Hi everyone! My girlfriend and I are visiting Japan for the very first time in August for a total of 13 days and would appreciate any advice or recommendations to make our trip memorable and enjoyable. We plan to be up early everyday and ready to explore right away. We’d greatly appreciate your advice, insights, and feedback! If you have any suggestions for food or for must-spots, we would be grateful to hear some ideas.
**Day 1 – August 12 (Saturday): Arrival in Toyko**
* Arrive at Narita Airport Terminal 1 and head to our hotel.
* Walk around Senso-ji
* Kaminarimon
* Nakamise-dori Street
**Day 2 – August 13 (Sunday): Toyko**
* Breakfast and head to Konica Minolta Planetarium Tenku.
* Walk to Tokyo Skytree.
* Shop and explore Akihabara.
* Walk around Kanda Shrine during the evening and have dinner.
**Day 3 – August 14 (Monday): Travel to Kyoto**
* Have breakfast and catch the early train to Kyoto.
* Arrive in Kyoto and check-in at the hotel.
* Explore Higashiyama Ward.
* Head to Kiyomizu
* Visit Nijo Castle
* Dinner in Kyoto
**Day 4 – August 15 (Tuesday): Kyoto**
* Breakfast at hotel.
* Travel to Fushimi Inari Taisha.
* Grab lunch near Kyoto Station.
* Travel to Nishi Hongan-Ji.
* Head to Nishiki market for dinner.
* Head to Kyoto Station during the night and soak in the late night atmosphere before heading back to hotel.
**Day 5 – August 16 (Wednesday): Kyoto**
* Breakfast at hotel.
* Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
* Depending on time, visit Kinkaku-ji.
* Head to Gion District, take a walk and explore.
* Have dinner in Gion.
**Day 6 – August 17 (Thursday): Travel to Nara for Day Trip**
* Breakfast at Hotel
* Travel to Nara fairly early.
* Arrive and explore Nara Park
* Visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine
* Explore Naramachi and have dinner before heading to hotel
**Day 7 – August 18 (Friday): Travel to Osaka**
* Breakfast at Hotel.
* Travel to Osaka.
* Arrive and explore Dotonbori and Don Quijote.
* Have lunch at Ikan Ramen.
* Walk to Shinsaibashisuji.
* Have dinner before heading back to Hotel.
**Day 8 – August 19 (Saturday) – Osaka**
* Breakfast at Hotel.
* Travel to Namba Yasaka Jinja early in the morning.
* Head to teamLab Botonical Garden Osaka. Have lunch.
* Explore Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan.
* Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel during the evening.
* Have dinner around Dotonbori area and head back to hotel.
**Day 9 – August 20 (Sunday) – Osaka**
* Breakfast at hotel.
* Head to Osaka Castle, enjoy the sights.
* Travel to Umeda Sky Building.
* Have lunch around Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street, and explore.
* Late night at Shinsekai for dinner and drinks and head back to hotel.
**Day 10 – August 21 (Monday) – Travel to Yokohama**
* Breakfast at hotel.
* Early travel to Yokohama.
* Arrive and visit Gundam Factory to watch huge moving robot.
* Explore Cup Noodles Museum, have lunch.
* Walk to Yokohama Chinatown and have dinner before heading to hotel.
**Day 11 – August 22 (Tuesday) – Yokohama**
* Breakfast at hotel.
* Day trip to Kamakura and explore.
* Head to hotel in Shibuya.
* Head to famous Shibuya Crossing.
* Go to Harajuku, explore and have dinner.
**Day 12 – August 23 (Wednesday) – Shibuya**
* Early breakfast at hotel.
* Explore Shijuku before heading to Ghibli Museum at 16:00.
* Finish at Ghibli Museum and head back to Shinjuku for dinner.
* Head to Golden Gai for dinner and drinks before heading to hotel.
**Day 13 – August 24 (Thursday) – Shibuya**
* Breakfast at hotel.
* Head to National Art Center.
* Walk over to Magnet by Shibuya109 and complete some shopping.
* Have lunch at Uobei Dogenzaka Store
* Tokyo Tower and end the night at Asakusa exploration and dinner before heading to hotel.
**Day 14 – August 25 (Friday) – Head Home :(**
We generally want to just wander and explore with the idea of things to check out if were near. Thank you for reading my post.
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2 comments
Unless you have a specific hotel in mind in Yokohama, you may want to consider staying in Tokyo for those days as well and taking the train to Yokohama as day trips. This would cut down on some of the hotel check in/out time and you wouldn’t have to worry about carrying your luggage more (unless you are light packers).
Aug16 there’s a Gozan okuribi festival held, the main area will be superpacked, but I would say you’re so lucky to be there on that day!! Have a look on Google and hope you guys enjoy!!