kyoto***
* A Japanese friend mentioned I should really go to Nagoya as it’s not as popular with tourists, thus has a lot of cool hidden gems. She mentioned a lot of good shopping and food available around [Edion Hisaya Plaza](https://goo.gl/maps/3qijLZLRkm8b3iWKA)
* There also the [Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology](https://goo.gl/maps/hHj7F5MytKBt6A3p6) which seems interesting. But is shopping and that museum worth a day stop in Nagoya? Experiences and suggestions would be great for this!
* Train to Kyoto (will arrive anywhere from early afternoon to late evening, very flexible)
* Check into AirBnB
* [Fushimi Inari Taisha](https://goo.gl/maps/DU7qqMDgYw7dcbZPA) at night (I’ve heard it’s amazing and kinda spooky at night, and a tuesday night should be empty and perfect in my opinion)
**Day 9 Wednesday 3/15/23 Kyoto:**
***Main Goals: Kyoto International Manga Museum, Kyoto Nat. Museum***
* [Kyoto National Museum](https://goo.gl/maps/eD91cMvrxos2DpRC8)
* [Manga Museum](https://goo.gl/maps/sC5xQfoYqcLBKZgR7) (I’ve heard this is more like a library/bookstore rather than a museum, but I’m honestly fine with that!)
* Lunch close by (recommendations?)
* [Samurai Museum](https://goo.gl/maps/Qnay4bJE56Num3tt8) (Seems a little corny, but need experience reports. I’m not the kind of person that would enjoy dressing up in a cheap samurai outfit just for a silly photo. But I could be way off base with that, and it could be really cool!)
* Nightlife around [Bar Dram](https://goo.gl/maps/yFsYi3EiNpwLctzm8), [ZAZA Pub](https://goo.gl/maps/4AQdPFFXhu7AXxXWA), and other places in area
**Day 10 Thursday 3/16/23 Kyoto:**
***Main Goals: National Garden/Imperial Palace, Higashiyama Jisho-ji***
* [National Garden/Imperial Palace](https://goo.gl/maps/BqxHsWnx7bVSzdkL8) (worth it?)
* [Higashiyama Jisho-ji](https://goo.gl/maps/QcC7gQUqPvxNKMzP8)
* [Philosopher’s Path](https://goo.gl/maps/FnRTKbAjPLneyw9i8)
* Lunch in the area around [Hokan-ji temple](https://goo.gl/maps/piREqYPGXVFhYgYm7) (Recommendations?)
* [Ryozen Museum](https://goo.gl/maps/1bcu9UHDere5HfBt7)
* [Kiyomizu-dera](https://goo.gl/maps/NVvZAMyorVu5ETcH6) (worth it?)
* Nightlife around [Gion](https://goo.gl/maps/RHFSpSsy9g3Gs4aJ6) (Probably find a real nice izakaya to hang in and take it easy so I’m not too tired for USJ the next day) Any izakaya with similar vibes as [Midnight Diner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Diner_(Japanese_TV_series)) around the area? Would love a chill evening making conversation with some locals.
**Day 11 Friday 3/17/23 Kyoto→Osaka:**
***Main Goals: USJ, Osaka nightlife***
* Train to Osaka
* Drop off bags at AirBnB or find a locker big enough since AirBnB might not be available yet
* [USJ](https://goo.gl/maps/FSRXBdL9aoZAAzpaA)
* Nightlife in Osaka but probably just one or two izakaya due to more than likely being very tired from USJ
**Day 12 Saturday: 3/18/23 Osaka:**
*Both this day, Saturday 3/18/23 as well as Sunday 3/19/23, might be swapped depending on a friend’s availability. They live a little north of Kobe.*
* [Kuchu Teien Observatory](https://goo.gl/maps/6PqHDGgfQFztgv956)
* [Osaka Museum of Housing and Living](https://goo.gl/maps/yev1zGiKSQQUMWYx5)
* Lunch (Recommendations?)
* [Osaka Museum of History](https://goo.gl/maps/aUKfzd9YMct4epuCA)
* [Osaka Castle](https://goo.gl/maps/cgzx4vRAg9jykApG9) (Heard mixed things about it, is it worth it? I’ve heard some people say it’s amazing, and others say it’s a concrete monolith, and since it’s been rebuilt, it’s not worth it. Personally don’t mind either way, but since I’ll be so close after the Museum of History, might be worth walking over to)
* Nightlife in either [Ebisubashi Bridge](https://goo.gl/maps/Fs35oon1DMfurzD58) area or [Triangle Park](https://goo.gl/maps/m33iVLMBX1x7yUxk8) (or both!)
**Day 13 Sunday 3/19/23 Kobe:**
*Both this day, Sunday 3/19/23 as well as Saturday 3/18/23 might be swapped depending on a friend’s availability. They live a little north of Kobe.*
* [Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens](https://goo.gl/maps/bS4D6ARVT91o5VKW8)
* [UCC Coffee Museum](https://goo.gl/maps/SmJ3sQBE35GqbjDN7) (The [museum website states it will still be closed until January 2023 and thereafter.](https://www.ucc.co.jp/museum/) I read that it will reevaluate things as time goes on, so it’s a possibility they will open by March 2023, but I’m not banking on it. I did see they offer classes in the adjacent building, as well as in a Tokyo location. Any info on these and whether or not they’re do-able for a tourist on a time crunch is greatly appreciated!)
* [Kobe Animal Kingdom](https://goo.gl/maps/feBQXFdYVSVswaaW7)
* Kobe steakhouse (I have [Wakkoqu](https://goo.gl/maps/GBR7dRiZSSWki8AS8) saved already but would love more recommendations in case Wakkoqu isn’t worth it)
* Train back to Osaka area
**Day 14 Monday 3/20/23 Osaka:**
***Main Goals: Relatively free and open day***
* [Osaka Aquarium](https://goo.gl/maps/onQKzPBfVi7eyETC8)
* [Tempozan Park](https://goo.gl/maps/3dVGuEjapem3Sw1b8)
* [Sumiyoshi Taisha](https://goo.gl/maps/zv4cdMwbxsWC2aik7)
**Day 15 Tuesday 3/21/23 Osaka→Hiroshima→Osaka:**
***Main Goals: Try not to cry, cry a lot***
* Train to Hiroshima
* [Peace Memorial Museum](https://goo.gl/maps/tA3WWwWJe5yWJhaA7)
* Lunch at [Nagataya](https://goo.gl/maps/nX8w5arT4fB335np9)
* Depending on how I’m feeling and how late the last train to Osaka is, might grab a drink somewhere in the area
* Back to Osaka
* Chill evening bar crawling or diner hopping (Recommendations welcome as always)
**Day 16 Wednesday 3/22/23 Osaka→Tokyo:**
***Main Goals: Do things in Tokyo I missed on the first go around***
* [Sengaku-Ji](https://goo.gl/maps/CsyY99TArdqYw2oQ9)
* Need recommendations for other stuff if I have literally nothing to do
* Somewhat intentionally leaving this open in order to do things I missed or wasn’t able to my first time in Tokyo
* Definitely don’t wanna end up doing nothing, so recommendations are fantastic, although I’ve heard some people say going to a random neighborhood and just exploring can be incredibly fun
**Day 17 Thursday 3/23/23 Tokyo:**
***Main Goals: Shopping, get tattooed***
* Head towards [Nakano City](https://goo.gl/maps/yZ3gin4oEcWxtoWu8)
* Thrift shopping ([Mode Off](https://goo.gl/maps/tycnKHFwcxvuNt9K7), [Book Off](https://goo.gl/maps/BZxmBuLp1Q7QQxDj8), [Don Don Down](https://goo.gl/maps/B7vGUhtUQm2pSrxu5), [Nakano Broadway](https://goo.gl/maps/GC8zu89JhtwDnt8H9) should all give me plenty of options but more suggestions are welcome)
* Gift shopping for friends and family (same as thrift stores, but maybe some non-thrift suggestions would be great)
* Go get a tattoo at [Tokyo Three Tides](https://goo.gl/maps/5ZEsvwpxLbX4bQHw7) (doing this as late in my trip as possible to avoid needing to worry about aftercare during my trip. As stated before, I have plenty of tattoos already and know American tattoo shop culture pretty well, but Japanese tattoo shop culture might throw me for a loop. Aside from not tipping, are there any other things I should be aware of?)
**Day 18 Friday 3/24/23 Tokyo:**
***Main Goals: Go home***
* Flight home is at 7:55pm out of Haneda Airport. So getting to the Airport at 5:30pm seems safe. Or is that too early?
* Probably will spend this day doing any last minute shopping, then maybe going to the Japanese Post office to ship a big box of gift back to the States (If I end up doing that, might buy little enough to take on plane with me)
**My interests:**
Theses should hopefully give people a good idea of what I’m into, and what I could potentially be missing out on. Thank you in advance for any recommendations. I appreciate them greatly!!!
* Coffee and especially espresso. I have a few coffee shops in mind, but coffee related stuff is very interesting to me. Any small hole in the wall coffee shops or coffee related museums would be awesome to see. Unfortunately as stated before, the UCC Museum might be closed still.
* I do enjoy anime, but I’m not a diehard fan. I love Shitoshi Kon (Literally all of his work, my favorite is Tokyo Godfathers), Makoto Shinkai (Garden of Words specifically, the “Your Name.” staircase, while cool, isn’t worth trekking to for me lol), movies like Redline and Sword of the Stranger are some of my favorites. I do like Ghibli, but I’m not suuuuper into it like others are. The Ghibli Museum came to mind a few times, and I’ll definitely go if a majority of people say it’s worth it even if I’m not a die hard fan.
* I love manga way more than anime. I already have the manga museum in my itinerary, but any mangaka specific stuff would be awesome! Unfortuneately I totally missed the Kentaro Muira Berserk Exhibit. Manga I enjoy: Berserk, Yotsubato!, Junji Ito’s work, Oyasumi Pun Pun, and horror/dark manga in general (sans Yotsubato! lol) Horror stuff is super interesting to me, so any horror exhibits around while I’m there would be super cool to see.
* Video games. Of course video games are huge for me, although funny enough, I’m not super into the deeply Japanese games. I do live FromSoft games, Halo, and Valve games. While the latter two aren’t Japan based, maybe there’s some cool spots somewhere I’d be interested in.
* Cars; I used to be way more into cars. My first trip plan had a drifting track in it. While that would still be super fun, my interest in that has dwindled a bit. The Toyota Museum seems interesting, so hopefully that’s worth it. I’m also into electric cars. I know there’s a Tesla store in Shinjuku, but as the owner of a Tesla, I can’t imagine choosing to go to a service center on vacation lmao. Other car related things could be fun, so I’m always interested in suggestions. I will say, I refuse to do the Mario Kart go karts in Tokyo lol.
* I love infrastructure, engineering, and urban design stuff. Learning how cities are built and how they work is super interesting to me. The train museums seem interesting, but a museum ***just*** about trains isn’t exactly what I’m interested in. A diverse museum including public transit, public works, roadways, aviation, city planning, and so on would be super interesting. Unfortunately I haven’t found anything like that in my research. Still though, if enough people say train museums are worth it, I’ll give it a go!
* Music; I’m getting more into Japanese music as my Japanese friends give me more suggestions. Although music in general is one of my favorite things. So record stores or similar places would be fun. That being said, I enjoy listening to music, but I’m not musically talented in the slightest, nor do I play any instruments. So unfortunately the Grand Piano Factory Tour wouldn’t be interesting to me.
* Japanese history; this is an easy one to cover, yet due to the ubiquity of museums on this subject, I feel like some really cool hidden gems can go overlooked. The Sengoku period, Boshin War, and Meiji Period are all times I’m really interested in. But any Japanese history could be fun to learn about.
Thank you for reading this far! If you haven’t noticed already, I’m a very detailed oriented person lmao. Hopefully that won’t bite me in the ass later on.
One thing I’ve noticed when reading a lot of other sanity checks is that people sometimes schedule very crowded days unintentionally. I tried my best to avoid this, but I know some may be a bit crowded. I am totally willing to drop a thing or two a day and move it to another less crowded day. I left some days relatively empty for that exact reason. Thanks in advance for any suggestions and help!
1 comment
For a lunch suggestion close to Ueno, I recommend Unatoto if you like eel! It’s right under the elevated train tracks, just southeast of the park and close to the museums. Really delicious and super reasonably priced.