Hey everyone! My girlfriend and I are planning a 10 day Japan trip. Here’s a rough itinerary. Would love any suggestions or substitutions. Please forgive me extra notes, helps me remember what the places are. Thank you!
Places to Stay
– [ ] Tokyo 4 Days, 3 Nights
– [ ] Citadines Central Shinjuku Tokyo
– [ ] Century Southern Tower Hotel, 0.2 from Shinjuku / Golden Gai
– [ ] Kanazawa 1 Days, 1 Night
– [ ] Yamanoo
– [ ] Kyoto 3 Days, 2 Nights
– [ ] Osaka 2 Days, 2 Nights
Places to Go
– [ ] Tokyo – 1st, can see Mt Fuji by train going to Kanazawa
– [ ] Asakusa, ancient temple complex and market
– [ ] Kanazawa – 2nd
– [ ] Omicho Market
– [ ] Kaikaro Geisha Teahouse
– [ ] Kyoto – 3rd
– [ ] Ine – “Kyoto By the Sea”
– [ ] Jonangu Shrine, beautiful park
– [ ] Osaka – 4th
– [ ] Shinsekai
– [ ] Dotonbori
– [ ] Hozenji Yokocho
– [ ] Namba Yasaka Shrine
Places to Eat
– [ ] Tokyo
– [ ] Meguro City
– [ ] Yakumo Saryō, must make reservations, fancy omakase
– [ ] Shinjuku
– [ ] Golden Gai or Omoide Yokocho
– [ ] Park Hyatt Tokyo, 52nd floor Lost In Translation
– [ ] Chuo
– [ ] Hoshino Coffee Ginza, breakfast
– [ ] Teppanyaki Kurosawa, steakhouse
– [ ] Ginza Sushiko Honten, Tony ate here
– [ ] Nihonbashi Kakigaracho Sugita, very fancy omakase, master class sushi chef, 2 Michelin stars
– [ ] Shibuya
– [ ] Ichiran, Ramen
– [ ] Chiyoda
– [ ] Oreshiki-Jun, Tokyo Station Ramen Street, best tonkotsu
– [ ] Soranoiro Nippon, Tokyo Station Ramen Street, Edo-style (Chinese soba) ramen
– [ ] Minato
– [ ] Sohonke Sarashinahorii Azabujuban Honten, 250 year old soba noodle
– [ ] Koto-Ku
– [ ] Truffle & Bread
– [ ] Kanazawa, possible private food tour
– [ ] Omicho Market
– [ ] Kourin Sushi, come earlier the better
– [ ] Takasakiya Sushi, elderly couple owned, been here for 30 years
– [ ] Kyoto
– [ ] Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama
– [ ] Dandan Cafe, tea spot overlooking tea plantation
– [ ] Kumonocha Cafe Shijo Kawaremachi
– [ ] Aje Kiyamachi Donguri, yakiniku, bbq
– [ ] Osaka
– [ ] Osaka Cocktail Library Akashic Records, wild drinks
– [ ] Yakiniku kappo YPryu, Wagyu staircase
– [ ] 551 Horai, famous bun spot *
3 comments
Hi!
Define see Mt. Fuji and what time of year is this trip?
I was in Japan in December, which on sunny and clear days is a great time to see Mt. Fuji. I was very surprised because I saw Mt. Fuji around Omiya from my shinkansen going North. The view was not terribly good and the view from Tokyo was better.
If you are going to Kanazawa direct from Tokyo, you might be able to see it from Omiya like I did, but the view will be far better from within Tokyo, because it will be closer. The Hokuriku shinkansen doesn’t go near Mt. Fuji.
If you have good weather and really want to see Mt. Fuji, you can take a shinkansen to Maibara and change there for the limited express to Kanazawa, but it will take considerably longer. Sbin-Fuji, a station on the Tokaido line, is the closest shinkansen station to Mt. Fuji and in good weather you get a very nice view.
You might get a decent view flying Haneda to Komatsu, but I’m not sure. I know Narita to Itami in Osaka, gives you a great view of Mt. Fuji even in more humid weather, but then you have to get to Kanazawa still and it will take you quite some time.
Asakusa’s temple’s location is really old, but all the building are actual reconstructions post World War 2. It’s still worth visiting Asakusa, but it’s not original.
I can’t imagine going to Kanazawa and skipping Kenrokuen, one of the big 3 gardens and many people’s favorite of the 3.
Ine is a long trip from Kyoto
[https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3996.html](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3996.html)
Make sure you know the time commitment if you want to see it.
Jonagu Shrine seems to be a great garden for ume, camellias, and possibly wisteria. I don’t know when you are going, but ume and camellias are pretty much done for 2023. (I think camellias come back in December.) Make sure you know what flowers are in bloom when you will be there because if those aren’t found there, I suspect the shrine is less interesting. Not all temples and shrines are famous for having every single flower.
Kyoto
Dan Dan Cafe is in Wazuka, Kyoto and will take a little over an hour to get there by car and over 2 hours by a combination of public transportation.
This is all one way as well. Also taking to account that trains and buses will probably be missed if you’re unfamiliar with where to go or where stops are.
It will probably be an all day thing but since you’re south of Uji you could also stop there and check out the sights. Uji is a lovely place to visit as well.
But I cannot recommend this part of Kyoto enough. I love Wazuka/Uji! Spend my birthday here every year the last few years! Such a beautiful place!
Ichiran sucks and is catered to foreigners, especially the Shibuya one. Search for something locals like, there’s heaps in Shibuya.