Hello all,
​
This is my plan while I’m still waiting for my manager to approve my vacation time. I want to say thank you in advance for any suggestion or recommendation.
October ~~8~~ 7th- Fly into Tokyo (arrive on Sunday October ~~9~~ 8th afternoon)
October ~~9~~ 8th to 11th – Stay in Tokyo (explore Memory Lane, Golden Gai, Shibuya Crossing, Takeshita-Dori, check a shine, izakaya, ramen, sushi)
October 12th (~~midday~~ morning)- Take the bullet train and bus to ~~Osaka~~ Kusatsu. Hope to get there by midday.
October 12th – 13th (midday) – Explore, onsen, and stay for the night. Bus and bullet train to Osaka next day.
October 13th to 19th – Stay in Osaka (dinner with a friend, Tenjibashisuji Shotengai, Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, Osaka Aquarium, Dontonbori Shopping street, onsen, izakaya, ramen, sushi, fugu, takoyaki). Go to Kobe (Try kobe steak).
~~October 16th (Morning) – Fly into Sapporo (around afternoon)~~
~~October 16th to 19th – Stay in Sapporo (Onsen, Izakaya, NIjo Ichiba, Mt Moiwa, Hang out in Susukino)~~
October 19th (Morning) – Go to Kyoto to stay for a night. Walk around, and explore.
October 20th (Morning) – Go to Tokyo. Last minute shopping.
~~October 20th (Afternoon) – Fly to Tokyo.~~
October 21th (2PM) – Take covid test at the airport (2 hour PCR) at Narita. Flight around 6PM.
​
~~I was thinking of going to Tokyo > Sapporo > Osaka > home. I will be flying solo and also like to take it easy. Even though I list a lot of things to do, it doesn’t mean I will do.~~
After reading people’s suggestion and recommendation, I decided to not to do Sapporo. but I added Kusatsu for one night, Kobe for half a day, and Kyoto for one night.
I want to thank you all of you guys and gals for the helping me.
8 comments
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Before getting approval from your manager, maybe wait for Japan to officially open.
There is not that many onsen in Tokyo, so might not be the best place to do it, would even say the same about Sapporo, so maybe check to go to Otaru for that.
You can realistically add much more to that list and still be able to do everything as it is quite light right now.
I also find it quite odd that you list ramen in both Tokyo and Osaka, but not in Sapporo, that is one of the city known for their ramen.
Would also consider to fly from Sapporo in the morning of Oct. 21 and directly fly out of Narita. Just book it as a multi-city ticket, so both fly would be on the same ticket so it would transfer from one plane to the other.
If this is your first visit, the itinerary seems to be touching one spot and go. You can explore more in each places focusing on Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto. There are a lot more to see in Hokkaido that I would usually do 1 trip on Hokkaido self drive. If u want to do Onsen, there are quite a few near Tokyo: Hakone/Kawaguchiko or Kusatsu (like this better). U can then plan and make good use of JR pass. The best part is u can make reservations on Shinkansen free while buying normal tickets, a fee is needed for any reservations.
If this is not your first time, Tokyo>Sapporo>Osaka and fly out from Osaka seems better.
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i would honestly spend more time in tokyo if you’re there the first time. i didn’t find osaka to be that interesting in comparison
If you want ramen, I would check out Menya Musashi in Ueno, Tokyo. Best ramen I’ve had. I think there’s two locations in Ueno. The one that’s smaller and more intimate is the better one. I’m getting nostalgic just thinking about it.
https://www.tripadvisor.co/Restaurant_Review-g14134274-d10146473-Reviews-Menya_Musashi_Bukotsu_Okachimachi-Ueno_Taito_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html
I really suggest going to Kyoto, by far my most favourite city and you will really miss the scenic and peaceful allure of it relative to Tokyo!
You have 12 days in Japan, from 9th to 21st. I would think it is wise to leave out Hokkaido and focus on Tokyo and maybe, if you want, Osaka. Is this your first time to Japan? If so, I would think…
Get a 7-day JR pass. Day 1 morning of the JR pass, take the shinkansen to Osaka and on Day 6 (or 7) of the JR-pass, take the shinkansen back to Tokyo. You can spend about 3 days doing the sights in Osaka, and then do some day trips out of Osaka with the free JR pass e.g. Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima etc (but don’t rush them).
So in summary, spend a few days in Tokyo and about 6 days in Osaka.