Hi there!
I’m currently planning my trip to Japan, Tokyo, with 2 other friends. We’ll be staying around Tokyo mostly and will be visiting further cities such as Yokohama and Kamakura (for one day). I think our focus will mainly be shopping (clothing, accessories, anime/cute goods, souvenirs, snacks) visiting cultural places, enjoying the autumn scenery and eating.
For this time, we prefer to dedicate one trip to Tokyo in order to fully experience the city. Also, we still have to discuss whether or not we purchase a Tokyo Pass and include Keisei Skyliner back and forth (with other activities such as Shibuya Sky).
I’m actually working alone on this itinerary on their demand (since I’ve traveled to other countries a few times already) and thus would love to hear your opinion about it ! I absolutely have no idea of the timing each place shall require considering we’re new to the country, so I’m a bit worried about it..
Here’s a first draft of our itinerary from 5th to 17th November :
**DAY 0 – 5/11 -** ***ARRIVAL, IKEBUKURO***
* Narita Airport : arrival at around 1pm, estimated arrival at the hotel 3pm, lunch/snack at a convenience store
* Ikebukuro : shopping at Sunshine City Mall and Animate
* Dinner near hotel, place undefined yet
**DAY 1 – 6/11 -** ***SHIMOKITAZAWA, SHIBUYA, YOYOGI PARK***
* Shimokitazawa : lunch, shopping at 2nd hand stores
* Shibuya : shopping at Shibuya 109, Miyashita Park and surroundings, visiting Mocha Cat Cafe
* Yoyogi Park
* Shibuya Sky
* Dinner in Shibuya (thinking about Kumachan Onsen, Nabezo or Shodai)
**DAY 2 – 7/11 -** ***KOENJI, SHIN-OKUBO AND SHINJUKU***
* Koenji : shopping at 2nd hand stores
* Shin-Okubo : lunch (Nene Chicken?), shopping for cosmetics, accessories and exploring cute coffee shops if not too crowded
* Shinjuku : shopping at LUMINE and surroundings
* Gyoen Park
* Dinner at CHATTY CHATTY Burger
**DAY 3 – 8/11 -** ***HARAJUKU, OMOTESANDO, ROPPONGI***
* Exploring Meiji Jingu Shrine in the morning
* Harajuku : lunch, shopping at Takeshita Street and Omotesando
* Roppongi : Hard Rock Cafe
* Dinner at Kura Sushi
**DAY 4 – 9/11 -** ***MT FUJI***
* Bus tour : everything is planned by the guide (Oishi Park, Arakurayama Sengen Park, Oshino Hakkai)
**DAY 5 – 10/11 -** ***YOKOHAMA***
* Shopping at Landmark Tower
* Exploring the surroundings of Nogecho and Kisha-michi Promenade
* Cup Noodles Museum
* Chinatown and lunch
* Exploring Higa Garden, Yamashita Park and Sankei-en
* Dinner near the hotel (my friends will probably go to a car meeting at Daikoku Parking area)
**DAY 6 – 11/11 -** ***TEAM LAB (?), GINZA, AKIHABARA***
* Visiting TeamLab in the morning (is it really worth it ?)
* Shopping at Ginza and Tokyo Station, lunch at Yoshizawa or Chao Chao Gyoza
* Akihabara : shopping for anime goods and visiting Kanda-Myojin
**DAY 7 – 12/11 -** ***FREE DAY***
* Free day with my Japanese friend I met in Toronto last year 🙂
**DAY 8 – 13/11 -** ***KAMAKURA***
* Exploring Hokoku-ji bamboo forest and Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu in the morning
* Shopping at Komachi Dori Street
* Exploring the surroundings of Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku-jinja, Kotoku-in, Hasedera and Goryo Shrine
* Stroll along Kamakura Beach
* Lunch and dinner places undefined yet
**DAY 9 – 14/11 -** ***ASAKUSA, UENO PARK, YANAKA GINZA (?), TOKYO SOLAMACHI***
* Kimono rental in the morning
* Exploring Nakamise-Dori Street
* Shopping at Kappabashi-dori street
* Exploring Ueno park and surroundings
* Exploring Yanaka Ginza (is it worth it ?)
* Shopping at Tokyo Solamachi Mall
**DAY 10 – 15/11 -** ***KAWAGOE***
* Visiting Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine, Kawagoe Kita-in Temple, Kawagoe Kumano Shrine and Renkeiji Temple (maybe too many.. any recommendation for the above ? there seems to be a beautiful garden at the Kawagoe Kita-in Temple though!)
* Enjoying Taisho Roman Yume-dori and Kurazukuri no Machinami
* Shopping along the streets
* Visiting Miffy storehouse kitchen & bakery
* Lunch and dinner places undefined yet but I’d love to try Kawagoe Pudding.
**DAY 11 – 16/11 -** ***FREE DAY***
* Free day if there’s a specific activity we didn’t have the time for or something else !
**DAY 12 – 17/11 -** ***LAST DAY, DEPARTURE***
* Flight at 4pm : packing up and checking out of the hotel
Alright, I think that’s it ! Do not hesitate to tell me about your opinion or recommendation regarding my itinerary 🙂
1 comment
One thing to consider is that Shibuya+Yoyogi park are right by Meiji Shrine+Harajuku+Omotesando. You might want to regroup some of those.
I’d also skip Hard Rock Cafe, Roppongi has some great restaurants that are probably better (i.e. one of the best ramens in Tokyo is right at Roppongi station – Iruca Ramen).
Also two hours from landing to Ikebukuro seems a bit optimistic.
I personally am not a fan of TeamLabs. If you’re going to be in Ginza you wouldn’t be far from: Tsukiji Fish Market, Nihombashi (tonkatsu hajime nihombashi if you’re interested in katsu), shimbashi and Yurakucho.
For your Asakusa day you could check out Hoppy Street for dinner (lots of bars/restaurants that serve Hoppy). It’s also not far from the sky tree if you’re interested (I personally like Shibuya Sky more, and a lot of people recommend the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku which is free)