This is going to be my first time traveling overseas. I will be traveling with a friend for the most part, but I’ll be alone for 9 days total as my trip is longer than his. I will also be visiting some of my Japanese friends that studied at my university last year. For days when I’m alone, I plan on doing a few day trips outside of Tokyo.
For some information, I’ve already got both my airbnbs booked and I will not be spending anymore money on accommodations. So I will only do day-trips near Tokyo. The only part of my itinerary that’s nearly 100% complete is my Kyoto portion. Everything else isn’t set in stone yet as it will just vary on weather/what’s open etc.
I have 130,000¥ in cash already, and plan to not go over $2500.00USD after I spend all my cash. This includes money for food,transportation,souvenirs and anything else that I purchase.
I know that my daily plans are only focused on one area for the main part, but that’s deliberate so I don’t over plan. I’m sure I’ll do more than one area most days. (I’m aware that most restaurants/cafes don’t open until 10/11am)
For recommendations, I am a 21Y/O Female and I love anime,Sanrio, yummy food, cute things and plan on doing lots of gashapon and kuji.
May 28th: Leave Home
•Arrive at FAR airport by 5:30am
•Flight departs at 7:50am
•Arrive at ORD at 9:52am
•Depart ORD at 1:05pm
•Arrive at HND at 3:55pm (+1)
May 29th: Arrive in Japan
•3:55pm Arrive at Haneda Airport; get IC card,esim,ticket for limousine bus, JR Pass,etc.
•Check into airbnb/Eat Lunch
•Go to 7/11 to withdraw cash at ATM and grab dinner
May 30th:Explore local area
•Breakfast at Land_A
•Get birthday gift for tomo
May 31st: Friends Arrival
•2:20pm Friends Arrive at Haneda Airport
•Go to Airbnb w/friend and then get lunch
June 1st: Tomo’s Birthday
•Crisscross Cafe for breakfast
•Celebrate Tomo’s Birthday!
June 2nd:Spend day at Tokyo Skytree
•Sumida Aquarium
•Shop at Kirby store, Rilakkuma store, Hello Kitty store etc.
•Dinner at Musashi 634 Cafe
June 3rd:Spend day in Asakusa
•Breakfast at HATCOFFEE
• Rent kimono from Yae Kimono Rental (they are plus size friendly, speak English and are able to work with natural hair for black women as well)
•Asakusa Yokocho at night
June 4th:Spend day in Akihabara
(Pedestrian Paradise on Sundays from around 1-6pm they close the streets to traffic)
• Eat lunch at MaidDreamin Cafe
•Get dinner (TBD)
June 5th:Spend day in Shibuya
•Breakfast at Bills
•Nintendo Store
•Shibuya Sky
•Jump Parco
•Dinner at Kumachan onsen hotpot
June 6th: Harajuku
•Marion Crepes
•Lunch at Pompompurin Cafe
•SailorMoon Store
•Kiddyland
•Coffee at Cafe REISSUE
•Mipig Cafe
•Dinner Kichijouji Petit Mura
June 7th: Shinjuku
•2DCafe
•Cafe Binggo
•Gashapon Ikebukuro
•Sunshine city mall
•Shin-Okubo
•Sekaido Stationary Store
•Muji
June 8th: Sanrio Puroland (if open)
June 9th: Head to airbnb in Kyoto
•Arashiyama Bamboo forest
•Arashiyama Rilakuma Tea House for lunch
•Arashiyama Miffy Store
•Chiri-Men craft store museum
•Sugano romantic train (if time)
•Kinkaku-ji
•Dinner at Kinkaku An (if open)
•Itadaki if Kinkaku An closed
June 10th:Spend day in Kyoto
•Breakfast at Komeda’s Coffee
•Kiyomizu-dera
•Sannenzaka
•Tatami Starbucks
•Lunch in Sannenzaka
•Yasaka Shrine
•Maruyama Park
•Dinner at Kobe Beef Steak Mouriya Gion
June 11th: Kyoto
•Fushimi inari taisha
•Nishiki Market
•Dinner
June 12th:Spend day in Osaka
•Osaka Castle
•Osaka Aquarium
•Rikuro Ojisan Cheesecake
•Dotonbori
June 13th:Tokyo
•Check out of Kyoto airbnb
•Hyde&Away Cafe for breakfast
•Head to back to Tokyo
June 14th: Ikebukuro
June 15th:Ueno/Ginza
•Ueno Zoo
•Loft Ueno
•Ueno Park
•Ameyoko
•Ginza
June 16th: Disneysea
June 17th:
•Nakano Broadway
•Shiro-Hige Cream puff factory
June 18th: Yokohama
June 19th:
•Tsukiji Outer Market
•Dinner at Dawn Robot Cafe
June 20th: Friend(s) go back home
• See them off to airport
• Have final lunch with friend(s)
June 21st: Hakone
•Hakone Shrine on Lake Aishi
June 22nd: Isumi City, Chiba
June 23rd: Nikko
June 24th:
June 25th:
June 26th:
June 27th: Head back Home
•Check out of airbnb by 11am
•Arrive at airport by 2pm
•Flight departs HND 5:45pm – arrives ORD 3:35pm
•Flight departs ORD 7:50pm – arrive home at 9:47pm
2 comments
Hi!
I think you have a lot of days with just not so much going on and I hesitate to say this but some days feel empty.
I’m also going to mention the heat and humidity in June in Japan. It can be a lot.
Kamakura should be having it’s hydrangea season. My favorites down there were a random hedgerow not far from Zeniarai Benten.
I keep wanting to go to Chichibu. It keeps getting cut from my list, but maybe my June trip will be when I finally go. 🙂 If you like Moomin there is a theme park.
You could look into a JR East or JR Wide Pass to semi escape from the heat and go somewhere further on a day trip.
You could even combine one with your planned trip to Nikko and use the other 2 (to 4 more days) to day trip elsewhere.
I’ve heard good thinks about Karuizawa. I’ve looked at Nasu Shiobara a few times. (both Wide Pass options)
Gunma has some interesting day trip possibilities. (wide pass options or other methods)
I collect fashion dolls, so make a pilgrimage to the factory most trips. (East Pass)
My tween really enjoyed Matsushima (East Pass)
It’s stretching the word day trip, but you could try to go to Naruko onsen to see how traditional kokeshi are made. (East Pass)
You can experience Hawaii in Japan at Spa Resorts Hawaiian, which I’ve not been to but looks insane. (several passes cover it.)
There are just a lot of options!
Since you mentioned being a fan of Sanrio and cute things, I would recommend Sanrio World Ginza, the largest Sanrio flagship store. It’s 2-stories full of cute Sanrio items. Also, there is Character Street in Tokyo Station which is full of cute Japanese character stores such as Sanrio, Rilakkuma, Miffy, Pokemon, etc.