If y’all remember my last post, I’ve come for a new decision. If not, I have a 9ish day itinerary, but the first few days have two options.
Day0: I land in NRT 1430 07FEB2023
.Going to try to eat lunch at a fancy airport lounge, due to benefits of priority pass and such.
pick up SUICA, exchange money, have fun. \*
Plan to take Keisei line to Tokyo/Chiyoda city
This is where my plan splits. More expensive and interesting is Plan A\*
Pick up JR 7 day Pass
JR Pass straight to OSAKA with luggage.
Check into business hotel and sleep(Smile hotel namba or Hotel Kansai)
1. Day1: 8FEB2023
Fushimi Inari Shrine (as per suggestion thx)
other shrine/temple if time available
or straight to onsen/relax (if nogo)
Half day at Universals studio
Retire early.
2. Day2: Universals
Focus mostly on NintendoLand
No express pass. just wait in line and gacha during queue
If done early, Check into Ryokan.
3. Day3: Onsen/baths
Night before, and day of. Chill.
Journey to Tokyo.
Kind of dumb, but if there is time, randomly take a roundtrip with shinkasen passing by Mt Fuji? otherwise, empty time
4. Day4: 11FEB2023
Link back up to regular schedule
Luggage, Laundry & Food: Luggage left in business hotel. Day2, store in luggage locker, bring to ryokan, can taqbin to Tokyo if necessary. Laundry at Ryokan if available, or buy merch and wear. Wash in Tokyo. Amusement park food and Ryokan food. Combini otherwise.
Plan B is cheaper, and less travel?
Stay in Tokyo. probably closer to Hotel Horidome/Tokyo Station
1. Day1: 8FEB2023
Go for Hakone loop 2 days
Goal is look at Big Mountain (Mt. Fuji)
Take it slow, and visit where ever
Start looking for lodging around 1800?
2. Day2: Finish Hakone loop.
Journey back to Tokyo.
If early, NAF atsugi visit?/Gundam Factory?
Journey to 5 lakes city for Ryokan +Look at big mountain
3. Day3: Onsen/baths
Night before and day of. chill.
Try some local specialties?
Maybe look for some yuru camp anime sites?
Honestly, could just go anywhere with hot spring/chill.
Return back to Tokyo
4. Day4: 11FEB2023
Link back up with regular schedule.
Luggage, Laundry, and Food: Luggage left in Tokyo Station locker, swapped day 2 end. Can bring with on Day 3 if necessary or convenient for laundry, otherwise, leave in Tokyo. Eat local specialties. Combini or AYCE that catches eye sounds fun.
Main difference between the two is cost, and distance. Honestly, wouldn’t mind either, and could decide with a coin flip when I land at airport if still undecided.
Onto Main Itinerary
Day 3 Night: Stay in Tokyo
Probably Dormy Inn. Has onsen. Laundry. noodles open late
4. Day4: 11FEB2023
Early Tsukiji Fish Market
Yokohama Gundam Museum if haven’t
Akihabara shopping/browsing if have.
Shibuya crossing in the evening?
5. Day5: 12FEB2023
Muji Flagship store in Ginza
Don quijote/Daiso browsing
Journey to Costco in Japan to see.
6. Day 6: 13FEB2023
Meet up with friend for next 3 days
Plausible plans for the next few days:
DisneySea (1day)
Kirby Cafe (4hrs if I happen into a spot?)
Anime/Theme cafe/bar (4hrs?)
TeamlabPlanets (4hrs including transportation?)
Shibuya Sky View/shopping (6hrs?)
7&8. \^Those options. Plan with friend.
9. Day 9: 16FEB2023
Something in the morning? Maybe Onsen?
Flight in the evening (1600). Journey to Narita/party in Airport lounge if it was good?
Return Suica/stuff souvenirs in bag
Luggage, Laundry: Laundry Day 3 evening/Day4 morning. Luggage in lockers, Google maps for capsule hotels/overnight manga lounge? Occasional business hotel for laundry? Coordinate with friend on luxury vs poverty.
Food: google maps AYCE/yakiniku. Sushi at Tsukiji fish market. local ramen/noodles if catch eye. Kinda just yolo, outside of theme cafe/ ayce/aycd.
Further questions/concerns?
eSim or physical sim? eSIM seems cheap and effective, but I also do have a second SIM slot, (hybrid, microSD). I could also just use Tmobile free unlimited 3G but, this question is mostly if the free unlimited isn’t fast/good enough for day2day travel and such.
I’m packing barely a large backpack+small drawstring bag entering Japan. ZIPAIR charges per carryon, and I plan to barely bring like. 4 sets of clothes+electronics support. Plan to use the drawstring bag for day to day travel. Plan to buy a real, suitcase, and check the suitcase for souvenirs/return stuff if I have a lot. lack of clothes means laundry was a plausible concern, but I also like graphics Ts, so buying merch/clothes is …. kinda of expected.
I know the itinerary looks kind of blank for days 6-9 but, I have to coordinate the Tokyo days with my friend. This is mostly a sanity check/decision for the solo vacation days.
My Primary Specific question for Itinerary is. Which plan should I choose: Plan A or Plan B
(and why? but honestly, a poll works for me. or coin flip)
~~The irony of spending Valentines with a friend instead of Fiancé is. kind of unfortunate, but at least getting couple deals on karaoke and stuff is still a deal right?~~
1 comment
do you have a suitcase? I get not wanting to take one due to paying for the checked luggage. but the suitcase you plan to buy wont be free, then you have two… Expect the suitcase to cost around $50-100, possibly more. Not sure you save cash not bringing any…
If I see correctly, the question is, will you go to Osaka and explore Universal studios (in like 2 half day legs?!) or wont you… Okay okay, fushimi inari…
I am not sure exploring Universal studios is worth the hassle. Exploring Kyoto for 4 days, maybe.
Well, it comes down to, is the price for the train tickets and entry worth going into Universal Studio? Also, no express pass? dont you need one for nintendo land? I remember reading something, I advise you to make sure…
Finding an Onsen somewhere, be it day 2 or 4 or in Osaka or Tokyo wont be an issue. You can find a everday onsen/sento pretty much in every big city.
Unless you want ryokan, natural hot water, with romantic atmosphere and all that. then you will need to find a place, like Kinosaki or Izu – and I am sure there will be ones closer to Mt. Fuji as well. But I dont know this area too well personally yet…
I am also not too sure about 4 days laundry and laundry day. sitting in a train for half a day to drive one rollercoaster may be similar. it costs too much time. if that is the way it needs to be, it needs to be. but if you can reduce the moments where you just -wait until its over- you can see more of the awesomeness of why you are going…
Your plan makes it sound like you dont know where you will sleep and when. Dates imply you will leave within a week. That is courage to a level I could never muster. You need to have a buffer, find a place to sleep at like 4pm or head back to the next big city where you know youll find some last minute capsule hotel (Tokyo probably)
you dont have to pick up a esim. if the pickup is painless, it really doesnt matter.