Fingers crossed, our much re-scheduled and delayed trip will finally happen in October. This is our outlined schedule – we don’t really have many specific “must do” things, we just want to explore and experience as much as possible. Priorities are food, drink, art, and punk/indie/metal music. I’m also a film photographer with a special interest in cemeteries, so will be making some time for that.
All critiques welcome, especially answers to the ? items. Thanks!
Tues: leave DC
Wed: arrive Tokyo (HND) at 3:20 PM
* **get portable WiFi? (Or may have delivered to hotel?)**
* go to hotel in Shinjuku (**probably via cab?**)
Thurs:
* Asakusa: Sensō-ji, shopping, street food
* Back to hotel/Shinjuku – Golden Gai, evening
Fri:
* Gotokuji Temple, then train to
* Shimokitazawa for coffee, lunch, shopping, then train to Shibuya
Sat (anniversary):
* Yanaka Cemetery for photography
* SCAI gallery
* Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
* Tokyo National Museum
* **dinner – where? when can I make reservations?**
Sun:
* Day trip to Yokohama – will be meeting friends and will follow their lead.
Mon:
* Shopping: Akihabara?
* get Green Car shinkansen tickets for the next day **(or should we do this earlier?)**
* **What else are we missing?**
Tues (travel to Kyoto after rush hour – **10AM?**):
* forward big suitcases to Osaka
* bullet train to Kyoto
* low-key exploring around hotel, cocktails
Wed (Kyoto):
* kimono photos and/or tea ceremony (**Worth it? Or would this take too much time?**)
* Walk around Gion
* bamboo forest
* Fushimi Inari (would like to go near sunset)
Thurs (Kyoto – day, then Osaka):
* Nijo Castle
* Imperial Palace
* costume museum (if time)
* evening (**after rush hour? 6PM? Later?**) train to Osaka
* check in to Osaka hotel, explore around hotel
Fri (Osaka):
* Dotenburi/America Town
* tea ceremony/kimono? (if we don’t do this in Kyoto)
* evening – bars, live indie music?
Sat:
* National Museum of Art
* Osaka Castle
* Save Cat cafe
* Tavern Pachimon Wars (if convenient)
* evening – bars, live indie music?
Sun:
* **open day – maybe another day trip?**
Mon:
* Day trip to Nara, mostly following this guide: [https://thenavigatio.com/nara-itinerary-one-day-trip](https://thenavigatio.com/nara-itinerary-one-day-trip)
Tues: fly home from Osaka
2 comments
General feedback: spend more than 1.75 days in Kyoto. Your Wednesday there is not feasible and Kyoto is delightful and offers a lot that Osaka and Tokyo do not.
I also like film photography. On my trip to Japan this month I plan on stopping at the JCII Camera Museum and the Nikon Museum. Haven’t been to either before but they look cool and you might wanna check them out too.
HND to Shinjuku is super easy by subway. I wouldn’t waste money on a cab ride if you don’t have any special mobility concerns. But if money is no object, why not.
Do you need a pocket wifi ? If your phone allows it, why not get an e sim ?
Do you need a JR pass? Maybe run your trip in the JR calculator to see if it is even worth it ? Unless you have something u ibid planned, I don’t think JR pass will be worth it for this trip. Run the #, but maybe buying a nozoni tix and a passmo/ suica may work for your needs. As you are flying out of kix you will not be able to return the IC card.