I’ve been trying to get to Japan for awhile and am excited to finally make it happen! I’ll be working remotely while I am there but not a lot of hours and will be very flexible, so I left a bit of downtime at random times for work but otherwise prefer a packed schedule. Some things here are added as options nearby main attractions, that I may go ahead and drop spur-of-the-moment depending on my pacing for the day. Really hoping for some thoughts on whether I packed too much into some days, and if some things don’t seem worth it or if there’s anything you recommend I add. Will Kawagoe or Sendai be crazy because of Golden week? (I can’t move my trip to avoid golden week).
I’d love input on activities for the evenings. I’m into EDM and love a club vibe, but also would enjoy hopefully meetups of some sort or exploring the city. Would dive bars be interesting when I don’t speak Japanese (I’ll do my best with basics of course)? Is there such thing as a group bar crawl of some kind? Will clubs be empty if I only stay out until like 2/3? Also would love ideas for a few nice restaurants that I can splurge on and actually get a reservation for.
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**S 4/29** \- **Arrive**
Buy Suica Card at airport, get to hotel in Shinjuku and find food.
Check out Kabukicho
**Su 4/30 – Akihabara, Asakusa**
Akihabara Chuo-Dori, roam around, find an interesting spot for lunch, Owl cafe
Asakusa – Kaminarimon, Nakamise, Senso-ji temple, Denboin-Dori, Suzukien Asakusa?
Sumida river – possible to get on a little boat?
Back to Shinjuku for dinner and Omoide Yokocho
**M 5/1 – Ushiku Daibutsu**
Leave early, check out Ushiku Daibatsu, get back by about 2/3pm?
Dinner in Shinjuku, check out Golden Gai
**T 5/2 – Harajuku**
Meiji-jingu shrine, Yoyogi park?, Takeshita street, Snake Center?
Dinner in Shinjuku
**W 5/3 – Sendai**
Leave early on Shinkansen, work on train, See Sendai Daikannon, find lunch spot, check out Zuihōden Temple?
Dinner in Shinjuku
**R 5/4 – Bunkyo, Ginza, Kabukiza Theater**
Unsure of how to order this, especially 11am or 4pm show for Kabuki (single act)
Yanaka Ginza, Nezu jinja, Yushima tenjin, Kanda myojin, Yushima seido temple
Ginza crossing, Yakitori Alley, Tsukiji outer market?, Kabukiza
Dinner in Ginza – Ippudo Ginza or Sushi no Midori Ginza?
Nightlife in Ginza? Would I need a change of clothes?
**F 5/5 – Kawagoe**
Koedo Kurari, Kurazukuri no Machinami / Little Edo Warehouse District, Taisho Roman Yume-dori, Kashiya Yokocho, Kawagoe Matsuri Kaikan
Dinner and evening in Shinjuku, or a club somewhere
**S 5/6 – Fukagawa Edo Museum, Ueno**
Edo Museum, Ramen Yokocho, Ueno Park, Kiyomizu Kannon-do
Dinner and evening in Shinjuku or a club somewhere
**Su 5/7 – Placeholder in case schedule is too packed**
**M 5/8 – Change hotels to Shibuya**
Shibuya crossing, Center-gai, Niku Yokocho
Shibuya scramble square for city view (need ticket in advance?)
Dinner & evening in Shibuya
**T 5/9 – Kyoto**
Shinkansen early, work on train
Kiyomizu-dera, Hokan-ji temple, Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka Streets, Ishibe-kōji, Hanamikoji, Nene no Michi, Kōdai-ji temple, Gion Geisha district, Yasaka ninja shrine, Chion-in temple, Shoren-in temple, Heian Shrine, Nanzen-ji temple, Eikan-do temple, Philosopher’s Path?, Honen-in temple? (Lower priority but on the way), Higashiyama Jisho-ji, dinner Omen noodles. Lunch Gion tanto, Mimiko, or Mushoshin?
**W 5/10 – Kyoto**
Hozugawa Riverboat Tour at 9am, Togetsukyo bridge, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji temple, Ryoanji Temple, Kinkaku-ji, Daitoku-ji temple? (Lower priority)
Dinner at Pontocho alley, lunch at Shigetsu at Tenryu-ji, Arashiyama Yoshimura, or Unagi Hirokawa
**R 5/11 – Kyoto / Osaka**
Fushimi Inari Shrine 6am, Nijō-jo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Toji temple
Lunch at Nishiki Market, Shinkansen to Osaka late afternoon
Stay at dotonbori in Osaka
**F 5/12 – Osaka / Tokyo**
Ideas for morning in Osaka?, Shinkansen back to Tokyo around 2pm
Dinner and club in Shibuya
**S 5/13 – Placeholder in case schedule was too packed / chill in Shibuya**
Dinner and club in Shibuya
**Su 5/14 – Leave**
**Food ideas**
**Shinjuku**
Hobo Shinjuku Norengai
Shabu Shabu (hot pot) or Sukiyaki at Nabezo Shinjuku Meiji Dori
Hakata Tenjin Ramen
Shinjuku Makoto sushi
Hakata Tenjin – Ramen
Sushizanmai Shinjuku East Entrance – sushi
SobaHouse – Michelin star Ramen
Kirimugiya Jinroku – Michelin star Udon
**Shibuya**
Zauo Shibuya- fishing restaurant
Kotaro – Izakaya – Michelin
Katsu Midori? sushi
Mennobo Toride – Ramen