Hello all,
My wife and I are visiting Japan for the first time during the first two weeks of April 2023 (fingers crossed for Sakura!). We are both in our early 30s and looking to soak in as much of the beautiful Japanese food, traditional culture, and landmarks as possible. We have already booked our accommodations as well as a 7 day JR Rail pass (to be used the first week).
However, as many others on this subreddit have noted, Tokyo is a **massive** city with way too many restaurants and attractions to possibly cover in a week. What a wonderful problem to have! I have been cutting so many things out of my itinerary trying to focus on quality vs. quantity that I fear I may have cut a bit too much! I’m hoping to gain any advice/feedback/critiques on my 14 day itinerary below.
Thank you in advance!
Questions:
\- The Robot Restaurant website ([https://shinjuku-robot.com/sp/](https://shinjuku-robot.com/sp/)) is up and running, but crashes when I try and make a reservation. Does anyone know if this is still happening?
\- I keep hearing great things about pizza in Tokyo, but I chose to exclude it in favor of the domestic food options. Bad call?
\- I have planned for a ton of konbini breakfasts because, from what I understand, Japan is not really big on breakfast and a lot of the restaurants open around 10-11AM. Is this generally correct? Am I way off here?
\- I’m taking any recommendations for old school, traditional izakaya (kanji posters on the wall, chaotic, smokey etc). Are those only found in Yokochos in modern day Japan?
\- Also taking any recommendations for zashiki (tatami seating) restaurants!
\- Would you recommend a detailed plan of attack for Tsukiji Market? Or do you typically let your eyes guide you?
\- Ebisu Yokocho looks like it has a more local vibe than the yokochos in Shinjuku and Shibuya. Is it worth it? Or should I stick to either Golden Gai/Nonbei/Omoide as a gaijan tourist?
**Day 1: Kyoto**
Morning: Landing in Osaka via Seoul at 11AM, activate JR Rail pass and head over to Kyoto by the afternoon.
Afternoon: Throw the bags at the hotel (near Gion district) and wander Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka/, Kodai-ji
Evening: Kiyomizu-dera for sunset, explore Gion district at night
Breakfast: in Seoul
Lunch: something from konbini
Dinner: somewhere in Pontocho Alley
**Day 2: Kyoto**
Morning: Kinkaku-ji + walk to Ryoan-ji + walk to Ninna-ji
Afternoon: Uber/cab to Ginkaku-ji, walk down the philosophers path to Nanzen-ji
Evening: Walk down to Maruyama Park once the temples/shrines are closed for the evening to (hopefully) take in some more cherry blossoms until dinner time
Breakfast: something from konbini
Lunch: Omen for udon
Dinner: somewhere in Pontocho Alley (Onikai izakaya or Chao Chao Sanjo Kiyamichi for gyoza or Kichi Kichi Omurice (tourist trap AF, but the chef seems awesome) or Honke Owariya for soba
**Day 3: Hiroshima**
Pick up a bento box + sake and ride the shinkansen around 7AM to Hiroshima
Morning: Hiroshima Castle, Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park and Museum, Okonomimura food hall for lunch
Afternoon: Catch the JR Rail + Ferry to Miyajima Island:
\- Omotesando Shopping Street (find Momiji manju cake!), Senjokaku Pavilion + Pagoda, Itsukushima torii, Itsukushima shrine
If time and weather cooperate: Daisho-In Temple + cable car up Mount Misen
Evening: possibly dinner in Hiroshima then shinkansen back to Kyoto
Breakfast: bento from konbini
Lunch: Okonomimura Food Hall
Dinner: TBD, any recommendations for Hiroshima? Better to get back to Kyoto and eat?
**Day 4: Kyoto**
Morning: head over to Arashiyama for Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, Gio-ji in the morning
Afternoon: Bamboo forest, Okochi-Sanso, Monkey park (sadly no time for the Sagano train)
Evening: Geisha spring dance at Miyako Odori, then wander Gion district again
Breakfast: Konbini
Lunch: Ogura Chaya for Udon
Dinner: somewhere in Gion district
**Day 5: Universal Studios**
Morning + Afternoon: Universal Studios for Nintendo World!
Evening: Osaka
\- Start at Shinsekai (JanJan Yokocho) and eat takoyai and kushikatsu, walk up to Dotonbori and play pachinko (if they allow gaijan)
Breakfast: Konbini
Lunch: something overpriced at Universal Studios
Dinner: street food in Osaka
**Day 6: Kyoto + Nara**
Morning: Tofuku-ji and Fushimi Inari
Afternoon: Nara
\- Kofuku-ji, Todai-ji, Nara Park
Evening: wander in Nara once all the main temples are closed
Breakfast: Konbini
Lunch: in Nara
Dinner: in Nara
**Day 7: Kyoto + Hakone**
Morning: 10AM tea ceremony at Maikoya
Afternoon: take the Kodama shinkansen to Hakone (purchase the 2 day free pass), keep our bags at the ryokan and head over to the Hakone torii gate + hakone checkpoint
Evening: bus back to the ryokan for dinner + onsen
Breakfast: at Maikoya
Lunch: konbini
Dinner: at ryokan
**Day 8: Hakone Loop**
Morning: breakfast at ryokan, then bus to Amazake Chaya tea house, then “hike” the old Tokaido highway to the town of Motohakone
Afternoon: if it’s a clear day, then Komagatake ropeway for views of Mt Fuji, take the pirate ship across Lake Ashi, cable car up to Owakudani, cable car to Gora, Hakone Open-Air Museum, train back to ryokan
Evening: back to the ryokan for dinner + onsen
Breakfast: at ryokan
Lunch: something in the town of Motohakone
Dinner: at ryokan
**Day 9: Tokyo (Kagurazaka + Tokyo Dome)**
Morning: breakfast at ryokan then make the trek to Tokyo, check in/drop bags at hotel in Kabukicho/Shinjuku and hit up Ichiran ramen
Afternoon: Subway over to Kagurazaka to explore the alleys and main strip
Evening: walk over to the Tokyo Dome for Yomiuri Giants v. Hanshin Tigers (Go Giants!)
Post game, would love to hit one of Tokyo’s infamous yokocho’s. Omoide seems like a safe bet, but how is Ebisu Yokocho?
Breakfast: at ryokan
Lunch: Ichiran + random eats in Kagurazaka
Dinner: either Omoide or Ebisu Yokocho
**Day 10: Tokyo (Shibuya + Harajuku)**
Morning: start with a cuppa at About Life Coffee Brewers, then tackle the Shibuya scramble, say hello to Hachiko, then over to lunch
Afternoon: Gawk at the pretty buildings along Omotesando and check out some of the shops, then over to Harajuku/Takeshita to eat sweets and hopefully get to see the shiba inu’s at MameShiba café
If time, Meiji Jingu (we may be Temple’d-out by then)
Evening: walk south on Cat Street back towards Shibuya crossing and check out Parco Mall, Shibuya 109
Post game, would love to hit one of Tokyo’s infamous yokocho’s. Omoide seems like a safe bet, but how is Ebisu Yokocho?
Breakfast: likely just coffee
Lunch: Tonkatsu at either Butagami or Maisen Aoyama
Dinner: kaitenzushi followed by Nonbei Yokocho
**Day 11: Tokyo (Tsukiji + TeamLabs + Ginza)**
Morning: head over to Tsukiji by 8:30AM and eat an embarrassing amount of fatty tuna, uni, crab tempura, and kujira. Wash it all down with sake.
Afternoon: walk it off at TeamLabs planets
Aft/Evening: Ginza for shopping and architecture and a martini night cap at Mori Bar
Breakfast: at Tsujiki
Lunch: tempura abe honten and hanayama udon
Dinner: likely somewhere along Yurakucho Station
**Day 12: Tokyo (Asakusa + Kappabashi + Akihabara)**
Morning: eat our way to Senso-ji via Nakamise shopping street, followed by matcha gelato at Suzukien Asakusa
Afternoon: load up on hoppy at a few Hoppy Street izakaya, then head over to Kappabashi for souvenirs (sake cups, utensils, bowls, cool chopsticks)
Evening: Akihabara! Super Potato, Mandarake, Yodobashi, Donki, Gigo, Taito Station arcades, electric town
Breakfast: along Nakamise
Lunch: Tempura at one of Nakasei or Tentou or Daikokuya (back up plan is Kura Sushi ROX)
Dinner: Kanda Yabu Soba or Gyukatsu Ich Ni San
**Day 13: Tokyo (Shinjuku)**
Morning: Yayoi Kusama Museum (11AM)
Afternoon: lunch, then take in the views from Metropolitan Building, followed by Go karting thru Tokyo (I know, I know)
Evening: walk around Golden Gai, then head over to Kabukicho for Robot Restaurant, bar hopping, and karaoke
Breakfast: Konbini
Lunch: Udon Shin
Dinner: Gyukatsu Motomura
**Day 14: Tokyo (Sakura + Back Home)**
Morning: Sakura hanami, weather permitting, at Gyoen National Garden (with bento + sake)
Afternoon: head to Haneda
Evening: en route back home
Breakfast: bento
Lunch: at Haneda
​
Arigato gozaimasu!
2 comments
Robot Restaurant is permanently closed. Just haven’t updated the web site.
So many things to eat in Tokyo, you will not be hurt to miss pizza.
Many people report that they had difficulty finding breakfast. I didn’t experience this. Maybe it’s hard to find an American-style breakfast, or if you’re not using a maps app. At 7-8 AM you can get a “Morning Set” light breakfast at many coffee shops (not the trendier ones) and enough places do soba or Japanese-style rice and fish breakfasts. More options near train stations.
When you visit Kagurazaka, try eating there because there are many good restaurants that are cheap for lunch, for French food and other food. When you are looking to eat near Yurakucho, try under the train tracks bridge (gado-shita). When you’re in Akihabara, swing by Ueno Ameyokocho at evening. It’s got a “chaotic” atmosphere but down to earth and tourist-friendly.
I’m sure other people will have more advice. Enjoy your trip.
Robot Restaurant closed, they made it sound as they might re-open in the future, but for now it’s dead, don’t try to book.
No idea if Tokyo really have a good reputation for pizza, honestly eat what you want, in two weeks you will have many occasions to eat Japanese dishes, so eating one pizza does not make that much difference. At least if you do search for a known good place.
It’s generally what I do. There is some restaurant like Matsuya that have a breakfast menu and that are usually open early. There might be some big chain stores (cafe or fastfood) open too if you want options.
Tsukiji market I guess both options are ok. There is some stores that seems to be a little bit hidden and would be easy to miss, but again I guess there is enough options that you should be able to manage just by roaming the area and to go eat whatever look good.
I do not have much experience with the different yokocho, but I do not see why it would be a problem to go to Ebisu yokocho instead of lining up in golden gai with all the other tourist…
I would not call Kichi Kichi a tourist trap, but just a internet buzz. From what I understand, his omurice is good, but you can find other places that make it as good too, but I saw someone who said that you go there for the show and not for the food quality.
Hiroshima…. why do you want to go to the Peace museum first ? then Miyajima then back to Hiroshima… Go to Miyajima first, get lunch there (they are known for oyster), then move to Hiroshima for the Peace museum (and Castle if you have time). From there, you are already in Hiroshima for okonomiyaki dinner and you only have to return once to the train station.
You know, there is better ramen than Ichiran.