We have been able to squeak in a last minute trip to Japan, and are hoping for some validation / thoughts on what we have planned. Pretty much everything is flexible, and we are happy to change based on any suggestions.
We love to cook, eat, and take photos so we are hoping to add in a few cooking classes / other excursions as well.
Day | Starting Location | Ending Location | Itinerary | Open Questions
—|—|—-|—-|—-
3/14 | ORD | Tokyo | Arrive @5PM, no plans |
3/15 | Tokyo | Tokyo | ***What to do:***Tokyo Tower, Tsukiji Fish Market, Monzen-Nakacho (Tomioka Hachiman Shrine and the Fukagawa Fududo temple), Go Karting (Street Cart, Tokyo Bay) , Sensoji at Asakusa (oldest temple) ***What to eat:*** Sushi Tokyo Ten (Omekase Sushi), Harajuku (Street Food), Shin Udon (Udon), Uogashi Nihon-ichi Shibuya Dogenzaka (Sushi), Sobahouse Konjiki Hototogisu (Ramen) |
3/16 | Tokyo | Tokyo | Harajuku (what to do here?), Shibuya Crossing, Cherry Blossoms (Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden), Omoide Yokocho, TeamLab: Planets | Any suggestions for things to do in Harajuku?
3/17 | Tokyo | Mt. Fuji | No set itinerary. | Any must do’s / must visits? Staying by Fuji Onsenji Yumedono
3/18 | Mt. Fuji | Kyoto | Higashiyama Jisho-ji, Philosophers Path, Nanzen-ji Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimiinari Shrine ***What to eat***: Tan (breakfast), Omen (udon), Itsutsu (soba), K36 (rooftop bar), Gyoza Hohei (gyoza), Kikkoya (Izakaya – small plates/apps), Ramen Muraji (ramen) – temporarily closed, Asuka (dinner)| Anything missing?
3/19 | Kyoto | Kyoto | Same as above | Anything we are missing?
3/20 | Kyoto | Kyoto | Same as above | Anything we are missing?
3/21 | Kyoto | Osaka | Street food – Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki (Octopus balls), Kushi-katsu (fried skewers), Kitsune Udon (udon), Butaman (pork buns) – Dotonburi (area known for street food), Kitamura (Sukiyaki) |
3/22 | Osaka | Osaka | Same as above | Anything we are missing?
3/23 | Osaka | Hiroshima | No set itinerary | Is it worth spending the night, or should we press on to our next stop? Any recommendations on must see?
3/24| Hiroshima | (Maybe Nagano?) | Snow Monkey Park | We are debating if we should find a place to stay, or do this as a stopover. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
3/25 | (Dependent on above) | Zao (Maybe?) | Fox Park | Same as above, debating if we should stay, or head elsewhere.
3/26 | (Dependent on above) | Tokyo | 6:45 PM flight out |
6 comments
Unless you plan on pre-adjusting to the time change, I would be careful with being too ambitious on 3/15. For sleep purposes, Japan is effectively 10 hours behind you, so 5pm here would be 3am back in Chicago, and that probably means you’d sleep really early on 3/15. I am going to guess from your origin and arrival time that you’re on UA 881 flying into Haneda which means you fortunately won’t have as far to go to get to your hotel, but even so, I’d still plan to lose 2 hours to deplaning, customs, bag claim, and travel time to get to your lodging. You’re likely to be complete toast once you get to a bed.
Speaking of which, you really should do the Visit Japan thing before arrival: [https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/](https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/). And take screenshots of the quarantine results screen (even though it doesn’t give QR codes anymore), the immigration QR code, and the customs QR code. On my arrival, there were staff hounding you to show that you had these things even before you got to immigration.
I was at Shinjuku Gyoen on 3/9. There were all of two trees that were in bloom. I suspect they no longer are, but others may be. The JMC’s guidance is to expect blooming to start in earnest around 3/16, with peak viewing around 3/24.
I don’t have much guidance on your things to do other than to suggest to group them geographically. Maybe plan 3/15 along the Asakusa/Akihabara/Ginza axis and then 3/16 along the Ikebukuro/Shinjuku/Shibuya axis. Far less running around and more time actually seeing and doing stuff.
I am very confused by the last bit from Hiroshima to Nagano to Zao fox village to Tokyo:
1. Snow monkey park is pointless (IMO) at the end of March, since there is generally no snow accumulation by then so there is not the classic view.
2. The animal welfare standards at the fox park are…not good (by western standards). Please research the situation and consider if you wish to visit.
3. Please check the travel time required between Hiroshima -> Nagano -> Zao Fox Village -> Tokyo, you will be spending almost all the time on trains.
I would cut Nagano and Zao, spend more time in Tokyo at the end of your trip to chase cherry blossom views and do more Tokyo sightseeing.
I think your tokyo plans will be high stress/low reward. That’s A LOT of ground to cover in 2 days. You’ll spend more time in subways than at the actual locations. I suggest to cut some days elsewhere and pad more time in Tokyo. I’d say 2 extra days minimum. There’s a lot to do and see.
Also while at Harajuku, I suggest visiting Meiji Shrine, and the shopping street there. If you plan more days in Tokyo I definitely suggest the SkyTree and Akihabara (electric Town).
More time in Tokyo, it’s huge, packed and requires immense walking.
Personally I’d cut the itinerary down to just Tokyo, or Tokyo and Kyoto. You’re doing a whole lot of running about for little time in each place. Plus then you can really dig in and pick 2-3 things or places to see each day and play the rest of the day by ear.
I would like to share with you a few things that you can only experience during this season.
[chinzanso](https://hotel-chinzanso-tokyo.com/garden/topic/cherry-blossoms-and-the-sea-of-clouds-spring-at-hotel-chinzanso-tokyo) is lighting up the cherry blossoms right now. You don’t have to stay there to view them from outside.
Not on your list, but Fukuoka is in the middle of the [Dazaifu Tenmangu Monzen Festival](https://dazaifu.org/events/event3289/) right now.
https://youtu.be/PBwu6t0n0tc
In Kyoto, you can experience Japanese culture at [Nishijin Tondaya](https://tondaya.co.jp/english/). Especially this time of year, 100 Hina dolls are on display. It looks like this
https://youtu.be/k0Uawq_Ke58(This video is in Yamanashi Prefecture)
At [Nijo Castle](https://www.kkday.com/en/product/138465) in Kyoto, the cherry blossom event starts on Friday.
Also, it’s strawberry season now, so strawberry sweets buffets are being held here and there.