Hello,
I’m booking a last minute solo trip to Tokyo. The last time I was in Tokyo, I didn’t get a chance to walk around the city. My previous Japan trip was super packed with a large group and felt like a whirlwind across multiple cities. I want to have a relaxing trip this time around and soak in onsens. I would really appreciate some input and recommendations.
# Tokyo
* **Tuesday 5/9:**
* landing 4pm at Narita
* limo bus to hotel in Shinjuku
* late dinner in Omoide Yokocho
* **Wednesday 5/10:**
* Ueno: Park & Ameyoko
* Akihabara
* Ginza: Ginza Six
* Odaiba: Diver City Plaza – Hello Kitty store
* **Thursday 5/11:**
* morning jog in Yoyogi Park
* Shibuya
* lunch at Tsuta
* Nintendo Store
* Tokyu Hands
* Harajuku
* Omotesando
* **Friday 5/12:**
* Hamarikyu – hop on water bus to Asakusa
* Asakusa
* Kappabashi Street
* Imperial Palace?
* **Saturday 5/13:**
* morning run at Meiji Jingu Gaien
* Shinjuku
* Itesan
* Donki
* Shinjuku Gyeon Garden
* Thermae-Yu Onsen?
* Golden Gai
* **Sunday 5/14:**
* Meiji Jingu Gyoen
* Yokohama: quick visit to Cup Noodles Museum
* ??? – recs?
* laundry in nearby laundromat
# Hakone
* **Monday 5/15:**
* lunch in Shinjuku
* Shinjuku romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto
* arrrive \~3pm. Check into ryokan
* Venetian Glass Museum
* **Tuesday 5/16:**
* Hakone toori gate
* Hakone Shrine
* Amazake Chaya for lunch
* Hakone Open Air Museum
* **Wednesday 5/17:**
* Run/hike to Hakone Gate Boat Pier (\~2hours)
* Pirate Boat to Togendai
* Ropecar to Owakudani
* Owakudani to Gora?
* **Thursday 5/18:**
* check out of Ryokan 10am
* Hakone Yuryo?
* Haneda flight at 8pm
Are Wedneday’s and Thursday’s schedules in Tokyo overambitious or exhausting? I haven’t planned out Sunday so I can spread out my activities across more days.
* Last time in Tokyo I did the mariokart driving, robot dinner show, visited a beer garden in Roppongi, sumo wrestling match, Tsukiji tuna auction, and a dinner cruise
* Any other places I should visit? eat? shop? buy?
* Also, any affordable places to purchase a yukata?
Arigatou Gozaimasu!!
1 comment
I think you’re going too hard.
I just got back from Japan after 14 days and your first 2 days will burn out your legs and you’ll be a potato for the rest of the trip.
> Wednesday 5/10:
> Ueno: Park & Ameyoko
> Akihabara
> Ginza: Ginza Six
> Odaiba: Diver City Plaza – Hello Kitty store
Be aware that morning rush hour sucks on the subway. So if you’re going to Ueno park, you’re either going before rush hour (7am) or after rush hour (10am) and then walk around a bit for 2 hours and then jump on the train to get to Akihabara. You’re going to spend at LEAST 2 hours there and that’s going into animate and just walking up and down the main street and then junk street. Maybe get some food? This leaves you for what 2pm to then get to Ginza.
Getting to Ginza from Akihabara is 20 minutes and then spend another 2-3 hours there.
You’re at peak rush hour 4-5pm to go to Odaiba which is almost 45 minutes from Ginza Six. FYI there’s a Hello Kitty Store in Ginza.
Odaiba for 2-3 hours and you’re at 8pm on the first day. If you’re coming from North America, you’re going to be struggling to stay awake from the jet lag and your legs will have issues.
You can see how the first day is a little to chaotic and you might miss out on some things depending on timing and rushing to get from one place to another.
> Thursday 5/11:
> morning jog in Yoyogi Park
> Shibuya
> lunch at Tsuta
> Nintendo Store
> Tokyu Hands
> Harajuku
> Omotesando
Thursday is not so bad. Might want to rethink the morning Jog depending on how your legs/feet feel.
This feels like a lighter day so it should be okay.
For Yokohama, you can visit the Gundam factory, Yokohama China town, the 2 malls are pretty nice at the cup noodle museum.
We skipped Hakone because we weren’t looking to drop 700 bucks a night for 2 people.
I would honestly put in some breaks.
Cheap food:
Breakfast – Yayoi – Nakau
Lunch – Any Gyudon place (Sukiya > Yoshinoya > Matsuya)
Dinner – we slummed it a bit with a few Kura/Sushiro but we did eat some fancy meals
More Expensive Food:
I recommend Tsukemen at this place Menya
https://menya634.co.jp/storelist/akihabara/
Hope this helps.