Itinerary Check – End of February Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka
Travelers: 2, 2 carry-on suitcases, and 1 duffle backpack (if we decide on a big suitcase will most likely use Yamato and deliver from Narita to Osaka). Used Wanderlog to track attractions+restaurants but only rsvp’ed a few restaurants as we didn’t want to burdened by appointments (also wasn’t easy to book the ones we wanted online…without paying $10 in booking fee ha ha). Planning to exchange for $YEN at atms via my Wise debit card (Mastercard). Would love if ppl had experiences recently. From all the posts I’ve read, cash is needed mainly for street vendors and some local establishments, Chase CC etc accepted pretty ubiquitously.
About us: we love walking local streets and immersing ourselves into cities we visit. We love good food (both cheap eats and fine dining), and Im a newly converted anime lover: HunterXHunter, Naruto, Demon Slayer.
**Day1:**
Flying into Narita \~5pm. Bought my Tokyo Skyliner train ticket to city +pre-loaded my SUICA (Apple Wallet). Plan to use mobile to pay for subway instead of physical card.
Settle into hotel near Shinjuku, indulge in the local food scene that is FamilyMart, 7-11 (Tsujihan has an option to pick up? May see if that works otherwise Konbini dinner)
**Day2:**
Tsukiji Outer Market, Uniqlo Ginza, maybe some Buta-Daigaku (pork belly over rice) to offset the seafood I’ll be wolfing down.
After a few hours of Ginza, will meander over to Shibuya (day 2 mainly to enjoy Tokyo surrounding esp the hustle and bustle). Mega Don Quijote and Yoyoji Park. If we have time, maybe check out Shimokitazawa for some old-Tokyo vibes and hip clothing. Otherwise will bump to another day. Dinner rsvp at Sushi Shin. Check out a bar near our hotel in Shinjuku
**Day3:**
Senso-ji, Nakamise Street, some Suzukien Matcha ice cream. Afterwards not sure if we should head south to Akihabara (as most travelers do) or check out the Ryogoku town (bummed we are missing the Sumo Tournament) so hoping I bump into a few publicly. Is this part of Tokyo worth checking out? If Akihabara, will check out some yam desert spot, Roast Beef Ohno Harajuku? And a few coffee shops I’ve bookmarked nearby. No dinner rsvp. Kabukicho District hehe.
**Day 4:**
Line up for some Udon Shin as it’s in our neighborhood, and then explore Shinjuku (Isetan), check out Meiji Shrine after the sun sets for the night vibes. There’s quite a few tempura spots near Shinjuku/Shibuya on my list so perhaps we’ll have that for dinner. Yokocho alley?
**Day5:** Imperial Palace for a nice morning stroll. There’s the Yoyogi Park Festival maybe; Teamlabs still tbd if we want to check that out (been to a few interactive exhibitions in NY enough). Booked a “traditional high tea” for the miss at Higashiya Ginza in the afternoon. Wanted Sakurai at first but they never responded to my email 2x! Gotta have curry so Curry Bondy? Kappabashi for some Japanese knives and porcelain.
**Day6:** Also open for now.
**Day7:** head out to Shinjuku station and take the 11am RomanceCar (carriage 1 but seats 2 booo…was hoping we’d get the panoramic first row seats) to Hakone. Walk around Hake Yumoto, check out Grande Riviere for their cheese tarts, and check into our Senkyoro w/ Private Onsen. Kaiseki dinner and breakfast. Hoping we see Mt. Fuji.
**Day8:** Bought Shinkansen tickets from 11:35am Odawara to Kyoto. Drop off bags near the Nishiki Market. Check out market if things aren’t sold out (will visit market again following morning). Philosophers Path, Ginkakuji Pavilion, Fushima Inari and the tag team Sinnenzaka and Ninezaka Streets. Dinner somewhere in Kyoto. Okonomiyaki!
**Day9:** Nishiki Market/Gion District, and then drop off bags at W Osaka. Should we visit the Castle during day or night? Don’t plan on going inside the museum etc. Dotonbori!
**Day10:** Osaka Aquariums (we love aquariums). Explore Higashiyama ward.
I think this a chill itinerary with lots of flexibility. Part of me wants to rsvp more attractions and dinners but my wife tells me to go with the flow and that there’s bound to be delicious food everywhere.
Some notable food spots I have bookmarked not listed above:
Tokyo- Ichiran (wife’s never been to the NY location), Obana (eel), Tir Na Nog/Bar Benfiddich, Sushi Katsura, Sushi No Midori, Rokurinsha (ramen), Tenkichiya Shinjuku (tempura), Matsudo Tomita Memban (tsukemen), Memento Mori(bar), Kichijoji TKG (eggs? Haha)
Kyoto: Gion Tanto (okonomiyaki)
Osaka: 551 Horai (buns), Yakiniku Kitan
Redditors- any must do for our itinerary and food recommendations that require rsvp (doable online)? Thanks all!
1 comment
Yoyogi Park/Meiji Jingu are kind of the same location, so you sort of have on your itinerary multiple times.
Day 8 seems a bit tight. Personally I would have preferred to give more time to Kyoto, but it sounds like your Hakone stay is already set.
If your wife happens to be the primary anime-lover (since you say that you’re the convert), personally I liked ikebukuro more than akihabara, but this is a personal preference thing since some people say the opposite. You have plenty of days in Tokyo, so you could do both.
If you really want to see Fuji, you could consider doing a day trip from Tokyo to Kawaguchiko (there are fireworks in Jan/Feb but not sure if you’re too late). If you’re looking for more things to do in Tokyo, some of the ume matsuri might still be happening.