Hi All my gf and I are going to Japan for our first time from Oct 5 – Oct 15. I have always wanted to go to Japan since I was a kid but I never realized until actually planning it that I really didn’t know what all the stuff I wanted to see was even called. It is also my first time ever planning a trip myself so I want to make sure I’m not over scheduling things or missing anything great so I’d like to post my itinerary here and get feedback. Also since this will be our first time there I made a bit of a touristy itinerary, but I would like to make a car culture based trip some point in the future.
With that being said if anyone has recommendations for any car meets / events happening in Tokyo during my time there please let me know! I don’t know if we will be able to make it to Diakokofutu but if there is a meet going on for sure I may try to see it.
I am currently on the fence planning to return to Tokyo for our last 2 days, but I was also thinking about maybe doing a relaxing last day and a half at Atami instead. I’d like to relax at an onsen and see a beach in Japan. Has anyone done a short stay in Atami? Is it worth it over going back to explore more of Tokyo? Is there a better place to stay for a day and a half?
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Day 0 – Oct 5 – Tokyo
Late arrival, land an HND at 8:55 PM (I never booked an international flight before and thought we were landing at 8:55 PST -> 12:55 PM Tokyo time, whoops!)
* Check in to hotel in Shinjuku – Granbell Shinjuku
* Get some late night food (unsure if hotel rooftop bar / restaurant will be open) either at hotel or somewhere walkable in Shinjuku
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Day 1 – Oct 6 – Tokyo (Western Tokyo) \[ Is all this possible in a day? \]
* Explore Shinjuku in the morning
* Explore Harajuku in the middle of the day -> Meiji Jingu, Takeshita St, maybe a hedgehog or capybara cafe
* Explore Shibuya at evening -> Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Sky (eat at Ce La Vi?), maybe see Parco
* Return to Shinjuku and finish the night at Kabukicho Tower
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Day 2 – Oct 7 – Tokyo (Central Tokyo?)
* Imperial Palace
* Check out the bay area (maybe take a water bus or the lunch Symphony cruise)
* Tokyo Tower
* Omakase reservations
* Memory Lane back in Shinjuku
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Day 3 – Oct 8 – Tokyo (Eastern Tokyo)
* Wake up early for Tsukiji Fish market
* Explore Asakusa -> Old Tokyo, Senso Ji, etc.
* Skytree
* Akibahara -> SEGA Arcade, Radio Kaikan, Kanda Shrine, enjoy the neon lights at night
* Golden Gai back in Shhinjuku
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Day 4 – Oct 9 – Tokyo -> Kyoto
* Take an early train from Tokyo to Kyoto
* Check in / store luggage at Sora Niwa Hotel
* Explore Hanamikoji St
* Walk Kamo River pathway
* Explore Gion
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Day 5 – Oct 10 – Kyoto
* Ninomaru-Goten Palace
* Kyoto Imperial Palace
* Nishiki food market
* Kiyomizo-Dera temple
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Day 6 – Oct 11 – Kyoto \[Nara day trip, is all this possible while Nara is open?\]
* Take early train to Nara where we will see the following:
* Kofuku Ji Temple
* Isuien Garden
* Todai-Ji Temple
* Deer Park
* Kasuga Taisha Shrine (maybe skip it seems a little out of the way?)
* Higashimuki shopping center
* Return to Kyoto
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Day 7 – Oct 12 – Kyoto
* Wake up early to go to Fushini Inari, hike the full thing, visit ‘hidden path’ on the way back down?
* Sagano Romantic Train OR Do something relaxing / easy after the hike, enjoy the onsen at the hotel?
* Find a nice dinner for our last night in Kyoto
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Day 8 – Oct 13 – Kyoto -> Tokyo OR Atami? — OR rec’s for somewhere else for the last day and a half
* If Tokyo take early train out of Kyoto
* Drop luggage off at APA Shinjuku hotel
* Relax at Gyoen Garden
* See anything we missed
* Nice dinner
* If Atami also take an early train out of Kyoto
* Relax at the beach
* Relax at an onsen
* Nice dinner
* Or another recommendation for somewhere to stay for a day and a half
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Day 9 – Oct – 14
* Pretty open on plans
* Flight takes off from HND at 9:00 PM, plan to be back at the airport around 5?
Thank you for taking a look!
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4 comments
FYI, the Tsukiji Fish Market no longer has the fish auction. It moved to Toyosu, so maybe no need to wake up early.
We’re going to be there at the same exact time as you. LAX > Tokyo > Kyoto > Osaka > Tokyo > LAX. Might have to steal your itinerary as it’s much more detailed than ours. Also we’re spending one night in Osaka. Too many people have told us not to miss it.
Go to osaka
>Has anyone done a short stay in Atami?
>I’d like to relax at an onsen and see a beach in Japan
I’ve stayed in Atami a couple of times. there are definitely onsens. And a small beach. But the big attraction in Atami is the shopping street just out of the station.