Hello! I’m a 26F doing a solo trip to Japan a year from now (I have been, but only Tokyo). I booked it a year in advance because of award flights, and started planning partially for fun but also partially because I’m insane.
…
But also if there’s anything I might want to do that needs to be booked a year in advance I have the time to book! Since I’m going in summer I’m guessing some things will be extra busy! Totally aware plans may have to shift over the course of the year though and that’s fine!
**Things I like to do/context:**
* Definitely going to pack light but will shop for clothes + skincare + beauty products + shoes in last part of trip in Tokyo
* not picky about food, love all Japanese food
* Drink, esp beer, whiskey, sake, and wine (not super into cocktails but wouldn’t mind them)
* Anime/manga, cosplay
* I usually workout around 2h a day at home so I noticed I have a lot of energy on vacation from not working out, definitely want to maximize my time
* I am aware of the summer weather, I have spent summers in shanghai, Taiwan, rural southern China, I can’t change my trip dates bc of work
* I love cats !!!
* I love cafes. Addicted to tea and coffee.
* This is a high/flexible budget trip because flights and Tokyo (maybe also Kyoto/Osaka depending) hotels will be booked with points
**Would love some recs on:**
* omakase: some good recs in this [thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Tokyo/comments/vq7zup/sushi_omakase_recommendations_that_arent_near/) but always open to more recs
* tsukemen: I’ve only had Gonokami Seisakujyo in Tokyo
* sake or whiskey tasting, or bars, preferably not a club, also not looking to meet anyone. I also want to bring a bottle of sake/whiskey home, is just a regular liquor store best for this or do you have any recommendations?
* cosplay shops or events: I know of ACOS in Ikebukuro (the one in Akihabara closed down), but do you recommend any others? Also is there a way to find cosplay meetup events (besides major conventions)
* photography: can anyone personally recommend a photoshoot/photographer? particularly candid type photos? last time I did a photoshoot for about $100 and they did me so dirty, I hated all the photos and ended up taking selfies instead 😭 I may try to do a photography tour where I’m not in the photos that someone recommended called eyexplore
* Thinking of just buying a suitcase for purchases in tokyo, does anyone have a good quality suitcase shop rec that isn’t Rimowa (although I am tempted since it’s cheaper in Japan than in US)
* was there a bag/purse you liked to carry that was convenient/big enough but not a backpack?
**General Plan – 3 weeks total**
3 nights in **Tokyo** Jul 18-21 (leave Sun)
* Day 0 rest
* Day 1 Asakusa (shrine, food stalls, shops), cat cafe Monta, and Akihabara
* Day 2 Shibuya/Harajuku day – Ritts head spa, window shopping mostly, want to check out the women’s only bar
* Day 3 Shinkansen to Kyoto
3 nights in **Kyoto** Jul 21-24 Gion Festival
* Day 3 Arrive and get settled, rent a bike?
* Day 4 Fushimi Inari in morning, Kiyamizu dera, Nishiki Market in afternoon, Pontocho Alley and Yasaka shrine at night
* Day 5 Kodaiji Temple and Kenninji temple, tea ceremony? Studio Kokoro Kimono photoshoot
* Day 6 see float procession in morning and then train to Osaka
2 nights **Osaka** Jul 24-26 Tenjin Matsuri
* Day 6 not sure, all I know is dotonbori
* Day 7 see festival stuff, eat and wander
* Day 8 Shinkansen to Kinosaki Onsen
1 night **Kinosaki Onsen** Jul 26-27
* Day 8 arrive by around noon, staying at nishimuraya hotel (Nishimuraya honken is closed and under reno :’( ), I’m sure it’ll be lovely tho. Just gonna walk around Onsen, have kaiseki meal, drink, relax in private Onsen too
* Day 9 breakfast, soak in private Onsen, then Shinkansen to Hakone (or alt plan below)
1 night in **Hakone** (near Tokyo) Jul 27-28
* Day 9 arrive in Hakone, check in to ryokan
* Day 10 store luggage, go to Hien falls, walk around hakone, Shinkansen to Tokyo
<<**ALTERNATIVE:** should I rearrange things and stay in Hakone a couple of days instead around first week of august to attend the summer festival? If I were to do that should I stay in Kyoto longer (I think I would need to loop back through that area from Kinosaki anyways?) before going to Hakone or back to Tokyo first? Is it worth it to go to Kinosaki Onsen for just one night?>>
15 nights **Tokyo** Jul 28-Aug 12 (not sure about the day split so will just list some main things)
* Ikebukuro: cosplay shopping, regular shopping, muscle girls bar
* Akihabara (again if I feel like it): window shopping, anime/game merch, manga (if I can read by then)
* Roppongi: Mori Tower, art triangle, Toyokawa Inari, Hie shrine, stroll around Toranomon Hills, AO Spa massage, drink (I’m staying here so I can split this into a couple of days)
* Shinjuku: shopping, eating
* Omakase: checkout Tabelog and try to reserve a few months in advance, request it from hotel concierge and/or Amex platinum concierge
* Manga cafe: if I can read manga by then I think this could be a good relaxation day activity (or study activity lol)
* Shibuya: want to checkout the one piece themed gym (apparently they’re foreigner friendly and have day passes), shibuya sky at night, shop
* Shimokitazawa: shopping, live houses?
* Asakusa: might return here if there’s not enough time to eat all the food I want, and to window shop kitchen supplies on kappabashi st
* Day trip options: Mt Takao, Nikko, Atami, Fujikawaguchiko, Boso Peninsula beaches (likely will have to narrow this down I know)
* Really want a haircut from Tota Nakagawa if he’s in town
* I want to do karaoke alone, could be another good relaxation day activity
* Free day or half day to meet up with friends who live in Tokyo
* Keep an eye on pop up shops in the months before the trip (hopefully with Hiroshi Fujiwara)
* There’s quite a few summer festivals late July/early August in Tokyo/around Tokyo but it’s hard to tell what’s worth seeing. I don’t think it makes sense to try to see the sumidagawa fireworks for example. Maybe Tsukiji Bon Odori?
Checkout and fly to Taiwan Aug 12 afternoon :’)))