Hi Everyone! A While back I asked about some help with my itinerary for my first ever trip to Japan! I finally booked my flight in late July, as this was the only true time that worked for me. I work in education, so summer break was the best time for me to travel.
A bit of background, while I do want to hit the MAJOR Japan spots in Tokyo and Kyoto, there are a few specific anime/game series that mean a lot to me, so it is important I visit areas seen in their series:
K-On!
Love Live! Sunshine – Any help with what to see in Numazu would be appreciated!
The World Ends With You
Other series I noticed that show up along this trip include Oregairu and Quintuplets (Kyoto), and Rent-A-Girlfriend (The Amusement Park in Asakusa area).
For the most part, I bolded areas on this list that I felt were MUST SEE but if you see a few random locations, (Tower Records for instance) it probably has to do with one of the above series.
The plan for the trip is to go to Tokyo to Numazu to Kyoto and back to Tokyo to fly home. While in Kyoto I will take a day to travel to Toyosato to visit the Elementary School that is pretty much a shrine to K-On my favorite anime of all time.
I would ask for advice on:
\- Did I plan this well in terms of locations, will this work out well?
\- Are there any specific days of the week that things are closed that I would have to get around?
\- Do I need a JR Pass? My thoughts were NO on that, but just want to make sure.
\- What do you feel like I’m missing?
\- Will I be able to travel with souvenirs from places (specifically Akihabara) easily with this trip plan?
​
I probably am forgetting some things, but hopefully that background helps. So here we go!
​
**Day 1, Tuesday July 11th – Land in Japan**
* Land in Japan around 4 PM
* Take Keisei Skyliner to Shinjuku (Was told this was best combo of price and timeliness)
* Check in Hotel
* Tokyo Metropolitan Building
* Ikebukuro
* **Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai** (If awake enough to do so)
**Day 2, Wednesday July 12th – Tokyo Day 1**
* **Asakusa**
* Nakamise
* Sensoji
* Hanayashiki – Rent-A-Girlfriend Anime Location
**Day 3, Thursday July 13th – Tokyo Day 2**
* Shinjuku Gyoen
* Meiji Jingu
* Harajuku
* **Shibuya Scramble**
* **Hachiko Statue** and Green Train
* Tower Records
* Dogenzaka
* **Shibuya Sky**
**Day 4, Friday July 14th – Tokyo Day 3**
* **Tsukiji Market**
* Tokyo Station
* TeamLabs Planets
* **Aquarium Art Museum**
* Roppongi Hills/Tokyo Tower
**Day 5, Saturday July 15th – Tokyo Day 4**
* Ueno Park
* **Akihabara**
**Day 6, Sunday July 16th – Travel to Numazu**
* See anything I may have missed
* Travel to Numazu
* Numazu things if getting there early enough
**Day 7, Monday July 17th – Numazu Day 1**
* Numazu Things
**Day 8, Tuesday July 18th – Numazu Day 2**
* Uchiura/Mito Beach
**Day 9, Wednesday July 19th – Travel to Kyoto**
* See anything I may have missed
* Travel to Kyoto
* Kyoto Station
* Higashi Honganji Temple
**Day 10, Thursday July 20th – Kyoto Day 1**
* **Kiyomizudera**
* Hokan Ji Temple/Yasaka Pagoda
* Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka
* Maruyama Park
**Day 11, Friday July 21st – Kyoto Day 2**
* **Fushimi Inari Shrine**
* **Pontocho Alley**
* **Nishiki Market**
**Day 12, Saturday July 22nd – Toyosato Day Trip**
* **Toyosato Elementary School**
**Day 13, Sunday July 23rd – Kyoto Day 3**
* **Arashiyama Bamboo Grove**
* **Monkey Park**
* Togetsu Bridge
* Tenryuji Temple
* **Kinkaku-Ji Golden Temple**
* Zen Garden – Ryoan-ji
**Day 14, Monday July 24th – Travel to Tokyo**
* Gion District
* Anything I May Have Missed
* Travel Back to Tokyo
**Day 15, Tuesday July 25th – Go Home**
* Last Minute Souvenir Shopping
* Catch evening flight back to USA