Hi everyone. I’ve been doing a lot of reading and lurking here and I’m posting this itinerary just to get a sense of if everything seems more or less doable. We’re also looking for anything we can fit in that would not be too far out of our way or that’s considered must see. We’re not really into the whole amusement park experience, but my husband loves history , especially military history, weapons, etc. And I love taking pictures. We both love food. So anyway , we appreciate the look.
# Day 1 – Arrival
* Check out Open Air Bath/Shopping etc at Haneda Airport Garden **(This opened recently — has anyone checked it out yet?)**
* Arrive at hotel near Shinjuku, get some small bites to eat and go to the Taito arcade until we feel like sleeping
# Day 2 – Tokyo
**Shibuya**
* Crossing/Scramble
* Miyashita Park
* Parco
* Center Gai area
* Hachiko Statue
* Shibuya Sky
**Harajuku**
* Meiji Jingu Shrine
* Yoyogi Park
* Shibuya Blue cave Christmas lights near park
* Takeshita Dori & Side Streets
* Minipig cafe
**Shinjuku:**
* Carette Shiodome Illumination
* Korea Town
* Golden Gai/Arcades
# Day 3 – Kawagoe
* Prior obligation, meet up with some friends
* Kita-in Temple
* Naritasan Temple
* Kura no Machi
* Hikawa Shrine
* Kurazukuri Street
* Bell Tower
* Candy Alley
* Back in Tokyo, explore area around Tokyo station
**Note:** our prior obligation here will take us from around 10AM to around 3PM so I’m not sure how much time we’ll have to do the other stuff (before or after). So knowing what to prioritize would be helpful.
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# Day 4 – Yamanochi
* Travel to Ryokan/drop off bags
* Snow monkey sanctuary
* Do some wandering around, go back to inn for dinner, bath, etc
* Good long night of comfy sleep
# Day 5 – Travel/Tokyo
* Return from Ryokan
**Ikebukuro**
* Pokemon Center
* Gatchapon
* Animate
(*Assuming we get back around mid day, we could try to fit Nakano broadway in here, not sure if worth it)*
**Shibuya**
* Return to a second look at Parco
* Yokocho
# Day 6 – Kyoto
* Travel to Kyoto
* Nijo Castle
* Kyoto Imperial Palace
* Nishiki Market
* Pontocho Alley
* Gion District
# Day 7 – Kyoto
* Fushimi Inari Shrine
* Toji Temple
* Ginkakuji Temple
* Ryoanji Temple
# Day 8 – Kyoto
* Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge
* Arashiyama Monkey Park
* Bamboo Grove
* Tenryuji Temple
* Kinkakuji Temple
# Day 9 – Nara
* Kofukuji Temple
* Isuien Garden
* Todaiji Temple
* Nara Park/Mount Wakakusa
* Kasuga Grand Shrine
* Shopping
# Day 10 – Osaka
* Osaka Castle & history museum
* Namba Yasaka Shrine
* Nishinomaru Garden
* Kuroman Ichiba Market
* Dotonbori Cruise + Dotonbori
* Don Quixote Ferris Wheel
* Misono Building
* Shinsaibashing Shopping
* Big Romantic Dinner (Will book in advance)
# Day 11 – Osaka
* Osaka Aquarium
* Tempozan Ferris Wheel
* Umeda Sky
* Shinsekai District
* Americamura
* Eorzea Cafe
# Day 12 – Tokyo
**Chiyoda**
* Imperial Palace + Gardens
**Akihabara**
* Yanagimori Shrine
* Square Enix Cafe (Is this worth it ? Lots of mixed Reviews here)
* Radio Kaikan
* Mandarake
* Gachapan
* Super Potato
* More Shopping
# Day 12 – Tokyo
**Asakusa**
* Senso-ji Temple (Thunder Gate, Nakamise Dori, Temple, Padoga, Shrine)
* Asakusa Tourist Information center
**Sumida**
* Tokyo Skytree + Surrounds
**Ueno**
* Ameyoko Market
* Uena Park
* Tokyo National Museum and/or Zoo
**Asakusa**
* Hoppy St (May replace this part with Nakano Broadway area if it makes more sense)
# Day 13 – Mt Fuji
* Guided Tour
# Day 14 – Tokyo
**Chuo**
* Tsukiji Outer Market
**Odaiba**
* TeamLabs Planets
* Rainbow Bridge
* Ga Kyo
* Diver City (ITS A GUNDAM!)
* Small Worlds
* Decks Tokyo Beach Lights
**Roppongi**
* Tokyo Tower
* Art Aquarium
* Zozoji Shrine
# Day 15
* Last minute food, souvenirs , head to Narita.
2 comments
The number 1 tip for any visit to Kyoto or Tokyo is to lump sightseeing together by district. These are *huge* and very spread out cities. Number 2 tip is to get your one to two must-see/do’s done as early each day as possible. Then, anything else you do that day, is gravy.
– [Tokyo Districts](https://trulytokyo.com/tokyo-districts/)
– [Kyoto Districts](https://www.insidekyoto.com/kyoto-districts)
– [Osaka Districts](https://insideosaka.com/osaka-districts/)
– [Save the places you want to visit in Google maps.](https://www.theunconventionalroute.com/google-maps-saved-places/)
– Then, zoom out and see where those places are lumped together. Do *that* specific district/area in the morning and shift to another district/area in the afternoon. This way you don’t lose time/money criss-crossing the city.
– See how long it will take to travel via public transit (or walking if within the same area) between your sites. You need to account for travel time and add in an extra 15- 20 minutes from what Google Maps says as you may get turned around looking for your entrance/exit or platform in the subway/train stations.
– Be sure you check opening hours/days in Google maps too. You don’t want to show up at 8 am to Akihabara only to find all the shops closed or to a museum on a Monday as that is often (but not always) a closed day.
You’ve already got things grouped by District so put them into your Google Maps and head to your #1 spot first, then your #2 spot in that area. Then see where the rest of the day goes. I like pulling up my maps and seeing what else is nearby within walking distance as I guarantee if you walk between nearby sites you’ll stumble upon other spots to explore.
Your Day 2 is pretty ambitious as I always get really tired mid-afternoon and need a nap to be able to go out and enjoy dinner at night.
For your Kawagoe day, do you mean you won’t start sightseeing there til 3 pm? That’s too late as a lot of the shops and other sites will start closing about 5 or 6 pm. I’d suggest moving some of the things you don’t end up getting to on Day 2 to the Kawagoe day instead. It’s not worth the trip out to Kawagoe for just a couple hours.
Hello, I’m Japanese, and am quite familiar with Osaka and Kyoto. Tell me more about your preferences, requests and budget about your big romantic dinner in Osaka. I think I can give you some recommendations.