Hello, I am planning a trip to Japan sometime around May and was hoping to get some insight on the efficiency/ do-ability of the itinerary so far. This is a pretty rough draft but I wanted some insight on whether or not I am on the right track. Please do not hesitate to let me know if I should move anything around. Any suggestions and comments are definitely welcome and appreciated 🙂
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**Day 1 (Tokyo –> Kyoto)**
\- arrive in Tokyo and take train to hotel in Kyoto (JR pass)
**Day 2 (Kyoto)**
\- Fushimi Inari (early morning)
\- explore ninenzaka street
\- Kiyomizu-dera temple
**Day 3 (Kyoto)**
\- Arashiyama bamboo grove
comment: *around how much time do you think we should allocate for this? any suggestions for something else to add this day?*
**Day 4 (Kyoto –> Osaka –> Kyoto)**
\- Day trip to Osaka
\- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
\- Soliniwa Onsen
comment: *around how much time should we allocate for these as well?*
**Day 5 (Kyoto –> Osaka –> Kyoto)**
\- Day trip to Osaka
\- Universal studios
**Day 6 (Kyoto –> Nara –> Kyoto)**
\- Day trip to Nara
**Day 7 (Kyoto –> Tokyo)**
\- walk around Gion district? (*any specific places to see?)*
\- check out of Kyoto hotel and check into Tokyo hotel
\- comment: *not sure what else we can fit in this day*
**Day 8 (Tokyo)**
\- Ghibli museum
\- Kichijoji petit mura
**Day 9 (Tokyo)**
**-** Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo
\- Shibuya sky
\- Shibuya crossing
**Day 10 (Tokyo)**
\- team labs
\- Kirby cafe?? (*they are not very close to each other but I am struggling to fit this in somewhere, any suggestions on what days this could work in?*)
comment: *Any suggestions for more activities near team labs?*
**Day 11 (Tokyo)**
\- day trip to Ashikaga Flower park
**Day 12 (Tokyo)**
\- Akihabara (*nothing specific set in stone beyond shopping so recommendations are welcome)*
**Day 13 (Tokyo)**
\- Shinjuku Gyoen National Park
\- shopping day (*specific recommendations welcome as well)*
**Day 14 (Tokyo)**
\- check out of hotel and go home 🙁
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**Notes:**
\- I was hoping to add a day trip to a town with views of mount Fuji, any help fitting this in or specific towns, please let me know.
\- I know there are quite a few pokemon centres throughout Japan, which would you recommend the most and would fit in with the current itinerary?
\- I know how tricky reservations to Kirby cafe can be, if there is flexibility on multiple days I can fit this for the sake of securing a reservation that would be great!
3 comments
>- I know there are quite a few pokemon centres throughout Japan, which would you recommend the most and would fit in with the current itinerary?
Tokyo one is the Flagship, but the Osaka one is clustered with the Nintendo Store (More Kirby stuff, and it has exclusive items there) the One Piece Store, Capcom store and they were opening a Doeramon store soon when I was there last week.
On the topic of Osaka, you have 6 nights in Kyoto. With two day trips to Osaka, would you consider doing two nights in Osaka and reducing Kyoto to four nights? There’s a robust nightlife in Osaka, beyond bars and drinking with lots of food and alleys to explore at night. It’s also handy to do Universal Studios since you can get there early without having to get up too early.
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>Day 10 (Tokyo)
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>- team labs
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>- Kirby cafe?? (they are not very close to each other but I am struggling to fit this in somewhere, any suggestions on what days this could work in?)
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>comment: Any suggestions for more activities near team labs?
You can travel to Akihabara from teamLabs easy enough. We got to teamLabs on the Yurakucho line and you can transfer to the Yamamote line if you go back after you’re done. From the Yamamote line there’s good access to a lot of Tokyo. If you, or anyone you’re travelling with wears skirts , don’t wear skirts to teamLabs. There are mirrored floors everywhere and while they do offer rental shorts, it’s easier to dress comfortably.
Fair note on Akihabara, Nakano Broadway is worth a visit if you’re looking for otaku culture stuff beyond Akihabara. If you do Akihabara on Day 10, maybe on day 12 you can look at Nakano or Ikebukuro. Ikebukuro being a bit of an otaku place that caters to women with things like butler cafes and shojo stuff in the stores there.
Kirby Cafe being in Skytree can be a good chance to mix in a trip to Asakusa as well.
Arashiyama – there’s a lot in this area including picturesque, less crowded temples like Jojakko-ji and Gioji.
There is also a sight seeing train called the Sagano Romantic Train that looks neat.
Ghibli museum – if I’m reading their calendar right they appear to be closed for a good chunk in the middle of May.
Views of Fuji day trips – Hakone, Kawaguchiko/Fuji Five Lakes district.
Tokyo days 9, 10, and 12 look a little light but it depends what you’re interested in.
Ginza is a big shopping district. And if you like anime then Ikebukero and the giant Sunshine City mall seems like a must.
Edit to add this: I’m planning a May trip as a first-timer, so my comment is based on research, not experience.
Bamboo Grove! Go early 645am pis when I went. Had the entire place to ourselves.