Hello, I want to start off and say thank you for anyone that takes the time and reads this. I appreciate everyone’s time and effort, thank you. To start off I am a 25 year old(M) from USA going on a solo travel. This will be my first time out of the country(besides Canada). I purposely am doing this trip solo with a DB backpack(no luggage or carryons) so I have flexibility to do pretty much whatever I want on the fly and so it forces me to go out of my comfort zone to meet people and do new things. Alot of my trip is not truly set in stone and as mentioned before I am doing that on purpose so I explore. Nothing is exact time based other than where I wrote a time or put reservations. I welcome any and all suggestions to anything on my Itinerary. The only part I have booked right now are my flights and airbnb in Hatsudai(shibuya). I recently got my first real camera and plan on doing some very basic photography. I am a big anime fan, Plan on going out/drinking/partying quite a bit lol, culture/history/nature of japan are all things I have a an interest in for Japan. I have a more detailed list of exact routes,trains to take ect, and activities and food places for me to choose from but I didn’t want to add everything to an Itinerary as I mainly want to explore and just have an idea of areas for me to go to or an idea of what to do(the detailed list is just incase). I will list a couple questions down below if anyone feels like answering them. Finally, I would love to meet others along my trip (locals and tourists) if anyone wants to join me for a night out or a couples days of my trip let me know!:)
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Questions:
1. Any recommendations for clubs in Shibuya or Tokyo? Was not able to find much info online or on reddit for good clubs/djs
2. I would love to go to a concert but seems impossible without a Japanese number to buy tickets, is this true?
3. Any Recommendations for an area to stay in Tokyo for the second Half of the trip(airbnb in shibuya for first half)?
4. Is Takayama a waste of time and should I add a day in kyoto instead? I know its a lot of long traveling to get to Takayama but I kind of wanted that experience to get to a more rural town.
5. Any Big festivals or events I should try and make it to during my trip?(plan on seeing wisteria bloom at Ashikaga)
***Thursday May 11th: Tokyo***
* Arrival in Haneda at about 4PM
* Airport sim/pocket wifi (if i don’t do verizon travel plan), ATM cash
* Monorail to Airbnb, staying in Hatsudai, Shibuya City
* Explore area around airbnb/relax (will probably be late by now)
* Bagus(if im not too tired)
***Friday May 12th: Tokyo***
* Train to Glanta(Ring store) right by Kichijoji station
* Walk around Kichijoji area and explore(or head to shimokitazawa for thrifting)
* Train back to Yoyogi park(If I have time instead go over to uniqlo in ginza for an outfit)(probably wont have time)
* Shibuya Sky around 5:30-6PM for sunset(reservation)
* Head back to Airbnb (drop backpack off + get ready to go out)
* Find a nomihodai izakaya(kin no kura, or torikizoku)
* Content corner maybe? Or walk around daikanyama bars
* Club in shibuya(not sure exactly of one yet)
***Saturday May 13th: Tokyo***
* Harajuku(maybe)
* Your Name Stairs(Suga Shrine) 5-banchi Sugacho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0018
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
* Tokyo Metro Building for rooftop
* Nakano Broadway
* Explore bars outside of nakano
* (If i skip Naka broadway) sunshine city and otome road
* Muscle Girls Bar(Reservation)
***Sunday May 14th: Tokyo***
* Koffee Mameya, shibuya
* Akihabara
\- Anime Figure stores
\- Tora no ana or melon books
\- Arcades
* Ashikaga Flower Park(Evening/night time for photos)(also depends on bloom for the wisteria , may go a different day)
***Monday May 15th: Tokyo – Takayama(northern route shinkansen?)***
* Explore Takayama
* Find somewhere for Hida Beef and or Sake tasting(long travel day won’t have much planned)
***Tuesday May 16th: Takayama – Kyoto***
* Hida Folk Village
* Train over to Kyoto
* Airbnb check in
* Explore area around Airbnb/ walk by Kamogawa river(Maybe philosopher’s path if time)
* Fushimi Inari Shrine at night(photos)
***Wednesday May 17th: Kyoto***
* Fushimi Inari Shrine Early(6am photos)
* Kiyomizudera(see ninenzaka and sanenzaka)
* Tatami Starbucks
* Yasaka Shrine
* Bike Rental and ride around to visit gardens(Okochi-sanso Villa)(or might just taxi around to the other shrines/gardens)
* Drop backpack off at airbnb/get ready to go out
* Explore Gion for some bars/food (maybe go to a club, kitsune, or might just stick to bars)
***Thursday May 18th: Kyoto/Nara(Day Trip)***
* Early Morning Train to Nara
* Nara Park to explore and feed deer
* Kofukuji
* Todaiji
* Nigatsu-do
* Back to Kyoto straight to Arashiyama bamboo for evening/night photos
***Friday May 19th: Kyoto – Tokyo***
* Higashi Hongan-Ji Temple Before train back to tokyo
* Ginza Shopping
* Uniqlo Store
* Airbnb Check-in
* Odaiba Gundam
* Explore themed bars(haven’t decided on what ones yet) or ebisu bars
***Saturday May 20th: Tokyo***
* Early Tsukiji fish market
* Hitachi Seaside Park
* Hop on random trains to get lost wherever in the surrounding towns of seaside
* Make my way back to tokyo
* Leaving this evening up to whatever, if i feel like going out somewhere or just chilling(maybe aoyama on the way to harajuku or exploring roppongi)
***Sunday May 21st: Tokyo***
* Asakusa
* Senso-ji temple
* Asakusa Shrine
* Nakamise-Dori Street
* Ueno Park
* Akihabara
***Monday May 22nd: Tokyo***
* Happy Pancake
* Yokohama(Day Trip)
* Onsen (haven’t chosen one yet)
* Minato Mirai
* Dinner Reservation 6PM [https://www.udatsu-sushi.jp/en](https://www.udatsu-sushi.jp/en)
***Tuesday May 23rd: Tokyo – Hakone***
* Romance Car to Hakone
* Eva Store Right by Station
* Hakone Shrine
* Ryokan (Any recommendations? Budget around 300-500USD)
***Wednesday May 24th: Hakone – Kamakura – Tokyo***
* Kamakura Daibutsu
* Hasedera Temple
* Explore the beach (restaurant surfers)
* Slam Dunk Railroad crossing(evening time for photos)
* Kamakurakokomae station (evening for photos)
* Muji Hotel Ginza (could only get it for one night)
***Thursday May 25th: Tokyo***
* anything I want to go back to/see again + souvenir shopping
\- Extra random stuff
* Nakano Broadway
* Explore bars outside of nakano
* I do want to try eating at Yakiniku Miyabi in Roppongi
* Visit a book off
***Friday May 26th – Leave***
