Hello,
I’ve been doing as much research as possible on this sub. Truly an amazing community, as planning a Japan trip has been overwhelming.
We are a couple going for our honeymoon in our late 20s/early thirties for 3 weeks in the middle of October. Hotels are all booked but struggling with restaurant and other reservations. Any advice on things below that require a reservation would be greatly appreciated.
Also, the agenda is packed. We know we’ll likely skip some of the foody things but hoping most of it is achievable. Please let me know if any days would really be ill advised or far too much. Thank you!
Interests: food, coffee, cocktails, and nightlife; shrines and culture, parks and walking (to make room for more food).
Arrival on Saturday – Ginza
Chuka soba for dinner?
Celebrate arrival at Tie na Nóg?
Sunday GINZA DAY – staying close by hotel if we need a nap
1. Tsukiji Fish Market (5am but 6 is fine) do you think it’s needed to go in the morning if we don’t need to see the fish auction?
2. Teamlab Planets (9am, tickets secured)
3. Bongen Coffee
4. Imperial Palace and Park
5. Lunch & Nap
7. Dinner Chuka Soba?
8. Tokyo skytree if not going on Monday
Monday MINATO CITY DAY and AKASAKA OR HAKONE
1. Zozo-Ji Temple and Minato City Shiba Park
2. Tokyo Tower
3. Bar Centifolia (Roppongi)
4. Sushi Kenzan
5. Harry Potter Cafe
/ if Hakone, private driver from 7 or 8am to 5 or 6pm back to hotel in Ginza. Nap on the drive there and back. Then try going to Sushi Kenzan and Bar Centifolia.
Tuesday
1. Benitsuru pancake restaurant
2. Ameyoko Shopping District
3. Ueno Park
4. Yanaka (kittens)
5.Senso-Ji
5.25 Imo Pippi or Kuroge or kagetsudo or Soratsuke snack
5.5. Tokyo skytree
6. Explore akihabra on way back (don’t need a lot of time here)
7. Ramen restaurants for dinner after Akihabra
SHIBUYA CITY DAY – Wednesday
1. Starbucks reserve roastery
2. Explore Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu shrine (could also do on Shinjuku Day) – 3 hours
3.shibuya cafe (next to katsu dinner place Thursday so could move to there
4. Lunch coveyor belt sushi: Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka
5. Explore Shibuya area
6. Shibuya crossing (best to go at dusk)
7. Shibuya sky bar with couch reservation (don’t have it yet but know how)
8. Janai Coffee speakeasy secret (6pm-12am) – in that vicinity but still a walk (open daily) 25min/2km walk from Shibuya Sky; 12min subway
SHINJUKU CITY DAY – Thursday
1. Shinjuku station for brunch snacks
2. Tokyo government building
3. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (closes 4:00pm)
4. Omoide Yokocho for Lunch
5. Shinjuku exploring
6. Gyukatsu for dinner
7. Golden Gai for drinks and explore
8. Ichiran ramen for late night snack
Depart for Osaka – Friday
Depart Tokyo 9am
Arrive Osaka 12pm
Settle into hotel by 2pm
1. Dotonbori and explore
2. Retro Bar Space Station
3. Drinks at Bible Club
4. Drinks at Osaka Cocktail Library Akashic Records
2 comments
if you google “restaurants by ___ hotel” click the trip advisor link and it will show you places with ratings and pics. i also recommended doing a cooking class in osaka, it’s in the dotonbori district so if you choose an early class, you can spend the rest of the day shopping and exploring. here’s the link for the bento class:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g298566-d14965835-Well_balanced_BENTO_lunch_box_Cooking_Class-Osaka_Osaka_Prefecture_Kinki.html safe travels!
It’s overwhelming because you are overwhelming yourself, especially with all the restaurant planning. Honestly, pick one or two restaurants that you must eat at, and for everything else, just wing it. In my 7 or 8 trips, I can count how many reservations I’ve ever made on one hand. There are good restaurants everywhere in Tokyo and I find it much more rewarding just exploring. There are 2 restaurants that are guaranteed to disappoint; theme restaurants and Ichiran.
Just a few things you need to be aware of. Tsukiji doesn’t have tuna auctions anymore, the inner market (the actual fish market) moved to Toyosu several years ago and only the outer market remains. Most shops only start opening at 10 or 11am, so Ameyoko will be quite deserted in the morning. I think you can get lunch at Omoide Yokochō but I don’t see the point, its atmosphere is primarily in the evening. Hotels checking in time is generally 2 or 3pm, it’s quite strict so you aren’t likely to settle in by 2.