Itinerary Check: 13 Day January Trip, 2nd Timer Guiding 1st Timer

I have been to Japan once before. This time, I will be guiding my wife for her first time in Japan. Here are some facts/background about our trip:

* Travel:
* 14 Day JR Pass seems worth it from my calculations. Not yet purchased because too far out. Will purchase in Oct 01. Open to suggestions.
* We will be renting a Pocket Wifi device. Not booked yet. Open to suggestions.
* 2 people, 1 carryon luggages, 1 checked luggage
* Land (Jan 03, 5 AM) & Depart (Jan 15, 8:30 PM) from Haneda
* Lodging:
* Tokyo Stay 1: Ryokan Mikawaya near Asakusa Station \[Booked\]
* Osaka Stay: Sotetsu Grand Fresa near Osaka-Namba Station \[Booked\]
* Hakone Stay: Hananoyado Fukuya \[Not booked yet, dates not yet available\]
* Open to other suggestions
* Prefer: Fuji view, private onsen, kaiseki dinner
* Tokyo Stay 2: Shinagawa Prince Hotel near Shinagawa Station \[Booked\]
* Preferences:
* Interests: food, anime, sightseeing, temples & shrines, historic sites, art, novel/unique experiences, culture, izakayas
* Not interested: big fancy malls, high end shopping, clubbing, host/hostess bars

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**Day 1 – Wed Jan 03 – Land & Explore Asakusa**

* Early morning:
* Land in Haneda 5 AM, customs, exchange JR Pass, exchange currency
* Transit to Asakusa Station, drop off luggage at ryokan (earliest 7:30 AM)
* Morning & Afternoon:
* Explore Asakusa area
* Sensoji
* Sumida Park
* Evening:
* Sunset at Skytree

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**Day 2 – Thurs Jan 04 – South & Central Tokyo**

* Morning:
* Tsukiji market early in the morning – spend approx 2-3 hours here to try as many places as we can
* Hamarikyu Park, walk across Rainbow Bridge to Odaiba
* Afternoon:
* Gundam Base & pics w/ Unicorn Gundam
* teamLab Planets – approx 2 hours
* Evening:
* Stop by Toyosu market if time permits or if still open
* Dinner in Tsukishima Monja Street

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**Day 3 – Fri Jan 05 – Outer West Side**

* Morning:
* Ghibli Museum in the morning when it opens
* Afternoon:
* Harmonica Yokocho for lunch
* Rest of Day:
* Hunting anime IRL locations
* Koenji Hikawa Shrine (Weathering with You)
* Shimokitazawa (Bocchi the Rock)
* ??? don’t know what else yet, open to suggestions

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**Day 4 – Sat Jan 06 – Western Tokyo**

* Morning:
* Meiji Shrine & Yoyogi Park
* Afternoon:
* Harajuku – themed cafes (hedgehod, puppy, cat, etc.)
* Late afternoon / Early Evening:
* Shibuya
* Night:
* Shinjuku

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**Day 5 – Sun Jan 07 – Central Tokyo**

* Morning:
* Yanaka Ginza for breakfast
* Ueno Park (hopefully Oyster Festival is on this day)
* Afternoon:
* Ameyoko for lunch
* Akihabara – street closed for car traffic on Sunday
* Evening:
* Sunset at Roppongi Hills Mori Tower Sky Deck

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**Day 6 – Mon Jan 08 – Tokyo to Osaka**

* Morning:
* Catch Hikari train leaving Tokyo Station at 9:33 AM to Shin-Osaka
* Buy train station bento
* Carry ourselves
* Afternoon & Evening:
* Arrive at Shin-Osaka, transit to Osaka-Namba station, drop off luggage at hotel
* Explore Dotombori, Kuromon, & surrounding areas
* Kushikatsu in Shinsekai

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**Alternatively \~ \~ \~ \~ \~**

* Morning:
* Ship luggage using Yamato to Osaka Hotel
* Catch 9:33 Hikari from Tokyo Station
* Afternoon:
* Get off train at Kyoto Station
* Explore Kyoto: Nishiki market, Pontocho Alley
* Evening:
* Dinner in Kyoto
* Shinkansen to Osaka, check into hotel
* Explore Dotonbori area & Kuromon Market
* Kushikatsu in Shinsekai

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**Day 7 – Tues Jan 09 – Full Day in Eastern Kyoto**

* Early Morning:
* Fushimi Inari (arrive by 7:30 AM)
* Morning – Afternoon:
* Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama, Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka
* Kodaiji Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Hanamikoji
* Evening:
* Ebisu Shrine – Toka Ebisu Festival – watch the parade
* Back to Osaka

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**Day 8 – Wed Jan 10 – Arashiyama & Kyoto 1/2 Day**

* Early Morning:
* Arashiyama, bamboo forest (arrive by 7:30 AM)
* Morning & Afternoon:
* Okochi Sanso Garden, Tenryuji Temple, Iwatayama Monkey Park (?)
* Late Afternoon & Evening:
* Explore more of Cental & Eastern Kyoto
* Alternatively: Ginkakuji (?)

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**Day 9 – Thurs Jan 11 – Nara Full Day**

* Morning – Evening:
* Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha
* Nakatanidou mochi pounding
* Isuien Garden

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**Day 10 – Fri Jan 12 – Osaka Full Day or ???**

* Morning:
* Osaka Aquarium
* Rest of day:
* Still TBD, open to suggestions
* Osaka Castle (?)

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**Day 11 – Sat Jan 13 – Hakone Splurge**

* Ship 1 carryon, 1 checked luggage to Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo
* Keep 1 carryon for 1 night in Hakone
* Morning:
* Shinkansen from Osaka –> Odawara, bus –> Hakone ryokan
* Drop off luggage in ryokan
* Afternoon:
* Explore Hakone
* Evening:
* Kaiseki dinner in ryokan

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**Day 12 – Sun Jan 14 – Yokohama 1/2 Day**

* Morning & Afternoon:
* Transit Hakone –> Yokohama, store 1 carryon luggage in locker at train station
* Explore Yokohama: Cup Noodle Museum, CosmoWorld Ferris Wheel, Chinatown, Yamashita Park
* Evening:
* Pick up luggage from locker, transit to Tokyo Shinagawa Station
* Check into Shinagawa Prince Hotel
* Dinner at ramen alley

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**Day 13 – Mon Jan 15 – Last Day in Tokyo**

* TBD, open to suggestions
* Tsukiji Fish Market again (?)
* Evening:
* Transit to Haneda, arrive by 5:30 PM
* Flight at 8:30 PM