Itinerary check for first-timers. Spring 2024; 13 full days: Tokyo-Fuji-Kyoto-Nara-Osaka.

Hi everyone!

We will be in Japan for the first time (finally 😭) next Spring and would like your thoughts on our itinerary, especially the part for Tokyo-Fuji. Thank you so much in advance! Also, we’re from SEA so jetlag won’t be an issue.

Apologies in advance if the formatting’s weird; currently on the app.

**• Day 0 (Tues)**

(arrival; staying around Tokyo Station or Ginza)

**• Day 1 (Wed)**

(planning to reach by 7/8AM for 📷 and to queue for Starbucks)

• Meguro River (from Naka-meguro Station)

• Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo

• Lunch (omakase) @ Udatsu Sushi or Sushi M, Shibuya

• Lights up: 17:00-20:00

• Dinner (wagyū) @ Gyukatsu Motomura Shinjuku Minamiguchi or Yoroniku

**• Day 2 (Thurs)**

(planning to reach by 8/9AM for 📷)

• Shibuya: Sakura Street / Yoyogi Park / Meiji Jingu

• Shinjuku: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

• Lunch @ Ichiran

• Shibuya: Disney Store / MEGA Don Quijote / Nintendo / Pokémon Center / Shibuya Sky (an hour before sunset) / Shibuya Crossing @ Mag’s Park Rooftop (closes by 21:00)

• Shinjuku: Godzilla head (lights & sound off by 20:00) / 3D billboard (sound off by 23:00) / Golden Gai / Omoide Yokochō

**• Day 3 (Fri)**

(planning to reach by 7/8AM for 📷)

• Asakusa: Tokyo Skytree @ Sumida Park / Sensōji / view from Asakusa Culture Information Tourist Center, 8th floor (opens at 09:00)

• Snack along Nakamise-dori Street / nearby

~ dango @ Kibidango Azuma or Momotarō

~ sweet bean paste balls @ Funawa

~ melon pan @ Asakusa Kagetsudo

~ taiyaki @ Naruto Taiyaki or Taiyaki Sharaku

~ dorayaki @ Umezono

~ pancakes @ Benitsuru

~ matcha @ Suzukien

• Akihabara: HEY Taito

• (before sunset) Asakusa: view from Asakusa Culture Information Tourist Center, 8th floor (closes at 20:00) / Sensōji / Tokyo Skytree @ Sumida Park (Lights up: 18:30-00:00)

**• Day 4 (Sat)**

• Tsukiji

~ tamago @ Shouro

~ ichigo daifuku & Soratsuki

~ lattes @ Matcha Stand Maruni

~ kaisendon

~ wagyu

~ daifuku mochi

**📷 spots:**

• Tokyo Tower: Shiba Park 4th block / Motor Cycle Park / basement

• Tokyo Imperial Palace & East Gardens

• Chidorigafuchi Moat

• Inokashira Park

• 15:55 train from Tokyo Station – Kawaguchiko Station via Chūō Line (IC)

**• Day 5 & 6 (Sun & Mon)**

• Chureito Pagoda

• Shimoyoshida Honcho Street / Lake Kawaguchiko / Panoramic Ropeway / Lawson Lake Kawaguchiko Ohashi

**• Day 7 (Tues)**

• in case Mt Fuji got shy the day before, repeat above itinerary

• head to Gotemba – Kyoto

**Questions:**
1. I like to take photos so you’ll see that on some days, there’ll be back and forth travelling so that I can capture certain places both in the morning and at night; any changes I should make for any of the days to make it more efficient in terms of getting around?
2. Am I putting too many activities in a day?
3. Any recommendations on where to get good coffee and hōjicha lattes? I tried Google and it was difficult to find the latter.
4. There are certain restaurants that we’d like to try, which I’ve listed down, but mostly we’ll just do a quick Google search for nearby restaurants; if you have any recommendations, we’d appreciate it!
5. I’d really like to see Mt. Fuji hence the 3N stay (3 chances to see it in the morning & afternoon) but I’m not sure if I should scrape it altogether since it’s so dependent on the weather and I’d have to book accommodations in advance (so if the weather for the days I booked turn out to be bad, I won’t be able to cancel them; and also those days could be used to explore Tokyo more). Thoughts?
6. In case we do go ahead with Fuji, we’re planning to bike around since we don’t have an international driver’s license; would this be feasible?
7. Also, any recommendations on the route from Fuji to Kyoto? When I checked Google Maps, most of the routes bring us back to Tokyo then Kyoto. I chanced upon a route that led to Gotemba then Tokyo but now it’s gone; is this route uncommon?

**Edit: formatting.**