Hoping to get some feedback and advice for my first trip to Japan in a couple of months. It will just be me and my partner. We’ll be arriving mid-October and will leave early-November. I’ve included specific questions below, but any general advice or thoughts on whether we’re trying to do too much would be greatly appreciated. Also looking for suggestions on where to stay our first night when we land in Tokyo since we’ll be heading to Osaka first thing the next day.
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**Day 1: Arrival**
* Arrive at Haneda around 4:00pm
* Pick up welcome suica/passmo, sim card, exchange cash, etc.
* Train to hotel
* No other plans, figured we would stop by a conbini and just rest
**Day 2: Osaka**
* Train to Osaka
* Check in to hotel – staying near Dotonbori
* Kuromon Market
* Namba Yasaka Jinja
* Nipponbashi
* Shinsekai
* Harukas 300 for night views
* Back to Dotonbori for dinner
\>> This is the day that worries me most. I’d be open to skipping Namba Yasaka Jinja or Shinsekai unless anyone things they’re a must-see?
**Day 3: Osaka**
* Cup Noodles Museum
* Minoh Park/Falls
* Umeda Sky Building
\>> Since we don’t have that much on this day, I figured we could visit do anything we didn’t get to do the day before.
**Day 4: Osaka**
* Osaka Castle
* Kaiyukan Aquarium
* Tempozan Ferris Wheel – might skip
* Shinsaibashi
**Day 5: Osaka > Nara > Kyoto**
* Check out of Osaka hotel
* Train to Nara
* Nara Deer Park
* Train to Kyoto
* Check in to Kyoto hotel
\>> We had originally planned to visit the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery after Nara, but looks like they won’t be re-opening until later during our trip. Any other suggestions for things to do in Nara or Kyoto on this day?
**Day 6: Kyoto**
* Fushimi Inari
* Kiyomizu-dera
* Gion
* Nishiki Market
* Pontocho Alley
**Day 7: Kyoto**
* Kinkaku-ji
* Arashiyama Monkey Park
* Rilakkuma Tea House
* Miffy Bakery
* Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
**Day 8: Kyoto**
* Tea ceremony
* Philosopher’s Path
* Kyoto Imperial Palace
\>> Anything else we should do in Kyoto before we leave the next day?
**Day 9: Kyoto**
* Check out of Kyoto hotel
* Train to Hakone
* Check into ryokan
* Enjoy the ryokan – rest day
**Day 10: Hakone**
* Open Air Museum
* Owakudani
* Pirate Ship Cruise? Might skip
* Hakone shrine
\>> This would just basically be the Free Loop one-day itinerary.
**Day 11: Hakone > Tokyo**
* Check out of ryokan
* Check in to hotel in Tokyo
* Takeshita St.
* Shibuya Parco
* Mega Donki
* Shibuya Crossing/Hachiko
\>> It will actually be Halloween on this day, so I planned for us to be in Shinjuku. Anything we should keep in mind for festivities?
**Day 12: Tokyo**
* Ghibli Museum? If we can get tickets
* Shiro-hige’s Cream Puff Factory
* Tokyo Metropolitan Gov. Building
* Shin-Okubo
* Omoide Yokocho
* Kabukicho/Golden Gai
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**Day 13: Tokyo**
* Tokyo DisneySea
**Day 14: Tokyo**
* Tsukiji Outer Market
* TeamLab Planets
* Shopping in Ginza
**Day 15: Tokyo**
* Sensoji
* Nakamise-dori
* Kirby Cafe (if we can get a reservation)
* Akihabara
**Day 16: Tokyo > Home**
* Check out of hotel
* Kappabashi Street
* Last minute shopping
* Character Street in Tokyo Station
* Train to Haneda
* 7PM Flight home
**Additional Questions:**
\>> We were planning on packing accordingly to send our luggage straight from Haneda when we arrive to Kyoto. Then from Kyoto, sending it straight to Tokyo. Does this make sense?
\>> We have not yet booked our stays in Tokyo. Any suggestions on where we should stay for that first night, considering we’ll be heading to Osaka first thing the following morning? Torn between Shinjuku and Ginza for the last leg in Tokyo.
\>> My partner is specifically interested in architecture. Any cool sights we should add?
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Thank you all!
3 comments
You can stay at Haneda for the first night. There’s a hotel connected to the airport and a few close by. Todaiji is the highlight of Nara.
This is nearly the exact day breakdown i was planning for those places… saved me alot of work 😀 going to steal your work as a template
Starting to plan a trip for mid July 2024, any reason you are going straight to Osaka and not staying in Tokyo a couple days? Also are you utilizing 14 day JR pass for trains?