The time written is the duration from our accommodation by public transport, if walk/taxi it is written at the end. We are two early 30s female best friends going to Japan for the first time! We are not into partying. Just want to have good food and explore (one of us is vegan).
**Please let me know if anything looks too packed or unrealistic or if there is a better way to do them logistically! Also if we are missing some must-do things or something fun you would recommend. ** Thank you SO MUCH!
**Also for the JR train out of Tokyo, will booking them the day we arrive at the JR office at Haneda be okay?**
2/27 (Monday)
10pm: Arrives at Haneda, stay at a hotel airport
2/28 (Tuesday)
Morning: activate JR pass at Haneda JR office, pick up pocket wifi and Suica
Afternoon: [25min] Shibuya crossing, Starbucks, Cat street, Omotesando street, Shibuya Center Gai
3/1 (Wednesday)
9am: [45min] Sensoji temple
In the area, Nakamise-dori, Nishi Sando shopping street, Asahi Brewery, Denboin Dori, Daikokura tempura or Unatoto for lunch!
5:30pm: Izakaya tour
3/2 (Thursday)
9am: [30min]: Tsukiji outer market
In the area, spend time at chifuji (souvenirs), Hamarikyu gardens, Nimiyoke Inari Shrine, Kachidoki bridge (city view), Ginza (shopping)
Evening: Dinner nearby
3/3 (Friday)
Morning: [30min] Shimokitazawa – curry for lunch?
Early afternoon: [20min] Meiji Shrine, Harajuku (Takeshita street) – crepe, Cafe Ron Ron, Mipig Cafe; Yoyogi park
5:40pm: [10 min] Shibuya sky
Evening: [15min] Shibuya/shinjuku for dinner/drinks – golden Gai, omoide yokocho
**Is this day too packed? We are thinking of getting rid of Shimokitazawa.**
3/4 (Saturday)
Morning: train time to Osaka TBD
Afternoon: [15min] Shinsanbashi -> [10min walk] Dotonbori (remember to check out Hozenji Yokocho; good view of Dotonbori from Ebisu Bridge)
5pm: Dinner at Fukutaro (put name down as it gets busy)
Evening: stroll Dotonbori
3/5 (Sunday)
Osaka castle (Gozabune?), Osaka history museum, Nakazakicho, cup noodles museum
Sumiyoshi Taisha, [tram here] Shinsekai, Tennoji park, Keitakuen garden, kuromon market
**Free day. We will decide on the day which ones to do. Is this crazy?**
3/6 (Monday)
8am: [40min] Nara using Kintetsu line (bringing our luggages with us and storing at a coin locker)
Kofukuji temple, Todai-ji temple, Nara deer park, Mount Wakakusa (sunset), Kasuga Taisha, Yoshiki-en garden, Nandaimon gate
Shopping options: Higashimuki and Mochiidono
11am: Kitahara soba for lunch
5pm: Train to Kyoto
6pm: Gion district – Ninenzaka, Sanenzaka, Yasaka Shrine, Hanamikoji dori
**We are taking our luggages form osaka to Nara, storing them, then heading to Kyoto in the evening. Is this feasible?**
**Should we leave Nara earlier to head to Kyoto for our evening itinerary?**
3/7 (Tuesday)
7am: [20min car/train Kyoto station->Inari station] Fushimi Inari
In the area, Kiyomizudera
3pm: Maikoya tea ceremony
Lunch idea: Toyouke Chaya (11am-2pm) – amazing tofu
Dinner idea: Daimaru Basement Food Floor at downtown Kyoto
3/8 (Wednesday)
8am: [35min taxi] Arashiyama – can choose to get on a boat by the river, can hike to Monkey Park, Philosopher’s Path
In the area, Kinkakuji, Ryoan-ji, Ninna-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Nanzen ji
4pm: Nishiki Market
6pm: [10min walk] Pontocho Alley -> [20min] Kamogawa river
**Are we underestimating the time we will spend in Arashiyama, will we make it to Nishiki before it closes at 6? We are thinking of hiking**
3/9 (Thursday)
Morning: Train to Odawara for Hakone, time TBD
Things to do: Lake Ashi, Hakone Ropeway, Amazake Tea House, Mount Ashigara (hike), Taikanzan Observatory, Odawara Castle
**Staying at a Ryokan and it’s the end of the trip. We will just try to relax and play it by ear and see what interests us nearby if we want to go out at all!**
3/10 (Friday)
Train to Tokyo in the evening from Odawara Station
3/11 (Saturday)
Free Tokyo day!
3/12 (Sunday)
Bye Japan!
1 comment
I am currently planning a trip for April 1-April 15, so while I haven’t been yet, I’ve been doing a lot of reading and planning, so take this with a grain of salt.
– You don’t need to make reservations with JR pass (except on a few select lines which you’re not using). You certainly can make reservations and doing so at the airport should be plenty of time.
– I can’t tell if you have already booked your ryokan in Hakone yet, but if not, you should do so ASAP. About a month ago I tried to book a Ryokan for April 4-5 and it was hard to do. There wasn’t a lot left.