Hi guys, this is going to be our (me and my partner) first trip to Japan from 17th June to 1st July 2023. Would love your thoughts and suggestions (food etc.) on it. I realise I may have overplanned few days but the idea is to have options if we want more stuff to do. We will be using Google maps and CityMapper to guide us.
**Day 1**\- Arrival ->Straight to Hotel
**Day 2**\- (4 nights in Tokyo)
Morning
\-Harajuku- Meiji-Jingu shrine, Yoyogi Park (adjacent to shrine)
\-Omotesando, and Nezu Museum, Takeshita Dori
\-Meiji-Jingu shrine
\-Tokyu Plaza Omotesando
Afternoon- Shibuya
Shibuya Crossing Walk Hachiko Statue
Shibuya Sky for view, Patchinko
Shibuya crossing
VR park + Arcades, Shibuya Center Gai,Takeshita Street
walk along Tomigaya 1-chome street
**Day 3**
Morning- Shinjuku
\-Walking tour Imperial palace
\- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Afternoon- Gotokuji temple
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Evening- Golden Gai- bars, eat at Omoide Yokocho
Samurai Museum
Shopping areas- Takashimaya, Isetan and Odakyu
**Day 4**\- DisneySea
Would we be able to do anything this day?
**Day 5**
Morning- Asakusa
\-Sensoji temple -Asakusa-jinja Shrine.
\-Tokyo Skytree-?
\-Nakamise-dori Street
Afternoon- Ginza (??)
**Day 6- HAKONE**
Hakone Kowaki-en Yunessun Hot Spring Theme Park- booked via Klook
Evening
Hakone Tozan Train trip to Gora
Okada Museum of Art
Hakone Open Air Museum
**Day 7- (3 NIGHTS IN KYOTO)**
– Nijo Castle/ – Fushimi Inari Shrine/ Kiyomizu-dera
– Menbakaichida Fire Ramen – Lunch
– Kyoto Imperial Palace
– Nishiki Market
Gion evening tour at 6pm
**Day 8**
Early – Head to Arashiyama
8 am – Togetsukyō Bridge
9 am – Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
11 am – Tenryuji Temple
12 pm – Ryoanji Temple and Lunch
3pm – Kinkaku ji Temple
**Day 9**
Nara Day Tour
\- Sanjo-dori Street & Nakatanidou Mochi Shop
\-Kofukuji Temple
\-Nara Park
\-Yoshikien or Isuien Garden
\-Todaiji Temple Complex
\-Nigatsudo and Hokkedo (part of Todaiji)
\-Mount Wakakusayama
\-Kasuga Taisha
**Day 10 (4 NIGHTS IN OSAKA)**
Morning
Osaka Castle- booked via Klook
Osaka Museum of History
Kuromon Ichiba Market- lunch
Evening
Umeda Sky Building or Abeno Harukas Building
Dōtonbori & Amerikamura area of Osaka
**Day 11**
Kobe Day Tour
Start the Kobe itinerary at Sannomiya-Motomachi Area.
Strolling around Kitanocho District.
Visit the Kobe Kitano Ijinkan.
Taste the Kobe beef at Kokubu (reserved)
Leisure walk in Kobe Motomachi Shopping Street.
Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown).
Kobe Port Tower.
Night view on Kobe Harborland.
**Day 12**
Universal Studios
If we have time-
Namba Yasaka Shrine – The Lion’s Head Shrine
Namba Parks Shopping Mall
Denden Town – The Geek Area Of Osaka
**Day 13**
Morning
Osaka Aquarium- booked
The Old Osaka – Tsutenkaku Osaka Tower & Shinsekai Area
Evening
teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka- booked
**Day 14**
Extra day in Tokyo (shopping, missed stuff)
Arigatouogozaimasu\~!
3 comments
Imperial palace tours sell out pretty much immediately so stay on top of the booking if you’re set on going, you probably won’t be able to get the day you want to get.
You also have a ton of walking on pretty much every day, in summer in Japan. You’ll probably want to cut some things out because the weather is going to be horrible
Your first few days in Tokyo are very ambitious. Mine were too, but by late pm our feet were tired/sore and we were sleepy. Also depending on how hot it is, you’re gonna be extra drained.
On the 25th there is a monthly flea market at the Kitano Tenmangu shrine in Kyoto. Lots of tents selling antiques and food all day. Your timing looks right for a great of mixing it up with the locals.