**About me:**
First time to Japan, traveling solo. I’ve been self-studying Japanese for four years, and estimate that I’m between N3 and N2. My conversational skills are way behind my reading and listening ability and I’m too embarrassed to try speaking Japanese normally, but I’m sure I could find a way to communicate if I have to.
**Food:**
I am not interested in alcohol, tea, or coffee. I like some kinds of Japanese food, but I’m a picky eater, and fine dining is lost on me. (For example, I got a wagyu skewer at a Yakitori restaurant recently and it just seemed like normal beef to me.) I expect that I’d be happier eating konbini onigiri than a fancy kaiseki. I’ve been told that top rated restaurants are near-impossible to book without a Japanese phone number, but fortunately, I’m not interested in going to the kind of place that requires reservations anyway (except maybe Happy Pancake).
Likes:
* Udon, ramen, soba, onigiri (except mentaiko), breaded pork cutlet, teriyaki (not sure if this is just an American thing – I’ve heard Japanese teriyaki is very different).
* Taiyaki, dango, mochi, ice cream, donuts
Dislike:
* Anything remotely spicy (e.g. mentaiko onigiri)
* Curry, peanuts, peanut butter, bananas, mint
* Mayonnaise, takoyaki, eel
* Tamagoyaki (too sweet), castella (too bland)
* Most kinds of vegetables
I have never tried sushi since I’m too scared to eat raw fish. I also haven’t tried okonomiyaki or omurice, but I doubt I’d like them.
**Note:**
Based on past experience, I’ll probably spend several hours a day just relaxing at the hotel and on my computer, so I’ve left a lot of free time in the schedule.
Also, I’m having trouble deciding what to do in Tokyo. **I’m not interested in shopping or bars** and it seems like that’s the main thing people do in Tokyo. It’s a big city and I’m sure there’s tons of things to do there and I can find stuff to do on the fly if necessary, but it would still be nice to get ideas in advance, especially if anything requires advance booking.
Also note that this is a *first draft* of my itinerary. I have not booked anything yet and have not researched hotels or transportation at all. I figure that it’s best to try to get a general idea of where I’ll be going and how long before I worry about hotels and train passes.
**Tokyo:**
Sunrise: 5:50am, sunset: 5:01pm
Typical temperature: 60-69F
**October 19 (Thu):**
* Arrive in Narita at 8pm, check in to hotel
**October 20:**
* Suffer from jet lag, wander around the city, get my bearings
**October 21:**
* Tokyo Skytree
* Asakusa Cultural Center
**October 22:**
* Daytrip to Enoshima
* Maybe Kamakura too if I have time
* *Note:* Enoshima has aggressive hawks that will try to steal your food.
* *Note:* Enoshima is an island “practically made out of stairs”.
**October 23:**
* Tokyo Disney Sea
* *Note:* Go on a weekday to minimize crowds
* *Note:* If possible, go while it’s rainy to minimize crowds. Most things are inside or covered anyway.
* *Note:* Arrive early, eat breakfast while waiting in line
**October 24:**
* Flex day
* Take bullet train to Kyoto
**Miscellaneous ideas for Tokyo**:
* Shibuya Scramble
* Happy Pancake
* I’m Donut (Nakameguro)
* Stay at a net cafe. Probably not the best place to sleep, but I’m curious to give it a try after seeing characters stay overnight at a net cafe in anime (Hi-Score Girl and Aggretsuko).
**Kyoto:**
Sunrise: 6:10am, sunset: 5:10pm
Typical temperature: 55-68F
**October 25:**
* Fushimi-inari
* *Note:* Get up really early to avoid the crowds
* Eikando Temple?
**October 26:**
* Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, monkey park
* *Note:* Get up really early to avoid the crowds
* Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)?
**October 27:**
* Flex day
* Maybe visit Lake Biwa?
**October 28:**
* Day trip: Sakai -> Nara -> Osaka
* Sakai City Hall observation deck
* *Note:* I’ve heard that there’s basically nothing to see in person as far as the Kofun go, since they just look like giant hills up close, but you can kind of see them from the city hall observation deck. I’m still not sure if it’s even worth going to Sakai though – not many itineraries seem to include it.
* Nara Deer park
* Giant buddha
* Mochi
* Check in to hotel in Osaka
**Osaka:**
Sunrise: 6:15am, sunset: 5:07pm
Typical temperature: 55-68F
**October 29:**
* Day trip to Himeji castle + park
* *Note:* I’ve read that Osaka castle isn’t much to see and should be skipped, and Himeji is way better
**October 30:**
* Universal Studios Japan
* *Note:* Go on a weekday to minimize crowds
* *Note:* Arrive early, eat breakfast while waiting in line
**October 31:**
* Osaka aquarium
* Explore Dotonbori in the evening – hopefully there will be Halloween festivities to observe as well
**November 1:**
* Travel back to Tokyo
* Flex day
**November 2:**
* Teamlab Planets
* Depart from Narita at 9:30pm
1 comment
Strongly recommend a Nikko day trip in there, given that late October is peak momiji season. It’s going to be a long a tiring day though.
Kinda hard to recommend locations without knowing what you like. You only mentioned what you *don’t* like.
Japanese food in Japan is another league of its own. You’d probably still hate the type of foods you hate, but I’d still implore you to give the Japanese versions a try. In general, Japanese food is on the oily / sweet / salty side, and few dishes are inherently spicy. But their pastry and desserts do get excessively sweet, especially those meant to go with green tea.