Hi! This is my first trip to Japan with my dad, after weeks of planning the itinerary, I’m wondering which days is too pack, and which days have much free time, any guidance would be appreciated.
My dad and I don’t really have any specific interest, we would just try to go anywhere and check it out, its our first time to Japan after all, everything is interesting.
The list is based on their distance between each other and places we would go in order first, and most likely we would wake up around 7-8 AM each day, so if there’s any places that best to go at morning, night, or not recommended to go at all, please let me know, thanks!
Edit:
29/8/23:
1. Swapped trip between Mt Fuji and Yokohama to avoid traffic jam on weekend to Mt Fuji, and possible free festival in Yokohama during weekend
2. Added Kamakura trip after Yokohama trip.
3. Added Nakano Broadway after Shinjuku trip. (Read someone mention it in other post.)
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**Day 1 – 11/Oct – Wednesday**
Arrive in Narita airport at around 8-9 PM, check-in hotel around Tokiwadai.
**Day 2 – 12/Oct – Thursday**
1. From Tokiwadai to Ikebukuro Station – Explore around
2. Tokyo Station – Explore around
3. Imperial Palace – National Museum of Modern Art, Science & Technology Museum
4. Tsukiji Outer Market
5. Ginza – Explore around
6. Tokyo Dome (Probably? Seems interesting but not sure to go or not)
**Day 3 – 13/Oct – Friday**
1. Asakusa – Sensoji Temple, Hoppy Street
2. Tokyo Skytree – Sumida Aquarium, Planetaria Tokyo Performance
3. Japanese Sword Museum – then maybe Great Kanto Earthquake Museum, Fukagawa Edo Museum, Sumo Museum. (Depend on time)
4. Zojoji Temple (Take picture along Tokyo Tower) – visit Tokyo Tower
5. Roppongi Hills (Probably?)
**Day 4 – 14/Oct – Saturday**
1. Shibuya – Explore around
2. Omotesando – Harajuku Street
3. Meiji Jingu Shrine – Takeshita Street
**Day 5 – 15/Oct – Sunday**
1. Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
2. Yokohama station – Explore around
3. Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama (Tuesday Close) – Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, Cosmo World
4. Yokohama China Town – Gundam Factory Yokohama
5. Kamakura City
**Day 6 – 16/Oct – Monday**
1. Mt Fuji – 1 day trip via bus from Shinjuku station, then back to Tokyo.
**Day 7 – 17/Oct – Tuesday**
1. Tokyo Sea Life Park (**Wednesday Close**)
2. Koto City – Statue of Liberty, Gundamn base store, Toyosu Market
3. DiverCity Tokyo Plaza
**Day 8 – 18/Oct – Wednesday**
1. Ghibli Museum (**Tuesday Close**) – Explore around Inokashira Park Zoo **(Monday Close)**
2. Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum (**Monday Close**)
3. Shinjuku – Explore around
4. Nakano Broadway – Explore around
**Day 9 – 19/Oct – Thursday**
1. Ueno Park (**Monday Close**) – Ueno Zoo, Tokyo Metro Art Museum, National Museum, etc
2. Ameyoko Shopping District
3. Akihabara – Owl Cafe (**Tuesday Close**)
4. Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street
**Day 10 – 20/Oct – Friday**
Going back home
6 comments
I would see if you can do the Mt Fuji trip on a weekday just because it’s a popular weekend/day trip with locals and domestic tourists too. Sunday evening traffic back into Tokyo can be a nightmare and I know people who’ve been stuck in traffic for hours.
I don’t know if they still do it, but there are some areas like Akihabara that used to close down the main roads on Sundays for pedestrians and it makes it really nice to walk around.
I particularly loved visiting Yoyogi park and Yokohama on weekends because there’s almost always free festivals and events on with food stalls and lots of locals playing musical instruments/dancing. Just really nice vibes.
Check out the Tokyo Time Out or Tokyo Cheapo for a list of festivals and events on that weekend
For Tokyo Station “explore round” be sure to check out character street and ramen street, in the station.
Don’t forget Kamakura!
I’d say take an extra day, and instead of just Mt Fuji, go stay at a hot springs ryokan and relax. Also like the other poster said, probably best to avoid weekends for this.
Why Tokiwadai area for your hotel? Might I suggest this one instead (if you can afford it: [https://goo.gl/maps/bcCJAXhUQ78bawtH6](https://goo.gl/maps/bcCJAXhUQ78bawtH6)
It’s in Sunshine city near Ikebukero station. It has a planetarium, so many food choices, a family mart in the hotel, acquarium.
Do you have jet leg?
Day 1: seems too packed, I would focus on what you really want to see.
Day 5: [https://www.japan.travel/en/fuji-guide/views-of-fuji/](https://www.japan.travel/en/fuji-guide/views-of-fuji/)
How about Karuizawa instead? or do you really want to see Mt Fuji? It takes a long time to get to Kawaguchiko. Perhaps you can rent a car to see that part of Japan instead of bus/train. You can decide to stay there for 2 nights and afterwards come back to Tokyo.
Day 6: don’t forget Yokohama Air Cabin (Ropeway)
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How about a Tokyo river cruise? [https://matcha-jp.com/en/11813](https://matcha-jp.com/en/11813)
Overall it seems you will be a lot inside (museums) in those days. I hope you can just experience Japan that way 🙂
Tickets to the ghibli museum aren’t available yet