Hey there! It will be our first time to Japan and we did quiet a bit of research but I just want to make sure I’m not forgetting some of the major things. We also might have space for one more daytrip during our second stay in Tokyo, suggestions are welcome.
This is our itinerary:
**Tokyo**
Day 1: Nov 13
Arrival at Narita Airport at 09:45
Transfer to accommodation and check-in
Visit Starbucks Reserve
Explore Shibuya Crossing
Visit the Nintendo Store
Enjoy the view from Shibuya Sky
Day 2: Nov 14
Visit Meiji Shrine
Explore Roppongi Hills (Red Tokyo)
Experience the Art Aquarium
Dinner at a Ninja Restaurant
Day 3: Nov 15
Visit Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street
Explore Akihabara, the electronics paradise
Day 4: Nov 16
Visit TeamLab Borderless
Explore Harajuku district
Enjoy Happy Pancake
Day 5: Nov 17
Day trip to Yokohama
Explore Sankeien Garden
Visit Chinatown
**Kyoto**
Day 6: Nov 18
Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto
Day trip to Nara
Visit Todai-ji Temple
Day 7: Nov 19
Explore Fushimi Inari Taisha
Visit Nishiki Market
Visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Day 8: Nov 20
Visit Bamboo Forest (Arashiyama)
Enjoy a ride on the Romantic Train (Sagano Scenic Railway)
Visit Kinkaku-ji Castle (Golden Pavilion)
Explore Yasaka Shrine
Stroll through Pontocho’s narrow alleys
Day 9: Nov 21
Day trip to Hiroshima
Visit Peace Park and Memorial Museum
**Osaka**
Day 10: Nov 22
Travel from Kyoto to Osaka
Visit Osaka Castle
Explore Dotonbori
Day 11: Nov 23
Visit Universal Studios Japan
Day 12: Nov 24
Explore Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Visit Tenmangu Shrine
Explore Shinsekai
Day 13: Nov 25
Day trip to Koyasan
Explore the sacred mountain
**Tokyo**
Day 14: Nov 26
Travel back from Osaka to Tokyo
Free day in Tokyo
Day 15: Nov 27
Free day in Tokyo for last-minute exploration and shopping or a daytrip
Day 16: Nov 28
Departure from Tokyo
1 comment
Your first Tokyo leg is a little weird imo – shibuya is close to Harajuku and could be done on the same day (as is Meiji Jingu). I would put the Nintendo store to Osaka plus second Tokyo leg.
You could group Ginza (Art Aquarium) with teamlab since there is a train line from around ginza out to Toyosu/teamlab.
There’s no need to move accommodation between Kyoto and Osaka unless you have specific reason to. Particularly if you only have 4 days (incl Koyasan day trip)
You could try to group fushimi Inari as a stopover from Nara to Kyoto depending on where in kyoto you are staying.
You could group yasaka with kiyomizudera.
Many on this sub dislike Osaka castle and would instead recommend Himeji as an en route for Hiroshima. This may or may not be viable for you with Hiroshima as a day trip.