Hello everyone! Myself and my partner are visiting Japan for the first time in the middle of March 2023 for 14 days and I have tried to get a rough schedule together based on things of interest and recommendations from this subreddit to be able to book accommodation/and plan travel in advance.
We are both in our late 20s and are interested in seeing the main attractions throughout our trip and get stuck into the Japanese culture. We are both big into food and definitely want to book an experience involving sushi/ramen/okonomiyaki and also to try new and different things. We also enjoy hikes and walks, particularly if a good view and/or sunset/sunrise can be appreciated!
Finally, I **must** attend the Sumo Wrestling tournament which I understand is due to take place in Osaka around the time that we are there. Does this tend to take up a full day ?
Generally we enjoy wandering around areas and don’t want to be too fixed to a schedule but I wanted to know whether what I have planned is too much / will be too little for a full day – we are generally early risers on most days! We are generally happy to stumble across food places as we explore unless we want something specific.
My questions are:
* Accommodation in Tokyo – Amongst the areas to stay in Tokyo, Akasaka appears to be reasonably central to the areas we are visiting and seems to be generally cheaper than Shibuya/Shinjuku. Does this area have as much accessibility as the others and would it be worth obtaining a specific travel card to enable us to return here each night?
* We would also like to see Cherry Blossoms although I understand the peak season is more likely to be (or not at all) at the latter part of our trip. Are the areas of potential blossom still worth visiting and experiencing without this added bonus?
* Any good coffee shop recommendations in Tokyo?
* I am still figuring out the transport options within Tokyo and Japan, suggestions based on my itinerary would be greatly appreciated.
​
​
**Day 1 – Weds 15th March – Arrive in Tokyo**
Land \~1500 local time at Haneda Airport
Travel to accommodation, explore locally, grab food and recover from jetlag.
​
**Day 2 – Thurs 16th March – Shinjuku**
* Day plans
* Shinjuku Gyoen
* Sunshine city – Will Skycircus be re-opening by this time? General food tourism and souvenir shopping.
* Shinjuku vision
* Evening plans
* Tokyo metropolitan gov. building – observations decks across city for sunset/night time.
* Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai for food/drinks.
​
**Day 3 – Fri 17th March – Shibuya/Harajuku**
* Day plans
* Meiji shrine and Yoyogi park
* Takeshita and then Omotesando, possible stop off at Mipig Cafe (are the animals generally treated well in these types of cafes?)
* Nintendo store and get lost in the shopping centres
* Evening plans
* Shibuya sky observation deck, sunset
* Shibuya crossing
* Dinner somewhere in this area
\+/- stop off at starbucks roastery reserve if time although appears to be out of the way.
​
**Day 4 – Sat 18th March – Asakusa/Akihabara**
* Day plans:
* Wander around Ueno park +/- row boats
* Walk towards Kamaniron – thunder gate, pass towards Nakamise shopping and Dempoin street
* Food on Rokku Broadway or Hoppy street
* **Senso-Ji temple Golden dragon dance Planned on 18/3/23 2-6pm**
* Kappabashi street
Evening plans
* Akihabara
* Game centres
* Super Potato Akihabara
* Ameyoko shopping street
**Day 5 Sunday 19th March – Odaiba 1/2 day**
* Day plans:
* Odaiba
* Morning: Teamlab Planets – Early as possible.
* Divercity Mall
* See the Unicorn Gundam Statue
* Pokemon Cafe
* Evening plans:
* Open – possibly revisit Shinjuku for dinner plans.
**Day 6 – Monday 20th March – Experience in the morning, Hakone travelI**
I made a decision to visit Hakone as opposed to Kawaguchiko based on recommendations and ease of access from Tokyo and departing to Kyoto. Ideally want to see Mt Fuji but also experience staying in a ryokan here with a good day of being outdoors if the weather holds in.
Send luggage ahead to accommodation in Kyoto
* Day plans:
* Local cuisine/cooking/foodie experience
* Pick up any further shopping bits areas open to be seen as will not be returning to Tokyo
* Afternoon:
* Travel to Hakone – Bus or Fuji Excursion train?
* Aiming to stay in Ryokan with an onsen
​
**Day 7 – Tues 21st March – Hakone – aim to see Mt Fuji**
* Day plans – Hakone free pass
* Hakone Loop
If time allows: +/-
*Mishimia sky walk*
Gora Park
**Day 8 – Weds 22nd March – Kyoto**
* Day plans
* Travel to Kyoto – approx. 2-2.5hours
* Philosopher’s Path from Southern Higashiyama, Maruyama Park +/- detour to Yasaka Pagoda and Keaga incline if blossom present
* Evening plans:
* Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatoro, light illumination festival (evening event in March), open until 9pm, free to attend
* Unsure if this will be running, keeping an eye out on event. If open, may skip earlier temples that will be repeated.
* Otherwise:
* See Kodai-Ji temple and Yasaka shrine to see illuminated temples
* Gion area for dinner and drinks
​
**Day 9 – Thurs 23rd March – Kyoto -> Nara daytrip,** *option to push this to later an ‘Osaka’ day, possible Sumo wrestling day in Osaka.*
* Day plans
* Visit Nara and the park with deer
* Kofukuji Temple
* Todaijji Temple
* Visit Kasuga-taisha and view the many lanterns.
* **Mochi shop to visit** \- Nakatanido
If time allows:
* Mt Wakakusa
* Higashimuki Shopping Arcade
​
**Day 10 – Fri 24th March- Kyoto: Arashiyama,** *possible Sumo wrestling day in Osaka.*
* Day plans
* Arashiyama Bamboo Grove first thing
* Tenryu-ji Temple
* Monkey Park Iwarayama – 20-30 minute hike up to see views over Kyoto
Also wanting to do Sagano scenic railway ‘Romantic’ train but unsure where to book tickets for this, can the river cruise tickets back be purchased on site?
* Evening plans
* Shopping, food Pontocho alley
**Day 11 -Sat 25th March. Kyoto,** *possible Sumo Wrestling day in Osaka.*
* Day plans:
* Fushimi inari shrine and tori gate trail, return at youtsuji intersection
* Afternoon exploring / Hantoro evening if not seen on day 8
* Or Tea ceremony experience
* \+/- Golden Pavillion although might be shrine’d out by this point and it seems to be out of the way.
* Evening plans:
* Wander through **Gion Neighbourhood/Nishiki Market/Hokan-ji Pogoda**
* Sanneizaka and Nineizaka streets
**Day 12 – Sun 26th March** \- **Flexible day**
Flexible day to account for day lost due to Sumo Wrestling tournament (to be confirmed), last possible day of tournament is 26th.
Option; **Mount Yoshino** day trip – if Sakura is in its prime.
​
**Day 13 – Mon 27th March – Osaka**
* Plans
* Chill day in Osaka, options:
* Aquarium
* Osaka castle
* Shinsenkai area
* Nanba, Dotonburi
**Day 14 – Tuesday 28th March – Osaka airport**
Fly home.
​
Really keen to get this as sharp as possible, appreciate any suggestions / advice, thanks!
2 comments
Hi!
You’re sort of going the opposite direction of where you want to go if seeing sakura is important. Tokyo tends to get sakura earlier than Osaka or Kyoto. You can read through past sakura reports from Japan Guide to get a good sense of sakura timing.
[https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html)
It would be highly unlikely Yoshino has sakura since it tends to get sakura later than Kyoto and Osaka.
When you visit Shinjuku gyoen you should be able to see ume, which is quite lovely and momo might be in bloom as well.
I don’t know about SkyCircus because I’ve never looked into it, but the majority of stores and at least all the take out places in the Sunshine 60 shopping center were open when we were there in late December.
The Pokemon Cafe is incredibly popular and has incredibly mediocre food. Spots tend to go within 5-10 minutes of opening so make sure you know how to book a reservation. During our dates Tokyo was harder to book, so we booked Shinsaibashi. If you can’t get a reservation, Pokemon Sweets in Sunshine 60 offers Pokemon themed take out foods.
You seem a little confused about Hakone and Kawaguchiko. I’m pretty sure the Fuji excursion train is to Kawaguchiko while Odakyu’s limited express to Hakone-Yumoto is called the Romance Car. Mishima is a shinkansen station that has the skywalk, but unless you are planning a really scenic way back from Hakone you are not going to Mishima and I would make sure you know how often the buses run since they are not all that frequent. You’re better off stopping on your way to Kyoto.
The vast majority of ryokan and hotels in the Hakone area have onsen. I think it is harder to find a place that doesn’t have any onsen. You will be starting to run up against a school break time for the Japanese and Hakone is very popular as an overnight from Tokyo so I would book sooner rather than later.
I got a great view of Mt. Fuji from the shinkansen this past trip and it was so clear, I could see Mt. Fuji from the Tohoku shinkansen around Omiya. There are also plenty of observation decks in Tokyo you can frequently see Mt. Fuji from. I could see it from the breakfast restaurant at the hotel I stayed at in Shiodome. I have never actually seen Mt. Fuji from Hakone though. I know it is possible, but I’ve just not personally seen it from there despite going to Hakone many times.
Good luck!
early cherry blossom viewing in Kawazu :[https://www.kyuhoshi.com/kawazu-cherry-blossom-festival/](https://www.kyuhoshi.com/kawazu-cherry-blossom-festival/)
I have never been, but if it’s online, it must be real!
We did visit around the same time as you and some sites had almond trees which have blossoms a bit earlier than the cherry blossoms. I remember seeing some in Kyoto and Hiroshima