This is the first half of my 26 day trip to Japan in October. I’m traveling with a friend. We are mostly into anime, technology, gaming, drinking, shopping, and food. Also we are very slow travelers. We tend to just have a blast wandering around and exploring. I have a much more detailed list, these are just the highlights/general areas.
Do you see anything major i’m missing, or recommend any changes?
Also the Shinjuku/Shibuya hotel swap will bother some of you. This is purely an economical thing. Me and my friend churn credit cards throughout the year, and pay for hotels with them. We didn’t have enough points to cover 9 nights in Tokyo on one card. So I used my points for 4 nights in Shinjuku, and she used points for 5 nights in Shibuya.
**October 5th**
Check into the hotel at 6PM.
* APA HOTEL SHINJUKU-KABUKICHO TOWER
* namco TOKYO
* Tokyu Kabukicho Tower
**October 6th**
Explore Shinjuku
* Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Room
* Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
* Meiji Jingu Gaien
* Suga Jinja
* Shinjuku Golden Gai
**October 7th**
* Nakano Broadway
* Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
* Omoide Yokochō
**October 8th**
* Rainbow Bridge
* Tokyo Joypolis
* Toyosu Market Fisheries Intermediate Wholesale Market Building
* teamLab Planets TOKYO
* Explore shinjuku
**October 9th**
* Check into hotel
* Shibuya Granbell Hotel
* Shibuya Parco
* Cat Cafe MOCHA
* Shibuya Sky
**October 10th**
* Meiji Jingu
* Yoyogi Park
* Tokyo Tower
* Zōjō-ji Temple
* Mori Art Museum
* Tokyo City View
* Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu
**October 11th**
* (Day trip to Narita, and Sawara)
* Naritasan Shinsho-ji
* Omotesando St
* Sawara Station (Explore along ono river area)
**October 12th**
* Akihabara
* Tokyo Skytree
* Kaminarimon Gate
* Sensō-ji
* Hoppy Street
**October 13th**
* (Day trip)
* Fuji-Q Highland
* Explore Ginza when we get back
* Lion Ginza 7-chome Beer Hall
**October 14th**
* Train to Kanazawa, stopping half way in Nagano
* Snow Monkey Park (Jigokudani Yaen Koen)
* Check into Hotel Wing International Premium Kanazawa Station
**October 15th**
* Ōmichō Market
* Naga-machi District
* Ishiura Shrine
* Higashi Chaya District
* Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenrokuen Garden Management Office (Former Residence of Genba Tsuda)
**October 16th**
* Ninja Temple
* nishi chaya district
(Check out anything else we missed day prior)
I’m still planning the 2nd leg of our trip. It will be 5 days in Osaka, 5 days in Kyoto, and 2 days in Nagoya, and we will be finding a hotel within 10-15m from HND for our last 2 days.
9 comments
>(Day trip to Narita, and Sawara)
Not sure if Narita is worth going to over all the other day trip options. Have you considered Nikko? Kamakura? Hakone?
>Fuji-Q Highland
It would be a crime not to take a peek at Kawaguchiko lake while you’re there.
>5 days in Osaka, 5 days in Kyoto, and 2 days in Nagoya
Osaka and Kyoto are, for all intents and purposes, the same city. They’re about 30min apart by train (center to center). If you’re looking to stay in Nagoya, perhaps consider going there via Shirakawa-go and Takayama. It’s worth taking a day off Nagoya IMO.
>finding a hotel within 10-15m from HND for our last 2 days.
Maybe look at Keikyu Kamata station, or (slightly further) Keikyu Kawasaki. It’s about 11 mins from Keikyu Kamata, or 16 minutes from Keikyu Kawasaki to HND if you take the right trains.
I personally usually opt to stay at Keikyu EX INN Kawasaki station (it’s right above Keikyu Kawasaki station with a elevator going right down to the station lobby) whenever I fly to Haneda.
Not sure you need both skytree and Tokyo tower
There’s plenty of guided tour options as you come out of the main train station. I previously used one , it was fantastic !
I would recommend Shimokitazawa if you’re into thrift shops and local flea markets! I had a blast there looking at the murals and the handicrafts.
I’ve been to Hakone , they have a tourist pass that includes a full circle of all that you need to see . We got a bus to a lake , then we got on galleon boat that took us across the lake, with great views of Fuji san. Then we got a cable car up to an observation point, where you can see awesome volcanic activity. Then we got a quant little train back down to Hakone. Well worth it !
Been Hakkone like 3-4 times. Gotta be honest. It’s really boring. Only went there because of girlfriends. I prefer Nikko.
Or, I would go to the coast to Atami. Nice place. Haven’t been there since they had the big flood or whatever it was (don’t remember) but should at least be back to somewhat normal.
not sure you need to switch hotels from Shinjuku to Shibuya. they’re practically neighboring hoods. we were able to enjoy both very easily using Shibuya as our base.
Akihabara is mind blowing. You said you liked anime and shopping… Akihabara is that x a million. There are literal buildings of those things you like there. The don quijote store comes to mind. It’s just too much!
I’m probably over exaggerating because I just went today. Definitely not a Japan expert so maybe there are other places like this here.
You’re in Japan for the Takayama Festival on Oct 9 / 10, have you considered going there?