My Boyfriend (32) and I (F, 26) are traveling for the first time to Japan (late November)🥹.
About us: We’ve done many city trips and live pretty central in a big city as well (Europe). We don’t have a car, because of the public transport in our city and we’re accustomed to walk a lot. My Bf is down to do anything with me, but he can be impatient sometimes, if we stay for to long at a spot 😅. We’re not the type of people that stay for to long at attractions , a quick look around is enough ☺️
Hotels :
Kyoto (near Kiyomizu-Gojo): 21. -28.November
Tokyo ( Via Inn Prime Akasaka) : 28. Nov. – 5. December
Flight back is on the 6. December at 0:05 a.m.
No JR-Pass
Here is our Itinerary:
Kyoto:
0. Tuesday: arrive at 5 p.m. at KIX, taking the Haruka from Kansai Airport to Kyoto; Check – in, get Food
1. Wednesday: go out at 8 a.m. Arashiyama , monkey park , kinkaku-ji and nishiki market , Imperial Palace Kyoto (?)
(optional: kiyomizu neighborhood, oharano?)
2. Thursday: go out at 8.am. Nara (Nara park, Kasuga Taisha , todai-ji, nigatsu-do) , (optional:Evening Gion & yasaka or Osaka ?)
3. Friday : Kiyomizudera Area (Temple ), ghibli Shop, ninenzaka, Hokan-ji, Hanamikoji street, pontocho , stroll in Gion District (if not already done on Thursday)
optional :Heian-jingū
4. Saturday: Osaka (Palace& Dotonbori)
Food: Izakaya toyo and then some Okonomiyaki
5. Sunday : Fushimi inari (+ Mainichi Inari Okami)
Would love to do one of these: 2 hrs private Onsen (Bf has many tattoos 🥲) or Kimono rental
6. Monday: USJ Osaka (trying to arrive at 7 a.m. – no express pass 🫢 Prioritising to go to Super Nintendo World & Harry Potter )
7. Tuesday: Check out until 10 a.m. ;Kimono rental if not already done on Sunday & Walk through kiyomizu & ninenzaka area , appointment for DIY Perfume
Kyoto until 4-5 pm and then take Shinkansen to Tokyo
Tokyo:
0. Tuesday : arrival Tokyo Station, Check -in, Food
1. Wednesday: Asakusa, Akihabara, Ueno
2. Thursday: Team lab, tsukiji Fish market, ginza , on way back to Hotel: Hie Shrine , Imperial Palace Tokio (both walking distance)
(optional : Yanaka, Tokyo Tower)
3. Friday: ghibli Museum , shimokitazawa, Shibuya (Shibuya Cross, Meiji Shrine)
4. Saturday : in the morning hokusai-Museum sumida , Shinjuku, Yoyogi Park, Harajuku
5. Sunday: Mt. Fuji day Trip- Oishi Park (take Bus from Shibuya ) (We would switch that to other day depending on weather, maybe days prior )
6. Monday: Shibuya & Shibuya Sky in the evening (maybe more of Shinjuku, Harajuku and visit a BOOKOFF Store before)
7. Tuesday: Check out; do some shopping ; Pick up baggage from hotel , head to Haneda Airport (arrive there until 8-9 p.m.)
Flight back at 0:05 a.m.
1. Is Tokyo skytree and USJ worth it ?
2. Are there any sumo tournaments still going (or training to watch) ? Couldn’t find any
3. Should we skip some things ? (maybe there are to many temples and shrines 😅)
4. Should we go to Himeji (for the castle) before heading to Osaka or is Osaka castle enough ?
5. Can you recommend a private Onsen in Kyoto (or nearby) to book for an hour or so? (Tattoo friendly)
Thank you very much in advance 💕 I’m a bit overwhelmed with the planing 🥺
5 comments
The SUMO tournaments around November is held in Fukuoka. I booked some tickets for my family on Nov 21 and there are still lots of tickets last week.
My thoughts are – day 1 has way too much in it. I think it’s technically possible if you zoom through everything and take taxis, but tbh with jet lag and the amount of different locations I personally wouldn’t find it enjoyable. I think you need to cut down the number of different areas you are going to
There’s lots to see at Arashiyama – there’s some really beautiful gardens and temples so even if your bf doesn’t want to linger very long at each, it makes a bit more sense to go round them than go to kinkaku-ji on top of the other locations. For me, Arashiyama has been a full day spent in that area.
As I said I would rethink this day and do, maybe not less things, but less different areas of the city. You waste valuable time going to different locations (or at least that’s my opinion).
Spend some time really familiarizing yourself with the train stations and routes you are taking. The rail system is very reliable, but can be a bit intimidating if you don’t know what you are doing.
Plan out your routes with plenty of time so that you aren’t rushing to catch your trains and missing them when you inevitably get a bit lost. If your boyfriend is particularly impatient, this is probably going to be the thing that sets him off the most.
I would skip USJ and Skytree, there are better views of Tokyo (Shibuya Sky) and USJ is very skippable especially with the price tag and all the headaches.
I do sometimes linger but I still did Arashiyama and Kinkakuji in one day. I think it just really depends on what you want to do in Arashiyama and how much… there are lots of smaller temples to the north of the station that not everyone does. If you want to do them too it’s is harder to do Kinkakuji, but it still might be possible.
I would say more at issue is the only Oharano areas I saw were back near Arashiyama and you sort of want to either do them when you are there, or move them to another day cause trying to go back there from Kinkakuji or even Nijo, will take longer than you think unless you plan to take a taxi.
I actually expected to see your days packed even more with your lead up and was surprised to find that your plans really aren’t that bad. They don’t seem crazy rushed.
For Skytree and USJ it honestly depends on your interests and I can’t answer that for you.
For Skytree ask yourself: Do you want to pay money to go up a tall structure and look at things? Do you like shopping and want to buy Kirby merch or look at some other stores selling anime type stuff (Ghibli, Pokemon, Jump) and have a few shops selling more traditional style good? If the answer is no, you don’t care about that stuff, then don’t go. I’ve never been up Skytree, but my daughter loves eating at the Kirby Cafe and going to every Pokemon Center we can. So… it’s about you and your boyfriend’s interests.
For USJ, do you like theme parks? Do you like rides? do you want to devote a day to going to a theme park? Are you super into Harry Potter? Are you super into Nintendo? Again, this is about what you and your boyfriend care about, and there is no shame in either answer. This is your trip and your money.
I like temples and shrines, but they can get to be too much. I try to break things up a bit or pick shrines and temples known for their gardens.
Himeji is a really great original castle. It also has a lovely attached garden you can pay additional to visit. I am one of the few people I think on this subreddit who likes Osaka Castle, but I think you need to visit it with the right attitude.
Himeji, is a great castle with a small museum inside of it about castle life. Osaka Castle is a great museum about the Siege of Osaka Castle and the battles fought there, in the shape of a castle. If you want to see an original castle, go to Himeji. If you want to read about Osaka history and stare at displays and learn about the Tokugawa victory over the remnant of the Toyotomi, go inside Osaka Castle.
For the Ghibli Museum, make sure you know how to get tickets because you are not going if you don’t get tickets in advance.
I will think about onsen options. 🙂
Hey, wait… I’m an impatient 32yo boyfriend.