Hi! I am going to Japan with a friend from May 11 to 23 and wanted advice on our itinerary, below. It’s pretty much Tokyo / Kyoto / Osaka.
We’ve broken down each day into morning/afternoon/evening to help us focus but expect/want to wander around. Our goal is pretty typical: see traditional sites, some anime/pop culture stuff, eat good food (my friend is vegan), etc. My friend is specifically into anthropology so some stops are related to this.
**Day 1 – Tokyo (arrive NRT 3:45 pm)**
* Check in: Shinjuku
* No specific plans, likely explore around the hotel, get food, sleep early due to travel
**Day 2 – Tokyo (Shinjuku/Shibuya)**
* Morning: Yayoi Kusama Museum (pending tickets)
* Afternoon: Shibuya
* Shibuya Crossing; Hachiko statue; Cute Cube Harajuku; Shibuya Sky
* Evening: Shinjuku
* Observatory at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
* general exploration, dining
**Day 3 – Tokyo (Kichijoji)**
* Morning: Ghibli Museum (pending tickets)
* Afternoon: Inokashira Park / Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum
* Evening: *open*
**Day 4 – Tokyo (Ueno/Taito City/Akihabara)**
* Morning: Ueno/Taito City
* Senso-ji; Hatoya’s Vegan Fruit Sandwiches; Tokyo National Museum
* Afternoon: Akihabara
* Mandarake; Don Quijote; Chabara
* Evening: Explore Ginza/Maronouchi/Nihonbashi
* Sumo match
**Day 5 – Tokyo**
**Sanrio Puroland**, otherwise open day.
I’d love to visit the Gundam Factory in Yokohama but am not sure if it’ll be open during our stay. Is it too far to do on this day along with Puroland?
**Day 6 – Fujikawaguchiko**
Check out from Tokyo and head to a hotel for a one-night stay in Fujikawaguchiko. When we arrive, we plan to explore Aokigahara and the Fugaku Wind Cave.
**Day 7 – Kyoto**
Check out from Fujikawaguchiko and head to Kyoto, which will be our base for the rest of the trip. Have not decided on where to stay but likely near Kyoto Station.
No specific plans yet once we check in, though the hope is to visit the Kyoto University Museum today. The rest will be spent exploring around our hotel (TBD) and eating food.
**Day 8 – Kyoto (Arashiyama)**
* Morning: Itawayama, Tenryu-ji, bamboo groves
* Afternoon: Toei Kyoto Studio Park (mainly for Evangelion); Kinkaku-ji
* Evening: *open*
**Day 9 – Kyoto (Gion)**
* Morning: Fushimi Inari-taisha
* Afternoon: explore Gion
* Evening: *open*
**Day 10 – Nara (day trip)**
A day trip to Nara to visit the park, Todai-ji, etc., as well as Yu Nakagawa and eat at Kururu.
**Day 11 – Osaka (day trip)**
* Morning: National Museum of Ethnology
* Afternoon: Isshin-ji, Donguri Republic
* Evening: explore Dotonbori
* Amerikamura; Glico Man; Gyozoah! Dotonbori; Mochisho Shizuku Shinmachi
**Day 12 – OPEN**
We’re debating what to do on this day. Either explore more of Osaka, Himeji Castle, or Hiroshima. Leaning toward Hiroshima right now. Any suggestions?
**Day 13 – Tokyo**
Morning train back to Narita for a 5:30 pm flight home.
**PENDING QUESTIONS**
* Is the one day stop in Fujikawaguchiko okay? We’ve already booked our Tokyo hotel and didn’t consider making this a day trip.
* Should we get a JR pass? My friend does plan on staying for another week so it probably makes sense for her.
* Are the daily itineraries okay in terms of travel from place to place? We tried to stay within a neighborhood for most of the day or do two max.