I’m going on a 14-day solo trip in a few weeks’ time and I’ve really procrastinated on planning what I’m actually doing each day. I have all my hotel stays booked, so my general itinerary is sort of set in stone, but would be grateful for any comments on whether there are any days where my planned activities are illogical or unfeasible. Also have a few questions included below. This is the first time I’ve traveled solo so I’m joining a few tours/activities just to ensure some social interaction and stop me shrinking into myself. I’ll check out the March meet-up as well.
I realise I’m too early for cherry blossom, but are there any particularly nice spots for plum blossom worth seeing?
Appreciate any thoughts or comments! Cheers!
**Tokyo, Sunday 5th March** **(ARRIVAL/Shinjuku)**
* Arrive at Narita at 9.30am (from Scotland)
* Narita Express to Shinjuku Station; drop of luggage at hotel in Shinjuku
* Wander around Shinjuku: get some ramen; DonQuixote; Hanazono Shrine
* Shinjuku Gyoen for as long as I can keep it up.
* Check-in at hotel circa 3pm, rest, see how I feel in the evening
**Tokyo, Monday 6th March** (Harajuku/Shibuya/Shinjuku evening)
*Harajuku* \- nothing specific, I’ll just go for a wander
*Shibuya*
* Shibuya Sky/Scramble
* Explore – and see where I end up
*Back to Shinjuku*
* Shinjuku Metropolitan Tower (if I don’t go to to Shibuya Sky)
* 17.00 – 20.30 Izakaya food tour (air bnb)
* Wherever the night takes me
**Tokyo, Tuesday 7th March** (Tsujiki/TeamLabs/Ginza/something else)
* *8.30 – 11.30* \- Tsujiki Market tour
* Gundam Statue/Rainbow Bridge
* *13.00-15.00(ish)* \- TeamLabs Planets (*ticket bought)*
* Ginza – Wander around (Godzilla Statue/Kabuki-Za) get some food
* Imperial Palace gardens
* *18.30 – 20.30* Karaoke in Shibuya *(a maybe, air bnb experience)*
**Tokyo, Wednesday 8th March** (Asakusa/Ueno/Akihabara)
*Asakusa*
* *Sensoji Temple/Kaminarimon (Kaminari Gate)/Nakamise-dori*
* *Street exploration around Asakusa*
* *Denboin-dori; Hoppy Street; Nishi-sando (Wooden Street); Shin-Nakamise-dori; Orange-dori*
* *Asakusa Cultural Center*
*Ueno*
* *Ueno Park*
* *Tokyo National Museum or Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum*
* *Ameyekocho market*
*Akihabara*
* Maid cafe (*are there any that are just novel and not creepy? I’m in two minds)*
* *Superpotato; general look around other places*
* *Dinner – drinks*
**Hakone, Thursday 9th March**
* Get large luggage Taqbin’d to Kyoto hotel
* Hakone Loop
* Ryokan for Onsen and dinner
**Kyoto, Friday 10th March**
* Arr. 10am at Kyoto St., drop extra backpack at hotel (Sotetsu Fresa 10 mins away from Nishiki market)
* Nishiki market
* Imperial Palace Garden
* Nijo Castle
* Samurai experience with Shogo (15.30)
* *Pontocho Alley for dinner (maybe)*
**Osaka, Saturday 11th March**
* Other than a food and sake tour 6-9pm, I have no particular plans set for Osaka. Maybe visit the castle, Umeda sky tower, wander around, get some good breakfast/lunch etc.
**Kyoto, Sunday 12th March**
* Fushimi Inari – *early morning*
* Nara:
* Deer Park
* Isui-en Garden
* Todai-ji Temple
* Kasuga-Taisha Shrine
* Kofuku-ji Temple
* *Might eat in Nara if anyone has any recommendations (?), but otherwise back to Kyoto for dinner*
**Kyoto, Monday 13th March ()**
* Kiyomizudera
* Higashiyama District
* Yasaka Shrine
* Heian Shrine
* Nanzenji
* Ginkakuji
**Kyoto, Tuesday 14th March**
* Arashiyama
* Bamboo Forest
* Tenryuji Temple
* Monkey Park
* Sagano Scenic Railway
* North
* Kinkakuji
* Ninnaji
**Hiroshima, Wednesday 15th March**
* Leave Kyoto; large luggage Taqbin’d to Tokyo hotel
* Morning in Miyajima – *is it worth going on the Mt Misen ropeways if you don’t intend actually trekking the last part of the way to the summit? Is the view still worth it?*
* Afternoon in Hiroshima
* A-Bomb Dome
* Peace Memorial Park
* Shukkei-en
* Okonomimura for dinner
**Himeji/Tokyo, Thursday 16th (Evening only)**
*Could it be feasible to go to Okayama/Kurashiki as well as Himeji? I have no particular time to be back in Tokyo for in the evening*
* Himeji Castle and Kokoen garden
* Back to Shinjuku and hotel
**Tokyo, Friday 17th**
* Shimokitazawa – breakfast; coffee; vintage shops
* Ghibli museum *(2pm – ticket bought)*
* Splash out for dinner
**Tokyo, Saturday 18th**
* Atago Shrine
* Tokyo Tower
* Mori Art Museum
* Afterwards- maybe some shopping
* Chilled last evening
**Fly home from Narita 11am, Sunday 19th**