Hey all! First time visiting Japan, there will be three of us- myself, my partner, and my brother. The thing is, none of us are big planners, and this trip was spontaneous as it’s partly business for my partner. Didn’t have a ton of time to plan ahead and research, but we did our best putting this together. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
***TOKYO***
**Mar 9:** (travel day)
\-Arrive at NRT around 15:30, purchase pocket wifi, exchange JR pass, load suica card, etc.
\-Check in at hotel (in Ikebukuro), dinner and explore neighborhood
**Mar 10:**
\-Senso-ji Temple, nakamise
\-Ueno Park (maybe the zoo or a museum if we have the energy?)
\-Open time for evening exploration, depending on our jetlag
**Mar 11:**
\-Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
\-Shimokitazawa for thrifting
\-Shibuya crossing and Shibuya Sky
\-Dinner and explore Shibuya if time/energy
**Mar 12:**
\-Explore Harajuku
\-Yoyogi Park
\-Omoide Yokocho for dinner and drinks
**Mar 13:**
\-Teamlabs
\-Tsukiji for lunch
\-Open/unplanned time to fit in anything else we may want to
​
***KYOTO***
**Mar 14:** (travel day)
\-Check out of hotel in Tokyo 11:00, head to station
\-Arrive in Kyoto around 15:00, check in to hotel
\-Explore area, maybe Ninenzaka? Dinner.
**Mar 15:** (Osaka)
\-Travel to Osaka early morning, we have tickets to the Sumo Tournament
\-Kuromon Market for lunch after sumo
\-Explore Shrines (Shitennoji, Namba Yasaka Jinja)
\-Dontonbori evening walk and dinner in the area
**Mar 16:** (Nara, Osaka, Kyoto)
\-Wake up early and take train to Nara, explore Nara Park and town
\-Train to Osaka, Osaka Aquarium
\-Either remain in Osaka to explore anything we missed, or train back to Kyoto for late afternoon/dinner
**Mar 17:**
\-Arashiyama Monkey Park & Bamboo Grove
\-Open time to explore area
\-Evening exploration in kyoto, dinner somewhere nearby
**Mar 18:**
\-Philosophers path
\-Maruyama Park
\-Nishiki market for lunch
\-Shinkyogoku for shopping
\-Ninenzaka and sannenzaka if we don’t do them day one in Kyoto
\-Dinner
​
***TOKYO***
**Mar 19:** (travel day)
\-This day is flexible. We are traveling back to Tokyo to fly home from NRT on March 20. So, we can either remain in Kyoto (or surrounding areas) to further explore, or leave at our 11:00 check out to head back to Tokyo. I feel like we’ll gauge this once we’re there.
\-Check in to hotel any time after 15:00
\-Dinner in Tokyo
**Mar 20:** (travel day)
\-Fly home from NRT
​
If there’s any days that feel a bit too packed/thin, please let me know.
Any and all help/advice is great, thanks again! 🙂
1 comment
Are you Interested in temples? You’ve stated shrines in Osaka, but Kyoto is the best place for shrines, temples and gardens. The philosophers path connects ginkakuji (silver pavilion) to nanzenji. Kiyomizudera temple is near sanneizaka. Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto shouldn’t be missed- best to visit early or late to avoid crowds, so could be an option for your first night in Kyoto. Tenryuji temple has beautiful gardens and is near monkey park/bamboo grove in Arashiyama.
Overall, your plan looks good considering last minute.