Hello everyone, I am looking for help ironing out my itinerary for Japan. I have revised it a few times based on this sub recommendations. I am looking for an easy going trip focused around anime/sightseeing/culture and food. Please recommend any phenomenal restaurants or food stands near any of the areas listed! If you see any issues with the itinerary or maybe a way to improve it please let me know!!
DAY 1: 11/07/2023
–Arrive at Haneda airport 5PM
–Retrieve pocket Wi-Fi or Sim cards
–Wagyu or Ramen for dinner (recommendations needed)
DAY 2: 11/08/2023
–Disney Sea
–Dinner in Tokyo (recommendations needed)
DAY 3: 11/09/2023
–Teamlab Planets
–Happy Pancake
–Art Aquarium museum Ginza
–Meiji Jungi Temple
–Parco Mall (is there enough time for this?) Can move this to Day 10 or 11
DAY 4: 11/10/2023
–Mt. Fuji (guided Tour)
–Dinner (recommendations needed)
–Tokyo Skytree @ night
DAY 5: 11/11/2023
–Take earliest train to Kyoto
–Check into hotel Hachijoguchi Sotetsu Fresa inn (drop luggage off?)
–Nikishi Market
–Omurice @ Kichikichi Omurice
–Find Onsen near hotel in kyoto
DAY 6: 11/12/2023
–Universal Studios
–Dinner (recommendations wanted/appreciated)
DAY 7: 11/13/2023
–Chinatown Nankinmachi
–Nunobiki Herb gardens
–The Veranda
–Tor Road Steak Aoyama
–Kobe Harborland
DAY 8: 11/14/2023
–Nara Park
–Melon de melon
–Todaiji Temple
–Yoshiki-en Garden
–Soba @ Kitahara & Mochi from Nakatanidou
DAY 9: 11/15/2023
–Osaka Castle
–Shinsekai *willing to skip this if not enough time
–Namba Yasaka Shrine
–Dotonburi
–Shinsaibashi
DAY 10: 11/16/2023
–Check into hotel Tokyo Bay
–Visit Akihabara (Maid Café/Anime Stores)
–Onsen Theme Park (urayasu)
–Dinner (recommendations wanted/appreciated)
DAY 11: 11/17/2023
—Gather belongings and head to airport
2 comments
Some feedback:
– Day 3: Definitely enough time for Parco mall if you explore Teamlabs first thing in morning
– Day 4: Skytree is the highest but inferior compared to Shibuya Sky or Mori observatory. Recommend including Shibuya Sky or Mori to day 3
– Day 5: You are going to Kyoto and didn’t bother to check the famous temple and sights in the city? I think its a missed opportunity.
– Day 6: Not ideal to stay in Kyoto if you are visiting USJ today. You want to be early in USJ to maximize your day
Overall my feedback is wow. You only have 9 days since day 1 and last day is essentially for travel and with 2 full theme park days, leaves you 7 days for Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe-Nara . Too many places while missing so many attractions in Kyoto.
Recommendations:
– Remove Kobe from the list
– Visit one of the theme parks to have more time if needed
– Stay extra day in Kyoto, you are missing so many aspects of Kyoto… gion, kiyomizu deea, arashiyama, torii gates, etc.
– If possible, fly out of KIX?
– There is really not many interesting Onsen near Kyoto. There is Spa world in Osaka however…
Happy Pancake, I showed up around opening time and there was an 80 minute wait. Good places will be long waits. Plan accordingly