Hello, my mom and I are visiting Japan for the first time next month and this is our itinerary. I would love any advice on how it could be improved or rearranged. I wanted to go to both the bigger more touristy areas (akihabara, shinjuku, shibuya, etc.) as well as some quieter and less touristy areas (like Daikanyama and Koenji). This way we’ll experience a nice mix of the bigger parts of Tokyo and the more quaint parts. Our trip will be 9 *full* days, so not including the day we arrive and the day we leave.
**Day 1**
Arrive, check into Hotel Grocery in Shinjuku, explore a little in Shinjuku
**Day 2**
This day my mom and I will probably still be jet lagged so the day isn’t very full
Akihabara: arrive in the day time, walk around and explore
Kanda: Walk from Akihabara to Kanda (which is only about a 15 minute walk away) and have lunch there at “Kanda Matsuya Soba,” which is supposed to be a good noodle place. Walk around and look at the temples
Shinjuku: At night return to Shinjuku and explore it some more. Maybe get food in Mensho San Francisco (a ramen place that’s supposed to be good), get drinks in Golden Gai afterwards, check out the new “Kabukicho Tower” at some point
**Day 3**
Harajuku: Check out Takasheta street and get crepes for breakfast at some point, then explore the backstreets across from Takeshita street (the streets around the store “Supreme Harajuku” and Cat Street). Check out the art gallery “Design Festa Gallery.” After we’re done there, walk down Omotesando street and look at the architecture.
Dykanyama: Go from Harajuku to Dykanyama. Have lunch at “Maguro and Deli Kadochai” (sushi place) or “Meat Yazawa Blacows” (meat oriented place) or “Ivy Place” (brunch place). I’m not sure which of these three places I want to have lunch at. I’ll decide based on my mood at the time. After that we’ll explore for a while, visit Tsutaya Bookstore, and get tea at Hachiya at some point.
Shibuya: Arrive at night, get dinner at “Teppen” (which is an izakaya that was recommended), go to the top of Shibuya Sky and enjoy the view, end the night with drinks at Nonbei Yokocho.
**Day 4**
This day I’m going to Koenji and Shimokitazawa, which are fairly far away from each other, and so I want to leave enough time to get from place to place, so I’m not visiting too many different areas.
Breakfast: Go have breakfast in Omotesando (am looking for recommendations), then board the train and head to Koenji.
Koenji: Explore, have lunch at Hattifnatt Cafe
Shomokitazawa: Explore and eat dinner in one of their live music clubs, am looking for recommendations for where I can find a hip and cool live music place to have dinner
**Day 5**
Teamlab planets in the morning
I’m not sure what to do the rest of the day. It may be a “free day” to go back to the parts of Tokyo I already mentioned in order to explore them more if we feel like we want to. Either way I want to end the day off with a meal in Oimode Yokocho.I might want to visit Shimbashi because they have cool restaurants under the tracks that we can eat at, though I don’t know what else there is to do there. A lot of people recommend Ginza and Ikibikuro, but I’m not sure what there is to do in those places honestly. Tokyo China Town might be cool to check out, but I’m not sure. Do you have any recommendations?
**Day 6**
Arrive in Kyoto In Evening, go to Pontocho Alley, get dinner there at the restaurant “Negiya Heikichi,” which serves eel
**Day 7**
Kiyumizoderua in the morning
Walk from there to Higashiyama District and get lunch
Walk from there to Kodaiji Temple
Walk from there to Kenninji Temple
Walk from there to Gion, and have dinner there. There are a number of restaurants to choose from.
**Day 8**
Arashiyama bamboo forrest and monkey park in the morning
Walk around Kiyamachi-dori in the afternoon and get lunch
Kinkakuji temple
**Day 9**
Fushimi inari shrine in the morning
Go to nishiki market to get lunch
Not sure what to do the rest of the day
**Day 10**
Board bullet trail to Osaka and arrive in the afternoon
Shinsekai: Explore, go to the top of the tower in the middle for a good view
Amimura: Explore and look at the shops, get lunch at the restaurant “Kushikatsu Omakase”
kuromon ichiba market: Explore, maybe get a snack here
Dotonbori: Go in evening, get street food for dinner and walk around the Dotonbori canal
**Day 11**
Leave for home from Osaka airport