Hello, I’m planning a 2023 trip to Japan from May 12th to May 28th for a group of 10-12 people. Everybody in the group is in their early to mid 20s and have varying tastes, so I’ve tried to plan the itinerary below to cover a wide array of interests. This will be the first time in Japan for most of us, and the second time for a few others.
I’m aware that traveling with such a large group can be a logistical hassle, so I wanted to see if the itinerary below would be feasible. I’ve done my best to keep all of activities physically close to one another to lower transit times, though I may have overlooked something. We have already booked our accommodations (luckily managed to find AirBNBs large enough for our party) and we have no problems splitting up for eating. Any and all advice is appreciated.
​
* **05/12 – Tokyo**
* Make way to AirBNB (Shinjuku)
* **05/13 – Tokyo Free Day**
* Shake off jet lag and explore surrounding area
* **05/14 – Tokyo (Akihabara)**
* AM:
* Kanda Matsuri – If this takes all day or Akihabara is too packed, will probably skip rest of itinerary for this day
* Ueno Park
* PM:
* HEY arcade/Super Potato Akihabara/GiGo Akihabara
* Yusha Kobo Keyboard Speciality Shop
* Don Quixote
* Yodobashi Camera
* **05/15 – Tokyo (Chuo City)**
* AM:
* Tsukiji Outer Market
* PM:
* Teamlabs Planet Tokyo
* Imperial Palace
* Pokemon Center DX
* **05/16 – Kamakura Day Trip**
* AM:
* Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
* Hokokuji Temple
* Jomyoji Temple
* PM:
* Enoshima Aquarium
* Enoshima Sea Candle
* Enoshima Cave
* **05/17 – Tokyo Free Day (My Personal Plan for Yokohama)**
* AM:
* Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
* Pokemon Center Yokohama
* PM:
* Yokohama Sky Garden
* Osanbashi Pier
* Yokohama Chinatown
* **05/18 – Tokyo (Shibuya/Shinjuku)**
* AM:
* Nintendo Store
* Shibuya Sky
* PM:
* Meiji Jingu
* Yoyogi Park
* Hachiko Statue
* Shibuya Crossing
* **05/19 – Tokyo (Asakusa)**
* AM:
* Sanja Matsuri
* PM:
* Train to Osaka + check into AirBNB (Namba)
* **05/20 – Osaka**
* AM:
* Osaka Museum of Natural History
* PM:
* Walk around the gardens in the area
* Teamlabs Botanical
* Dotonbori
* **05/21 – Kyoto Day Trip**
* AM:
* Fushimi Inari
* PM:
* Kiyomizu-dera
* **05/22 – Osaka**
* AM:
* Probably just relax/sleep in for the morning, 05/21 should be heavy walking
* PM:
* Osaka Aquarium
* Ferris Wheel
* **05/23 – Kyoto Day Trip (Arashiyama)**
* AM:
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
* PM:
* Tenryuji Temple
* Hogonin Temple
* Sagano Scenic Railway
* **05/24 – Osaka Free Day**
* **05/25 – Nara Day Trip**
* AM:
* Todaiji Temple
* PM:
* Nara Park
* Kasuga Taisha
* Head back to Osaka (?)
* **05/26 – Osaka**
* AM:
* Umeda Sky Building
* PM:
* Osaka Tenmangu
* Tenjinbashisuji
* Train back to Tokyo + check into separate hotels (figured AirBNB wasn’t worth the hassle for the last few days)
* **05/27 – Tokyo Free Day**
* Probably lots of shopping on this day for souvenirs to bring back
* **05/28 – Tokyo**
* Departure
​
**Questions**
1. I’m worried that I’ve put a few too many repetitive things on this list (e.g. too many temples or too much shopping back to back). Are there any more unique activities/experiences (such as TeamLabs or the matsuris) that you would recommend?
2. Are any of these days underplanned? If any are overplanned, we’re okay with missing out on some of the things on the list.
3. Do any of these activities require advance reservations/tickets to participate in? The only ones I’m aware of are Teamlabs Planets, Teamlabs Botanical, and the Sagano Scenic Railway.
4. Anything worth doing in Nara past 5pm or should we just head back to Osaka?
5. Any general advice for traveling in such a large group?
6. From May 29th to June 11th, my friend and I plan to continue traveling as a pair across northern Japan (Tohoku/Hokkaido). Any must see cities or activities in this region?
6 comments
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The G7 Summit is May 19-21st in Hiroshima
[https://groupofnations.com/summits/g7-japan-hiroshima-summit-2023/](https://groupofnations.com/summits/g7-japan-hiroshima-summit-2023/)
If this Summit is anything like the G20 Summit in 2019 and I can’t imagine it won’t be, several days before the Summit to several days after all lockers on Honshu (and presumably Kyushu, Shikoku and Hokkaido, but I was only on Honshu last time, so I am less sure of other islands) will be unavailable. The vast majority of trash receptacles will also be closed. This doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it means if you bring food to eat on the shinkansen on the 19th, you will have to carry all trash off the train with you until you can find a place to dispose of it which can take a while. I just remember being so happy when I got to the rental car place because they had a trash can. I would be concerned with what time your AirBnB is kicking you out on the 19th, since you are unlikely to be able to use a locker, though some of the more expensive paid left luggage counters might be available, I am not sure. I just saw all the banks of closed lockers.
I would think in the morning you can see the Hachiko Statue and Shibuya Crossing when you visit the Parco and Shibuya Sky. There is another Pokemon Store in the Parco. Each store is slightly different and can have different merchandise in stock and some stores have exclusive merchandise *cough* Kyoto *cough* They each have different theming with statues. My tween is very into Pokemon so we visit a lot of Pokemon Stores.
Since you are a large group, if one of you has a birthday in May and can show proof, like a Passport, and you have a Switch with you, the store will give you a “gift” of a code for a Pokemon in I believe Scarlet and Violet. They use to give slightly more stuff, but so it goes.
I think some of your Kyoto days might be under planned, but it’s honestly hard to tell because you are a large group, and large groups tend to slow everyone down.
When you go back to Tokyo, since you seem into Pokemon you might want to check out Pokemon Sweets in Ikebukuro. It doesn’t require a reservation vs. the Pokemon Cafe and so is less of a time commitment.
I might put off shopping until after you finish in Tohoku unless there are some sales going on or other limited merchandise.
For Tohoku it really depends on your interests? There are a lot of places I like, but I also am not tattooed and really like onsen. Tohoku has some exceptional onsen experiences. Sendai is a nice city and Matsushima is quite nice. I want to try and do some of the Pokemon train for my tween and I want to figure out where the Pokemon themed playgrounds in Fukushima-ken are. I know one is out near Iwaki, but Koriyama is supposed to have one too.
We collect fashion dolls so, always do something related to that hobby in Tohoku. While not strictly speaking Tohoku, Nikko is splendid. If you rent a car, Osorezan is amazing, but trying to get there via public transit is just awful. I regret skipping the Towada City Art Museum and I really liked Hiraizumi, Hirosaki, and Kakunodate. The latter two I visited during sakura.
Good luck!
1. Be flexible. If you get bored of temples and shrines, then stop visiting them. One thing I do not see that is usually popular is an observation deck.
2. Generally ok, but again, be flexible, if you see you cannot do everything, then just take your time to enjoy what you are doing.
3. Those are the main things.
4. Unless there is an event, attractions close at 5pm, so there is not much reason to stay after that.
5. You do not have to always do everything as a single group. It is fine to split in smaller groups and do activities that match each individual interest. Some people are more into art museum for example and might want to see some art museum, while other might be more into hiking and could use a day for a hike. Just don’t force everybody to follow the plan that would only/mainly please one person.
I’ve got some insight in this: I led a group of nine total a few years ago. Slightly different mission. Somethings that helped all of us (we’re all still friends to this day)…..
* Make sure people are aware of the options for local transit. For those who are not familiar with the seemingly infinite transportation options, mention SUICA, PASMO (not sure if that will work Osaka/ Kansai IC cards) and mention that the IC cards can be used for many vending machine purchases, some Conbini’s and so on. Tokyo Metro has discounted tourist cards (24 48 or 72 hour cards) you can pick up when you arrive at the airports and some select locations (Bic Camera) in Tokyo. Also typical day passes at Tokyo Metro station machines.
* Consider the logistics of moving luggage via Sagawa or Taqbin (Yamato) .. there is so much advice on the Google and YouTube. Do not undersell the distances.. endless stairs and walking through the day. Encourage everyone to have a bare minimum of luggage. Be prepared for people not to heed your advice.. and consider how that could slow the group down with train travel. Mention how easy lockers are to use (and most now are payed for via an IC card)
And – I noticed outside a Shinkansen ticket area the other day – certain Bullet train services (west out of Tokyo) is restricting luggage on certain routes. There are those airport luggage size thingies which tell me JR is serious. Be prepared to remind everyone about dragging/ wheeling two sets of luggage up and down stations.
* Encourage everyone to get a SIM or eSIM or maybe a ‘pocket’ Wifi hotspot and set up a group chat to keep everyone up to speed. I had a pre travel meeting out of country and found the group chat awesome when we were travelling in country. Take note that you collectively will have to agree on a platform to chat.
Most data SIMs in Japan *do not* have phone numbers associated with them, so any SMS/ Texting verification or Apps that require a local phone number will limit their interactions and make users (your friends) rely on Skype or Whatsapp for phone calls. I mention this is if you have a Luddite on your tour, getting in front of this before hand will save you having to ‘help’ them on day 1.
* Another thing I’ve noticed on my latest trip is the amount of museums, historical walking tours and attractions that are giving information in English via Smart Phones. If you think this is something your group could be interested in, encourage people to bring a Smart phone and headphones so they can interact with the attraction in English.
and .. last advice, mention to those who have not been to Japan before that the country is very cash based. Encourage your friends to be clear on ATM usage and credit cards. Again, this could save you time waiting for them early in the AM at 7-11/ Lawson/ Family Marts as they go through the trial and error of withdrawing cash for the first ATM interaction. There is a myriad of ATMs and bank machines in the country which could be intimidating for first timers.
Keep your tour light and flexible. My experience was for the first 2 or 3 days that the group I was with wanted to stay in their comfort zone and not stray too far. Later on in the tour people started doing their own thing (which I encouraged) and towards the end of the 12 days most of us were just meeting for breakfast/ dinner to talk about our day. I don’t know your relationship or dynamics of the people you hope to travel with. You deserve a medal for leading and arranging all of this.
1. Be aware of sunset when you go to Enoshima because once the it’s dark, it’s dark. Because of this, do the caves first and work your way forward.
2. Same with Meiji Shrine, I’d do your entire PM set in the AM.
Depending on where you’re leaving from, you might not experience jetlag, I heard you’ll feel it if u travel east and not west