Hi! First, I know July isn’t the best time, but my partner is a teacher so this is the best we can do. This is my first time in Japan & I know its packed because I do want to see a lot, but would like feedback on things that can be cut (or should be added) to make the most of the time we have. My goal is to have a mix of modern + old Japan and to eat well throughout the trip.
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Also, on the last day – are we budgeting enough time to get to KIX to fly out?
Thanks for any advice!
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I don’t like to plan every single step of the day, but the items below are the main bullets I jotted down, the assumption being to walk when possible & take a train when its too far.
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**Sun July 23** \- Arrive Haneda 5a.m., head to hotel near Kanda station to drop luggage.
Asakusa for shopping,
Senso Ji Temple,
Ueno Park,
Akihabara (anime town) Arcade
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**Mon July 24** \-
In the morning head to Toyosu (aim for Sushi Dai, elsewhere if can’t get a reservation),
Team Labs Planets sometime around midday,
Shinjuku for dinner at Golden Gai & view from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
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**Tues July 25** \-
Harajuku
Yoyogi Park
Meiji Shrine
Takeshita Street
Shibuya Crossing
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**Wed July 26** \-
Tsukiji Market for breakfast/final shopping
Imperial Palace and Gardens
Ginza (have a lot of restaurants bookmarked)
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**Thurs July 27** \- Take a train between 7-8am to Kyoto:
Drop luggage @ hotel near Kyoto Station
Kiyomizu-dera temple
Otowa waterfall
Kodaiji temple (explore neighborhood as walk)
Maruyama Park + Yasaka Shrine
Chion-in, Shoren-in
Nanzenji Temple
Philosopher’s Path
Ginkaku-ji – closes 5 pm
Gion/Pontocho for dinner (would be nice to do Nishiki Market but will be closed)
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**Fri July 28**
Fushimi Inari in am, then take train to Osaka by 11am or so.
In Osaka, drop luggage at hotel near Dotonbori.
Hozenji Yokocho
Doguyasuji for kitchenware
Namba Yasaka Shrine, then 30 mins train to
Shi-Tennoji
Gokuraku-jodo garden (closes 4 pm), 15 mins walk to
Shinsekai Kushi Katsu (opens 5 pm), then 16mins Train to
Dotonbori sightseeing
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**Sat July 29**
Osaka Castle (takes 30 mins by metro)- opens 9 am but go early to see gardens
Kuromon Ichiba market for lunch, 7 min walk to hotel
Leave Osaka city by 1:30pm by train (1hr) for a 4:30pm flight to Korea.
2 comments
Hi, I would think it’s too rush and you won’t get to fully immerse in the culture. With 7 days, I highly suggest you keep to just 1 – 2 cities.
Option 1: Tokyo
(IMO, you can easily spend 5-7 days in Tokyo. You can also make day trips out from Tokyo or spend a day at DisneySea / Disneyland)
Option 2: Kyoto + Osaka (travelling time between each cities are less than 30 mins if I’m not wrong)
(IMO, 7 days is sufficient for this option – I spent 3 days in Kyoto and 4 days in Osaka during my previous trip and it was just right for me)
Your Tokyo itinerary actually seems reasonable, but the Kyoto-Osaka days are way overstuffed. Too much to do and in the case of Kyoto for things way too far apart