Hi-
I’m headed to Japan for the first time, Feb 23-March 4th. Tentative itinerary:
Thursday Feb 23:
Arrive Narita late afternoon, transfer to Hotel near Senso-ji Temple, Dinner TBD.
Friday Feb 24: This is the one day I have with a friend who speaks Japanese, so I want to go a little off the beaten path. We enjoy shopping and eating together, so there’s a fair amount of shopping in these options:
Option 1: Gotoku-ji Temple (the waving cats), Shimokitazawa (coffee, shopping), Nakameguro and Daikanyama (Asakura residence, T site, Maison Kitsune and other shopping).
Option 2: Ueno area (Metropolitan Art Museum?), Yanaka Ginza and Nezu Shrine. Kappabahsi if time.
Option 3: Kichijoji (Ichien Hoten for Gyoza, shopping streets and Harmonica Yohocho). Maybe fit in Yanaka Ginza/Nezu Shrine on way back.
Later that night: Check out Akihabara for about an hour.
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Saturday Feb 25th: Team Lab Planets, Ginza for Itoya (12 floors of stationary and lunch at cafe), Yayoi Kasuama exhibit and dinner at Kameido Gyoza. Walk back to hotel via Skytree.
Sunday Feb 26th: Leave for Hakone/Ryokan stay.
Monday Feb 27th: Hakone Loop, Onsen.
Tuesday Feb 28th: Hakone to Kyoto. Gion Tour in Kyoto.
Wednesday March 1st: Kyoto- Philosophers walk, temples, market.
Thursday March 2nd: Fushimi Inari in morning, train to Tokyo around lunch, arrive in Tokyo around 3pm, check into hotel near Shinjuku. That night, Shinjuku: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Tower for sunset, Godzilla, Memory Lane
Friday March 3rd: Meiji Shrine, Omotesando (several specific stores here- Diptyque, Ragtag, H Beauty and Youth, plus browsing and maybe the Ota Memorial Museum of Art), Cat Street/Harajuku. Later in the afternoon, Shibuya: Nintendo, Loft, Tokyu Hands. Shibuya Crossing at night.
Sat March 4th: Yoyogi Park/Meiji Shrine (again). Check out of hotel and leave for airport around noon.
Questions:
1. Friday Feb 24th: Pros/cons to the various options. Also an option, just telling my friend to surprise me.
2. I’m really excited about the Goshuincho. Any can’t miss temples or shrines in Tokyo, especially in/around TeamLab Planets, Ginza or near Yayoi Kasuama?
3. The Hakone ropeway from Owakudani to Togendai will be closed, but there is a bus option. Is it worth it to do the whole loop, or just do the Railway, Cable Car and first part of the Ropeway, and turn around (skipping the pirate boat, walk and bus).
4. Any other advice?
1 comment
May I ask which Ryokan in Hakone you are staying in? I booked Hakone Airu but I’m having second thoughts and might look at other options. Thanks.