Hello! GF and I are heading to Japan for the first time in a couple of weeks. Would love your feedback on the schedule we’ve got planned so far.
​
Day 1: (Friday March 24) : Tokyo arrival
\- Land around 5pm, Pick up JR Pass and Suica card, Narita Express to Shinjuku, Check into hotel (Keio Plaza)
\- Assuming it will take around 3-4 hours to get into the hotel room (fair assumption?)
Day 2: Tokyo (Saturday March 25)
\- Shinjuku Goen Garden, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Yoyogi Park
\- Stroll around Harajuku and into Shibuya
\- Shibuya Sky Reservation at 8pm, maybe Golden Gai late night
Day 3: Mt Fuji (Sunday March 26)
\- Booked a [day trip Bus tour](https://www.viator.com/tours/Fujikawaguchiko-machi/Scenic-Spots-of-Mt-Fuji-and-Lake-Kawaguchi-1-Day-Bus-Tour/d50515-85581P9)
Day 4: Tokyo (Monday March 27)
\- Senso-Ji Temple, Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Skytree
\- Late afternoon/evening head into Akihabara and explore
Day 5: Tokyo -> Kyoto (Tuesday March 28)
\- Reserved Shinkansen to Kyoto around noon, Check into hotel (SH by the Square)
Day 6: Kyoto (Wednesday March 29)
\- Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine, Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, Philosophers Path, Ginkakuji Temple
Day 7: Kyoto – Arashiyama (Thursday March 30)
\- Arashiyama bamboo forest, Kinkakuji Temple, Monkey Park Iwatayama
\- Sagano romantic train. Was only able to book a single seat, are these available on the day of? What are the chances of snagging a 2nd ticket at this point?
Day 8: Kyoto (Friday March 31)
\- Samurai Ninja Museum and Tea ceremony booked
\- As time permits in between check out Nishiki Market, Nijo Castle, Imperial Palace
Day 9: Kyoto -> Osaka (Saturday April 1)
\- Reserved Shinkansen to Osaka. Check into hotel (Hotel Forza Osaka Namba)
\- Early train, so could visit the Aquarium in the evening if we’re up for it (reservation recommended?)
Day 10: Osaka (Sunday April 2)
\- Osaka Castle, Shitenno-Ji Temple, Umeda Sky Building
\- Stroll through Minami and/or Shinsaibashi-suji street
Day 11: Kobe (Monday April 3)
\- Day trip to Kobe. No concrete plans here other than my desire to eat Kobe beef in Kobe
\- Open to recommendations on sights and restaurants during a day trip
Day 12: Osaka -> Tokyo (Tuesday April 4)
\- Reserved Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Check into hotel (The Gate Hotel Ginza)
\- Hoping to get some shopping in the afternoon/evening
Day 13: Tokyo (Wednesday April 5)
\- Team Labs Planets (Reservation at noon), Toyosu Market, Tokyo Tower, Rainbow Bridge, Imperial Palace, [Harry Potter Cafe](https://www.tablecheck.com/en/harrypotter-tokyo) (anyone been here?)
\- Other than team labs, the rest of this schedule is pretty flexible as these aren’t in the same area from what I understand
Day 14 : Tokyo departure (Thursday April 6)
Fly home 🙁
3 comments
>Assuming it will take around 3-4 hours to get into the hotel room (fair assumption?)
Narita airport station to Shinjuku should only take 2hrs max.
>Day 9: Kyoto -> Osaka
>Early train, so could visit the Aquarium in the evening if we’re up for it (reservation recommended?)
Kyoto to Osaka is about 20 minutes. You haven’t listed anything else on this day, you should be able to handle it? You won’t need a reservation.
Your trip from toyko – kyoto, then back to tokyo- is 8 days. the JR pass wont be worth it unless you make it 7
Hi!
If you’re talking from when the plane lands until you get to the hotel 3-4 hours is a good estimate. Between deplaning, going through Customs and Immigration, and getting to Shinjuku, I think it will take about 3 hours, perhaps a bit more.
Day 6 looks really busy unless you are planning to not do most of Fushimi Inari and plan to just do a cursorily glance at Kiyomizudera and Ginkakuji.
I did the Sagano Romantic train once many years ago, so can’t comment on ticket availability but will say Kinkakuji is a good 20+ minutes by public transit from Arashiyama. I don’t know if you are planning to use taxis, but I hope you’re not planning to visit there in between all your other plans in Arashiyama.
I honestly don’t know why you would take the shinkansen between Kyoto and Osaka. You’re staying a short walk from Keihan Kiyomizu-Gojo Station. I would go there (and maybe change at either Shichijo or Gion Shijo for the express (or just walk to one of those other stations) and take the Keihan to Kitahama/Yodoyabashi in Osaka and transfer there for either the Midousuji for Namba or the Sakaisuji Line to Nipponbashi. (your hotel is located half way between Namaba and Nipponbashi Stations.) From your hotel you either have to take a bus or taxi to Kyoto Station or walk to Gojo Station to take the subway to Kyoto Station and then take the train/shinkansen and at Shin-Osaka change for the subway Midousuji to Namba.
Since as has already been pointed out your trip to Kansai is 8 days not 7 and you are not even close to covering the cost of a 14 day pass, you might as well pay only ~540 yen and use Keihan.
If you want to take the NEX there is a discounted roundtrip if used within 14 days.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/nex.html