Itinerary Check: Mid-Late March, Tokyo only

Hi All,

I’m fulfilling a lifelong dream of traveling to Tokyo in March with my girlfriend. We’re pretty active people, not as big on dining experiences and drinking as we are on walking for hours and hours in unfamiliar places, just soaking in the sights and sounds.

I’m gluten intolerant, which means we’re mostly going to be grabbing food to go from 7-11s, etc. since their selections are marked. The last thing I want to do is spend the week with stomach pains. The plus is it’ll free us up to do a little more wandering.

I’m a big fan of video games (poured over Super Famicon box art), so Akihabara is essential, but I would rather wait for LA’s Super Nintendo World with my kids. Also I’m a big sports fan – but I rarely see itineraries with baseball, basketball, or wrestling on here so I’m a bit at a loss other than catching a game at the Tokyo Dome.

My girlfriend isn’t a big drinker, or shopper, but really enjoys people watching and laughing. So she’s letting me do the bulk of planning!

Ok, here’s what we have on the list. It’s ambitious but we move really fast and don’t linger.

Monday evening arrival at HND

* Customs
* Pocket WiFi
* Currency
* Ship bags to Ginza hotel
* Train to Ginza
* Check in at the (stylish, modest, first) hotel
* A short walk around the neighborhood before sleeping

**Tuesday**

* Akihabara
* Super Potato
* Mandrake
* Natsuge Museum
* A maid cafe
* Shibuya
* Daikanyama T-Site
* Shibuya Publishing
* Mikado Game Center
* Shibuya Crossing

**Wednesday**

* Ginza
* Muji
* Tokyu Plaza Ginza METoA Events square for Robotics
* Dover Street Market
* Lunch at Kushiyaki Bistro
* Haramarikyu Gardens for the cherry blossoms
* Sumida
* Kirby cafe (just the gift shop, not great options for me at the cafe)
* Senso-Ji
* Tokyo Dome for a Giants pre-season game

**Thursday**

* Odaiba
* Teamlab Planets
* Ginza
* Fukumimi or Ain Soph for lunch
* Hama Rikyu Garden for cherry blossoms
* Shinjuku
* Shinjuku Gyoen Nat’l Garden for more cherry blossoms
* Thermae Yu
* New York bar
* Golden Gai
* *Question: what’s bar(s) would you recommend*

**Friday**

* Rappongi
* Blue Bottle for coffee
* 1\_21 Design Sight
* Mori Art Museum
* Gluten Free T’s Kitchen for lunch (or Pizzakaya)
* Harajuku
* Yoyogi Park
* Flea Market
* Meji Shrine
* Cat Street, Opening Ceremony, United Arrows
* Omotesando
* Found Muji
* Blue Note

**Saturday**

* Ginza
* Check out of hotel
* Chiyoda-ku
* Drop bags at second (really nice, extravagant for one night only) hotel
* Tokyo central station
* Kick it in the hotel, at the pool, with the views, and relaxing

**Sunday**

* Sleep in
* Breakfast at the hotel
* Travel back to the airport

A few questions:

* Did I screw up any of the neighborhoods? I’ve cobbled this together from a few books and they don’t always match 1:1 on locations.
* I’d really like to check out DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe but I’m a little concerned about the language barrier. Should we go anyway? I’d hate to upset someone operating a robot who can’t communicate with us
* Is there a fun local club where we can hear local music? What’s the Japanese equivalent of a small rock show/dive bar?
* I’d like to sub out something above for a Japanese cinema if it’s a fun experience seeing a movie in theaters there. Any recommendations?
* I take a very, very strong narcotic classified by Japan as a psychotropic substance (liquid diazepam) if (big if) I have a medical emergency (epilepsy). I *think* I’m good with a small supply, in the original bottle, with a note from my neurologist. Does that sound reasonable?

Thanks in advance. This sub has been a massive help in making my lifelong dreams come true!