8 Nights in Tokyo in October – please feedback!

As many others, we have been planning this trip since pre-Covid. Hell, since almost 6 years back – but a series of family events, deaths, births, closed borders, pandemics, etc etc stopped us from going. But finally – here we go, Japan!

It is also the first time we travel child-free in 4 years. This is also why this trip is not as long as we would like – but we take anything at this stage.

So – 8 nights in Japan, mostly Tokyo. Couple in mid 30-s. Here we go.

**15 October, Sunday** \- arriving at NRT about 5 pm from NZ, collecting bags, JR pass (activate on Monday), SEICA card. Checking in the hotel around **Asakusabashi** station. Potentially going out for a late dinner/drink, or grabbing stuff from Lawson if too tired. IF super pumped and slept through most of the flight, can walk to Akihabara (10 mins from hotel).

**16 October, Monday** \- I am assuming we will wake up super early due to time difference. So early start then:

1. **Senso-Ji** and Asakusa. Walking, eating snacks, etc.
2. If we start super early or if we finish with asakusa very quickly, we can move to *Ueno park* and visit one of the museums (*Tokyo national museum* is the go to?)
3. Subway to **Ginza**: shopping. Nissan crossing, Uniqlo, Onitsuka Tiger, muji, itoya.
4. Dinner at Ginza – no idea: *is everything super expensive* and we should just go to the foodcourt at ginza6?
5. If we finish everything early and have time and stamina: *Kabukiza Theatre*. See if we can make it to the single act performance. *Will they let us in with shopping bags? Is there storage?*

**17 October, Tuesday** \- classic touristic route:

1. **Meiji shrine** in the morning;
2. **Harajuku** \- shopping and snacking;
3. **Shibuya** \- shibuya crossing, shibuya sky ( need to book tickets in advance for \~2pm). Lunch.
4. Ideally we would love to have a break before the evening. The plan was to check in one of the *love hotels* for rest time \~2-3 hrs and chill (lol). *Does that sound viable? Any personal favourites?*
5. **Shinjuku** at night: start with cocktails at Park Hyatt. Dinner..
6. Golden cai, drinks. *Any particular club/bar that would be fun to go to on Tuesday?*

My major question is – ***what do I do with my shopping bags***. What if we get lots of presents on Harajuku for teenage family members? Or find something on Snibuya? I don’t want to carry them bags around all night. Is there a delivery option to the hotel? I have read about the lockers on stations, but not sure when we will pick stuff up then – when we will be drunkenly looking for our way back before midnight?

**18 October, Wednesday** \- possibly slightly hungover morning.

1. Kick off with food from **Tsukiji fish market**.
2. Walk in **Hamarikyu Gardens** for digestion purposes. Tea houses in the gardens look promising – *has anyone been?*
3. **Tokyo station**. Ramen if we are hungry again.
4. **Imperial palace** \- whatever is open for public, probably short visit.
5. Get to Tokyo Dome area to go to **Spa la Qua**. We love public baths and this one looks fun and chill in a modern way – *would love to hear, if anyone has been*. Couple of hrs to relax.
6. Dinner in that area.

**19-20th October** \- Kyoto trip. We keep our hotel in Tokyo, so we don’t need to take our luggage and just travel with a backpack.

**21st October**, Saturday – I am thinking we will be getting tired by this point. And I am thinking the crowds on the weekend will get intense. So we take it chill.

1. **Onsen** Ryokan Yuen Bettei Tokyo Daita at Shimakazawa for a morning session with tea to kick off the day.
2. **Shimokitazawa** thrift shoppings, cafes, people watching.
3. Move to **Roppongi**: mori art museum, roppongi hills.
4. Dinner and drinks at Roppongi – would *love recommendations.*

**22nd October,** Sunday – last day, so need to make it bang!

1. **Teams lab** at 9 am in the morning to beat the crowds.
2. **Odaiba** area stroll, Gangdam statue, etc.
3. Back to **Akihabara.** We live close by and this will be a chance to have a look at the area if we havent already. *Kappabashi street* if we have time.
4. Hubby wants to take a trip to *Daikoku car meet in Yokohama* in the afternoon/night, and we were looking at booking a guide for him. I stay in Tokyo and do my cosmetics/skincare shopping haul – sucks that it will be on the busy weekend day, but can’t see where I can move it to. Shiseido store, if I have money left, if not – Don Qi, and Muji.

**23rd October,** Monday – our flight back takes off at 6:30 pn. We can leave bags at the hotel and do what we feel like that day.

How does that look to you guys? Keen on any feedback really.

*Ungodly* excited about that trip.