Hey everyone,
Currently planning a trip for January / February 2024 for me and my girlfriend (may be meeting up with a couple of other friends along the way) and looking to see if my provisional itinerary is feasible.
I currently don’t have any times scheduled for any of the itinerary, but hoping to spend comfortable time in each place without feeling rushed. Also no plans for food yet, but assuming we eat somewhere local I imagine it wouldn’t add too much time (\~30 mins/meal)? However, we are hoping to try at least 1 or 2 Omakase / Michelin Star restaurants.
**Day 0:**
1. Arrive at HND \~9pm
2. Check in to Sotetsu Shinjuku (this will be our base)
3. Maybe do some close night walk in Shunjuku
**Day 1:**
During the day:
1. Senso-ji Temple
2. Tokyo Skytree
3. Sumo tournament
At night:
1. Golden Gai
2. Kabukicho
**Day 2:**
During the day:
1. Day trip to Lake Kawaguchi to see Mt Fuji (not sure what else there is to do here besides go up the ropeway).
At night:
1. Shibuya crossing / Shibuya sky
2. ??
**Day 3**
During the day:
1. Tsukiji fish market
2. Explore Akihabara
3. teamLab Planets
At night:
1. Tokyo Tower
2. Omakase / Michelin star?
3. ??
**Day 4**
During the day:
1. Fly either from HND or NRT (much cheaper) to New Chitose Airport
2. Transit down to Lake Toya (please give advice on what to do with luggage?)
3. Explore Lake Toya
4. Transit down to Noboribetsu
5. Check in to Dai-ichi Takamotokan
6. Pending time/weather, have a quick walk through Jigokudani (Hell Valley) or explore local shops or onsen.
At night:
1. Eat dinner and walk along local street
2. Relax in onsen/room.
**Day 5**
During the day:
1. Walk through Jigokudani
2. Bear Park
3. Transit to Sapporo
4. Check in to \[unconfirmed\] accomodation (suggestions?)
5. Drink lots of milk
6. Sapporo Beer Museum (pending time)
At night:
1. Sapporo TV Tower / Mt. Moiwa
2. Eat Genghis BBQ
**Day 6**
During the day (unfortunately won’t be in time for Snow Festival):
1. Day of fish markets in Otaru / Sapporo
2. Other ideas if fish markets won’t take up the whole day?
3. Either stay another night in Sapporo or transit to Asahikawa.
**Day 7-12**
1. Meet friends at Asahikawa airport and transit to Furano for 5/6 days of onsen + snow sports.
**Day 13**
During the day
1. Check out of Furano
2. Asahiyama Zoo
3. Fly back to Tokyo
At night
1. Check in at Sotetsu Shinjuku
2. Omakase / Michelin Star?
3. ??
**Day 14**
During the day:
1. Explore Harajuku (skipping Meiji Shrine as I have already been here; unless we have time)
2. Takeshita street
3. Ghibli Museum
4. Vintage shopping in Shimokitazawa
**Day 15**
During the day:
1. Re-visit certain areas or open to explore other suggestions.
I appreciate any advice / suggestions. TIA
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4 comments
teamlab Planets is highly overrated, the place reeks of feet and they let too many people in at once. If you are going PURELY for a cool instagram post, maybe, but with such limited time I wouldn’t bother. If you need something near Toyosu I would recommend going to Tsukishima Monja Street and trying some Monja (and the melonpan vendor)
https://jw-webmagazine.com/tokyos-hidden-gourmet-gem-tsukishima-monja-street-8b820f890932/
Please don’t go to that bear park. They’re mistreated and bred purely for the park, kept in cramped conditions, taught to perform..
Previously (if not still going on), they kill the surplus bears.
Just got back from Tokyo… Kabukicho sucks at night. Get ready for Nigerian touts that can be handsy.
I also didn’t enjoy golden gai that much because of the indoor cigarette smoking
Day 6 comments: Fish markets will not take up an entire day. Otaru is a half hour train ride from Sapporo. You can visit the canal area (not much there but nice to see), explore the main shopping street (some nice things and interesting free music box museums), and see some shrines. It’s a good half day of activities.