Overview: Tokyo > Kanazawa > Kyoto > Osaka > Seoul > Busan > Seoul > Tokyo
For context, my husband and I (29) are going to Japan and South Korea for the first time. We love love love to eat and are fans of Studio Ghibli, Disney, anime, video games, etc. We are big on wandering/exploring an area and could easily spend an entire day in a lot of these one neighborhoods, but are trying to make the most of our trip. One concern I have is having to get restaurant reservations in advance so it’s tough to have to narrow down to a specific place and time. Our budget is moderate-high, offsetting more expensive meals with convenience store/hotel breakfast/fast food/vending machine options. I also have major FOMO so I probably need a reality check on some of these days if they are too full! Open to any and all suggestions.
Notes: We plan to have Global Entry TTP for Japan to expedite arrivals, no allergies, church times are set, can walk a good amount
**SCHEDULE**
Questions marked with asterisks \*\*\*
**Saturday May 13 – Travel to Tokyo**
**Sunday May 14 – Travel + Tokyo**
Arrive NRT @ 3:30pm
Exchange currency, JR rail pass, Suica card? etc.
\*\*\*Based on our itinerary, is it cheaper to do one-way tickets + IC card vs a JR Rail pass? Also what is the best option for phone if going to Japan and South Korea?
Train to Ikebukuro/Super Hotel7pm Shibuya Crossing & Hachiko Statue
* Closes at 9pm Mags park rooftop view, can eat dinner/have drinks OR
* Closes at 10:30pm Shibuya sky & square, can eat/have drinks
**Monday May 15 – Tokyo**
Ikebukuro (Sunshine City Mall, Gashapon, Pokemon Center)
Harajuku for lunch and shopping (Takeshita street, Mipig cafe, Window shopping/thrifting, Laforet dept store)
Shinjuku (Ryu no myako inshokugai yokocho for dinner, Kabukicho, walk around)
**Tuesday May 16 – Tokyo**
7am: St. Mary Cathedral weekday mass9:30-10am arrival – TeamLabs PlanetsOdaiba
11am Toyosu fish market for brunch
1pm – Asakusa (Senso-ji temple, Gates, Nakamise-dori Street, Sumida Park/Pier, etc)
4:15pm Kikanbo for lunch
Explore around Tokyo Station (options: Intermediatheque, Kokyo Gaien National Garden, Hibiya Park, Yaechika (Yaesu Underground Shopping Mall, or Character Street)
9pm Pokemon Cafe for snack/dessert
**Wednesday May 17 – Tokyo**
DisneySea
**Thursday May 18 – Tokyo to Kanazawa**
Leave on JR Rail in morning
Check in Hotel
Dinner – Yakitori at 炭火焼 悠, opens at 6pm
After dinner options:
* Wine bar – 伊東商店
* Katamachi area
**Friday May 19 – Kanazawa**
Kenroku en garden & Kanazawa Castle Park
Ramen Taiga for black miso ramen
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Hakuichi/Higashi chaya district
Dinner – Izakaya 炭火焼 悠, opens at 5:30pm
Kazuemachi District
**Saturday May 20 – Kanazawa**
Breakfast at Omicho Market
Train to Kyoto station
3pm: Check into Biwako Hanakaido
Kaiseki dinner + Onsen
**Sunday May 21 – Kyoto**
Onsen + Japanese breakfast
\*\*\*Can the hotel hold our bags before check-in?
10:30am Catholic Kawaramachi Church
Lunch at Ichiryu Manbai – Kawaramachi
Check into REF Kyoto
\*\*\*Trying to figure when to do each of these over May 21-23? Do we do a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka to Nara?
Fushimi Inari
Senko-ji temple
Starbucks – Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya
Hanamikoji Street
Nishiki market
Gion traditional entertainment district
Pontocho Alley
Nara (Pretty much Todaiji Temple + Nara Park only)
**Monday May 22 – KyotoTuesday May 23 – Kyoto to Osaka**
\*\*\*Train to Osaka – is it worth it to try the Kyo-Train Garaku?
\*\*\*Open to suggestions this day!
Check in Hyatt Regency Osaka
**Wednesday May 24 – Osaka**
Osaka Castle
Tonkatsu KATSU Hana for lunch
Dotounbori Street, walk around + shop
Zauo Fishing Restaurant or かじや町 加寸’吉 （カズキ）for dinner if not at Universal
\*\*\*Is it worth to do 1.5 day pass to Universal?
**Thursday May 25 – Osaka**
Universal Studios Japan
**Friday May 26 – Osaka \*BIRTHDAY\***
\*\*\*Open to suggestions this day!
Head spa
Okonomiyaki (Okaru or Fue)
Mega Entertainment Center
Zauo Fishing Restaurant or かじや町 加寸’吉 （カズキ）or Izakaya Toyo for dinner
**May 27 to May 30 – Seoul + Busan**
**Wednesday May 31 – Seoul to Tokyo**
Arrive NRT @ 3:25pm
Check in Park Hyatt
Snack and drink – Dawn avatar robot cafe (ver B)
Shopping in Akihabara
9pm or 10pm? Sukiyabashi Jiro or Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi Hills (Do stuff before our after depending on which restaurant we get into)
**Thursday June 1 – Travel home**
This sub is super awesome and reading all the posts has given us a ton of insight into where to stay + things to do. Just having some choice overload now and could use some guidance! Thanks in advance 🙂
Edit: Formatting
1 comment
I just came back from Japan and Seoul. A couple of my experiences:
– I purchased an Airalo eSim in advance through the Airalo app (Asialink plan) because it covers multiple countries including Japan and South Korea. Convenient for me because I didn’t have to use a pocket wifi for each country and carry that with me the whole time.
– if you have an iPhone, load the Suica app in your Wallet app. Topping it up is super easy and using your phone for the gates was so easy because it’s always within hand reach. I didn’t need a physical Suica card because of this. (JR pass was not worth it for my trip. I checked the JR Pass calculator beforehand)
– TeamLab Planets is so worth it. Make sure to book tickets in advance and expect to get wet up to your knees. They provide towels. Dress accordingly.
– Most hotels will hold your bags before check-in. Be sure to check with them in advance to avoid disappointment. Alternative is to use a locker at a metro or train station.
– If you’re looking for an Onsen in Kyoto, I can recommend Sagana Onsen Tenzan-no-yu. It’s near Arashiyama so you can combine it with activities there like the Bamboo Forest, Monkey park etc.
– Nara; half a day would be enough for just the deer and Todaiji Temple
– I would recommend going to Himeiji Castle + Koko-en Garden instead of the Osaka Castle for a half-day trip. The Osaka castle was a big disappointment because the inside is modernized and shows nothing of the original castle. Himeji castle is far more beautiful and the inside is still original. Koko-en garden, which is next to the castle, was so amazing.
– I don’t see Kuromon Market on your Osaka itinerary. If you have the chance you could check that out. Most amazing food there.
– Now, for the most controversial part of my comment; adding Seoul at the end of my trip was a big mistake. I blame my expectations. I thought South Korea would be a lot like Japan. Seoul is so different that I experienced a culture shock compared to Japan. The streets are trashy, smelly and the people are less considerate and socially aware compared to Japan. There were times that I didn’t feel safe. I will not go into detail here.
To be fair, I didn’t go to Busan so it might be totally different there.