Hello everyone! I need to fly to China in June to deal with some super last minute family business, so I figured I’d visit Japan for the first time before heading there. I have to meet up with an uncle for a day in Tokyo on the 6th, so I had to split my Tokyo stay in half. Apologies if this itinerary isn’t the best, I’ve gone through dozens of posts here and a ton of articles, but I’ve never traveled solo before and am admittedly stressed and overwhelmed planning everything so close to the travel date. Trying to just make sure I’m on the right track so I stop freaking out about a trip that I’m sure will be enjoyable.
I’ve only had about a week to do my research and plan these things out, so I still have nothing really planned for Osaka and Tokyo, but I figure since Kyoto and Hakone are both going to be pretty crazy, it might be alright to just have general lists of things to consider doing in Tokyo and Osaka.
**Monday, May 29 – Tokyo arrival + getting settled**
2pm Arrive in Tokyo
~2pm-3pm? Get my JR Pass, Welcome Suica card (Tokyo Monorail 2F Ticket Gate/Arrival lobby)
3-4pm Head to hostel (&AND Hostel Asakusa Kappabashi), withdraw ~80-100K JPY at a 7-11?
Check into hostel and stop by Suzukien Asakusa for matcha ice cream
Walk to Ueno Park
Dinner at Asakusa Gyukatsu(?), get some rest
**Tuesday, May 30 – Tokyo – Akihabara**
Akihabara stuff ??
Food Possibilities:
Roast Beef Ohno Akihabara
**Wednesday, May 31 – Tokyo to Kyoto**
6am Grab some breakfast at nearby 7-Eleven, head to Tokyo Station
7am Arrive at Tokyo Station, catch 7:30 Shinkansen to Kyoto
~10am Arrive in Kyoto, walk to K’s House to drop off luggage
11am Lunch in Downtown Kyoto and check out Nishiki Market
3-4pm Head to Fushimi Inari Taisha
**Thursday, June 1 – Kyoto (Arashiyama)**
8am Head to Tenryu-ji (take the walking tour https://www.insidekyoto.com/arashiyama-bamboo-grove-guide-walking-tour)
Arashiyama Bamboo Garden
Okochi Sanso Garden
Check out Togetsukyo Bridge too
12:30pm Lunch somewhere
2pm-5pm Ginkakuji -> Philosopher’s Path -> Eikan-do Temple -> Nanzen-ji -> Pontocho for dinner and wandering Gion at night
7pm Get dinner and hang out somewhere or go to bed early
**Friday, June 2 – Kyoto to Nara to Osaka (Nara Day Trip, spend night in Osaka)**
6am Leave for Kiyomizu-dera
10:30am Return to hostel to check out and head to Kyoto Station (Platform 8, Kyoto -> Nara via Nara Line)
11:30ish Train to Nara, leave luggage at Nara Station locker on arrival
1pm Nara Park / Todaiji
5pm Train to Osaka (Nara -> Tennoji via Kansai Line, Tennoji -> Osaka via Haruka 42)
Take Midosuji Line (Red Line) to Namba Station, then walk 10 min to Osaka Namba Hostel Miyabi
8pm Dinner + nightlife stuff?
**Saturday, June 3 – Osaka**
NOT SURE YET
Dotonburi for food
**Sunday, June 4 – Osaka**
NOT SURE YET
Food possibilities:
Fukutaro for okonomiyaki
Takoyaki anywhere
**Sunday, June 5 – Osaka to Hakone**
Catch 8:06 Shinkansen to Odawara
10:38 Arrive in Odawara, drop off with Baggage Service at Hakone-Yumoto station
11:00 Hakone Loop until 5pm at the latest (might need to hurry, focus time in Owakudani)
5pm Go from Hakone Yumoto station to Senkyoro Ryokan
Check in by 6pm to eat provided dinner
Nighttime activities: Senkyoro’s onsen, walk around the area, relax for the night
**Monday, June 6**
Hakone to Tokyo
Leave 7am for Odawara Station, catch 8:20 Shinkansen to Tokyo (Kodama 818)
~9:30am arrive at hostel (K’s House Tokyo Oasis), leave luggage at reception
Check out Nakamise-dori
Stop by Taiyaki Sharaku later in the day
**No clue what to do this day — meeting up with an uncle and have nothing planned**
5:30pm Mantensushi Omakase (Nihonbashi)
**Tuesday, June 7 – Tokyo (Ginza / Chuo)**
7:30am Leave for Tsukiji Outer Market
Hamarikyu Gardens
Shop around in Ginza, including Uniqlo Flagship store
Food/Snack Possibilities:
Tempura Tsujimura
Taimeiken (omurice)
Ginza Music Bar at night?
**Wednesday June 8 – Tokyo (Shinjuku / Shibuya)**
Shinjuku/Shibuya/Harajuku stuff?
Check out some bars (or other listening bars like Grandfather’s)
Food/Snack Possibilities:
Harajuku Gyozaro
Flippers Shibuya
**Thursday June 9**
Flight out of Haneda Airport