Hi! I’m going to Tokyo and Kyoto for a week and would love some advice on if there are any must-sees I’m missing, and if there are days that feel too heavy or light. I may have overbooked, and if so will definitely trim down – I’d really like to allow time for discovery and wandering.
Also would love recs for a cooking class in Kyoto (restaurant recs always welcome as well!)
About me:
I usually try to avoid tourist traps (but I definitely made some exceptions) and I’m not big on Instagram photos, etc. I’m into immersive / cultural experiences, and I’d love to learn more about customs, philosophy, meditation and the language while I’m there. Really into film, folk / ghost stories, and matcha. Also Spirited Away, Animal Crossing, Sailor Moon, and One-Punch Man.
It’s also worth noting that I’m athletic and hike frequently. Thanks so much for reading.
# TOKYO
**DAY 1 – (Shinjuku)**
* Flight lands in the afternoon
* Check in to hotel
* Shinjuku area / Golden Gai for dinner
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**DAY 2 – (TeamLab, Joypolis, Sumida City, Shibuya)**
* TeamLab Planets
* Tokyo Joypolis
* Meeting a friend around the southern Sumida City area in the early evening
* Shibuya nightlife / dinner
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**DAY 3 – (Ueno Park, Tokyo Station, Shinkansen to Kyoto)**
* Ueno Park / Tokyo National Museum
* Tokyo Station / Explore & lunch
* *Is there anything in this general area that’s worth seeing before we hop on the train to Kyoto, if we’re able to?*
* Shinkansen to Kyoto
# KYOTO
* Pontocho Alley / dinner
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**DAY 4 – (Northern Kyoto) –** *I haven’t been able to crack this day. Would love some ideas -*
* Kinkaku-ji
* Tenjin-san Flea Market at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
* *Nishijin Textile District? Orinasukan Handwoven Technology Museum?*
* *Ryoan-ji?*
* *Maybe a cooking class in the evening? Any recs?*
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**DAY 5 – (Fushimi Inari, Gion, Southern Higashiyama)**
* Fushimi Inari
* *I’m thinking of doing one of the longer hikes around the back. If you’ve tried this, would you recommend?*
* Meet a friend in Gion for lunch
* Kiyomizu-dera / Sannenzaka / Ninenzaka
* *Really looking forward to exploring this area but worried it’ll be really busy by this time / close to when shops close. Would love advice on if there’s a better place to fit it in.*
* Yasaka Shrine
* Dinner
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**DAY 6 – (Arashiyama)**
* Iwatayama Monkey Park
* Rent a bike
* Tenryu-ji
* *Okochi-Sanso Villa & Gardens?*
* *Gio-ji?*
* Saga-Toriimoto Street
* Adashino Nenbutsuji
* *Otagi Nenbutsuji?*
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**DAY 7 – (Kurama & Kibune Hike, Northern Higashiyama)**
* Hike to Kurama and Kibune
* Ginkaku-ji
* Path of Philosophy
* Explore Gion area / dinner
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**DAY 8 – (Nishiki Market, Shinkansen to Tokyo, Airport)**
* Nishiki Market
* Ride the Shinkansen back to Tokyo / Airport
* Flight home leaves in the early evening