**Background:**
Found cheap flight tickets, so going for a 10-day trip in mid-February (eek! so soon!). I still haven’t booked reservations and tickets for hotels and itinerary items, so may wind up adjusting some things depending on availability. Itinerary items are listed in the order I’m currently planning on doing them during that day, with (?) denoting items I’m thinking of leaving out or skipping. Trying to stay within \~ 550,000 yen budget (excluding flights).
Asking for: Sanity Check / What am I missing / What I should leave out / Recommendations for food + lodging / Activity Ordering
My travel style: Prioritize meaningful cultural experiences / Great food is life / Need some de-stressing and active relaxation / Moderately active (3-6 hr easy hikes are a regular activity for me) / Train and public transit nerd / Not very interested in shopping and bars / COVID-conscious (especially with current case rates)
**Draft Itinerary:**
**Saturday, Feb 11 – Tokyo**
Arrive HND \~15:00
Check into hotel (near Shinjuku station? Hopefully a capsule hotel for the experience? Recommendations?)
Dinner and wandering around Piss Alley + Golden Gai
**Sunday, Feb 12 – Hakone**
7/11 breakfast snacks
Earliest train to Hakone (take advantage of jet lag!)
Hakone Loop (direction depends on lodging):
\- Hakone Shrine
\- Cedar Avenue Walk (?)
\- Pirate ship on Lake Ashi
\- Togendai (get Omurice?)
\- Hakone ropeway
\- Owakudani (try eggs)
\- Hakone Tozan train + cable car
\- Hakone Museum (?)
Onsen for relaxation
Spend evening at Ryokan, ideally japanese-style room
**Monday, Feb 13 – Kyoto**
Bath + Breakfast
Train to Kyoto
Rengeoin Sanjusangendo?
Nishiki Market
Myoshinji Temple
Maiko Tea Ceremony (3:15 pm slot is only available)
Pontocho Alley
Fushimi Inari Taisha
**Tuesday, Feb 14 – Nara day trip**
Nara Loop:
\- Kofukuji Temple
\- Isuien Garden (?)
\- Todaiji Temple
\- Okonomiyaki for lunch (recommendations?)
\- Nara Park
\- Mt. Wakakusa
\- Kasuga-Taisha
\- Sanjo-dori Street / Nakatanidou Mochi Shop / Higashimuki
**Wednesday, Feb 15 – Kyoto**
Jisho-ji
Philosopher’s Path
Higashiyama ward
Kiyomizu-dera
Kennin-ji
Hanamikoji St
Gion Tour
Yasaka Shrine
**Thursday, Feb 16 – Arashimaya day trip**
Arashimaya loop:
\- Tenryuji
\- Bamboo Forest
\- Nonmiya Shrine (?)
\- Otagi Nenbutsu-ji (?)
\- Togetsukyo Bridge
\- Monkey Park
Train to Yamazaki Whisky Museum
No tour available, but visit to museum and sample some drams
Dinner in Kyoto
**Friday, Feb 17 – Koyasan**
Train to Koyasan
Walk around, temple loop / hikes
Dinner in temple stay (still to book lodging)
Okuno-in Night Tour
Torodo
**Saturday, Feb 18 – Transit Day / Osaka / Tokyo**
Train to Osaka
Lunch in Osaka? Osaka suggestions?
Train to Tokyo
Hotel in Shibuya area (suggestions?)
Shibuya Sky
Shibuya Crossing
**Sunday, Feb 19 – Tokyo**
Fish Market / Tuna Auction (?)
Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast
TeamLab Planets
Meiji Jingu (?)
Harajuku people watching
Noh Theatre performance (15:20 – 19:15 scheduled time)
Don Quijote for shopping
**Monday, Feb 20 – Tokyo**
Sumida River walk / park
Senso-ji
Nakamise Shopping St.
Ameyoko Center for lunch
Depart HND \~17:15
Thanks in advance for any advice and feedback! This sub has been so helpful as I’ve been trying to plan.