This will be my (m/35) 1st time going to Japan and the start of many solo trips in my future!
That said, what Im going to be looking to enjoy is
1) Food
2) people
3) singular or live experiences
4) nature
5) FOOD
6) a touch of luxury
Trip overview:
Arrive in HND Friday Nov.3rd stay in Tokyo until Sunday morning the 5th/
Sunday morning go rent an Overland camping SUV. Overland camping through Thursday 9th/
Back in Tokyo for the weekend/
Fly to Fukuoka Sunday morning 12th for sumo/
Monday 13th to Osaka, stay as base for remainder of trip/
Fly home Saturday 18th from KIX
**Tokyo part 1: (2 nights) Nov.3-4**
I would LOVE suggestions on what location to stay. Soft ideas of Asakusa, Ikebukero, or Shinagawa. looking for a bit slower paced Tokyo,
I have a general idea but am leaving this first weekend pretty open just in case the jet lag gets to me.
**Overland Camping: (5 nights) Nov.5-9**
Car pickup is in Tokyo and I have mapped out not driving more than 4 hours each day…
Day 1 – Lake Motosu
Day 2 – Mutsuyazakihama (Lake Biwa)
Day 3 – Ashidako
Day 4 – wake up early and go bike the shiminami kaido (I average about 10 miles an hour so half a day) Drive to Naruto to camp
Day 5 – Ogawanosato
**Tokyo part 2: (2 nights) Nov.10-11**
Stay in Shinjuku *Open to specific food places*
Day 1 – travel up to Saitama Stadium to watch Urawa
Reds v Vissel Kobe
Day 2 – Food and shopping all freaking day, mostly souvenirs for my ppl back home.(Ginza, Asakusa, Akihabara, Makuhari)
**Fukuoka: (1 night) Nov.12**
Flying down from Tokyo and going to opening day of the fall sumo tournament. I will be staying close to the Kokusai convention center, drinking and snacking all day.
**Osaka: (5 nights) Nov.13-17**
Most likely staying at the Swissotel Nankai
Day 1 – RELAX, get a massage, find a tattoo friendly spa/onsen
Day 2 – UNIVERSAL STUDIOS!!
DAY 3 – day trip to Kyoto and eat eat eat
Day 4 – day trip to Kobe and eat eat eat
Day 5 – This will be one of two things… Either I stay in Osaka and continue exploring the city OR make a day trip to Naoshima Island
**Also super specific but if anyone knows of a tattoo shop in Osaka? Completely ignorant of prices and customs but I plan to travel to a place, bike an awesome trail, and get a tattoo repping it!**
Fly home Saturday the 18th. Flight is leaving at 5:50pm from KIX so I’ll spend the first half of the day exploring a tiny bit more
…You may have noticed I didn’t put any temples or castles in my itinerary. In short I’ll be coming back in 2 years with a larger group and I’ll save all that stuff for all them as it’s not really my personal interest.