Kyoto/Tokyo Trip – 14 Day Itinerary Advice!

18 comments

1. Before we go any further… are you a resident with status or a Japanese passport holder?

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3. > Day 12 (Saturday): Hedgehog Cafe in the afternoon

   Just don’t.

   > Any onsens (clothed) to recommend for amazing views for sunrise/sunset?

   There are “water park” onsen in which you can wear bathing suits in. They’re mostly just very warm pools instead of legitimate hot spring water. You cannot wear clothes/bathing suit into onsen. Even if it’s private use, you should not put towels and fabrics into the water as it’s not drained.

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5. I think your Day 2 is a bit too crowded. You may want to spread it to different days.

   Hedgehog cafes are not really nice honestly. Those animals tend to get stressed really easily so having too much contact with humans is only bad for their health. I would avoid it.

   From what I understand you are living at the military base at Nagasaki. I don’t know how military ID’s work but if you are a registered foreigner with a Zairyu Card you can’t buy JR Rail Pass. Shinkansen could add up real fast if you are moving from Sasebo to Kyoto to Tokyo and then back to Sasebo. Maybe look for local budget airlines (Peach, Jetstar) for flights to KIX and/or Haneda then move with Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo. Really depends on your budget. I know shinkansen is quite empty recently especially if you get a reserved seat. Get an IC card at the first city you visit Pasmo, Suica (Tokyo) or Icoca (Kyoto). Whichever you pick you can use them across Japan. Just load with a large sum and you don’t have to worry about charging it again and again.

   For food places, it depends on what you like and your budget! I can give my opinion if you write what you like!

6. Last year after we hiked Fushimi Inari, we ate a couple of blocks away at Ramen Hiwamatanoboru. It was the perfect place to grab food on a cool November day after a long hike. The ramen was so good, we made a point to go back for a second meal on our last day in the city. If you go, I definitely recommend also ordering a side of their fried chicken.

7. Day 5, no. Hanatouro is in Arashiyama in December and in Higashiyama in March. So you are at the wrong month for both, and also you would have been in Higashiyama for Kiyomizu-dera the previous days, so might as well do both the same day… that if is you go in the right time.

   And if you mean this November, there is no hanatouro planned yet for this year, it was even cancelled this March.

   JR Pass… if it’s this year, it mean you are in Japan now, so how could you be under a tourist visa? JR Pass is just for tourist visa holders only, and Japan is close to tourist since April. If you are not in Japan now… then you cannot get in anyway as Japan is still close. Let me guess… Sasebo… U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo ? That does not change the fact that JR Pass is only if you have a tourist visa, and it’s unlikely you got in Japan as a tourist in the last 90 days.

   After it’s up to you to compare price between flying and taking the shinkansen. And if you are in Sasebo, you don’t have a Sugoca card for the train? You can use it in Kyoto/Tokyo, it just does not cover shinkansen. If you don’t have one, then yes get a Icoca in Kyoto, it make payment of train easy, that is if you don’t get a Sugoca begore that.

   In Tokyo, Hamarikyu and tsukiji on separate day is stupid as they are next to each other. I personally really like Koishikawa korakuen that is a nice garden, when in autumn and it was pretty. Also don’t understand why Asakusa on day 8 when the big thing in Asakusa is Senso-ji taht is on your day 10, so anything you plan in Asakusa, do it on day 10. Would skip gov. building if you do New York bar, Roppongi Mori tower and Skytree, unless you really really like views from tall buildings.

   Having too much in your itinerary is not a problem if you are able to change your plan and drop stuff when you see you do not have time to do all. I mean, dining in Shibuya + NY bar + izakaya in Shinjuku all on the same day seems a lot of eating/drinking. So you might end up changing your plan.

   Kyoto and Tokyo are not known for onsen to start with… even less with a view… and even less with cloth. The only onsen I know that allow cloth are more amusement park vibe like yunessun in Hakone, that have a part that is mixed gender and with swimsuit. Also, you’ll need to be naked in onsen monogatari. If you want to have a nice view for sunrise/sunset from a onsen that you do not have to worry about being naked, then get a room with a private onsen and a good view, like in Kawaguchiko with view on Mount Fuji.

   Yes you can do a day trip, depend what you want to see and what you are ok to remove from your itinerary. For example, Hakone (that I would do as a stop on the way between Kyoto an Tokyo is you start early), Nikko, the Tobu train start from Asakusa. There is other options such as Kawaguchiko, Kamakura, Kawagoe, Chichibu, it really depend what you like.

8. Also a resident and going to Kyoto in November. Be aware that Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera are both under renovation.

   I never knew Hanatouro was a thing, but I’m assuming it’s canceled this year or it’s not a thing in November since I don’t see any updated information about it.

   You would probably have to cut down on some Tokyo plans if you want a daytrip out. Okutama in West Tokyo is nice for autumn foilage. Hakone is also a good option for the scenic ride through the Golden Route and for its onsens. Personally I would combine Day 8 and 9 – Team Lab Planets, Hamarikyu Gardens, Shiba Park, then maybe Akihabara in the evening, and save the other day for a daytrip. Personally not a fan of Tsukiji Market, but it’s a good destination if you want a top quality sushi breakfast/lunch/dinner.

   Visit Asakusa both at day and night, the Nakamise and surrounding streets after dark is pretty with the dimmed street lights on.

9. Not much to offer you here, since I only barely scratched the surface of Tokyo when I went.

   For day 10, hit up Asakusa Gyuukatsu near Sensō-ji Temple. It sits just across the entrance to Nakamise Shopping Street. The Nakamise Shopping Street is quite touristy, so I wasn’t too inclined to try anything.

   If you can swing it, I would recommend Saitamaya in Kita City. Delicious BBQ food with drinks and the company of great locals. Quite easy to get to by train.

   Day 11: I recommend getting food at Uobei. Tasty, decent price, and fun.

   I want to go back to Japan as soon as possible. It was such a great trip.

10. Saturday Kyoto do samurai joe tour! In Tokyo do the samurai museum (trust me you will be pics of a lifetime) and maybe take a 2hr samurai lesson. You end up putting on a 90sec show. Have someone record it!

11. On Day 3.
    I suggest you go to Nara early in the morning. first train ride head to nara.
    Out of all the temple i visited in kyoto and nara. I must say todai-ji would be the most remarkable.

    Nara has so much to offer, its a nice place and I regret only allocating 1 day for it.

    Fushimi inari you could visit at night. Its very near the train station and I dont think you would sink in a lot of time there.

    Day 4
    I think you have some free time. So if you arent tired go visit ginkakuji. take the train nearest ginkakuji then ride a taxi going to it. really a nice place and since you have some free time.

    Don’t be afraid to ride the taxi. it’s really not that expensive specially if you are riding as a group. Spend money now specially now that you OWN the attraction.

12. To save money you could go to the Metropolitan Government Building . It has a great view and it is free. Not sure if it is open at sunset.

    Nakamise is so fun. We also bought some items from the street to the right behind Nakamise to find lower prices. (For very similar items). There is a 2nd-hand kimono shop behind the temple. We found it as they had a rack of Kimonos outside. I think we paid about $10 a kimono.

    Tsukiji is fascinating and has an incredible variety of seafood to see. You can watch the vendors cut giant slabs of tuna.

    Have fun!

13. I don’t think US military in Japan can get the JR pass. I believe it’s meant for tourists and needs to be sent or billed to a foreign address. At east that my was experience when I was stationed there.

14. I really like this itinerary — it’d work for families with children too. Just replace the days that have any night life with Osaka (Universal Studios Japan) and Tokyo Disney. I’m bookmarking this for our 2022 trip 😬❤️

15. If you make it up to the Philosophers Path (a bit north of Higashiyama), the temples along the path and of course the path itself are just absolutely wonderful. Much more quiet than popular temples/shrines just as Kinkakuji. Plus, at the south end of the path is the most AMAZING udon place – their specialty is a curry beef udon….I waited in line for an hour and it was extremely worth it.

    Hinode Udon – Japan, 〒606-8446 Kyoto, Sakyo Ward, Nanzenji Kitanobocho, ３６

16. Don’t you have to self isolate and quarantine for 14 days upon arrival?

17. When I visited Japan in March I flew from Fukuoka to Osaka and train from there to Kyoto. Then flew Osaka to Haneda. Both flights were around $110, so considerably cheaper than a 7-day JR Pass.

18. The itinerary has been updated! Thank you all so much for your help!! **:D <3**