Hey all,
I have spent 10 years away from Tokyo and I am finally going back. It is daunting to me because so much has changed including COVID now, and so I am hoping this subreddit can help at least put me at ease; I know you can’t plan for everything or solve every problem through life. Anyway, here is my itinerary set:
|10/18-10/21|Tokyo|Arrival, Akihabara, Shimokitazawa, Tokyo Skytree, Shibuya, Harajuku, Roppongi|
|:-|:-|:-|
|10/21-10/23|Fukuoka|Visit friends, Castle Ruins, Nanzoin Temple|
|10/23-10/25|Hiroshima|Visit friends, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima Castle|
|10/25-10/27|Kyoto|Kinkakuji Temple, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove|
|10/27-11/1|Tokyo|Friends/Family/School, Fish market, Tokyo Zoo, Halloween|
|11/1-11/5|Osaka|Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building, Osaka Aquarium, theme park or Okayama|
|11/7-11/10|Tokyo|Yokohama, Prepare for return, return|
Below is my estimated budget (USD):
​
|Food & Daily|2500|
|:-|:-|
|Ticket|1500|
|Travel Pass & Fares|500|
|Lodging|650|
|Parks|600|
|Souvenirs|1000|
|Emergency Cash|1000|
If there are any recommendations on how to do this trip differently or with adjustments to budget please let me know. I have dates I need to be certain places: Kyoto (10/25), Tokyo (10/28, 10/31, 11/9) but aside from that I can make different plans.
Some lodging has already been arranged but I can refund them; so these destinations so far have fit my lodging budget exactly.
Any advice would be appreciated, thank you!
EDIT: I just wanted to say thank you very graciously to this community for helping others which has helped me by extension, and now for helping me directly with my own trip. As someone with some organizational issues, getting so much input and care is so helpful and I greatly appreciate it.
13 comments
How did you allocate $600USD for parks?
Lodging is gonna be a lot more than 650 unless you plan on staying with family or friends or maybe a hostel or a place if you don’t mind sharing a bathroom.
Honestly hasn’t changed much. More places take credit cards, that’s about it.
Curious why it’s emotionally overwhelming? It’s a vacation, if it’s giving you stress you don’t have to go.
Are you worried about budget? Prices relative to inflation in US haven’t gone crazy because you are paying in USD. I think you will be pleasantly surprised how “cheap” it is.
You might consider more than 1 full day in each of the first 4 cities. That’s a lot of travel days and checking an and out of lodging. You’re barely going to be over your jet lag.
You won’t spend that much in food, unless you go to high tier places both to have lunch and dinner everyday… or fall into tourist traps. 20 dollars (¥3000) a day will keep you more than well fed.
Why Tokyo between Kyoto and Osaka? I would skip that if you can reschedule this to the end of your trip if you can.
Also if possible I would try to fly to Osaka, and leave from Tokyo.
You budgeting for food?
Cut your souvenir budget in half
you’re definitely not on a budget. with just your food and tickets budget i managed to pay everything for three weeks
I would skip Okayama tbh and spend the day at USJ if you enjoy theme parks – Mario World in there is absolutely amazing (you need to arrive early and book a timeslot in-app though!)
This seems to have some unnecessary back and forths. How about:
10/18> immediately go down to fukuoka (fly) or Hiroshima (train)
10/18-21 fukuoka
10/21-23 hiroshima
10/23 -25 Osaka
10/25-28 kyoto
10/28 onward Tokyo
Kyoto is incredible. You might need more days there.
I would skip the zoo. Zoos in Japan can be pretty depressing in how they treat the animals.