First time in Japan, 33F solo traveler, flying into Osaka, meeting cousins who live in Kyoto then venturing from there on my own. Want a mix of history, nature and city life. Celebrating 5 years sober, so no booze for me, but I’ll eat anything and I’m happy to just stroll, get lost in shops and streets and take it all in. I know it’s a pretty touristy itinerary but I live in a very touristy area of Southern California so I’d like to be the tourist for once, haha.
Oct 9- 14:50 arrive at Kansai airport.
-Bus to Kyoto station
-Pick up JR pass here instead to hopefully save some time at the airport
-Bus to cousin’s house in Kyoto.
Oct 10, 11 & 12- my cousin is actually a bicycle tour guide in Kyoto so I’m pretty much leaving this part of my itinerary up to him. Probably the usual sightseeing including a possible day trip to Nara, plus hopefully some local hidden gems.
TOKYO *looking for any suggestions on switching around days/neighborhoods here, based on what’s busy when… I know it’s the weekend soooo…*
FRIDAY Oct 13- early AM Shinkansen from Kyoto station to Tokyo station *I used the JR calculator and it said the 7-day is worth it, I suppose this would be the best time to activate?*
-Train to hotel in Asakusa ~10:30
-Senso Ji
-Nakimase-Dori
-Kirby Cafe and/or Skytree (wasn’t able to snag a res at Kirby but I’m hoping to get lucky getting a cancellation or last minute spot since I’ll be solo??)
-Ueno park, museum and garden
SATURDAY Oct 14
-Meiji Jingu shrine/ garden
-Shop, snack and stroll through Harijuku, down Cat Street to Shibuya
-Shibuya sky/scramble
SUNDAY Oct 15
-Tsujiki Outer Market
-Hanarikyu gardens AND/OR East gardens of Imperial Palace
-Intermediatheque museum
-Ginza shop and snack
-Tokyo station *what are your fave spots to eat/shop here?*
MONDAY Oct 16
-Maybe get an earlier visit to Senso Ji since it’s right by my hotel
-Ship luggage to Osaka hotel
-*open to suggestions or revisit anything I missed*
-Explore Shinjuku nightlife… maybe a nice dinner here and some karaoke? Any recommended spots?
HAKONE
*really just gonna go with the flow here, splurged on a nice room for one night here so want to enjoy the dinner and onsen in hotel and see what activities I can fit around that.*
TUESDAY Oct 17
-Get to Shinjuku station early to catch the Romancecar to Hakone.. may try to reserve the observation car, anyone with experience with this?
-I’ll just have a backpack with me so I might jump into the whole/ part of the Hakone loop ropeway thing, make it to the black eggs and be back to check into hotel around 5? There’s a dinner option at 8 so I’ll probably onsen for a while before and after.
WEDNESDAY Oct 18
-Breakfast, possible massage, onsen, check out
-Open air museum
-Shinkansen to Osaka
OSAKA
-Arrive in Namba area and check into nearby hotel, hopefully my luggage will be here
-Explore Dontonburi
-Hozenji Yokocho
THURSDAY Oct 19 KOBE?
-Coffee and breakfast somewhere
-Cup Noodles Museum
-trip to KOBE Nunobiki Herb Gardens and waterfalls
-somewhere for Kobe beef dinner *recs?*
FRIDAY Oct 20
-Explore more of Osaka, last minute shopping, maybe find a cool bathhouse
-maybe move Cup Noodles here instead
SATURDAY Oct 21
-Check out, grab something to eat and make my way to KIX for flight at 16:50
Thanks so much for reading and I’d appreciate any critiques, WTFs, or suggestions/recommendations.