Hi! I am traveling to Japan next week with my brother for 10 days (9 not including travel) and would love a second opinion on our itinerary. We are both mid-20s and it will be our first time in Japan. We’ll be staying in Shibuya for the first five nights and Shinjuku for the remainder.
We have reservations for most of our meals and they all consist of a mix of local izakaya spots, sushi, and recommendations from friends. We love art, fashion, nature, and exploring different non-touristy neighborhoods so we’re hoping this is a mix of seeing the important sights while also avoiding some of the more crowded tourist hot spots (though we know that’s part of a few items here).
Please let me know your thoughts and chime in if you think we’re missing something!
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**DAY 1 – Tokyo**
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**Morning**
* Travel
**Afternoon**
* Land at 1:30 PM JST
**Night**
* Shibuya Sky sunset reservation
* Shibuya scramble crossing
* Dinner in Shibuya
**DAY 2 – Tokyo**
——————–
**Morning**
* Walk to Meiji Jingu from hotel (around 40 mins)
* Nezu Museum
* Omote-Sando Museum
* Shop around Aoyama (late morning/noon)
**Afternoon**
* Lunch and explore Shimokitazawa
* Vintage shop around Shimokitazawa
**Night**
* Dinner in Shibuya
**DAY 3 – Tokyo**
——————–
**Morning**
* Hanazono Shrine antique market
* Shinjuku Goyen
**Afternoon**
* Explore and shop around Harajuku
* Maybe Japanese Folk Crafts Museum if we have time
**Night**
* Dinner and drinks at Golden Gai
**DAY 4 – Tokyo**
——————–
**Morning**
* Toyosu tuna auction (super early)
* Tsukiji outer market
* Tsukishima Monja street
* Expore around Tokyo station
**Afternoon**
* Rest at hotel
* Explore and shop in Daikanyama
**Night**
* Dinner in Daikanyama
* Drinks in Shibuya
**DAY 5 – Tokyo**
——————–
**Morning**
* Senso-ji
* Nakamise Dori street
* Kappabashi street
**Afternoon**
* Ueno park
* Tokyo National Museum
* Nezu shrine and garden
**Night**
* Dinner and drinks in Shibuya
**DAY 6 – Hakone**
——————–
**Morning**
* Train to Hakone
* Tenzan Onsen all day
**Afternoon**
* Tenzan Onsen
* Train back to Shibuya
**Night**
* Dinner and drinks in Shibuya
**DAY 7 – Kyoto**
——————–
**Morning**
* Shinkansen to Kyoto
* Fushimi Inari
* Philosopher’s Path
**Afternoon**
* Higashiyama Jisho-Ji
* Kinkaku-ji
**Night**
* Dinner res in Gion district
* Train back to Tokyo
**DAY 8 – Tokyo**
——————–
**Morning**
* Imperial Palace tour
* Imperial Palace gardens
**Afternoon**
* Explore Ginza
* 21_21 Design Sight in Roppongi
* Mori Art Museum
**Night**
* Dinner and drinks in Shinjuku
**DAY 9 – Tokyo**
——————–
**Morning**
* Unstructured time that we’ll decide based on our favorite things from the week or new intel we want to explore
**Afternoon**
* Return to US
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We are super excited to explore Tokyo/Japan for the first time and we really appreciate your insight and feedback!
7 comments
Day 7 is incredibly long. It’s 2 hrs 15 mins from Tokyo to Kyoto. That’s 4.5 hours on trains in one day, and then with a full day of things to do in Kyoto.
You have a ton of Tokyo time here; would you consider spending at least one night in Kyoto to give you time to actually experience it?
A day trip to Kyoto is highly unrealistic. Time wise and money wise. Either make plans for your trip to extend the Kyoto part or nix it all together.
Same with Hakone. You don’t have anything planned but an Onsen? Not sure about the one you picked but most have a time limit. Even then you’re going to be onsen’d out in like an hour. There’s really only so long you can soak in a day before you start to get onsen fatigue which is a real thing. The water temps will get you. I would also try to plan more here or cut it in favor of something else.
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto is comfortably a 14 day trip. For 9 days (7 really) you should focus on staying in Kanto. If you want historic stuff you can go to Nikko or Kamakura. Maybe add an overnight in Hakone. There’s so much you could do that is way better use of your time and money to maximize your trip and get out of the city for a bit.
My itinerary is also 9 days, and I’ve planned very deliberately around this time frame.
I’m spending the first 3 days of my 9 day trip in Osaka. From there I’m planning day trips to Kyoto and Nara, before a one way trip to Tokyo on day 4.
I’m already worried that my day trip to Kyoto won’t fit enough in before having to return to Osaka. So far, I’m planning to arrive in Kyoto at about 9am and completing the following circuit:
1) Fushimi Inari Taisha
2) Higashiyama
3) Nishiki Market
4) Arashiyama Monkey Park
5) Arashiyama Bamboo Trail
6) Gion
I’m fully expecting to have to maintain a decent pace for it. In my case, it’ll only take me 30 minutes by local train from Osaka to Kyoto.
A round trip on Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto is a bit much I’d say, especially if it’s for a day trip. Kyoto is spread out and PT isn’t great, so to get around within Kyoto will take time too.
I’d recommend forking out for a Ryokan in Hakone with a private onsen, and staying the night in Hakone on your schedule. It’ll let you experience the Hakone Loop over 2 days, which I’ve heard is much more ideal (and the Hakone Free Pass is valid for 2 days)
I’m also planning a day trip to Hakone from Shinjuku, and I’ve read the Hakone Loop is pretty intense if squeezed into one day. I know I’ll regret not staying the night but I just don’t have more time.
My biggest observation about your itinerary is that you should probably be staying at least one night both Hakone & Kyoto. You’re going to be pretty tired just getting from Tokyo to Hakone/Kyoto and might not have the energy to properly explore the places, especially if you’re planning to also come back to Tokyo at night. There’s enough in both those places to warrant a 2-3 day stay (especially Kyoto).
Also, you can’t stay at an onsen “all day.” You technically can by just continually paying for it, but your body won’t be able to handle the heat for that long (the water is VERY hot, like steaming hot). People usually spend 15-30 mins in there for a quick dip or at most an hour. I’d suggest adding more attractions in Hakone (like the open air museum, Owikudani, Pirate Ship cruise, etc) and possibly staying overnight there to avoid having to go back to Tokyo. That way, you can catch the Shinkansen directly to Kyoto from Odawara Station the next day when you’re done at Hakone.
Maybe try to see if you can switch your Day 8 in Tokyo to be in Kyoto instead. That way, on Day 9, you can just take the Shinkansen directly to Tokyo in the morning for your afternoon flight back.
to echo others, a day trip to kyoto from tokyo won’t work. hakone could be done in a day IMO, but i’d build in something besides a hot tub. we loved the open air museum.
How do you plan to go around Kyoto on Day7??
If you are using a hired taxi then it’s doable in both time wise and energy wise.
If not, Public transport isn’t great, especially for going south-east end to north-west end of the city.( Fushimiinari/ Higashiyama/ Gion are at the east end, whilst Kinkaku-ji is at the north west end.) You may end up using most of your time on Day 7 waiting for a bus or train.
I would solely focus on Higashiyama and cut Kinkaku, as there are so much more to see there.
Echoing the sentiment about Kyoto. It’s too much for a day.