Hello gifted reddit travelers and hosts! I’m planning a 10-day trip to Japan in early October with my husband and I would love your thoughts on our itinerary. Yes, we have a lot of places jammed into 10 days, but legs of the trip are to get to onsen destination spots where we will have some time to relax and slow down. We are an American couple, late 30s, fit and well-traveled together (but never to Asia!) celebrating 10 years together. This sub has been incredibly helpful for planning thus far!
**Day 1: Direct flight to HNA**
Land Haneda @ 17:25
Pick up Japan Pocket Wifi at Haneda Airport (?)
Option 1: Taxi
Option 2: Public transportation — Need Suica and Icoca
Check into Prince Gallery Hotel
Relax/Explore.
**Day 2 : Tokyo Day**
Tsukiji market morning
Kappabashi St & Shopping: Ginza
[https://trulytokyo.com/kappabashi/](https://trulytokyo.com/kappabashi/)
Dinner: 6:00 pm Sushi Shinsuke- reservation booked through our hotel
**Day 3 : Tokyo**
Shinjuku / Shibuya
Golden Gai (tiny bars)
Omoide Yokocho (street food)
Tokyo City View and Observation Deck (?)
**Day 4 :Travel to Hakone**
Check in: Yama No Chaya
Explore during the day? Museums, etc: [https://www.gorakadan.com/activities/?lang=en](https://www.gorakadan.com/activities/?lang=en) .
Lake Cruise Ashi Sightseeing — Hakone free pass
Dinner at hotel, Kaiseki
**Day 5: Hakone**
Check into Gora Kadan
I know… I would have liked to stay at the same place in Hakone for 2 nights, but unfortunately Gora Kadan was not available when I checked. We are splurging on the Senshin annex for the night 😀 [https://www.gorakadan.com/rooms/senshin/?lang=en](https://www.gorakadan.com/rooms/senshin/?lang=en)
Dinner at hotel, Kaiseki
**Day 6: Travel to Kyoto**
Check in: Hiramatsu Kyoto
Pontocho alley dinner/explore!
**Day 7: Kyoto**
Nishiki Market
Dinner: Kobe Beef steak Mouriya Gion 7:15pm reservation
[https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant\_Review-g298564-d13799174-Reviews-Kobe\_Beef\_Steak\_Moriya\_Gion-Kyoto\_Kyoto\_Prefecture\_Kinki.html](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d13799174-Reviews-Kobe_Beef_Steak_Moriya_Gion-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html)
I heard great reviews of this place from someone who visited pre-pandemic. Have any of you tried?
**Day 8: Travel to Kinosaki**
Check in: Nishimuraya Honkan
[http://www.nishimuraya.ne.jp/global/file/Kinosaki-Onsen-JR.pdf](http://www.nishimuraya.ne.jp/global/file/Kinosaki-Onsen-JR.pdf)
Dinner at hotel, Kaiseki
**Day 9: Kinosaki-**
Nishimuraya Honkan
Dinner at hotel, Kaiseki
**Day 10- Travel to Osaka**
Check in: Ritz Carlton
**Day 11- Travel home!**
15:30 departure home- any last minute things to fit into Osaka?
Looking for advice:
\- Should we forward a bag between Tokyo & Kyoto, & opt to carry very light to Hakone for 2 nights?
\- Are there any restaurants we should try to make reservations at over the next month?
\- Do you recommend getting a private tour guide in Kyoto?
\- Any recommendations for Sake tasting in Tokyo or Kyoto?
\- Recommendations to explore Samurai culture/ ninjas?
\- Recommendations in Tokyo for live music?
Appreciate your thoughts and feedback! <3 Pristine\_locations
2 comments
Since it’s your first time to Japan, and are doing onsens, just so you know that they are not tattoo friendly. Some are, but even then you need private baths.
Kyoto day 7… You got like nothing there. Market shouldn’t take you long, and it’s gonna be packed like sardines in there if that’s your thing.
For Live music, there’s a guy in the discord who posts shows all the time.
I wouldn’t recommend taxis in Tokyo. Public transport is often faster and way cheaper.
Edit: Also, this is a matter of personal preference, but I wouldn’t do so many separate travel days / stays myself. Picking 2 or 3 fixed stays and using them as a point of departure allows you to get more of a feel for a locale and sometimes get to build up a connection with people or locations. For 10 days, including 2 travel days, we usually just pick 2 hotels in 2 centrally-located cities.
Afaik, if you’re interested in ‘samurai culture’, you should look for Edo-era (recreated) areas or museums.
But, I can definitely see why you’d want to see all those locations you’ve picked!