Hi everyone!
Thank you in advance to anyone who comments. After years of anticipation, I finally have the chance to take an 8 day trip to Japan. My rough itinerary:
**Sunday, September 17th**
* Depart for Tokyo from Washington, DC.
**Monday, September 18th**
* 3:35pm – Arrive at Haneda Airport.
* I don’t plan on checking in a bag.
* 4:30pm – Travel to Hotel.
* I tentatively booked a room at the Hotel Gracery in Shinjuku, but after some additional research I think I’m going to move to a hotel in Ginza instead.
* 6:00pm – Dinner at Yakuzenshokudo Chabuzen.
* 7:30pm – Explore area surrounding hotel.
* 10:00pm – Bedtime.
**Tuesday, September 19th**
* 7:50am – 12:00pm – Thinking about taking this tour [here](https://www.klook.com/activity/5672-amazing-sightseeing-bus-day-tour-tokyo/?spm=Activity.YouMayAlsoLike%3Acommon%3A%3Arecommend_activity%3AActivity_LIST&clickId=3c27dd2c75).
* 12:30ish – Tokyo Skytree.
* 1:30pm / 2:00pm – Starbucks Roastery.
* 3:00pm – Explore Shibuya area.
* Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park, Shibuya Crossing, Loft
* 6:00pm / 7:00pm – Dinner at Nagi Shokudo
**Wednesday, September 20th**
* 7:00am – 6:00pm – Tokyo Disneyland
* Can anyone confirm that you can bring your own food? I know the site says that they request that outside food be not brought in, but it’s not prohibited and that you just eat outside the park. I’m vegan so I know there won’t be many options inside the park for me.
* Vegan dinner somewhere near hotel or at Mr. Farmer.
* Explore Golden Gai for bar hopping, general exploration.
**Thursday, September 21st**
* 6:30am / 7:00am – Visit Sensoji Temple
* Nakamise Shopping Street
* What time do most of the shops open around here? I would adjust my visit to Sensoji accordingly.
* Kappabashi Street
* I heard there’s great housewares and kitchenware here so would like to slot this in somewhere.
* 12:30pm – 4:30pm – Harry Potter Tour
* Would need to depart for this around 11:00am. I’ve been to the one in London, but I’ve always wanted to go again. Heard the one in Japan is even bigger….*but* I’m open to dropping this from the itinerary entirely since the morning slots are already taken.
* 6:00pm – 9:00pm – Attend Tokyo Swallows Baseball Game
* I’m a baseball fan and heard that games in Japan is a vastly different experience than the ones here in the US.
* Not looking to do anything after the game, but sleep and recharge.
**Friday, September 22nd**
* Complete Tokyo Souvenir Shopping
* Don Quijote, Loft, Nakamise – Dori, etc.
* Keep exploring neighborhoods.
* Shinjuku Gyeon National Garden? Shinjuku Gyo-en Greenhouse – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for views.
* Have a hearty lunch.
* 2:00pm – 6:00pm – Attend The September Sumo Tournament.
* Tickets go on sale on the 5th of August I believe. Wondering if I should stop by in the morning to see the morning ceremonies before returning for the main matches.
* 6:30pm – 7:30pm – Dinner at Shimokitazawa Chabuzen.
* 8:00pm – 9:30pm – Go to Kudochi Sauna.
* Traveling to Osaka in the morning so possibly calling it a night.
**Saturday, September 23rd – Not sure method of travel to Osaka so no estimated times for this day.**
* Check out of Tokyo Hotel.
* Travel to Osaka.
* I wouldn’t mind the bullet train experience. I love scenery, and it gives me a chance to slow down for a bit **but** a roundtrip ticket to Osaka is $160 right now. Should I just get the JR Pass or buy a flight from Tokyo to Osaka?
* Lunch at Mercy Vegan Factory.
* Visit Hozenji Temple.
* Any other cool sites to explore around here?
* Dinner at Megumi.
* Explore Osaka Nightlife.
* Bar Moon Walk, The Pink and Giraffe.
**Sunday, September 24th**
* Breakfast or early lunch at Brown Rice Sushi TEC.
* 12:00pm / 1:00pm (?) – Universal Studios and Halloween Horror Nights.
* Do I need to make a reservation for Harry Potter World?
**Monday, September 25th**
* Check out of Osaka Hotel.
* 7:00am – Travel by bus or train to Kyoto.
* Kimono Rental?
* Kyoto Tour.
* I was thinking about booking [this tour](https://www.klook.com/activity/87236-kyoto-tour-nara/?spm=PoiDetail.TTDActivity%3Aany%3A%3APoiRecommendActivity%3ACard_LIST&clickId=c93491c819) or doing my own self guided tour at the locations listed on the site.
* Location Wishlist:
* Rilakkuma’s Tea House, Glanta – Custom Rings, Custom Chopsticks – Kiyomizu St next to Ghibli Store, Ninenzaka Street (Three White Umbrellas) – Japanese Artwork Ukiyoe
* Dinner at Itadakizen.
* *Really, really, really* wanted to eat at Vegan Ramen UZO Kyoto, but saw that it’s closed on Mondays.
* 6:00pm / 7:00pm – Travel back to Tokyo.
**Tuesday, September 26th**
* 11:55am – Travel back to US.
**Additional Notes:**
* Appreciate any and all feedback and alternate suggestions, but please keep in mind a couple of things: female solo traveler, vegan, big fan of Sailor Moon but not too much into anime, Golden Gai and Osaka aside, not a huge drinker or partier, would love to attend a festival if there’s one to attend, love historical sites, and nature.
* This trip is costing me little to nothing, because I have a crapload of flight and trip credits with American Airlines. I really dislike this airline, but shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth \*shrug\*. Anywho, I’m mentioning this because I already looked into flying into or out of Osaka, and all of my flight options have two connections which have to stop in Haneda anyway.
* JR Pass, yay or nay?
* E-Sim
* I know most people get these, but when I travel out of the country I usually just utilize AT&Ts international plan. So if I opted to get an e-sim that gives me a japanese number? How does this work when I want to speak with my family back in the states or communicating via texts? I don’t want anyone’s phone bill to skyrocket. I would also prefer not to get a pocket wifi.
* **Hotel Recs: As stated earlier I will probably cancel my hotel in Shinjuku and move towards the Ginza area. I’m between these hotels:**
* ibis Styles Tokyo Ginza East
* JR WEST GROUP VIA INN PRIME AKASAKA
* Tosei Hotel COCONE Tsukiji Ginza Premier
* Hotel Niwa Tokyo
* **Osaka:**
* Hotel Abitare Namba West
Thank you again!