Hey all! 29M from Canada here, going on my second trip to Japan.
My first trip to Japan was seven years ago, and I went with a group of students that I was on exchange with in Beijing. We did a ton of touristy stuff, mostly seeing the big sights in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. This time I am travelling solo, meeting up with a few friends/acquaintances along the way. I have a ton planned already but thought I’d post my itinerary here for any extra tips and suggestions. My interests include otaku stuff (anime, videogames), baseball, craft beer, spirituality, art, music, coffee and have booked some time at onsens as well.
I know that some days I have too much planned haha. I won’t be able to cram as much as I hope to into every day, but want to have options.
Anyone who is in Japan at the same time and would like to meet up, feel free to send me a DM and we can exchange contact info.
**October 2nd (Travel Day):**
7AM flight at YYZ
Fly Toronto-Dallas-Tokyo
**October 3rd (Tokyo): Tuesday**
Arrive in Tokyo 4pm
Check into hotel in Akasaka
Ramen and explore area surrounding hotel (Bar, maybe walk through park)
Offal bar?!
70s Soul & Hit Bar
**October 4th (Tokyo): Wednesday**
Explore Akihabara in the morning/afternoon
Baseball Game 6pm TOKYO DOME (Giants VS BayStars)
Palinka after Baseball game
Option: Kyourakutei (soba) at 5 before baseball game (or arcade or baseball hall of fame)
**October 5th (Tokyo): Thursday**
Morning – fluffy pancakes?
Teamlab exhibition at 1pm, (Grab sushi bowl lunch at Toyosu fish market)
Near teamlab: Tokyo tower (One Piece exhibit), Public Garden, Gen Yamamoto (reservation only via phone)
Stop by Kobayashi grocery store, maybe Lion (classical cafe), chill night.
**October 6th (Tokyo): Friday**
Harajuku for some vintage shopping (Shimatakizawa)
Afuri ramen for lunch
Design Festa Gallery
Gyukatsu Motomura Harajuku for dinner?
Night out at Bonobo
**October 7th (Tokyo-Kamakura): Saturday**
Train to Kamakura
Go to the beach/temple during the day (buy a Goshuincho)
Go to Univibe at night
**October 8th (Kamakura): Sunday**
Coffee at Moderato
Train to Enoshima, hang out there (sea candle, etc)
Oppa La for curry and DJ
**October 9 (Kamakura-Takayama): Monday**
Train to Takayama
Check into Ryokan, Spend the night exploring Fall Harvest Festival
**October 10th (Takayama): Tuesday**
Chill day in Takayama – onsen and afternoon harvest festival
**October 11th (Takayama-Osaka): Wednesday**
Night out in Osaka (Dotonbori), Bar Nayuta/Yuki bar
Chi chi happy day osaka takoyaki, and street okonomiyaki
**October 12th (Osaka): Thursday**
City Bakery for breakfast
Compufunk records for a party?? check facebook for events.
Osaka vintage shopping
Sushi Tani or Epais (make reservation)
Bible Club Osaka Bar
**October 13th (Osaka): Friday**
Maybe hang out in Amemura (Little America) for streetwear
Shinsaibashi and Nakazakicho for vintage
Bar K for a drink? Or Beer belly?
Pokemon Café? Aquarium?
**October 14th (Osaka-Hiroshima): Saturday**
Peace park and memorial, cry, sleep.
Maybe shabu shabu for dinner?
**October 15th (Hiroshima-Hakone): Sunday**
Train to Hakone or Tokyo
Rest day, recoop at onsen
**October 16: (Hakone): Monday**
Explore Hakone, mountain hike, cable car over volcanic vents?
Open air museum
**October 17-20th: (Hakone-Tokyo): Back in tokyo for 3 days… Tons of options**
Sunshine city mall in Ikebukuro (arcades and pokemon center)
Forest limit for electronic music night
Fuunji for dipping ramen
Go to Tokyo hands in Shibuya and go to Nintendo store
Spend a night in Golden Gai (Bar peaches, tell them I know Sugarpuss)
Curry at Curry Samurai (Rojiura Curry Samurai)
Have a beer at watering hole then go to Akomeya store (Golden Gai is close – go to Ramen Nai or Bar peaches)
Pizza Studio Tamaki
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (expensive sashimi)
Onigiri in Asakusa (Plum and Mushroom one)
Michelin Shaved ice place (Azuki to kouri)
JBS Bar for quiet time
Mominoki House if I want veggies
Yata Sake Bar (Shibuya City)
Nogara Hope (garlicky ramen)
Katsudon-ya Zuicho (katsudon) for lunch
Shibuya vintage (Ragtag shop)
Nihon Saisei Sakaba (pork skewer stand)
Yoyogi Park, walk thru and go to Meiji Jingu Shrine
One piece exhibit at Tokyo tower, Ghibli Museum??
**October 20 (Tokyo-Kusatsu):**
Travel to Kusatsu Onsen town
Onsen night and hang with other people at guest house
**October 21 (Kusatsu):**
Full Onsen day and explore the town of Kusatsu (shrines, hikes, maybe Chatsubomi Moss Park Anajigoku)
**October 22 (Kusatsu-Tokyo):**
Travel back to Tokyo, spend final night in Hotel
Last night out!
**October 23 (Travel Day):**
Flight back to Toronto 3pm :'(
4 comments
Fucked up the formatting somehow, but still readable lol…
Given jet lag, it seems highly unlikely that you’re going to want to go bar hopping the night you arrive in Japan from Toronto, or go to an evening baseball game the next night. Be realistic, and kind to yourself.
Here is a pro tip I just had to figure out after I landed in Tokyo. For Canadians If you have a iPhone and you want to use sucia on Apple wallet (and you should .. it’s super convenient). Try add the card and load some $ with an apple wallet Mastercard before you leave, if the transaction gets declined call your CC company. The Apple wallet transaction doesn’t ask for the CVV number.. and that will cause it to be declined. Your CC company can override that requirement. 1 week override is the standard, it can be made longer on special request.
Try going to Hida No Sato while in Takayama. A very nice open air museum showing traditional Japan. Fun in any season.