Hi everyone! I’m 28F and will be going **June 2023** with my husband 30M as our 3 year delayed honeymoon haha. I’ve been to Japan twice, once in HS with my family and I’ve studied abroad there in college. My husband has been once for a week with his family many years ago. I’m super excited, and have started planning in December. My husband has left the planning to me since I’m more familiar with the country. I’m definitely a little nervous as I feel like I want to make this trip perfect. That being said, I definitely have plans to go back as there are places I want to go but don’t think makes sense to fit into this plan. I’m most familiar with Tokyo and haven’t been to Kyoto.
**Our interests:**
* Anime/manga
* Architecture/History
* Food
**Questions:**
* On the day I go to Arashiyama, is it possible to fit in the Sagano Romance Car & Hozugawa River Boat Ride?
* Would Osaka Aquarium be too much for our day in Osaka? I want to take Osaka Castle at a leisurely pace, and allocate a good amount of time to “wander” Kuromon and Dotonbori.
* I’ve cut out Den-den town in Osaka thinking it would be too much. Would it be worth a visit if Osaka Aquarium is cut? I’m not dying to go as I’ll be visiting a bunch of places in Tokyo.
* For Hakone, I would really like to get a picture at Heiwa no Tori (Hakone Shrine), but I’d like to avoid the crowds is possible. I’ve been looking at maps of the area, and I’m not sure how to “rush” down without a car. I think the earliest time I could get there would be 9:30am or alternatively at the end before dinner at 5pm. Out of the two, which option would be best?
* I am interested in Sumida River Cruise (w/dinner). Is there any day where I can plan for it without rushing us to finish everything else?
**Some things:**
* I plan to start each day around 6/7 (early morning) or 8. Hopefully Jetlag will help us get on this schedule. I’d like to end our days around 8-9pm unless running late due to dinner.
* I don’t want to rush too much. I expect us to take time when it comes to places with nature and or shopping/food. If something seems too much, please let me know so I can plan for “essentials” and have some on standby.
* I’ve booked all my accommodations. I can change them, but don’t really want to.
* I plan on bringing a big suitcase, and 1 small. I will use Takuhaiben for the big suitcase.
**Day 1 (Sunday) Tokyo –> Kyoto**
* Land Haneda at 1:35, pick up sim cards, buy & charge Suica, purchase Shinkansen Tickets to Kyoto. Send Luggage to Kyoto.
* Buy ekiben/bento or if time, eat at station before train. Travel to Kyoto and check into Hotel.
* If enough energy, get dinner Pontocho (10 mins walk from Hotel)
**Day 2 (Monday)**
* Kiyomizudera (early morning)
* Nishiki Market
* Higashiyama Jisho-ji
* Philosopher’s Path
* Gion for dinner (Do I need to make reservations ahead of time?)
* Yasaka Shrine
**Day 3 (Tuesday)**
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (early morning)
* Sagano Romance Car/Hozugawa River Boat
* Tenryu-ji Temple
* Togetsu-kyo Bridge
* Giouji Temple
* Kinkaku-ji
**Day 4 (Wednesday)**
* Amanohashidate & Ine Day Trip
**Day 5 (Thursday)**
* Osaka Day trip:
* Kuramon Market
* Namba Yasaka Shrine
* Osaka Castle + Boat Ride
* Rikuro-Ojisan Cafe
* Osaka Aquarium (is this possible or too rushed?)
* Dotonbori (I would like to eat at Okonomiyaki Mizuno)
**Day 6 (Friday) Kyoto –> Hakone**
* Send Luggage to Tokyo
* Fushimi Inari (I want to get at least half way)
* Tofukuji Temple
* Leave Kyoto by 1:30, maybe buy Ekiben/Bento.
* Check into Hakone Ryokan. Have kaiseki dinner.
**Day 7 (Saturday)**
* Eat Ryokan breakfast – Hakone Shrine?
* Hakone Round Course – Ropeway, Owakudani, Pirate Ship
* Hakone Botanical Garden
* Gengokuhara Susuki Grass Fields
* Back to Ryokan for dinner (7pm)
**Day 8 (Sunday) Hakone –> Tokyo**
* Leave Hakone after Ryokan breakfast.
* Take Romance Car (need to book)
* Arrive and stash small suitcase in locker at either Shinjuku or Shibuya.
* Meiji Jingu
* Shinjuku Gyoen
* Shibuya (crossing, Parco, Sky?)
* Check into Tokyo hotel
**Day 9 (Monday) – I’m most familiar with these areas this day**
* Nakano Broadway
* Ghibli Museum (need to book)
* Kichijoji (Satou, Iseya, B-side label, Harmonica Yokocho)
* If I have time, I’ll consider visiting the campus I studied at with my husband in Mitaka. Otherwise, skip 🙁
**Day 10 (Tuesday)**
* Senso-ji & Nakamise (Kagetsudo & Suzukien)
* Shunkaen Bonsai Museum (this a bit away)
* Akihabara
* Tokyo Skytree at night
**Day 11 (Wednesday)**
* Tsukiji Outer Market
* Art Aquarium
* TeamLab Planets
* Unicorn Gundam & Odaiba
**Day 12 (Thursday) Tokyo –> Nikko**
* Leave Tokyo around 8 after breakfast at Hotel. Approx 2.5 hr travel time. Send large luggage to airport. Unsure if I will bring the small suitcase or just day bag to Nikko–maybe forward small bag to final Tokyo hotel or leave in locker overnight.
* Shinkyo Bridge, Rinnoji, Shoyoen
* Toshogu
* Kanmangafuchi Abyss
* Tamazawa Imperial Villa
* Lake Chuzenji
* Akechidaira Ropeway
* Kegon Falls
* Lake Chuzenji Boat Ride
* Check into Ryokan next to Lake Chuzenji
**Day 13 (Friday) Nikko –> Tokyo**
* Yudaki Falls
* Odashirogahara
* Maybe have lunch in Nikko (have a few ideas but need to make reservation)
* Try to leave Nikko around 2-3pm. Return to Tokyo, check into new Asakusa hotel.
* Ikebukuro-Sunshine City last minute shopping?
* Shin-Okubo for dinner?
**Day 14 (Saturday) Leaving!**
* Asakusa wandering in the morning. Buy snacks for plane.
* Tsukiji Outer Market – lunch
* Arrive at Haneda by 2:10, pick up luggage. Sayonara Japan T\_T
1 comment
My wife and I are on a delayed honeymoon too. Almost 3 years. We’ve been to Japan at least 10x but still so much to see.
As far as your itinerary it looks very doable. We always start early. Osaka Aquarium can absolutely be done in 2 hours without feeling rushed.
Never did the River Boat but the Romance car is like only 30 min so I’m sure you can fit it in.