16 Days Japan
Hi, I’m solo traveling this year to Japan for the first time. I’m an American and do not know how to speak or read Japanese. Below is the itinerary I have come up with and I’m still deciding between staying at hostels at certain points of the trip to talk to fellow travelers. Any suggestions are welcome. I will be booking restaurants, accommodations, and attractions within the next day or two. Any tips are welcome!
**Tokyo**
Day 1 (Nov 28th):
• Land in Tokyo NRT at 1 PM/ Leave Luggage at Hotel
• Tokyo Skytree (sunset?) or Tokyo City View at nighttime only
• TBD of Activities
• Omoide Yokocho for Dinner
• Golden Gai
Day 2 (Nov 29th):
• TeamBorderless/teamLab Planets
• Hamarikyu Gardens
• Tsukiji Outer Market
• Nezu Museum
• Shibuyu crossing
• Tokyo National Museum
• Harajuku?
Day 3 (Nov 30th):
• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
• Art Aquarium Museum (Goldfish Museum)
• Sensoji Temple
• Kabukicho
• Pokemon Center
• Akihabara
Day 4 (Dec 1st):
• Tokyo Disney Sea
OR
• Kichijoji
• Imperial Palace
• Small Worlds Tokyo
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter
Day 5 (Dec 2nd):
• Tokyo -> Lake Kawaguchiko (Day Trip)
**Kyoto**
Day 6 (Dec 3rd): Tokyo -> Kyoto
• Check-in to hotel
• Tenru-ji Temple
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
• Gion district
• Pontocho Street
• Philosophers Walk
• Nishiki Market
Day 7 (Dec 4th):
• Saihō-ji – Book 2 Weeks In Advance – 4000 Yen
o https://saihokai.resv.jp/
• Fushimi Inari Shrine
• Ginkaku-ji Temple
Day 8 (Dec 5th):
• Day Trip To Nara
o Nara Park
o Isuein Garden
o Todai-ji Temple
• Back to Kyoto
**Osaka**
Day 9 (Dec 6th): Kyoto -> Osaka
• Dazaifu Tenmangu
• Shitennoji
• Namba Yasaka Jinja
• Shinsekai
Day 10 (Dec 7th):
• Dotonburi
• Umeda mall
• Kuromon Ichiba Market
• Tonbori River Cruise
Day 11 (Dec 8th):
• Kuromon market for breakfast
• Explore Osaka
Day 12 (Dec 9th):
• Osaka to Himeji
o Himeji Castle
• Himeji to Kobe (Shin-Kobe Station)
o Maiko Marine Promenade
o Lunch at Wakkoqu (Teppanyaki) or La Shamon (Yakiniku)
Kagoshima, Miyazaki, or Matsusaka wagyu
• Shin-Kobe Station → Kikuseidai
o Dinner
• Kikuseidai -> Osaka
Day 13 (Dec 10th):
• USJ
OR
• Day Trip to Mount Koya
**Hiroshima**
Day 14 (Dec 11th): Kyoto -> Hiroshima
• Peace Museum
• Atomic Bomb Park
• Hiroshima Shopping District
Day 15 (Dec 12th):
• Miyajima
**Back to Tokyo**
Day 16 (Dec 13th) – Hiroshima -> Tokyo
• Shimokitzawa for vintage shopping
• Kappabashi
• Forward luggage to Narita Airport?
Day 17 (Dec 14th): Fly out of Tokyo at 5PM
